March 2, 2025 • 28 mins
We embark on a transformational journey into the depths of our shadows and the wisdom they harbor. The episode invites listeners to confront their inner selves and embrace their connection to the spirit world.
• Introduction
• Creating a sacred space for meditation and self-discovery
• Encountering the Spirit of the Raven for guidance and insight
• Embracing the Spirit of the Snake for transformation and healing
• Understanding the Spirit of the Owl for wisdom
• Connecting with the Spirit of the Wolf to accept our true selves
Thank you for listening to another enlightening episode of Belief, Being, and Beyond! Don't forget to explore the book "Shamanism and Your Shadow" for more insights.
Granddaughter Crow -
www.granddaughtercrow.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Granddaughter Crow (00:00):
Welcome to Belief being and Beyond with
your host, granddaughter Crow.
Hi everybody, granddaughterCrow here.
This is a very special editionof Belief being and Beyond.
In this edition we are going tobe doing journey work.
There are four parts to thisjourney work, separated out
(00:25):
whether you're on YouTube orwherever you get your podcasts
into chapters.
It does accompany the bookShamanism and your Shadows, so
if you want to read it coupledwith a book, feel free.
Otherwise, sit back and enjoyApproaching the Shadow with the
(00:48):
Spirit of the Raven.
I am creating a sacred space ina sacred time.
I draw a circle around thisspace and time and declare it as
sacred.
It is within this space that Iam whole, I am loved, I am me.
(01:12):
There is a reason that I havefound myself here.
I am ready to meet my shadowand I know that my shadow has
led me here and is ready to meetme too.
Being here confirms that I havemade an agreement to meet my
shadow in this holy, sacredspace.
(01:35):
I welcome in the divine as itreveals itself to me to walk
with me here, to me to walk withme here.
I welcome the spirit of theraven and its magical keenness
to accompany me here.
I welcome my shadow with greathonor and respect.
(01:56):
Be here with me now, and so itis now, and so it is.
Jeffrey Gray (02:13):
Breathe in this place.
Breathe in the spring wetprairies.
Notice the warming humidity ofthe prairie as it is drying in
the morning sun.
The storm clouds that passedlast night are drifting east,
billowing still popcorn white inthe blue sky of the morning sun
.
Breathe in the scent of loamysoil steaming up from below the
(02:39):
dewy stalks of the big blue stemgrass that surrounds you on all
sides.
As far as you can see, beadedwater on the tips of its blades
casts glistening prisms of lightacross the prairie beneath the
(03:01):
ever-climbing sun.
As you face east, you do notsee your shadow behind you.
The whirling wings of adragonfly catch your attention
and you sense its flight path.
Breathe in the warming air asthe great prairie gives up its
(03:25):
inspirations to the climbing sun.
In the distance, a lonestructure stands between the
horizon and the prairie and youbegin to walk east towards it.
And you begin to walk easttowards it.
The sun warms your face,relaxing you, and you spread
(03:49):
your fingers wide, lightlytouching the wet tips of the
stalks as you pass In this vastopen landscape of waist-high
grass.
You seek the shaman of thisplace, but you sense no other
presence than your own as youwade through the grass high,
(04:11):
stepping at times toe to heelthe structure, a scaffold stands
before you.
Iron poles, stilts, jut up high, supporting a long branch-woven
bed.
(04:31):
It is from here that suspendedearthly bodies are surrendered,
unburdened and unbound to thesky to continue a journey where
only the wind may carry theirweight.
Long feathers hang from eachcorner of the bed and you crane
(04:53):
your neck to focus on one inparticular.
Beating of wings behind youstartles Wooshing.
Widespread black feathers cupthe wind.
Above outstretched talons, thegreat black bird alights atop
(05:14):
the burial scaffold.
It sits head cocked looking atyou.
Its gurgled croaks areinterrupted by loud clicks of
its beak, sounding likewoodblocks being struck with
bone.
(05:35):
Three others gather on thescaffold, fluttering their wings
and calling as they jockey upand down for a position to
observe you from being four.
Now their presence overshadowsyour own.
Through the calling andthroated efforts comes the words
(05:57):
as they look down upon you fromtheir macabre perch.
The first one speaks you fromtheir macabre perch.
The first one speaks the burialtree bears the branches that we
(06:17):
will speak to you from.
The second, defiantly, I am notafraid of you.
