Get Thee to a Shaman By Doreen Pendgracs
I recently turned 50. Most of my friends had already passed the big 5-0. It got me thinking about the "life path" and whether I'm properly journeying along it. So I went to see a shaman.
No, not the aging aboriginal mystic that may spring to mind when you hear the word. My shaman actually went to the same south Winnipeg high school as my brother and I some 35 years ago - although I don't believe either of us had met her at that distant point in time. She's in her early 60's, Caucasian, and would pass as someone perfectly "normal" on the street of any North American city.
It was my work as a journalist that drew me to Carol Radway - when I interviewed her for a story I was writing about car sharing clubs. It was then that I learned of her work as a shaman.
So just what is a shaman to the Western World? A shaman is someone who - in layman's terms - has reached a level of enlightenment pretty much equal to that of the Tibetan monks without having to give up living with the rest of the world.
Shamans must go through no less than 90 initiations - or personal revelations - before they can be fully considered a shaman. Radway cautions me that the world of shamanism is completely unfettered and it's a case of buyer beware as there is no professional board to question anyoneís abilities. "You can only judge a shaman by the fruits of his or her work," she said.
A shaman can be a teacher of enlightenment, a healer, or a creative resource. Shamans like Radway have the ability to channel information to their clients from the "collective consciousness," an ever-changing gathering of spirits that step forward to answer your questions about enlightenment, your soul path or life journey. And that is one of the keys to making effective use of the knowledge a shaman can share with you. You have to step up to the plate with a solid list of questions as they will determine the direction from which the information will flow. You must be targeted and specific in order to get the answers or direction you seek.
I should add that shamans do not teach a spiritual world that is sacrilegious or apart from God. On the contrary; the more spiritual we become, the closer we become with God and a higher level of being. The spirits that speak to us through a shaman tell us about our inner selves and help guide us along our path.
I am told that I am a "scholar" -- one of seven life roles we may enact during the course of our lives. That doesn't mean a scholar in the true sense of the word as I don't possess an armís length worth of academic accolades. However, I have always been someone devoted to lifelong learning and my work as a journalist provides me with the opportunity to continually gain and share knowledge. The scholar is often seen as a "connector." Anyone who knows me will tell you that Iím always putting people in touch with one another - whether for professional or personal reasons.
Generally, the role we have will keep reoccurring throughout our lifetimes. This forms our karmic thread. The other life roles are that of a sage or teacher, an artisan, king (leader,) priest (someone working within a religious context,) warrior (anyone involved in combat) or that of a server. Loosely interpreted, perhaps you can see yourself fitting into one of those. As luck would have it, most of us are servers - or people who work in jobs where we are providing a service to the public.
Can you believe that your soul's life role will repeat itself in various manifestations over the course of your 7,000 years of lives? Yes, that's right. Radway tells me that, in general, most of us will go through life as we know it for about 7,000 years' worth of lives! I'm evidently in "wrap-up" mode, in which my goals for this lifetime are serenity and enlightenment. I guess that explains how Iíve ended up going to a shaman over the past year.
I am also told that we cannot achieve enlightenment until we have reached balance in all aspects of our lives - and that includes your work, play, physical, emotional and ultimately, your spiritual being. And I must say that Iíve never felt more balanced, so it looks like itís all coming together for me.
It really started about seven years ago, when I began researching feng shui - the ancient Chinese art of placement, balance and harmony. That opened the door for me to investigate what I've barely touched on here. Sure, some of my friends look at me strangely when I speak about this stuff. But that's alright. At least I've got them thinking about it. And with a little luck, theyíll be curious enough to pick up a book, watch a program or connect with the right people that might make it happen for them. So don't wait too long. Your 7,000 years worth of life may be just about up. Get thee to a shaman!