About me.
I suppose I’d best describe myself as a bit weird, as in “of strange or extraordinary character”! For example I didn’t speak until the day I started school at 5 but vividly remember communicating with “something” before then. (I now realise who that was by the way). I went on to qualify as a Solicitor, while at the same time teaching Yoga, Meditation and Breathwork, becoming a Reiki Master, and studying Crystal Therapy, Aromatherapy and Psychology. Eventually all of this led me (in my Wise Woman age) to Shamanism, which I now realise I’ve been practising all of my life!
This is the Shamanic name given to be to by one of my teachers and mentors. Both words are anagrams of my birth surname “Rathe”, so it really has been with me always! It means a lot to me because it says that, like us humans (“the two legs”) the Earth has a heart, and every single natural thing that exists on it (“all our relations”) can give and receive love.
So what is Shamanism?
Shamanism is one of the oldest belief systems in the world. Indigenous cultures held Shamanic beliefs and practised Shamanic rituals. Shamanism derives from Animism - the understanding that everything in the universe is alive, conscious and interconnected. It was around when we were all hunter gathers, before agriculture and industry, and science is slowly coming to realise its truth (for example that trees communicate with each other and have a matriarchal support system).
What is a Shaman?
I don’t profess to be a Shaman. I believe true Shamans to be those indigenous individuals who are given the title of Shaman through their hereditary system. However there is a growing, and welcome, acknowledgement of the importance and benefits of Shamanic practices throughout the world. This has led to people, like myself, studying the Shamanic ways and following Shamanic practices such as Drumming, Journeying and Shamanic Healing.
As a Shamanic Practitioner I practice (amongst other things) entering into a deep meditative state or trance in which I move into a different state of consciousness. This is called the Shamanic State of Consciousness “SOC” (rather than the normal Ordinary State of Consciousness). I reach the SOC through listening to the repetitive beat of a drum, by deep conscious breathing or sometimes during the “hypnogogic” state just before sleep. Once in SOC I access different realms of consciousness, called the Lower, Middle and Upper Worlds. Each realm is very different and brings different levels of information, teaching and healing. This process is called “Journeying”, and during a Journey it’s possible to meet various Spirit Animals and Spirit Guides, and to connect with your Power Animal (the most important Guide for your Journey and the one you will have the greatest connection with). These Guides will give you information, insights or healing, based on your intention for that Journey.
The Shamanic Journey
What is wonderful about Shamanic Journeying is that everyone is able to do it, and the beat of the drum is often the easiest doorway into your Journey. Journeying is hard to explain rationally. It has to be experienced to really appreciate the deep level of healing and balance it can bring mentally , physically, spiritually and emotionally. My role as a Shamanic Practitioner is, with the help of my Shamanic Drum, to guide you into your Journey, to hold Sacred Space whilst you Journey, to bring you back out of the Journey and to help you to interpret the various messages and symbols you might receive during your Journey.
For more information, and for details of Journeying Circles around Cheshire and North Wales, look out for future posts.
I hope to be able to help to open the Shamanic Doorway for you very soon.
In love and light
Cecilia x
