September 4, 2023 • 24 mins
Imagine an enriching rendezvous with your inner self, where stagnancy is replaced with the vigorous flow of spiritual enlightenment. On this episode of Shamans After Dark, we reveal the art of crafting sacred objects and how this creative process opens up channels for deeper connections with your helping spirits. Prepare to be entranced as we share insights on maintaining a notebook filled with profound questions that spark your spiritual journey.
We've all been in that place where our spiritual practices become monotonous, right? Well, how about intensifying that practice by building a robust relationship with non-human kin, honoring your ancestors, and nurturing your altars? We delve into the wisdom of ceremony, devotion, and vulnerability, emphasizing the power of presence in your shamanic journeys. Self-compassion isn't just recommended, it's required on this journey. So embrace the curiosity and join us as we unravel the tapes of spiritual exploration, vulnerability, and self-discovery.
Consistency and dedication, are two ingredients that can drastically transform your shamanic practice. In this episode, we elaborate on the alignment and empowerment that sprouts from working closely with the helping spirits. Our experiences, lessons, and healing processes all contribute to our spiritual growth and recording these experiences can act as a valuable tool for reflection. Let us guide you on this journey, sharing personal experiences and providing resources to deepen your shamanic practice. Tune in to Shamans After Dark and light your path toward spiritual discovery.
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Bri's website: https://treehearthealing.com
Tina's website: https://3crowshealing.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Bri (00:07):
Hello illuminated souls, I'm Bri Andreoni.
Tina (00:10):
And I'm Tina D'Amore.
Welcome to Shaman's After Dark.
Today, we'll be delving intothe topic of how to deepen your
personal shamanic practice.
Bri (00:18):
I think this is a good topic.
It's one I'm really excitedabout that we're covering,
Because I think we all get to apoint in our practice whatever
spiritual practice or path ofwhat we have, what we kind of we
feel like we've fallen off thepath and we're not doing the
work or we're struggling becauseour day-to-day lives you just
get really busy and we're likeokay, how do I reinvigorate, how
do I breathe some new life intothis?
You know, sometimes it juststarts to feel stale, Like we
(00:39):
just have practices that aren'tmaybe suiting where we are
anymore, and so this is a greattopic to kind of maybe just give
you some ideas on how you candeepen it or reinvigorate your
current practice.
Tina (00:51):
I think, for a shamanic practitioner, your question to
the helping spirits is drivingthe bus of your journey, and so
sometimes our questions can kindof get dry and not so enriched
with good things.
That will mine the results thatwe're needing, and so that's
why it can become stale.
So that's what we're going totalk about.
Bri (01:12):
Yeah, and also sometimes I think maybe you didn't have time
to journey and then when youactually sit down to journey,
you're like I'm not really surewhat I need to journey about
today, because you just forget.
So I always keep a notebook.
This is my little tip I alwayskeep a notebook as I get ideas
about things to journey about,so that when I have time to sit
down I have like a plethora ofquestions that at some point I
wanted to dive into.
So that's helpful.
(01:33):
I love that.
I like it.
It helps me out a lot.
I have a notebook full ofsticky notes because I write
them down at the moment that Istop them in my book.
Tina (01:41):
You're like working in your day.
Yeah, I should ask that.
Bri (01:43):
Exactly that's great, I love that idea.
I love it.
I'm a big one for creatingsacred objects, like if you're
helping, you know, if you'reworking with the Helping Spirits
and you're feeling like I'mfeeling called to create
something, taking the leap andcreating it for yourself, versus
going out and buying it and oryou know, it's huge and the
energy that you can put into itand really customize it.
(02:04):
Like my Helping Spirits havehad me make very specific
rattles for different thingsthat you know, and I love the
different ways that I can infuseso much energy into that, as
I'm creating it and creating itin sacred space, creating it in
the way that my Helping Spiritshave asked for, and there's so
many different things you can do.
Rattle is just an example.
(02:24):
But you or you might feel like,okay, you're out on a walk in
nature and you find this perfectstick that's being asked to
come home and you're not surewhy, but you bring it back and
then, spirit, it turns out thatit's got a purpose for you in
some way.
Tina (02:37):
So that actually happened to me twice.
I was supposed to pick this upfor some reason and bring this
home, and then I began whittlingone stick and I'm like, why am
I even doing this, you know?
And then it was supposed tosort of not, it was supposed to
be a mystery.
And now I know because, yeah,my altar.
Bri (02:59):
that's right, I mean.
So it's being open, being opento what messages spirit has for
you.
And I think sometimes we fallinto this narrative of like I'm
not good at creative stuff orI'm not, or it has nothing to do
with that.
It's about infusing your energyinto an object and creating it.
Whatever you create is whatyou're meant to create, like it
has its own essence and its ownpurpose.
(03:21):
And I think these ideas ofperfection that we kind of get
around what something shouldlook like can interfere with us.
And also, sometimes you knowwe're told we're not artistic or
we don't, you know, like we getall creators.
Tina (03:33):
Exactly.
Bri (03:34):
So take a chance.
It's just something that's foryou and spirit.
So it's a wonderful way toconnect with spirit and kind of
deepen your practice a littlebit by trusting and surrendering
a little bit to what spiritmight be asking of you, and
sometimes it can feeluncomfortable to step out on
that branch.
Tina (03:53):
So I know, bree, you are amazing at making rattles and I
have been witness to theproducts that you've created and
they're so powerful and so I Inever considered myself a rattle
maker, and then, over thiswinter, I decided, all right,
let's do this.
My helping spirits were like onmy back about these have to be
this way and you have to do itthis way, and so I'm like, all
(04:16):
right, all right, so I'll do it,and I did, and even though
they're not quote unquoteperfect, they are when I use
them.
They are so powerful.
So and I can feel that I canfeel so aligned with my helping
spirits, that prompted me to dothis.
So, if this is something that's, you know, if they're tapping
you on your shoulder, justlisten.
There's a couple other projectsthat they want me to do.
(04:37):
I'm actually going to startdoing them, you know, later on,
and there's our projects I haveto do, and I've finished another
project.
So they're going to be wantingto manifest through you and that
will deepen your practice.
