Institute for Shamanic Arts | ~Web of Life Church~

Sacred Enactment as Spiritual Funny

Posted on March 14, 2013 by earthwebmedia

Flaming Rainbow Spiritual Healer at the Fringe Festival

Performance can be Ritual. Enactment can be Ceremony. Theater can be Spirituality. This sacred form of enactment educates and entertains.
Enactment=process of enacting: the act or process of enacting something
Synonyms: performing, acting out, portrayal, representation, presentation, acting, depiction, play-acting, performance

Two friends of ISA have been acting out in the theatrical realm, to play with spiritual stereotypes, and educate about spirituality at the same time. What fun!

Last October (2012) The Institute for the Shamanic Arts hosted a Shamanically inspired performance called The Plasmic Portal. For it, Alison Torba, musician, actress/comedian and independent paralegal, came up with a hilarious and ‘over the top’ character named Flaming Rainbow Lightsurfer Unicorn. Her 15 minute stand up comedy routine hit on many popular spiritual issues, such as having a bad childhood, what it takes to be a sha-man, yoga, raw food, magical feathers, permanent sweat lodges, her ‘relationship’ with her ‘Guru’, and receiving messages from the future, cause she is so spiritually special. Her routine offered something for everyone to laugh at. It was brilliant!

Shamanic Seer

For the same show, Elisabeth Black, shamanic intuitive, Director of the Institute for the Shamanic Arts, and Waldorf kindergarten teacher, wanted to share her psychic talents with the audience, so she presented The Shamanic Seer. She recruited questions from the audience, and in a live and beautiful format, consulted her Spirit Guides regarding the answers to offer each questioner. It was brilliant!

Their segments, and the whole show, was a success!

When the application process came around for the 2013 Tucson Fringe Festival, Alison signed up for Flaming Rainbow to participate. Elisabeth had the idea “what if these two characters have a reason to get together on stage? What in the world would happen?” They met, threw around some in-character improv, and wham! FLAMING RAINBOW SPIRITUAL HEALER was born!

Flaming Rainbow

The show happened on March 3rd at the Club Congress in downtown Tucson. These two talented, and brave, women, created a one hour show. The first segment was Flaming Rainbow’s comedy routine. Then The Shamanic Seer came on stage. She read all the questions written out before this show, drummed for guidance, and then told a beautiful story that spoke to the questions of all.

Then we found out how they were to meet. Each were invited (for different reasons) to participate in a reality tv show audition. What happened when they met was funny, and educational. They shared, in an entertaining and very lighthearted way, many important messages that spirituality shares, such as how to use energy, how our childhoods can affect us as adults, the concept of ‘soul retrieval’, how we each have our own power, and the use of spiritual tools. People laughed, people learned, and we all saw a bit of ourselves in these characters.

Spiritual Funny!

Theater, performance, play acting and enactments have always helped humans work out problems, understand concepts, laugh at ourselves, and learn new things. This performance was brilliantly lighthearted, which allowed many important messages to come through, without people even realizing it. It takes a lot to get up in front of an audience.

Congratulations to Alison and Elisabeth for being bold enough to share this with our community! ISA is proud to have supported, and offered a reason, for this show to be born. We can’t wait to see what Flaming Rainbow and the Shamanic Seer will do next!!!

Shamanacircle.com is Two Years Old

Posted on March 12, 2013 by earthwebmedia

March 2013. Looking back thru the archives of this site, it is revealed that shamanacircle.com began two years ago this month. ISA has had a website since 2000 (www.shamanworld.com) but for a period of time we were unable to update it (before we moved to wordpress). In order to keep moving forward, Quynn decided to create shamanacircle.com and wait until a tech angel came to help update and change the old site of Shaman World. This has now magically occurred. Our tech angel came in the form of Re Carlson of abtek.ca media.

Shamanworld.com is now updated, recreated and alive and well once more! It is bigger and better! Ready for action! So…now it is time for some spring combining. ISA will be migrating the content from this site to shamanworld.com for one easy-to-find megasite for ISA’s Spirit Guided Shamanic Community. By summer this will be complete. Stay tuned!!!

While reading past posts, many wonderful events are remembered, and some awesome quotes and photos are seen once again. Here are some by, and of, community members past and present. Enjoy! If you have yet to attend an ISA event, you are welcome to do so! Find out more about our events at http://www.meetup.com/tucson-institute-for-the-shamanic-arts/

ISA has given me a community of brothers and sisters on the path and safe place to explore all that my inner and outer worlds have to offer. It’s given a way to connect to the earth no matter where I am.

