suk
This thread is very interesting, thank you for all the information and wisdom.
I haven't had any interactions with shamans, or had access to shamanistic practices, I wonder how one goes about finding a shaman? Are they mainly an American thing, I feel like that's my understanding of shamanism, but I've heard people from Europe talk about them too.
I've always felt very connected to animals. I overheard my brother tell someone when we were young that he felt I knew how to touch animals, whereas he didn't, he wasn't as sensitive or something. I feel very close to cats of all kinds, I think they're misunderstood so often.
In terms of seeing animals again and again, I've been seeing magpies a lot lately. I know they're a common bird, but it's just been the kind of situations they show up in I guess. They fly out of a bush when you're not expecting it, or just hang around looking at me, when no one else/nothing else is around.
I've always thought it was very lucky to see animals or birds that are rare, but that's a logical sort of thought. In terms of experience, though, it means a lot more to me. It's hard to explain, it's like the universe is acknowledging you when you see something unexpected and rare. I've had experiences where I've gone on trips in nature, not expecting to see anything special, but ending up seeing lions up close, or whales from a distance, or something bizarre, like an unusually friendly eel that wanted to be petted. Things like that are magic in action to me.
I have a question though. What's the significance of your power animal or totem animal? Is there a difference? Once you discover them, do you work with their energies, or call on them in spirit work? Or are they just signs for things that are about to happen, or are happening within your practice already?
ETA I realised that CN has answered my question in some detail, thank you for that.
I haven't had any interactions with shamans, or had access to shamanistic practices, I wonder how one goes about finding a shaman? Are they mainly an American thing, I feel like that's my understanding of shamanism, but I've heard people from Europe talk about them too.
I've always felt very connected to animals. I overheard my brother tell someone when we were young that he felt I knew how to touch animals, whereas he didn't, he wasn't as sensitive or something. I feel very close to cats of all kinds, I think they're misunderstood so often.
In terms of seeing animals again and again, I've been seeing magpies a lot lately. I know they're a common bird, but it's just been the kind of situations they show up in I guess. They fly out of a bush when you're not expecting it, or just hang around looking at me, when no one else/nothing else is around.
I've always thought it was very lucky to see animals or birds that are rare, but that's a logical sort of thought. In terms of experience, though, it means a lot more to me. It's hard to explain, it's like the universe is acknowledging you when you see something unexpected and rare. I've had experiences where I've gone on trips in nature, not expecting to see anything special, but ending up seeing lions up close, or whales from a distance, or something bizarre, like an unusually friendly eel that wanted to be petted. Things like that are magic in action to me.
I have a question though. What's the significance of your power animal or totem animal? Is there a difference? Once you discover them, do you work with their energies, or call on them in spirit work? Or are they just signs for things that are about to happen, or are happening within your practice already?
ETA I realised that CN has answered my question in some detail, thank you for that.