Spirit Walking Journal describes activities that fall under the category of shamanic practice. I chose Spirit Walking to have a title that appeared modern because, in spite of the fact that shamanic practice dates back at least 40,000 to 50,000 years, it has always existed throughout those years and still exists today. It is a modern practice! So what qualifies as shamanic practice? Any activity where the practitioner travels to the spirit world in order to heal herself or himself, family, friends, or communities. It’s all about healing in the broadest sense of the word.
So I’ve decided to start the year off with an attempt to write about ideas that will help us heal ourselves. Why? As social beings we may belong to several groups of people: family, friends, schools, religious or spiritual groups, work groups, clubs, organizations and even, yes, political parties. Each of these groups has rules or guidelines for belonging, sometimes written, sometimes understood. These groups give us guidelines, feelings of worth and acceptance. And they also define our roles and beliefs. Truly, we become like the people with whom we associate.
So who are we? Are we mothers, BFFs, students, believers, salesmen, Republicans? Along the way we tend to join groups that support our beliefs, so something in each group may support other groups and we may come to believe we are those definitions because we make them fit neatly together. But there may also be conflicts because groups are defined by all members. Definitions may foster internal conflicts; Example: ‘I’m a Republican and a Catholic, but I believe abortion is a matter of choice.’ Conflicts like this confuse us, make us feel guilty, and lower our self esteem.
We know we are good people, but people in other groups disagree with us. What’s wrong with them? They seem to be nice people but they have views that differ sharply from ours. It’s hard to understand why this is. Many times we just assume they aren’t as smart as we are, or that they have hidden agendas. Think about Obama Care or the immigrant issue? How can seemingly sane people have views of the world which are at opposite ends of the spectrum?
This gets back to the question of who we are. Really, WHO ARE WE? Are we rational people? What about the people who disagree with us? WHO ARE THEY? How can mankind have so many different ideas and yet believe individually that they are right and others are wrong?
Believe it or not, this is part of being human. It is inevitable. We will always have our own opinions that differ from others. Starting with my next blog I will discuss how we think, judge, remember, and why even people who are close to us, family members, may strongly disagree with us. Here’s a hint: it has do to with the survival of the human species.
Jan 13, 2016 @ 12:40:55
I’m looking forward to your next entry! My answer to this one is I am Me. I don’t specifically identify with any group unless someone would ask me like: Are you a Republican or a Democrat? I am Me first and then I am something else or someone else.
Jan 13, 2016 @ 13:37:52
Who am I? A really good question that gets to roots of our being. I am a person made in the image of a Triune God who has been redeemed at a great price.
Jan 13, 2016 @ 20:39:46
I AM
Jan 15, 2016 @ 14:29:39
Thanks for your comment Jo. I’m sorry to hear about your friend. This series of blogs on healing ourselves is headed right in the direction of your last question “Where are we going as a race of humans?”
Jan 15, 2016 @ 11:32:22
I enjoyed your post. its more substantive than many blogs or posts.. This is a good time of year to reflect and not just think of material items.. and getting more more more.. I found out , just this morning that a colleague of mine has died, a young woman only 40. She had some health issues.. and was a Diabetic. Diabetes is a very serious disease, that many people just poo poo. You know so many blogs, are just about “what have you done for me lately”, you know, self centered..I was glad, and comforted of the tone of this latest journal post.. not just loud noise from Radio Hosts who want to be heard, not selfies of teenage girls, but the truth.. Where are we going as a race of humans?
Jo Fela