ShamanTalk (Rhonda McCrimmon )

The Aminal Spirit for July is Otter Spirit:

“You are never alone”

Like true friends, otters nurture each other and express their affection through touch.

Otter Spirit has appeared to remind you to experience and express friendships and relationships in a tangible way.

In order to be an effective shamanic person, it takes focus.

My question to you is – what are you focusing on? Where is your mind?

I’m going to help you re-focus and re-frame these key points:

1. Am I doing it right?
2. Why am I not having the same experiences as everyone else?
3. I can’t connect to my guides
4. I can’t connect at all

Activities & Journeys

1. Automatic Writing (Don’t panic! It’s way easier than you think!)

Open your sacred space and call in your Guides. Then play some soft music (https://open.spotify.com/track/33jxb7ono4gGYdOclgevtk?si=Pao_023vRU2_D1CX7ieTpA)

Write down the things that come to you that you feel need to be reframed.

Then take some deep breaths and begin to just write.

Don’t think, just allow the flow of the words.

When you’re complete – pull together an action list and commit to re-framing what you’ve been focusing on.

1. The Ancestors Dance

Prepare yourself as you would for a ‘normal’ Shamanic Journey. Call in the Ancestors and really take the time to feel your connection with them and also the Land where you are.

Hold the intention that you wish to deepen your connection and you are open to whatever that means for you in this moment.

Choose some fast-paced music or use these songs:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0liM2WWVBLb9ifpWpobTf9?si=cTdKEe89QVu3DU2AqJhnOQ

https://open.spotify.com/track/1e2VBfN7oVSy2wHnaEoygs?si=zXKptLscQi2_xb60aQuMTw

Then let your self go and dance with the Ancestors!

Come back, ground and complete as normal.

Write down your experiences and maybe share in the Facebook Group here >>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/Shamantalk

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

This month of April we're going to be working with Owl Medicine.

Don't worry if you're listening to this after April. These podcasts are relevant no matter when you listen.

The Owl sees clearly in the dark and moves silently through the air. There is a mysterious quality to Owl. The medicine of Owl will be our guiding principal through the month of April.

This weeks episode is all about learning to trust your instincts.

Direct Revelation & the fear of getting it wrong:

...Are you scared you’re not doing it right?

...Worried your interpretation of your messages can’t be right?

...Or are you thinking 'Am I just making this up in my head?'

In this episode, I talk about some basic worries that my students have… and I had them too! You’re not alone

Here’s the thing...

Shamanism removes the middleman.

But in our culture, we’re so used to the middleman or woman! The Guru, The Priest, The Expert, The Knowledgeable Friend…. Whoever it is… we are taught to give our power away and in the process, we lose confidence with our own intuition. And intuition, when connected with and used well, is one of our greatest allies.

In this episode, I’ll talk about

• What is Direct Revelation & how do we work with it?
• Why we should stop worrying about getting it wrong
• The Joy of working with principles rather than a rule book

Your Intentions for this week:

1. Go on a journey with your guides to the Middle World and ask to be shown a simple act that will help you see more clearly in your life. Then TAKE ACTION
2. For 7 days, keep a journal or short note of each time you worry about getting something wrong. At the end of the 7 days, go on a journey with your Guides and ask to be shown a ceremony that will release you and give you freedom from your fears. Read the Ceremony Guides to support you with this.

An example may be a Fire Ceremony where you sing to the Fire, call in the Ancestors and burn the Journal you have written while asking the Ancestors to transmute your fears to light.

Head over to the show notes for this week's downloads

Do you remember episode 79? We talked about Funk Days…. Well, the opposite of a funk day can also be true!

This week we’ll explore the other end of the spectrum – what to do if you experience high spiritual energy.

There are times when I am so full of spiritual energy, I don’t quite know what to do with myself! I’ll feel a rush and a buzz – I’ll want to do everything and will start a tonne of projects – only to lose that energy and end up feeling flat and lethargic - in other words, I'm in a state of burn out.

