Winter rains have arrived to Santa Cruz
The signal for me to lumber into hibernation
To dream, journey, and walk with Bears
I’ll be surfacing in April at the Oracle Village
And then return to trance more with Bear
Until June when from Dreamtime I’ll emerge
And write to those of you coming to Montana next September.
Describing preparations each of us will need to do
During the Summer months before we Circle together in the Fall.
I have been blessed, over the last three to four months, to have developed ongoing conversations about Bear Medicine with shamans from Siberia, Norway, Labrador, and Alaska. It seems a miracle, really, that we found our way to each other through the Internet in response to my writings regarding Bear shamanism at our website. In one instance, an anthropologist in Norway got me connected with an elder shaman in that country. I intend to make as many connections as possible and develop a larger body of shamanic knowledge and practices in this area. The rich variety of these relationships and deep spiritual sharing are, quite simply, soul treasures.
For the first time, I can see the incredible value of the internet for enabling learning and mutual sharing that might not be possible given the expenses of travel to rather remote regions. I have an image of these individuals in small remote villages, using the Internet to explore with someone in another distant country. It is a rather delicious experience to discover the profound similarities in many of their ‘ways with Bear’ to those from the Plains, Northwest, California, and Eastern Indian tribes (the groups I know best). I feel blessed that Spirit has revealed to me (and to us) through journeys and dreams, many of the ancient ways that I am now discovering are still practiced but not written about. Equally important, I take joy in learning about shamanic practices of which I had not heard, not seen in journeys, nor read in the books and field notes I research. Part of my hibernation time is going to be spent sharing and learning as much as I can and thus expand my own knowledge and share with others interested in BearMedicine.
All of you have the letter I have written describing the “Women, BearMedicine & Shamanism” workshops/retreats. If not, you can go to our website www.shamanicvisions.com and read this or you can ask Pirkko to send it to you. I consider this letter to be the generic description of this specialized shamanic work. However, I would also like to update you on the areas in which I am now exploring—to offer as specialized foci during our eight days together at Blacktail Ranch. Of course, others may be developed while I am hibernating.
Please note that as I have been researching, discussing with other shamans, and learning of these, I am aware we do not ‘transplant’ from one culture to our Circle but we can learn and do these together; journey about them; and see what are the ‘ways’ we can use and apply ourselves, in our world today.
Here are some of the areas for advanced explorations in Sept. 2000:
1) Cosmology of the various realms in which Bear is Guardian
We have discussed the general cosmology of Bear–sky/earth/underground. However, there are special territories which shamans call “Bear’s Lands”, populated with other spirits, having certain functions in the shaman’s life, and which it is important to know in order to have access to particular powers and specific healing methods.
2) Bear Healing Lodge
We have done healing within our Circles, and will continue to do so. However, there are performances, rituals, and use of structures designated as “bear healing lodges” and it is knowing these ‘healing lodge ways’ that will help us with a more complete understanding of the “healing arts” called BearMedicine.
3) Raising, Holding, and Using Power
We each know—individually and collectively—various ways of raising ‘power.’ The focus here is on learning specifically how to ‘call’ certain Powers, how then to hold them for as long as needed while applying this Power in specific ways. One of the principle aspects of BearMedicine involves the powers this Being holds and offers to those doing this type of shamanism. “Power” activity is also connected with shapeshifting, merging, and protection when doing shamanic work or being in vulnerable states of consciousness.
4) Cave Work
From what I have learned thus far, all Bear Shamans use Caves—and there are different forms of Caving work. We will enter the Cave to see what the Spirits wish to share with us as a Circle. We will also do some other Cave work that is specific to Bear shamanism.
5) Healing the Land
BearShamans view the health of the land as inseparable from the health of the people. This year we shall see what healing there is to be done with the land and ancestors who lived on the land at Blacktail.
6) Companion Power Animals—Bear, Buffalo, and Wolf
In all Northern Hemisphere cultures, there exist ‘companion spirit animals’ associated with Bear shamanism. Depending on the cultures, these companion animals may include Reindeer, Elk, Lion, Owl, Wolf. At Blacktail the altar stone in the cave informs us that Bear and Buffalo together held ceremonial significant. While journeying there two years ago, I saw that Bear, Buffalo and Wolf were related in what their collective spirit medicine offered to the people. So we will be exploring these three totemic beings—and from these explorations, learn more about the significance of related companionanimal spirits.
7) Fetishes/Amulets/Spirit Figures
I have learned more about the use of Spirit Dolls and why so much time is given to creating certain effigies or forms that function with specific powers in the shaman’s work. This year we will be making Spirit Dolls. In addition to learning theirhistorical meanings in shamanic cultures, we will be journeying to find their value in our shamanic practice today.
8) Shamanic Stories
We will be doing more with myth: both with story telling and story creating. We are going to write, share, and ‘do’ our own shamanic sagas; thus, contributing to a tradition all people know is the way that events are transmitted and internalized among both individuals and communities. Our stories may take different forms: song, drawings, theatre, and writing. It is primarily through these modalities that we will be sharing our experiences through the week together.
The above areas are not the ‘complete’ description of what we will be doing together but are some of the new methods for this next BearMedicine workshop.
If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please feel free to write me. I may not answer immediately as I will be ‘caving’ but I will take all I receive into my Dreamtime work and, at some point, I will respond to any letters I receive.
**If you wish to participate in the BearMedicine workshop, September 2000, you need to let Pirkko know: fill out the attached registration form, and send this form and your deposit to Pirkko.
Note: Remember that enrollment is limited due to both lodging capacity and space within the Cave.
And now to the songs of Frogs on our land
I enter the waters below the Earth
To the Cave where Bears are gathered
To overhear what they are planning
For our gathering in Montana next year.
May you each Winter well,
Love and blessings,
Carol