ISA is a true community…an open, kind welcoming and strong force for personal and global change.

I can feel the pulse of community when we rhythm together. This will heal us and our world. Thank you for our blessings.

These are beautiful people and they took me to a beautiful place. For that I thank them.

I feel relief from the lonely feeling… it is a relief, not being the only person who hears voices or sees spirits….I am able to bare my soul without fear of ridicule.

ISA has helped me connect with the most awesome group of people. There are so many with so much to share, and they are here to share with all their hearts, as am I.

The Institute of Shamanic Arts has given me an amazing sense of community. I have met so many wonderful people with whom I share common interests. This is a safe haven for those of us who have felt “different” from common society, you will not be judged or labeled “weird” here. Nothing but open arms and loving hearts.

Nature Walk

Stacking Stones for Ceremony

making Rainbow Wands

Shamanic Performance

Rainbow Labyrinth Walk

Holy Bitch! Remaking Barbie

Drumming after Peace Fair

Thanks to all who joined us for our last night in the Healing Cave!

Shaman Images, Symbols, and Metaphors

Posted on February 25, 2013 by earthwebmedia

The Evocative & Healing Power of Imagery was offered by ISA, (Institute for the Shamanic Arts), facilitator Eileen Ashby (https://shamanacircle.wordpress.com/is/practitioners/eileen-ashby-ma/) on Sunday, Feb. 24.

The shamanic realm has messages for us that are often delivered through images, symbols and metaphors. By tapping into images that might be present through plants, animals, literature, music, and film, we are able to reconnect to the what is sacred, what has been lost, or what has been hidden.

Eileen explained that images are direct links to the soul.

Through several thought provoking exercises, we were able to suspend our judgements and become curious about what images are being presented to each of us.

This is so vital, because in shamanic journeys, we work with images all the time!

Great job Eileen and we look forward to more evocative workshops from you.

If you would like to find out more about Eileen, please see her webpage at:

http://return2wholeness.com/site/

If you would like to find out more about ISA offerings please see our meetup at:

http://www.meetup.com/tucson-institute-for-the-shamanic-arts/

Talk of Rock- ISA Honors the Stars of Tucson’s Gem and Mineral Show 2013

Posted on February 19, 2013 by earthwebmedia

Rocks and stones. Crystals and minerals. Water and vibration. Altars and sharing . We sang our hearts and spoke to rocks. We stacked stones and learned from them about breaking down. We gave thanks to crystals for joy, love and abundance in our lives, gathered soul parts together and walked in the desert, listening to the Stone People.

As ISA’s meetup group hovers just under 500 participants, we give thanks for all the beautiful souls who joined in circle with each other during our first annual “Stone Wisdom” Healing Arts Series. Here are a few statements shared by a few circle participants:

“Wonderful gathering. I feel blessed. Great Soup! and I got WINGS! yeah! Good Night ALL. Gratitude is in the HOUSE!”

“Thanks for the wonderful journey with the crystals, sound/rhythm, water, and DNA on Friday night. I certainly went to a deep and powerful place. I felt a significant loosening of the knots of time and space in my being. A wonderful space was held for all.”

“The ceremony the other evening was lovely and inspiring. I appreciate so much that I was able to share in the experience with so many loving souls.”

“I feel personally satisfied to have finally asked my stone friends what they have to tell me. their messages kept unfolding all night.”

“Amazing moment in time w/you all! Thank you.”

“Evocative, amazing, releasing, incredible!”

“I’ve been looking at rock in a whole new way now, very inspiring circle. :)”

“Thank you so much for a truly wonderful healing experience tonight. Between the sound and the crystals, the energy was rockin!”

Thank you to the the ISA Practitioners who offered circles, as well as all who participated (human and stone). Much was shared!

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show 2013-Heart of the Crystal

Posted on February 11, 2013 by earthwebmedia

In honor of the Tucson Gem Mineral Show 2013, the Institute for the Shamanic Arts (I.S.A.) held a circle called Heart of the Crystal.

This circle was facilitated by Phillip Cash Cash and Elisabeth Black.

For this heart moving, deep, evocative, and amazing circle, participants were led through heart connecting activities.

They stacked stones while centering and achieving an inner balance.

