WiseWomanhood School

Supporting Women - Body, Mind, & Soul

Inner Work

Rattles – Tools of the Soul

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I have three rattles that have been with me for decades.  They have many layers of meaning for me, reminding me. Two represent the feminine and masculine duality of creation and in each of us. One connects to the Animal People. I’m still learning new things from them.

I use them in various different ways – to invoke the 6 Directions; to clear or close the energy body; to give rhythm to singing; to be the sound beacon for those on shamanic journey.

My Blood Rattle is a natural gourd with an expanded bottom and smaller top bulb which acts as a handle. I found it at a farmer’s market. The surface is mottled in various tans, browns and muted orange. Its dried seeds are what makes it a natural rattle.  When I was a midwife I asked some clients if I could anoint my rattle with their birth blood, which I did. I also anointed it with my moon blood.  Thus I named it my Blood Rattle. I put a red cord tied loosely around its neck. The sound of this rattle is deep and with various tones in it.

Today I realized that the Blood Rattle represents the Lower World – Mother Earth powers.  It awakens and invokes the Soul helps from the yin or feminine realm which hold the potentials of all creation. That is the feminine power to be the potential for all to happen.

My Moon Rattle is created of natural materials put together in a very Yang/Masculine form. The head of the rattle is very hard and coasted with tiny crystals on a light background. This is why I called it my Moon Rattle- it reminds me of a Full Moon. The handle is a brown branch with two little angels carved into it and on the bottom a larger quartz crystal is attached. Between the head and handle, purple yarn is wrapped with two feathers attached to beads at the ends of the yarn. The sound of this rattle is a bit softer yet sharper.  It was a gift from one of my midwifery clients.

Today I realized that the Moon Rattle represents the Upper World – the Sky powers. It calls the forces of the Upper World, the Spirit helpers from the yang or masculine realm. The masculine carries out the intentions of the feminine through its consciousness.

My Animal Toenail Rattle is from a native market years ago.  I was fascinated by this unique rattle, that is made of some kind of toenails, sewn to cloth in a circle like a bracelet or anklet. I love to use it as a rattle, great when dancing. It has a brittle, high pitched rattle sound. I can’t help but think of the animal who gave it to me.

Seeing the sacred in everything around us is a way to connect deeply with life.

My Three Rattles- a poem

Your voices call me into new adventures,

Into Plant, Animal, or Stone-

Each of you, an Emissary of one of them.

My Blood Rattle, anointed with woman blood

Is a simple dried gourd, rattling inside itself,

My Plant Emissary sings rooted wisdom,

Reaching to the Sun.

My Moon Rattle, glowing like the Moon

With tiny crystals coating the head

And a sizeable quartz at the handle’s end

Shares a softer sound, the quieter voice of ancient Stone.

My Toe Nail Rattle, made of sheep’s toenails they said,

Is my Animal Emissary,

Sewn loosely on a woven cloth circlet that fits my wrist.

Its voice rings like a clatter of animal chatter, calling me.

Thank you Rattles for connecting me to my relations,

And to the worlds of shamanic journeying

And the deep source of Mother Nature.

Loving Kindness Meditation

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At the recent NAMA conference I loved the workshop, Role of Ojas in Building A Healthy Family from Birth to Old Age. It reminded me of the importance of ojas. And one speaker suggested a good way to increase ojas is through Loving Kindness Meditation.

This form of the Loving Kindness Meditation is what I use: I sit for meditation, focusing on the love I feel towards a person or deity. When this feeling is firmly established, I let go of the object and allow the love to be inward, filling my whole body and aura as I inhale and radiating outward from my heart like moonlight, as I exhale. This inborn love never is depleted.

Try it! You may find it renewing and also ojas increasing.

Pratyahara – developing inner awareness

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Pratyahara is one of the Eight Limbs of Yoga from the Yoga Sutras. It is the linchpin between working with the outer physical world and going to the more inner, subtle senses. This is relevant to both Ayurveda and Shamanism.

For Ayurveda, it works at awakening to the Atman, the Highest Self.  This is the source of Truth, Light, and Love.  It supports a sattvic mind, leading to better lifestyle choices.