In this episode, I'll be teaching you how to effectively channel that energy you feel so you can avoid spiritual burn out. 

Yes you heard that right!! Not the normal convo around Ego I realise…. in this enlightening episode, we dive deep into the concept of the ego - not as something to be subdued or overcome, but as a vital part of your identity that deserves to be developed and cherished. We challenge the conventional spiritual narrative that often urges ego dissolution and instead propose a revolutionary approach: building and balancing the ego, particularly for women. Why should women focus on bolstering their ego? Historically and culturally, women have been conditioned to be nurturing, self-effacing, and accommodating, often at the expense of their own identity and power. This podcast aims to shake up this narrative. We explore how, unlike the overinflated egos that men are often encouraged to develop, many women need to strengthen their sense of self to achieve true empowerment and spiritual fulfillment. One of my favourite episodes of the season so far! Please RATE & SUBSCRIBE if you enjoy ShamanTalk 🧡

Great question from a friend of mine who is new to his shamanic path 🦋

This week we'll dive into why it's not OK to use your spiritual gifts on others without their consent. Ever. 

Dolphin Spirit “This and that are true” Dolphin Spirit is a reminder of duality. As the Dolphin is both a mammal and a sea creature, so too is Dolphin Spirit both “this” and “that”. Two truths co-exist, the story you tell and another as well. The duality of life is present when we are suffering, for there is a blessing too, in the helpers that appear. I often get asked the question, how can I make/help my family understand my spiritual path. That’s an easy thing to answer and a hard thing to do! My answer is always, concentrate on your own path without attachment and you’ll be surprised what unfolds in your life. This week I’ve invited my husband Scott to the podcast to discuss the difficulties we had when I first started on my shamanic path. When I was doing my training Scott was doing a PhD in plant sciences. Yes. A scientist and a Shaman. It was a strange and sometimes difficult time for Scott. We laugh about all the times during my training when I was saying ‘you should do this’ or ‘You should try that’ and how he thought I was a bit crazy What a time we had trying to shoehorn each other into our own version of reality leading to disharmony and conflict. We dive deep into both our processes and share candidly in the hope that it will inspire anyone else having similar problems. Many of you will know that Scott is currently on a Shamanic training and I also invite him to talk about his map with this work. This shows just how different we both are and how that’s OK! I hope you enjoy this open, honest dialogue as much as we did. Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you. You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

This month of April we're going to be working with Owl Medicine. Don't worry if you're listening to this after April. These podcasts are relevant no matter when you listen. The Owl sees clearly in the dark and moves silently through the air. There is a mysterious quality to Owl. The medicine of Owl will be our guiding principal through the month of April. This episode is the beginning of Owl month and will look at negative thoughts and the Body Protector. In order to see clearly, we must work with our blocks – and often our habitual negative thoughts. We must be brave with this work and be willing to see our own faults. To be able to see what is normally hidden to us. But Owl medicine will help us to identify and release our negative thought patterns. This is hard but I know you can do it! In these times of flux, it’s important to pay attention to what we are thinking, how we are feeling and where we send those thoughts and feelings. In this episode, I talk about >>> Becoming aware of energetic acts of violence >>> How to spot a dense energetic situation and takes steps to avoid being affected >>> Ways to work with your own thoughts and process your negative thoughts safely >>> Breaking the Habit of Negative thought patterns The recommended Journey for this week is: Go on a Journey with your Guides and ask to meet your Body Protector. Ask to be shown how your Body Protector will support you and keep you safe. If you already work with a Body Protector, please ask to be shown how your relationship with this guide can be strengthened. Ask to be shown any chinks in your armour and how you can work with those moments more effectively. If you need a little more information on the body protector you can download the guide here. Don't know how to Journey? No worries. I got you. You can access my free live Introduction to Shamanism Workshop here.

