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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.

Soul Nurture with Shamanism

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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 on June 13 at 10AM/MDT will have the theme of Spirit Flying. Please contact Jyoti for more info and to receive the link.

On- going Study group 4th Sunday with Terra June 27 -Connecting to Spirit of Rose – Feminine Power –-contact Terra to register.

YOUR SACRED GARDEN with Terra

Periodic Zoom class, next session New Moon June 10, 6 pm MDT

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.

To indicate interest and register, email Terra . Be sure the name of the class you’re interested is in the subject line.

SHAMANIC JOURNEY TO DEEP LIGHT AND LOVE with Terra

Zoom class, Sunday, June 20, 10 am – Noon MDT  $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

SUMMER SOLSTICE with Jyoti

On Sunday evening, June 20 at 6PM/MDT, I will be celebrating the Summer Solstice. I invite you to join me as we honor the Celtic Goddess of Summer, Aine (An Ya). Some shamanic experience necessary. Contact Jyoti for the zoom link.

FOUR DIRECTIONS WORKSHOP with Jyoti

This 2 part workshop will include stories of the Four Directions as we learn about different cultural visions and their meanings for each place. We will look at their qualities and colors and take a guided journey to each one for a personal experience with the spirit who dwells there. $50. Zoom    June 21, 28. 6PM  Contact Jyoti to register and zoom link. Can pay thru Paypal or Venmo.

 SACRED JOURNEYS – SOUL RETRIEVAL WORKSHOP with Jyoti

 Learn how to reclaim your own energies from trauma, public humiliation, abuse. And learn the skills to help others. 4 sessions. Wed. evenings in Aug. $100. For more info and to register contact Jyoti   Shamanic experience necessary. Can pay thru Paypal or Venmo.

RITE OF THE WOMB  with Terra

Monthly Zoom class, next session June 24 Full Moon , 6 pm MDT

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.

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 many years. During the last 7 years she’s practiced more consciously with mentor, Jyoti Wind. And in the last year Terra took classes with Sandra Ingerman, Alberto Villaldo, Itzhak Beery, and Hank Wesselman.

Connect with the Feminine Power of the Moon

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Women are naturally connected with the Moon. When unexposed to artificial lights, women tend to bleed on the new moon and ovulate on the full moon. Our female cycles mirror the Moon cycles. The creativity of our wombs is strongly related to the power of the Moon. And the creativity of our wombs goes far beyond the creation of physical children – all our creative endeavors gain force from our womb energy.

By becoming more aware of the Moon cycles we can ride the tides of the creative Moon energy – enhancing our own part in the web of life.

How to Connect to the Moon

Some women sleep where the Moon light will shine on them. In fact, to get menstrual cycles to follow the Moon, it works best to sleep in total darkness except for during the full Moon, then having light shine on you while you sleep. Some women finds this gets irregular cycles synced up, giving them more awareness of when they are fertile.

I seem to often wake when the Moon is at her zenith, at the top of the sky. This means about midnight at Full and about 3 am when Half Moon. I see her out my bathroom window and say hello. Sometimes I chant to Her.

Following the Moon Cycles

Traditionally, the New Moon is a time of inwardness and contemplation. A good time to do intuitive, shamanic work. Time to talk with the spirit world, with the spirits of plants. Women in the Moon Hut would share their dreams to increase the tribe’s wisdom. They would isolate, not so much because bleeding was nasty but because at this time the downward flow of the blood would open them so much that they might pull energy from others. By staying near the Earth, they could draw on the deep energies of Mother Nature, renewing their physical and spiritual selves. Setting intentions for the following Moon cycle works well at this time.

With the waxing, growing Moon light, a woman becomes more outward, bringing her intentions more into reality.

At the Full Moon, women may find themselves ovulating – and full of pheromones and the desire to mate. This brings her out into the light, out into social settings to find the proper way to express her fullness. It’s a great time to give birth to the projects of intention, as well as is often a time for childbirth to happen.

With the waning, declining Moon light, women may complete what needs to be completed, let go of what needs to be let go of, culminating in the deep inner state of the New Moon, associated with menstrual time.

Other Ways to Connect

There are many other ways to connect to the Moon Power-

~Drinking pure water that was left in the Moon light overnight.

