The Shaman Will See You Now.

PHOTO CREDIT: "Lush Rain Forest" by porbital

Being a novice Shaman, tonight, I am enjoying a show about Amazonian healing methods. I was called to serve by the spirit energy that comes with surviving a severe medical condition. It is said that shamans are called by one of two ways: by your grandparent or parent, or from surviving a severe illness, which gave you access to the vision-realm. I have been both blessed and cursed to carry, "the fire" within myself. Modern medicine would call it "schizoaffective disorder," but in most earth traditions, being able to straddle that mental netherworld is an asset to the Shaman.

It is through my visions or "hallucinations" that I am able to transcend the confines of the mind and intuit deeper understanding. I walk through this world with one foot in "Earth-realm" and another foot in the "Greater Consciousness." When I am most in-tune between those dimensions, I literally see what's happening in my earthy present moment from one eye, and a world of pure transcendence from the other. The vision realm sends me family relatives who have died and now reside in another dimension of consciousness to guide me through lucid dream travels.

The other night, I spoke with my recently deceased uncle in a dream following a week of mental strain. This often happens before a vision, I'll get bad headaches and successive nights before the vision, a purge of bad dreams. It's as though the Shaman is cleansing themselves of all the heavy energy before making contact, so that the connection is strong to allow the best transfer of information. In that dream, my uncle told me that my great-great-grandfather also had the "fire" (schizoaffective) and his energy wanted to tell me that he understands the hardship of the bad effects that come with the "fire" but that it is so worth having. And, to keep courage not to fully cross over into the vision realm before it's time (death).

My grandmother who died has visited me twice in lucid dream travels. Once, directly following her passing. She was (and always will be) my hero in many ways and we were very alike in our energies. So, I was not the least bit shocked when I awoke early one morning around 6a.m. and knew that someone in the family had died. Then, as if on cue, the phone rang. "Hello?" It was my mom, "Grandma just died." I replied, "I know, I just was woken up by her energy as it fluttered off." After about a week following the funeral, I had a lucid dream vision where I spoke with her. It was in a classy, F. Scott Fitzgerald, roaring '20s style hotel, which was a great selection on her part since she was a flapper. I remember being aware I was "dreaming" while floating in the elevator heading up to her apartment.

I realized that I could go up or down with the elevator simply by thinking the direction!! So, "whoosh" I sped up to her floor, high atop this building. I knew it was very high in altitude because I could see clouds passing by the window at the end of the hallway. I continued to float down the hallway toward her room and instinctively knew which door opened to her apartment. I motioned my hand at the door and it glided open, and naturally, I floated smoothly into this suite that looked as though it was forever floating in the dimension of '20s America. I first saw the back of her head in the bob style of her younger pictures, and a cloud of cigarette smoke billowing forth. She smoked for 60 years but died of old age at 94!! As I rounded the couch and gazed upon her face, she looked happier than I'd ever seen her. She was glowing and told me not to worry about her dying but that she'd always be in my visions. I have relied upon her spirit many times to endure the side effects of "mental illness."

I had another dream of her later at the shore of a lake where she was wearing a red cloak and we discussed the importance of love and we shared the beauty of the water around us. How do I know that these dreams are different than any other? Firstly, when I normally dream I don't know that I am dreaming. I'm buried in the context of the dream, which usually is a big murky and sometimes random. But when I have my "visions" I am aware that I am "dreaming." And the lighting is always different in them. It's brighter but not painfully so, and there is always this rainbow sparkling aura or crown of light around nearly every little pixel. The essence of them are crisper and clearer in intensity. In those dreams, I always remark to myself, how different the feeling is from my other dreams.

I know and acknowledge a completely different sensation and understanding when I'm having a "hallucination" versus a "vision." I have them both and they are very distinguishable. When I hallucinate, there isn't a purpose behind them except to flash random sounds or visuals in my vision. However, with a vision, there is always a specific message to be heard. Usually the visions erupt out of a dream in progress. I have a regular dream and then it's from that regular dream where I feel like I open a door out of the dream, while asleep, and enter a whole other dimension where time is occurring just as equally as it is in earth time!!