In this last episode of the Drama Triangle series, we take a deep dive into the Persecutor archetype.  This is the archetype that most people find challenging, especially when called to look at their own role within this archetype.  So take a deep breath and jump on in :) 

Self-Blame: The Ultimate Emotional Abuse Last week I talked about Blame and got really into the nitty-gritty of that. I was speaking to a group of my students and they brought up the idea of Self-Blame. I also had some emails about that as well. So last week talking about Blame we focussed on blaming external people, thigs and situations for our woes. This week we will hone in on Self-Blame. I talk about the manifestations of self-blame so that we can start to pinpoint and categorise our issues. We can also know that we’re not alone and that we absolutely can overcome these issues we face We’ll examine >>>What is Self-Blame? >>>Some possible origins of self-blame >>>Six ways how self-blame manifests itself in a person’s life. Toxic Self Criticism Black & White Thinking Chronic Self-Doubt Poor Self-Care or Self-Harm Unsatisfying Relationships Chronic Shame, Guilt & Anxiety And I share how to work with your Inner Child & the ancient Hawaiian art of Ho’PonoPono. This week’s Ceremony This week we will work with Self-Healing through the Ancient Art of Ho’ponopono. We are specifically going to concentrate on our Inner Child. These are the steps. Find some gentle music you can play. Here’s a link to one I use: https://open.spotify.com/track/6YtsJUCBB41QSllt3bNSn4?si=wcwPhU5aRY6a7wq697XiLQ You can repeat this music for a longer experience. I recommend at least 10 mins and as much as 30 minutes if that feels right for you. You can also build up to this over time. Set your Sacred Space. If you’re not sure what this means check out my free Introduction to Shamanism training here  Start playing your music using the repeat function to ensure you can go as long as you wish without being disturbed. Take some deep breaths and feel yourself landing in your space. Connect with your Guides (join the training to find out how to do that) and commit to leaving your Daily Cares at the door. You don’t need those, and they’ll be there when you get back. Ask your Guides to connect you with your Inner child. Where do you feel that in your body? How do you feel? Notice the feelings that arise – you may be uncomfortable, emotional or feel resistance to the work. That is all OK. Just observe, don’t worry about doing it ‘wrong’ and trust the divine holding of the Universe. When you feel connected (or even if you don’t or are not sure)- then begin to repeat these words: I’m Sorry Please Forgive Me Thank You I Love You Really feel the words resonate through your body as if you were talking to your Inner child. You don’t need to know the details, just allow the magic of the words to flow through you. Continue with this process until you feel a sense of completion. I recommend a minimum of 5 minutes but ideally 10 minutes or more. Complete your Ceremony by closing your Space, giving Gratitude and go outside into Nature. Get your feet on the ground if you can (or open a window) and allow Nature to ground you and bring you back to centre. You can repeat this ceremony as many times as you feel drawn to and can apply it to many areas of your life. Report back in the ShamanTalk Facebook Group – sacred sharing is an important part of the process! Also, my slip of the tongue, check out Episode 16 Recapitulation if you haven’t already.

My sister suggested I tell a couple of stories - so here are a couple of daft things I’ve (nearly) done over the years!

Empaths are highly sensitive individuals who have a keen ability to sense what people around them are thinking and feeling. We usually use the term "empath" to describe a person who experiences a great deal of empathy, often to the point of taking on others' pain at their own expense.

This episode takes another look at the difference between enslaved and empowered empaths, and what you can do about it if you are enslaved or 'at the mercy' of your gifts (i.e taking on unwanted energy). 

"Forgiveness isn’t about pardoning others’ actions; it’s about letting yourself off the emotional hook." In this week's episode, we're taking a deep dive into forgiveness & how it can lead us down the path of physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. It's a tricky subject, and as usual, I'll be giving you tips, tricks and journey ideas so help you to better embrace forgiveness in your life (even when all you want to do is punch someone in the face...)

In this podcast I discuss burning questions that I often get asked at the Centre for Shamanism. ⁣ ⁣

What is your potential? Why are you unfulfilled? What are the stories we tell ourselves?⁣ ⁣

Keys points I cover:

>>>What is potential?

>>>How can I re-frame what this means for me?