Bri (04:51):
Yeah, it will deepen it, and you just might be so amazed
about what comes through youwhen you stop thinking about
overthinking.
It is our worst you know ourworst enemy with that comes to
that just allowing space formovement or color or creativity
is so huge and we can just kindof set aside our thinking mind
(05:12):
and allow spirit to move throughus and work through us and
whatever kind of creativeendeavor we have is so powerful.
And so it's a beautiful way todeepen your practice if you feel
called because spirit loves topush you outside your box and
outside your comfort zone, likesometimes.
You may feel like you'reclinging on by your fingertips
as they drag you out, kickingand screaming, but it's worth
the effort.
There are times where I havebeen asked to make things.
(05:35):
I was asked to so sacredregalia and I had never sown
anything.
I thought I could, you know,find something at the thrift
store that I could modify, andspirit was like no.
I tried to do it and I could notfind anything that they wanted
that would work, and I had to doit all from scratch and totally
(05:56):
stepped outside of my comfortzone, made lots of mistakes,
learned a ton and was superthrilled of what I was able to
create.
And it blew my mind because Idid not think I could make it.
Tina (06:05):
Absolutely amazing.
I've seen the regalia, thankyou, and it's just true.
Yeah, so I don't think spiritreally cares about those human
mistakes.
Bri (06:12):
They just want the character it does, and that's
who we are.
Tina (06:16):
We are characters in our human skin.
Bri (06:18):
So yeah, it's just about the intention, yeah, and I'll
also say that sometimes we aremistakes are how we learn
Mistakes.
We sometimes are our bestmistakes, you know like that
lead us to these unknownbeautiful things.
So I think when we have theseidea of mistakes are not
imperfections that are in ourwork.
You know, that's just an ideaof perfection that doesn't exist
(06:41):
.
I know we've talked about thisa little bit in the past, but it
is a beautiful way to kind ofdeepen your practice and kind of
step into it when spirit tapsyou on the shoulder to create
some kind of sacred item.
Tina (06:50):
And, like I said before, an art project I have to do and
I'm seeing it.
It's like I'm seeing it overand over and over.
So it's that I have to do thisand I have to not be attached to
the result.
It's really the process andthat really is what deepens.
It's actually the window ofwhere you get the opportunity to
be your practice, to bedeepened with your helping
(07:13):
spirit.
So, yeah, so just making afocus to find ways to
incorporate those things in theeveryday.
Bri (07:20):
as far as you know, creative projects or whatever it
is that you need to like,whether it's trying to journey a
little more or whatever it isthat's a new, unique piece of
your practice that feeds you.
Trying to make it a part ofyour everyday can really help
deepen that practice.
Whether it's just youtransfigure every day or you do
(07:42):
some other practice, do you takeup I don't know those people
that work with the spirit of thewind and doing a wind walk, you
know, like just kind ofincorporating it a little more
awareness, this piece ofbringing in your connection to
spirit on a daily basis reallycan help us to deepen our
connection to spirit, ourconnection to all things and
just being more aware.
(08:03):
Continuing to learn.
It's a huge one.
And not just taking classes andreading books.
I think we forget that ourhelping spirits can be our
biggest teachers and reallymining that wisdom and asking
questions about how they seethis ease or how they see the
world and our place in it andour connection.
(08:26):
There's just so many places youcan go it's limitless.
Tina (08:30):
Or even what do you do when I'm not journeying?
What else are you doing?
They cannot just be my solepurpose.
So what are they doing?
Bri (08:39):
That's another one, yeah, so it's just another way to
deepen your relationship, orjust hanging out, like you just
do a journey to have a picnic orhang out and sit down in a
place or get to know them, andjust building that reciprocity
and relationship.
It doesn't always have to bethis super purpose driven, other
than just building relationship.
(09:00):
It could just be upcoming tohang out.
We're just going to hang outtoday.
That's building relationship.
Exactly, that's just hangingout.
Tina (09:07):
Yes, I know for myself, ceremony is a big way to be able
to deepen my relationshipbecause I get everything and I
know you do, tupri by helpingspirits and they're very
specialized, detaileddescriptions and you're sort of
as a human.
You're like why?
And you don't always know why.
They're not going to alwaystell you why.
(09:27):
They might in some cases.
But when you're actuallybringing that ceremony forth
from the other planes, you startto understand what their
reasoning was and open, and thenthings come to light in this
reality and I also thinksometimes too, when doing this
work, that we forget about is wedon't we're not always meant to
know the answer or to know allof the things.
Bri (09:49):
Sometimes it's just about trusting and our helping spirits
and trusting in ourselves andour own inner wisdom.
I mean, I had done a ceremonythat spirit asked me in December
.
That was huge.
It had been this big like I wasasked to do this really intense
ceremony for myself and I'malso now, just the other day,
had a really big understandingof like.
Oh, my goodness, I'm seeing theeffects of the ceremony that
(10:10):
was done earlier in Decemberreally showing up and it had
been months of like, this kindof being, this initiation and
having this eye-opening momentof like.
Oh, that makes so much sensebecause I did this huge ceremony
that I was asked for and oh soI wouldn't have learned that had
they said it, and also Iprobably would have been like I
don't know if I want to do that,that's right.
(10:31):
I don't know if I'm ready.
I don't know, becauseinitiation is not a comfortable
process.
Tina (10:37):
It is not.
Bri (10:39):
It's also a big part of our healing process and healing and
personal growth and all that ispretty uncomfortable, can feel
like a big ugly mess, but whenyou get through it- and it takes
time and continued work.
It's super rewarding, but it isnot a comfortable place.
That they said, this is whatyou're looking at.
(11:01):
I probably You'd be like, oh,I'm not gonna do that with my
full heart now.
Tina (11:05):
I'm gonna do half.
Bri (11:06):
I'm gonna half my presence in here, and that's not what
they want.
Tina (11:09):
They want your full presence, your open heart, your
vulnerability and Stepping intoit and trust.
That's where things start tomove and that's what ceremony is
all about bringing it into thisworld.
So that could be definitelyanother way you can deepen your
practice.
You could honor your ancestors.
