Embrace the Dark

  We have been taught to fear the dark. After all, our myths inform us that is where the monsters lurk.
 

 Is this the truth, though? How can we be so sure something evil awaits us in darkened closets and
   shadowy places under our beds? We aren’t sure, and therein lays the real root of our fear. Ours is a
   culture obsessed with knowing, and the darkness reminds us of that which is inherently unknowable.
   What is it that really waits for us in the formless dark?

         Anything-- like the Void preceding all of Creation, the darkness houses limitless possibilities.

         It’s interesting to note that darkness was often attributed to a Goddess figure in many cultures.
   Take, for example, the Goddess Kali. Most often, she is seen dancing on the bodies of those she had
   slain, her neck decorated with a string of skulls and wearing a skirt of severed arms. As fearsome a
   figure as she is, her destructive ways are not wanton. She is a bringer of justice. Through her
   destruction comes transformation. The darkness in this context, then, is really a place of change.
   Change, of course, is a frightening concept in and of itself. Even when faced with the worst of
   situations, too many of us resist. Change is painful. Change is the death of the comfort of the familiar,
   hurling us to an unknown fate.

        Whether we bravely face change, or get dragged along kicking and screaming, we should be grateful
   for the darkness that envelops us during this times. Imagine how much more painful the process of
   transformation would be if it was done in the full light of day. As clichéd of an example as it is, the
   caterpillar’s transformation to a butterfly illustrates this concept perfectly. Yes, we all know the
   story—Caterpillar, cocoon, butterfly—but most of us don’t realize that the caterpillar’s body almost
   completely breaks down while safely tucked away. The darkness is our cocoon, insulating and
   protecting us during our most vulnerable moments.

         Don't fear the darkness. Take comfort in it.

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Don't forget Mind Key's new Anthology, exploring darkness and the light.  Click here to check it out and support us! 

In a nutshell: Making sense of the dreamworld

"Ever since the inception of civilization dreaming has fascinated humanity," Tamara Rokicki writes. 

Whether an exhilarating or frightening, dreams reach deep into our psyches and find the soft places that have deep meaning—often only to us.

In The Inconspicuous Dream, Tamara shares how she finally made peace with a life-long recurring dream.

"Sometimes we spend an immeasurable amount of time hoping to decipher the darkest, deepest crooks of our minds, but what if they’re meant to remain that way?

In A Dreamy Interview with Jefferson Harman, Jefferson explains that dreams are conversations with one's higher self that come through in a way that we can accept.  Disturbing dreams come when we aren't paying attention—when we are focused on one thing, but the important information is flying around in the periphery.

"[Dream symbols] come at particular moments, because it's something specific that they're revealing to us in that moment," Jefferson said.

In Online Dream Interpretation, Charla Dury explains that "How my brain processes my environment and my feelings is shown in my dream world."  She shares with us some of her symbols and how she interprets them with the help of online dream dictionaries.

In Using Personal Symbols to Interpret Dreams, Danielle Rose explains that a myriad of sources including fiction, religion, totem animals and even wikipedia can be utilized as "dream" dictionaries.

"Just because something came to you in a dream, doesn't mean that the image is unique to the dreamworld," Danielle said.

For me, dreams are places where I can work on projects that couldn't possibly exist in this world, places where I can meet people I can't communicate with on the earth plane and make peace with them (which can take years, as I remember happening with one estranged ex from my twenties).  It's also a place where I can learn more about myself and my personal path.

Check out our posts from this week to delve deeper into dream symbols and interpretation and get more from your sleep each night!

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The Inconspicuous Dream

'Tangled Branches'- Kely Luzio-Cardona

Ever since the inception of civilization dreaming has fascinated humanity.  From Joseph interpreting the King of Egypt’s dreams to modern psychological research, dreaming has always exposed a captivating and mysterious aspect of our minds.

Throughout the years, as most people, I’ve had my share of colorful dreams; in particular one that has occurred since I was a little girl.  It is an incomprehensible dream, one that focuses more on sounds and feelings rather than the visual aspect of what happens in it.  The emotions tied to this recurring dream have left me drained, confused and really unsettled.  In my waking hours, I’ve tried to analyze exactly what the dream means or better yet, what message it tries to send me.  The fact that it doesn’t have a cohesive visual—not even a comprehensible series of flashes to shed light on what it is about— makes it much harder to decipher.