The fourth the shadow is yourwisdom keeper.
They then ask do you hear thesewords?
Granddaughter Cro (06:42):
Understanding their nature, you are now able
to listen, breathe in this placeand return when needed.
You carry the spirit of theraven and this landscape within
(07:02):
you.
Now, recognizing the shadow,with the spirit of the snake, I
am creating a sacred space in asacred time.
I draw a circle around thisspace and time and declare it
(07:23):
sacred.
It is within this space that Iam whole, I am loved, I am me.
There is a reason that I havefound myself here.
I am ready to acknowledge moreof my shadow and I know that my
shadow has led me here and isready to assist me.
(07:44):
Being here confirms that I havemade an agreement to meet my
shadow in this holy, sacredspace.
I welcome the divine as itreveals itself to me to walk
with me here.
I welcome the spirit of thesnake and its magical
(08:04):
diagnostics to accompany me here.
I welcome my shadow with greathonor and respect.
Be here with me now, and so itis.
Jeffrey Gray (08:19):
Breathe in this place.
Oven, dry air, devoid ofmoisture, dries your nostrils.
With its heat, the air distortsthe base of the monolithic
tabletop mountains in thedistance like a mirage rising
above the warp of the contortingheat.
(08:40):
The punishing sun bearsdirectly down upon the barren
landscape from a cloudless bluesky, casting no shadows.
Beneath its midday blaze, thestrong scent of the blue
juniper's waxy needles liesclose to the shrub.
(09:03):
Here and there, twisted sand,blown trunks jut up.
From the fractured sandstonelandscape you catch the earthy
tang of burning sage coming fromthe entrance of the Slot Canyon
, a natural landscape carved bywater.
(09:24):
Facing south, you walk into theArroyo Soon.
You are deep within itscrevasse, carved by torrential
downpours of proportions.
You struggle to understand Anarrow passage once a rushing
(09:44):
river snakes through thewater-worn sandstone walls which
extend far above your head.
Were those swift waters toreturn at this point, you would
not escape them.
The slot canyon narrows to av-shaped point where you must
(10:07):
place one foot in front of theother, hands touching either
side of the canyon walls forbalance.
Ahead, you hear the rattle ofthe shaman.
A short distance away, youshoulder through a hairpin, turn
back against the wall when agust of wind from above, sends a
(10:30):
blanket of sand and dust uponyou, blinded momentarily, your
palms feeling for contour, yousidestep into an alcove within
the arroyo, following the soundof the rattle.
As the rattle's songs crescendo, the air clears, revealing a
(10:53):
coiled serpent directly in frontof you, furiously warning you
of its presence.
It is covered with the dust andsand from the wind that just
passed and takes on the hue ofthe stone it sits upon.
It strikes out at you, touchingthe top of your hand, and you
(11:13):
recoil in shock, franticallylooking for the tell-tale marks
of fangs on your hand.
Your heart is pounding and youare trapped with your brack
against the stone, facing theagitated reptile.
It strikes at you once again andfalls short of its mark.
(11:36):
As the snake slowly recoils,its eyes are clouded and ashy.
It is blind at this moment.
The rattle, on the tip of itstail, is now still.
It begins to inhale deeply air,hissing through its nostrils as
(12:11):
its ribs fill like the drawingof a bellows.
Its forked tongue flicks upthen down, sensing your presence
.
As it exhales, once againhissing, it inhales a second
time, splitting its ashy skinwhich slides off and away as the
serpent undulates to freeitself, undulates to free itself
.
Now the snake sits anew beforeyou, beautifully colored, the
(12:40):
telling gold diamond pattern isclearly visible down its brown
and gray scaled back.
Its throat, neck and chest lookas if girded by idly white
plates, and the elongated pupilswithin its yellow irises
clearly focus on you.
Venom adrenaline medicine.
(13:04):
It speaks to you in neitherword nor thought.
Granddaughter Cro (13:11):
Understanding more of the nature of the snake
and the landscape, you are nowable to listen, breathe in this
place and return when needed.
You carry the breadth of thelandscape and your connection to
the snake within you.
Understanding the Shadow, withthe Spirit of the Owl, I am
(13:40):
creating a sacred space in asacred time.
I draw a circle around thisspace and time and declare it as
sacred.
It is within this space that Iam whole, I am loved, I am me.
There is a reason that I havefound myself here.
