Saturday, January 12, 2013

Shakti: Shaman


I am a conduit;
A bridge between Worlds:
Heaven and Earth
Spirit and Flesh
Time and Timelessness

My Consciousness shifts, opens
To the Wisdom of the Spirits
The Healing of the Plants
The Teachings of the Animals
The Portents of the Stars
The Whispers of the Cosmos

I am Protector
Advisor
Healer
Guide

Reading the Pulse
Of the Eternal Heartbeat
Leading my People to Dance
In Harmony with the Sacred Rhythm

...


In tribal cultures all over the world, since the dawn of human society, shamans have served as intermediaries between the human and spirit worlds.  Through many years of training and observation, they develop the wisdom to interpret omens and offer insight.  Through mystical, as well as practical means, they protect and guide their people.

Shamans commune with the Spirit Realm by altering their consciousness through ritual, dancing, chanting, meditating, and the use of sacred psychoactive plants.  In this altered state, they can access the dreamlike visions beyond the mundane world and communicate with beings that inhabit other planes of existence. This profound perspective offers them unique insight into the workings of the Universe, and allows them to guide their people to exist in harmony with the greater cosmos.

They are healers, teachers, counselors and ceremonial leaders, essential to the tribe’s wellbeing and communal identity.   

 This piece is a part of my Shakti Series.  It features a figure who is Human, Animal, Plant and Spirit.  She is marked with tattoos that grant her power and protection, and she cradles a Shaman’s Eye; a Native American symbol of wisdom and supernatural insight.

Prints of this image are available here.

No comments:

Post a Comment

We'd love to hear your feedback - please feel free to leave comments for us!