I'm about to do a ceremony forone of my lineages, so that's
(11:32):
gonna change things, I'm sure,and deepen my practice and my
understanding of that lineage.
So that's another example.
Bri (11:39):
Daily devotions.
That's one of what we've talkedabout.
In the past we did a wholeepisode on that that's just
another way that you can alsostep in and deepen, and if you
wanna know more about that, youcan certainly go check out that
episode.
Tina (11:50):
Yes, thank you for mentioning that, honoring and
communing with the non-human kin.
Go and commune with the naturespirits, or what I would call
the hidden folk or all kinds ofother names that they go by.
They are powerful spirits andvery magical, very mysterious,
sometimes mischievous, butcommuning with them can really
(12:10):
deepen your relationship withall nature beings, all beings
like the trees, the clouds,aspects of weather.
We just did our last episode onthat and that's really what
they want.
They want to be in a greatrelationship with them again and
sticking to the commitment ofinteracting and being with your
helping spirits.
If they ask something of you sogetting taps on the shoulder
(12:33):
about a piece of artwork or arattle, they're gonna make you
commit to it.
Bri (12:36):
And it could be challenging .
I will say sometimes they asksomething that you're like oh, I
have no idea how to do that.
Or it's uncomfortable, likeit's really being asked.
Maybe you're being asked toshow up or be seen and maybe
that's not a way you're used toshowing up or being seen and
it's really outside the comfortzone.
And sometimes they call us toaction in unexpected ways and
(12:58):
honoring that commitment andwhat they're asking, as long as
it feels right and true for you,cause sometimes we're not ready
there yet.
And that's also started standingin your sovereignty and power
being able to say I'm not quitethere yet, right, don't just
take on a commitment if youdon't feel like you could do it.
Tina (13:12):
No, that's true, you have sovereignty.
And at the same time, I want tomention again when both Bri and
I are introverts and so when wewere both being pushed to do
this podcast, we're like oh dear, okay, but yeah, I mean, it's
actually been quite fun, it'sbeen an awesome learning
experience.
Bri (13:33):
So much so.
Tina (13:34):
And we would look back and go, yeah, we could do that, we
got this.
So yeah.
So you want to make thatcommitment, you want to follow
through, because then they'regoing to make it.
Even you're going to get moreof a pressure bubble to do it if
you don't.
So, and also, you want tomaintain your altar, and you
want to.
If your life is changing up,you might want to change your
(13:56):
altar.
I change mine with the seasonsand then if I feel intuitively
or if I'm shown that I need tochange something in my altar, I
do that, cause that's how I'mhonoring spirit, my helping
spirits, and the altar is aplace in this reality where
spirit and the mundane meet.
So it's so important tomaintain that.
Bri (14:15):
And it can also shift in our internal landscape.
I noticed sometimes, when Ifeel really pushed to clean my
altar or redo it, get all thedust out of there and change it
up, it's also changing my innerlandscape as well.
Like in my inner landscape andmy connection with spirit, it
can just be really interestingwhat asked to be on your altar,
what shows up, or for having aspecific intention for that
(14:37):
altar, cause maybe we're tryingto support some working or we're
showing up and for thecommunity or doing something
else.
So our altars can reflect a lotof things that we're working on
and that's just another way oftapping in and being in tune and
trying to deepen our practice.
It's so true.
Another way is, you know,journeying is not the only way
(14:57):
to communicate with our helpingspirits, you know.
But if you go out and try tofigure out the tree daily, maybe
that's the only thing you do,right?
That is great, you're doing it,you're showing up, you're like
you're doing some work.
I think that the thought ofthat is also have compassion for
yourself and where you're at,you don't have to be super,
doing every single thing all thetime, always right, like it's
(15:20):
about your.
It's a very personal and it'sabout your relationship with
spirit and where you're at andbeing in communication with your
helping spirits and spirit ingeneral and just saying, okay,
my life is really crazy rightnow.
Please, how are ways that Icould show up or knowing what
your way is and just talking toyour helping spirits, I mean I
will.
When I'm stuck or you know,things feel really challenging
(15:42):
or heavy, best therapy sometimesis just sitting and sharing
that with spirit at my altar,like I mean just being very
honest and bare and just a placeto share it out.
Tina (15:51):
Oh, it's such a beautiful tender place.
Yeah, they hear you.
They hear you and they would dotheir best to try to support
you without fixing the situation, because you know, as you just
shared about initiation, thewhole point of it is for you to
move through it yourself in thebest way you can.
Bri (16:08):
Yeah, so, and sometimes you know you can feel really held.
It's just it's.
It's.
It's a very personal thing andit probably looks different for
everybody, but it's just a placeof like.
Sometimes, if you're like mylife's too busy and I'll have
time to journey every day or youhaven't journeyed in a while,
so just being able to go to youraltar, your sacred place or
place of nature, and just havinga verbal conversation with
(16:30):
spirit and helping spirits orthe spirits of nature, and just
allowing yourself to bevulnerable, can be a beautiful
way to just be tapped into yourpractice and acknowledging your
connection to everything andthat, even though you might not
feel held, you you really are.
Tina (16:45):
Yeah you are Exactly, and you know I want to say this.
I was outside feeding the birdsthe other day and something I
love to do I get to you know,say, if I had a session with
someone and I need to go out andground, I'll go outside and
I'll just spend a few moments.
And you know, just looking upin the sky, I'm intrigued by
clouds.
Clouds are are just amazingbeings, and so I heard this like
(17:10):
whisper look up and the cloudformation over my head was just
beautiful, and so I stopped andjust honored the clouds in that
moment.
And you know, that's that's Ifeel that's a spiritual practice
.
You can deepen it and you cancome back into your home and
decide to do a journey to theclouds.
Was there something that youneed that I need to know about
your, your showing up there?
(17:31):
You know it can be veryspontaneous if you can carve out
time for that.
Bri (17:35):
But also, maybe you just get a download, like maybe you
just get and maybe make a noteof it.
Like maybe you just get adownload.
When you're kind of in thatmoment of awe and relationship
and gratitude with the cloud,there may have been some kind of
message that kind of camethrough for you at that time.
