Somehow, by offering journey circles, I have become a leader for others. They look to me for guidance and answers. I feel honored by this. In truth, sometimes I know the answer, and sometimes I know no more than they do. As far as being a leader, I feel no different. I don’t put myself above them in any way. Yet I know the blessings of the shamanic path and I have taken on a responsibility in offering the journey circle. I do my best to answer questions that arise. Sometimes the truest answer is “I don’t know.”
Three of the attendees have had a hard time journeying to their power animals or spirit teachers in our current circle. I know some reasons. We tend to be overly cerebral, it’s hard to simply let go and “allow.” (This was me at the start of my path to shamanic knowledge and practice. It took me 5 times to meet my power animal). Other reasons are it’s hard to learn to “see” in non-ordinary reality (this is also me – I have come to understand that I get glimpses of images, not a sustained visual experience. And I have learned to trust my perceptions.)
There are unfamiliar beings that show up as helping spirits. Is COLOR a spirit teacher? Possibly. I worked with someone whose spirit teacher showed up as a flash of light and she recognized him.
Lack of recognition can be another reason. One woman found herself walking down a road immediately in our first session and said “nothing happened, ” giving up because her entry to “non-ordinary reality” was not as she expected from my guidance.
Another woman has shared that each time she journeys, she arrives at a place that was important to her and her deceased husband. I don’t think I did a good job of helping her “tease that out” and move forward …or figure out why she was in that place. She has missed the last 2 sessions. Sigh. It’s a lot to respond to a group of people with various experiences and questions when there’s a time limit on the room and some topics are definitely private.
Fear or uncertainty can be another reason for delayed success.
For some it is so easy and immediate.
I don’t know all the answers. I do know that I’ve always had success teaching others to journey when working one on one. I do know that my teacher taught us by having us lie down on mats covered with blankets. We have space and I have mats, but everyone stays in their chair in this circle. And for most people it works.
There may also be a group dynamic that impacts some people in a way that I have to understand and hopefully conquer or work with.
I have limited power despite my leadership. (Duh!)
One man had success in this journey circle that has never succeeded before! (Can I take credit? Probably not.)
It’s a lot to sort out, and I learn from each person how to be better at helping others.
I am grateful to have the trust of the group members.
I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and to help others.
I am grateful to the local senior center for having space and time for this endeavor.
I wouldn’t trade this opportunity and experience for the world.
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8 hummingbird way 