What is Wisewoman?

Wisewoman is the name of a post series about stuff I do to keep myself and my family healthy. I am not a professional herbalist, nor do I have any medical training. I am simply sharing what works for me and those I love.

These are posts full of common sense and personal experiences. If you choose to try anything I share about here, you do so using your own judgement about what’s right for you. I have no responsibility for your actions. Try at your own risk!

Some of these remedies, I learned in books written by professional herbologists and herbalists such as Susan Weed and Corinne Martin. I live in a state where such knowledge of how to care for your own health with plant medicines and simple remedies and nutrition is common knowledge. Maine has sprouted well known companies such as Avena Botanicals, a highly respected business that sells tinctures, salves and other remedies; as well as certifying other herbalists to practice in our state.

As well, my family were never wealthy people. We took care of ourselves with practical rootsdown sort of knowledge handed down in our family. Its normal in my family to drink peppermint tea if we feel sick to the stomach and to put a tea bag on a cyst or to eat a banana if your food is tending to run right through. We just know that bananas are a bit binding. We don’t go running to the pharmacy for every little thing. We either grow or gather the resources for making many of our own medicines. We use what we can get from a store frugally and with savvy. Stuff from the pharmacy is frequently good stuff, but its also usually overkill.

In our family, it is common knowledge that blue fruits and vegetables are good for weak kidneys and that drinking cranberry juice comes first if you feel a little trouble in the urinary tract…not running to the doc for an antibiotic.

In my state, doctors consider natural remedies to be a better course, that pharmaceuticals, if they are sure that the plant remedies are effective, safe and user friendly. I frequently am asked if I’ve tried blue fruits and cranberry juice before I get a script for anything for my kidneys.

So what I share here is simply normal to me. Its what I do. If you decide to do it to, then take responsibility for it…

Needs of the Elemental Bodies

It seems fairly obvious to most of us that we have needs and it seems fairly obvious to most of us what those needs are. However, when asked many people cannot really describe the parts of their consciousness, nor describe what some parts need. For instance many people don’t know what their soul needs, nor what their heart needs. Perhaps this will inspire some ideas and shed some light on the subject of consciousness…

Spirit:

The Spirit part of our nature is that which is Divine…that which relates to everything in a communal way. (By this, I mean that consciousness is believed by some cultures to be a collective of individuals that taken as a whole is imbued with the cumulative wisdom of all the beings in the collective…which would include you. This insinuates that your wisdom is part of the collective consciousness, but also that you have access to this collective wisdom) The Spirit part of our nature, needs communion with the Divine as well as internal recognition of the Divine within. That Divine within is magnetic. It draws people to it with it’s beauty and grace if it’s encouraged to shine freely. To get the Divine within to shine freely, you must give it attention and opportunity. Some ways you can meet these needs are prayer, ceremony and meditation. Also volunteerism, giving time and energy to others anonymously, tantra, ecstatic dance…any activity that fully engages the soul in us while focusing on others also.

The Spirit needs to…

* Experience one’s own sacredness and magnetism (magnetism is the aspect of ourselves that is charismatic, compelling and blessed)

* Impact the world and others positively

* Ecstatic connection/merging with the Universe/Divine

Soul:

The soul in us is something eternal and full of grace. It is innately Spirit…but it is also individual and unique. It is You; a personality, but not an ego. Think about that for a bit as I finish the rest of this remark. The soul needs connection, purpose and success, so identifying, carrying out and achieving personal goals is one primary way of meeting this need. This focus is not about shallow things. It is about soulful purpose; the things that matter a hundred years from now, the things that matter next year to you. Those sorts of purposes are not only individual but also have an element which serves the greater good. And by the way, an ego, is a complex of attitudes, perceptions and concepts about self, others, life and the way things should be. A personality is simpler; it is the characteristics that make you unique and these characteristics are without guile or the need to impress. Some activities of the soul are meditation, prayer, taking on a charitable project, gardening, being kind without thought of return.

The Soul needs…

* To experience fulfilled purpose

* Personal evolution

* Reverence

* Sharing of inspiration

* Harmony

* Cooperation

* Ecstatic connection to the Collective Consciousness, the Divine, and the Land

Heart:

The heart is certainly the axis upon which life swings for many people…it is, after all, really the connective element in every person’s life. Our capacity to love is the very foundation of our humanity. It is the thing that connects our more transient nature, our thoughts and body, to our immortal nature, our soul and spirit. Love joins and tempers all. Most people think soul mates are romantic interests. That is true, but they are also, enemies, friends, employers, children, siblings and parents. They are just people in our lives who have an ability to effect us more profoundly than others. Soulful, heart-full connections with these kindred spirits teach us, temper us, push us to grow and challenge us to love more unconditionally than any other relationships. We need these precious people, because these folks source the person we can be if we cut away all the ego from our nature. Some activities of the heart is friendship, making and meeting creative goals, finding something beautiful in self and giving it expression, offering unconditional love, volunteerism.