(14:00):
I am ready to once again meeteven more of my shadow, and I
know that my shadow has led mehere and is ready to meet me too
, is ready to meet me too.
Being here now confirms that Ihave made an agreement to meet
(14:21):
my shadow in this holy, sacredspace.
I welcome in the divine as itreveals itself to me to walk
with me here.
I welcome the spirit of the owland its magical insights that
will lead me to furtherunderstanding.
I welcome my shadow with greathonor and respect.
Be here with me now, and so itis.
Jeffrey Gray (14:49):
Breathe in this place, breathe in the water's
cool vapors that swirl in theair.
The air is moist, cool andhumid, cascading down upon you
in misty airborne waves from thewaterfall far above.
You can both smell and tastethe mist in your inhalation.
(15:13):
The humidity forms droplets onthe fine hair of your arms and
on the fine hairs of the emeraldgreen moss that clings to every
stone.
The moisture beads upon theshoot of the fern that clutches
the bedrock that forms thewaterfall, fractured bedrock set
(15:35):
ajar eons ago.
The vibration of the water'scourse is felt even within the
wet stone that you stand upon.
Were you to speak, thediscernment of your words would
require effort.
Your presence as a visitor hereis dwarfed by the volume of
(15:57):
water rapidly sheeting over theledge.
Above, falling white anddashing relentlessly on the
smooth boulders.
Below, a rainbow forms withinthe rays of the setting sun that
floods the ravine with itsfading light.
Turning west, you walk in thedirection of that setting sun,
(16:20):
seeking the shaman of this place.
The game trail that you followaway from the waterfall winds
with purpose, through theforested bank beside the river,
a trail worn by countlessfootfalls of hoof and paw.
It meanders around tree trunksand boulders, becoming
(16:41):
increasingly difficult todiscern in the lengthening
autumn shadows.
Straining to see, ego abandonsyou as you wander off the trail.
Here and there you backtrack,after blindly veering off one of
the many hidden turns that youfailed to see.
A trick of the light?
(17:01):
The pink tinge of twilightgives you pause as you look up
from the trail, eyes dilating asyou change your focus.
From near to far, you marvel atthe golden rays of the setting
sun through a clearing beforeyou.
This evening will bring no moonand the shadows are dominant.
(17:23):
As you struggle to see the pathin the fading light of the
setting sun, in a few paces youare standing on a pebbled beach
exposed by the ebbing tide.
You are standing on a pebbledbeach exposed by the ebbing tide
.
The smells of kelp and brinefill your nostrils.
As you clear the forest ravine,great snags of driftwood that
(17:44):
form ghostly specters in the bayof receding water now seem
sentient.
With outstretched arms Checkingyour footing on the slick
pebbles, you walk upon the tidalplain until you stand before
one of the colossal snags.
Worn, smooth and waterlogged,the skeleton of a once majestic
(18:06):
conifer is prostrate.
It easily stretches twentypaces in either direction and
you cannot see over or beyondthe girth of its trunk, even
though it lies securely anchoredin the silt of the tide,
flattened by its tremendousweight.
(18:27):
You ponder what the treewitnessed when it stood a
century ago.
Its lifetime spanned countlessgenerations that formed the tree
of your own ancestors,ancestors now dimmed by time and
distance.
When, green-needled andevergreen this tree lived, you
(18:47):
instinctively walk toward theflare of gnarled roots at the
far end of the immense trunk,inspecting the patterns of
winding wood that meander outand away from the once rooted
stump.
A glimmer from one of the rootscatches your eye and you lean
forward to inspect it in the dimautumn light.
(19:08):
Embedded in the root is amultifaceted stone held in place
by years of growth.
The touch of a finger revealsit was loosely held in place by
the soft wood.
With its weight in your palm,you run your thumb over the
sharp edges of the stonesymmetry, exploring the flat
(19:31):
faces of its geometric structure.
It is clearly a magical crystalPocketing your prize.
You turn to leave, but thesilhouette of the owl, now
perched on the broken bow, isbefore you.
The owl silently arrived behindyou while you were distracted.
(19:52):
It has come for the feastoffered by the ebbing tide.
As you walk towards the owl'ssilhouette, its head swivels to
the right.
Then it turns its gaze upon you, its great talons tacking into
the soft wood on which it isperched.
It says wood on which it isperched.
