International School of Shamanism

24/03/2024

Thomas (Tom) Lake, 79, of Rock Spring, GA passed away at home March 22, 2024. Tom was born October 12. 1944. After high School, he received a bachelor’s degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. He attended graduate School at Alma College, Michigan and earned a master’s degree in theology from International Seminary in Florida. Tom taught at the National Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology, in Rochester, NY.

Tom was a US Navy wartime veteran having served 4 years in Cuba at Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban missile crisis. He worked for the state of Georgia judicial system as a Psychometrist. Tom later apprenticed under Shamans in Peru, Brazil and Mexico and was anointed a Shaman in Peru. In 1991, he founded the International School of Shamanism that now has a presence in the US, Canada, Israel, and Mexico. Tom authored a book based on his decades of Shamanic experiences, 'We Are Sacred- The Path of Unconditional Love and Acceptance'.

Tom will be remembered for his wisdom in spiritually guiding people, his passion, his heart of service, his uplifting humor, and his inspirational leadership. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels, delivering food and smiles to elderly and disabled citizens. Tom was an artist and skilled at woodworking and enjoyed creating custom gifts for others.

Tom is survived by his wife of 17 years, Lisa Danford Lake; two sons, David Haviland and Matthew Lake, and two daughters, Karrie Lake, and Meggan Hensien Kelly; five sisters, Karen Francis, Tricia Taramasco, Betty Zubil, Ginny Dubowyk and Debbie Johnson and their respective families; two brothers, John Lake, and Mark Lake and their respective families. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Virginia Lake, and brothers Paul Lake, Patrick Lake, and Jim Lake.

24/03/2023

24/03/2023

21/03/2023

Spring Equinox and New Moon
Fertile Soil - Seeds of Change:
Winter to Spring is ushered in by the Spring Equinox and today’s new moon. This is a balancing point between Winter and Spring because the only two days the Sun rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west is on the spring and fall equinoxes!  
 
We can use this as a model for our own balance by stepping into Spring rather than jumping.  Pause and reflect on all you experienced in Winter’s stillness. WAS there any stillness in your winter? If not, where can you realign with a more natural rhythm that honors your needs, replenishes your life force, and nurtures you so your best self can lead?  Just as the death of winter replenishes nature for rebirth, you can finalize this cycle of dying to whatever may be an obstacle to your way forward. Take your time progressing through the season of Spring aligning with nature’s rhythm. The sun slowly increases its presence day by day and so can you.  A slower more peaceful rhythm replenishes you and creates fertile soil for contemplating what seeds you want to plant. 
 
What is the seed you have been incubating through winter (or maybe even before) that you are ready to plant and nurture through Spring?  What is your intention? What is your passion?  What excites you?  What are your natural strengths and talents that can make a difference right where you are?  You matter, your intentions and contributions matter.  What you came here to experience matters. You are a vital and necessary piece of the puzzle of which we are all a part of.  Without you, the other pieces do not fit together.  This is where we can shift to collaboratively focusing on change that is for the collective – for we, not just me.  What if your intention was asking who, what, where, and how can I serve today just being myself?

20/03/2023

Spring Equinox – Fertile Soil for Seeds of Change
Today at 5:24 EST, we celebrate the transition from Winter to Spring. Today is a balancing point between Winter and Spring because the Sun rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west. This only happens 2 days of the year - the spring and fall equinoxes!

Find your own balance by stepping into Spring rather than jumping. Pause and reflect on all you experienced in Winter’s stillness. WAS there any stillness in your winter? If not, where can you realign with a more natural rhythm that honors your needs, replenishes your life force, and nurtures you so your best self can lead?

Just as the death of winter replenishes nature for rebirth, you can finalize this cycle of dying to whatever may be an obstacle to your way forward. Take your time progressing through the season of Spring aligning with nature’s rhythm. The sun slowly increases its presence day by day and so can you. A slower, more peaceful rhythm that replenishes you, creating fertile soil for contemplating your intentions for Spring.

What is the seed you have been incubating through winter (or maybe even before) that you are ready to plant and nurture through Spring? What is your intention? What is your passion? What excites you? What are your natural strengths and talents that can make a difference right where you are? You matter, your intentions and contributions matter. What you came here to experience matters and it is greater than you.

You are a vital and necessary piece of the puzzle of which we are all a part of. Without you, the other pieces do not fit together. This is where we can shift to collaboratively focusing on change that is for the collective – for we, not just me. What if your intention was asking who, what, where, and how can I serve today just being myself?

ALLOW what is to be as it is, realizing you can’t control people or most situations. What you can control is your reactions by surrendering to what is so you can flow and respond rather than react. Do you spend more energy on what you can’t control or what you can control?

ACCEPT the ups and downs of life with grace and wisdom. Accepting yourself and accepting others with unconditional love and acceptance brings peace.

APPRECIATE all that is by broadening your vision and perspective. Realize what a precious gift this life is and be grateful for all it offers you. Take responsibility for the freedom of choice you have for this long, short ride we call life.