Introduction to Celtic Shamanism
Stones of Life
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You'll find many variations of this meditation throughout Celtic Lore. First, before any visualization or meditation - imagine a circle of white light around you. I've placed myself in the middle of a light bulb or candle flame before I learned to "shield" myself without a reference idea. Once you are relaxed and surrounded in your circle of light, proceed with the meditation.
This meditation is designed to help you know and understand your true self. Once you learn this, your whole approach to living can be changed beyond recognition. This is the first step towards that realization that loosing everything is to gain everything. You won't feel inadequate or deny your Self the gift of truely living in the present. This meditation will help you recognize the different parts of your inner self - and to separate the true from the false.
Remember, there is nothing to fear in this meditation. You are protected.
Imagine yourself walking through an ancient forest. Giant trees with brown/red rough bark and multi-colored greens surround you. You smell bark and wet leaves. The air is moist and comfortable. Branches arch high above you and you know you are safe and protected. You walk through the trees into a small clearing, an open space surrounded by trees stretching back in all directions into the darkness. Feel the ground solid under your feet as you stand on the grass of the meadow, and see that you are still surrounded by glowing white light. You know that no matter what happens, no harm can come to you. You see a lone flat rock to your right, and when you sit on it you keep your feet flat on the ground and feel the cool hardness of the rock. It is strangely comfortable. When you feel completely sure that you are safe, begin to think about your greatest fear. Ask it to appear on the edge of the clearing. Tell it to have form and shape so you can recognize it. Then, when you are ready, call for it to come into the clearing, in front of you and the sacred rock you sit upon. Face this representation of your greatest fear, and know it is just a representation. It cannot harm you. Look at it closely, remember you are protected in this place so it has no power over you. Look at it's shape, it's movements, even if they seem threatening to you. Observe how it acts, moves, feels. When you feel you've seen enough, do the same thing with what limits you the most, what self-defeats you, and don't forget to look at your gifted areas, your ideals. Some will appear beautiful, some will be hideous - but they are all here just to learn from. Some may be so deep you won't recognize them yet. These forms are shadows of your real self.
Then, one by one, call them back. Start to make serious changes to the forms. You can do that in this place. Watch them change into something different. Change these forms into something you feel more comfortable with. Your fearful self may be insubstantial, crouching, spineless - so change it. Bring it into form, standing straight and confident. See it do something like artwork or something you would like to do. Remember what you see and feel. Remember the changes you made. You can bring back the changes with you. Slowly return to normal consciousness and write down all that you have done.
If you prefer, you can go to a cave, a mountain, any place you want to substitute for the meadow clearing. The important thing is that you feel comfortable where you're at.
At first you could experience some confusion, and there could be some painful realizations, but after these exercizes you won't be weak or unprepared. To practice shamanism you need to be confident, strong, and prepared. Keep going back to the meadow until you feel you have nothing more to learn there at this time.
As a Shaman, you will deal with some powerful energies as well as finding your personal power. You may feel you have power already and either not understand it or maybe be intimidated by your own power! This meditation and your feelings will let you know whether or not this work is what you need or want to do.
If it is, then follow the path. It will come.
If you care to explore a little further, proceed to the next meditation.
Cynthia Danielson-McReynolds