After several years absent, the dream recurred about two months ago.  As in the past, I woke up feeling upset and anxious, unable to figure out what message it sent. I asked myself “Why now after being gone for so long?” and “What does it say about my childhood, the person I am now, the things I’ve endured?”

I let these thoughts settle for a few days and that’s when I finally realized that the mystery associated with dreams might not always be so bad.  Sometimes we spend an immeasurable amount of time hoping to decipher the darkest, deepest crooks of our minds, but what if they’re meant to remain that way?  What if some dreams are prophetic and insightful while others are simply a way to flush out the negativity associated with the events taking place in our lives?  Indeed, I believe that each dream does have a purpose, even if it’s simply to let something go.  I now realize that this dream, which touches on someone very close in my life with whom I’ve had a very shaky relationship, is meant to send me this message:  Heal.  Heal and let go.

It is as easy as that….yet as equally complicated.  I keep trying to uproot the twisted branches that wind around the need to find a resolution; still the message is much more subtle than that and possibly more powerful.  I’ve noticed that over the years, as I've matured and entered different stages of my life, the dream has also given me a different outlook.  What once disconcerted me the most has shown me a way to forgive; the uneasy feeling that accompanied the dream asked me to be kinder, to myself and to the person I’ve come to associate it with.  Again, the subtle voice that once beckoned me to find a meaning to the dream, now asks me to heal, to allow myself the courage and permission to let go.  And that’s it.  It took thirty-one years and waking up with knots in my stomach to finally face the truth.  It wasn’t a prophetic message, a sign to find closure in a bizarre relationship, or something that urged me to find peace anywhere.  It urged me to find peace in my own heart.

I haven’t had the dream for a couple of months now.  Perhaps its purpose has been served, the observant spirit whisper having succeeded in delivering its message. Or maybe it’ll return, enlightening me with more subtle messages until my soul realizes what it needs to truly heal. 

A dreamy interview with Jefferson Harman

Jefferson Harman

Jefferson Harman has been interpreting dreams professionally since his early thirties.  As a small child he had a nightmare so vivid it made him hyperaware of his other dreams.  As a result, Jefferson began connecting patterns and was able to see that his daydreams, and the path he thought his life was taking, were closely related to his dreams.

"As I … began to articulate this with my friends, I was able to interpret dreams for them, and then for others as I do on my radio show."

Jefferson speaks on Life Unedited radio show, (usually on the first Saturday of each month, but check his events calendar for schedule changes).  Life Unedited will run a special Halloween edition featuring Jefferson on October 31st.

In addition to Life Unedited, Jefferson is filming a new show with Adam Rothenberg called "Dreaming with…" where Jefferson will be interpreting the dreams of various entertainers. 

During a dream interpretation Jefferson said the words, inflection, emotion and energy people use reveal much about what the dream really means.

Dreams also have a timeline that depends on how the dreamer feels at a particular moment.  A dream about a house could signify issues with the dreamer's house, or if there are no issues with their house it could represent something deeper.  The question then becomes, "why this dream? Why now?"

"[Dream symbols] come at particular moments, because it's something specific that they're revealing to us in that moment," Jefferson said.  "It can be about something in this life, or past lives, or earlier in our lives."

Sometimes dreams foretell future events, such as meeting someone at a party, or visiting a place from a dream. Jefferson explains this through mathematics.  From the Big Bang, everything began in a trajectory, he said.  From that point, lines of information and probability stretch out in multiple directions. The probability curve is the choices one makes, determining points along their path. People have the potential to dream possibilities and probabilities based upon the mathematics of prior events.

"De ja vu is to some extent being aware of what's coming based upon what was," Jefferson added.

Recurring dreams, on the other hand, is the universe sending a message that wasn't integrated the first time around.

"It has to do with growth of the soul," Jefferson said.

He explains these dreams as conversations with one's higher self that come through in a way that we can accept.  Disturbing dreams come when we aren't paying attention—when we are focused on one thing, but the important information is flying around in the periphery.  Sometimes the psyche understands the need for a disturbing dream in order to jolt the awareness to more important concerns.

"There's always something calling our attention, and that distracts us," Jefferson said.  "You're putting life on hold without realizing it.  You're receiving a message from your soul in your dream telling you this is the next step to take, and you're not taking it.  So you're behind, and you're out of balance, and so the dream comes again.  Part of my work is to make people aware of that."

