Thank-you another interesting and informative posting Scarlet. I was named Red Dawn by a teacher in a sweat lodge and given a bat. I didn't understand the reason why and questioned this to the spirits. As I went in my house by the conservatory door a bat flew over my head and circled 4 times then as I entered the adjoining hall the bat also entered and circled 4 more times them flew out. This was the only time I have seen this in my house. I am aware of sensing, as bats sonar represents and swiftness in my mind, new ways which is signified by the red dawn but this moment in time led me onto a rich shamanic life. This occurred in the 1980s. I don't identify with a direction on the medicine wheel but am aware that we can move around it and when we sit in one direction we look at the opposite and that is essential.
Thanks so much for sharing this with me, Angela! Different shamans and shamanic traditions have differing ways of naming people and retrieving power animals for them, which is what it sounds like this particular teacher was doing for you? In the practice of feminist shamanism, names are only given when apprentices have completed several levels of rigorous training, although power animals are retrieved in a special ceremony at the beginning of the training, so that students can begin the lifelong integration of its medicine. Unless the person who gave you bat was a fully initiated and trained shaman who retrieved it for you in a private ceremony involving a retrieval journey, then it may be that bat was simply an animal spirit that was around you at that time. Many animal spirits come and go as needed at different points our lives. Without looking into it shamanically, I couldn't say for sure. However, that it had such a profound impact on you and guided you to a shamanic life that you find so rich and rewarding, is deeply significant. In this practice, bat is a West animal, meaning its spirit home is in the shamanic West, and it primarily signifies or affirms rebirth, or the birth of a new way of life, which your bat did for you. This is in addition to its sensing capacities, and is because it sleeps upside down, in the pre-birth position. Not long after my initiation crisis, my teacher was attempting to send shamanic guidance to me from a distance, and I was sitting outside in the dark attempting to receive it, with only a candle for light, as part of my training. Suddenly a large shadow began moving over me causing the candle light to flicker dramatically. It was Bat, affirming that I had set my feet on a shamanic path. So I totally relate to your experience.
In future posts, I'll be offering more teachings about feminist shamanic directional personality types. You may be able to recognize yours. In this practice, it's understood that we're born with the gift of alignment with one of the directions, and must earn, through our shamanic efforts, the power of all the other directions, which eventually leads us to be able to psychologically remain at the Center of the medicine wheel mandala. We move around the medicine wheel with the seasons, learning about and journeying into the direction associated with each season, and the teachings we receive deepen with each circling. We visit and learn about the North in the winter, the East in the spring, the South in the summer, and the West in the autumn.
Again, thanks so much for sharing your experience with me, Angela! I'm looking forward to learning more about it.
I did work with an authentic shaman who gave my my spirit animal the bat but before that I had had a power animal retrieval a different one and have met many spirit helpers.The first time I discovered the medicine wheel was through the teachings of the late Grandmother Twyla of the Seneca. I built a teaching lodge in my garden on the medicine wheel directions, later met the late Ed McGaa Eagle man a Sioux you most probably know of. He led the sweat lodge where I met my bat spirit when he came to uk in the 1980s
I work now with Northern European influences but consider myself a core shamanic practitioner and take my intent to my spirit teachers who speak with me directly. It was good to have my ordinary reality teachers when I was building my foundations and honour their dedication . Now at 79 I need my energy and wait to see what I have coming towards me . I don't look for people to work for or with but there is always healing to do . You will know that Scarlet I thank you for showing an interest and look forward to your postings.
That you have this response makes figuring out the technology of this thing all worth it, Belinda! Yes, we will come together again, for sure. I'll be emailing you soon re your request, too. I'm still moving rather slowly.
Thank-you another interesting and informative posting Scarlet. I was named Red Dawn by a teacher in a sweat lodge and given a bat. I didn't understand the reason why and questioned this to the spirits. As I went in my house by the conservatory door a bat flew over my head and circled 4 times then as I entered the adjoining hall the bat also entered and circled 4 more times them flew out. This was the only time I have seen this in my house. I am aware of sensing, as bats sonar represents and swiftness in my mind, new ways which is signified by the red dawn but this moment in time led me onto a rich shamanic life. This occurred in the 1980s. I don't identify with a direction on the medicine wheel but am aware that we can move around it and when we sit in one direction we look at the opposite and that is essential.
Thanks so much for sharing this with me, Angela! Different shamans and shamanic traditions have differing ways of naming people and retrieving power animals for them, which is what it sounds like this particular teacher was doing for you? In the practice of feminist shamanism, names are only given when apprentices have completed several levels of rigorous training, although power animals are retrieved in a special ceremony at the beginning of the training, so that students can begin the lifelong integration of its medicine. Unless the person who gave you bat was a fully initiated and trained shaman who retrieved it for you in a private ceremony involving a retrieval journey, then it may be that bat was simply an animal spirit that was around you at that time. Many animal spirits come and go as needed at different points our lives. Without looking into it shamanically, I couldn't say for sure. However, that it had such a profound impact on you and guided you to a shamanic life that you find so rich and rewarding, is deeply significant. In this practice, bat is a West animal, meaning its spirit home is in the shamanic West, and it primarily signifies or affirms rebirth, or the birth of a new way of life, which your bat did for you. This is in addition to its sensing capacities, and is because it sleeps upside down, in the pre-birth position. Not long after my initiation crisis, my teacher was attempting to send shamanic guidance to me from a distance, and I was sitting outside in the dark attempting to receive it, with only a candle for light, as part of my training. Suddenly a large shadow began moving over me causing the candle light to flicker dramatically. It was Bat, affirming that I had set my feet on a shamanic path. So I totally relate to your experience.
In future posts, I'll be offering more teachings about feminist shamanic directional personality types. You may be able to recognize yours. In this practice, it's understood that we're born with the gift of alignment with one of the directions, and must earn, through our shamanic efforts, the power of all the other directions, which eventually leads us to be able to psychologically remain at the Center of the medicine wheel mandala. We move around the medicine wheel with the seasons, learning about and journeying into the direction associated with each season, and the teachings we receive deepen with each circling. We visit and learn about the North in the winter, the East in the spring, the South in the summer, and the West in the autumn.
Again, thanks so much for sharing your experience with me, Angela! I'm looking forward to learning more about it.
I did work with an authentic shaman who gave my my spirit animal the bat but before that I had had a power animal retrieval a different one and have met many spirit helpers.The first time I discovered the medicine wheel was through the teachings of the late Grandmother Twyla of the Seneca. I built a teaching lodge in my garden on the medicine wheel directions, later met the late Ed McGaa Eagle man a Sioux you most probably know of. He led the sweat lodge where I met my bat spirit when he came to uk in the 1980s
I work now with Northern European influences but consider myself a core shamanic practitioner and take my intent to my spirit teachers who speak with me directly. It was good to have my ordinary reality teachers when I was building my foundations and honour their dedication . Now at 79 I need my energy and wait to see what I have coming towards me . I don't look for people to work for or with but there is always healing to do . You will know that Scarlet I thank you for showing an interest and look forward to your postings.
I feel like I'm there. Eager for more. Thank-you. Lucy
Thanks so much for your encouragement, Lucy. The next part is written, but now I have to make an illustration for it! I'll be starting on it today.
As I sit here reading your story I feel the same joy I felt when studying under you. Someday we will come together again I think
That you have this response makes figuring out the technology of this thing all worth it, Belinda! Yes, we will come together again, for sure. I'll be emailing you soon re your request, too. I'm still moving rather slowly.