Yes, I have a lovely fur coat, but that is only my surface beauty.
Inside, I am confident, I know I belong here, I have what it takes to survive and thrive. I am resourceful. I know what I want and how to get it. I follow my nose, follow what humans call instinct to draw in what I need for sustenance.
Let fox teach you his ways, his grace, supreme confidence, resourcefulness, his intelligence gained from innate instinct, street smarts, animal wisdom, observational skills.
Sustain yourself in winter of your life, when there is a chill on your mind and in your bones. Warm yourself with the spark of spirit that never burns out. Go inward to rekindle and nurture your inner fire. The world may be full of snow, bare trees, and sub zero cold, but deep inside, the cycles of life, ever turning, will carry you through to spring.
Your spirit has chosen to live in this body in this place that experiences winter, so hibernate for a time, rest, recharge your spirit, body, and emotions.
Honor the seasons, the cycles of your life and mind. Go inward to tap into the wellspring of spirit and life force which sustains youthrough it all.
Betty’s note: Dear friends, As I practiced mediumship, and invited fox to speak, he came through for me in a very insistent way, wanting humans to know and understand his perspective. I have interpreted the impressions, feelings and telepathic messages I received from fox into words. My next three posts are all channeled from fox.
I am fox! I survive and thrive in your human-centric world in all seasons, all conditions.
Why do humans fuss about winter and cold? This is an integral season in the cycle of nature on our planet, a time to go inward, rest, live off the fat of the land, hibernate, relax, plan, play.
If you resist and disparage the cold and harsh winds of winter, you resist reality. If you resist reality, you resist your life.
Photo by Amanda Frank on Unsplash
Do you wonder why life is so hard? What if you did not resist the unchangeable conditions of your life? Would your life be easier?
Just as our physical bodies require us to wake and sleep, the larger cycles of life on earth give us day and night, sunlight and shadow. Winter follows fall, then spring and summer – every. single. year. if you are ready or not!
You are alive and rooted here on this Earth for now, so if you wish to thrive, learn to be at peace and relax into the cycles of nature beyond your control.
I say, follow your nose, your senses, the quiet inner voice within that leads to the sustenance you seek in mind body and spirit. Find sustenance for your life even in the deep snows of winter.
I am a creature with confidence. I do not question my existence. I do not question my right to live, to feed myself and my family. I do not resist the reality of freezing cold in winter or steaming heat in summer. I live within the parameters of my life as a fox on this planet in this year you call 2023.
In the shamanic point of view, every thing and every living being has and is a spirit. We can communicate, learn from and live in partnership with these spirits. Spirits have access to information that we who live in a human body do not. The scope of our knowing is often limited by our human perspective, worries, fears, concerns and judgements.
Communicating with spirit, we can better understand the spiritual aspects of challenges and illnesses in our lives, receive wisdom and healing, heal relationship issues, and learn to live more effectively in this world.
The Spirit world is on a different energetic wavelength than our normal day to day human activity. When our brain wave frequencies slow down, we come into a relaxed and receptive state, necessary for attunement with spiritual information.
Shamanic practitioners and students deliberately slow the brain waves and enter into a trance state by listening to repetitive drumming. Shamanic journeying is an example of this. Meditating and spending time in nature also help you relax, slow down, and tune in.
Hawk Feather
To connect more deeply to spirit,choose a nature object, a leaf, stone, shell, flower, a fruit, berry, even a tiny radish sprout or small raisin. Find one that you will enjoy exploring through your senses.
Create or find a quiet place without a to-do list, the news, distractions like your phone or TV in the background, etc. Your quiet place might be outside in a beautiful natural area, leaning against a tree, or in a peaceful corner inside your home.
Lay your hands on the center of your chest and allow your awareness to move down to center in your heart. Let your thoughts float past in your head without giving them attention. (If they’re important, you can get back to them later) This will help your brain slow down. Feel your breath moving in and out, your chest rising and falling. Hear the sound of your breath. Focus on your sensations of touch, smell, sound, sight hearing. Allow yourself to let go of any tension in your body.
