Lesson Four: Introduction to Totems


Lesson Plan
Week Four
Section One

Required Reading: Celtic Shaman, pages 51-57; The Way of the Shaman, page 16-19, 57-65

Visit the following site on Totems:

Bobbie Sues site is a nice place to gain familiarity with some basic shamanic principles. Take a look around while you're there.

THE LESSON
"Ask the animals,
and they will teach you,
or the birds of the air,
and they will tell you,
or speak to the earth,
and it will teach you,
or the fish of the sea,
and they will inform you."

Job 12:7-8


One of the most effective methods of drawing upon the power of ancient wisdom is to regain awareness that your are one again. Falling into the pattern of nature and that you are living in harmony with all creatures.


Among shamans, the totems represent the physical form of one's spirit helper, guardian, and/or guide.


Identifying Your Totem:
1.Which animal/plant/mineral has always fascinated you?
2.what animal do you see the most often in nature?
3.which animal frightened you the most, often it is your fear that you need to come to terms with.
4.what animal do you dream of frequently.

The following question will help you form a mental picture and link with your totem:
a. what is it's color?
b. size
c. shape
d. what are its behaviors
e. where is it from, which direction does it favor: north, south, east, or west
f. when is it most often seen, during the day or night
g. what sounds does it make?
h. what are its survival techniques?


Nature offers animal, plant, and minerals as capable guides for all things contain spirit. Granted, it may not seem cool to you to have plant or a rock as a spirit guide, but they are just as powerful and knowledgeable as an animal.


The web of power applies to all elements of nature. By understanding how this power works you may tap into resources that you may not have imagined possible.


From a shamanic perspective communicating with these spirits has one basic requirement: respect. This is the key to all effective communication.


The spirit in rocks vibrates at a particular frequency. This is especially true for gemstones. As healers it is important that you understand the significance of the power of rock, and all elements, in aides to healing.


Remember, when working with rocks that they are long lived and are used to experiencing life at a slower pace. Be patient.


Exercise:
1.Sit down with a rock, mineral, or gemstone. Study it carefully, then close your eyes and ask it these questions:
What are your specific properties?
Is there something you want to tell me?
May I have your permission to work with you?
Ask it for help.
Thank its spirit.

Plants, like rocks, have frequencies, which can help you. In every culture shamans have gotten to know plant spirits and their properties in order to work with the spirit to heal. To become acquainted with a plant's spirit you need to exercise a great deal of patience. They, like the rock, experience life at a slower pace than we do.



Exercise:
choose a plant.
Study its appearance.
Close your eyes and allow yourself to sense the plant.
Ask it for a message, then listen with all your senses, not just your ears.
Thank the plant.


Power animals can assist you in all kinds of ways. They are not static beings and they like to learn and be challenged. Just like you like to help someone in need, so do they. But remember that they, like you, also like to be treated with kindness and respect. If you don't, can't, or won't, they will simply refuse to work with you.


Exercise:
relax and close your eyes.
Visualize a landscape within your imagination and go there.
Ask for an animal to enter the landscape.
Ask the animal about it's qualities, powers, lessons, and abilities.
Thank it and watch it fade from your mental screen.
Allow another animal to enter the scene.
Repeat the questions.
Notice if one particular animal comes more frequently than any other.

Shape shifting:

In shamanism Shape shifting is an important skill. Not only will the shaman shift to meld with his personal totem, but also that of other creatures. This allows the shaman to gain a wide variety of experiences and perspectives — a gift that is important in problem solving. For example, how would a bear, mouse, or fox, solve the problem of a locked door? None of them would have the same answer, but each of them would present a solution, thus giving you three possible answers. You would choose which answer to apply.


There are three types of Shape shifting:
1. Changing your body in the spirit/astral realms.
2. changing your physical body in the material level.
3. Inwardly melding with an object/creature.

We're going to discuss the third one in more depth.
In order to learn to do this you need to learn the object's habits.
What does it eat?
How does it live?
How does it feed?
How does it hunt?
What are the noises it makes?
Learn everything you can about the object/creature.

After completing your study:
find a quiet place.
Close your eyes.
Visualize the animal.
Imagine the animal entering you.
Visualize your hand and body parts changing into those of the creature/object.
Be the animal for several moments.
Think like it.
Feel like it.
Move like it.
When you are done, thank the animal and slowly change yourself back to your normal body.
Give thanks.

Familiar:

A familiar is not the same as a totem or power animal. Many modern witches have animal familiar — usually cats, which are their magickal helpers. They believe that the familiar ha psychic abilities which makes them ideal partners in magick. Reportedly, familiar are sensitive to psychic vibrations and are able to enter full magick circles without disturbing the vibrations. They often act as guardians, since they sense negative energies and thus can warn the witch.


Further sites of interest:

OBOD:

Native American Resources:





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