The Heart needs…

* An exchange of love

* Nurturing of self and others

* Creative outlets/Creative success

* Sexual/Spiritual passion

* Growth of beauty and talent

* Ecstatic and loving connection to another and to the Divine

Mind:

Our intellect functions on numerous levels, allowing us to perceive, consider, process and communicate in many ways at once. For instance we can have subconscious deliberation going on about a significant life change, engage in a conversation with a friend, supervise a child and still be washing the dishes, all at once. Engaging the mind in positive contemplation, teaching it to filter reality with a viewpoint that nurtures the positive in your life and engaging in creative visualization is necessary for many reasons. The most important reason is that what we give emotion and attention to the most is what we manifest; therefore, mastery of what we think about will create for us the life we most want. The activities of positive thought are learning, conversation, visualization, dedication to a purpose and meditation. Therefore, you might take classes to learn new things, engage others in loving, joyful topics of conversation discover and fulfill your soul purpose and find methods of meditation that engage your mind in peaceful ways.

The Mind needs…

* Self esteem experienced as rich self satisfaction and love

* Stimulation of ideas and learning

* Humor

* Freedom from fear, doubt and worry

* Conviction of belief

* Calming connection of subtle energy of the Mind to Divine Consciousness and the understanding of others

Body:

The physical body isn’t much of a mystery to most of us in that we all pretty much know what it needs to be healthy. Most of us don’t do much of what we need physically though. So consider this a reminder for better self care. Your body is, after all, the temple of your soul. It needs you to attend to it lovingly and generously. Don’t make your body do without these things because you “don’t have time.” Obviously some healthful activities would be walking, yoga, hiking, biking and dance. However, there is a magnetism and a consciousness that exists in a primitive way with the physical body. Most of us only notice this when a limb looses blood supply and so feels asleep, or when the nervous system is damaged and we loose feeling and motor function. There is a sense of absence when this occurs that is visceral to your self, but also to others.

The Body needs…

* Freedom of movement

* Comfort, hugs and cuddling

* Sexual release/sexual passion/sexual love

* Experience of physical vitality

* Sensory stimulation and pleasure

* A sense of safety and security

* Nutrition, hydration, rest and shelter

* Subtle connection with the subtle energy of the land

There is one more basic need that each being has and that is the need for periodic loss, failure, challenge and purification. We all need things that force us to figure out new solutions, to test the tools we’ve learned and affirm that they and we are stronger than we realized. We also need to be forced to learn and to stand in the fires of loss and failure. These diffulties build character and add strength to us. And it is also a basic need that we let go of those things which no longer serve us to make room for something else that better suits the current time, developmental stage and needs. Blessings!

©Shannee Green,1/2007, all rights reserved

Invocation

 

 

The effect of this invocation is to bring your whole being into the now moment. It will orient your being in time and space and orienting your focus to the sacred around you and in you. It will elicit the subtle essence of the five elements of earth, water, fire, air and spirit. It will elicit the subtle essence of your five levels of being to be in balance, body, mind, heart, soul and spirit. It can also elicit the attention of supportive consciousness that you find important and helpful to your comfort, serenity, protection and guidance through life….and it can even help with spiritual development in that it provides a constant safe space in which to rest, cocoon, renew and source.

I am sharing the invocation, which I use in my pipe ceremonies and in my personal meditations. The language I have chosen reflects my current needs and shamanic focus and it reflect the current primary influences of my ceremonial and meditation experiences. For instance, it is my personal focus to start things where nature begins…in the darkness. It is my personal focus to start things with a period of introspection and rest, so that power is gathered….hence I start my invocations in the West and not the East as most start directional invocations. This is what I do. I am sharing this with you as an example of what the invocation can be like. It is not necessary to use this language or to start in any particular place on the wheel of the seven directions… It is simply an example to follow. It is, however important that you use directional influences to get the effect the invocation should offer, which is to orient you through the space and time around you and direct your focus eventually into the internal safe space called YOU.

 

Seven Directions Invocation

 

Blessed Holy Spirits of the West

I call out to you. I send my voice…

I say to you, Friend, look over here.