Anyway, I'll wrap this one up. While watching this shamanic show, the Amazonian priest told of how the plants teach them what powers they have to heal. He uses a machete to make a small cut to a certain tree, and tastes the milk inside it's roots. He says that is how the plants give them insight into their healing properties for the Shaman must try all these medicines before giving them out to others. That is why a Shaman will not leave you alone during a hallucinogenic experience. They walk through the vision with you, every step of the way. That is when their experience with the vision realm comes into value -- to guide you in a realm that can often be disorienting if one isn't use to navigating in a non-earth realm.

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The Magic of Marijuana.

The sweetly scented, vapors of marijuana are billowing through the beaming sun, pouring through the cracks between the blinds. I stand in awe of its ethereal waves, drifting along with animation, as if it exploded from the tip of a shaman's wand; eventually sinking to saturate the mind and body with its magical spell. Blessed by its sweet elixir of mystical insight into the Divine Oneness, Pure Love and Higher Consciousness, I smile. Through meditation, I exude that energy out to all life or pure existence with the wish that it will be beneficial to those plugged into that wave length. Namaste.

~The Green Man has Spoken~

Sacred Sexuality.

Perhaps one of the biggest crimes in human history has been the imprisonment, control and demonization of sexuality by the world religions. As children of our great Mother Earth, we have been blessed with beautiful sexual organs but rather than celebrate and treasure them we have for too long shackled them from performing their magical powers. It's very tragic and sad that modern religions have strayed from seeing sexuality as a gift to be used to transcend consciousness and merge with the great ecstasy of the divine consciousness.

There are those who call it, "sex magick" because it has such a powerful ability to change states of mind. In times of depression, sexuality can lift one's spirit and consciousness to a healthier state of confidence and empowerment. In times of anxiety and stress it can be a spell that transforms that toxic energy into sexual energy, which is a healthier form of pent-up energy that can be released in powerful, torrents of orgasmic, sexual release. It leaves one's body relaxed, light, emotionally calm and full of loving joy. How could that not be a good thing, and something to celebrate from the rooftops of civilization!! Well, since not everyone is as enlightened about sexuality, I'll keep the celebrating to the blog.

Masturbation, for example, is a great way to feel better about yourself in a environment controlled by you that is a safe and fun way to get to explore your sexuality. It is tragic that we brainwash our children through religious fear to avoid touching their bodies and to see their sex organs as tools of the devil unless used properly. I was one of those kids. I was raised in a very strict, conservative household where masturbation was a sin and a sign of a bad child. So, I am on a mission to liberate masturbation from the closest of forbidden lusts; because one of the reasons masturbation is so beneficial to teens and adults is that it improves self-esteem.

One of the ways that masturbation can be transcendental is through orgasm control. In guys, (I'm focusing on guys simply because that's who I know best) this if often referred to as, "edging" which means building the sexual energy and enjoyment of your phallus to the "edge of orgasm" without cuming. It intensifies with each stroke of the hand as your ride just along the edge of sexual release; but just as important is backing off before you release your sacred seed too soon. This can be hard when you are in the moment but be patient and practice because once you can build your orgasm for an hour or so the explosion of pleasure is beyond this world. It'll be the hardest, longest and most ample orgasmic emission that you'll ever experience. The closest I have experienced this kind of transcendental pleasure outside sexuality is the drug ecstasy, which I think everyone who is of sound mind and body should try once in their lifetime--(just make sure you drink plenty of water if you do. But not too much--a tall glass of water every hour should do).

Anyway, for guys, be careful you don't edge to the point of blue balls because then you have over-shot the peak of spiritually orgasmic union with the ultimate Consciousness. Thus, the power you feel will be decreased. This is the Cosmic Consciousness referred to by all the great occultists. The Cosmic Consciousness is the idea that universe exists as a interconnected network of consciousness that permeates all things: us, animals, rocks, water, air, earth, fire, etc. This is best described I think from the Indra's net example. Indra's net is a cosmic metaphorical net that permeates the fabric of space and time; each node where the net connects together being a different consciousness/sentient being (us) or any other type of spacial, elemental and material form.

Therefore, if we can tap into the network more fully and experience the collective Cosmic Consciousness then we will get a glimpse of what it feels like to experience total transcendence of suffering. This is what I think is going on at the moment of orgasm. It is tapping into that vast network where a pleasure in one's mind-body is multiplied by accessing the collective energy of the net or grid. So, if we can engage in sexuality that is combined with a type of meditative centering and letting go of boundaries we can experience a near out of body orgasm that allows us to see the greater potential of the spirit--of the Cosmic consciousness. A spiritual orgasm, if you will.

