Animality?

[You]

So, anyone do all that communing with animal spirits, past lives as animals, wolfing out sort of stuff? I want to try it.

[pod_3]

Any imagineable form can be mentally projected into, sent to realms real or imaginary, and solidified as a matter of will.

[You]

Yeah, but do you do it? I want to hear from the shaman folk about their crazy lifestyle, as it's neat.

[Joliz]

When I meditate, I often enter my meditation "place" within a forest.  Sometimes a dog meets me there, and, more recently, a small bird.  When present, these animals lead me wherever I'm meant to go in the meditation, to other "places" where truths are revealed.  I don't know if they're spirit guides or what, but it certainly feels like communing with animal spirits.  Have you tried anything like this?

[You]

Nope. Do they talk to you, or ever get anthropomorphic on you (human characteristics)?

Hmmm *reads the Astral Sex article* someone needs to come to me in my dreams and show me this stuff.

[SpectralDragon]

As mentioned in another thread I have a dragon form in the astral sometimes. My guide is a pheonix in form though she can take human shape. I can communicate certain thoughts and emotions to real animals though of course weather or not they listen is up to them.

[Chimerae]

I have animal aspects -- and I talk to animals.

I'm worthless working cattle with the cowboys -- I just get into the way -- but I can "talk" a randy bull out of a herd of heifers or move a wild steer across a pasture and into a corral.  I'm consistent enough that the local cowboys know about it and I sometimes get hired by ranchers -- it takes me all day, but the stock in question is in a better mood than if the cowboys rope 'em and drag 'em in.

Frequently I travel astrally in animal form.  If you want more details, PM me -- not really comfortable with putting this out on the forum.

If you a desire for this, it's probably already a part of your package and you just need to get it up to your linear consciousness.  Ted Andrews Animal-Speak has exercises some people really like.  I find his animal totem info more helpful.

Mostly, though, if you just "put it out on the ether" as a request, somebody will show up in dreams and help you through it until you can do it consciously.  Almost always the block is that people have (human) expectations about what it's like to be an animal, and can't take in their own animal experience -- far more kinesthetic, olfactory, and totally in the moment.  How do you translate an "in the moment" consciousness so that you can remember it in your human mind?  That takes some practice.  Like riding a bike.

[wisp]

Tyciol,
I had what I thought to be a ghost dog sit next to me in my gardening days. I've come to believe it to be more a spirit than a ghost. The last time I was aware of the dog's presence, it seemed to have changed to a bird. I've come to learn this is called shape shifting.I was aware of the presence by hearing it.

Animals make good visuals (for focus) on what you want to accomplish.For instance, a hound dog visualized can sniff out or find things. The nature of a particular animal specializes in certain abilities.

The Ted Andrews book "Animal Speak" is very good. Not having a natural interest in animals myself, this book helped me appreciate animals a lot more.

Recently my daughter's friend made a comment to her that I had a wolf traveling with me when I came to her house to visit. I wasn't all that surprised. I had my suspicions that I have an animal spirit(s) with me.

I suspect most people do have animal spirits with them. My daughter doesn't see spirit animals but she says she gets an impression of animal spirits with a person, when she gazes at the person's face.

[pod_3]

I'm not sure what you think a shaman is...

[Cedar]

Yeah, but do you do it? I want to hear from the shaman folk about their crazy lifestyle, as it's neat.

Crazy lifestyle?

Just what do you think Shamanism is?

[Anonymous]

He thinks that shamans live in the forest and meditate all day long lol thats a comical view.
shamans are just like every one else and as a side note I can do that whole animal communicating thing.

[Chimerae]

I don't think shamans are just like everyone else.  

(And I'm not a shaman, so this is a view from the outside, looking in)

Seems to me that shamans have a unique relationship with the Mystery -- they really enter into it, with or without ritual, and then through their lives bring some aspect of it back to be made available to the mundane world.  

That sets up a particular type of experiences -- not because of the shaman's "out there" experience or because of their day to day lives but rather because shamans seem to have to always deal with the transition and the awkwardness between mundane and mystery.  It's not that it's awkward, for the shamans, but shamans seem to take on this work for the benefit of the mundane world -- and to the mundane the very existance of anything "out there" is awkward.