(20:20):
It says release your ego, yourjustified righteousness, your
judgment and shame, or I willfly away.
You slow your steps as youcontinue to approach, the owl
adjusts its footing upon thewood as its head swivels to the
left, once again staringdirectly at you.
It says Release your emotionsof love and hate.
(20:40):
Both are blinding.
Bias must be abandoned or Iwill fly away.
It's illusioned.
You now stand before the owl,disembodied from your ego and
your emotions.
You stand within the glare ofits attentive eyes.
Your own eyes try to focus inthe failing light.
(21:03):
The night hawk has come for theebbing tide's exposure, it says
.
Now, in the absence of light,you see with clear vision.
Granddaughter Cro (21:17):
Understanding their nature.
You are now able to listen,breathe in this place and return
when needed.
You carry the spirit of the owland the landscape within you
now, except the spirit of thewolf.
(21:41):
I am creating a sacred space ina sacred time.
There is a reason that I havefound myself here and I am ready
(22:05):
to meet my shadow.
And I know that my shadow hasled me here and is ready to meet
me and accept me too.
Being here confirms that I havemade an agreement to meet and
accept my shadow in this holy,sacred space.
I welcome in the divine as itreveals itself to me to walk
(22:30):
with me here.
I welcome in the spirit of thewolf and his knowledge to
accompany me here.
I welcome in my shadow withgreat honor and respect.
Be here with me now.
And so it is.
Jeffrey Gray (22:50):
Breathe in this place Sizzling charcoal and
evergreen resin scent, the coldforest air that you inhale
through your nostrils, yourbreath clouds only briefly lost
to the warmth of the small firethat burns before you.
The snap of twigs as they areengulfed by flames punctuates
(23:15):
the silence of the great aspenforest that surrounds you on all
sides as far as the eye can see.
Near you, the fire's glowreflects off the snow's icy face
.
The fire's reflection shiftsand dances on paper-white trunks
, giving the illusion ofmovement within the stillness of
(23:39):
the tall trees protrudingthrough the snow.
Gazing up high on one of thetrunks, you see the healed scars
of bear claws that once slashedthrough the bark, marking their
territory for all to see.
It is here that you seek theshaman of this place.
(24:00):
The small fire before youflares yellow, then falters in
flame, having rapidly consumedits fuel.
Shadows shift directions as theblue light of a full moon now
casts shadows from above,illuminating the thin smoke of
(24:21):
red embers dimming before you.
If you were God, what questionwould you ask yourself?
Speaks the forest as you gazeinto its moonlit stillness.
Blurred tree trunks lean likecathedral columns beneath their
canopy of branches.
(24:42):
Far away, you see movementbetween the trunks and hear the
crunch of four-legged footfallsbreaking the crust as the form
makes its way in your direction,you sense no menace.
As the she-wolf nears you, shehas not come for you.
(25:03):
She seeks, but it's not youthat is sought.
Head low and tail down, shestops opposite the cooling
embers Momentarily.
She sniffs the snow, thenraises her snout to taste the
cold night air.
As she circles in acounterclockwise direction
(25:25):
before you, beginning to whimperapprehensively and summoning up
yipes of concern.
The yipes and whimpers arelouder now, and, pained, she
sits, raises her head and beginsto bay towards the treetops.
Her song calls out to the oneswho are late returning to the
(25:49):
den.
The she-wolf is the call ofreturn for those who wander in
the shadows.
Hers is the voice they gatherto and around.
Hers is the voice they gatherto and around both the young and
the old.
It is a voice in the wind thatspeaks of counsel long forgotten
(26:12):
.
Into the rays of moonlight,wolves appear like ghosts from
between the trunks.
All the wolves gathered behindher on the frost-white snow
within the shadows.
They all peer at you in silence, as does she.
(26:33):
Their numbers take you aback asyou wonder how you could not
have seen at least a glimpse oftheir presence before.
It is said that to offerattention to the forest is to
immerse with its spirit and inreturn, its spirit will immerse
with you.
The forest is home to the wolf,man's first teacher.
When wolf is born, it isconnected to all.
(26:57):
Through this process, you areno longer observing or being
observed.
You have become one with thepack.
The pack has become one withyou and through them you are
connected to the trees and themoon.
Oneness within the greatness ofall.
Granddaughter Crow (27:30):
With this connection and this experience
with the wolf, you now are ableto listen deeply, breathe in
this place and return wheneveryou wish.