>>>Keys tips and activities to support a shift

>>>Changing our Perception and examining the stories we tell ourselves.

>>>Shamanic Journey ideas to support this process.

Links mentioned in this episode

Listen to Episode 16 | Recapitulation⁣

Recapitulation how to: FREE download

Introduction to Shamanism online course ⁣ ⁣

Online Learning Centre

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast! I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those.

Now if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. I’d love to know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

I had originally planned to release a different episode this week, but after checking in with my guides I’ve decided to do a podcast centred around self care and relief from stress and anxiety in these unprecedented times.

​

We’re worried about family, especially vulnerable relatives, school and work closures, income issues, food supply…. It’s a lot!

​

I’ve spoken to Wendy Dooner of The Dundee Herbal Clinic to find out what are some easy and quick things we can do to lower our stress levels and reduce the effects of stress on our immune systems. She has kindly agreed to provide you with a free guide to lowering stress levels and a free guide on getting better sleep which is crucial for the health of our immune systems. ​

​In this week’s episode I also talk about different ways and journey ideas that we can use to work with our spiritual team during these times, especially if you are in self isolation. Here are a few of the things I talk about:

​

Journey Work Ideas:

​

• Ask your guides to show you what would be the best use of your time if we are home for an extended period

​

• Ask your Guides to show you how you can support your communities at this time.

​

• Ask your Guides to take your anxiety and fear and transmute it to love and light

​

• Working with our nature indoors. Working with the power of nature to relax and support us is key and it’s super easy to do this work indoors. If you have houseplants then perhaps do a merging journey with your plants

​

• You can also work with your Body Protector to protect yourselves from the energy of fear that is very present in society.

​

• If you are still able to get out in nature you can merge with the spirits of trees and ask for help in feeling calm and grounded

​

Stay safe, look out for your neighbours, wash your hands! By staying out of the drama and panic you’re avoiding sending those vibes out into an already panicking world, you’re protecting your immune system and you’re doing your small part for positivity in these times!

You can access all of this weeks FREE downloads here.

​

I firmly believe that the key to a healthy, happy and emotionally free life is undertaking deep personal work i.e. bravely facing your Shadow and working through your issues (with the help of your spiritual team). 

Shamanism is a wonderful tool that enables us to do this but all too often in the spiritual realms we actually use spiritual practices as avoidance techniques. Using Spiritual ideas as a way to avoid personal work is called 'Spiritual Bypassing'. 

Spiritual bypassing is defined as “using spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep personal, emotional ‘unfinished business,’ to shore up a shaky sense of self, or to belittle basic needs, feelings, and developmental tasks.”

In this episode, I'll be showing you how to recognise and avoid these techniques so you can stay on track with real personal work and not get sidetracked by "shiny spiritual objects'. 

A bit about individual connection.

I put a post in the Facebook group this week asking you listeners what your main worries are when it comes to practising Shamanism.

As always, you provided me with some great responses, some that I’ve heard before and some that I’ve not personally experienced.

Some of your worries were:

• Not having confidence in your abilities.
• Attracting other peoples pain.
• Making it all up in your head.
• Cultural appropriation.
• Getting lost and led astray in your journeys.
• Interpreting journeys and messages.
• What is ethical and safe?
• Getting it ‘wrong’.
• There seem to be so many rules to follow and people telling you what’s right and what’s not.
• How to get started in the first place.

In this episode, I’ll be covering all these worries and how to overcome them. 

Links mentioned

The Apprenticeship

Ep 47 – Enslaved Empath vs Empowered Empath

Ep 52 | Stepping Out of Saviour Mode

Ep 22. Key tips for Interpreting your Shamanic Journeys effectively

How to effectively Interpret your Shamanic Journeys Workshop.

Getting started with Shamanism – Free offerings from The Centre for Shamanism

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

Shamanism as a life path

Have you ever felt completely drained, depleted, and exhausted around a particular person, for no apparent reason?

If so, you may have come across an energy vampire.