In addition, all were led on through a visualization to reach out for radiance and to channel the flow of the energetic vibration of crystals.

A spirit guided crystal grid was formed (see photo above).

Then all joined in humming, singing, and vocalizing while Phillip guided us and did shamanic drumming.

It was agreed that we felt we had done this sort of singing together in a past life.

The energy of this circle, our singing, and the crystals provided a breathtaking experience.

We thank Phillip for leading us through such a lovely portal and guiding us to the heart of the crystal.

Please join us for our upcoming Stone offerings:

Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m.-Your Personal Crystal/Stones as Teachers, Guides and Portals–Give those stones/crystals some attention and bring them to this circle. You can journey together and become closer friends! Hosted by Quynn Red Mountain.

Feb. 15, 6:30 p.m.-Crystal n’ Human-DNA Activation with Sound, Crystal, and Water- Put sound together with crystals and what do you get? “Like” the most incredible rush of DNA activation! Allen Smith will share his holy, amazing, and completely transcending didgeridu music.

Feb. 16, 11:00 a.m.-Stone Guided Soul Retrieval and Activation– That little empty spot you feel…? The stones want to assist you in retrieving just the right soul piece to fill it up. Oh, and they do this in such a loving way. They love you. Hosted by Quynn Red Mountain

Feb. 17, 6:30 p.m.-Magnetizing Love, Abundance, and Joy with Crystals– Think about it, the title of this workshop lists off what we all want. Love…..Abundance…..Joy…..all there waiting for you and lots of crystal helpers would be thrilled to help you magnetize these in your life. Hosted by Elisabeth Black and Alyson Greene.

PLUS! On Sundays February 3, 10 and 17 at 10am, Quynn hosts a weekly Shamanic Journeying Circle.
We drum for you twice. Always fascinating. Never the same. Open to all.

Door closes 15 minutes after start time. Parking is available in the lot on the northwest corner of Stone and Toole.

These circles are open to people with all levels of spiritual and shamanic experience. Find out more at any of the listings at ISA’s meetup group calendar.

Tucson 2013 Gem and Mineral Show is Here!

Posted on February 5, 2013 by earthwebmedia

Tucson folks have been anticipating the arrival of the Tucson 2013 Gem and Mineral Show. On Jan. 28 the Institute for the Shamanic Arts officially welcomed all of the Stone and Crystal Elders to our lovely city.

As shamanic folks many of us look forward to feeling the loving energies of the Stones surrounding us for the Show. It is also an opportunity to find new connections to work with.

We honor and respect our Stone Friends. With this in mind, the Institute for the Shamanic Arts will continue to offer stone themed workshops all during the month of Feb. We hope to see you at one of the workshops!

Feb. 3, 2:00 p.m. Sacred Nature Journey #1:Desert Earth and Stones–How many times have you been driving along and the desert hums to you? Not nearly enough. Take a little walk out into the desert and ground, center, and refresh yourself. Be right in among the stones and earth. Hosted by Alyson Greene.

Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m. Like a Rock-Breaking Down as Spiritual Transformation-Don’t let the “breaking down” part scare you. Let the idea of loving support brought to you through Stone Wisdom ease your heart. Stones want to be there for you and guide you to your true joy. Hosted by Quynn Red Mountain.

Feb. 9, 11:00 a.m.-Heart of the Crystal–Journey inward to your heart with singing, (no singing experience necessary and led by Medicine Singer, Phillip Cash Cash) meditative stone stacking, and making a healing crystal grid.

PLUS! On Sundays February 3, 10 and 17 at 10am, Quynn hosts a weekly Shamanic Journeying Circle.
We drum for you twice. Always fascinating. Never the same. Open to all.

Door closes 15 minutes after start time. Parking is available in the lot on the northwest corner of Stone and Toole.

These circles are open to people with all levels of spiritual and shamanic experience. Find out more at any of the listings at ISA’s meetup group calendar.

Stone Wisdom Healing Arts Series Tucson Gem Show 2013

Posted on January 29, 2013 by earthwebmedia

It is time for the 2013 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, and for the next three weeks Stones of all kinds come here from all corners of this beautiful Earth, and beyond. As Earth Loving People, we hear the Stones arriving in Tucson asking us to welcome and consult them while they are here.
They have many messages to share, and they invite us to honor them as ancient teachers.