For Shamanism, developing our inner senses allows us to sense the subtle Upper, Middle, and Lower Worlds. This allows us to bring more information back to this world.

The first steps to Pratyahara involve learning how to properly deal with relationships. These are the first limb – the Yamas and Niyamas.

Yamas

Yamas focus on our behavior and thoughts towards others.

  1. Ahimsa is non-harming, non-violence. It is being loving and compassionate.
  2. Satya is truthfulness and honesty.
  3. Astya is non-stealing.  We develop healthy interchange with others. This means not just avoiding thievery, but also avoiding being a taker or user without giving back somehow.
  4. Bramacharya is moderation of the outer senses.  This means controlling your sensual cravings and addictions.
  5. Aparigraha is non-hoarding. We avoid unnecessary materialism and selfishness around sharing our time and energy with the world.

Niyamas

Niyamas help us learn to maintain a positive environment and develop self-discipline and inner strength.

  1. Saucha is purity and cleanliness. This involves physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels.
  2. Santosa is contentment.  Learning to accept and enjoy what is now.
  3. Tapas is heat or fire of practice. Using our best efforts even when we don’t want to develops the discipline needed for deep inner work.
  4. Svadhyaya is self study. We contemplate ourselves– mind and body – to find our own truths.
  5. Ishvara Pranidhana is surrender to Higher Self. We may surrender to Nature, a personal god or the higher self as spiritual practice.

Asana

Asana is another limb of yoga.  As a spiritual practice it is more than poses.  It liberally means “to sit calmly.” Through asana we become aware of our bodies, emotions, and minds. We become healthy, balanced, calm and disciplined enough for further inner work.  Prana – the life energy- can where we put our attention. Asana helps us become aware of our whole body. It also releases stuck areas that inhibit the flow of prana.

Pranayama

Pranayama is meant to allow prana to circulate freely through our body-emotion-mind- spirit system. It is opening up to allow the flow to happen. Being able to sit (or live) calmly and allow our prana to nourish every cell, give us the energy and safety to move on to pratyahara.

Pratyahara

Pratyahara can happen when the prana flows. We need to be in a safe place in the external world. Then we can practice opening up and strengthening our internal sense organs.  Next blog, we’ll delve more into the practice.

I highly recommend the Pratyahara class by Dr Claudia Welch and Dr Robert Svoboda

Part 2 will delve into more about developing Pratyahara

Strengthen Support from Ancestors

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We can strengthen the support of ancestors who have gone before us. Certainly, they already pay attention to us at times. Yet we can develop our relationship with them. Many cultures have traditions that do this and the fall is the general time of year especially attuned to this work. Helpful ancestors can include unknown ancient ancestors with various talents, teachers and dear friends, as well as blood relations we have lived with and known.

Strengthen by Celebrating All Saints / Day of the Dead

Two well known traditions in our culture revolve around the ancestors.  My friend Kathy recently shared that in New Orleans it is a tradition on All Saints Day (the day after Halloween) to visit and bring flowers to the tombs of ancestors. Similarly, this is celebrated around this time in Mexico as Day of the Dead. People gather at the graveyards, even picnic there with some favorite foods and drinks of their departed loved ones.

Strengthen by Prayers, rituals and charity to support Ancestors

In the Hindu tradition this time of year is Pitru Paksha. It follows the moons and this year it fell September 20 – October 6.  This time of year is for mourning the dead, doing prayers and rituals to support them in the afterlife, and doing acts of charity in their name.  These practices an certainly work at any time as well, but go with the energies of the year at this time.

Strengthen Relations with Ancestors on Samhain / the Roots of Halloween

Ancient Celts believed that on Samhain (now celebrated as Halloween) the good departed souls came back to earth to visit their living relatives.  Honoring and welcoming them, you can make a special altar – photos of them, some of their favorite foods, a candle, and maybe some rosemary sprigs, symbolizing remembrance. You can also do some of their favorite activities in memory of them, giving them a chance to re-experience them through your actions.

Strengthen by Celebrating Your Ancestors’ Death Days

You can do all these activities on the person’s death day as well, to honor them individually. Some traditions do this very importantly on the year anniversary of the death.