And they’re more common than you think.

It’s vital that you learn how to “draw the line” and set boundaries around these types of people. Without learning how to identify the different types of energy vampires in your life, it can be difficult for you to practice self-nurturing and assertiveness.

Here are the six main energy vampire types out there:

1. The Victim or Martyr Vampire
2. The Narcissist Vampire
3. The Control Vampire
4. The Over Dramatic Vampire
5. The Condemnatory Vampire
6. The Innocent Vampire

Energy vampires tend to take more than give. They use others for their own means without really considering how the other person is feeling.

Energetic Boundaries are essential in protecting yourself from the negative effects of energy vampires.

Activities & Journeys

1. Use visualisation techniques to protect yourself.

Soap Bubble

Light Bubble

Tree

Wings

Anything that makes you feel engulfed and safe

You can use your imagination, or you can journey and ask to be shown a suitable protective shield

1. Journey and ask to be shown the effect that lack of boundaries has on your energetic field

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly online introduction to Shamanism training here.

The Ego has a bad rap — it has become the villain of self-help.

According to psychologists, if we don’t have an ego, we would become mentally ill. We need it to mediate between the unconscious and the conscious. Your relationship with your Ego can turn into either an enemy or an ally.

In other words, your Ego is not you, but we often completely identify with our Ego as Self. 

Ego is a structure built of a lifetime of experience, disappointment, pain, love, excitement and connection – whatever we experienced in our childhoods, both good and bad.

Our Ego is a curious beast — most of us don’t realize its existence, yet we are under its mercy.

So, this week we explore how to explore Ego gently and to shift it to its rightful place as part of our Being rather than the illusion that it is the whole of our Being.

A technique to overcome those difficult memories that hold us back. I LOVE this technique and I love that it’s fast, easy and highly effective!

Space has power. It either resonates with you, or it doesn’t. Like everything in life, the spaces around us are imbued with energy. Space supports and empowers you, or it undermines and drains your energy. In other words, if the energy of a place supports the idea of sacredness, the person in that room will find it much easier to resonate with their own sacredness. It is easy to see why creating your own sacred space is essential. Sacred spaces make us feel comfortable, welcomed, supported and loved. Sacred spaces are also vital containers of positive intention and action. In this podcast, we will establish a regular spiritual practice and create your own sacred altar space. The benefits of creating an altar include: Having a physical expression of your commitment, personal goal or desire Having a symbolic collection/meeting place of tools to enhance your spiritual practice Enjoying a sacred space dedicated to your work Making your deepest spiritual needs a physical part of your life Gaining a spiritual centre in your life that you can work with every day Having a source of positive energy that fills your home Feeling a sense of empowerment through creativity & connection Step 1. Choose a place that feels right but try not to overthink it! If you have the option for a quiet place to dedicate to your altar space, then fantastic! Many of us don’t have that option. For years, my altar was in my bedroom in a small corner. My husband and daughter were always very respectful when I was sitting at my altar space. Step 2. Cleanse the space. In all the usual ways, sounds, smoke, intention or with light (such as a candle) Step 3. Begin to gather objects that are meaningful to you. Here are some things people tend to include on their altars: – Objects that represent your spirit guides – Objects that represent a spiritual teacher – Objects that reflect yin/yang, light/dark, masculine/feminine – Objects that represent the body, mind, heart, soul, and spirit – Objects that represent the elements of fire, water, earth, & air – Objects that represent qualities that one most wishes to embody (e.g. freedom, love) – Objects that represent your inner child – Objects that represent the cycle of life, death, and transformation – Objects that amplify energy (e.g. your sacred objects) – Any other objects that are inspiring, powerful or helpful Here is a list you may find helpful: – candles – statues – feathers – stones – crystals – decorative stands – inspiring quotes – a journal – written notes – prayer books – rosary beads – skulls or bones – alive plants – water – shells – flower petals – symbols – sand – salt – photos – oracle or tarot cards – pebbles – essential oils You can include on your altar anything you wish. Just make sure you design it the way you would like it, not how you think it should look or that other people tell you is correct. Step 4. Arrange your altar. Once you have found your sacred space, cleansed it, and got an idea of what objects to include, you’ll need to arrange your altar. You are free to arrange your altar in any way you wish. I set my altar up using the four sacred directions, in the form of a Medicine Wheel. I use a compass and ensure my North faces directionally North etc. You can set your alter however you feel drawn to. Perhaps you can journey to the Spirit of your Altar and ask for guidance, as suggested in the Journeys section below. Step 5. Maintain your altar Keeping an altar clean and tidy is essential for me: it shows respect for your practice. After all, it is supposed to be your sacred space. Do this as regularly as you feel necessary. Your altar doesn’t need to stay the same! I change mine regularly. You are free to change it, adjust it, add to it, or take away from it whenever you choose. As your inner work develops, you might find that certain items on your altar a

