Every day can’t be an initiation, and thank goodness for that
I had a friend ask me this question recently, and it’s common one for those who’ve been on a spiritual path for some time…
Remember how it feels to spiritually wake up? For some, it can be downright dramatic. The dreams, the epiphanies, the sheer relief that comes from a sense of purpose and direction!
Or for some, the initiation can be horrid. Illness, disruption and confusion. A sense of feeling lost and uncertain.
The Spirits bring us to spirituality when we are ready and when we need it. And they bring us to it in a way that will catch our attention and ground us in the journey.
If that means dramatic disruption, so be it. Dramatic revelations and joy? So be it. But one thing is for sure, those early days are always interesting, and for many, exhausting.
But once we come to terms with what the role our spiritualty will play in our lives, oftentimes, those Spirits will begin to step back. If we are now on our healing journeys, the Spirits have done their things and we are expected to take it from there. The Spirits come to us to get us on that journey, but then it’s up to us to continue it and to integrate what we learn from it. And if we’re doing a good job at it, the Spirits often will step back to give us the space to learn and heal in the best possible way – by living our lives.
Shamanism can be a lonely path, in more ways than one
But if we’re used to feeling that strong connection, it can now feel a bit lonely, and it’s not uncommon for us to questions if we’ve lost that connection altogether.
The answer is always the same: You are still as connected as you ever were. The Spirits are still watching over you and supporting you. Either you can feel that connection right now for a few good reason I’ll go over in a moment, or the Spirits are simply stepping back to say, “you’ve got this, and we’re here, but we’re gonna watch from over here, because we know you can do this yourself and that’s what you need.”
When I explained this to my friend, he was a bit, ‘meh’ about it. I got quite a bit of ‘yeah, I know but…’.
In his case, he had been closely connected and for a period of time (during his awakening) he was always in close conversation with his Spirit Guides. Now, according to him, he didn’t seem to have the focus to stay in meditation or shamanic journey to have those conversations. He missed them. He also needed more specific answers.
Three reasons why we don’t always connect easily
1. Medication takes priority
Antidepressants can make it harder to connect via shamanic journeys or mediation. Does that mean you should stop taking them? NO. Never stop taking medication in the name of spirituality. If you really need a reason, it’s time to rethink your priorities I’ll give you one: The Spirits show up when we need them, when we need that extra help and support to get us back on the right path where we can look after ourselves again. During dark times, they may be that voice that’s telling you to get yourself to the doctor’s or the therapist’s office. If you and a health professional decide that certain antidepressants make sense for you, then so they do, and the Spirits will be supportive of this. The Spirits are, without exception, supportive of healthy decisions – it’s the reason they show up.
I have been on anti-depressants, and I know first-hand that it can be tougher to connect, but I don’t think its’ the actual mediation that makes it hard.
My Spirits explained it to me that, while I was on the antidepressants, I was already healing, and I needed to channel my energy and focus into myself. There was a year or two where it was a test of faith, and there were times when I’d go through the motions; making an offering, giving thanks, etc. even though I didn’t really ‘feel’ the connection. But I continued because I believed that my guides were still with me even if I wasn’t feeling it in that moment.
I had faith that, if I were really messing things up and making bad choices, they’d be all over me like white on rice, so in a sense, no news was good news.
And by the way, I’ve worked with LOTS of students and peers who were on all sorts of medications for all sorts of ailments, both physical and mental, and had rich and active spiritual lives. Honestly, it’s not the meds; it’s the Spirits, and if they feel you need to focus on you…. well, I’ve yet to win an argument with them so good luck to you if you try.
2. You’ve got bigger fish to fry
This is similar to the above. If your Spirit Guides showed up because you needed a steer to get on the right path (which is pretty much the reason they ever show up), and now you’re on the right path and that path is a lot of work, they’re gonna sit back and let you focus your energy and attention on doing that healthy work.
Look, if you’re raising kids and working full time and preparing meals and cleaning your home every day, and somehow managing to stay healthy on top of all of that, it’s not a crime to have to no energy left over for shamanism! If you’re emptying yourself in the name of shamanism, or at the expense of any part of your life, of course those Spirits will step back, and be grateful for it.
I know I sounds like a broken record, but here it is again: Shamanism exists for healing. The Spirits do not show up to give you a cool experience or bestow the wisdom of the ages upon you or whatever; they show up to help you heal, to help your community heal, or to help you heal your community which is the same thing. If it takes too much out of you, it’s not healing you.
3. You’re not spending enough time with nature
God I love Toronto. I miss it. I miss how daisies grow on the side of the sidewalks in late summer. I miss the squirrels whipping acorns at me and denting my car, lol. I especially miss the racoons climbing up and down the rooves and those gorgeous, massive grandmother and grandfather trees on Belfair Avenue! And I miss the lake; I grieve our separation.
My point: It doesn’t matter how urban is your jungle; nature is all around us, provided we remember to acknowledge it and spend time with it. I will always advise anyone who lives in the city to head out to the closest forest or wild place. Make a point of it. Plant it out, save to rent a car. Do whatever you must do, once every few months, to get yourself out into nature.
And in the meantime, you can still find nature around you. City parks, ravines…. gosh, I remember I used to make offerings to the sad trees that grew in marble garden boxes outside Brookfield Place on my lunch breaks.
Shamanism is experiential. It can’t just be in your mind and your living room. At some point, you must get outside and greet the sun, the moon, the wind and the trees. This is what grounds our spiritual practice. We are of the earth, and so we must be of the earth and walk upon it. Honest to goodness you guys, get outside and sit under a tree or beside a river. It doesn’t matter how grey and concrete is your city. All that concrete is built upon Mother Earth, all ground is hallowed ground.
The Spirits are your oldest friends, trust them when they step back for a bit
You’ve got friends you hang out with every day and friends you don’t need to see every day, but you know they still love you. Your shamanic guides are the latter.
Even if they’re not front and centre in your life at all times, that friendship is still there. And over time, that friendship deepens, shifting from fun, and at times dramatic, to safe and dependable. It’s okay to go a year or two, cause you’ll always pick up where you left off. The root of that relationships runs through lifetimes, and all you need to do to keep it strong is… well… exist.
It doesn’t matter the mistakes you make or the bad choices, or if you’re doing everything right. Spirituality is that support that is there for you when you need it, and if your guides are quieter than you used to be, or even tough to access right now, it’s only because the Spirits have faith that you’ve totally got this.
And look, if you’ve read this far, then it’s fair to agree with them – you have totally got this.
If you’d like to read another article on the topic of the Spirits stepping back, here it is…