Like we love to second guess itand we love to overthink
Totally, so sometimes justwriting that down in a notebook
and coming back to it later andbeing like, oh, wow, that was
(17:56):
that had more meaning than I cansee in that moment it's
allowing for that inner wisdomto sometimes bubble up as well.
Tina (18:02):
Yeah, well said, exactly yeah.
And you know you don't have tojourney to to do all of these
things.
You can do them in the momentor get a download.
But we have, you know, journeyprompts on our website.
Bri (18:15):
This is the big one, the journey challenge.
This is one way, and so youhaven't been able to journey in
a while or you feel like youjust stuck in your journey
practice and you want to kind ofliven it up, reinvigorate.
I had a few years ago a timewhere I was just feeling like I
have my life is so busy, I'vehad time to journey and I did a
30 day journey challenge formyself where I just wrote out a
bunch of journey prompts andthen I broke in like little days
(18:36):
of where just being,relationship building with my
helping spirit.
So it was kind of a restbecause it's a lot so.
But we have like 10 journeyprompts on our website.
So if you feel like you want todo like a little mini 10 day
journey challenge where you tryto journey once a day and we've
got prompts you can use, you cancreate your own journey prompts
, whatever you might like, andwe would love to see if you do
(18:58):
it.
Let us know how it went.
Did you have some amazingrevelations?
Did it deepen your relationshipwith spirit journey prompt that
we do have on there is journeyto your spirit garden and this
is a beautiful practice that youcould do at any time.
It's a place of rest and yourspirit garden is a way to see
your internal landscape injourney, because you're asking
(19:21):
your helping spirits to take youto your spirit garden and this
is where you can see what needsto be tended in your life, in
the metaphor of journey, rightLike you can get to go in there
and see what needs tending,what's overgrown and weedy, what
needs to what needs yourattention and care.
It's also just a place to comeand rejuvenate and rest.
You could ask to meet thecaretaker the spirit that's kind
(19:43):
of the caretaker of your spiritgarden, to show you around or
show you where you might needsome work.
Maybe you need to do a littlelandscaping here.
There's weeds over there, youhave to tell us, or maybe
there's a, you know, maybe youbuild a sculpture garden here.
It's your, it's your space andit's a beautiful resting,
(20:03):
nurturing place.
It's also nice to come backhere every once in a while and
see what's changed, what'sshifted, what looks different
and new.
Tina (20:10):
I love that idea we did have on our first few episodes.
I think we had a journey promptto our house, or was it a body
temple?
Bri (20:20):
Our body temple.
Yes, that's another good one.
Tina (20:22):
That was a really good one too.
I love that idea of yours.
We also have optional bonusjourneys, if you're interested.
A really really going over theyou know to really deepen your
practice.
We totally encourage it.
So that's that's.
Bri (20:35):
That's there's something for you.
It's fun I would.
We would really love to hearfrom any of you that decide to
do it and tackle it and see whatyou think.
I found it to be really mindblowing and a little
enlightening to just sit downand make this commitment because
it's 10 days, or do five days.
Do what works for you in yourschedule and just see how it
deepens and shifts some thingsfor you or what comes up, or
(20:57):
maybe you have some just likewow, mind blowing moment of
enlightenment about something.
Tina (21:03):
Well, that's what I love about the helping spirits they
always keep you on your toes,you know they do, there's just
never dull moment.
That's what I love about thiswork, really, because if it were
, it's the same thing all thetime and all of that I don't
think I'd be doing this.
It's just a never endingexperience, process and practice
.
Yeah, that's what I love aboutthis work.
Bri (21:21):
Yeah.
So I don't think you ever haveall the answers to anything out
there, which is beautiful,because it always asks you to go
a little deeper, to take alittle further out.
That nugget of wisdom can youmine from something or learn or
see something in a reallydifferent way than you may have
seen it before.
It's just and that's you know.
Tina (21:40):
I don't know about you, but what I tell my students is
that you probably could ask 10questions from the one journey
experience you had, and it'sjust a never ending thing.
Yeah, which?
Bri (21:50):
I love, I love it.
I do too.
So, tina, what did your helpingspirits have to say about
deepening one's personalshamanic practice?
Tina (21:57):
They said, when you choose to carve out time to deepen
your shamanic practice with yourown helping spirits, you are
telling them in so many waysthat creating a deeper bond with
them is a priority for you.
There's nothing more touchingand endearing for your helping
spirits to witness, because theysee how pulled you are in every
direction in your world.
There are indeed so many asdistractions in your dimension,
(22:18):
and it sometimes takes greatmotivation and strength to focus
on deepening your relationshipwith spirit.
Apart from your helping spiritsbeing touched by your
commitment, you will alsobenefit greatly by carving out a
routine where you can be inright relationship with your
etheric allies when workingclosely with them.
A human will feel moreempowered, more aligned and more
(22:40):
protected as a byproduct ofworking intensely with the
helping spirits.
The lessons you learn, theinformation gathered and the
healing performed on you by yourhelping spirits are just some
of the ways in which yourwell-being will be supported.
Bri (22:53):
Love that, Love that.
How did they?
What did they share with you,Bree?
So my helping spirit said whenyou take the time to deepen your
commitment to your shamanicpractice, you are making a
commitment to yourself anddeepening your connection to
spirit and the spirit in allthings.
It can help keep you groundedand moving forward.
In times of struggle andchallenge, it can be the light
(23:14):
in your darkness.
It is the gift that allows oneto explore and come to know the
deepest parts of yourself as youcontinue to heal and grow in
this embodied life experience.
It's the daily reminder that weare all connected, that there
is no separation.
It can be your guide in facinghard truths and a reminder that
(23:34):
you are never alone, as yourhelping spirits and your
ancestors always walk beside you.
Making time to honor and deepenyour spiritual practice is a
gift that you give to yourself.
You never know where it mighttake you and what it might teach
you.
Keeping a record of yourexperiences and taking the time
to look back and reflect fromtime to time can be a beautiful
(23:54):
reminder of how far you've come,of how much you've grown.
A daily practice helps keep youopen to the beautiful and
unexpected ways in which spiritspeaks to you.
It awakens you to the magic tobe found in your daily life.