For now you are able to carrythe spirit of the wolf and the
acceptance of your shadow.
Once again, thank you fortuning in to another episode of
(27:50):
Belief, being and Beyond.
I hope you enjoyed this journeywork.
It is coupled with the bookShamanism and your Shadow Love.
Ya See you on the flippity flip.
Welcome to Belief being and Beyond with
your host, granddaughter Crow.
Hi everybody, granddaughterCrow here.
This is a very special editionof Belief being and Beyond.
In this edition we are going tobe doing journey work.
There are four parts to thisjourney work, separated out
(00:25):
whether you're on YouTube orwherever you get your podcasts
into chapters.
It does accompany the bookShamanism and your Shadows, so
if you want to read it coupledwith a book, feel free.
Otherwise, sit back and enjoyApproaching the Shadow with the
(00:48):
Spirit of the Raven.
I am creating a sacred space ina sacred time.
I draw a circle around thisspace and time and declare it as
sacred.
It is within this space that Iam whole, I am loved, I am me.
(01:12):
There is a reason that I havefound myself here.
I am ready to meet my shadowand I know that my shadow has
led me here and is ready to meetme too.
Being here confirms that I havemade an agreement to meet my
shadow in this holy, sacredspace.
(01:35):
I welcome in the divine as itreveals itself to me to walk
with me here, to me to walk withme here.
I welcome the spirit of theraven and its magical keenness
to accompany me here.
I welcome my shadow with greathonor and respect.
(01:56):
Be here with me now, and so itis now, and so it is.
Jeffrey Gray (02:13):
Breathe in this place.
Breathe in the spring wetprairies.
Notice the warming humidity ofthe prairie as it is drying in
the morning sun.
The storm clouds that passedlast night are drifting east,
billowing still popcorn white inthe blue sky of the morning sun
.
Breathe in the scent of loamysoil steaming up from below the
(02:39):
dewy stalks of the big blue stemgrass that surrounds you on all
sides.
As far as you can see, beadedwater on the tips of its blades
casts glistening prisms of lightacross the prairie beneath the
(03:01):
ever-climbing sun.
As you face east, you do notsee your shadow behind you.
The whirling wings of adragonfly catch your attention
and you sense its flight path.
Breathe in the warming air asthe great prairie gives up its
(03:25):
inspirations to the climbing sun.
In the distance, a lonestructure stands between the
horizon and the prairie and youbegin to walk east towards it.
And you begin to walk easttowards it.
The sun warms your face,relaxing you, and you spread
(03:49):
your fingers wide, lightlytouching the wet tips of the
stalks as you pass In this vastopen landscape of waist-high
grass.
You seek the shaman of thisplace, but you sense no other
presence than your own as youwade through the grass high,
(04:11):
stepping at times toe to heelthe structure, a scaffold stands
before you.
Iron poles, stilts, jut up high, supporting a long branch-woven
bed.
(04:31):
It is from here that suspendedearthly bodies are surrendered,
unburdened and unbound to thesky to continue a journey where
only the wind may carry theirweight.
Long feathers hang from eachcorner of the bed and you crane
(04:53):
your neck to focus on one inparticular.
Beating of wings behind youstartles Wooshing.
Widespread black feathers cupthe wind.
Above outstretched talons, thegreat black bird alights atop
(05:14):
the burial scaffold.
It sits head cocked looking atyou.
Its gurgled croaks areinterrupted by loud clicks of
its beak, sounding likewoodblocks being struck with
bone.
(05:35):
Three others gather on thescaffold, fluttering their wings
and calling as they jockey upand down for a position to
observe you from being four.
Now their presence overshadowsyour own.
Through the calling andthroated efforts comes the words
(05:57):
as they look down upon you fromtheir macabre perch.
The first one speaks you fromtheir macabre perch.
The first one speaks the burialtree bears the branches that we
(06:17):
will speak to you from.
The second, defiantly, I am notafraid of you.
The fourth the shadow is yourwisdom keeper.
They then ask do you hear thesewords?
Granddaughter Cro (06:42):
Understanding their nature, you are now able
to listen, breathe in this placeand return when needed.
You carry the spirit of theraven and this landscape within
(07:02):
you.
Now, recognizing the shadow,with the spirit of the snake, I
am creating a sacred space in asacred time.
