What is Shamanic Soul Coaching?
Shamanic Soul Coaching is a particular counseling technique that I learned from Francesca Gentille of the Integrative Arts Institute.
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I again thank you for your help. The personal shamanic sessions you did with me had a particular impact in helping me connect with myself, soothe myself and support myself throughout this transition. I am so grateful for your help. Thank you. -- Sheri Oswald, Client, California
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What is Journeying?
(aka Guided Meditation, aka Shamanic Journeying)
By Patricia Pearce
"Journeying is a vehicle for entering the world of Spirit. It is a world we sometimes experience when dreaming and in states of deep meditation and prayer. As we know from the dreamtime, this world is often inhabited by mythic beings, guides, animals and ancestors. These beings want to make themselves known to us, that they may assist us with their particular intelligence in the work of healing, guiding and living a life of sustainability that honors the earth.
"[There are many] methods for traveling to the Spirit world [such as traveling] on the breath and the drum as we enter the dreamtime while in a conscious state. The repetitive rhythm, similar to that of chant, or even the wheels on a track while traveling by train, has been used throughout time as one of the means for meeting those beings who wish to share their wisdom with us."
"Journeying is a vehicle for entering the world of Spirit. It is a world we sometimes experience when dreaming and in states of deep meditation and prayer. As we know from the dreamtime, this world is often inhabited by mythic beings, guides, animals and ancestors. These beings want to make themselves known to us, that they may assist us with their particular intelligence in the work of healing, guiding and living a life of sustainability that honors the earth.
"[There are many] methods for traveling to the Spirit world [such as traveling] on the breath and the drum as we enter the dreamtime while in a conscious state. The repetitive rhythm, similar to that of chant, or even the wheels on a track while traveling by train, has been used throughout time as one of the means for meeting those beings who wish to share their wisdom with us."
Shamanic vs. Rational worldviews
Given that I have a degree in Science (it’s in Genetics), some folks have wondered how I can hold what seem to be such mutually exclusive views of the universe, in order to do something with shamanic in the title. Here are some of my thoughts on the topic.
Many people find a perceived internal conflict between the Shamanic view and the scientific/rational view of the world. I am actually highly trained in science (BS in Genetics), and have at times found it challenging to hold such disparate views of the world at the same time. I’ve found that it helps me (and my clients) to translate between the views, looking for how mystical concepts can be expressed in scientific terms, and how scientific concepts can be viewed in a mystical framework.
Another thing that helps me is to remember Arthur C. Clarke’s “law”:
Many people find a perceived internal conflict between the Shamanic view and the scientific/rational view of the world. I am actually highly trained in science (BS in Genetics), and have at times found it challenging to hold such disparate views of the world at the same time. I’ve found that it helps me (and my clients) to translate between the views, looking for how mystical concepts can be expressed in scientific terms, and how scientific concepts can be viewed in a mystical framework.
Another thing that helps me is to remember Arthur C. Clarke’s “law”:
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
For me, this means that just because I don’t understand it, or science can’t explain it now, doesn’t mean that no explanation exists. For instance, at one point in human history, the best scientific minds thought that illness was caused by "ill humors" or demonic possession. Treatises were written on the topics, and "evidence" was gathered to support these ideas. Then tools were invented which allowed us to view smaller and smaller objects, such as cells, bacteria, and viruses. With new tools and new information, the current ideas about infectious disease were born, and with them, new ideas of how to treat various symptoms. Similarly, as recently as 30 years ago, medical professionals believed that ulcers were caused by "stress" or "too much spicy food." We now know that H. pylori infection often causes the pain and symptoms associated with an ulcer, and that proper treatment often involves a course of antibiotics, rather than a bland diet or a week at a spa.
Therefore, some of the things that we passionately believe now may eventually be proven to be incompletely understood, or even false, with new and improved tools and techniques in the future. In particular, I maintain an open mind with regard to the complexity and marvel of the human brain, and how very little we yet understand about how it works. We may yet find a scientific explanation for "the butterfly effect," or for telepathy, for instance. We don't know what we don't know!
Conversely, I don’t actually need to know how something works in order to use it. A toaster might as well be a toasting spell, for all the difference it makes to me in practical application. Applying this concept in reverse, tarot cards, astrology, hypnosis, data charting, psychology, and trance dancing all become equally valid means of reaching a state of knowing and being hooked into a collective body of wisdom that’s not usually available to us on a conscious level in day to day normal space.
Does this mean that the tarot or astrology are "objectively true"? Not necessarily, in a strictly scientific sense. But if you the client resonate with these tools, and get good information which then helps you to make a decision, for instance, then I'm perfectly ok with you using those tools, or any other tools you might wish to use. I hold my own beliefs very lightly, and I maintain an open mind, and a great deal of flexibility, in working with clients. Whatever works for you, and whatever you believe is right for you, is just fine with me, so long as it's helpful and not hurtful to you or others around you.
Therefore, some of the things that we passionately believe now may eventually be proven to be incompletely understood, or even false, with new and improved tools and techniques in the future. In particular, I maintain an open mind with regard to the complexity and marvel of the human brain, and how very little we yet understand about how it works. We may yet find a scientific explanation for "the butterfly effect," or for telepathy, for instance. We don't know what we don't know!
Conversely, I don’t actually need to know how something works in order to use it. A toaster might as well be a toasting spell, for all the difference it makes to me in practical application. Applying this concept in reverse, tarot cards, astrology, hypnosis, data charting, psychology, and trance dancing all become equally valid means of reaching a state of knowing and being hooked into a collective body of wisdom that’s not usually available to us on a conscious level in day to day normal space.
Does this mean that the tarot or astrology are "objectively true"? Not necessarily, in a strictly scientific sense. But if you the client resonate with these tools, and get good information which then helps you to make a decision, for instance, then I'm perfectly ok with you using those tools, or any other tools you might wish to use. I hold my own beliefs very lightly, and I maintain an open mind, and a great deal of flexibility, in working with clients. Whatever works for you, and whatever you believe is right for you, is just fine with me, so long as it's helpful and not hurtful to you or others around you.
~♥ Dawn © 2011-2017, Dawn M. Davidson