Your eyes are open to thebeauty of the natural world and
the miracles that abound aroundyou.
That's beautiful.
Tina (24:15):
Yeah, they had a lot to say, apparently.
Yeah, they did, and you knowthat's good.
You learned so much from it.
So find us atshamanseptordarkcom.
Please drop us a line.
We'd love to hear about this.
If you want to take thisjourney challenge, we really
would love to hear what you havecome up with, what your helping
spirits have shown you.
So please feel free to drop usa line, and you can find Bri at
(24:37):
treehearthealingcom and myselfat threecrowshealingcom with a
numeral three.
There's also links to ourpersonal pages on
shamanseptordarkcom.
Bri (24:45):
Until next time, everyone keep on shining.
Hello illuminated souls, I'm Bri Andreoni.
Tina (00:10):
And I'm Tina D'Amore.
Welcome to Shaman's After Dark.
Today, we'll be delving intothe topic of how to deepen your
personal shamanic practice.
Bri (00:18):
I think this is a good topic.
It's one I'm really excitedabout that we're covering,
Because I think we all get to apoint in our practice whatever
spiritual practice or path ofwhat we have, what we kind of we
feel like we've fallen off thepath and we're not doing the
work or we're struggling becauseour day-to-day lives you just
get really busy and we're likeokay, how do I reinvigorate, how
do I breathe some new life intothis?
You know, sometimes it juststarts to feel stale, Like we
(00:39):
just have practices that aren'tmaybe suiting where we are
anymore, and so this is a greattopic to kind of maybe just give
you some ideas on how you candeepen it or reinvigorate your
current practice.
Tina (00:51):
I think, for a shamanic practitioner, your question to
the helping spirits is drivingthe bus of your journey, and so
sometimes our questions can kindof get dry and not so enriched
with good things.
That will mine the results thatwe're needing, and so that's
why it can become stale.
So that's what we're going totalk about.
Bri (01:12):
Yeah, and also sometimes I think maybe you didn't have time
to journey and then when youactually sit down to journey,
you're like I'm not really surewhat I need to journey about
today, because you just forget.
So I always keep a notebook.
This is my little tip I alwayskeep a notebook as I get ideas
about things to journey about,so that when I have time to sit
down I have like a plethora ofquestions that at some point I
wanted to dive into.
So that's helpful.
(01:33):
I love that.
I like it.
It helps me out a lot.
I have a notebook full ofsticky notes because I write
them down at the moment that Istop them in my book.
Tina (01:41):
You're like working in your day.
Yeah, I should ask that.
Bri (01:43):
Exactly that's great, I love that idea.
I love it.
I'm a big one for creatingsacred objects, like if you're
helping, you know, if you'reworking with the Helping Spirits
and you're feeling like I'mfeeling called to create
something, taking the leap andcreating it for yourself, versus
going out and buying it and oryou know, it's huge and the
energy that you can put into itand really customize it.
(02:04):
Like my Helping Spirits havehad me make very specific
rattles for different thingsthat you know, and I love the
different ways that I can infuseso much energy into that, as
I'm creating it and creating itin sacred space, creating it in
the way that my Helping Spiritshave asked for, and there's so
many different things you can do.
Rattle is just an example.
(02:24):
But you or you might feel like,okay, you're out on a walk in
nature and you find this perfectstick that's being asked to
come home and you're not surewhy, but you bring it back and
then, spirit, it turns out thatit's got a purpose for you in
some way.
Tina (02:37):
So that actually happened to me twice.
I was supposed to pick this upfor some reason and bring this
home, and then I began whittlingone stick and I'm like, why am
I even doing this, you know?
And then it was supposed tosort of not, it was supposed to
be a mystery.
And now I know because, yeah,my altar.
Bri (02:59):
that's right, I mean.
So it's being open, being opento what messages spirit has for
you.
And I think sometimes we fallinto this narrative of like I'm
not good at creative stuff orI'm not, or it has nothing to do
with that.
It's about infusing your energyinto an object and creating it.
Whatever you create is whatyou're meant to create, like it
has its own essence and its ownpurpose.
(03:21):
And I think these ideas ofperfection that we kind of get
around what something shouldlook like can interfere with us.
And also, sometimes you knowwe're told we're not artistic or
we don't, you know, like we getall creators.
Tina (03:33):
Exactly.
Bri (03:34):
So take a chance.
It's just something that's foryou and spirit.
So it's a wonderful way toconnect with spirit and kind of
deepen your practice a littlebit by trusting and surrendering
a little bit to what spiritmight be asking of you, and
sometimes it can feeluncomfortable to step out on
that branch.
Tina (03:53):
So I know, bree, you are amazing at making rattles and I
have been witness to theproducts that you've created and
they're so powerful and so I Inever considered myself a rattle
maker, and then, over thiswinter, I decided, all right,
let's do this.
My helping spirits were like onmy back about these have to be
this way and you have to do itthis way, and so I'm like, all
(04:16):
right, all right, so I'll do it,and I did, and even though
they're not quote unquoteperfect, they are when I use
them.
They are so powerful.
So and I can feel that I canfeel so aligned with my helping
spirits, that prompted me to dothis.
So, if this is something that's, you know, if they're tapping
you on your shoulder, justlisten.
There's a couple other projectsthat they want me to do.
(04:37):
I'm actually going to startdoing them, you know, later on,
and there's our projects I haveto do, and I've finished another
project.
So they're going to be wantingto manifest through you and that
will deepen your practice.
Bri (04:51):
Yeah, it will deepen it, and you just might be so amazed
about what comes through youwhen you stop thinking about
overthinking.
It is our worst you know ourworst enemy with that comes to
that just allowing space formovement or color or creativity
is so huge and we can just kindof set aside our thinking mind
(05:12):
and allow spirit to move throughus and work through us and
whatever kind of creativeendeavor we have is so powerful.
And so it's a beautiful way todeepen your practice if you feel
called because spirit loves topush you outside your box and
outside your comfort zone, likesometimes.
You may feel like you'reclinging on by your fingertips
as they drag you out, kickingand screaming, but it's worth
the effort.
There are times where I havebeen asked to make things.
