Written by Quynn Red Mountain, Shamanic Practitioner and founder of The Institute for the Shamanic Arts.
Quotes are from previous Training participants.
Photos are from previous Training years.

Recently, I hosted an Introduction to ISA’s Healing Practitioner Training.  A group of people felt called to join in the circle and practice their intuitive abilities.  At the end of the day long session, I asked them to write something they learned while together. This is what they wrote:

“Today I practiced asking for guidance and trusting that I would be shown to a higher perspective.”

 “Willingness”

 “I learned that I cannot “fail”, that I just make choices, some more effective than others.”

 Today I was shown how “our triggers are what connects us.”

 I have grown to look forward to this time of year because it means that latest Practitioner Training begins soon. I started offering trainings in either 2003 or 2004 ( I cannot remember now). The next 5 part training series begins on Saturday, December 1 and is the first Saturday of the month through April. This series is called “FULL CIRCLE Shamanic Practitioning Techniques Training” and is a little different twist on the series offered last year. 

Every person is so unique. So many people have intuitive/shamanic/psychic/helping abilities that are just waiting to flower more fully.  I have come to see that out of 10 gifted healing arts practitioners, maybe 1 will be a ‘shamanic practitioner’.  However, shamanic techniques of the shamanic journey, communicating with spirit guides, divination and connecting with the different worlds/layers of reality can be beneficial tools for any practitioner/facilitator and healing person.  So, I decided to offer Healing Practitioner Training sessions  where I share my experience of holding sacred space for people, exploring my own personal healing, and unfolding my shamanic tools, and my focus is that each participant can sample, try and experiment with their own abilities and gifts.  This works well.

We work together in a group, and then each session, there is a time for hosting sessions for each other, and later, the community. This series adds another layer, which is to consciously practice the following 8 approaches to Holding Shamanic Space for people (whatever your modality):

THE ART OF HOLDING SPACE

1) Soul Healing and Activation for self and others
2) Shamanic Journey skills (traveling the worlds)
3) Sensing in the Dark
4) Divination
5) Nature and Spirit Communication
6) Rhythm/Movement/Trance skills
7) Gathering Allies between Dimensions/Layers of Reality
8) Mythmaker/Storyteller skills

My job is to hold space for you, while you explore your gifts. I create opportunities for you to practice your gifts on others.  I create ways for you to be ‘out’ with your new abilities, in ways that are comfortable for you.  I share what I have learned, and facilitate the group to learn from each other, while each person learns from their Spirit Guides.

Instead of me going on about what the training might do for you, I would like to share some quotes from some of last year’s training participants-

“It was really beautiful!  I learned a lot about myself and received some wonderful gifts from the spirit world.”

“Thank you, Quynn, for offering practitioner training that is personal to each participant.”

“I prospered from the continuity, the deepening over time. In each all-day “in person” circle, I found support, inspiration, and motivation to practice my healing skills.  Quynn led me through “I’m not ready” to developing a unique form of divination that surprised and delighted me. Her encouragement of each person’s unique gift and acceptance of where each of us is on our journey made this class work for a very diverse group of individuals.”

“ISA’s practitioner training with Quynn gave me a tremendous amount of guidance, and many new opportunities have arisen this year because of this experience. Recently, I co-facilitated a three-day retreat in nature. We held sacred space for participants through the entire retreat (including a variety of shamanic journey circles, nature meditations, facilitated discussions, and meditations). While I came to ISA with a background in managing retreats and leading outdoor activities and meditations, holding sacred space for such an extended period of time was a very new experience for me. I feel such a great and happy debt of gratitude to ISA’s practitioner training for my ability now to so confidently guide others with words, drum, and sacred presence.

“I feel that I benefited from the practical aspects and practice opportunities of ISA’s practitioner training, and also from the encouragement—and nudging!—both seen and unseen that was offered (and received). Also, I feel so happy and inspired to continue developing in this work, and I highly recommend ISA’s practitioner training and the work of Quynn to others. May many benefit!”

“I learned much by simply observing and experiencing Quynn’s very skilled shamanic circle facilitation during the training. She demonstrates a certain fearlessness that cuts through, as well as her own deep honesty and presence—all of which makes her highly effective as a facilitator and trainer.” Alyson Greene

“Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.  I feel the movement of my voice.  I have stepped to the other side of fear.  I am so greatful for a circle to focus on what needs to happen.  The five month focus in the background of my life has helped me move through my resistance.” Josephine

Quotes from participants of past trainings

“Thank you for creating the space for me/us to PRACTICE….. I know that I wouldn’t be practicing on people without your encouragement and you having this class.”  Julianne  MPH, CCT, CYT

“Quynn, thanks for you, who you are, what you do and the way in which you are able to help us find the bright parts of ourselves we have hidden and denied for years!” K in Tucson

“Quynn’s unique way, or shall I say, gift, for teaching is like no other. She will guide you through journeys with your ancestors, guides, angels, higher self, and totem animals through her instruction and dynamic drumming. Teachers like Quynn are a rare find.”    Linda Rettinger of www.meaningfulthings.net

 If you feel ready to practice your skills in a supportive and non-conformist environment, and are interested in learning more about:

*What your Guides want from you

*How to live in the world with your abilities “open” and how to stay protected

*How to create a niche for your services, and how to let people know what you do and what you have to offer

*Ethics

*Ourstory (Past, Present Future of this path)

*Non-Congitive Skills

*Building a Lodge

*Living in this culture as a Shamana

then please consider joining me for these 5 sessions.  I have made them affordable so that people of all walks of life can participate.  Details for this series is listed at our meetup calendar (same listing as the one at http://www.shamanacircle.com) :
http://www.meetup.com/tucson-institute-for-the-shamanic-arts/events/84981092/.  You can sign up there. You can also contact me through the meetup group if you have questions or issues.

If you are unsure of your readiness for such a training, another option is to take part in Exploring your Spiritual/Sacred Abilities, a 3 hour circle on Monday, November 26.   It will be a good way to get to know me better, and to see if the training is a good fit for you at this time.
Blessings to you on your path!  May our paths meet when it is time.