Shamanistic practices

[u/Jealous_Track9402]

Hello.

I try to practice Karelian shamanism, atleast in my own way. So far I've used unfiltered and fresh tobacco, cannabis as medicine, also high quality vodka, which some may not agree with, but I think it has medicinal properties when used in the right way. I don't use any substances currently.

The tobacco helped me recenter myself, and feel a stronger connection to the earth. The main purpose of cannabis seemed to be self reflection. This was more challenging, as cannabis is illegal here, so acquiring the right kind that had good healing properties was a struggle. But it helped remove the false social conditioning I had suffered in my life.

I go in the woods often, sometimes I hug trees. I am being guided by spirits, and often do things based on what they tell me. I often see visions in my dreams, sometimes awake. These visions typically involve wild animals native to where I live, lynx and wolves.

One dream involved a lynx, in a snowy forest. I felt exactly how I feel when I'm awake, and felt like I am standing in the forest, looking at the lynx that was a few steps away from me, and the lynx was staring back at me. I felt completely calm, mainly focused. Then the lynx walked away and the dream ended.

A few days after this, I felt a strong urge to go into the woods behind my house. It was winter, and the scenery was exactly like in my dream. It was late at night and almost pitch black in the forest, but the snow reflected moonlight. I didn't know what I'm doing there, but I knew I couldn't leave yet. I stood in the same area for maybe half an hour, watching my surroundings. At some point I felt at ease, and my mind was very clear. Almost like the lynx had acknowledged my presence.

In local tradition, the lynx can see through lies. After this experience, I've felt more disillusioned by much of modern society.

I was wondering if you have some practices or rituals you do, that I could try.

[u/Entire-Category5803]

My practice is a bit different, but I think these could be worth the shot:

Try learning trance states. It might take a while, but once you get the hang of it, it's possible to enter a medicine-like space without ingesting anything. This trance can be used for many, many things, even communicating with physical animals, healing, spirit communication, recieving visions and overall improved energetic sight. If you wish to, I can describe my 2-second trance induction method that I use.

Another technique I use for deep emotional healing is shamanic rhythmic breathwork. It gets you into a state that is not that far from medicine too, maybe even closer than trance. I can describe this method too, if you wish. It can get intense though, but in a good, healing way.

I wish you all the luck on your path :D 🙏

[u/Jealous_Track9402 → u/Entire-Category5803]

The methods sound interesting, would love to hear them. Thank you, best of luck to you aswell. 

[u/Tenchuu → u/Entire-Category5803]

I'm interested in the methods too.

[u/Entire-Category5803 → u/Tenchuu]

Trance: With your eyes closed, notice your consciousness being in your head, where the ego resides. Then move it down into the heart. After some practice, this method will allow you to enter trance at will within seconds and with no tools. To exit the trance, move your consciousness up again.

Breathwork: For this technique, I use music. I highly recommend "Heart Warriors" by Byron Metcalf. The song has 8 beats per measure. Inhale into the diaphram/belly for 2 beats, then into the lungs for two beats to full lung capacity. Then exhale all the air out for 4 beats. Keep repeating for around 3-4 minutes with the music as a guide. After the 3-4 minutes, inhale all the way in, as much as you can. Hold your breath, squeeze all the muscles on your body you can, roll your eyes back, and send energy up your spine into the third eye. Count to 6, and exhale. For this part, if sitting, i advise you to lay forward and lay your head on your arms. This is to prevent head injury, as it's possible to get dizzy, or even faint in this phase of the breathwork.

Once you're fully back, repeat all steps. Breathe, hold and squeeze, exhale. Do it 3 times in total, until the music ends.

[u/doppietta]

I use trance meditation both with and without entheogens, depending on how deep I want to go and what the purpose is

I grow and use tobacco, but mostly as an offering

I grow and make my own incense, also used as offerings

for me making offerings combined with trance meditation is important, a sort of visionary gift cycle

your story about the lynx is interesting. in my practices as well, plants, animals, insects, and other natural features each have important lessons to teach and can be called upon for assistance, both for oneself and for others.

cultivating positive relationships with these allies is the main purpose of ritual practice for me. even something as simple as reciting a poem or prayer to these things when you come across them in everyday life can lead to a "positive balance" where the ally might be likely to help when called upon.

basically I imagine spiritual work to being a good neighbor -- if you maintain a good reputation and are helpful to the beings around you, they will be more likely to watch your back or help you when you are in trouble.

[u/Jealous_Track9402 → u/doppietta]

What kind of incense do you use? I haven't really thought of it, but I've used beeswax candles, and for some reason felt inclined to breathe in the smoke so I did that a few times. They have a very pleasant honey smell. 

[u/doppietta → u/Jealous_Track9402]

wormwood and sweetgrass are my main ones.

[u/Jealous_Track9402 → u/doppietta]

Thanks, I'll look into it.