Following these traditions will amplify your relationship with helpful ancestors. You may then notice little signs of their input through signs and intuitions. Or you may hear or see them in a vision.  You can call on them for support when you are feeling low or facing a big challenge.  The give and take between you and your helpful ancestors is supportive to both of you!

For more work with the unseen realm, including farther back helpful ancestors you may not know about, consider the Shamanic studies and support offered by Terra.

Shamanism with Terra

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Shamanism is about nurturing the soul, our most prized self, the only self that comes with us after we die. It helps strengthen our soul, protecting it from invasion by other powers, and retrieving parts that may have been scared away by traumas. As such, shamanism is a precious tool, a birthright of all humans, that has been colonized by religions, by capitalists, and by media and tech.

Reclaiming our direct connection with our soul, with nature, and with higher powers is the basis of shamanism. For a full explanation of the history of shamanism and its basic map listen to Flight of the Spirit by Jyoti Wind (for free). After that you are ready to go on a journey to meet your Power Animal, an excellent way to begin your shamanic path.

If you want further learning with shamanism check out these UPCOMING SHAMANIC MEETINGS:

On-going Study group 2nd  Sunday with Jyoti – The 2nd Sunday Shamanic Study Group at 10AM/MT will have various themes. Please contact Jyoti for more info and to receive the link.

On- going Study group 4th Sunday with Terra -10 am/ mountain time – various themes –-contact Terra to register.

LIVE AND RECORDED SESSIONS WITH TERRA

RITE OF THE WOMB  with Terra – Live,web class, next session TBD

In this beautiful ceremony we will cleanse our wombs of old emotional baggage, allowing for more radiant health of our physical AND our spiritual wombs. This will support our creativity on all levels. (Especially helpful if you’ve had a hysterectomy.)

You’ll receive further instructions on how to continue the ceremony to fully empower yourself and pass it on to other women.

To register (free) email Terra Be sure the name of the class you’re interested is in the subject line.

YOUR SACRED GARDEN with Terra – Live, web class, next session TBD

Imagine a place in Nature that’s special to you – real or imaginary. We will use this in creating a Sacred, Safe place in the Middle/Dream World  to do Shamanic work.  It is another technique for accessing and interacting with the Spirit World.

  • This is a place to begin and end journeys.
  • Meet helpful spirits here, ancestors & saints, gods & goddesses.
  • Participate in healing work here.
  • Increase your personal power and spiritual immunity.
  • Initiate changes in your personality and habits.
  • Keep gifts and tools from spirit journeys here.

REGISTER HERE

CONNECTING TO THE FEMININE POWER OF THE MOON

In this session we began with talking about the Feminine Power of the Moon and went on two journeys to the Moon:  One to meet an embodiment of the Feminine Power for direct, personal teachings and another journey to fill and empty and fill again with the Light of the Moon, entraining to the spiritual as well as physical light.

The audio and narrative are in the PDF for this free product.

Register here

YOUR ALTAR AND THE DIRECTIONS

Terra will share her altar and how she uses it to invoke the directions before doing shamanic work.  This evolved from the teachings of Itzak Beery from South American shamanic tradition.

Journey:  Travel to a Direction to meet the Benevolent Spirit(s) there, ask for teaching, offer gratitude action in the “real” world.

The link to video is in the PDF you’ll receive when you sign up for free.

JOURNEY TO THE POWER OF ROSE

Intro–

The many faces of Rose: scent ( rosewater spritzer), flower essence, tea of petals to drink or bathe, rose petal jam, rose petal elixir,  rose brandy-tincture, planting and caring for in your yard, seeking wild rose in the untamed area, rose hips in the fall, and medicinal uses.

               Medicinal uses –

– Woman’s Ally – heavy menses tea (with hibiscus), spritzer during hot flashes, rose water is moisturizing and good for the skin;   Maiden= flower bud, Mother=bloom, Crone= rose hip (full of nourishment gathered over life): The Rose is beautiful AND has thorns to protect herself

               -Heart Medicine – grief, heartbreak, anger all soothed by rose

               -Balancing Energies – overcoming excess heat of various kinds;  a Cooling Brew – hibiscus, rose tea w a pinch of cinnamon, let it cool then add some organic grape juice

(Be sure to only use organic roses when using internally or on your skin!)

