NMR ISSUE 2

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Solitary Lammas Ritual
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What are the Chakras?
What Shamanism is and what it is not
Where are the Gods and Goddesses
Where are the Gods and Goddesses
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What Shamanism is and what it is not.

Raven Wolf

I feel angry!

I can recall what my spiritual facilitator, the Fire Shaman, said to do when angry. He reminded me to call upon the forces of Thipiocheti—the Abode of Fire. Thipiocheti is one of the hidden or unrevealed planets beyond Pluto. Some Astrologers refer to this planet as Vulcan. Once I had called the forces of Thipiocheti, I was to permit its Green, Violet and Black Rays to penetrate my aura. I was thus able to release my anger in a constructive fashion. This blocks the red ray of Mars. Mars fuels the state of aggressive, dynamic and sometimes violent behavior through the red ray.

The Green Ray of Thipiocheti is the Water force of Vulcan. This ray `tests' the anger to see if it is justified. This is vital—often anger is no more then a mask for a more complex emotion. By `testing' the anger itself, you may understand it's true nature or source.

The Violet Ray is the Fire force of Vulcan. This aligns the emotional and spiritual states of awareness. By using this in turn, the anger itself becomes a sacrament to the spiritual self. Thus, anger can be used in a positive, constructive manner.

The Black Ray is the Earth part of Vulcan. Black is also the color of the Warrior. The Black Ray purifies the angry person. It also reveals to how to make this anger your ally.

Finally, the three Rays of Vulcan merge to form the "Rainbow Sky of Thipiocheti." This is the Air part of Vulcan, which balances and completes the exercise.

OK, now what I am angry about? Too many self-appointed messiahs are running around the community, stirring up trouble between the shamanistic philosophies and other New Age teachings. The things I have heard in the recent past upset me. It's good to remember that no one `owns' Mother Earth—not the Indians, Aborigines, white man, black man, no one! We are all Earth's caretakers. No one has the right to stand above the next person and his philosophies. No one has more or less of a right to visit a sacred mountain, spring, or field. We all need to be more tolerant of the next person's ideas and customs. Only then will we be able to live and grow together in peace.

The Earth Shaman I study under was quick to point this out. He reminded me that the Lakhota people had always upheld this philosophy. He also pointed out that the ritual name for Paha Sapa, or the Black Hills, is Wamakas Oginaka Lehante, which means "The Heart of Every Creature That Exists." The Wamakas Oginaka Lehante was their most sacred land. Translations between Lakhota and English are vague at best, but you can understand the general idea behind "The Heart of Every Creature That Exists." There must be compassion between all peoples and animals. To maintain life requires a balance. The Lakhota people regard all things as living creatures, including abstract and spiritual concepts.

Often, in prayer the Earth Shaman would refer to this sacred land by its ritual name and tears would flow down his red cheeks. My Shaman brothers believed this to be the place of "everyone heart," therefore they lovingly took me there—a white man without a drop of Indian blood. They acquainted me with the sacred terrain of hills, valleys, canyons, caves and streams. They patiently taught me the mystical significance of each and to communicate with the nature spirits that live there. Even now I cannot speak of this place without stirring my emotions. This is very different from the attitude of those who cry, "keep the white man off of our sacred land." Nothing could be more destructive to Mother Earth then to keep Her children from coming to Her.

I advocate proper training and development of respect, regardless of the color of one's skin. Those with training and respect should have the freedom to visit the sacred lands. Of course, one would then know not to try to speak to one who is on a Hablecheya (Vision Quest). They are not to speak or be spoken to while Vision questing. Only through education will people from all backgrounds come to share this respect. If someone has been chosen to be the Pipe-Carrier, he must make the pipe available to all. Thus, he is the Pipe-Carrier rather than the Pipe-Owner. The Pipe is a symbol of the Earth. No one owns the Pipe, just as no one owns the Earth. Anyone who refers to the Chanupa Wakan, or Sacred Pipe, as his own, or "my Pipe," has demonstrated his arrogance and disrespect and has proven himself unworthy to carry it. There is no real disagreement between traditional Shamanism and the New Age movement—or at least there should not be! Both are avenues for spiritual attainment, they simply go about it in different ways at times. All systems ask respect for their tools, rituals and altars. As such, they should get equal respect and reverence. Pilgrimages to sacred sites can be invaluable lessons. Here the novice gets his first real taste of the power and beauty of Shamanism and learns how to conduct himself properly.

It not important how "traditional" one Shaman or his methods may be. By their own admission, all true Shamans are renegades, mavericks and sometimes outcasts. A Shaman is like a Psychic Frontiersman—he goes where others dare not tread. When this attitude is gone you can be sure the true Shaman is gone as well! Many forms of Shamanism are on the way to becoming religions. This is a very common pattern today. Less venturesome people learn from various Shamans and codify the information, teaching others to follow it verbatim. Of course, they have completely lost the spirit of Shamanism. Although a "traditional Shamanistic religion" has sprung forth, it is by no means "traditional" Shamanism. Traditional Native American religions are not necessarily Shamanistic. Tribal religion and Shamanism are not the same thing. Most of the world's religions have similarities with Shamanism. Christ and Buddha are two perfect examples of those who acted very Shamanistically. Unfortunately, people did not follow their example instead they worship them as Gods.

Shamanism teaches one to listen to one's own heart and not to walk in the footsteps of another. Of course, some training is necessary to undo the heavy indoctrination and restraint which society has placed within us. A true Shaman will give his student a glimpse of the unobstructed reality that awaits him, helping him to break free from society's trance-like state. Thus will the student understand his own function in the Universal plan and his true nature.

Metakoyin Oyatsin, All My Relations