Wednesday, August 29, 2012

owls and following the shamanic process

David Weatherly - Shaman

I just re-listened (and transcribed) a section of the audio interview I did with David Weatherly. I am including it here because I thought it was relevant to the raven posting from August 22nd.

Here is a little preface to the noteworthy back-and-forth dialog we had on the recent podcast.

Since childhood, David has studied Shamanic and magical traditions with elders from numerous cultures including Tibet, Native America, Europe and Africa. During the interview he said he had had a Near Death Expedience in his youth, hearing that a bell went off in my head, and I blurted out, "Wait, are you a shaman?"

Without any hesitation, he answered: “Yes, I am.”

Barred Owl
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Here is a slightly edited excerpt from the audio interview:

Mike: So here's my final question, if I had to ask a shaman any question - this would be the question: What is the meaning of all the owls? I see a lot of owls, I mean, more than other people, and at prescient moments. And I don't think they are UFO screen memories, I think these are real owls.
David: So what you are saying is you do NOT feel like they are a screen memory. 
Mike: No, they are real owls. 
David: When you look at totem animals, you'll find slightly different interpretations depending on the cultural background, but you also find some commonalities. Now, the owl in a lot of north American mythologies is symbolic of death and all the things associated with that, lie the other-wold and the spirit world.
It's a very feminine energy, and it's often associated with people who have psychic or mediumship abilities. It's a night totem, so it's associated with the moon and lunar energy. I'm just talking in generalities, there are differences when you look at more western cultures.

What's your cultural heritage? 
Mike: My father was Scottish, both my grandparents on his side were born in Scotland. And the linage is Scottish as far as we can trace it back. My mother was born in Denmark, and all her ancestry, as far as anyone can figure out is all Danish. 
David: Oh, now that's cool. The owl in shamanic definition is pretty interesting. If you take the owl or the crow, you'll find very similar definitions and interpretations in America and in Europe. The same is true for other animals like the deer.
But the owl is curious, the interpretations are very different on the two continents. Things that are associated with it in North America are a bit more ominous. A lot of native American tribes think it's a bad omen if you see an owl, meaning someone is going to die.

Some of the native mythology, for instance in the south western tribes like the Apache have a whole owl-man monster that exists in their creation myth.

But if you go to Europe and look a the owl it's a bit more noble and it's often associated with the Goddess of wisdom, and it's more associated with the ability to be clairvoyant. And it's often symbolic of being aware of you surroundings. So I would say that with your background the owls would fall into that category for you.

Now you can take all these things that I've said and sit with it and derive your own interpretation with it. But I would certainly say that anytime you see one, you really need to pay attention on multiple levels.


Mike: (laughing) Sorry, I didn't mean to laugh.
David: And Pay attention to what's going on at moment when you spot it, what's happening that day. But also what's going on in your life at the time.
Mike: That's funny you siad that, because you said 'pay attention' and I was litterally getting ready to reply, and I had written down 'pay attention' on this peice of paper in front of me.
 David: (laughs)
Mike: So that's what I've come away with. I don't have a good answer, the only answer I do have is PAY ATTENTION.
Then, I go on to tell of a mystical experience (from 2009) of seeing five owls all at one time. I wrote about it HERE. After listening to my long-winded story, David replied.
David: Those kind of things make it very clear that this is a very defined and connected totem for you ... and that is what you need to look at and be conscious of in those moments. Chronicle those things because they are valuable, you'll see patterns emerge and you'll see greater levels of understanding develop from those experiences.
Mike: When you say chronicle them, that's interesting you say that, because I have been and it's been in the form of this blog. And I really take the blog seriously, it's not hidden away in a diary - I am publicly declaring it - and it gives them a different resonance ... It feels like I am doing an experiment, I have to take this seriously and I am trying to be as honest as I can be on this blog.

David: (Laughing) You are following the shamanic process. It's sort of akin to the shaman sitting down and telling the village stories.
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Part of the reason that I re-listened to this audio interview because I had clearly remembered him saying: "Sounds like a shamanic initiation" but my memory was wrong, what he actually said was: "You are following the shamanic process."
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13 comments:

Mike Clelland! said...

David and I had a back-and-forth exchange on facebook after I posted this essay (above):
_____________________________________

Mike
--------
I went and re-listened, and I was surprised I remembered something wrong. I thought you said my owl experiences were "a shamanic initiation" (and I just loved that, it just seemed resonate so well at a gut level) - but you didn't say that!

You said to me: "You are following the Shamanic process."

You weren't commenting on me seeing owls. You were commenting on ME BLOGGING ABOUT SEEING OWLS.


David
--------
LOL, I believe what you're remembering is what I said to you after we stopped recording. During taping, I didn't outright say you were going through a shamanic initiation because that's a very personal thing, didn't know if you would want it shared.

But essentially it's often the same thing. Following the shamanic process does by nature lead to initiatory experiences.


Mike
--------
Hmmm - I may have heard it after we stopped. But the timing of my memory matches the audio interview. I told a long-winded owl story and you replied with the comment. The thing is - the answer that all my that the owl sightings as A SHAMANIC INITIATION just felt exactly right!


David
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The important thing is the message you heard and how much it resonated with you.


Mike
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Well - The "incorrect" message (A SHAMANIC INITIATION) resonated absolutely perfectly at a soul level! I trust that means something...

Brizdaz (Darren) said...

Re:
" My mother was born in Denmark, and all her ancestry, as far as anyone can figure out is all Danish."

My mother wasn't born there,but all (or most) of her ancestry is Danish also.
My father's side is Jewish/German.

Brizdaz (Darren) said...