I draw a circle around thisspace and time and declare it
(07:23):
sacred.
It is within this space that Iam whole, I am loved, I am me.
There is a reason that I havefound myself here.
I am ready to acknowledge moreof my shadow and I know that my
shadow has led me here and isready to assist me.
(07:44):
Being here confirms that I havemade an agreement to meet my
shadow in this holy, sacredspace.
I welcome the divine as itreveals itself to me to walk
with me here.
I welcome the spirit of thesnake and its magical
(08:04):
diagnostics to accompany me here.
I welcome my shadow with greathonor and respect.
Be here with me now, and so itis.
Jeffrey Gray (08:19):
Breathe in this place.
Oven, dry air, devoid ofmoisture, dries your nostrils.
With its heat, the air distortsthe base of the monolithic
tabletop mountains in thedistance like a mirage rising
above the warp of the contortingheat.
(08:40):
The punishing sun bearsdirectly down upon the barren
landscape from a cloudless bluesky, casting no shadows.
Beneath its midday blaze, thestrong scent of the blue
juniper's waxy needles liesclose to the shrub.
(09:03):
Here and there, twisted sand,blown trunks jut up.
From the fractured sandstonelandscape you catch the earthy
tang of burning sage coming fromthe entrance of the Slot Canyon
, a natural landscape carved bywater.
(09:24):
Facing south, you walk into theArroyo Soon.
You are deep within itscrevasse, carved by torrential
downpours of proportions.
You struggle to understand Anarrow passage once a rushing
(09:44):
river snakes through thewater-worn sandstone walls which
extend far above your head.
Were those swift waters toreturn at this point, you would
not escape them.
The slot canyon narrows to av-shaped point where you must
(10:07):
place one foot in front of theother, hands touching either
side of the canyon walls forbalance.
Ahead, you hear the rattle ofthe shaman.
A short distance away, youshoulder through a hairpin, turn
back against the wall when agust of wind from above, sends a
(10:30):
blanket of sand and dust uponyou, blinded momentarily, your
palms feeling for contour, yousidestep into an alcove within
the arroyo, following the soundof the rattle.
As the rattle's songs crescendo, the air clears, revealing a
(10:53):
coiled serpent directly in frontof you, furiously warning you
of its presence.
It is covered with the dust andsand from the wind that just
passed and takes on the hue ofthe stone it sits upon.
It strikes out at you, touchingthe top of your hand, and you
(11:13):
recoil in shock, franticallylooking for the tell-tale marks
of fangs on your hand.
Your heart is pounding and youare trapped with your brack
against the stone, facing theagitated reptile.
It strikes at you once again andfalls short of its mark.
(11:36):
As the snake slowly recoils,its eyes are clouded and ashy.
It is blind at this moment.
The rattle, on the tip of itstail, is now still.
It begins to inhale deeply air,hissing through its nostrils as
(12:11):
its ribs fill like the drawingof a bellows.
Its forked tongue flicks upthen down, sensing your presence
.
As it exhales, once againhissing, it inhales a second
time, splitting its ashy skinwhich slides off and away as the
serpent undulates to freeitself, undulates to free itself
.
Now the snake sits anew beforeyou, beautifully colored, the
(12:40):
telling gold diamond pattern isclearly visible down its brown
and gray scaled back.
Its throat, neck and chest lookas if girded by idly white
plates, and the elongated pupilswithin its yellow irises
clearly focus on you.
Venom adrenaline medicine.
(13:04):
It speaks to you in neitherword nor thought.
Granddaughter Cro (13:11):
Understanding more of the nature of the snake
and the landscape, you are nowable to listen, breathe in this
place and return when needed.
You carry the breadth of thelandscape and your connection to
the snake within you.
Understanding the Shadow, withthe Spirit of the Owl, I am
(13:40):
creating a sacred space in asacred time.
I draw a circle around thisspace and time and declare it as
sacred.
It is within this space that Iam whole, I am loved, I am me.
There is a reason that I havefound myself here.
(14:00):
I am ready to once again meeteven more of my shadow, and I
know that my shadow has led mehere and is ready to meet me too
, is ready to meet me too.
Being here now confirms that Ihave made an agreement to meet
(14:21):
my shadow in this holy, sacredspace.
I welcome in the divine as itreveals itself to me to walk
with me here.