Journey to the Spirit of Rose

The link to this audio session if free via PDF when you REGISTER HERE.

MAYA HEALING INTRODUCTION & JOURNEY TO GODDESS IX CHEL

Introduction to Maya Spiritual Healing, and Spiritual Baths

Journey to Ix Chel, Moon Goddess for Blessings and Questions

Terra apprenticed with Miss Beatrice Waight, a Maya midwife and healer from a healing lineage in Belize, as well as Rosita Arvigo and classes from curanderas online. Much of this knowledge is very useful in everyday life as a shamanic practitioner and Terra has been charged with sharing that with you.

The link to audio of this session is in free PDF you receive when you REGISTER HERE.

Terra’s SHAMANIC TOOLS & JOURNEY TO YOUR SACRED GARDEN

This session Terra shares some of her shamanic tools that help her ground her practice.

Then there is a journey to your sacred garden.

The link to the video of this session is in free PDF you receive when you REGISTER HERE.

SHAMANIC JOURNEY TO DEEP LIGHT AND LOVE with Terra

Zoom class, TBD  $20

A guided journey to your deep self, your light and love self, your Atman, Guardian Angel, or Oversoul. In this way, you can more easily remember it and reconnect to it. Sandra Ingerman calls it Transfiguration.

Part One – Getting Acquainted with Your Atman, Oversoul, Aumakua, Or Guardian Angel

Part Two – Shamanic Journey and Meditation Practices To Strengthen Your Connection

REGISTER HERE

PRIVATE SHAMANIC MENTORING with Terra

Starting on your Shamanic path? Want some structured guidance? Meet privately with Terra via zoom for teachings and journey. Contact Terra to start the conversation.

Terra Rafael has been exploring shamanism spontaneously for decades. During the last 7 years she’s practiced more consciously with mentor, Jyoti Wind. And in the 5 years Terra took classes with Sandra Ingerman, Alberto Villaldo, Itzhak Beery, Hank Wesselman, and Paul Francis.

Ayurveda and Shamanism

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As an Ayurveda & Shamanism Practitioner, I’ve been asked how they go together.

Shamanic Roots of Ayurveda?

I’m quite confident that the sages who originally received the teachings of Ayurveda did so from the unseen world. Shamanism is an ancient tradition throughout most of the world…we all have shamanic ancestors. Hunter gatherers seem to have tuned into Nature (as the Ayurveda Sages did) to know what was safe to eat, where to find their food, and how to heal those with disease.

Subtle causes of disease addressed

Ayurveda makes it clear that most disease starts with disturbances of the mental, emotional, and/or spiritual bodies. Shamanic healing follows time-tested processes to strengthen our spiritual energies to repel such assaults. And when that doesn’t happen, shamanism give us ways to repair the energetic template. It does not require a person to subscribe to spiritual practices outside their own religion.

Connecting to our Highest

Shamanism is best practiced as self care on a daily basis. It is about connecting to the highest in ourselves and in Nature, just as Ayurveda is. Simple ceremonies focus us on the forces of our lives. Inner journeys can connect with the Lower World of Nature, the Middle World of Human, and the Upper World of Spirit and Soul. Our spiritual life is then based on our personal direct experience, rather than belief in what others tell us.

Progressing through our Experiences

Shamanism realizes the blessing of being incarnated here on Earth and facing our challenges here to learn what we came here to learn and progress – the experience of the senses, responsibility, respect, and Love. Journeying is much like a guided meditation, while ceremonies abound in both Vedic and Shamanic realms.

Connecting

Through journeys we can tune into ourselves and others on a subtle level. Slowing down enough and being quiet enough we can hear the wise spirits of plants to support the physical beings. The Spirits of the Elements can speak to us – guiding everyday choices. We can meet our Atman or other spiritual beings in the Upper World. All this I have done.

This is why I am sharing shamanism with people – it has strengthened my life and feels in accord with using Ayurveda techniques to support them.

For More about on-going shamanic experience group

For a Basic Shamanic Journey