Dear Shamanic Community of Austin,
(Some insight from Bill the Storyteller)
When we call the Spirit of East at the beginning of our ceremony, it seems like such a nice direction, so harmlessly exciting. It’s the beginning of things, the dawn, the new.
So, what’s the problem? When we listen to East a bit longer, its softness disappears, and we realize it challenges us to be ready. It also reminds us, as the Sun comes up in the East each morning, whether we like it or not, that we’re not in control of the changes it brings.
The Spirit of East has not been domesticated. It’s still as fiercely independent as it was when it brought the Ice Age to our Ancestors, dawned on the Industrial Revolution, or broke over Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.
East brings change but doesn’t promise that navigating
it will be easy or quick. East doesn’t work for us.
So, when we call the Spirit of East, we need to be ready for a partnership. East brings the coming changes, and we meet them with its help. We answer East by standing ready to face what it ushers in. That means listening carefully to what it promises and being grateful for the strength it gives to rise and meet our future. East offers us a subtle power to ride the waves of change by learning flexibility, openness, and grace under pressure. It always comes with gifts, some delightful and some hard. Our relationship with East demands listening for its gifts of wisdom and receiving them with respect and gratitude. — Shamanic Community of Austin Leadership Team
Some suggestions for working with East
- Call East with as much openness to change as you can
- Think of East, not just at dawn, but during any change
- Ask East for help understanding what its changes will require
- Read history to learn how East has challenged our Ancestors
Learn More
We are partnering with The Shamanic Passages Institute to offer two virtual introductory courses especially designed for those new and relatively new to the shamanic journey. Council member Gerry Starnes, M.Ed., author and creator of the Institute, is offering a special 20% discount on two foundational courses. See the blog regarding Journey Courses For Beginners for more information.
The Shamanic Community of Austin website also has an educational library under the Resources page. You can find links to books by leading shamanic teachers and leaders.
The Leadership Council is working towards providing educational online videos for both new and continuing members to learn about our core values and mission. We are also looking to present our leadership team to the community through online videos to express each unique practice, expertise, and shamanic view.
Join the Shamanic Community of Austin Meetup site to keep up with all current event listings and to RSVP. We ask that you RSVP with integrity. A solid head-count before each event helps us better plan and better serve the entire community.
Please consider supporting the Shamanic Community of Austin through your contributions using PayPal or Venmo
We also would love to get your feedback! Please email us at contactus@shamaniccommunityaustin.com