This month Bill, the Circle Bard, shares insight into experiencing the Grace that comes to us from the West.
Shamanic Thinking: The Grace of West
“All things end,” the Spirit of West whispers to us in every Circle. Everything we know, value, or build will fade into history. West knows that endings are not punishments, just how things work. It tells us that chasing permanence is running after an illusion. When we give up that awful race, there’s a lot more energy for our work in the here and now. The gift of West is for us to see the present clearly because we see how it fits between the beginning and the end.
“Let go,” West also tells us. But sometimes the partings require more trust than we have at that moment. Another gift from West is giving us plenty of practice at letting go as we give up a pet, a job, a home, or a beloved. As we live, we practice letting go over and over, with as much grace and trust as we can. We’re never perfect at it, but West doesn’t teach perfection, just how to relax into each parting.
“It’s time,” West comes to tell us at the end, for we are part of everything and we fade too. It also comes with questions. “Why do you dread going to the Land of the Dead when so many of your beloved Ancestors have traveled there already? Won’t you be greeted with joy and companionship? Won’t they gather to listen to your stories of triumph and failure? Won’t they greet each story with understanding and acceptance, because they’ve lived the same struggles in their time? Won’t you all find your place in the Circle together?”
Suggestions:
– face West each day with as much quiet openness as you can
– see each moment in it’s place between the beginning and the end
– practice letting go with your body, then your mind, then your feelings, and then your spirit
– remember, there’s no shame in endings
The Shamanic Journey
Meditative journey work (also known as Shamanic journey work) can be a valuable tool for offering viable and meaningful help. This practice provides a pathway to connect with spiritual helpers and access wisdom beyond the physical world. Through these journeys, we can receive guidance, healing, and clarity to hold space for others during times of crisis. This practice empowers us to embody the compassionate witness, offering support and nurturing connection on both seen and unseen levels.
The Leadership Team for the Shamanic Community of Austin