Reconnecting to Earth, to Ourselves

Right, so, I've wanted to post on a recent trip I had to a shamanic journeying workshop in Asheville, NC. Never done this kind of thing before, so was skeptical but intrigued. Well, only alone and never in a group (and I'm not talking sex!). I decided to go with an open mind, and if nothing else, look at it as a way to enjoy the mountains and indulge my sub-consciousness/right brain. I've been way too analytical and left-brain for too long!

There were 10 of us participants, including the facilitator Zacciah (yeah, weird name--but what did I expect? Bob? Not that there's anything wrong with "Bob"...). Being a newbie to lots of these concepts, I'll do my best to explain. Basically, the facilitator says there are energies or wavelengths that resonate with the human body, and part of what happens when we tap into those is healing or insight. Ok, maybe. But then it gets really weird. These wavelengths come from ancestral beings in the stars--which is where we came from--and those beings have messages for us. I've actually heard of "star beings" before but didn't know much. So, here's the site in case you're curious. I don't want to debate necessarily on whether or not any of this is true but more just want to share what I experienced.

What I was interested in most was exploring my spiritual ancestry. I'm not sure if I believe in reincarnation (although I did hear a very convincing, simple argument in support of it) but there are certain spiritual concepts that have always held an interest for me. Have you ever felt like that? I also wanted to explore genetic ancestry. I've always felt a strong connection to Ireland and the Mayan culture--why? The workshop provided an opportunity to explore.

I'll just hit the highlights and interesting parts. Basically, the facilitator used various instruments--drums, rattles, singing bowls--along with his own chants and singing to lead us into a "trance" state, if you will, to tap into those energies I mentioned. Sort of a guided meditation. I wondered if this would simply be an exercise in the power of suggestion, but now that it's over, I'm less skeptical.

Early the first day, we went outside for a meditation on the 4 elements--earth, fire, water, air. We stood, eyes closed, facing the sun (fire) and chanted a good several minutes. The point was to focus on how each of these four elements makes up everything, everything in our world. The dirt, the plants, our food. The sun on our faces, giving trees the energy they need to produce oxygen, which we breathe. The babbling creek, the water essential to our lives, that composes the majority of our bodies. The cool breeze that kisses the cheek, that warms or cools the earth, that creates the storm, that carries the seeds and the birds. When the chant was over, we took 5 more minutes to roam the grounds, finding examples of each of the 4 elements. I have to say this was quite powerful. In our lives, we get so busy that we forget that even food that comes from a box starts out as earth, fire, water, air. The SUVs we drive start out as the 4 elements. The people we love and those we hate all come from earth, fire, water, air.

Then it hit me. Assuming the Big Bang is how it all started, then we really are "star beings." The explosion of light, of matter, that created the universe and set it all in motion--the stars, the planets, cellular life--came from stars. And without our own star, our sun, we would die. Very simple, really, but quite profound for me. Everything is connected. That sounds so trite and is so easy to dismiss but it really is a basic truth. Unfortunately, we get so distracted. Except, if we can hold this reality, this knowledge close to us, we can see how petty our daily concerns are. We can see how harmful our words are, how unnecessary our violence is--as well as how beautiful our world is and how each moment is precious.


I came away with a greater awareness of how much a physical part I am of this rock we call Earth. I also came away with greater love, specifically for a few people I felt I had recently harmed in some way. Since I've been home, I've put aside the fears or differences I had with these 3 or 4 people and opened up my heart to them, starting conversations, extending my concern, acknowledging the fact that we are all part of the same "star stuff." No great, super-amazing breakthroughs but I do see that I am more open, less fearful--and I'm sure they have picked up on that, too. Can't hurt, right?

So that was mostly the first day. I want to break these up so they're not so long and boring! But the best is yet to come. The last exercise we did that day really opened up the ol' noggin. Check back for the next installment.

Oh--almost forgot. That simple argument for reincarnation that I mentioned is this: Everything else in the world is reused. Everything decomposes and is used to grow more stuff. All the water and air we have is all there is; it rains and storms and evaporates and clouds form, gets heated up and it all gets recycled again and again. If everything else in existence gets reused, why should humans, specifically human souls, be any different?? Sure, we like to think we're unique, one-of-a-kind individuals--but on what basis? Something to think about. There is an elegant "design" in nature, and like it or not, we're part of it. And if you don't like the word "soul," then how about "cellular memory?"