Jefferson conducts private dream interpretation sessions in his office in Butler, NJ as well as sessions via telephone. Visit him at everydaysymbology.com or by calling 973-839-9317

Using personal symbols to interpret dreams

art by Grace Ng Dung

Interpreting dreams can be tricky business.

Dream dictionaries offer great insight, but they aren't the only ways to interpret the often strange symbols that come late at night.

Interpreting dreams is only part "dream" dictionary.  The other part is compiling the multiple meanings of the image or symbol throughout a variety of different sources.

Just because something came to you in a dream, doesn't mean that the image is unique to the dreamworld.  In other words, water symbolizes emotions.  It doesn't matter if you dreamt it, crave it, or are drawn to it.  In each case it the symbolism is the same.  Certain animals represent certain qualities—again, whether dreamt, envisioned during a journey, or seen over and over again in the waking world.

There's also morphic fields. These are symbols that gain traction due to the large amount of belief and truth poured into them.  Words, colors, animals, emotions… all of these actually mean something and physically and energetically affect us because of the energy put into the image and symbol over the course of years and years of belief.  Ie: we all have an interpretation of pink and baby blue based upon the morphic fields created around these colors, not only that, but these colors actually change the way people act around them, when viewing them, or while wearing them.

Webster's dictionary, wikipedia, resources for herbal remedies, totem animals, chakras, pagan practices, mythology, religion, folklore, even greeting cards are all fantastic resources for helping you discover the meaning to your dream symbols.

We also create our own images. For some people a house with a front porch may symbolize the comfort and acceptance of home. For others a house with a porch may be a symbol of fear and hatred, depending on the events of that person's life. How we feel about a certain animal or person means much when that image appears in a dream.  People who keep dream journals often discover the meanings of certain recurring images upon reading through their journals weeks, or even years later.

The other side of the coin is putting the stream of symbols together into something meaningful.  This isn't always easy.  Dreams have a tendency to jump from one moment to another, and it's not always easy to tell if each jump is related to the prior one, or if it is a new story all its own. Sometimes the dream itself is so obvious we overlook it. 

For example, often when I'm dreaming of water or bathrooms, it's because my bladder is full, and not because of any deep seeded emotional issue I need to resolve.  It's the combination of outside events, current life situations, personal emotions, and symbols that make a truly complete dream interpretation.

Visit our Community page to learn more about interpreting your dreams and symbols via some of our fantastic healers and readers like Vera Remes, Sarah Loukos, and me, Danielle Rose

Online Dream Interpretation

I don’t have a Shaman or a psychic on hand every time I have a dream.  In fact, I just plain don’t have either of those folks in my life.  I do, however, have dreams.  As we all do.  We may not remember them when we wake up, but we all dream.

Since I don’t have a live dream interpreter handy, if a dream is weird, troubling or interesting to me, I turn to www.dreammoods.com.  There are a multitude of websites that claim to be the “correct” interpretation of your dreams, all backed by someone or other who says they know.  I chose dreammoods because #1, it was the first website of its kind that I had seen, #2, It has a dream “dictionary” where images are sorted by letter that I find very handy and #3, it has a convenient app for my iPhone. 

I am such a child of technology, I tell you!

I figure this dream dictionary has been built by studiers who delve into dream imagery and juxtapose it against the life events of the dreamer in order to provide some sort of context—hence the relative continuity of image definitions across multiple platforms.  There are even multiple definitions of images.  It could mean this or it could mean that.

But back to knowing…

How would they know?  I mean, seriously…?  How could they know?  Studiers of the brain know so little as it is, no one really knows what a dream means to an individual.

Why would you even seek answers then, Charla?  If you are so sure that no one really knows what a dream means to you?  Because I’m naturally curious what someone else might think the images in my dream mean. 

Sometimes a dream image or so-called “definition” of a dream image will hit home as something I’m dealing with in my life and give me pseudo-insight. And pseudo-insight can become deeper insight as I explore my feelings, other images from my dream, and how they could connect within my life at that moment.  How my brain processes my environment and my feelings is shown in my dream world.

There are certain images that hit home for me. 

When my mother (deceased) appears in my dreams, I’m yearning for comfort.  This makes sense to me.

When I’m in a house in my dream, that house represents me and rooms signify parts of me.  Each room or floor is a part of my psyche or soul and I can usually tell which part based on the furniture/inhabitants of the room.

When I dream about school, being in school or class, it signifies the expansion of learning or knowledge.  Either it’s happening now or it needs to happen.  I need to expand my horizons or they are being expanded for me.

