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!
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:
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!
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 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. 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.
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.
Yesterday, several ISA journeyers traveled out into the west desert of the Tucson Mountains for a beautiful afternoon of connection to Earth, guided visualization, exploration, and connection.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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:
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:
For the last journey circle of 2012, Institute for the Shamanic Arts (ISA) gathered to explore the tradition of soup making.
This was during our Shamanic Soup workshop.
Each individual brought a soup ingredient that they felt was an important soup addition.
While the soup simmered away full of spinach, kale, mushrooms, garlic, ginger, yams, sweet potatoes, spices, onion, and of course, love, we all journeyed to the beat of the shamanic drum.
We contemplated the thought of a caterpillar inside of its chrysalis in a soup state with all of its DNA present to make a butterfly.
We laughed at a coyote tale about coyote always being ready with his hidden spoon.
We expressed gratitude and realized that we are always in a state of gratitude.
We even recognized that, “It’s all perfect.” Each given moment is perfect.
We shared stories, laughed, listened to the rain fall, kept warm, ate homemade tortillas (thank you!) and enjoyed deeply nourishing soup.
As a final touch, we each went into our journeys and fetched what we thought would be the perfect ingredient for an ISA Shamanic Soup.
This special ISA Shamanic Soup sounds amazing and you are invited to partake in all of ISA’s nourishment for the year 2013!
For the last journey circle of 2012, Institute for the Shamanic Arts (ISA) gathered to explore the tradition of soup making.
~Web of Life Church~ 