Blessed Holy Spirits please send,

The Bear and the Horse Nations and the Thunder Beings.

Blessed Spirits of the West

I ask that you fill my body, mind, heart, soul and spirit with your love, your healing, your wisdom and your joy.

Mitakuye Oyasin (Mee-tahk-oo-ee Oy-ah-sin; means I agree and send this prayer to all my relations.)

 

Blessed Holy Spirits of the North

I call out to you. I send my voice…

I say to you, Friend, look over here.

Blessed Holy Spirits please send,

The Buffalo, the Deer and the Heron Nations

Blessed Spirits of the North

I ask that you fill my body, mind, heart, soul and spirit with your love, your healing, your wisdom and your joy.

Mitakuye Oyasin

 

Blessed Holy Spirits of the East

I call out to you. I send my voice…

I say to you, Friend, look over here.

Blessed Holy Spirits please send,

The Winged Nation. the Morning Star to guide me and the Star Nation

Blessed Spirits of the East

I ask that you fill my body, mind, heart, soul and spirit with your love, your healing, your wisdom and your joy.

Mitakuye Oyasin

 

Blessed Holy Spirits of the South

I call out to you. I send my voice…

I say to you, Friend, look over here.

Blessed Holy Spirits please send,

Iktomi and the Spider Nation, the Reptile Nation and the Ancestors and Progeny.

Blessed Spirits of the South

I ask that you fill my body, mind, heart, soul and spirit with your love, your healing, your wisdom and your joy.

Mitakuye Oyasin

 

Blessed Holy Sky Father

I call out to you. I send my voice…

I say to you, Friend, look over here.

Blessed Holy Spirit please send,

The Beings of Light, the Cloud People, and the Beings of Air, Scent, Color and Sound

Blessed Spirits of the Sky

I ask that you fill my body, mind, heart, soul and spirit with your love, your healing, your wisdom and your joy.

Mitakuye Oyasin

 

Blessed Holy Earth Mother

I call out to you. I send my voice…

I say to you, Friend, look over here.

Blessed Holy Spirit please send,

The Tree and the Plant Nation, the Stone People, the Bee and Ant Nations, the Little People, and the Fire and Water Beings

Blessed Spirits of the Earth

I ask that you fill my body, mind, heart, soul and spirit with your love, your healing, your wisdom and your joy.

Mitakuye Oyasin

Oh Great Mystery, Alive in all things,

Awaken me…

Make me aware of your life inside me each moment of each day of my life

Blessed Mystery

Awaken my body, mind, heart, soul, and spirit to your love, your healing, your wisdom and your joy.

Blessed Reiki, Prana, Kundalini, rise in me gently and make my life better, more joyful and more full of what I need.

Walk this day and this night with me. Protect me. Guide me. Help me. Comfort me. Heal me.

Pilamya(pee-lah-mea; Thank you)

Mitakuye Oyasin

 

As you can see, Invocations with repetitive elements are hypnotic and they are easier to remember. This leaves you freer to memorize the prayer and will leave you freer to focus on the parts of the prayer that you should be focused on; the Beings you’ve asked to pay attention to you and the orienting slowly toward the center and now moment as the prayer unfolds. So, when designing your own invocations, try to create a cadence that will lull the mind and which reflects your personality and ritual/meditation style. It will make the practice more effective in its impact because the intellect will relax under its repetitiveness. I’d also recommend that you give yourself time to feel the presence of each direction’s energies and entities as they do as you ask; gather round you before you call the next. Consider that your inward voice is calling into the air loudly, though your voice may be a whisper. Your everyday voice is not really what calls the Spirits, it is your internal one, so be aware of this when you make your payers.

Understand that you have called for the attention of Spirits that you’ve invited to help you in certain ways. Relax into it and know that your prayers will be answered. Let them help you…

Mitakuye Oyasin

 

Copyright 09/2006 Shannee Green

Prayer For Guidance

Beloved Creator, Almighty Maker,

Through the rays of the sun,
Through the waves of the air, Through the all-pervading life in space,
I am of You, You are of me, We are one… I am Your tool. May I listen well. May I act wisely and with compassion. May the words from my lips be spoken purely from you. May my choices and true will be directly aligned with Yours. I begin in the name of the Merciful and Compassionate Ones… Blessed be.

I use this prayer to activate my shamanic connection with the Divine and with the elements. I use it to activate a humble and loving state of being prior to doing service work such as healing, guiding, ritual or meditation facilitation. Sometimes this prayer becomes the medium for that service. The beginning of this prayer finds inspiration in the Sufi Nayaz prayer.