The Institute for the Shamanic Arts is proud to present this series of circles, workshops and adventures dedicated to honor the ancient wisdomkeepers of this place, and those visiting or passing through during Gem Show. The Stone people are in our lives, and in our cells. In this place of Tucson, it is a powerful time to be open to the Stones, Crystals, Gems, Minerals who have messages that they want to share with us.

During each circle we will travel the drum to consult with stone energies regarding our lives and living our purpose. We will also make rhythm together to share our messages with them. Stones and Humans share our stories.

People with all levels of shamanic journeying experience are welcome. ISA’s approach to shamanizing is that we each have an innate ability to connect with our inner wilderness in our own unique way. Rhythm helps us connect quickly and in a meaningful way. The Spirit World belongs to All of Us.

We will also continually co-create an altar for our Stone Friends in our Underworld Grotto. If you feel called to join in any circle of this series, you can bring a stone to add to our community altar that will stay up during the Gem Show. We look forward to sitting in circle with you, and our Stone Friends.

All Circles take place in The Grotto 19 E Toole Ave. (In our rock walled underworld home), except for Alyson’s Sacred Nature Journey. You do not need to rsvp, you can simply come to any circle listed below. Door closes 15 minutes after start time.

Workshop Titles as written by Elisabeth Black:

PLUS! On Sundays February 3, 10 and 17 at 10am, Quynn hosts a weekly Shamanic Journeying Circle.
We drum for you twice. Always fascinating. Never the same. Open to all.

Door closes 15 minutes after start time. Parking is available in the lot on the northwest corner of Stone and Toole.

These circles are open to people with all levels of spiritual and shamanic experience. Find out more at any of the listings at ISA’s meetup group calendar.

Postures of Flight!

Posted on January 28, 2013 by earthwebmedia

Last Monday evening Quynn Red Mountain hosted a shamanic circle called Postures of Flight, based on the work of Dr. Felicitas Goodman’s work regarding sacred postures that show up all over the world in sculpture and cave.

Anthropologist Dr. Felicitas D. Goodman, researched and explored ritual body postures as a means to achieve a bodily induced shifting of consciousness – a “ecstatic trance” experience. She discovered each body posture can lead into this alternate reality, an expanded field of consciousness, when performed in conjunction with the proper rhythmic sound, such as a rattle or drum. This shamanic wisdom tradition has its roots in the earliest roots of humanity. From http://www.cuyamungueinstitute.com/

This is the fourth time that Quynn has offered this workshop, and each time the results have been profound! Journeyers on Monday traveled in simple positions that brought energies of the Underworld, Metamorphosis, the Tatooed Jaguar Goddess, Place of Opening, Land of the Dead, Female Spirits and others. After three drum journeys, Quynn asked participants to write a note to you, about journeying in these postures, and the wisdom of the shamanic journey generally… Here is what they wrote…

“I am continually amazed at the innate wisdom within people. These ancient, worldwide postures bring to light a portal that is waiting for us to enter. The drum and intention opens the door that lies within us all.”

“Journeying with the postures opened me to more visuals than I have normally experienced during typical journeying, which I wasn’t expecting necessarily. I had asked to receive messages auditorily, because that I the way I usually receive, but the visual were fantastic. The messages from them profound.”

“Journeying allows you to find the missing piece of yourself. You find that which you need and desperately long for, whatever that may be.”

“The journey of transformation. The ancient inner pilgrimage to the true awareness. Finding through a beat of a drum, all that has been forgotten…yet not. Today I journeyed to my joy, my life purpose, through the portal that was just waiting for me to say “I am back”. After each shamanic journey I am forever shifted to a new galactic is-ness. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.”

“These ancient postures, with all their collective wisdom, helped me greatly to gently break through an integral part of my process of becoming the person I came here to be and doing what I came here to do. I look forward to how it will unfold.”

“These are the poses of our ancestors, but they are also the poses of ourselves, our children, mothers, brothers, sisters, fathers… It is powerful medicine.”

Gratitude to the postures, to Dr. Felicitas Goodman for seeing their power in plain view, and to all the journeyers who attended this workshop!

Shapeshifting

Posted on January 22, 2013 by earthwebmedia

What does it mean to shapeshift?

Recently we explored this question through the method of journeying. We chose animal kin in various animal decks and reached out to them.

One deck that we used was the Shapeshifter Tarot deck. This deck was useful in seeing how humans merge characteristics with animals. By doing this, we can employ the use of animal attributes in certain situations.

