Wisdom of the Shamans

1. Embrace Your Inner Shaman: Awaken to Your True Self

The wisdom you seek is inside you.

Shamanic wisdom. At its core, shamanism is about finding the truth within yourself and bringing it out into the world. Unlike hierarchical traditions, it encourages individuals to uncover their own innate wisdom. The shaman's journey is unique for each person, as we are all artists creating the masterpiece of our lives.

Nagual and dreaming. In Toltec tradition, everyone is constantly dreaming. Life as we perceive it is a reflection of our beliefs and perceptions - our personal dream. Collectively, these personal dreams form the Dream of the Planet. Shamans are "the ones who are awake" because they recognize this dreaming nature of reality and can consciously create the dream they want to live.

Awakening process. Awakening involves more than intellectual knowledge; it requires direct experience. It's a process of unlearning domesticated beliefs and rediscovering your true nature as an expression of the divine life force, or nagual. This transformation often begins with suffering, which can reveal beliefs that no longer serve us and push us toward personal freedom.

2. Uncover Your Personal Truth Through Storytelling

Rituals, books, tools, and even other shamans only serve as guides to help you find the wisdom that comes from deep inside of you.

Power of stories. Shamans use storytelling as a powerful tool to plant seeds of awakening in others. By leveraging the mind's natural affinity for narratives, these stories can pierce through mental barriers and reveal deeper truths. They serve as mirrors, reflecting aspects of ourselves we may not readily see.

Personal interpretation. While shamanic stories often contain universal themes, their true power lies in personal interpretation. Readers are encouraged to find meanings relevant to their own lives, as this aligns with the shamanic emphasis on discovering one's own truth.

Examples of shamanic stories:

• The Eagle and the Snake: Finding your own truth
• The Riverman: Flowing with life's cycles
• The Birth of Quetzalcoatl: Igniting imagination and creativity
• The Jungle: A lesson in awareness
• The Devil's Cave: Embracing the shadow self

3. Break Free from Domestication and Self-Limiting Beliefs

The parasite is the voice in your mind that says you are not enough, you don't have the power, or you should stay in your cave and not even try to fly among the beautiful birds.

Understanding domestication. From an early age, we are domesticated with beliefs and behaviors through a system of punishments and rewards. While some domestication is necessary for social functioning, it can also instill limiting beliefs that hold us back from realizing our true potential.

Recognizing the parasite. The "parasite" is the internalized voice of negativity that feeds on our fears and doubts. It's the part of our mind addicted to suffering, constantly telling us we're not good enough or that we can't achieve our dreams.

Liberation through awareness.
Steps to break free:

1. Recognize domesticated beliefs and the parasite's voice
2. Question these beliefs and their origins
3. Choose which ideas to keep and which to let go
4. Replace limiting beliefs with empowering ones
5. Take action aligned with your true self

4. Harness the Power of Awareness to Live in the Present

Awareness is such an important practice that all of the other tools in this book are contingent upon it. You cannot investigate your domestications, your self-judgments, your resentments, or all the other beliefs that keep you from living your truth until you become aware of them.

Cultivating awareness. Awareness in the Toltec tradition goes beyond mere consciousness. It involves being fully present in the moment, using all your senses to experience what's happening now, and observing your mind's reactions without judgment.

Benefits of awareness:

• Helps break the mind's addiction to suffering
• Allows you to see through false beliefs and stories
• Enhances your connection to silent knowledge (innate wisdom)
• Improves your ability to discern rather than judge
• Deepens your experience of life and relationships

Practical techniques:

1. Practice mindfulness in daily activities
2. Engage in regular meditation
3. Spend time in nature to enhance sensory awareness
4. Observe your thoughts and emotions without attachment

5. Transform Your Shadow Self with Love and Forgiveness

When you examine those things you have pushed into your shadow, sometimes you find that you need to make a change to follow your own truth.

Understanding the shadow. The shadow self contains aspects of our personality that we've denied or repressed, often due to societal or personal judgments. These can be negative traits we don't want to acknowledge, but also positive qualities we're afraid to embrace.

Importance of integration. Recognizing and integrating our shadow aspects is crucial for personal growth and authenticity. By bringing these hidden parts into the light, we can consciously choose how to express them and align with our true selves.

Transformation through love:
Steps to embrace your shadow:

1. Acknowledge denied aspects of yourself
2. Investigate the origins of these denials
3. Practice self-compassion and forgiveness
4. Reframe "negative" traits as potential strengths
5. Integrate shadow aspects into your conscious personality
6. Express your full, authentic self in healthy ways

6. Recognize the Divinity in All Beings

If you want to see God, just look into the eyes of the next person you meet.

Universal divinity. A fundamental tenet of shamanism is that the Divine exists in everyone, without exception. This includes those we disagree with, those we may consider unimportant, and even those who cause harm.

Practical application:
Ways to honor the divinity in others:

1. Practice seeing beyond roles and labels
2. Treat every interaction as sacred
3. Listen deeply without judgment
4. Show kindness to strangers
5. Find common ground with those you disagree with
6. Set healthy boundaries while respecting others' divinity

Balancing love and discernment. Recognizing the divinity in all doesn't mean becoming a doormat. It's crucial to maintain healthy boundaries and use discernment in relationships while still approaching others with love and respect.

7. Embrace Death as a Teacher to Truly Live

Today is the day we celebrate the dead that are still living!

Death as awakening. In shamanic tradition, death is seen as a powerful teacher that can awaken us to the preciousness of life. The concept extends beyond physical death to the "living dead" - those trapped in fear, guilt, and inauthenticity.

Celebrating life. Rituals like the Day of the Dead serve as reminders to fully embrace life. They encourage us to let go of who we're pretending to be and live authentically, with an open heart and a commitment to ending our addiction to suffering.

Practical wisdom:
Ways to learn from death:

1. Contemplate your own mortality regularly
2. Practice gratitude for each moment
3. Let go of petty grievances and live with purpose
4. Honor your ancestors and learn from their wisdom
5. Face your fears and live courageously
6. Embrace change and impermanence as natural parts of life

Last updated: November 24, 2024