 

 

Windhorse

Windhorse is a philosophy of personal empowerment and balance that’s rooted in Siberian and Tibetan cultures. Each has a slightly different viewpoint of it, based on their cultural beliefs, but it’s the same basic understanding of spiritual empowerment being generated with a certain lifestyle, service work and making meaningful relationships with others and with Spirits.

In Tibetan culture, Windhorse is explained as follows:

Riding the Energy of Basic Goodness - A Talk by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche: “In the Shambhala teachings of warriorship, this life force is called windhorse (Tibetan: lungta). Lungta is the unlimited energy of basic goodness, buddha-nature, inherent wakefulness. Basic goodness is the most fundamental secret in any situation-difficult or not-and it’s something that we already possess. We connect with it through meditation practice. Every day we need to contemplate our own inherent wakefulness. Then we’ll have the confidence to raise our windhorse and ride it through life with joy and delight. This is how we become the kings and queens of our own lives. “

In Siberian culture, Windhorse is explained very similarly:

Riding Windhorses and Mongolian Shamanism: “The windhorse or himori, for example, represents personal psychic power that resides in the chest. It is accumulated by actions designed to restore balance in the universe. It is increased by good deeds and decreased by bad deeds or thoughts. Windhorse is the force that allows shamans and other powerful people to accomplish what needs to be done simply and easily. “

Here’s how Sarangarel, a Siberian Buryat Shaman (who spent some years in America to avoid religious persecution), explains Windhorse in her book Chosen By The Spirits: Following Your Shamanic Calling:

Each of us is born with a certain amount of windhorse; this is natural, for each human being is a physical organism fused with three spiritual beings at the time of birth. The essence of Windhorse is the ability to percieve things beyond physical reality and the ability to use spiritual power to manifest what a person focuses intention on. People who are successful or charismatic often have high windhorse, even though they may not realize it….

Psychic abilities are a manifestation of windhorse as they are an expression of the powers that all spirits possess. There are ways to build up as well as deplete windhorse; a shaman tries to build up as much as possible in order to make his work more powerful and effective.

The terms gavia and buyan are related to windhorse. They build up or tear down windhorse, depending on how they are used. Both are based on the idea that each person has the responsibility to help keep the world in balance, to avoid causing harm to people or living things if possible and to act to bring greater happiness to all living things. Gavia is the doing of things to benefit the community as a whole, such as volunteer service, contributions to culture or taking a position of responsible and benevolent leadership….Buyan is related to personal behavior, the way one relates to other people and with the natural world. Buyan is created by acts of generosity, healing and respect for nature and other humans, living things and spirits. Buyan and gavia can be regarded as being like a bank account: They can be added to or depleted according to one’s actions. They are depleted by selfishness, hatred, personal filthiness, and disrespect for the natural world, living things and the spirits….

Even though no person is capable of positive actions at all times, as long as positive and negative actions are in balance, one can live in health, peace and safety….to live temperately and conscientiously, being able to accept one’s flaws while having an intention to live a balanced benevolent life [sic...Windhorse will build]

Sarangarel continues with descriptions of some Siberian rituals that help build Windhorse. Basically they are rituals that purify and which make and maintain relationships with the spirits.

This philosophy is an excellent one to adopt in your personal practice. I suggest you consider what you have to offer the world and begin to mindfully give of yourself to make the world a more balanced place for ourselves and our children to live. I suggest that you create rituals that put you in touch with and that maintain your relationship with the Great Mystery that is alive in all things and that you consider a lifestyle, exercises and rituals that purify consciousness, body, emotions and karma on a daily/regular basis.

Related posts:

The Needs of the Elemental Bodies
Invocation
The Elements Breaths
Prayer for Guidance
Healing Philosophies: Types of Healers

Anatomy of the Energy System

Barbara Ann Brennan explains this energy system better than anyone I’ve ever found and does it lucidly and specifically. I have always seen things just as she describes on these web pages below and in her book, while you’ll find in the resource list.

Once you’ve read the material, if you have more questions, please let me know and I’ll do my best to assist you. Just leave a comment.

The Three Planes and the Seven Energy Field Bodies

The Chakras, as explained by Barbara Ann Brennan

Related Posts and Resources:

Tantra Categories List You’ll find it helpful to read over posts on solitary practice as well as those that discuss kundalini experiences.

Hands of Light book

The Chakras my post on meditation with the Chakras