Journeying
to
retrieve
power:
Meeting
your animal guide
For this journey you will need:
A dark and private space
A place to lie down comfortably on your back
A blindfold (try a bandanna)
A drummer/rattler or journey audio
A clock for your drummer/rattler
A notebook and pen
Time for
journey: 15 to 30 minutes
Beginner Journeying
Kits are available through
FSS.
or
Click here
to download 15 minute
shamanic drumming audio
with call back
by Caroline "Crow"
Abreu
(.wav format)
We will
begin this journey with the assumption that you have
already
done at least one previous journey,
and you
feel comfortable
with your
portal and ability to reach the Lower World.
The more
rapidly you can do this
the more
you can get done when you get there,
and the
more likely you are to be successful
in bringing
back your power animal.
Good luck!
Lie on your
back with your blindfold on and your notebook
and pen
at your side.
Start your
audio, or have your assistant drum/rattle for you.
Designate
a time (15 minutes is a good parameter).*
Breathe
slowly and deeply, and connect with the rhythm
of the
percussion. Visualize your entrance to the Lower World
and begin
your descent.
Hold your
purpose
(to retrieve
personal power and meet your animal guide)
in your
mind as you journey and enter the Lower World.
Scan the
landscape for animals of any form, flying, crawling,
running,
swimming, etc. Any kind of animal.
If you
see many animals, begin to look for any repetition of sightings...
you see
an animal sitting one place,
then you
see a group of them, for instance.
On your
third sighting of a particular animal,
approach
it and ask it if it is your power animal.
The animal
will respond to you. This may or may not be
a verbal
response, but you will know if they are responding
affirmatively
or negatively.
If the response
is negative, keep looking for repetitive animal
sightings
until you have another animal that has appeared thrice,
and ask
this animal.
If the response
is positive, go to the animal and embrace it
close to
your heart. You will need to carry the animal spirit
back with
you in your arms.
Once you
have secured the power animal spirit,
return
from your journey.
Take deep,
slow breaths and feel the animal spirit and your spirit
becoming
familiar with one another.
You may
feel a "shift" as this happens.
Take your
blindfold off and write down as much
as you
can recall of your journey experience.
Following
your journey to retrieve power,
it is
your responsiblity to court
the
animal spirit and maintain a relationship with it
by learning
to respect
its
particular medicine and the gifts it brings to you.
A good reference
for looking up animal totems is
"Animal
Speak" by Ted Andrews.
Another
is "Animal Medicine Cards" by Bear & Co.
You can also do a Web Search for information
on your new helper's strengths and talents.
You can also enhance your relationship in other ways:
try for a chance to see the animal in nature or preserves
look up the natural charateristics of your animal
watch nature programs and documentaries about your animal
wear representations of your animal (jewelry, clothing)
draw pictures of and write poetry to your animal
obtain a natural fetish of your animal**
obtain a carved fetish of your animal
make a mask or headdress of your animal
support agencies that work to promote your animal's welfare
volunteer in rescue efforts related to your animal
Probably
the best way to develop relationship with your animal
guide is
to continue taking basic journeys to the Lower World,
where you
can explore and learn from your guide as well as
establish
a secure bond through interaction.
If you
do not honor your relationship with your guide, they may
become
angry or disgusted with you and withdraw their support.
You asked
them to help you,
so you
have to carry your end of the stick!
I hope you
have wonderful success with your journey
to retrieve
power and meet your animal guide.
Feel free
to send me an email about
your experience
if you have any questions!
Mitakuye Oyasin... We Are All Related!
*The rhythm should be monotonous
and regular, 80
bpm or less.
The callback should come
a minute before the journey ends,
a rapid reminder beat that
lasts a full minute.
You need to return during
this callback time.
If you have not completed
your journey, there will be another time.
The callback will be followed
by three rapid tympanic beats
indicating the journey has
ended.
**Animal
fetishes should only be obtained in natural ways,
such as found
in roadkill or through reputable
sources. IT IS ILLEGAL FOR NON-NATIVES
IN THE US TO POSSESS RAPTOR
FEATHERS OR FETISHES (claws, etc).
Also bear in mind that many
animals may be endangered.
Questions or Comments? Email Crow