I welcome the spirit of the owland its magical insights that
will lead me to furtherunderstanding.
I welcome my shadow with greathonor and respect.
Be here with me now, and so itis.
Jeffrey Gray (14:49):
Breathe in this place, breathe in the water's
cool vapors that swirl in theair.
The air is moist, cool andhumid, cascading down upon you
in misty airborne waves from thewaterfall far above.
You can both smell and tastethe mist in your inhalation.
(15:13):
The humidity forms droplets onthe fine hair of your arms and
on the fine hairs of the emeraldgreen moss that clings to every
stone.
The moisture beads upon theshoot of the fern that clutches
the bedrock that forms thewaterfall, fractured bedrock set
(15:35):
ajar eons ago.
The vibration of the water'scourse is felt even within the
wet stone that you stand upon.
Were you to speak, thediscernment of your words would
require effort.
Your presence as a visitor hereis dwarfed by the volume of
(15:57):
water rapidly sheeting over theledge.
Above, falling white anddashing relentlessly on the
smooth boulders.
Below, a rainbow forms withinthe rays of the setting sun that
floods the ravine with itsfading light.
Turning west, you walk in thedirection of that setting sun,
(16:20):
seeking the shaman of this place.
The game trail that you followaway from the waterfall winds
with purpose, through theforested bank beside the river,
a trail worn by countlessfootfalls of hoof and paw.
It meanders around tree trunksand boulders, becoming
(16:41):
increasingly difficult todiscern in the lengthening
autumn shadows.
Straining to see, ego abandonsyou as you wander off the trail.
Here and there you backtrack,after blindly veering off one of
the many hidden turns that youfailed to see.
A trick of the light?
(17:01):
The pink tinge of twilightgives you pause as you look up
from the trail, eyes dilating asyou change your focus.
From near to far, you marvel atthe golden rays of the setting
sun through a clearing beforeyou.
This evening will bring no moonand the shadows are dominant.
(17:23):
As you struggle to see the pathin the fading light of the
setting sun, in a few paces youare standing on a pebbled beach
exposed by the ebbing tide.
You are standing on a pebbledbeach exposed by the ebbing tide
.
The smells of kelp and brinefill your nostrils.
As you clear the forest ravine,great snags of driftwood that
(17:44):
form ghostly specters in the bayof receding water now seem
sentient.
With outstretched arms Checkingyour footing on the slick
pebbles, you walk upon the tidalplain until you stand before
one of the colossal snags.
Worn, smooth and waterlogged,the skeleton of a once majestic
(18:06):
conifer is prostrate.
It easily stretches twentypaces in either direction and
you cannot see over or beyondthe girth of its trunk, even
though it lies securely anchoredin the silt of the tide,
flattened by its tremendousweight.
(18:27):
You ponder what the treewitnessed when it stood a
century ago.
Its lifetime spanned countlessgenerations that formed the tree
of your own ancestors,ancestors now dimmed by time and
distance.
When, green-needled andevergreen this tree lived, you
(18:47):
instinctively walk toward theflare of gnarled roots at the
far end of the immense trunk,inspecting the patterns of
winding wood that meander outand away from the once rooted
stump.
A glimmer from one of the rootscatches your eye and you lean
forward to inspect it in the dimautumn light.
(19:08):
Embedded in the root is amultifaceted stone held in place
by years of growth.
The touch of a finger revealsit was loosely held in place by
the soft wood.
With its weight in your palm,you run your thumb over the
sharp edges of the stonesymmetry, exploring the flat
(19:31):
faces of its geometric structure.
It is clearly a magical crystalPocketing your prize.
You turn to leave, but thesilhouette of the owl, now
perched on the broken bow, isbefore you.
The owl silently arrived behindyou while you were distracted.
(19:52):
It has come for the feastoffered by the ebbing tide.
As you walk towards the owl'ssilhouette, its head swivels to
the right.
Then it turns its gaze upon you, its great talons tacking into
the soft wood on which it isperched.
It says wood on which it isperched.
(20:20):
It says release your ego, yourjustified righteousness, your
judgment and shame, or I willfly away.
You slow your steps as youcontinue to approach, the owl
adjusts its footing upon thewood as its head swivels to the
left, once again staringdirectly at you.
It says Release your emotionsof love and hate.
(20:40):
Both are blinding.
Bias must be abandoned or Iwill fly away.
It's illusioned.
