This topic is for educational purposes depicting the beautiful paintings of Susan Seddon Boulet.

Shamanism may be one of the oldest of religious systems. Its practitioner has to have the courage to venture into inconceivable realms, the agility to negotiate the boundaries of space and time, and the compassion and commitment to return and share the vision he or she wins. Healer, medium, magician, sage, the shaman journeys beyond everyday reality to bring back wisdom and healing from the spirit world, often with the aid of an animal guide.


More information from:
http://www.shamanlinks.net/

So what then is shamanism?

It is a direct experience of spiritual knowledge. Because of the direct nature of the work, it tends to facilitate growth in every religious faith. People will share shamanic experiences in groups, but the insight you gain from shamanic practice are unique to you.

As a healing practice shamanism has been very powerful for both the people of today and those reaching back into the beginnings of recorded history.

The reason that it is so powerful is because each healing is tailored to the needs of the individual being healed. Western medicine seeks to find one cure that works for many, if the number it helps is too small it isn't offered at all. The shaman provides unique treatment, which holistically addresses what a person needs at this time.

The Power of the Lion

Beautiful, lo, the summer clouds,
Beautiful, lo, the summer clouds,
Blossoming clouds in the sky.
Like into shimmering flowers,
Blossoming clouds in the sky,
Onward, lo, they come,
Hither, hither bound!

"-Song of the Blue-Corn Dance." Zuni

I Heard the Owl Call My Name

At midnight
may I roam
against the winds.

May I roam
at midnight.

May I roam
when the owl
is hooting-
may I roam.

At dawn
may I roam
against the winds.

may I roam
at dawn.

may I roam
when the crow
is calling-
may I roam.

-Teton Sioux song

Bear Woman and the Dream Child

A long way to go
a long way to climb
a long way to go to the sky.

Grizzly Bear
rising
high behind the clouds
paw-tracks
make a circle
in the sky.

a long way to go
a long way to climb
a long way to go to the sky.

-"Six Trance Songs of a Shaman"
Northwest Coast Indian

Star Catcher

My children, my children,
it is I who wear the morning star on my head,
It is I who wear the morning star on my head.
I show it to my children,
I show it to my children.

-Ghost Dance song, Arapaho

Father Fox

In the very earliest time
when both people and animals lived on earth,
a person could become an animal if he wanted to
and an animal could become a human being.
Sometimes they were people
and sometimes animals
and there was no difference.
All spoke the same language.
This was the time when words were like magic.
The human mind had misterious powers.
A word spoken by chance
might have strange consequences.
It would suddenly come alive
and what people wanted to happen could happen-
all you had to do was to say it.
Nobody could explain this
That is the way it was.

-"Magic Words" Inuit

Wolf Wind

Come ye shades, oh-o-o, ho, oh-o-o
Ye might ghost and dance ye
What-dark!
Come ye wolves, wolf-howls come
Ho, oh-o-o

Come ye wolves, wolf-howls come
Come ye wolves, oh-o-o, ho, oh-o-o
Ye singers merry feast ye
What-bark!
Ho, oh-o-o

-"Feast of Wolves"

In the Company of Wolves

My wolves, at my call,
In long gray troops fled up from the forest.
They sphered in guard about me-sleeping on my shield
poised in the four-world-crags-
As darkened silver cloud mist wind about the moon.

-"Spring to the Earth-Witch"
Pai-iya to Swi-ya Kwenewesals

Eagle Shield

From Wakan Tanka, the Great spirit there comes a great unifying life force that flowed through all things - the flowers of the plains, blowing winds, rocks, trees, birds, animals - and it was the same the same force that had been breathed into the first man. Thus all things were kindred, and were bpought together by the same great mystery.

-Chief Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux

Companions

When we talk sometimes I see
one intense immense earth
wider than our words and more profound,
brilliant as a breath
wearing your radiance.

-"To Those Who Matter," Roberta Hill Whiteman, Oneida

Thank you Inda, I am enjoying this post, especially the beautiful artwork.

Sincerely,

Gisele

Thank you Inda.
I love the paintings also. They really are very beautiful.

Love,
Sue

Thank you for the post Inda.
I knew nothing about Shamanism. Like Gisele and Sue I love the paintings.

Love,
Vicky

quote:

Originally posted by dear Inda:
...
So what then is shamanism?

It is a direct experience of spiritual knowledge. Because of the direct nature of the work, it tends to facilitate growth in every religious faith...

Wooow! Really deep and magical dearestestestest Inda!

Thanks for the DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE

Teom

Thank you Inda for the information on Shamanism.
I was not familiar with it.

Susan Seddon Boulet's paintings are very beautiful.
Thank you for sharing them.

Love,
yoko

Thank you everyone for your replies.
I also like Susan Seddon Boulet's artwork.
It is truly beautiful.

Skywatcher

Look as they rise, up rise
Over the line where sky meets earth.
Pleiades
Lo! They ascending, come to guide us,
Leading us safely, keeping us one;
Pleiades,
Us teach to be, like you, united.

-Third Song-to the Pleiades, Pawnee