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There
are three necessary skills that every diviner and journeyer must possess
in order to connect with the divine, with the universe, with spirit.
These are not divination, per say, but are the foundation on which the
skill of divination is built. Without relaxation,
observation, and creativity,
you will find it impossible to connect to the divine at all, which is
your ultimate goal when divining or journeying.
Journeying
and divination seek out answers from the divine, in two very different
ways. Neither way is better than the other and you may find that you
have a natural affinity for one. I recommend studying only one of these
subjects at a time as they can be very tasking and challenging for the
novice. Once you have mastered one form of communing with the divine,
you can begin learning other methods of communication.
Journeying
is allowing your spirit or astral body to leave your own body to travel
to the OtherWorld. Depending on the culture, the OtherWorld can consist
of any number of places and realms. However, in modern-day Core
Shamanism, the OtherWorld is made up of three worlds: the upper world,
the middle world, and the lower world. (This concept of three
“layers” is very common in cultures where mysticism played a vital
role in society. Even if there were multiple worlds within each layer,
the triple tiered system remained consistent.) Your spirit can encounter
all types of spirits, in various forms and shapes. You can ask questions
of these spirits and receive answers. You might meet animals, insects,
humans, faeries, angels, and even demons or devils. Journeying requires
a lot of confidence and the practitioner needs to be able to handle
sublime beauty and horrible decay quickly, without becoming enmeshed in
the experience.
Divination
is the ability to read the signs of the divine, in whatever form you
view it. The divine could be seen as Gods and Goddesses from different
cultures (Hermes and Aphrodite from Greece, Odin and Freya from the
Norse, Lugh and the Morrigan from the Irish Celts), as Yahweh, Jesus or
Mother Mary from Christianity, as Buddah from Buddhism, as the universal
life force, as the energy of the earth, or as the ancestral spirits of
family members passed-on. The signs can takes place in everyday life
(clouds, patterns of birds in flight) or through the use of specific
tools (tarot cards, pendulums). In divination, you see the signs and
interpret their meaning. You are the filter through which the divine is
understood. The message from the divine is seen through your eyes, your
experiences, and your world-view.
In
the next three installments of this newsletter, I will outline
activities and exercises that you can use to begin to prepare your body,
mind, and spirit to connect to the divine, either through journeywork or
divination. I encourage you to practice these activities as much as
possible. Keep your goal in mind and, before you know it, you will feel
relaxed and care-free! Enjoy!
Relaxation
Relaxation
is the key to accepting and receiving divinely inspired messages. When
you are tense, your mind tightens-up (as do all the muscles in your
body), focusing your attention on the one issue that is causing your
anxiety. This state of being allows no room for divination to enter.
Yet, many adults have forgotten how to achieve relaxation, so how can
you divine if you don’t know how to relax?
You
and Your Body
First
of all, remember that your body knew how to relax as a child, under the
warm summer sun. Accept that you are going to need to re-learn how to
achieve that state of complete relaxation and that it might take some
time. Don’t become discouraged (and then, more stressed) if you
can’t relax on cue right away. It took years for you to build up your
stress-level; letting it go is not going to happen overnight. For some
people (myself included), relaxation is a life lesson that constantly
has to be addressed. Your muscles have to be re-taught to let go and
become limp and pliable.
Now
that you’ve decided to relax, pay attention to your body. How does it
feel? Some people hold their tension in certain areas of their bodies.
The jaw, shoulders, or neck are common stress-areas. Do your teeth ache
when you wake up? Does it feel like one side of your mouth is more
sensitive than the other? You may subconsciously grit or grind your
teeth at night while you sleep. (This can actually become a serious
medical condition. Don’t hesitate to visit your dentist or doctor if
you are concerned, as they can suggest various treatment options.)
Headaches are another clue that you are harboring stress in your
body. Tension headaches are one of the most frequent types of chronic
headaches and are generally characterized as a dull pain felt on both
sides of the head. They can be accompanied by tension in the neck or
shoulders but are considered to be caused by emotional stress and
tension, rather than muscular tension. Usually they begin in middle age,
when the anxiety and worry of everyday life increases. Many
over-the-counter medications have been marketed for this type of
headache sufferer, however, getting an opinion from your doctor never
hurts.
Assessing
your body’s tension areas is not always easy. Sometimes we don’t
want to think about our stress, believing that naming it will cause it
to grow. Nothing could be further from the truth. Only by seeing, and
accepting, our body’s stress points can we understand them and
address, and eventually eradicate, the stress.
Assessing
the Body Exercise
Find
time in your busy week for an hour dedicated to yourself. Make sure no
one will disturb you for that entire hour. (This includes any pets too!)
Pick a room in your house in which you feel comfortable and calm.
