The Sacred Space
The sacred space is the foundation of shamanic work. It opens the doors to other worlds and levels of perception. This allows us to travel through time. We can travel back and harmonize events from the past, the inner (lower) world; we can travel into the future, the upper world, to co-create with the healed version of ourselves and call our allies from the spirit world into the present, the middle world. We create the sacred space in a co-creation. Traditionally, many tribes work with the four cardinal directions, earth and sky. I myself now work with a complex, multi-layered network system that extends across multiple levels.
One of my wonderful teachers always used to say, if you want to know how good a shaman is, ask them who their allies are. The power with which a sacred space is created and maintained depends on the shaman's personal connection to the spirits from the spirit world who co-create this space with them. The spirit world doesn't stop at walls, masks, or protective barriers; it sees directly into the center of all events across space and time and quickly detects energies in the field that no longer serve you. There are many wonderful accessories available for opening a sacred space, such as agua de florida, rattles, drums, feathers, incense, and so on. However, we don't really need any of these. What we do need is our presence and the intention to open a sacred space. Sacred space is something that is constantly being cultivated, unfolded, grown, and flourished. Just as your relationships continue to unfold and deepen, so too does your sacred space and the possibilities it offers you.
In this post, I would like to inspire you to try out a simple model. It creates a pillar of light and an active channel between heaven and earth. In this practice, we connect with Mother Earth and Father Sky. Make sure you are undisturbed for about 20 minutes so that you can fully immerse yourself in the practice. Create a good atmosphere in the room you are in, open the windows, or go outside into nature. You can stand or sit; the important thing is that you are comfortable. Set the intention to open a sacred space. Breathe into your own center and center yourself. If you don't know how something works because you have never done it before, consciously set the intention and then release it, or let it flow through your breath, and be curious.
I keep hearing from people, "I can't do that! I tried it once, and it doesn't work." If you had given up on learning to walk or talk after a few attempts, you'd still be crawling and babbling today. Our practice isn't about doing something once and then being done with it; it's about immersing yourself in new connections that will change our lives profoundly and long-term.
Call your whole consciousness to you by speaking or thinking this intention and breathe yourself into your own center. Observe how you perceive the energy which then flows back to you. When you feel like you are there, set your new intention to open a sacred space between heaven and earth and with heaven and earth in order to enter into a deeper connection with the primal feminine and masculine power. Then send your breath into the earth with deep, long breaths and breathe the earth back to you. Let your breath circle from you to the earth and from the earth to you. Feel into it and observe where your breath flows. Does it flow to subterranean springs, to the rock deep in the center of the earth or perhaps to the magma inside a volcano? Observe what you perceive and let your breath continue to flow. Direct your attention to the quality of the energy flowing to you, what is the earth nourishing you with in this moment. Allow this energy to flow through your body and out again at the top of your head, at the crown chakra. When you feel like you're flowing well with the Earth's energy, open your heart and speak to her.
How can Mother Earth support you today? Ask her to protect this sacred space for your communication and to accept you as her student, to learn from her, to receive her wisdom directly from herself. Thank her for everything you are grateful for in this moment, in your life. When you feel that all the energy intended for today has flowed to you now and then, turn your attention towards the sky. Now use the same technique to connect with the great spirit. The Almighty has many names. Center yourself for a moment, set your intention and let your breath flow to the sky and back to you. Observe and be curious. Through our presence and attention we are already entering into a conversation with the other person. Everything that flows contains information, answers, gifts.
When you have finished your active conversation and energetic exchange with the great spirit, allow its energy to flow through your breath and into the earth. I breathe in, allowing the energy from heaven to flow into my center, and as I breathe out, I transport it from my center into the earth. And the same applies the other way around. Inhale, breathe the earth's energy into your center, and as I breathe out, it flows further into the sky. Finally, breathe like this for about 5 to 10 minutes as a thank you and in connection. In this moment, you serve as a bridge between heaven and earth, consciously supporting the flow of cosmic energies. Practice this exercise to your heart's content, and in doing so, strengthen and harmonize your connection to the primal masculine and feminine power.
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