The Path of the Shaman
Besides art, shamanism is the main passion in my life. What does it mean to be a shaman, or to practice shamanism? A shaman is one who is able to access information by entering into alternative states of consciousness. In these states he can see more deeply, and contact or be contacted by other entities such as animal allies and guardian spirits. He can find answers to questions while in these altered states.
In this painting (which is really just a sketch), I depict a shaman sitting with his rattles in hand in front of his mesa – the mesa is a medicine ground made up of objects that the shaman has collected in order to give him a connection to various power locations and assisting spirits that he has established. In the mesa shown, the side opposite the shaman contains row of staffs, which offer protection and vision to the shaman. Directly in front of him is a large stone, a Pachamama (Earth Mother) stone. Manifesting around him are his animal allies, Amaru (snake) in the lower left, Otorango (jaguar) in the upper right, and Apuchin (condor, or eagle) in the upper left
Why is shamanism so important? Shamanism provides a way to find solutions by turning inward. It is a holistic, Earth-honoring path, that has been practiced on this planet since humans first started to think on a higher level. Shamanism provides a way to become greater than what we currently are – to evolve to the next stage of our being. Right now the world needs just such a shift in consciousness in order to survive the global threats of our consumerist culture.
I practice the path of the shaman and the artist. I want my art to speak about the need to shift our awareness – to look inward to find the answers we seek. It IS possible to make great changes in our world and art can be a part of this change!
8-30-2011
Besides art, shamanism is the main passion in my life. What does it mean to be a shaman, or to practice shamanism? A shaman is one who is able to access information by entering into alternative states of consciousness. In these states he can see more deeply, and contact or be contacted by other entities such as animal allies and guardian spirits. He can find answers to questions while in these altered states.
In this painting (which is really just a sketch), I depict a shaman sitting with his rattles in hand in front of his mesa – the mesa is a medicine ground made up of objects that the shaman has collected in order to give him a connection to various power locations and assisting spirits that he has established. In the mesa shown, the side opposite the shaman contains row of staffs, which offer protection and vision to the shaman. Directly in front of him is a large stone, a Pachamama (Earth Mother) stone. Manifesting around him are his animal allies, Amaru (snake) in the lower left, Otorango (jaguar) in the upper right, and Apuchin (condor, or eagle) in the upper left
Why is shamanism so important? Shamanism provides a way to find solutions by turning inward. It is a holistic, Earth-honoring path, that has been practiced on this planet since humans first started to think on a higher level. Shamanism provides a way to become greater than what we currently are – to evolve to the next stage of our being. Right now the world needs just such a shift in consciousness in order to survive the global threats of our consumerist culture.
I practice the path of the shaman and the artist. I want my art to speak about the need to shift our awareness – to look inward to find the answers we seek. It IS possible to make great changes in our world and art can be a part of this change!
8-30-2011