Ideally, the room would also include something soft to lie on. I prefer
to use my bed but a mattress on the floor or a couch or sofa would also
work. Dim the light in the room. It should feel soft and inviting,
neither harsh and demanding like
noon
nor pitch black and isolated like
midnight
. Candle-light is perfect. In fact, lavender scented candles will help
to promote a feeling of tranquility as lavender is an herb often
associated with relaxation. If you are allergic to lavender, pick
another fragrance that you like. I like cinnamon and other spicy scents
as well.
Once
you’ve set up your room, take off your shoes and put on some
loose-fitting, non-binding clothing. You want clothes that won’t
restrict your movement or cause you any form of discomfort. Once
you’ve got on your comfy clothes (pajama’s are also great), lie down
on your bed, couch, or mattress. Stretch your arms and legs out as far
as they will go. Separate your fingers and toes. Reach for the end of
your bed and for the walls on either side of you. Count to ten and then
allow your arms and legs to fall back onto the bed. Stretch two more
times, completely letting go of all the muscles in your arms and legs;
allow them to fall, unhampered onto the soft surface.
After
stretching three times, begin concentrating on one part of your body at
a time. I find it easiest to begin with the toes. Focus on your toes,
really pay attention to them. They balance your body throughout the day.
How are they feeling? Is one more tired than another? Slightly in pain?
Cramped or feeling squished? Make a mental note of the condition of your
toes and move up the body to your feet. How are they feeling? Tired?
Itchy? Achy in spots? Again make a mental note and move one. Continue
moving up the body, paying attention and making a mental note of each
body area.
Once
you’ve reached your head, thank yourself for taking this time to spend
with your body, re-connecting to it. I like to think something along
these lines: I honor myself for
taking this time for me. I believe that I am worth this time and I thank
myself for acknowledging my own body and my own body’s needs. I
promise myself that I will once again assess my body ______________.
You fill in the blank with your own phrase ~ one week from now, two days
from now, tomorrow, etc. It is important to set-up another appointment
with yourself, as it is so easy to do this exercise once and then forget
about it for months at a time. You want to keep your connection to your
body strong so you can understand the level of stress in your life. You
should also write down any tension areas that you encountered in this
exercise in a journal, so you can track your body’s reaction to
stress.
A
great way to continue this connection to your body is to get a massage
from a reputable massage therapist. The benefits of neuromuscular
massage are numerous and extend to all aspect of your life and your
mental and physical well-being. If
you don’t have the money, ask a close friend, significant other, or
family member to massage you. Set aside a time and place that is quiet,
when no one else is around. Play some soothing music and don’t forget
to buy some body oil. (I like jojoba oil as it is moisturizing for the
skin.)
Breathing
One
of the key ingredients to combating stress and gaining relaxation is
breathing. We all know how to breathe; it is a natural bodily process
that we don’t even have to think about! However, many people breathe
shallowly, only using a small percentage of their lungs’ capacity for
breath. Shallow breath is a cause and a symptom of stress. To relax, we
must breathe deeply, bringing oxygen into our lungs. While at work, on
the bus, in the grocery store, or wherever your busy life takes you,
practice taking deep breaths in and out. Focus on filling your stomach,
abdomen, and lungs with air; like a balloon they should expand. When
exhaling, deflate the balloon, pulling your stomach, abdomen, and lungs
toward your breastbone. Count the number of seconds you take to breathe
in and out. As you practice this exercise, you will notice that you will
take more and more time to breathe as you begin to breathe deeply on an
everyday basis. (Note: Taking deep breaths is also a great way to
overcome anxiety related to testing or talking to large groups so share
this exercise with your kids, husbands, wives, or family members.)
Alone
Time
Time
alone is also a necessary component of achieving relaxation. It is so
easy to put everyone else’s needs in front of your own. You need to
rush to soccer practice, finish that report, cheer up your friend, bring
your mother to the doctor’s office, and buy that last minute birthday
gift. Whew! By the time you’re done with everybody else, you’re too
tired to do anything but order a pizza and crash in front of the
television set. It’s great that you can breathe deeply while running
all those errands but you need to set aside some time just for you. This
is time for you to practice your breathing by yourself, to read that
novel you bought three months ago, to draw a picture or create a
collage.
Spending
time by yourself allows you to truly get to know yourself, without
everyone else’s concerns dragging away your energy. It is essential
and you are worth it! Promise yourself that you will take some free
time. Start with fifteen minutes a day, in the morning before everyone
wakes up, or in the evening when everyone else is in bed. Grab an hour
once a week or a half hour twice a week. Whatever you can work out, know
that this time is strictly for you. No telephones, beepers, cell phones,
or e-mail. This is time without people, where you indulge in your
desires and wishes, returning to that sacred child-like being at your
very center. Play with your inner child! Remember… you deserve it!
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