(05:35):
I was asked to so sacredregalia and I had never sown
anything.
I thought I could, you know,find something at the thrift
store that I could modify, andspirit was like no.
I tried to do it and I could notfind anything that they wanted
that would work, and I had to doit all from scratch and totally
(05:56):
stepped outside of my comfortzone, made lots of mistakes,
learned a ton and was superthrilled of what I was able to
create.
And it blew my mind because Idid not think I could make it.
Tina (06:05):
Absolutely amazing.
I've seen the regalia, thankyou, and it's just true.
Yeah, so I don't think spiritreally cares about those human
mistakes.
Bri (06:12):
They just want the character it does, and that's
who we are.
Tina (06:16):
We are characters in our human skin.
Bri (06:18):
So yeah, it's just about the intention, yeah, and I'll
also say that sometimes we aremistakes are how we learn
Mistakes.
We sometimes are our bestmistakes, you know like that
lead us to these unknownbeautiful things.
So I think when we have theseidea of mistakes are not
imperfections that are in ourwork.
You know, that's just an ideaof perfection that doesn't exist
(06:41):
.
I know we've talked about thisa little bit in the past, but it
is a beautiful way to kind ofdeepen your practice and kind of
step into it when spirit tapsyou on the shoulder to create
some kind of sacred item.
Tina (06:50):
And, like I said before, an art project I have to do and
I'm seeing it.
It's like I'm seeing it overand over and over.
So it's that I have to do thisand I have to not be attached to
the result.
It's really the process andthat really is what deepens.
It's actually the window ofwhere you get the opportunity to
be your practice, to bedeepened with your helping
(07:13):
spirit.
So, yeah, so just making afocus to find ways to
incorporate those things in theeveryday.
Bri (07:20):
as far as you know, creative projects or whatever it
is that you need to like,whether it's trying to journey a
little more or whatever it isthat's a new, unique piece of
your practice that feeds you.
Trying to make it a part ofyour everyday can really help
deepen that practice.
Whether it's just youtransfigure every day or you do
(07:42):
some other practice, do you takeup I don't know those people
that work with the spirit of thewind and doing a wind walk, you
know, like just kind ofincorporating it a little more
awareness, this piece ofbringing in your connection to
spirit on a daily basis reallycan help us to deepen our
connection to spirit, ourconnection to all things and
just being more aware.
(08:03):
Continuing to learn.
It's a huge one.
And not just taking classes andreading books.
I think we forget that ourhelping spirits can be our
biggest teachers and reallymining that wisdom and asking
questions about how they seethis ease or how they see the
world and our place in it andour connection.
(08:26):
There's just so many places youcan go it's limitless.
Tina (08:30):
Or even what do you do when I'm not journeying?
What else are you doing?
They cannot just be my solepurpose.
So what are they doing?
Bri (08:39):
That's another one, yeah, so it's just another way to
deepen your relationship, orjust hanging out, like you just
do a journey to have a picnic orhang out and sit down in a
place or get to know them, andjust building that reciprocity
and relationship.
It doesn't always have to bethis super purpose driven, other
than just building relationship.
(09:00):
It could just be upcoming tohang out.
We're just going to hang outtoday.
That's building relationship.
Exactly, that's just hangingout.
Tina (09:07):
Yes, I know for myself, ceremony is a big way to be able
to deepen my relationshipbecause I get everything and I
know you do, tupri by helpingspirits and they're very
specialized, detaileddescriptions and you're sort of
as a human.
You're like why?
And you don't always know why.
They're not going to alwaystell you why.
(09:27):
They might in some cases.
But when you're actuallybringing that ceremony forth
from the other planes, you startto understand what their
reasoning was and open, and thenthings come to light in this
reality and I also thinksometimes too, when doing this
work, that we forget about is wedon't we're not always meant to
know the answer or to know allof the things.
Bri (09:49):
Sometimes it's just about trusting and our helping spirits
and trusting in ourselves andour own inner wisdom.
I mean, I had done a ceremonythat spirit asked me in December
.
That was huge.
It had been this big like I wasasked to do this really intense
ceremony for myself and I'malso now, just the other day,
had a really big understandingof like.
Oh, my goodness, I'm seeing theeffects of the ceremony that
(10:10):
was done earlier in Decemberreally showing up and it had
been months of like, this kindof being, this initiation and
having this eye-opening momentof like.
Oh, that makes so much sensebecause I did this huge ceremony
that I was asked for and oh soI wouldn't have learned that had
they said it, and also Iprobably would have been like I
don't know if I want to do that,that's right.
(10:31):
I don't know if I'm ready.
I don't know, becauseinitiation is not a comfortable
process.
Tina (10:37):
It is not.
Bri (10:39):
It's also a big part of our healing process and healing and
personal growth and all that ispretty uncomfortable, can feel
like a big ugly mess, but whenyou get through it- and it takes
time and continued work.
It's super rewarding, but it isnot a comfortable place.
That they said, this is whatyou're looking at.
(11:01):
I probably You'd be like, oh,I'm not gonna do that with my
full heart now.
Tina (11:05):
I'm gonna do half.
Bri (11:06):
I'm gonna half my presence in here, and that's not what
they want.
Tina (11:09):
They want your full presence, your open heart, your
vulnerability and Stepping intoit and trust.
That's where things start tomove and that's what ceremony is
all about bringing it into thisworld.
So that could be definitelyanother way you can deepen your
practice.
You could honor your ancestors.
I'm about to do a ceremony forone of my lineages, so that's
(11:32):
gonna change things, I'm sure,and deepen my practice and my
understanding of that lineage.
So that's another example.
Bri (11:39):
Daily devotions.
That's one of what we've talkedabout.
In the past we did a wholeepisode on that that's just
another way that you can alsostep in and deepen, and if you
wanna know more about that, youcan certainly go check out that
episode.
Tina (11:50):
Yes, thank you for mentioning that, honoring and
communing with the non-human kin.
Go and commune with the naturespirits, or what I would call
the hidden folk or all kinds ofother names that they go by.
They are powerful spirits andvery magical, very mysterious,
sometimes mischievous, butcommuning with them can really
(12:10):
deepen your relationship withall nature beings, all beings
like the trees, the clouds,aspects of weather.