Skeleton Leaf
Now pick up the object you chose earlier. Take time to experience it with all your senses, letting all judgments go. Absorb the information you receive about its texture, scent, color, shape, form. Does it make a sound when you touch it? If this is something edible, savor the taste. How does it feel on your tongue?
Allow all of your awareness to be focused on this one thing. Experience it as though you were a curious young child seeing touching and exploring this interesting thing for the first time.
Now get a feel for this object’s energy. How does it feel in your hands? Do you enjoy holding it, or want to put it down immediately? You may receive subtle sensations that can’t be translated into words. Pay attention to them.They may come through any of your senses plus your sixth sense of knowing.
Stones and water
Ask the spirit of the object for a message and pay attention to what information comes through your being. Messages from spirit can come in many forms and can be very simple and direct. Often they come in symbolic form – showing you pictures, images, sounds, or other sensations that you then can interpret for yourself.
You can ask the spirit of your nature object questions – What you can I learn from you? ; What advice do you have for me? ; Please show me what I need to know about you. How can I thank you for speaking with me? Add any other simple question you might want to ask. Pay attention to everything that comes through for you.
If your ego mind demands attention and makes judgements about what you’re doing, (for example: “This is stupid.”; “I don’t have time for this.” ; “I can’t do this.”) try to imagine the thoughts evaporating – cool steam dissolving them, fog enveloping them… any image that works for you. Return your awareness to your heart and allow yourself to notice the sensations and spirit messages coming through.
When you’re ready to leave your meditation, disengage by thanking the spirit of the object for what you received, and let it know your time together is over. Set it down or take it back outside. Send a blessing and gratitude for its presence and sharing its wisdom.
Floating leaf
Now is the time to write down any messages you received before you return to normal everyday concerns and tasks. You may forget them otherwise. Next, come back into your body by tapping your cheekbones, the center of your chest, collar bones or rubbing & massaging your feet to ground yourself and bring your awareness back into your body and your mind back into everyday life.
In this way, you can learn to connect with the spirits of nature and receive their advice, love, and wisdom and open yourself to a wider spectrum of awareness.
Shamanic healing is a powerfulancient method of receiving information and healing energy from spirit for the highest good of another. This information may come through symbolic stories, images, and messages that can reveal new perspectives on your life and situation.
Practitioners channel energy and information from spirit helpers that is unique to each individual. Shamanic healing works with the spirits in all things to restore balance, harmony, and wholeness to your life.
Shamanic healing can complement your work with therapists and other health care professionals. It works with the spiritual aspects of illness and other obstacles in life.
Have you felt empty, off balance, or lost since you experienced a trauma or injury?
Are you at a crossroads in life, unsure about your direction, unable to make a decision?
Do you have energy that does not belong to you?
1. You feel something vital is missing in your life or that part of you died when a loss or trauma occurred.
Soul retrieval provides spiritual healing for soul loss. This is a process by which the practitioner works with spirit helpers to find your lost soul essence that left during a traumatic event and bring it back so you can be whole in spirit again. In addition to soul retrieval, shamanic journeys for healing and healing with spiritual light can help shine light on the spiritual aspects of soul loss.
2. You feel powerless at times
Was your power stolen from you by a family member, partner, stranger, friend, or co-worker? Did you unknowingly give your power away to someone? Did another person misuse and abuse your trust? Power retrievals locate and restore your lost or stolen power through the guidance of spirit helpers.
3. You feel that you have energy that does not belong to you, that is holding you back or overshadowing you.
This might include thoughts, feelings, emotions, or physical sensations that are out of character for you. There may be an attachment, or disembodied spirit that has been attracted by your light depleting your energy and life force. This is a common occurrence in our culture since we no longer “tend the gates of death” and help disembodied spirits cross to the light as was the custom in ancient times.
Compassionate Depossession is a gentle process in which the misplaced spirit is contacted, their concerns are heard, healing is given, and they are taken out of the living person’s energy field and sent to the light where they belong. This creates a win-win situation for the person who is seeking relief and the disembodied confused and lost spirit who can now move on to their next adventure.
