Shamanism Week 7 ( final Week)

[Neamhain Riona]

First Upper World Journey

First Journey > visiting the UpperWorld



Going to the UpperWorld is different than Journeying to the LowerWorld. When you traveled to the LowerWorld, you directed your mind to follow a particular pathway. More than likely, you did not meet any Spirits before you got there. It is not the same when you are on your way to the UpperWorld. Another difference is that you do not go alone – you take your Power Animal with you!

When you are traveling through the atmosphere, it is possible to meet the Spirits that guard the UpperWorld. These beings are often referred to as “Watchers, Watchtowers, and Elementals”. I will explain these Spirits further for those of you who do not follow any of the Magic(k)al Traditions...

The Spirits who guard the UpperWorld are known to common people by other names – Rain, Wind, Thunder, Lightening, Hail, Snow and Heat (Fire). Meeting and gaining passage by any of these Spirits is an asset to the Shaman because then they become Spirit Helpers just like Plant and Rock Spirits. I was not told about these Spirits when I took my 1st Journey to the UpperWorld and I did not know what to do when I encountered them – so I turned around and came back.

It is not necessary to be frightened by these types of Spirits, just tell them you are going to the UpperWorld for a visit. If for some reason they do not let you pass – back track a little and try again going slightly to the left or right. This might not matter to you at this point because most people do not meet these Spirits at all on the first few Journeys ... but sooner or later you will and it is a good idea to know about them.

There is no doorway or opening when you reach the UpperWorld. Instead, you will come to a membrane. This membrane is very flexible and quite thick. It is not very transparent so while you might be able to make out some shapes and muted colors, you won't be able to distinguish details of the things that you do see.

Ok, you get the idea of what you will see – but how do you get through to the other side? Actually, it is not as hard as it appears. Since we will have our Power Animals with us on this Journey (and all other Journeys after this), we are fortunate enough to employ the use of their powers to help us get through the membrane. That's right ... our Power Animal can tear through it for us! They can use their claws, beaks, or teeth to penetrate it. Some Shamans have sharp instruments like a sliver of bone, that they keep with their Shamanic tools just for this purpose. I know some Witches who use their athame to puncture the membrane and other Shamans use their own fingernails and teeth to make a tear. So there are several choices that you can make – just pick a method that suits you. One thing to remember is that the hole you make will seal itself shut, so anytime that you Journey to the UpperWorld, you will have to re-penetrate the membrane.



On this Journey to the UpperWorld the only thing you want to do is look around. Pay attention to the things around you because it is likely that you will see that place again. You might get the chance to see and talk to some Spirits and if you do, try to remember anything that is said or shown to you.


The Method

● As usual, do any grounding smudging, or ritual that is your practice before Journeying. Use the 30 minute Drumming Solo with a Call back. Before you go, call your Power Animal to you and ask it to make this Journey with you.

● Use the same techniques as LowerWorld Journey, except you will use something from your memory that goes up, a tree, a tornado, a chimney, smoke, balloon, mountain top, or tall building.

● After you've made the climb, or if you are going to ride on your Power Animal or broomstick climb aboard - or whatever way you choose, just keep going up. Remember what I told you about the Spirits that you might meet. Continue going upwards until you reach the membrane. Puncture it and cross into the UpperWorld.

● Walk around and explore the UpperWorld. Your Power Animal will stay with you for this Journey, but this is not always so... sometimes they wait for you at the membrane or close by. Talk to any Spirits (if any) that you meet and pay attention to what they show you or say to you.

● Listen for the Callback.

● Retrace your steps and return to MiddleWorld.

Write down your experience. This will be your Board Assignment.

Good Luck and Good Journeying!

 

[Neamhain Riona]

Second Journey > Finding “The” Teacher



Going to the UpperWorld is not a Journey that a Shaman makes on a regular basis. Why? Because Shamans spend most of their time working with other people or with the environment – not themselves. The UpperWorld is where Shamans go when they need knowledge, support and Spiritual guidance.

Sometimes a Shaman needs to recharge or seek help with a healing or interpretation. When this is the case, they search out the assistance of a Higher Power for answers and direction. For the Shaman, this Higher Power comes in the form of “The Teacher”. Everyone has a Teacher in the UpperWorld, but Shamans actively pursue a relationship with theirs through Journeying and Vision Quests.

Just who or what are these Teachers? Well, these Teachers can be anyone from an unknown Native American Warrior to Jesus of Nazareth! They can be an Ancestor or just some Spirit who has become linked to a Shaman for various unknown reasons. They can also be a Healer / Shaman / Medicine Woman or Man, or even a Famous Spiritual Advisor like Buddha. Whoever yours is - you can be sure that in life they were someone of great wisdom and morals and it is an honor to have them as a Spirit Guide!

Now, more than likely, you will also gain other Spirit Helpers in the UpperWorld. This does not always happen right away and some of them will only stay with you for a short time. These teaching Spirits often tell us information in the form of riddles or cryptic messages. The intent is to make you draw off of your own knowledge and to search through the resources here in the MiddleWorld to help solve these mysteries. If they were to give you the answers outright ... you really would not be “learning” anything. Get what I am saying here? They make you participate to gain the knowledge.

If you have noticed, I usually give examples of my own experiences with techniques and even about my first Journeys to the LowerWorld – but I have not done so with the UpperWorld. There is a very good reason for this. This is because your UpperWorld Teacher and Spirit Helpers are very personal and private. Their teachings are individual to you. The only people who know about mine are my Mentor and a few other people who I felt would benefit by visiting my UpperWorld Teacher or Spirit Helpers. And this is also the reason that I DO NOT want you to post the information that you will learn on this Journey in public – only in your Homework Journal which is private and will be kept between you and I.

Here are some things to remember:

UpperWorld Spirits always take on Human form.
The UpperWorld Spirits teach in mysterious ways.
You only have ONE UpperWorld Teacher and it is for life.
The Method

● As usual, do any grounding smudging, or ritual that is your practice before Journeying. Use the Drumming Solo without a Call back. Before you go, call your Power Animal to you and ask it to make this Journey with you.

● Using the same techniques as LowerWorld Journey, except you will use something from your memory that goes up, a tree, a tornado, a chimney, smoke, balloon, mountain top, or tall building.

● After you've made the climb, just keep going up, if you are going to ride on your Power Animal or broomstick climb aboard and keep going up. Remember what I told you about the Spirits that you might meet. Continue going upwards until you reach the membrane. Puncture it and cross into the UpperWorld.

● Walk around and explore the UpperWorld. Your Power Animal might not stay with you for this Journey, but may wait for you at the membrane or close by.

● Talk to any Spirits that you meet and pay attention to what they show you or say to you. Like you did with your Power Animal, ask these Spirits “Are you my Teacher”. If not, continue on.

● Once you find your Teacher, ask him / her their name and if there is anything that they want to tell you. Remember to thank him / her and say you will return very soon.

● Do not worry about the Callback. Stay as long as you like.

● Retrace your steps and return to MiddleWorld.

Write down your experience. This will be your Journal Assignment. Remember not to post about this in public, but if you have questions – feel free to contact me in private!

Good Luck and Good Journeying!