You now stand before the owl,disembodied from your ego and
your emotions.
You stand within the glare ofits attentive eyes.
Your own eyes try to focus inthe failing light.
(21:03):
The night hawk has come for theebbing tide's exposure, it says
.
Now, in the absence of light,you see with clear vision.
Granddaughter Cro (21:17):
Understanding their nature.
You are now able to listen,breathe in this place and return
when needed.
You carry the spirit of the owland the landscape within you
now, except the spirit of thewolf.
(21:41):
I am creating a sacred space ina sacred time.
There is a reason that I havefound myself here and I am ready
(22:05):
to meet my shadow.
And I know that my shadow hasled me here and is ready to meet
me and accept me too.
Being here confirms that I havemade an agreement to meet and
accept my shadow in this holy,sacred space.
I welcome in the divine as itreveals itself to me to walk
(22:30):
with me here.
I welcome in the spirit of thewolf and his knowledge to
accompany me here.
I welcome in my shadow withgreat honor and respect.
Be here with me now.
And so it is.
Jeffrey Gray (22:50):
Breathe in this place Sizzling charcoal and
evergreen resin scent, the coldforest air that you inhale
through your nostrils, yourbreath clouds only briefly lost
to the warmth of the small firethat burns before you.
The snap of twigs as they areengulfed by flames punctuates
(23:15):
the silence of the great aspenforest that surrounds you on all
sides as far as the eye can see.
Near you, the fire's glowreflects off the snow's icy face
.
The fire's reflection shiftsand dances on paper-white trunks
, giving the illusion ofmovement within the stillness of
(23:39):
the tall trees protrudingthrough the snow.
Gazing up high on one of thetrunks, you see the healed scars
of bear claws that once slashedthrough the bark, marking their
territory for all to see.
It is here that you seek theshaman of this place.
(24:00):
The small fire before youflares yellow, then falters in
flame, having rapidly consumedits fuel.
Shadows shift directions as theblue light of a full moon now
casts shadows from above,illuminating the thin smoke of
(24:21):
red embers dimming before you.
If you were God, what questionwould you ask yourself?
Speaks the forest as you gazeinto its moonlit stillness.
Blurred tree trunks lean likecathedral columns beneath their
canopy of branches.
(24:42):
Far away, you see movementbetween the trunks and hear the
crunch of four-legged footfallsbreaking the crust as the form
makes its way in your direction,you sense no menace.
As the she-wolf nears you, shehas not come for you.
(25:03):
She seeks, but it's not youthat is sought.
Head low and tail down, shestops opposite the cooling
embers Momentarily.
She sniffs the snow, thenraises her snout to taste the
cold night air.
As she circles in acounterclockwise direction
(25:25):
before you, beginning to whimperapprehensively and summoning up
yipes of concern.
The yipes and whimpers arelouder now, and, pained, she
sits, raises her head and beginsto bay towards the treetops.
Her song calls out to the oneswho are late returning to the
(25:49):
den.
The she-wolf is the call ofreturn for those who wander in
the shadows.
Hers is the voice they gatherto and around.
Hers is the voice they gatherto and around both the young and
the old.
It is a voice in the wind thatspeaks of counsel long forgotten
(26:12):
.
Into the rays of moonlight,wolves appear like ghosts from
between the trunks.
All the wolves gathered behindher on the frost-white snow
within the shadows.
They all peer at you in silence, as does she.
(26:33):
Their numbers take you aback asyou wonder how you could not
have seen at least a glimpse oftheir presence before.
It is said that to offerattention to the forest is to
immerse with its spirit and inreturn, its spirit will immerse
with you.
The forest is home to the wolf,man's first teacher.
When wolf is born, it isconnected to all.
(26:57):
Through this process, you areno longer observing or being
observed.
You have become one with thepack.
The pack has become one withyou and through them you are
connected to the trees and themoon.
Oneness within the greatness ofall.
Granddaughter Crow (27:30):
With this connection and this experience
with the wolf, you now are ableto listen deeply, breathe in
this place and return wheneveryou wish.
For now you are able to carrythe spirit of the wolf and the
acceptance of your shadow.
Once again, thank you fortuning in to another episode of
(27:50):
Belief, being and Beyond.
I hope you enjoyed this journeywork.
It is coupled with the bookShamanism and your Shadow Love.
Ya See you on the flippity flip.
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