When I see water, it represents my emotions and the state of the water is a gauge of my emotional state.

These are my recurring dream images.  They’re saved in my online dream dictionary.  They feel to be a given in my dream world.

Do you have “given” images in your dream world and where do you go for answers about your dreams?

Find more of my blogs and technological musings at www.charladury.com.

Please post some of your dreams or dream symbols and what they mean to you, 
or stop by tomorrow to discover more on dream interpretation.

Flowers--spirit medicine for the body and heart

Evening Primrose by Danielle Rose

Flowers are more than just beautiful to look at.  They are powerful medicine for both the body and spirit.  This week we discussed several flowers and how they can benefit healing on many levels--from alleviating the winter blahs, to dissolving life-long trauma.

In Flowers of Fall--Harvesting strength for body, heart and soul Danielle Rose writes, "[Autumn

flowers] are bright and cheery, and these attributes are mirrored in their emotional and physical benefits, perhaps to strengthen us for the winter ahead."

While on a family vacation less than a year after her mother's passing, Charla Dury also recognized the spiritual power of flowers in Wild Flowers are God's Make-up. 

"I smiled a sad smile, but with hope in my eyes because of the flowers," Charla said.  "The small touches of color that bloom, un-manicured, uncultivated, un-watered and supposedly unloved, but blooming nonetheless despite their circumstances. 

photo by Charla Dury

On the other end of the spectrum, easy-to-care-for bulbs such as amaryllis bring color, spirit and strength indoors all winter long.  

Amaryllis

Danielle shows the basic of caring for amaryllis in Amaryllis: Bring pride, beauty and success into your home all winter long.

"This stately flower symbolized success after a battle or struggle, and that the amaryllis' height symbolized intense pride in Victorian England," Danielle writes.  "They were often given as gifts of recognition in the arts. It has also been said to symbolize inner beauty.
And perhaps the most powerful of all spirit medicines is the flower essence.  Tara Ann introduces us to the power of flower essences in Flowers Healing Body & Mind, and Dr. Lisa Avila shares a case study of a woman with a life-long fear that was all but banished thanks to the help of star of Bethlehem in Spiritual trauma and Star of Bethlehem: A case study.

Star of Bethlehem

"Within a month, she reported feeling substantially better, and as this treatment progressed, her fears retreated to what she described as 'very low level,'" Lisa said. " Flower essence therapy is a very subtle yet powerful therapy that can deeply shift all levels of the human condition, regardless of the origin of the insult or injury."

Have you ever felt the healing power of flowers in your life?

To learn more about the Mind Key Members and Community or to book an appointment, visit www.mindkey.me/community or sign up for our newsletter

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Celtic Art Contest

Things are always moving forward here at Mind Key.  We are please to announce the next official contest, always in an effort to look for talented individuals to enrich our community and inspire the world. 

When I brainstormed for ideas on what the contest theme should be, it came to me pretty easily.  Being drawn to anything Celtic I realized that during my research I’ve come across so many people, websites, and entire communities just as enamored with the Celtic culture as I am.  For this reason, Mind Key is seeking talented artists of any genre to submit their best representation of any Celtic art.

For information about this contest and to access our form submission click here.  Most importantly, don’t forget to share our contest information with friends!

Spiritual trauma and Star of Bethlehem: A case study

Dr. Lisa M. Avila

Lisa M. Avila is a chiropractor, kinesiologist and herbalist in private practice in New York City, where she custom blends care of the body, chemistry and mind/spirit for balanc of the human condition.

 I met with a 34 year old woman who had since her earliest memory what she described as an “unrealistic fear of kidnapping and death.” She reported no background of trauma of this or a similar nature having ever happened to her in her life. This fear manifested in her having anxiety when walking outside after dark, when being around strangers and what she felt was an overprotective reaction to her children playing outside. These fears of kidnapping and death were an obsessive thought pattern that had been pervasive throughout her life.

Clinical analysis of this patient revealed no specific triggers for this fear. She had a history of many years worth of conventional talk therapy to work through these obsessive thought patterns, but they had been ineffective in solving the problem. With no obvious origin of this extreme fear, I asked her where she thought it might come from. She replied, “I think I came into this world with it”.