4. You are at a crossroads in life, not sure how to move forward, what choices to make.
Journeys for divination (answering questions) can bring through images, stories, symbols, words, and knowings that give you new and different perspectives on your life and the situations you face. Journeys can show you possibilities you never expected or thought of. The information contained in journeys are unique to the individual receiving them.
5. Tough problems seem to be stuck in the cells of your body, are persistent and difficult to shift. These issues may come from the lives and unresolved problems of your ancestors or from your own past lives.
Past life work or ancestral healing may be called for in these situations. We often carry the burdens of those who’ve gone before us and who have not been able to reconcile or heal their guilt, shame, anger, or fear before death. For Ancestral healing, the practitioner and spirit helpers travel into the past and look into any traumas in your ancestral lines that may have been the cause of the toxic patterns you wish to clear. For past life traumas that you may be re-experiencing in this life, spirit helpers discern what happened in the past and do clearing and healing as would be done for issues in this life.
6. You have a feeling that you or your family have been cursed in some way
Curses are thought forms, beliefs, and patterns of thinking and being that can be passed from generation to generation and affect your life adversely. Curse unraveling locates the originator of the curse, often the reason for the curse, the toxic energy of the curse and and removes it from all who’ve been affected since the curse was made. This sometimes involves many individuals over many years who’ve been affected.
7. You sense that there are wandering spirits, (aka ghosts) or “negative” energy in your home or a space that you frequent.
Space clearing is a process of discerning if there are spirits inhabiting a space, locating and communicating with them, and helping them find their way to the light where they belong, assisting them in vacating the house, building or space where their presence causes disquiet.
After the spirits are cleared, the space can be cleansed further with spiritual light, sound vibrations, a smudge ritual. Often the story of the spirit or spirits will come through. They usually have a reason to stay behind in a particular place. They are often stuck in their own emotions and fears and can’t move forward without help.
Shamanic healing is effective, drug free, life affirming, and promotes wholeness in mind body and spirit.
If you are overwhelmed, feel cut off from your body, if you are seeking spiritual guidance, shamanic healing may be a good fit for you.
What are shamanic journeys?Where did journeying come from?
In the worldview of shamanism,every thing and every living being on our planet has a spirit. Shamanic journeying is a practice developed before recorded history for humans to connect with and learn from the spirit world.
Receiving accurate and valid information and acting on it meant survival in those harsh times. In turn humans learned to offer respect to the spirits who helped them by creating ceremonies, dances, works of art, rituals and offerings to honor them.
Why ask the spirits for help?
The compassionate helping spirits who work with humans have access to a much wider perspective on our lives and everything that has happened, is happening and will happen. They understand and witness the amazing and constantly shifting web of life and energy that connects all beings.
The spirits are always with us and they have always been with us, waiting for us to ask for their help. Journeys tap into this wellspring of compassionate spiritual information that is freely shared with us out of a wish to be of service. The well of spiritual information and guidance never run dry! There is constant revelation of new finely tuned information for those who ask.
Why learn to journey?
Journeys are still relevant to our lives now, many tens of thousands of years after the first person discovered they could connect to the spirit world.
We no longer fear as much for our physical safety and survival. Yet, even as we have access to medical care and miracle drugs, smart phones, comfortable and reliable heating and cooling of our homes, a stable food supply, easy transportation and communication, we face challenges in our individual lives and our collective societies undreamed of by the first shamans who painted on torch-lit cave walls.
We can use the time honored practice of shamanic journeying to ask the spirits for help with our current personal challenges; our emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health, our relationships, families, children, our jobs, life decisions large and small…
We can also journey for practical information about how we can help in reweaving the web of life – healing the larger challenges of our planet – environmental problems, economic troubles, widespread poverty, epidemics, pollution, violence…
How can journeying help me?Several stories…
Practical advice
I was having a hard time deciding on how to organize one of my longer classes. Fresh new ideas and inspirations were needed to make my class more interesting. In a journey, I asked for a sign from nature. The next day on my walk in the woods there was an huge spider web lit by the morning sun. I knew in my body and heart that was my sign! It showed me how to organize my class in an effective way that had never occurred to me.