The purpose of looking to the past is to not wallow in it, but rather to integrate it so that we can wholeheartedly embrace where we want to go in the future. Integrating the past is about deeply acknowledging what was and taking with us any wisdom arising from our experiences. All of us have had difficult or painful experiences in our lives, and some of us more than others. Having the courage to look at these experiences and say “that was very difficult for me” is the starting point for integrating the past. And, by acknowledging the past we allow it to stay in its rightful place ― the past, so that we may move on. Unwillingness to work through and integrate difficult experiences can often result in what is unresolved resurfacing in the future. But what is also important is to remember that our past is part of us and has helped shape us. Integrating our skills and lessons is also important. Do not discard your past learnings because you feel different or know differently. Everything we learn has value. Initially, I felt my years in accountancy were wasted. But I’ve gained so much experience, knowledge of people, knowledge of the struggles of corporate women, understanding of how to run a business. That has brought amazing value to my life now that I’ve embraced what I want to keep and released what I’m done with. I think it’s so important to shed the old stories that don’t serve us but hold onto our skills and knowledge. Those are always supportive for us in some way! I heard a lot about transferrable skills in my corporate life! Remember, Shamanism can be thought of in terms of ‘as well as’ rather than ‘instead of’.  If we can weave it into our lives, it will inform and enhance all our endeavours. Journeys for this week 1.     It’s important to weave shamanism into our lives. Go on a Journey with your Guides to the Middle Realm and ask to be shown the difference energetically when you merge your worlds and what it looks like when you don’t. 2.     Ask your Guides to take you on a healing journey to the Upper Worlds to give you something that will support you to integrate all parts of your life in a seamless flow.

In this podcast, Scott and I share the experience of our holiday in the wilds of Scotland. The experience for us was deeply ceremonial in many ways and it got me thinking…

What does Ceremony mean to me?

What I know to be true for me is that life is a Ceremony, those sacred conversations that open a doorway, the spontaneous Ceremony that can just appear for us as well as the thoughtful and laid out more ‘obvious’ Ceremonies we perform as shamanic people.

So, Scott and I invite you to join us on an exploration of our Ceremonial experiences and some funny moments too!

Activities & Journeys

1. For anyone who would like to start to connect with Ceremony, here is a free PDF with a step by step Guide. The Guide is a great way to begin working with Ceremony.
   
2. Working with spontaneous Ceremony.

Be open this week to moments of Ceremony that happen spontaneously. Some examples are:

• A conversation that helps you connect the dots somehow
• A moment of peace from something in your landscape
• A moment of joy that you wish could go on forever
• Something in the air that speaks to you
• A difficult or uncomfortable moment that you lean into and learn from

And when you catch a moment, allow the feeling of connection to source to flood your body. Allow the flow of the moment to fill you up.

Though a ceremony needs a form, and often forms that are repeated over time gain power, you will find that a spirit of spontaneity and playfulness is so welcome in your ceremonial life. Maybe you will be moved to dance or drum or sing to celebrate these moments.

Make notes and think about that moment.

1. What did you learn?
2. What healing did you receive?
3. How will you take this forward into your life?

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

How do you know what your boundaries are?