We just did our last episode onthat and that's really what
they want.
They want to be in a greatrelationship with them again and
sticking to the commitment ofinteracting and being with your
helping spirits.
If they ask something of you sogetting taps on the shoulder
(12:33):
about a piece of artwork or arattle, they're gonna make you
commit to it.
Bri (12:36):
And it could be challenging .
I will say sometimes they asksomething that you're like oh, I
have no idea how to do that.
Or it's uncomfortable, likeit's really being asked.
Maybe you're being asked toshow up or be seen and maybe
that's not a way you're used toshowing up or being seen and
it's really outside the comfortzone.
And sometimes they call us toaction in unexpected ways and
(12:58):
honoring that commitment andwhat they're asking, as long as
it feels right and true for you,cause sometimes we're not ready
there yet.
And that's also started standingin your sovereignty and power
being able to say I'm not quitethere yet, right, don't just
take on a commitment if youdon't feel like you could do it.
Tina (13:12):
No, that's true, you have sovereignty.
And at the same time, I want tomention again when both Bri and
I are introverts and so when wewere both being pushed to do
this podcast, we're like oh dear, okay, but yeah, I mean, it's
actually been quite fun, it'sbeen an awesome learning
experience.
Bri (13:33):
So much so.
Tina (13:34):
And we would look back and go, yeah, we could do that, we
got this.
So yeah.
So you want to make thatcommitment, you want to follow
through, because then they'regoing to make it.
Even you're going to get moreof a pressure bubble to do it if
you don't.
So, and also, you want tomaintain your altar, and you
want to.
If your life is changing up,you might want to change your
(13:56):
altar.
I change mine with the seasonsand then if I feel intuitively
or if I'm shown that I need tochange something in my altar, I
do that, cause that's how I'mhonoring spirit, my helping
spirits, and the altar is aplace in this reality where
spirit and the mundane meet.
So it's so important tomaintain that.
Bri (14:15):
And it can also shift in our internal landscape.
I noticed sometimes, when Ifeel really pushed to clean my
altar or redo it, get all thedust out of there and change it
up, it's also changing my innerlandscape as well.
Like in my inner landscape andmy connection with spirit, it
can just be really interestingwhat asked to be on your altar,
what shows up, or for having aspecific intention for that
(14:37):
altar, cause maybe we're tryingto support some working or we're
showing up and for thecommunity or doing something
else.
So our altars can reflect a lotof things that we're working on
and that's just another way oftapping in and being in tune and
trying to deepen our practice.
It's so true.
Another way is, you know,journeying is not the only way
(14:57):
to communicate with our helpingspirits, you know.
But if you go out and try tofigure out the tree daily, maybe
that's the only thing you do,right?
That is great, you're doing it,you're showing up, you're like
you're doing some work.
I think that the thought ofthat is also have compassion for
yourself and where you're at,you don't have to be super,
doing every single thing all thetime, always right, like it's
(15:20):
about your.
It's a very personal and it'sabout your relationship with
spirit and where you're at andbeing in communication with your
helping spirits and spirit ingeneral and just saying, okay,
my life is really crazy rightnow.
Please, how are ways that Icould show up or knowing what
your way is and just talking toyour helping spirits, I mean I
will.
When I'm stuck or you know,things feel really challenging
(15:42):
or heavy, best therapy sometimesis just sitting and sharing
that with spirit at my altar,like I mean just being very
honest and bare and just a placeto share it out.
Tina (15:51):
Oh, it's such a beautiful tender place.
Yeah, they hear you.
They hear you and they would dotheir best to try to support
you without fixing the situation, because you know, as you just
shared about initiation, thewhole point of it is for you to
move through it yourself in thebest way you can.
Bri (16:08):
Yeah, so, and sometimes you know you can feel really held.
It's just it's.
It's.
It's a very personal thing andit probably looks different for
everybody, but it's just a placeof like.
Sometimes, if you're like mylife's too busy and I'll have
time to journey every day or youhaven't journeyed in a while,
so just being able to go to youraltar, your sacred place or
place of nature, and just havinga verbal conversation with
(16:30):
spirit and helping spirits orthe spirits of nature, and just
allowing yourself to bevulnerable, can be a beautiful
way to just be tapped into yourpractice and acknowledging your
connection to everything andthat, even though you might not
feel held, you you really are.
Tina (16:45):
Yeah you are Exactly, and you know I want to say this.
I was outside feeding the birdsthe other day and something I
love to do I get to you know,say, if I had a session with
someone and I need to go out andground, I'll go outside and
I'll just spend a few moments.
And you know, just looking upin the sky, I'm intrigued by
clouds.
Clouds are are just amazingbeings, and so I heard this like
(17:10):
whisper look up and the cloudformation over my head was just
beautiful, and so I stopped andjust honored the clouds in that
moment.
And you know, that's that's Ifeel that's a spiritual practice
.
You can deepen it and you cancome back into your home and
decide to do a journey to theclouds.
Was there something that youneed that I need to know about
your, your showing up there?
(17:31):
You know it can be veryspontaneous if you can carve out
time for that.
Bri (17:35):
But also, maybe you just get a download, like maybe you
just get and maybe make a noteof it.
Like maybe you just get adownload.
When you're kind of in thatmoment of awe and relationship
and gratitude with the cloud,there may have been some kind of
message that kind of camethrough for you at that time.
Like we love to second guess itand we love to overthink
Totally, so sometimes justwriting that down in a notebook
and coming back to it later andbeing like, oh, wow, that was
(17:56):
that had more meaning than I cansee in that moment it's
allowing for that inner wisdomto sometimes bubble up as well.
Tina (18:02):
Yeah, well said, exactly yeah.
And you know you don't have tojourney to to do all of these
things.
You can do them in the momentor get a download.
But we have, you know, journeyprompts on our website.
Bri (18:15):
This is the big one, the journey challenge.
This is one way, and so youhaven't been able to journey in
a while or you feel like youjust stuck in your journey
practice and you want to kind ofliven it up, reinvigorate.
