So I will be having about one ceremony a week...what else will I do with my time?
Mostly I will be remaining with this practice. This means that, aside from a public ceremony, I will be doing individual sessions with my shamanic practice. I will even work with the mask ceremony in private settings. This doesn't just pertain to other people. This includes you! Take advantage of the opportunity that I will be in your area for a period of time. Whether or not you attend a public ceremony. :)
For awhile I have been somewhat perplexed as to how I should go about letting people know I am in the area. I recently answered that question with a creative idea that allows me to do my individual practice and allow people to see what that is like. I won't be doing shamanic work in public, but I will be meditating and studying sutras. This I will do out in public with a sign that I am making. This sign says "hello! I am a traveling mask shaman/buddhist. Take a card or visit the websites below for more information." I am not sure if that is exactly what it is since the sign is in my car. The letters will be painted black with a red backdrop and a black border...or the other way around. I haven't decided yet. But I will have this sign set up where I will be meditating so that people will be able to check out what I am doing. This works really well with my situation since I am more likely to try and keep my practice a secret.
Aside from that, I will spend my time doing various things. I'm traveling, so of course I will do some site-seeing. I hope to hike/camp a lot since I love to spend time by myself. I've basically dreamt about visiting Maine for several years now. So I plan to take a week or so off and do some personal backpacking trips/country-driving. I will actually be spending a decent amount of time in that state.
I will be spending a few days supporting at a vision quest with a community I have been in for many years. Every year they go to both Sundance (in Mexico) and Moondance (in Maine) ceremonies. I will also be supporting the women during that latter dance. These are closed off to the public and you are allowed to come by the word of an Elder. In the case of the Moondance, the Elder is a woman.
I feel that it is very important that people know that this particular mask will be working a lot with women, the feminine, and the LGTBQ community. That is not to say that all of the lessons that will be coming through the spirit will revolve around those issues. That is difficult to say since you will each be coming with your own path and you will each be working with something that you need to see/relate to on your path. But if there can be a general theme allowed...this may be it.
This blogging is new to me, but the more I post the more things I am finding I want to say! Thank you for taking the time to read what I write.
Oh! I forgot to mention that I am also going to be practicing woodcarving and whittling while I am on the road. :)
Take care!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Chaos
Life this past week has been very chaotic to myself and my family.
For starters, my father rolled his truck on his way home from the airport. He totaled his vehicle and suffered some bruising/soreness from the accident. Other than that he seems to be ok.
If many of you readers out there are from West MI you are aware of the flooding that has been going on. This is also something that has affected me. This natural disaster has also taught me a good lesson. I knew that people were being displaced because of the flooding of their homes, but I didn't pay too much attention because I figured I was safe. Wrong! I have been forced out of my home for the past few days and am quite unsure when we will be able to return. I know that I am moving out soon anyways, but being forced out in a way where you don't have control is very difficult and defeating. I am thankful that I have wonderful people in my life who are willing to put me up and accommodate me. So many people have been forced from their homes and many have lost transportation. It is very sad and very hard for many people. I am slowly making trips to and from my apartment to collect my things for moving out. We have to have workers escort us to our apartment using flashlights. :(
So forgive me for not posting a whole lot since my last one. Things are coming along, but much more slowly.
In about one and a half weeks I will be flying out to California for my last session with the Harner foundation and the three year program. It takes place at a beautiful retreat center called IONS (Institute of Noetic Sciences.) This center was founded by Edgar Mitchell and contains a vast amount of exploratory disciplines/approaches to understanding consciousness/spirituality. I cried something fierce when I left the Harner two week intensive. So who knows what is going to happen this time around after being together for three years. There are many different ways in which you can see and get to know someone. Although I don't know many of these people on a day to day basis, I know them quite intimately though sacred space and working with spirit. I have seen how this work has transformed many of them throughout the three years (and some since my two week intensive.) The transformational power that comes through shamanic work is incredible. It can take a long time to understand though. It is very much like a sprouting seed. I believe that is an analogy used a lot when talking about growth.
In some upcoming posts I would like to say a few things about religion and spirituality. Mainly, I want to post several different definitions of each and talk about how what I am doing fits into certain categories and doesn't with others. When I grew up the people around me said that they don't talk about two things: Religion and Politics. I see and understand very clearly why they say that. Personally I don't talk about politics (only because my knowledge/experience is lacking in that area.) I like talking about religion, spirituality, and thought. In order to really open up two or more people to start communicating about their ways of understanding reality in terms of religion and spirituality, a good solid foundation can be immeasurable. Qualities such as patience, understanding, and insight come into play as well. Since many people aren't used to talking about topics such as these on a daily basis, it can take awhile to really bring out what they want to say and what they mean by that.
Stay tuned!
For starters, my father rolled his truck on his way home from the airport. He totaled his vehicle and suffered some bruising/soreness from the accident. Other than that he seems to be ok.
If many of you readers out there are from West MI you are aware of the flooding that has been going on. This is also something that has affected me. This natural disaster has also taught me a good lesson. I knew that people were being displaced because of the flooding of their homes, but I didn't pay too much attention because I figured I was safe. Wrong! I have been forced out of my home for the past few days and am quite unsure when we will be able to return. I know that I am moving out soon anyways, but being forced out in a way where you don't have control is very difficult and defeating. I am thankful that I have wonderful people in my life who are willing to put me up and accommodate me. So many people have been forced from their homes and many have lost transportation. It is very sad and very hard for many people. I am slowly making trips to and from my apartment to collect my things for moving out. We have to have workers escort us to our apartment using flashlights. :(
So forgive me for not posting a whole lot since my last one. Things are coming along, but much more slowly.
