Get Out Into Nature

Being a Shamanic Person is all about being in tune with the Universe. It is not just about journeying in Non Ordinary Reality (if you are a new visitor and don't know what that means - see some earlier posts) - it is about a lot other things as well. The average indigenous Shaman would know the area where he or she lived for miles around like the back of their hand. They would be intimate with every hill, stream, rock, tree and plant. They would be "in tune" with the land and all things in it and on it. 

Being a shamanic person is all about "knowing" yourself. And a good way to get to "know" yourself is to be alone with yourself away from the "human" world. Shamans are, without exception, Animists - they can "see" that all things in our Universe are alive and CONSCIOUS. All things. That includes rocks, mountains, rivers, planets, stars, grains of sand and, of course, the so called living things like trees, plants, insects, birds and animals. The Shaman gets to "know" these conscious beings that he shares the world with as he gets to "know" himself (or herself). Being a shamanic person involves being alone with yourself in the natural world at least some of the time. If you live in a city or a large town you have my sympathy. You are constantly bombarded by the insane human world and completely cut off from the sane natural world. Try to get away as fast as you can - your life may depend on it. I am not joking.

If you have a significant other or a dog, you probably would normally take your walks in the countryside with either one or both of these members of your family. If you have small children you most likely would take them too. Now, while this is great for relationships, it is not much use for getting to know yourself - or for getting to "know" the world of Nature. The other half, the kids and the dog will all make a noise - nothing is more certain. Being alone in Nature allows you to be silent, to observe what is going on around you and to be aware of your inner world. You can listen to the birdsong and the buzzing of the insects. You can see the trees and the flowers and the birds and the insects and the stones and the streams and you can get to "know" them. If you are really quiet and still to may even get the opportunity to "know" some "wild" (undomesticated) animals. So, every now and again, take some time out to be by yourself in a natural environment. Just tell the other half that you need some "me" time and whatever you do don't think to yourself "I am going for a walk" if you have a dog. Dogs are all very telepathic and he or she won't understand why they are being left behind if you are going walkies.