Treatment consisted of Neural Organization Technique, a muscle balancing kinesiology technique

Star of Bethlehem

that helps restore the body's reflex system to homeostasis following shock or trauma. This method was employed in order to pull her out of the fight-or-flight mode that consumed her life, to take her out of “panic mode” and reset her back to a grounded, calm center. I recommended 10 drops of Star of Bethlehem taken under her tongue 3 times a day. Star of Bethlehem is a homeopathic flower essence therapy indicated for the after effects of shock, trauma, and grief.  Within a month, she reported feeling substantially better, and as this treatment progressed, her fears retreated to what she described as “very low level”.

Flower essence therapy is a very subtle yet powerful therapy that can deeply shift all levels of the human condition, regardless of the origin of the insult or injury. In this particular case, the patient believed it was a past-life issue or experience that precipitated this consuming fear that she contended with daily. Star of Bethlehem enabled her to gently but effectively dissolve much of the tissue stored emotional memory underlying this all-consuming, lifetime fear.

Dr. Avila may be contacted through Linked In, her facebook page, chiropractic kinesiology NYC, or through phone 212.532.6500 or email, avila_dc@yahoo.com. 

You can also go to Dr. Lisa M. Avila for more information.

Amaryllis: Bring pride, beauty and success into your home all winter long

Images from www.gardennewsbreak.com

The plant hippeastrum, commonly known as amaryllis, is a a member of the lily or Liliacea family. Robin Rose Bennett, herbalist and author of The Gift of Healing Herbs said that although amaryllis are not edible, the liliacea family contains many edible and medicinal plants such as garlic and chives. Tulips are also part of this family. Amaryllis are often sold as gifts around the holidays as they provide vibrant color indoors during long winter months.

The beauty of these bulbs is that they are fairly easy to grow, and within 5-10 weeks after planting (depending on growing conditions and variety), horticulturist Christian Curless of Colorblends, a third generation wholesale bulb merchant, says they produce multiple flowers on two to three towering stalks that can last for weeks during the dreariest days of winter.

Garden Guides, an online resource for gardeners, writes that this stately flower symbolized success after a battle or struggle, and that the amaryllis' height symbolized intense pride in Victorian England.  They were often given as gifts of recognition in the arts. It has also been said to symbolize inner beauty.

In Greek Mythology, Garden Guides notes the story of the shy nymph named Amaryllis, who pierced her heart with an arrow to win the heart of the shepherd Alteo.  From the drops of blood that fell, a vibrant amaryllis sprung from the ground. Bennett said that amaryllis embodies her name, which is derived from the Greek word amarysso meaning "to sparkle."

Amaryllis bring vibrancy and life to any home, particularly in the process of caring for it and watching a nondescript bulb grow into a magnificent symbol of self-love and life—a lovely gift for anyone with a tendency to cabin fever or the winter blues.

"Recipients unfamiliar with amaryllis don’t have a clue what’s coming," Curless said. "The initiated are immediately thrilled. Prepare to be thanked all winter long."

To care for your amaryllis, Gardener's Supply Company recommends planting the bulb in a heavy six to eight inch pot, pointed side up, leaving approximately one-third of the bulb above the soil line.  Place it in a sunny location, and water it once. Thereafter water it only to keep the soil from drying out. Once a couple inches of new growth appears, water it regularly, turning the pot so the stalk grows straight.  Once it blooms, keep the plant out of direct sunlight to keep the flowers from fading.

To have amaryllis bloom year after year, Garden Supply Company suggests cutting the stalk down to one inch after the flowers fade. Water and feed regularly, allowing a few new leaves to grow.  As summer draws to a close, stop watering as frequently, allow the foliage to die back and then store the pot in a cool dark place until about five to ten weeks before you want the plant to flower, at which
time care for it as above.

visit mindkey.me/danielle to learn more about connecting with and healing through the spirit of nature and plants.

Wild Flowers are God's Make-up - a Photoblog

My family and I took a road trip a few years ago to the Grand Canyon.  It was Spring Break for the kids and it had been less than a year since my mother had passed away.  I was depressed.  Really depressed.  I did my best to put on a good face, but I spent a lot of time staring blankly out of the truck window, watching the still barren landscape of southwest Colorado pass us by at 65 mph.

“Wild flowers are God’s make up,” I told my husband.  I think I scared the man, because he jumped.  I hadn’t said anything in a while.

“What?” he asked.

“Wild flowers are God’s make up,’ I said again.  “They’re the blush that God puts on to show that the world’s coming back to life after winter hibernation.”

