We are halfway through November. It has been a busy time for me and my household. But, I’m doing it! I got all of my mindful moments from October up on my blog. In October, I really reflected on what it means to be a shaman.
10/05/2020
Do you ever listen to a podcast that really gets you thinking? Today, I listened to a podcast from my friend Selina Maitreya, in her Clarion Call 2020: Leading From the Heart event. I love her teachings on grace, and practical spirituality. In the masterclass today, she got me thinking about a couple of things. She talked about procrastination. I can resonate with that. And she talked about resistance. I can resonate with that too. I then proceeded to make my coffee, finish my lunch, and tend to a whole bunch of “distractions” as I tried to sit down to do my work. Yes, the plants did need to be watered. Sure, that cat needed to be reminded that those plants are off-limits. At any rate, I started looking at the attention I CHOSE to give the distractions. And I have started seeing my attention to them, as ways of procrastinating and resisting. This is leading me to look further into my feelings about what I’m doing, such as uncertainty, or fear. And it is also leading me to check in with spirit, about the timing of my work. Is this what I need to be doing right now, or are there other things with higher priority that need my attention?
Here is a picture of my kitty and his new crocheted toy. I probably could have finished it off later, but, I just had to do it before sitting down at the computer. But, here I am!
If you are interested in Clarion Call 2020, you can sign up for the rest of the week!
https://practicalspiritualitywithselina.com/clarion-call/
10/08/2020
Do you talk to your deceased loved ones? I talk to mine. Sometimes they even answer back, when I have the ears present to hear them. October is regarded by many peoples as a special time to recognize our deceased loved ones. Pagans recognize Samhain (most of us know it as Halloween) as one of two times a year when the veil is thinnest. The thinning veil makes it much easier for spirits to be present in our realm. The veil is like a film between our 3D world and the world of spirit. After Oct. 31, Pagans generally believe the veil starts thickening. It will thin our again to it’s other thinnest point on Beltane. On the other hand, some people feel that the veil reached its thinnest point a couple years ago, and never did thicken back up. But I digress. My point is, we often have passed loved ones around us. With Samhain coming, I can’t help but reflect on my dear family members and friends who have passed. Sometimes I really miss them. Especially my grandpa. But, it is comforting to connect with them in spirit from time to time. Oddly, I have the best conversations with them when I am doing dishes. I guess it is the time when nobody is bothering me, and water can enhance our intuition.
If you would like to learn more about connecting with your intuition, and what it is to be a shaman, send me a private message. In a couple weeks, I am hosting an introduction to shamanism course through Facebook. I’m accepting students until October 25. We’ll explore the journey of the soul, interpreting signs and symbols, our energetic anatomy (chakras and stuff), and more. We’ll have seven classes in this course, for an energetic exchange of $70.
Image by DarkMoonArt_de on pixabay.com
10/10/2020
Do you know what a shaman is? I suppose different people have their own ways of defining shamanism. Social scientists used to include the use of mind-altering substances in their definition of shamanism. Many people associate it with ancient beliefs and practices. As I work on putting together a shamanism course, I’ve been putting a lot of reflection into this. A shaman (for me) is a person who is always aware of their connection to spirit/source/God/the great it all. While spiritually connected, they are also Earth connected. Shamanism is a way of being, and living, with the intent of being Spirit guided, for the highest good of the Universe. I would like to note that many spiritual people are shamans. Also, many are not shamans. There are also many “flavors” of shamanism, some of which connect to various earthly cultures, such as Kemetic, Druid, etc. However, there are many shamans who aren’t connected with any particular old Earthly spiritual practice. I know shamans who are more galactic, and connected with star beings.
If you are curious about shamanism, connect with me through a private message, and I can give you information about a course I am teaching. My intent is to help people build a foundation for understanding and exploring their personal paths as shaman. I’ll create a private facebook group, and do live-streamed classes every Friday morning, starting Oct. 23. This seven session course is $70.
This selkie image is by DarkmoonArt_de from pixabay.com
10/11/2020
Do you have halloween customs that you practice every year? Today, as I’ve done for many years, I baked halloween themed cookies with my kids. It reminded me of my launch into paganism back in college. My best friend was eclectic pagan, and had an appreciation for Silver Ravenwolf’s work. Together, she and I baked Silver Ravenwolf’s Green Man Cake. It was a special chocolate cake that honored the earth, changing seasons, the transfer of divine power from the Green Man to the Holly King, and our intentions for the year to come. Then, I was reminded how even as I make cookies with my kids, it isn’t just some sort of mundane task (or at least for me). I realized that I put in a lot of attention to intention in mixing these sugar cookies as I did the magical Green Man Cake. As shaman, we don’t necessarily need to rely on fancy ceremonies. While they have their time and place, we’re conscious of the magic in the “smaller things” in life as well.