If one needs confidence, protection, fierceness, calmness, or just to be able to sense in a different way, shifting with an animal can be useful.

As part of our second journey, we attempted to fill one of our body parts with an animal energy. This proved to be very interesting. As we shared our journey stories and looked closely at each other we really could see aspects of the animal energy within each person.

What follows are pictures of body parts where the animal energy was felt.

This was Pegasus energy.

Falcon energy

Porcupine

More Porcupine energy

Crab calling in the storm

Monkey ear

A resource that provides much valuable information about shapeshifting is called: Deerdancer by Michele Jamal. A quote from this book that is significant is:
“According to legend, from our primal beginnings when life was raw and we knew no separation between instinct, and intellect, between body and spirit, humans had an intimate, inspired relationship with the animal kingdom. Two-leggeds knew other animals as kin, and all had the ability to interchange shapes.”

Helpful resource

There will be more shapeshifting to come as the Institute for the Shamanic Arts is planning a spring shapeshifting event. Stay tuned for more information and get ready to honor your animal allies and kin!

Back in Jan. 2011, ISA held such an event and here is a comment about that last event:

Shapeshifter is one of the best events I have attended. It was moving and magical, the synchronicity of all the attendees was amazing. This type of event allows positive energy for healing us, our animal kin and mother earth. This is an absolute necessity for all of us looking for healing, love and peace within the Shamanic Community. Thanks to everyone who participated last night for making it so special.

For more information about ISA’s events please see our Meetup page at:

http://www.meetup.com/tucson-institute-for-the-shamanic-arts/

The Power of Love

Posted on January 14, 2013 by earthwebmedia

My name is Elisabeth Black and on Saturday, Jan. 12, I was spirit led to facilitate a circle about the power of love.

Because of the nature of love, my spirit guides asked that I be more self-revealing than I ever have been in past circles.

I shared about my process of opening up to the intimacy of love. I entrusted to others, in the circle, thoughts about my struggles with giving and receiving love and I spoke about the joys that love has brought into my life.

This circle was very beautiful as each person shared about how love has touched their lives.

I found that I wished that people that I am close to and love dearly were present at this circle. Then I began to feel that because I carry them in my heart, they really were with me…are with me. Always.

On my altar, I placed items that carried the resonance of love. I had an open heart ring, a female turkey feather, clam shells, citrine gemstones, rose quartz, aventurine stones, a bell, a note from the universe, mirrors, rose petals, and a heart.

For our journeys, we asked that animals share messages of love with us and let us know just what we need.

As part of our circle, I explained how the Institute for the Shamanic Arts (ISA) had recently participated in a Handfasting Ceremony where two people committed to loving each other. Then I passed out ribbons and we all did a handfasting commitment to love ourselves. We wrapped the ribbon around our wrists and repeated vows.

To share love with others that didn’t get a chance to be present in our circle, we used divination to choose words that were written out. We then incorporated them into some written thoughts which I have listed here for you.

Play Spirit Things

A playful kind, loving spirit

connection to all things is one path of loving

wrap me in a kind, loving and playful spirit…gratitude

connection to all things is one path of loving.

…………………………………………..

I am a wave in the ocean.

I am part of a powerful and connected system of sea life and movement

beckoned by Grandmother Moon.

Does it serve me to fear that the other waves head toward the rocks and not the beach

or that they move more quickly or slowly.

I do not control how big they swell or how soon any break.

I fear that I am not important.

I need love knowing that I am only a small part of the whole.

I need to give. I need to receive.

I cannot flow alone.

Hold me mother ocean.

Take all of me.

Move me as I am.

…………………………………………………..

Love Is….

Nurturing: allowing of what longs to come forth in its own time. No sooner. No later. Just Perfect.

………………………………………………………….

Divine Thought

Resides within,

and begins with You!

Be open and let Love flow.

……………………………………………..

Love is about finding peace with both the head and the heart, the intellectual and the emotional. A balance is needed for a healthy love to survive!!

……………………………………………

Love

Decide in a strong way that there is indeed power in love.

The universe gives you permission to use this love. You are capable.

………………………………..

To find out more about Elisabeth Black please see:

https://shamanacircle.wordpress.com/is/practitioners/elisabeth-black/

To find out more about upcoming workshops, please see our Meetup page at:

http://www.meetup.com/tucson-institute-for-the-shamanic-arts/