[Anonymous]

I was brought up as a shaman and I suppose that the whole mystery/mudane thing doesnt bother shamans its just the people that want to act all mystical that say things such as "ooOoO this is so hard" or
"Even though its a burden..." thats when people start to think its OoOoO so hard. So whatever your view I cant change it.

[Chimerae]

I was brought up as a shaman and I suppose that the whole mystery/mudane thing doesnt bother shamans its just the people that want to act all mystical that say things such as "ooOoO this is so hard" or
"Even though its a burden..." thats when people start to think its OoOoO so hard. So whatever your view I cant change it.

I'm actually pretty easy to educate, mostly because I know that I'm wrong alot.  

Way back at the beginning, the way the question was framed, it sounded like an outside looking in with confusion frame of reference.

I know a couple of people who were raised as shamans -- one sioux, one more from the new age traditions.  They find it incredibly difficult to balance the demands of community/individual, culture/spirit.  Most of the shamen I know do find it to be a challenge.  

I'm not sure how to phrase this question correctly, so I apologize if it comes across wrong . . . since you ARE a shaman and you find that to be doable without drama or excess burden . . . what's different about your experience?

[Anonymous]

Could you explain that a little more for me I dont fully understand the question.

[Chimerae]

Could you explain that a little more for me I dont fully understand the question.

I know several practicing shamans who came into it through the new shamanic psychology.  They practice shamanism almost like other people use relgion or work.  They have normal mundane lives and then, on some prearranged schedule they do personal and group work that involves fires, beating drums, totems, sweat lodges and a whole host of things.  Beyond that, it's mostly just "interesting" for them when they repeatedly see some animal.  What's hard for them is that they are still deeply culturally engaged and their professional peers their more traditional neigbors, and their client's uninvolved associates are either offended or disbelieving of the validity of their work and experience.  I don't know any of these people particularly well.

As for the other kind of shaman, the sioux medicine woman puts it best.  She says that when you do this, you are this all the time.  That there's a "crack" and that in some way the shaman has to bridge it.  Except that the mudane world and the world of spirit are terribly out of synch.  She feels best in the midst of her practice and rituals -- working with herself, individuals, and groups . . .but as she goes through her linear life it's like pushing upstream against a raging current.  She  has developed intense chemical allergies.  Her little town has great diffulties with violence, drugs, kids that cannot manage in school.  Much of it is inexplicable.  Spirit does not let her off the hook in terms of her accountabilty to the demands of the spiritual world to engage the mundane.

As for the other shamans I know, the sioux example is the same.  The exact details are different -- some people have no general engagement with the world around them, some have every material advantage but health problems and social problems.

I'm thinking, as I asked my question, that you are among the second group, not the first.  If so, you must know something about balance or wisdom or ? that came with your upbringing that these other people are missing.

If you are in fact, more like the first group with shamanism as a practice, you also must know something none of them do, since you seem untroubled by the problems they face.

It's possible that my question can't be answered simply and you just ARE.  If that's the case, I'd like to know what you have seen with other shamans both those that experience difficulty and those who have what you have in terms of grace and balance.

Again, I don't think I've phrased this very well, so I want to say that no disrepect is intended.

[Anonymous]

srry its been so long my computer had a MAJOR breakdown.
Anyway Its not that I am different I have just gotten better control than most people.
Its like this at first you start out with the handle completally in your grasp
then if you get to cocky or cant hold it you start to lose your grip and Im not saying those are the only reasons but they are a couple main reasons What these people are thinking is that they have some amazing ability and have to control everything that comes their way. Now Im not saying that for everyone but you know what i mean right?

[Chimerae]

Thanks Burningriver.

Good point and very timely for my own path that it's not the shamanic stuff that makes it all weird but just the problem with hanging on too tight to control -- or giving up and taking no authority at all.

Ah . . . balance . . . well, maybe in my next life!

Thanks again for the info, sorry to hear about your computer.

[Anonymous]

anytime and thank you gl with maintaining your balance.

[Nuvo22]

hahaha.  astral sex. oh dear.
I think it's so odd yet one time while out of my body and flying around outside, I found myself near a lake and a table with two women and a man sitting naked. They were initiating a "merge" and I felt extremely attracted to them but when I leaped over to them I blacked out and woke up back in my body.

Animals guide us, watch us and can love us too. I have no doubt that we're all surrounded by them in spirit and person!