I smiled a sad smile, but looked at him with hope in my eyes because of the flowers.  The small touches of color that bloom, un-manicured, uncultivated, un-watered and supposedly unloved, but blooming nonetheless despite their circumstances.

Those flowers helped me emerge from a place without color that day.  If anyone asks me what my favorite flower is, my answer will always be wild flowers.  They're inspirational to me.

Since then, I’ve come up with other “definitions”.  Phrases that bring to mind the same excitement, surprise and smile.

Wild flowers are red soles on the black stilettos you wear with your little black dress.

Wild flowers are that banana yellow sports car hidden in the sea of monochromatic crossovers.

Wild flowers are the flash of a diamond earring.

Wild flowers are that glass of ice water while you’re soaking in a hot tub.

What are wild flowers to you?

Flowers of Fall--Harvesting strength for body, heart and soul

As my all-time favorite season, spring seemed to hold the most award winning blooms.  Fall is ordained by the leaves, spring is for the flowers.

Not until I became an herbalist did I find a true appreciation for autumn flowers. Now my yard is full of goldenrod, queen ann's lace, evening primrose and flowering artemisia—plants I never gave much notice before.

making evening primrose flower essence

Each of these plants have their blessings and beauty in both the medicine cabinet as well as the garden. They are bright and cheery, and these attributes are mirrored in their emotional and physical benefits, perhaps to strengthen us for the winter ahead.

Evening primrose

Evening Primrose in Watercolor by D. Rose

She is known on the shelves for women's hormonal support. Evening primrose oil comes in coveted capsules, particularly for women going through changes later in life.  But this is only part of her power. Her flower essence is used to soften the heart and process emotions, and she is medicinally beneficial for all hormone related issues including PMS and migraines. She's pain relieving, and also nourishing to skin, hair and nails. This is believed to be due in part to high levels of essential fatty acids.  The flowers, stalks and seeds are very oily when picked, and the nectar of the plant is sweet. 

Queen Ann's Lace

Technically, she's known as wild carrot, and every part of this plant tastes like carrot!  She has a few look-alikes so be sure you know what you're harvesting, but that is a defining characteristic. Although she is not orange, she follows her cousin, the domestic carrot's orangey flair by being beneficial for the sacral area of the body.  She's often used for urinary infections, to support the bladder or kidneys or dissolve stones in those areas, to aid in digestion and relieve gas. Her blooms open and close, open and close, holding and releasing her seeds, and therefore, I have been taught that wild carrot is a wonderful ally for both conception and contraception. Often when women tell me they are having trouble conceiving I ask them to bring Queen Ann into their home, and sit with her in the wild to absorb her spirit in their intention. She also encourages laughter and light.

Goldenrod

Goldenrod gets a bad rap for causing autumn hayfever, but Robin Rose Bennett touts her for alleviating allergies. I saw the truth in this firsthand when a friend found almost immediate relief from a runny nose and sneeze after nibbling slowly on a few goldenrod flowers. She's both warming and anti-inflammatory, and the oil can be used for muscular pain. She's a strong ally for the kidneys when taken internally.  On the spiritual level, she helps with envisioning one's way, as her bright cheery blooms often do when they line the roadside.

Visit www.mindkey.me/danielle to learn more about Danielle's herbal services and healings utilizing the energy and medicine of plants.

In a Nutshell: Shamanism

Last week on Mind Key the Blog we explored shamanism and how elements of this ancient tradition can help you discover your path to healing and balance.
 

"When I think of a shaman, the first image that comes to my head is an old, Native American man, grizzled and peaceful, sitting cross-legged next to a fire," our editor Charla Dury said in Shamanism for Dummies

In Nuances of Shamanism, member Vera Remes explains, "That power comes from a 'whole' soul and the protection of compassionate spirits and power animals, which create a spiritual force field around us."

Meanwhile, Tara Ann goes bold and reveals the benefits of sharing your sacred spirit animal in The Spirit Deer.

"I may not agree with the suggestion of keeping your spirit animal to yourself," Tara said, "but I do agree with one thing. You cannot pick your power animal on a whim."

And Tamara Rokicki teaches us how to smudge in Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing: A Native American Ritual.


"The Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing, also known a Smudging, focuses on smoke attaching itself to negative energy and thus carrying it elsewhere," Tamara said.

This week we'll be talking flowers on Mind Key the Blog. Stop by to learn how powerful a healer the spirit of a plant can be.

