Journeying

A couple months ago a family friend offered to host Shamanic Journeying at her house once a month.  I had heard and read about Shamanic Journeying before, but had never actually journeyed myself.  It always sounded very intriguing to me so I thought I should give it a try.

The name alone, SHAMANIC JOURNEYING, I'm sure conjures up quite the images for some people.  You might as well add this to the list of things that the people in our town think we do is weird.  Shamanic Journeying is basically meditation with a twist.  While in meditation you are clearing the mind, Shamanic Journeying is a tool to help you internally reach different worlds.  In the physical world things can be crazy, hectic, deceitful, confusing.  By allowing the mind and spirit to focus on something other than this world, I was able to connect with safer, calmer, more beautiful worlds.  This sounds too out there for many, but the way I see it is, if this allows me a safe haven to release, connect or find answers to things that typically cause stress, tension and negativity then why not do it?

I would rather find peace through Shamanic Journeying then do what too many people do, which is numb all their emotions through drugs and alcohol.  The odd thing is, most people find Shamanic Journeying scary or unnatural, but they find nothing wrong with drinking themselves into a stupor.  Seriously, think about all the things society deems to be normal and will turn around and view those that don't follow the norm as eccentric.  My favorite example being, we are the only species to consume another species milk and I'm weird because I think it's unnatural to drink something meant for a baby cow.  Oooookay, but I digress and will get back on topic.

Shamanic Journeying has given me an outlet to question things in a more pleasant environment.  The journeying process is an internal one that is a unique experience for each individual.   This doesn't mean you have to go full steam ahead and do every little thing suggested in journeying.  What it does mean is that you can start out slow, give it a try and use what works for you.  For anyone interested in learning more about it, check out Shamanic Journeying: A Beginner's Guide by Sandra Ingerman.  For me, I'll continue my journeying experience to create a happier and healthier me, while the rest of the "normal" world stresses out into their drug induced coma.