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Spirit Guides & Power Animals Mankind alone amongst the beasts demonstrably examines and actively seeks to understand and quantify his existence. Until he examines the physical, spiritual and mental as an integrated whole, the Question will not be answered. Until viewed wholistically, any answers can make no sense because the Questions themselves are not understood. -- Craig Berry |
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Psi Field *
Preface *
Jealousy & possessiveness Shamanism Light Work Shadow Work Dark Work |
In shamanic terms, a spirit guide may be an ancestor, departed friend, kindred spirit or similar. A Christian analogue would be a Guardian angel. A shaman may journey for a person or take them on a journey to meet with and communicate with their spirit guide/s. That guide is often one that will stay with that person for a long time or for their life's duration. It is interesting that in many cases where a guide had been identified, it turns out that the person is familiar with the form of that guide already, having been a feature of a lifetime of dreams or musings. A spirit guide often helps a person through understanding a circumstance or situation that they might find themselves in. Other areas where a spirit guide, once known and trusted, can help is in deciding how reliable another entity or their advice / guidance / teaching might be. Spirit guides may also be very helpful in determining factors to consider when trying to decide a course of action. Almost unheard of is for a spirit guide to give a clear direction as this is the path of that person and is sovereign to that person and their free will. I personally feel very dubious of any report of a guide giving a clear course of action and will consider carefully the possibility that this might actually be deception or that person's hopes, fears or imagination rather than the advice of their guide. The basis for this is the understanding of all within this plane that each individual must be a self determining, a sovereign entity in their own right. In all cases within my experience where clear, sound, valuable information is given, it has been in parable, story form or thoughts/points to consider before committing to a decision or course of action. Ultimately and always, the decisions made are those of the person and blame can not be placed at the feet of a spirit guide for a bad decision any more than glory for a good decision. An honest and trustworthy guide would reject both, offering the thought that their function is to help clarify the thoughts needing processing, not helping the decision process itself. These entities are generally energetic in origin and are a morphic reality of a collective animal spirit rather than the spirit of a single, physical animal. In understanding the structure of the inner and outer minds described on this site, many animals have all of the same mind structures but with varying development. For example, a worm might have all of the levels of the inner and outer mind available but may only develop or utilise its first or first and second inner mind. It is important to understand the shamanic concept that these forms of life are not lower, just different. As an aside and discussed elsewhere, the idea of vegetarianism to save the suffering of animals makes no sense to a shaman who sees all life of equal import and value. A shaman respects and honours the spirit of all the things he or she consumes, animal or vegetable, in the entire understanding that one day their own body will re-enter that same cycle of nutrition to others. An Animal Guide - or Power Animal as they are known in some schools of thought - often leads, takes or guides the person in their journeys. A trusted power animal might take a role of guardian in situations of peril or new explorations of abilities. Animal guides have often been regarded as guides to seekers of game for hunting and the continued survival of a people. The shaman would often consult with the animal guides of their area to determine what animals could be hunted and at what level of exploitation. In the Peruvian Basin for example, shaman will prohibit or limit the taking of certain game based on their journeys, acting as the steward of their environment. Inuit shaman have often had their counting of game through journeys confirmed by orthodox flights and counting by parks and wildlife officers. Much of their information is brought to them by their helping animal spirits. Some animals will come to you for a specific purpose and leave there-after. Regardless of how your encounter runs, your attitude towards a helping animal should be one of respect and equality. Other, Deeper Entities of Power If you are particularly fortunate, you will have an opportunity to commune with Gaia (the earth) herself. Each of the major continental plates also has an identity but I will leave that to the individual's own exploration. Gaia is an amazingly beautiful presence who, when met, will change lives and paths. My own encounter with Gaia the first time came at a point of great personal trial and the strength, peace and change that was granted to me as a result of this encounter left me profoundly changed and forever grateful and amazed. You may also encounter entities of energy or amorphic forms with whom you may commune. I have never had a genuine entity of good will resent a request to bring another trusted entity into a communion and find that any resistance to such a thought is a sign for me personally to be very cautious of the information being imparted. Some other denizens of this non-physical are elementals, sun, water, wind etc. Aspect elementals typically represent a universal experience across the world (like summer, winter etc.) but always a physical experience. Water is an elemental that expresses itself in many similar but distinct ways BUT is not rain. Rain belongs to wind. This is a good consultation journey to have with your spirit guide to understand why if the concept does not make sense now. Elementals are not all love, peace and mung beans! Far from it! Wind ( a personal favourite) is rarely anything but gruff and seemingly always on the border of anger but is also quite tractable given appropriate respect and deference. I would advise considerable practice and guidance prior to trying to interact or even encounter an elemental. Bullying an elemental is about the last thing you should consider doing; you do not control an elemental, you interact with it. Spiritual elementals are unlike aspect elementals in that they represent non-physical but universal aspects of life. Spirits of the North, east south and west, spirit of summer or winter,.. all are good examples of spirit elementals. These are normally respectfully invoked at the start or completion of a circle depending on location and purpose. Very few shaman try to actively engage these elementals as they are massive and differ in structure and mind so far from the human experience that those who try tend to become altered themselves, typically for the worse. |
About Craig:
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