Todays blog is on how to help counter the dark around us during these crazy times

From The Ancestors

Just gave a talk on Southern African sangoma and ancestor healing wisdom and thought I would share some of the remedies against the dark side from these sources to help us all.

Here are some healing tools that can dispel the dark and bring in the light. There is an aboriginal saying that; 

"If you do not want to see the shadow turn your face to the sun." 

The best way for us to neutralize evil is by bringing in more light. 

This includes being informed and entertained but not overdoing our exposure to negative media, T.V. shows or movies.  

Nocebo is the power of belief to hurt, harm or even sometimes kill.

Nocebo is a fear based response! The only thing to fear is fear itself and the dark thrives where there is fear. 
Nocebo is a tool of dark forces, tricksters, witches and sorcerers. and we should not let it dispel hope or the slightest belief that they  can hold sway in the long run.

Its opposite - Placebo is love based. 

BELIEVE IN GOODNESS AND TRUTH. 

Invoke the Three L's; LIGHT, LOVE, LAUGHTER.

These repel darkness.

SOUND: SACRED MUSIC OR ANY SOUND WITH A HIGH VIBRATION (e.g. Tibetan gongs or similar, didgeridoos... etc) 

Be diligent about SPIRITUAL PRACTICE to regain wholeness and balance. Embodied practices like yoga, tai chi, chi gong, hiking in nature... may be more powerful for some. Pray, meditate, call on your angels and guides. 

Numbers count. If groups of us are doing this together there is COHERENCE and the non local benefits extend beyond our immediate surroundings. Prayers and healings for peace and wholeness help - the greater the number the more profound - the Maharishi effect!

USE AROMA, FRAGRANCE, INCENSE OR BURN SACRED PLANTS - SAGE, CEDAR...

EATING OR DRINKING A TEA OF SOMETHING SACRED LIKE A SAGE LEAF PROTECTS THE SOUL

SACRED BATHS

Enhance the vibration of water using prayer, sacred music or chants while burning incense and placing something sacred in the water (sage, cedar, juniper...) Those of you familiar with Emoto's work on changing the vibration in water with something of the "light,"will be convinced of the power of water to heal and release negativity. While immersing completely, pray and or meditate, breathing in white light, and breathing out thick black smoke into the bath to shift your energy.  Remember 80% of the body is comprised of water. We have "quantum" bodies comprising tiny particles spinning in empty space. We are vibrational beings. Set your intention for light in the bath (this is a ritual bath - no soap etc allowed -cleanse before the bath.) 

From The Ancestors

WE CAN CHANGE OUR VIBRATION WITH THESE RITUALS AND RETURN TO OUR TRUE SELVES AGAIN!!

This weeks blog gives some caveats about finding the visionary aspect of ourselves that has to do with our destiny

A considerable amount of the work I do with the Ancestors concerns one’s destiny. Often, when doing a bone divination the reading reveals that the client is not following his or her predestined life path, e.g. the person who puts aside her guitar, gifted voice and musical career for the sake of financial security or because she feels invalidated by her elders. The Yogis describe three phases of life; the first when we grow up, and get educated, the second when we make a living and maybe have a family and the third when we go walk about in the forest to find enlightenment. For those of us who are not the guru archetype, it is in the third phase where it becomes critical that we are following our true purpose. For most of us this is difficult – we just are not

 sure of what it might be.

  

One thing is certain that if our work does not conform to the wisdom below we are probably on the wrong path. I was lucky; I was told by a number of sangomas in South Africa that my ancestors were calling me to do “their” (as in sangoma) work.

Some are just lucky and have a deep sense of knowing what their mission is. Maybe these are older souls who have been on the right path almost from the inception of this particular incarnation. For the rest of us I like the analogy of the Three Bears. Sometimes one has to just try out the various porridges or the beds we choose to lie in to find the right one. We may be comfortable in it for a while and then discover it does not fit anymore and its time to move on to new possibilities. Another metaphor, especially if one is in touch with spirit wisdom in dreams or intuitions, is that of a treasure hunt.

Your destiny is the hunt of your life; keep to the scent, stay on the spoor.  The Ancestors

We need to follow the clues and see where they take us no matter how strange they seem. Sometimes it is the “fool who jumps off the cliff” who finds the treasure. Some clues may even lead us astray but are taking us to the next clue without which we would not have found our way.

The grail when we follow our myth and find our path is happiness and gratitude which always have to do with service to other “beings;” Silent (stones, earth,) growing (plants, trees,) wild and the talking ones.

Today's blog, based on the wisdom of the Ancestors, and many others, has more about contrasting Wisdom with Knowledge or Information

When we look at the Tree of Life we can see that the top Sephira or energy center (somewhat like a chakra in yoga) of Hochmah or Wisdom is on the top right hand side and is next in line to the Crown or Keter the place of "I am that I am." It is here that we come into recognition that we are made in the image of the Creator. We are a microcosmic chip of the Divine. 