Nuances of Shamanism - what shamanic healing means to me

Vera at a Raven Reiki Drum Circle

I felt the horse I loved so much was “off”.  I contacted the vet who examined him, watched him move and told me I was crazy but agreed to take an x-ray anyway – mostly to shut me up.   I received a distraught message from him several days later saying my beloved mount had “rotation” of 17 degrees in the navicular bone in both front feet.  That’s a really awful thing for a horse, a painful, crippling condition.  He should have been lying down or limping painfully.  What I didn’t tell him was that for months before as soon as I felt he was starting to go "off", I would take his hoof in my hands and hold it and hope beyond hope that the pain I felt he was experiencing would be healed or in the very least he would not hurt anymore.

That’s the first time I remember being successful changing things with intent.  I guess I may have done it before, but this is the first time I remember.  Healing was something I wanted to learn more about and be good at, if I possibly could.  Working as a lawyer put that on a back burner but, upon retirement, I went for it.  Shamanism resonated with me and I started to study.

Most shamanic practitioners don't go around healing horses in a barn. Shamanism is an ancient mode of spiritual healing that is present in cultures all around the world. Traditionally Shamanic practice is passed along in families, but for others, like me, it is formalized in training sessions. Shamans don't heal someone without permission; they respect privacy and make no promises about outcomes. They can't, because, in their view, it's the spirits that do the healing. In my own practice I tell clients this is not my work, but rather Spirit working through me. My goal is always to be a clear and open channel for God’s healing, wisdom, and love to flow through me for the healing of the client.

Drumming is an important part of this healing.  The drumming induces a trancelike state during which time shamans can journey to other worlds. The closest you may have come to this is through your dreams, which shamans believe are full of information from the spirits. If all sounds a little far-fetched, a little “cray cray”, that’s was I thought too. Trained as a lawyer, I asked myself if I was making this up, but the experiences were powerful, and when I started doing shamanic healing and seeing little miracles happen, there was no way it wasn't happening.

My concurrent journey in paranormal research made it easy for me to recognize there are other realities that can be called upon to help heal people. That power comes from a "whole" soul and the protection of compassionate spirits and power animals, which create a spiritual force field around us.

Raven Reiki has drum circles about once a month during which times healings are visualized for all those who desire them.  Mostly though we get together to experience the positive effects of group drumming and chanting.  All are welcome.  www.mindkey.me/drumcircles

Shamanism for Dummies

While the vast majority of members and subscribers of Mind Key, the concept of Shamans and Shamanism may be very familiar, there are those of us out here who are clueless.  So, I decided to do a little research.

According to Wikipedia…

          Shamanism:  A practice that involves a practitioner reaching altered states

of consciousness in order to perceive and interact with a spirit world and channel

these transcendental energies into this world.  A shaman is a person regarded as

having access to, and influence in, the world of benevolent and malevolent

spirits, who typically enters into a trance state during a ritual and practices

divination and healing.

Ecuadorian Shaman

Now, when I think of a shaman, the first image that comes to my head is an old, Native American man, grizzled and peaceful, sitting cross-legged next to a fire and encouraging people to go on a mental journey with peyote in his peace pipe to find their own answers in the smoke.  Interestingly enough, when you look up images of Shaman, that’s what comes up first, so I guess I’ve been spoon-fed the concept by the media.

Instead of the origin being with Native American people, the concept of Shamanism actually began in the Upper Paleolithic Era (30,000 years BC) in what is now the Czech Republic.  The Evenk word "shaman" would more accurately be translated as "priest" and was used in the indigenous regions of Siberia and neighboring parts of Asia.

The Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner

Shamans by many names are known to practice and guide all over the world.  There are hundreds if not thousands of regional variations.  Among the Hmong people of ancient and modern day China, respectful animal sacrifice is a large piece of the healing process, exchanging the animal spirit for the spirit of the sick person.  In Scandinavian Shamanic practices, the De Kloka (Wise Ones) acted as naturopathic doctors and midwives as well as using “magic rhymes or songs” to heal the sick in their community.

Contemporary Western Shamanism centers on the teachings of Michael Harner and the use of ritual drumming and dance and has been criticized as a “watered down” form of ancient practices.  While the practice may seem “less”, it can be very powerful in the lives of all people who choose to follow the path and learn the teachings.

For more informational "for Dummies" blogs and blogs about lame, normal life experiences, go to www.charladury.com and learn along with me!