Here are a few of our cookies. It’s hard to tell what shapes they’re supposed to be. But that’s alright. Sometimes the intention and joy outweighs the aesthetics.
10/12/2020
Do you resonate with foods, music, and practices from cultures different from your own? Today, as I gazed upon my new skull molds, I remembered Spanish class in high school. Our teacher tried to share some fun things from Mexican culture, and made something very close to Dia De Los Muertos bread. They were small skull shaped loaves, about the size of scones, that were flavored with anise. I really liked them, and also resonated with the information about this very holy time.
As I reflect on this, cultural appropriation came to mind. Perhaps this is a timely topic being Columbus Day. I know people who on different parts of the spectrum in their beliefs on if it’s okay to use practices from other cultures. As I share these thoughts, please be gentle with me! I can see where everyone is coming from. As an anthropologist, I can see how colonialism has stripped many people of their indigenous cultures. These days, capitalism and corporatism are stripping people of their indigenous cultures, both physically and psychologically. As an anthropologist, I have seen how past anthropologists (both cultural anthropologists and archaeologists) have participated in this theft of indigenous cultures. I can see the perspective of the other side of the fence too, where people just don’t understand why it’s a big deal. Plus, there’s yet another perspective where people feel they are doing their part in keeping a culture alive (some people are more mindful than others).
As shaman, we often strongly resonate with spiritual practices from our past lives. Their ways of explaining the universe, connecting with spirit, and celebrating life, often resonate with us. They help us feel like we’re at home. Someone else’s sacred beliefs are certainly not to be used as a fad, or “a new thing to try.” I believe, that they call to us. I believe that in a sense they are already a part of us. When we answer that call, that heart pang, we must do it with the utmost reverence and respect. It doesn’t matter if it is something small like smudging with sage, or something big like a community ceremony. I have read dialog on finding a word to replace “shaman,” since it came from a Siberian culture, and was appropriated by social scientists.
At any rate, the point I’m making on soap box, on Indigenous Peoples Day, is I encourage people to be mindful in exploring practices in other cultures. I personally strive to be mindful of where the practice came from, and how that group of people feel about sharing it. And , I strive to be mindful of my own intentions and resonance in using these things.
If you are curious about shamanism, connect with me through a private message, and I can give you information about a course I am teaching. My intent is to help people build a foundation for understanding and exploring their personal paths as shaman. I’ll create a private facebook group, and do live-streamed classes every Friday morning, starting Oct. 23. This seven session course is $70.
For more information about my journey, and services, please visit BlueStarGaia.com
10/27/2020
Are you an avid Great British Bakeoff fan? Have you seen the episode with Stroopwafels in the technical challenge? I am feeling a little challenged this week. It’s only Tuesday morning, and I am feeling kind of challenged with some household stuff. Being a shaman, everything is a spiritual experience for me. So before I ate my delicious stroopwafel, I mused, pondered, meditated on it’s symbolism. For those who aren’t familiar with stroopwafels, they are like a waffle cookie. Two very thin waffles have caramel (or other things) between them. One sets them on their cup of piping hot coffee, and the steam softens them. This leads me to some questions about myself. Is the steam of life softening me, or hardening me? Are their gifts from the universe awaiting me to savor them, before they turn to mush and fall in my coffee? Sometimes, there are some things that can’t be helped in a given moment. So, it’s okay to use that moment to to rest and recollect ourselves, in order to better respond to the matters at hand later.
To browse my services and previous blogs, please visit my website!
BlueStarGaia.com
You did it! You made it to the end of this blog. I hope to be more regular in posting my mindful moments as we continue through November. I also hope to get them up here in my blog more quickly. Until then, I welcome you to follow me on Facebook.com/BlueStarGaia and instagram at @Blue.Star.Gaia
I will be sharing regular updates and insights through my new newsletter! Last week I sent out my first one. I will send out another in a few days. Sign up here:
https://tinyletter.com/BlueStarGaia
If you are interested in my shamanism course, you are welcome to reach out to me. Tentatively, I plan to host another course in January.
I wish you all the best in health and abundance!
Rev. Jessica