~Chanting “Chandra Shakti” (power of the Moon) especially when gazing at the Moon.

~Watching for the Moon to appear in the sky. I love my first siting of the “Baby Moon” which is when it is a new sliver after the New Moon.

~Journeying to the Moon in a shamanic journey – What does Her Spirit look like to you? What does She have to tell you? What guidance does She give you to personally connect more fully with Her power?

Watch for upcoming live classes on Women’s Womb Power

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

Preventing Miscarriages

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Preventing Miscarriages BEFORE Pregnancy

The BEST way to prevent miscarriages is by holistic preconception care. In Ayurveda we promote fertility and healthy pregnancy by first supporting :

  • regular, comfortable menstrual cycles
  • general good health
  • balanced lifestyle, including appropriate exercise
  • healthy downward energies – shown by menstrual, bladder and bowel health
  • overcoming vaginal infections
  • having balanced energies in the body – in Ayurveda this means Vata, Pitta,  and Kapha that suit YOUR constitution

Ayurveda does this with individualized care plans, utilizing food choice, eating habits, herbs, treatments, and energy point therapy (marma). For specifics see this class. Learn Ayurveda basics here.

Preventing Miscarriages DURING Pregnancy

Once you are pregnant it becomes trickier to work with long-standing problems because supporting the pregnancy becomes the focus. Some herbs and therapies may be too stimulating for the uterus at this time. There are still many gentle things to do to support a pregnancy to term.

Miscarriage happens in 10-20% of known pregnancies. There are also episodes of spotting that some women experience that are not building into a full-blown miscarriage. A majority of miscarriages happen when there is a mistake in the development of the wee one. In Ayurveda, this is related to an energy imbalance in Vata, which rules the energies in the pelvic area of the body.

Women are more vulnerable to miscarriage at the times when they would usually have a menstrual period.  Also, if you have any cramping or bleeding you may want to take some prevention steps. Western Medicine has little to stop with this.   Consulting a Certified Ayurveda Practitioner (like myself  ) or Ayurvedic Doctor can help you balance your energies. First trimester is often a Vata / apana problem, while later it is often a Pitta problem.

Helpful Self Care

Here are some self care helps until you get to see her or him:

  • Rescue Remedy flower essence can help you through the emotional aspects of this threat.
  • Pelvic rest. Avoid problem constipation, bumpy activities, orgasms.
  • Energy point to balance your downward energy: massage the area in the middle of your pubic bone with pure essential oil of rose, ylang ylang, patchouli or lavender, properly diluted.
  • WELCOME WOMB tincture by WishGarden Herbs has helped clients for decades. Follow the recommended directions or get help from your health practitioner.
  • Talk with the spirit of the baby. This may soothe you, and may give you more information about anything the baby needs to make it easier for her/him to stay.

Pregnancy can be a time of joyful anticipation. Take the help of Ayurveda to support that journey!

Sing Your Subtle Body to Pregnancy

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Women trying for pregnancy can sometimes become disheartened. It takes time and effort to become balanced for fertility in some cases. One technique I use to emotionally support them is singing silly songs for them. Or giving them silly songs to sing to themselves.
Singing supports the body in many ways – with breath, with rhythm, with brain chemistry. Affirmations can enter more deeply when sung.

Here are some songs you can use or share for fertility affirmation:
Fertility Songs By Terra Rafael

( tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Ripen, Ripen Ovaries
Lots of Eggs for Babies, please!
Work your fertile magic now
You’ll get to rest while the baby grow.
Ripen, Ripen Ovaries
Lots of Eggs for Babies, please!

***

(tune of Row, Row, Row Your boat)
Ripe- en well my eggs
In my ovaries.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
My baby you will be!

***

(tune of “Pop goes the weasel)
Hormones bathe the fol-licles
All around the ov-aries
And just when everything is right-
POP goes the best egg.
Fimbrae gently guide its way
Towards the welcome womb
And when she meets the happy sperm-
POP comes the baby!

***

For Implantation –(tune of “Away in the Manger”)
Away in my mother womb, juicy and warm
My baby-to-be firmly plants in its home.
The lining prepared to give nurturance there
Welcomes the Wee One to grow strong and fair.