On the left is Binah (Understanding) which is about cognitive knowledge and is there to balance the wisdom Sephira but is never an end in itself.

Imagination and fantasy are properties of Wisdom and are also endorsed favorably by Einstein's quote. The Ancestors bemoan the fact that imagination and fantasy are being replaced by the scientific method and technology, even though it is often imagination that leads to science's greatest discoveries.

Although the Ancestors endorse the power of information and knowledge, they also feel they should be used for "becoming" more of our real Selves or higher Selves.

When we spend time with indigenous cultures that are reasonably intact but who lack the education that we have in the West and often are illiterate, we can be astounded by the intuitive wisdom they possess. Sadly for us data and cognitive information often obliterate the intuitive. Going back to nature, if possible, with indigenous help can help us regain something of what we have lost. These shamans and prophets though lacking Western education have wisdom sometimes beyond our understanding even if they do only use these insights for survival - "chopping wood, carrying water," hunting, gathering and healing. 

 When it comes to medicine and science, so called "truth" is continually changing and it is often the imaginative and wise who are changing it. Truth is elusive and is often in that moment in time only.

The reason I like quotations is that they embrace much wisdom with so few words.

This weeks blog on KNOWLEDGE vs. WISDOM is a sequel to last weeks warning about waisting time trying to explain the unexplainable. Rather we should use what it inspires in us as a form of spiritual practice 

We live in a world overloaded with information. These words from the Ancestors can help give us a reality check

We only have to look at our politicians, the media and others from whom we should hope to glean truth at the highest level, to realize how elusive it has become and how easily it can be manipulated

More important is, what is our own truth, who are we meant to be, in which ways are we being enticed, misled or distracted from our crucial, individual, destiny truth? The Ancestors also stress; 

"Your destiny is the hunt of your life, keep to the scent, stay on the spoor." 

There were two trees in the Garden of Eden; the Tree of Knowledge which got us kicked out, and the Tree of Life, the search for which can help us regain Eden.

The search for the higher Self is at the core of all human motivation whether we are conscious of it or not. Finding out our mission on this planet is a crucial part of this. At the end of the day, it is wisdom that is necessary, rather than an exclusive search for knowledge, information and data.

As Einstein said; "Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts."

Jung is in accord with the Ancestors

This weeks blog  is on EXPLAINING THE MYSTERY ? or rather not trying to and just being in awe of it

Recently someone sent me this very erudite link below from Deepak Chopra which I thought I would share with you but at the same time tell you the ancestors' approach to this conundrum. In this way you can dwell in the polarity of the two and see where it takes you. Both are commendable. However, I prefer the ancestors' advice.

Here is the link if you choose to spend some time and brain matter over its content. 

https://prezi.com/6fbn_rfrabhb/the-human-universe/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Einstein said; "our knowledge is the knowledge of children, we will know a little more than we know now but the true nature of things we will never know, never!"

or in other words - the deeper we go the less we know

We tend to get arrogant and hear scientists saying things like they have now discovered the God particle or the God molecule (D.M.T. which can lead to ecstatic states.) We are just feeling the tip of a huge iceberg that we cannot see or measure and may have  dimensions as grand as the universe itself

Maybe we should spend more time being in the moment with the mystery and enjoying our own, and the "Field's" non local spiritual dimensions. Sometimes if we leave the mathematics and physics to the experts we can more easily discover who we are in relation to the cosmos. The scientists meanwhile will hopefully use their genius for the benefits of all the beings; still, growing, wild and talking

I have found the same principles true when going into wilderness or pristine nature spots. Africa is a prime example and is so rich that one can spend a lifetime assimilating bush knowledge and barely scratch the surface. I spent many of my early years in Southern Africa trying to learn; birds, their unique calls, the plethora of snakes and raptors, animal tracks, the technical aspects of camping or backpacking in remote wild places etc etc... Later I discovered that just being in the mystery of God's masterpiece was more enlightening than delving into all its cognitive aspects which I could never master anyway. Out of this understanding came a different approach - perhaps a yoga of the wild which often led to "Wilderness Rapture" and which I found to be more gratifying. 

From Kabbalah

This weeks blog is about getting into the "Field" in nature or in any other way

All Southern African Bantu peoples believe in a feminine primal snake that resides in the lower belly, very much like the Yoga principle of the feminine, Shakti, Kundalini. This is potential energy coiled like a serpent at the base of the spine waiting to be "awakened." The Bushmen call it Num and the Zulus Umbilini. Especially, when one engages in spiritual practice, this energy can move up the spine energizing the seven chakras, creating balance. If it reaches Shiva the male principle at the crown chakra one experiences unity consciousness or oneness, or if only for a brief period of time, a Peak experience (Maslow) or Wilderness Rapture. This encounter, often ecstatic, of being in the "Field" can also result in other phenomena including magical powers.