I had a few years ago a timewhere I was just feeling like I
have my life is so busy, I'vehad time to journey and I did a
30 day journey challenge formyself where I just wrote out a
bunch of journey prompts andthen I broke in like little days
(18:36):
of where just being,relationship building with my
helping spirit.
So it was kind of a restbecause it's a lot so.
But we have like 10 journeyprompts on our website.
So if you feel like you want todo like a little mini 10 day
journey challenge where you tryto journey once a day and we've
got prompts you can use, you cancreate your own journey prompts
, whatever you might like, andwe would love to see if you do
(18:58):
it.
Let us know how it went.
Did you have some amazingrevelations?
Did it deepen your relationshipwith spirit journey prompt that
we do have on there is journeyto your spirit garden and this
is a beautiful practice that youcould do at any time.
It's a place of rest and yourspirit garden is a way to see
your internal landscape injourney, because you're asking
(19:21):
your helping spirits to take youto your spirit garden and this
is where you can see what needsto be tended in your life, in
the metaphor of journey, rightLike you can get to go in there
and see what needs tending,what's overgrown and weedy, what
needs to what needs yourattention and care.
It's also just a place to comeand rejuvenate and rest.
You could ask to meet thecaretaker the spirit that's kind
(19:43):
of the caretaker of your spiritgarden, to show you around or
show you where you might needsome work.
Maybe you need to do a littlelandscaping here.
There's weeds over there, youhave to tell us, or maybe
there's a, you know, maybe youbuild a sculpture garden here.
It's your, it's your space andit's a beautiful resting,
(20:03):
nurturing place.
It's also nice to come backhere every once in a while and
see what's changed, what'sshifted, what looks different
and new.
Tina (20:10):
I love that idea we did have on our first few episodes.
I think we had a journey promptto our house, or was it a body
temple?
Bri (20:20):
Our body temple.
Yes, that's another good one.
Tina (20:22):
That was a really good one too.
I love that idea of yours.
We also have optional bonusjourneys, if you're interested.
A really really going over theyou know to really deepen your
practice.
We totally encourage it.
So that's that's.
Bri (20:35):
That's there's something for you.
It's fun I would.
We would really love to hearfrom any of you that decide to
do it and tackle it and see whatyou think.
I found it to be really mindblowing and a little
enlightening to just sit downand make this commitment because
it's 10 days, or do five days.
Do what works for you in yourschedule and just see how it
deepens and shifts some thingsfor you or what comes up, or
(20:57):
maybe you have some just likewow, mind blowing moment of
enlightenment about something.
Tina (21:03):
Well, that's what I love about the helping spirits they
always keep you on your toes,you know they do, there's just
never dull moment.
That's what I love about thiswork, really, because if it were
, it's the same thing all thetime and all of that I don't
think I'd be doing this.
It's just a never endingexperience, process and practice
.
Yeah, that's what I love aboutthis work.
Bri (21:21):
Yeah.
So I don't think you ever haveall the answers to anything out
there, which is beautiful,because it always asks you to go
a little deeper, to take alittle further out.
That nugget of wisdom can youmine from something or learn or
see something in a reallydifferent way than you may have
seen it before.
It's just and that's you know.
Tina (21:40):
I don't know about you, but what I tell my students is
that you probably could ask 10questions from the one journey
experience you had, and it'sjust a never ending thing.
Yeah, which?
Bri (21:50):
I love, I love it.
I do too.
So, tina, what did your helpingspirits have to say about
deepening one's personalshamanic practice?
Tina (21:57):
They said, when you choose to carve out time to deepen
your shamanic practice with yourown helping spirits, you are
telling them in so many waysthat creating a deeper bond with
them is a priority for you.
There's nothing more touchingand endearing for your helping
spirits to witness, because theysee how pulled you are in every
direction in your world.
There are indeed so many asdistractions in your dimension,
(22:18):
and it sometimes takes greatmotivation and strength to focus
on deepening your relationshipwith spirit.
Apart from your helping spiritsbeing touched by your
commitment, you will alsobenefit greatly by carving out a
routine where you can be inright relationship with your
etheric allies when workingclosely with them.
A human will feel moreempowered, more aligned and more
(22:40):
protected as a byproduct ofworking intensely with the
helping spirits.
The lessons you learn, theinformation gathered and the
healing performed on you by yourhelping spirits are just some
of the ways in which yourwell-being will be supported.
Bri (22:53):
Love that, Love that.
How did they?
What did they share with you,Bree?
So my helping spirit said whenyou take the time to deepen your
commitment to your shamanicpractice, you are making a
commitment to yourself anddeepening your connection to
spirit and the spirit in allthings.
It can help keep you groundedand moving forward.
In times of struggle andchallenge, it can be the light
(23:14):
in your darkness.
It is the gift that allows oneto explore and come to know the
deepest parts of yourself as youcontinue to heal and grow in
this embodied life experience.
It's the daily reminder that weare all connected, that there
is no separation.
It can be your guide in facinghard truths and a reminder that
(23:34):
you are never alone, as yourhelping spirits and your
ancestors always walk beside you.
Making time to honor and deepenyour spiritual practice is a
gift that you give to yourself.
You never know where it mighttake you and what it might teach
you.
Keeping a record of yourexperiences and taking the time
to look back and reflect fromtime to time can be a beautiful
(23:54):
reminder of how far you've come,of how much you've grown.
A daily practice helps keep youopen to the beautiful and
unexpected ways in which spiritspeaks to you.
It awakens you to the magic tobe found in your daily life.
Your eyes are open to thebeauty of the natural world and
the miracles that abound aroundyou.
That's beautiful.
Tina (24:15):
Yeah, they had a lot to say, apparently.
Yeah, they did, and you knowthat's good.
You learned so much from it.
So find us atshamanseptordarkcom.
Please drop us a line.
We'd love to hear about this.
If you want to take thisjourney challenge, we really
would love to hear what you havecome up with, what your helping
spirits have shown you.
So please feel free to drop usa line, and you can find Bri at
(24:37):
treehearthealingcom and myselfat threecrowshealingcom with a
numeral three.
There's also links to ourpersonal pages on
shamanseptordarkcom.
Bri (24:45):
Until next time, everyone keep on shining.
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