Shift in perspective on the everyday dilemmas of life:
When you can’t figure something out from your normal daily perspective, the spirits can show you another way to look at things. A client asked about her difficult relationship with her daughter-in-law. She was shown some information that helped her understand the younger woman better and allowed her to create a more fulfilling and peaceful connection with her.
Spiritual messages can that help shift your focus.
C had been diagnosed with a deadly form of cancer. She was having a hard time with her diagnosis and the treatments were making her sick. Then she received a message from spirit that came through in a journey– “Your soul is indestructible.” That message changed everything for her. She was able to carry on while maintaining a sense of peace and acceptance about the truth of her situation, knowing she was so much more than her body.
Healing Energy
When I journey with an intention of healing for others, my spirit helpers often fill the physical body and aura with divine light and beautiful rainbow colors. I see and feel this beautiful light and color filling every cell and energy particle of my client. There is no effort involved. I simply ask and the person on the table receives. This healing energy can shift a person’s mood and thinking to a more peaceful place, helping them feel calmer and more centered. The journeys end with thanks to those spirits and helpers who have worked with my client and me.
When you connect to the spirit world from the heart with sincerity and integrity and ask respectfully for help you will receive advice, guidance, insights, and healing. – It won’t necessarily be what you expect, but it will be finely tuned to your needs and your level of understanding right now.
Do you feel like it is an effort to “get it all together”?
When someone has suffered a traumatic event, loss of a family member, accident, illness, or a distressing situation, they may have experienced soul loss. If you have ever said the words “I’ve never been the same since…” or “part of me died when…” you may have experienced soul loss.
A soul part can also be stolen – as when someone takes your power, bullies, or abuses you.
A soul retrieval is a shamanic journey that locates and restores this lost or stolen soul essence to the client. The power and gifts that were lost with the soul essence are returned as well. This can be a very moving and life-changing spiritual healing experience.
Often, the symbolic pictures and stories of a soul retrieval journey show the soul essence as a child or young person, or the age they were when the event or injury occurred. I have also brought back soul parts in the symbolic form of precious gems.
Winter bird’s nest
Please come with me as I take you into the heart of a soul retrieval. (This is an excerpt of a soul retrieval my helpers and I did several years ago.)
…my spirit helpers, power animals and I enter journey space and travel along a wide stream. At a shallow place, we cross the river on stepping stones and climb up the steep bank. A nearby fence row is full of dead leaves. One of my power animals sniffs the decaying leaves and noses them aside.
I come over and begin to dig with my hands. Under the matted leaves is a little 4 year old girl with blue eyes and short dark hair – a soul part who left my client many years before because she felt deep shame when her father treated her in a humiliating way…
After a deep healing and cleansing, this soul essence was ready to return to my client, so she could be whole again. The little girl brought the gifts of fun and play, easy happiness, and self confidence back to the woman who had lost this part of herself so many years ago….
I blew the soul part into my client’s crown and heart and sealed in the healing by rattling around her 4 times. In the next few days, my client contacted the soul part and asked 5 questions to begin the integration process:
Why did you leave? Why do you come back now? What do you want? What can I do to sustain this healing? What gifts do you bring?
After a soul retrieval it is common to spend some time getting re-integrated with your newly returned soul part. They bring with them the fullness of who you were at the time they left you. It is a tender time of getting to know each other again, of remembering, of learning to be whole again, of reclaiming the inner child or young person you once were.
You may dialog with your soul part and let them know about your life in the present. It is important for healing and integration to listen and try to do what the soul part asks of you. If her or she wants to play, sing, swing, swim, run, paint fingernails…skip stones… etc, see if you can allow yourself to do these things in an easy and comfortable way adapted to your present life conditions.
Lost or stolen soul parts return when you are ready for the healing, wholeness, renewal and new energy they will bring to your life.
Has a power animal appeared for you? Why did that particular animal choose to work with you? What gifts and guidance do they bring you?