Immersing in nature with an inward intention is a powerful facilitator of this energy but there are many ways to move the serpent. Meditation can be active as in active imagination with focus or the more common passive Eastern meditative practices now so prevalent in the West. Body meditative techniques are just as or even more effective for some and include dancing, singing and drumming, the method favored by Southern African indigenous people. The Chassidim agree, saying; "with song one can open the gates of heaven."

There are many ways to facilitate getting into the non local "Field" (i.e. that not localized in time and space)

Once in the "Field" we are also more able to make contact with our spirit guides in and out of dreams.

Eastern religions see the Kundalini as the key to enlightenment or self-realization. However, there are many manifestations of this energy depending on the culture and the need. In indigenous societies who are more involved in day to day survival and their basic needs, its about "chopping wood and carrying water" more effectively. In other words Maslow's basic survival needs. This would include the use of magical powers for hunting, healing and happiness or balance. For those on a spiritual path, the Kundalini is more about enhancing Maslow's growth needs or moving energy into the higher chakras above the diaphragm. The Zen saying; "before enlightenment, chop wood carry water, after enlightenment, chop wood carry water" is then taking the wisdom a step further, towards working on behalf of other after attaining a desired spiritual state. The movement of Kundalini energy has also been associated with spontaneous remission of so called incurable diseases. Other effects include;

Some prefer the word becoming to self realization. The latter implies a fixed point of attainment when there is no fixed point to self realization. Rather the "realization" keeps on evolving and we are usually in the process of becoming more. 

Some may think this is all rather esoteric but there are more subtle manifestation of Kundalini which we have probably all experienced. We probably have all had synchronous events when we tap briefly into the "Field" and a certain magic occurs. Coherence can be experienced in group meditation which is often more powerful than meditating alone. Meditations for peace have been studied by the Maharishi university in reference to the beneficial effect of meditation "splashing" onto others unengaged in spiritual practice and remote from the meditators. Getting into the zone is favored by athletes and is also called superfluidity where everything mysteriously flows of its own accord resulting in a flawless performance. One can see Olympic gymnasts doing yoga or pranayama (breath yoga) or engaging in guided imagery of their routines before their performance. Imagery has been shown to be almost as effective as practicing it physically. 

Remote viewing has been studied and proven at Stanford university and by the C.I.A. An extension of this, remote or distant diagnosis and distant healing have been around for eons amongst shamans, psychics, healers and others. Distant healing has now been proven effective in medicine by numerous double blind studies.

Dean Radin at Noetic Sciences has proven beyond doubt, as have others, that what he calls the Big Five are real; i.e. telepathy, precognition, clairvoyance, remote viewing and telekinesis. Many of us have had precognitive dreams.

At the end of the day this energy, in whatever form its described in different cultures, can help us to find and stay in line with our destiny or unique purpose on the planet. It does so by moving our life force, prana, moya (Zulu,) ruach (Hebrew,) or chi.

This weeks blog is on how to go Primal without being extreme

We really do not have to try and emulate the hunter gatherer experience to enjoy "Wilderness Rapture" (W.R.) My understanding of  W.R. is, that it resembles Maslow's peak experience in its most intense form or what the yogis might call the oneness experience or unity consciousness. Here the knower, the known and the process of knowing fuse into one thing and we feel a short period of bliss and oneness before our left brain snaps us out of it as we try to analyze and evaluate. In a diluted form, W. R. is being in a very relaxed alfa state of consciousness (as opposed to our usual hyperactive beta rhythm in the brain.)

Here is an example of Wilderness Rapture as described by Lafayette Bunnell, one of the first white people to enter Yosemite valley.

In this brief moment Bunnell and Yosemite valley fused into one thing. The knower (Bunnell,) the known (Yosemite,) and the process of him "knowing" it became one. I am sure many of you have had a similar experience watching a sunset. listening to music (when you become the music,) with dancing, sex, childbirth or otherwise.

In order to facilitate this process one has to go into nature with an inward intention and do so "for its own sake." When I wrote my first book describing W.R., (a prelude to forming Inward Bound Healing Journeys for this express purpose,) I said it like this;

We can emulate Bushmen consciousness by having as little between us and nature as possible but...

it is also perfectly true that we do not have to go very far into nature to do this. We can do it in our garden, walking on the beach or in a park. If we choose we can take more time out and find a cabin on a lake or go on a spiritual retreat where there is nature around us, be it a spar or otherwise. As the ancestors advise below, it is much easier for some of us to have the "Yosemite" model to get there.

Many, however, can experience W.R., as the ancestors say, by "the magic of the ordinary..."

Going alone or in quietness is essential.

Those that can find it for themselves and then share it with others can inherit their blessing below.