In about one and a half weeks I will be flying out to California for my last session with the Harner foundation and the three year program. It takes place at a beautiful retreat center called IONS (Institute of Noetic Sciences.) This center was founded by Edgar Mitchell and contains a vast amount of exploratory disciplines/approaches to understanding consciousness/spirituality. I cried something fierce when I left the Harner two week intensive. So who knows what is going to happen this time around after being together for three years. There are many different ways in which you can see and get to know someone. Although I don't know many of these people on a day to day basis, I know them quite intimately though sacred space and working with spirit. I have seen how this work has transformed many of them throughout the three years (and some since my two week intensive.) The transformational power that comes through shamanic work is incredible. It can take a long time to understand though. It is very much like a sprouting seed. I believe that is an analogy used a lot when talking about growth.
In some upcoming posts I would like to say a few things about religion and spirituality. Mainly, I want to post several different definitions of each and talk about how what I am doing fits into certain categories and doesn't with others. When I grew up the people around me said that they don't talk about two things: Religion and Politics. I see and understand very clearly why they say that. Personally I don't talk about politics (only because my knowledge/experience is lacking in that area.) I like talking about religion, spirituality, and thought. In order to really open up two or more people to start communicating about their ways of understanding reality in terms of religion and spirituality, a good solid foundation can be immeasurable. Qualities such as patience, understanding, and insight come into play as well. Since many people aren't used to talking about topics such as these on a daily basis, it can take awhile to really bring out what they want to say and what they mean by that.
Stay tuned!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Whew!
These past two weeks have been incredibly rewarding. Let's have a re-cap of what I anticipated the personal retreat to be like...
- Chanting Buddhist sutras
-The Heart Sutra
-Sandokai
- 3+ hours of Shikintaza - awareness practice
- 30-60 minutes calling in spirits
- 4+ hours of carving the mask.
- Communicating with potential communities along my route and continuing preparation for the trip.
- Studying Buddhist texts
Here is what it came out to be:
- Chanting Buddhist Sutras:
- The Heart Sutra
- Sandokai
- Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi
- Jukai (Bodhisattva Precepts)
- 2-4 hours of Shikintaza (missed a few days)
- 4-7 hours of mask carving + sign carving
- 30-60 minutes of calling in spirits (only when necessary)
- Communicating with potential communities along route (minimal)
- Studying Buddhist texts (minimal)
- Massive amounts of coffee ;)
All in all I was very busy! I spent the first two days down at the Sokukoji Buddhist Temple. Other than that, the only times I left were when I had a client and when I had to pick up materials.
So how is the mask coming along? I've finished carving it! Now all that is left is the paint and the finish. The mask has, as the foundation, a large piece of Zebra wood. On top of this are 5 masks. The central mask is made from Peruvian Walnut. The two on the top are made from Bloodwood. The two on the bottom are made from Ebony. I am not sure what paints will be used yet. I can tell you there will be a combination of both paint and wood seen when looking at the mask. It is carved both on the inside and outside. Glimpses have also come about as to how I will be working with this spirit during ceremony.
When working with spirits, it is necessary to be able to pay attention to where you are and how your approach to the work feels. It is like the three little...bears? I think that is the childhood story I am thinking of anyways. Too much power can act as a destructive force in your life. Too little can cause you to not move forward at all. You need the to find the balance that best allows you to use the power of the spirits as a motivating force to deepen one's understanding of reality.
If any of you have questions that you would like to ask, please feel free to get in touch. You can do so through email (jwa2008@gmail.com), facebook, or through my website (justinarndt.com). Since I am new to blogging and writing, please let me know what you think about my posts. Feedback is helpful!
The retreat ends tomorrow! Back to work I go ;)
- Chanting Buddhist sutras
-The Heart Sutra
-Sandokai
- 3+ hours of Shikintaza - awareness practice
- 30-60 minutes calling in spirits
- 4+ hours of carving the mask.
- Communicating with potential communities along my route and continuing preparation for the trip.
- Studying Buddhist texts
Here is what it came out to be:
- Chanting Buddhist Sutras:
- The Heart Sutra
- Sandokai
- Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi
- Jukai (Bodhisattva Precepts)
- 2-4 hours of Shikintaza (missed a few days)
- 4-7 hours of mask carving + sign carving
- 30-60 minutes of calling in spirits (only when necessary)
- Communicating with potential communities along route (minimal)
- Studying Buddhist texts (minimal)
- Massive amounts of coffee ;)
All in all I was very busy! I spent the first two days down at the Sokukoji Buddhist Temple. Other than that, the only times I left were when I had a client and when I had to pick up materials.
So how is the mask coming along? I've finished carving it! Now all that is left is the paint and the finish. The mask has, as the foundation, a large piece of Zebra wood. On top of this are 5 masks. The central mask is made from Peruvian Walnut. The two on the top are made from Bloodwood. The two on the bottom are made from Ebony. I am not sure what paints will be used yet. I can tell you there will be a combination of both paint and wood seen when looking at the mask. It is carved both on the inside and outside. Glimpses have also come about as to how I will be working with this spirit during ceremony.
When working with spirits, it is necessary to be able to pay attention to where you are and how your approach to the work feels. It is like the three little...bears? I think that is the childhood story I am thinking of anyways. Too much power can act as a destructive force in your life. Too little can cause you to not move forward at all. You need the to find the balance that best allows you to use the power of the spirits as a motivating force to deepen one's understanding of reality.
If any of you have questions that you would like to ask, please feel free to get in touch. You can do so through email (jwa2008@gmail.com), facebook, or through my website (justinarndt.com). Since I am new to blogging and writing, please let me know what you think about my posts. Feedback is helpful!
The retreat ends tomorrow! Back to work I go ;)
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