Shamanic Journey to Underworld

Shamanic Journey

Recently, I attended a workshop called Experiencing and Understanding Shamanic Journeywork. The presentation was conducted by a female Shaman, who is fully trained and initiated into the, “tradition of the Q’ero medicine people of Peru." The experience was mind-blowing.

The most intriguing part of the workshop was the latter segment. It was the part where the audience actually experienced a shamanic journey.

Before descending into the underworld (earth), it was essential to attain a heightened state of awareness.

This was accomplished by a series of breathing exercises. The exercises enabled us to relax the body and mind, and let go of all mundane thoughts.

By the time the breathing exercises were concluded, I was feeling very relaxed, and detached from all thoughts and surroundings. The room, speaker and people around me no longer existed.

As I continued to journey into the underworld, I felt a sensation as if my body was submerging into the earth. I was becoming one with the earth. As the process continued, I found myself going deeper and deeper inside.

When I reached the underworld, I looked around and noticed that I was in a cave. Although most of the cave was dark, some light was coming through an opening. As I approached the opening of the cave and stepped out, I was bathed with warm and glowing sunlight.

In front of me was a stream with the most incredible translucent water. I decided to step into the water, sit down and close my eyes. The warmth of the sun and water embraced my body. Slowly, I began to drift gently downstream. I was not fearful of the unknown or where I was being pulled. I was living in the moment and wanted to continue enjoying it. Suddenly, my body stopped moving. I opened my eyes and saw the most dazzling white sand.

Walking on the sand seemed as if I was walking on air- a very strange sensation. I continued walking until I came to a pathway. Both sides of the pathway were covered with beautiful and colorful flowers. I looked at my clothes and noticed that they were completely dry. I continued walking until an older man appeared.

The man was dressed in a long white ancient looking robe. His hair was long, and completely white. He seemed as if he had been waiting for me. When I asked for permission to enter his domain, he politely acceded. After thanking him, I continued walking forward. I kept on walking until I came across a massive ball of light.

From within, a hand emerged. I grabbed it and walked inside. The inside consisted of an immense luminous white yellow light. Although I could not see the figure that had welcomed me, I knew it was nearby. I sat down and felt the energy of the light permeating my entire being. Besides receiving energy, something else was happening. The spiritual being, who was now by my side, was merging with me. We were becoming one. When the process was over, I calmly got up and walked outside.

Waiting for me, was a large beautiful wolf. He was there as a protector and guide. As we commenced the journey back home, I felt immensely calm and cared for. I did not see the older man on my way out.

We journeyed upstream to the location of the cave. All the time, my lovely animal guide remained by my side. By now, I heard a far away voice saying, “it's time to come back." I opened my eyes and realized I was back in the room where it all started.

Although I did not place spirit and animal guides into my third eye or heart charka-as directed by the Shaman in the beginning of the journey- I felt they were deep inside me. Their strength and energy were now a part of me.

I attended the workshop expecting very little and walked away feeling invincible.

Shamanic Experience

It was a beautiful summer day, and I was heading to see a Shaman. What was I getting myself into? I had no clue.

I had read an article on the Shaman, and felt a strong impulse to see him. Since it was my first time visiting a Shaman, I did not know what to expect. I was ten percent nervous and ninety percent curious.

As I came out of the subway and walked slowly towards the address of the Shaman, my thoughts began jumping from one thing to another. “What is going to happen?…what kind of a person is he?…will his guides connect with me?” These and other questions kept entering my mind.

At the designated time, I rang the bell. A white, middle-aged man with a pleasant smile opened the door. "Hello...come in and have a seat," he said. As I sat down on a couch, my eyes began inspecting the area. It was a small space with various spiritual items spread around the room. Near the windows were a table and two chairs. On top of the table were stones, flowers, and other items, which I don't recall at the moment.

After a brief introduction, he told me to sit on one of the chairs near the window. He then gave me a candle and said, "Take this candle, rub it around your body and pray for all problems and negative energy to be transmitted to the candle." I closed my eyes and did exactly what he told me. When I finished, I handed him the candle. He lit the candle and proceeded to do a candle reading.

Although the reading did not impress me, I enjoyed the interaction. It was very amicable. By the end of the reading, we were exchanging information concerning various aspects of certain religious beliefs.

Suddenly, he looked at me and said, “Do you want to do the spiritual cleansing?”

“Is the Pope Catholic? Is there tea in China?” I said to myself. What a ridiculous question. Of course, I wanted the spiritual cleansing. It was the main reason why I was there.

He instructed me to stand in the middle of the room. Then, he gave me two stones- one for each hand. I held them tightly, closed my eyes, and proceeded to pray.

As I continued praying, I felt the Shaman spraying a liquid over my body. I believe it was rum, but I am not sure. After spraying me, he began chanting as if calling on the Divine Energy.

Suddenly, I began to have a dream-like vision. I saw a middle-aged man of medium stature moving around me in a circle. Just like the Shaman, he was speaking in a foreign tongue. As he moved around me, he kept shaking a rattle and chanting. Out of nowhere, a snake appeared. It approached my feet and moved slowly up my body. When it reached my head, it continued to move up into the air in the direction of the man. Grabbing the snake, it transformed into a staff. The man held it tightly and placed it down. Next to the man was a wolf sitting and observing patiently. Then, a large bird appeared. It went to the top of my head, seized a red ribbon, and flew away.

When the vision was over, I heard the Shaman calling me. He took away the two stones and gave me another one. “Here, take this stone and keep it close to your body,” he said. I placed it close to my stomach area and held it firmly. My hands and legs started shaking as he started chanting. The energy I felt was very powerful.

When the cleansing was over, I felt peaceful and satisfied. Taking a few minutes to get my thoughts together, the Shaman gave me some water. As I was getting ready to leave, we hugged each other and said our farewells.

As I walked towards the train station, my mind was a complete blank. I could not process what had happened to me. That evening nothing extraordinary occurred.

The next day, the unexpected happened. I was visited by spirit. In a dream-like state, I saw myself resting on a bed. A man appeared and sat next to me. He was the same man or spirit I had seen the day before during the cleansing. He smiled and commenced to reveal facts about the spiritual cleansing. Although he was not communicating verbally, his thoughts were apparent to me.

He stated that he was the same spirit that had appeared the day before. In fact, his energy directed me to the Shaman. To understand his energy, it was vital for me to see, feel and experience it.

The ceremony consisted of calling upon the Divine Creator to allow higher-ranking spirits to descend and fill the area with their energy. The shaking of the rattle, the chanting, and moving in circular form were all part of the calling process.

Furthermore, he stated that the snake represented the spirit of extraction. It was used to remove unwanted energy. As it moved slowly up the body, it was releasing negative energy and taking it to the top. When it detached itself from the body, it had removed all of the negative energy from my body. It then transformed into a staff.

The wolf represented the spirit of protection. Its mission was to protect and guard the medium as well as the receiver from all negative energy.

The large bird, which was an eagle, represented the spirit in charge of taking away and discarding negative energy to another dimension.

Reaching the end of his explanation, he smiled and assured me that things were going to be okay.

Immediately, I woke up feeling a sense of inner peace. Remember, if you have a strong inclination to do something or if spirits of light move you into a specific direction, go for it. You never know what is on the other side of the rainbow.

There is a reason for all things in life.

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