Tapping into this grid through sexuality is, so powerful and explosive that it's like crossing a power-line with a metal rod--it sends electric pulses of power rushing through your body until near physical collapse. But, just like any spiritual tool, sex mustn't be viewed as the goal but rather a tool to access the ultimate goal of merging one's consciousness with the Cosmic Consciousness, so we are always at one and at peace with all things. This is a glimpse of one aspect to the "Great Work" that occultists like Aleister Crowley and those in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn taught/teach and spoke/speak of. It is our inheritance to be liberated through sexuality, so cherish it and practice, practice, practice!!

P.S. - I don't hear any masturbatory groans and moans, yet--so, get to it!! Ha!!

~The Green Man has Spoken~

Marijuana: The Miracle Drug. Part II

-THIS IS PART II OF A TWO PART SERIES ON MARIJUANA. READ PART I FIRST BY CLICKING ON THIS SENTENCE-

Some of the most amazing and enlightening spiritual and intellectual insights have come after having ingested marijuana. It allows for a freer exploration of ideas and consciousness that our minds can't easily do in these hectic times. It shouldn't be used simply to "tune out" though in certain circumstances such an escape from reality can be life saving. It's not just about ingesting the herb and getting high, however. It is seen by many to be a sacred plant deserving of special care. It's a 12,000 year old plant after all!! Don't just smoke, vape or otherwise ingest it without contemplating a bit upon the gift that it is offering you -- whether be medical, spiritual or even recreational. I like to really take it the smell of it before loading it into my vaporizer because even the smell is relaxing to me. I also often say a few words before using the plant to thank it for allowing me to use it to better my life. I firmly believe that we'd take better care of our environment if we saw plants and trees as being sacred. If you respect nature -- she will do the same for you. It's a give and take balance that must be adhered to or the whole circle of life on Earth will disintegrate as it appears to be doing now.

The following (as with everything about marijuana) isn't experienced by everybody: Marijuana expands the mind to engage our brain in ways that bring new insights into our lives. It melts away the filters that usually inhibit mind expanding thought. Answers to problems or questions often become clear and worries are seen in a new light that often makes me laugh at them instead of worry further. Laughter is very helpful in relieving stress and anxiety as well as helping the mind transition from overworking to relaxing and recovering. When I'm not sure where to go spiritually I often find it opens up new lines of sight to aid me in my journey. So is it any wonder then that it has been used by shamans and others for 12,000 years?

And to those who might oppose it or be sitting on the fence just look at how well prohibition worked for alcohol in the 1930s. It was a disaster and the prohibition of marijuana has been even more of a failure. You may not smoke it and you may not like it but what right do you have to tell me that I can't smoke it in the privacy of my own home? I shouldn't have to not smoke pot in my home because you have a religious or moral objection to pot in general.

Don't you think that is giving the federal government too much power over our lives? If freedom, and in particular personal liberties mean anything to us then we should have a right to smoke a plant that has been shown to be less of a problem for society, law enforcement, relationships and communities than alcohol AND tobacco. It's not even physically addictive!! Yes, it can be psychologically addictive but so can your Aunt Stella's Double Chocolate bunt cake. If you want to stop smoking pot you might be moody for a day or two (at the most) but no withdrawals, no shakes, no vomiting--nada. Plus, it's an all-purpose medicine for upset stomach, nausea (Pepto Bismol has nothing on pot when it comes to stomach pain) depression, rage (you don't hear about people smoking pot and then beating their wife like you do with alcohol) and migraines.

So please listen to reason and know that the taxation of marijuana could bring in billions of dollars to fund health programs for kids and adults. As well as pay for roads, transportation cost or anything that a state might need extra money for. Establish a ban on smoking it outside the confines of your property, establish a ban from smoking and driving but allow people the right to smoke a plant that (if you believe in a Creator) "God" put here in the first place!! Maybe he WANTS us to smoke it to help us relax knowing the stress that Earthly life would put on us!! You don't know for sure that "God" would be against smoking a natural plant, do you? Have you had a visitation from "Him?" If so, would you please notify the news because I'd like to hear what "He" said. But seriously, leave it up to the states if nothing else and if a majority of citizens vote to legalize it then wouldn't preventing that vote from being implemented be undemocratic and outright dictatorial? I think we all know the answer to that question.