Mike,
You might find this bloke interesting;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJaMbi0N08s&feature=player_embedded

I met him in 2011 at the Byron Bay Writer's Festival and bought his book "Animal Dreaming".
He claims to be a shaman and is a bit of a TV celebrity over here.
Sort of a sedate Steve Irwin type.
I think his totem animal might just be owls,but I'm not real sure but looking at his shop and his website -

http://www.animaldreaming.com/

I'd say that is a pretty good bet.
I blogged about some syncs I had with his "Animal Dreaming"cards here at my blog -

http://brizdazz.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/scott-alexander-king-talks-about-animal.html

I don't know his views on aliens,but he does claim to be an Indigo child on his website -

"As an Indigo myself, I have been able to see animal spirits since a very early age (not 'dead' pets, but the inherent power of the animals that walk with us: the power that was once incorporated into tribal lore and labelled as 'totem' energy).
Although born in Australia, my understanding of the animals is not limited to just our culture or land. (See also Feral Animals). I seem to have an inherent understanding of all animals - no matter which continent they live on "

I liked his book and this guy is very sincere.I don't know what his animal readings are like though.
Maybe one day I will get one off him,if I feel the compulsion.

Red Pill Junkie said...

I don't have the slightest idea where my ancestry comes from, although I've entertained the idea that my mother's family are of Jewish origin, forced to convert to Christianity during the great Purge that followed the expulsion of the Moors in Spain —it's just a hint, though.

In any case, owls are the perfect symbol of increased awareness, and enhanced perception. And even though they are predatory in nature, they feed on vermin which can destroy crops, so the negativity is countered, and transformed into a force of good.

So, if you feel you're on the Shamanic path, the question arises: are you planning on dabbling with entheogens at some point in your journey?

Brizdaz (Darren) said...

@RPJ
Re:
"So, if you feel you're on the Shamanic path, the question arises: are you planning on dabbling with entheogens at some point in your journey?"

I know that question is posed more at Mike than towards myself,but last night I found out that Graham Hancock and Dennis McKenna are doing a talk in Brisbane;

http://www.entheo.net/news/hancock_mckenna_2012_origins_consciousness_tour

http://tickets.entheo.net/product/origins_consciousness_conference_%E2%80%93_brisbane_presale

DATE: Thursday 18th October
LOCATION: Tribal Theatre Brisbane
TIME: 6.30pm - 11.30pm
Entheogenesis Australis & Lost Tribes present:
The 2012 Origins of Consciousness Tour:
An Exploration into Psychedelics, Spirituality & Ancient Civilizations
with Graham Hancock, Dennis McKenna, Mitch Schultz & more.

which I have just bought a ticket to,and the venue that they are going to do the talk at of all places is the Tribal Theatre,which I have featured in two of my blogs here;

http://brizdazz.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/animal-dreaming.html

and here;

http://brizdazz.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/iron-sky-sync.html

...so I'm already tripping out on reality.-)
What's the bet the talk ends at 11:11 and not 11:30PM ?-)

Brizdaz (Darren) said...

Here's a talk that you might find interesting Mike,between guys from "The SYNC Book" -Alan Abbadessa Green,Andras Jones (Nightmare on Elm Street 4) and Co.

http://audiocreatures.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/always-record-episode-16.html

Your talks are like sprint racing compared to this marathon,but you get a mention about half way through the talk,along with UFOs and a lot of other stuff that I'm sure that you'll find interesting...and some that you won't as well,I suppose.

Red Pill Junkie said...

Darren, my mate Rick is going to that talk! You should totally try to seek him out.

Just shout that you're looking for Neva's human, and he'll get it :P

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike,
As part of the shamanic process...I'm wondering if you have participated in a drum journey...either solo or in a group? You might check out Tom Cowan's book(s). His introductory book on shamanism is great and describes very well drum journeys to the lower and upper worlds. Like you, I have never felt that meditation worked so well. I'm a bit restless and have found that the active use of imagination in the drum journey is a powerful powerful tool for me to enter a similar altered state. Also, Tom Cowan is of Celtic ancestry, so some of his books have that focus.

So, I'll just throw this out there, but it keeps coming to me, the next time you see an owl, feel out the situation a bit, ask permition from the owl and if he/she has any wisdom for you, and if you feel yes, then gaze into it's eye's. See what happens...how you feel...share and merge with this spirit. Give thanks.
I, again, thank you so much for your honest and open sharing here.
Blessing!
Vic

Brizdaz (Darren) said...

@RPJ
Re:
"Darren, my mate Rick is going to that talk!"

Reading his blog it seems to me he lives in Melbourne.I live in Brisbane,so maybe he is going to the Melbourne talk.There are three talks.One in Brisbane,one in Melbourne and one in Sydney.
I'm only going to the Brisbane one.

Red Pill Junkie said...

Oh. :-/

Mike Clelland! said...

Here is a note I sent to David Weatherly a couple of days ago:
_____________________________________

David,

I was just listening to your interview with Mel Fabregas. And I was typing out an essay as I was listening.

Do you ever have that thing happen where you are typing and the exact same word is being spoken on the radio (or podcast)? They both coincide, you know what I mean?

Well, it happened three times in just a few minutes.

The three words were:

quantum - community - experiment

That's pretty good! It reads like an existential koan.

Peace,
Mike C!

Mike Clelland! said...

Here is a note I sent to David Weatherly a couple of days ago:
_____________________________________

David,

I was just listening to your interview with Mel Fabregas. And I was typing out an essay as I was listening.

Do you ever have that thing happen where you are typing and the exact same word is being spoken on the radio (or podcast)? They both coincide, you know what I mean?

Well, it happened three times in just a few minutes.

The three words were:

quantum - community - experiment

That's pretty good! It reads like an existential koan.

Peace,
Mike C!

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