Notes for the next three lessons:

In the next three lessons we are going to take three specific journeys. Hopefully, you've been doing the exercises as we go along, and maybe you have some experience with meditation and/or guided reveries. That will makes these classes a breeze. The real purpose of these classes is so that you'll gain experience with the way journeys feel.

It's important that you realize that an out-of-body experiences isn't always what happens on a journey. That usually comes with experience. More often than not, your journeys will be reveries or will awaken you in dreams (lucid dreams).

Does this mean your journeys are ineffective or ‘made up'? Nope. Spirit gains access to your conscious mind via your imagination and feelings. The only way you'll learn to trust the input from this ‘work' is to do it. And that is what these next lessons are about.

The first one will introduce you to an Inner Worldly place. We will use this place as a learning haven so feel free to go there as often as you like. Look around. Explore. Find the hidden things...they are in there. Talk to the elements you see. If you don't see, then practice learning which of your senses do work in journeys.

Draw the place and/or the elements which you see. Think about them before you go to sleep and see if you can visit the place in your dreams. Experiment. And then share what you experience. For the next three weeks the majority of our talk will be about what happened in the journeys. What gave you trouble. What was easy; what scared you.....everything. By the time the classes end you will leave with an entry way to the Inner Worlds that is all your own; a sacred place that will serve as your ‘between the worlds' place to start your journeys and continue with your shamanic studies.

Lesson 10: Journey One

Practice

Class One

In this section we'll be dealing with practice, by that I mean that we'll be trying to put some experience under your belt so that you can actually do some of the things we've talked about so far in the course. At this point it's important that you start to enhance your self confidence so that you can use and apply the material covered earlier in the course.

One of the most intimate qualities of shamanism, no matter what its tradition, is the Journey. A teacher or practitioner can tell you things, explain how they work and all that, but YOU are the one that needs to apply that knowledge. Without the practical application of the theory shamanism is useless.

Try to do these journeys a few times during the week that we are covering it. Once a day would be ideal, but at least three times during the week, before we move onto the next one, will do if you are pressed for time. Do keep a notebook and do pay close attention to your feelings because they are your best teachers. Sometimes your head will get in the way, causing you to doubt things....you'll wonder if it's real or if you're making it up....try to keep those doubts pushed to one side and focus on the way the exercise makes you feel instead. The practice of writing down your journeys will help you keep track of them, of repetitive symbols, and your progress. Think of your journal work as the ritual part of the program; it's a way of solidifying the experiences, and honoring their importance. Your subconscious and Otherworldly beings like it when you show this sort of respect; it lends them validity within your normal reality; providing you with another door to use in shamanic work and studies.

Don't be afraid to adapt an exercise so that it fits with your personal belief system. If something doesn't work, an image for instance, try something else. Play. Experiment. Enjoy yourself. Most people will tell you to follow a bunch of rules; We are telling you that the only rules are the ones that you make up as you go. You can't know what the rules are until you try, what's true for me might not be true for you. Shamanism is about self-empowerment and the only way to do that is to try things out.

We are not going to use any of the traditional tools for this section. For instance, we don't require you to drum during your journey, or to put yourself into total darkness by covering your eyes. We want to show you that you can do a journey any time and any place and that the only tools you really need are: Intent, Desire, Will power, and a goal. Later, in your own studies, you can try some of the traditional things out and gain a familiarity with them and how they work, and then you can decide if you need to incorporate them into your practice.

The chief goal of this section is to familiarize you with the levels of reality that you interact with on a daily basis and to expand your world view to be a little broader than it was before. Also, to give you experiences to fall back on. And to show you that you can do this work safely, easily, and get results.

Try to approach this section with an open mind and simply let whatever happens, happen. Look at each exercise as if it is an adventure in consciousness. And if you have to have expectations, then expect to learn, have fun, and heal.

In this beginning journey we are going to meet your guide, see your animal helper, and learn a little something about the medicine wheel.

Remember that not everyone will see things clearly, some of you might hear or feel things more than you see them. This isn't important. Just remember everything that you see, hear, or feel. From this moment on in the class I want you to relax, forget the notes. Leave your Mr. Spock brain at the door. Don't worry you'll remember everything you need to, everything that is important. In certain places a question is asked, don't stop the meditation to write the answer down, just remember it.

As you are reading this journey go slow. Focus on what you are reading one line at a time. Pretend you can hear a voice softly talking you through this journey and keep a small space open in your awareness for any pictures or images that might move forward in your mind.

Relax your shoulders, breath a little slower and easier. We have all the time that we need. Everything is perfect. For a moment, just focus on relaxing your neck and shoulders.

Put both feet on the floor. And breath a little slower and easier. Do that for a few seconds.

Our minds are wonderful tools. You can read these words and another part of your brain, your imagination, can fill with images and sounds and scents. Some times as people approach this level of mental relaxation they sigh and sort of sink down in their bodies as if they're wrapped in a nice fluffy comforter. All cozy and warm and safe.

Pretend that there is another set of eyes in the back of your mind. This set of eyes has been closed in sleep for a long, long time. They're opening up right now. They're waking up and as those eyes open they see the walls of a huge cave surrounding them Take a moment and see this cave.

This cave is huge. There are crystals embedded into the walks and ceiling. A brightly burning torch is set into one wall and it's light flickers and reflects off of all the lovely crystals. You know that this is a magickal cave. You can feel its power thrumming and humming thru your feet. Energy is all around you and you look around curious about what is in this cave.

There are shelves cut into the walls. Some are lined with books. Others have strange looking things on the shelves.... a drum, a rattle made from what looks like a turtle's shell, a medicine bag with brightly colored bead work, feathers, bowls, and small pieces of crystals.

Toward the back of the cave a sleeping bag is laid out. There's a small fire burning not too far away from it. And on that fire something is cooking. Walk over to it and bend down. You see that a stew is what is cooking and you suddenly want to taste it. Picking up the ladle that lies next to the fire, you scoop out a little stew and bring it to your lips.

It's warm and wonderful and brings a smile to your lips as that warmth spreads through your body. Calmness fills your being and you relax a little more, enjoying the cave and curious about what else might be in here. You see a small bundle of plants at your feet and know that you are supposed to throw them onto the fire. You pick them up, toss them into the flames and stand up as their smoke rises before you. Then you hold out your arms and turn in the wafting smoke letting the scent of sweet white sage enfold you.

As you finish turning, you realize that there is an opening in the front of the cave that you hadn't noticed before. You walk toward it then realize that while there is an opening there, it is blocked by a smoke filled mirror. You reach your fingers forward and lay them gingerly on the mirror. As you do you very clearly hear this question: Do you want to see your guide?

At first you're a little startled, then you nod, thinking: yes. I would like to see my guide very much.

As if in response the surface of the mirror shifts and turns and ripples. Something is in there....something you can almost see. You focus all your attention on the mirror and what is moving within its smokey glass. And in a moment the glass begins to clear. The foggy image comes into view and at first you can't tell whether its an animal or human or plant. Then the image clears.

Remember what you see.

Ask it for a word that you can use to attune to its energies. What word does it give you? Remember what the word is.

Beyond the guide is a seasonal scene. What season do you see? Remember what season it is.

In the far distance you can see the outline of an animal gazing toward you. What animal do you see? Remember what animal it is.

Now, step back from the mirror. Immediately the smoke returns and you can no longer see anything. Go back to the fire, then lie down on the sleeping bag. Take one last look around the cave, then allow your new eyes to slowly close. Count to ten then begin wiggling your toes.

Come to full awareness. Get up and walk around. Fetch something to eat or drink. Then do your journal work and think about what you will share with the class.

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