[Wildspeak] The way it is.

[moonvoice]

The road to successfully practicing shamanism is littered with those who could not measure up. In Indigenous cultures, and in urban and contemporary cultures.

To suggest that no one can fail on this path, or that everyone automatically has the strength to make it, is just unfair.

Shamanism is not just about the commitment; it's about the strength of spirit, the ability to hang on, humility, and a willingness to trust and respect the spirits while still possessing an ability to call bullshit. It's about serving others, not just other 'humans,' but other people, of this world, of the spirit world, other gods, energies, trees, plants, animals, rocks, and mountains.

Not everyone will make it. Not everyone is supposed to. Some will simply fall by the wayside happily, of their own choosing. Others will have their spiritual constitution destroyed by disgusted spirits and gods, and live out their lives in mental institutions or manipulating others to eat of their energy and destroy their souls.

The practice of shamanism is an initiation of itself; frequently. And initiations by their very nature frequently determine whether one is ready, or not ready, to learn wisdom and become a custodian of lore and greater power. No initiatory path is without failures.

But the good news is, no initiatory path is without success either.

Comments

[eldriwolf.livejournal.com]

OK, thank you for that---I want them to see your art, too