Monarch butterfly
I thought power animals were the product of fanciful and wishful and maybe even loony minds until Horse appeared at my side one day. I was out for a walk several days before a healing touch class in which I would experience a life-changing healing. It seemed like a normal summer’s day. Suddenly, a chestnut brown horse was walking close beside me. He seemed so real, I thought I could lean against him and smell his horsey scent, feel the texture of his course mane, hear his soft nicker, and scratch around his ears. But he was in spirit form; sent to guide, comfort and support me through my mind bending healing experience that was yet to come. He’s been a helper to me ever since.
If you don’t feel connected to a spirit animal, a shamanic practitioner can do a power animal retrieval for you. Or you can learn to do shamanic journeys and retrieve one for yourself. Remember, the animal actually chooses you, so be open to whoever comes your way offering their services. It could just as easily be snake, vulture, spider, or mouse, as wolf, bear or eagle!
Power animals are compassionate spirit guides that have taken on animal form. Each creature has special attributes and powers (superpowers!) that can help you with your unique needs. No list or book of animal attributes can capture the full meaning your power animal has for you. Be open to listening, learning and building a relationship with your helper. You will be richly rewarded!
Squirrel
To Connect: You can use journaling to connect, or go into a daydream state with a question ready. Do this at a time of day when you can be quiet for awhile. Connect directly by learning to do shamanic journeys.
Ask the power animal what you can do for them. After all the relationship is a two way street.
Always be respectful of your helpers. Thank them for their presence, their support, their advice. They have chosen to work with you, and that is an honor.
Questions: When you first visit with your helper, ask how they can help you and what gifts they bring to you. Ask what they want from you. After that you can ask other questions. “Why” questions don’t usually work too well. Try to re-word them: (Can you help me understand…? Show me about… )
Red winged blackbird
The answers may come to you in several different ways such as a picture or “movie” in your head, words, emotions, impressions, etc. Accept what comes. It won’t always be earth shattering. It might be quiet at times. It might take some time for the answer to become clear to you. The more you work with your helper, the easier it will be for you to know what they are communicating to you.
Follow the advice you are given if possible. Remember that your power animal will never ask you to do something that harms you or another person or living thing. If you get something like this, it is not coming from your power animal.
Disconnect: When you’re done visiting your power animal, thank them, say goodbye, open your eyes and take a drink of water, a bite of food, or dance around a little to get yourself back into this reality.
Above all, enjoy you power animal! They can bring you humor and fun, spot-on guidance and serious healing if you are open to their messages.
Blessings,
Betty
Resources:
Shamanic journeying by Sandra Ingerman ; Sounds True, Incorporated. 2006
Animal Speak by Ted Andrews; Llewellyn Publications. 2002
Its been part of the human experience for tens of thousands of years. The healer works with masterful and wise spirit guides, light beings, and power animals for healing that goes beyond the physical realm to address the unseen energetic, emotional, and spiritual causes of disease. She acts as a channel for their images, stories, energy, and words. Shamanic healing is effective and potent healing that works on a deep soul level.
How can it help me?
Shamanic Journeys are channeled stories meant just for you. They bring wisdom, insight, and healing energy.Journeyscan surprise you with new perspectives and effective guidance for your life and bring you in touch with your deep inner wisdom
Soul Retrieval returns lost power to you and helps you feel whole again. During traumatic events, a part of your soul essence may be lost. The soul retrieval restores it to you.
Psychopomp or “spirit guide” work can clear your home and spaces of unwanted energies and remove overshadowing energy that holds you back. Spirits who are “stuck” here after death can be helped to cross to the light.
Energy Extraction can clear your energy field and body of stagnant energy.
Curse Unraveling can clear and heal negative ancestral patterns and past life problems.
Mediumship Messages from loved ones who’ve passed on are channeled to you through the practitioner.
Power Animal Retrieval brings you a spirit guide in animal form.
Toning and Healing with Spiritual Light can bring you a sense of peace, connection with the universe and well being.
Many of my clients have found that they feel less anxious, less stressed, and more tuned in to their own spiritual guidance and life path after receiving shamanic healing. It can be a life-changing process!
Soul care, stress relief, calming for anxiety 