NMR ISSUE 3

Astrological Forecast 3
Autumnal Equinox
Closer Look at the Tarot: Threes
Editorial
Interview with Raven Wolf
Letters 3
Magick That Fails
Music and Mantras
Oh Gods Above
Prenatal Solar Eclipse
Quartz
Seeking the Goddess in Your Home
Solitary Samhain Ritual
Tarot Images
The Oldest Magick
The Other Editorial
The Return of Gaia

Articles
Authors
Rituals
Book Reviews
NMR Issues
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An Interview with RavenWolf: Part One

Interview by Mark Ardagna

Ravenwolf served a seven-year apprenticeship to three Lakota Shamans. At the conclusion, they commissioned him to make Shamanism accessible to those drawn to the Path, and to ease their transitions to the Shamanic lifestyle. Mark Ardagna, a student of Shamanism, conducted this interview with Ravenwolf. The topic: Discerning if one is called to the Shamanic path.

How does one go about choosing the Shamanic path? Is one called to Shamanism?

Shamanism is not a path many choose—Shamanism does the choosing. Some are drawn to Shamanism and fight the impulse, but a part of them is already there. Shamanism is a spiritual path of being one with the Cosmos and understanding oneself. You either "feel it" or you don't. If you want to be a part of the Shamanic path, you already are! There is no baptism or initiation required to begin walking the Path—which is circular rather than linear. You see, the Path, or Shamanic way, is aware of its own identity and has its own consciousness. It is a living path, just as the universe itself. It has no outer structure in the sense that most religions do. Shamans are the groundbreakers. They are the frontiersmen of spirituality, and the frontier is forever expanding.

So, one does not choose the path of Shamanism. How, then, does the Shamanic path choose one?

It reveals itself to the individual, letting that individual know of its existence. Western culture has been very close-minded to the ideas of Shamanism. You could say that one intuitively knows that one is a Shaman. Intuition could be described as a subtle sense of awareness or understanding one feels strongly enough to differentiate from emotion—a revalation if you will. The Shaman can be seen in many roles, depending upon the area in which he lives. It must be remembered that each continent, and the life and people therein, serves a different function in the scheme of things on this planet. For instance, in Africa, the focus is on the Shaman himself, his relationship to the "spirits" and the amassing of personal power. In North America, the focus is on the harmony, balance and constant maintenance of equilibrium with his environment. So, here in North America, the Shamanic path tends to call those who have a great sensitivity to harmony—a yearning to restore balance. This was and is the whole thrust of the Indian cultures on this continent. You see this attitude in those involved with the ecology movement.

How did you hear the "call" to Shamanism?

At a very young age, I became aware that the dominant white Christian culture in the United States was terribly out of balance. I believed this to be the root of most of the turmoil in people's lives. Of course, I didn't have the vocabulary to explain my feelings to anyone, nor did I think anyone would listen. It puzzled me that others could not see what I saw so plainly, even as a young child. I would ask questions that would get me into a lot of trouble, and I realized that Christianity as a whole was very insecure. For example, in first grade, the nun at the school I attended in Pennsylvania, said, "God made the world out of nothing." I immediately raised my hand and demanded to know if God was something where did he get "nothing" from? And if there was a God, where did he find the "nothing?" If he was there and he was the creator of all things, did he also create

"nothing?" There was always this accepted, presupposed duality of the Creator/created, something/nothing in Christianity that disturbed me. I need only look around and I knew that the Creator and the creation were one. It was self-evident to me that what they taught contradicted what I already knew. But I learned I had to keep my mouth shut and lead a secret life. The Church would not allow me to question dogma—there was no debate. We had to memorize catechism; and they forbid us to question anything that they taught. Yet, I knew instinctively that I had entered into a genuine relationship with the Path. This in itself was very nourishing. The Spirit of the Path was always there when I needed it. I could feel its presence helping and guiding me, when I was playing with my friends, attending school or church—whenever.

The next issue will continue this interview.