A Different Direction

For those of you who have read my book, Sheathenry, Volume I: Ritual Practices of Modern Heathen Women, this will not be a surprise, but I’ve started going to a shamanic healing circle that’s held once a month in the hills of Northern Georgia. I was trepidatious at first, but I think these folks are very sincere. My husband was ready to call BS on them, but he agrees. I trust his opinion since he has experience with the whole shaman/medicine man world from his own spiritual journey.

I have been having a weird (maybe even wyrd) issue that’s been happening off and on for a few years. Over the past year or so, it’s been happening a lot more frequently. I have these episodes where I randomly experience an altered state with numbness & tingling on my face, light-headedness, and shortness of breath. I had previously spoken to a witchy friend of mine who thinks I may be picking up on excess energy from the other side of the veil. I think this certainly could be at least part of the problem.Though due to some of my family’s health history, I spoke to my VA doctor (his nurse, at least) about it and they got me in to see a neurologist to determine if it’s a medical problem. My neurologist currently has me on a 2-week heart monitor to try to determine what’s going on physically.

This past weekend I went to the shamanic healing circle and when it was my turn to receive energy healing I told the shaman what was going on. She told me that I didn’t have to accept all this energy from the other side, if that’s what’s happening. As she was doing the healing she whispered to me to visualize a broom sweeping away the energy that wasn’t mine. I’ve done grounding for ages, but nothing has ever cleared all the extra stuff away like that! Then it dawned on me that I should be calling on Syn to protect me, not only to protect my house with her broom. I kinda feel stupid not making that connection before, but there it is.

I’m a very empathetic person and I’ve always been an emotional basketcase at sad movies or even insurance commercials. We went to an emotional movie the next day and when I started to get teary I told myself, “This isn’t mine,” and visualized the broom again and was fine. I kinda feel like I’ve made some simple, yet profound, breakthrough.

I know there’s a lot more to this whole thing than calling on Syn and visualizing a broom, but I think it’s a first step. The shamans have a training program that I’m looking into. I know shamanism is a controversial topic in Heathenry, but as those of you who have read my book know, I’m going to give it a go. I’ve always wanted to learn to do spaework, however, I’ve never lived close to anyone who does it. It can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. I’ve acted as a guide to a Seer a few times and have even sat the high seat with guidance from an experienced spaemadr. I’m not stupid enough to go playing with it alone while I don’t know wtf I’m doing. The shamanic school is much closer, geographically, than the nearest spaeworkers I know of. After nearly 20 years of being a Heathen, I think I can take the shamanic lessons and see them through a Heathen filter without too much problem (such as my realization of calling on Syn).

I interviewed a few Heathen women for my book who also into shamanism. A couple of them identify as both völvur and shamans! I intend to pursue the shamanic studies really hope it brings a new level of understanding to my Heathen practice, whether it be controversial or not!