Not everyone does.

You might not have many boundaries or confuse what your real boundaries are with what others expect of you.

Boundaries are not about right or wrong.

Your personal healthy boundaries are based on your own value system and perspective and might be totally different than someone else’s.

This also means that you don’t have to explain or defend your boundaries.

You just need to set them.

In this episode, I talk you through 12 signs that you may have boundary issues, and you might be surprised!

Boundary issues manifest in many ways – this podcast will help you to understand those that are relevant to you more clearly.

Personal boundaries are the limits you decide work for you on how people can treat you, how they can behave around you, and what they can expect from you.

If you don’t set healthy boundaries, you are likely to constantly be at the mercy of others.

This means you allow others to tell you how to think, act, and feel.

It also means you tend to spend your time and energy doing what others want you to do over what you deep down want to do.

In the long term, this can lead to frustration and depression because you will feel unfulfilled or lost.

How do you know if your boundaries are being crossed?

Generally, there are a few broad categories that comprise boundary violations: verbal, psychological, emotional, physical, ethical, spiritual, and moral.

12 Signs that you lack boundaries

1. Your relationships tend to be difficult or dramatic.
2. You find decision making a real challenge.
3. You really, really hate to let other people down.
4. You struggle with guilt and anxiety.
5. You are often tired for no apparent reason.
6. Your radar is off when it comes to sharing.
7. You are constantly the victim of situations.
8. You are a tiny bit annoyed most of the time.
9. You secretly feel that others don’t show you respect.
10. You might just be passive-aggressive.
11. You often wonder who you really are.
12. Your secret fear is of being rejected or abandoned.

This week’s activity

Start to build a values list (which will inform which boundaries you need to set in your life.

Click to download a list of values that you can use for this exercise.

Once you’ve downloaded this list of values I want you to go through this list and choose 8 – 10 values that you are passionate about to start off with.

Take your time to think about each of these values and how they make you feel in your body.

Ask questions (and write down the answers)

Why is this value important to me?

Are there areas in my life where my values are being ignored (by me or by others) or tossed to the side?

Start building new boundaries based on your values.

I.e If honesty is a value that you are very passionate about, then a good boundary for you would be to not accept behaviours from people who are consistently untruthful or untrustworthy.

How you choose to enforce your boundaries is personal to you. But it’s not always easy and you will probably come up against conflict (especially from people who benefit from your lack of boundaries).

Be brave and stick it out. And stop putting up with stuff that you don’t have to!

You can also Journey with your Guides on each individual value and what it means for you. This will help you to build strong relationships with your values, which will be extremely beneficial when it comes to setting boundaries around those values.

All of my work right now is centred around Empowered Spirituality.

But what does that actually mean? How do we become empowered? Where do we even start?

Being an empowered spiritual person always means that you have to start with personal or inner work – you have to find a way to move into a right relationship with yourself in order to be a highly effective spiritual person.

Your own trauma acts as a filter, a lens through which information is skewed. The more personal work you can do, the clearer your information becomes.

So in this podcast, we’ll talk about ways that you can move into right relationship with yourself, what that means for you and practical ways you can do that.

Currently, my life‘s work is to give other people the opportunity that I had for transformation. It is my heartfelt intention to create a pathway for anybody who wants it or needs it to be able to access this empowered state of Being.

As I’m sure you’re aware I offer many free ways to work towards this empowerment.

• This Weekly Podcast
• FREE Introduction to Shamanism Training LIVE every month
• Jaguar Healing Circle
• Resources Page with drumming tracks, Free PDF Guides & reading recommendations.
• Facebook Community with daily support from me, Free Events, Intuitive Readings and workshops.

I also offer 121 healing sessions on a pay-what-you-can basis.

There are two paid pathways to support you on your way to empowerment

The Apprenticeship:

The step-by-step Shamanic Training Program that helps you become a Shamanic person & escape your mind-traps so that you can create a more happy and fulfilling life.

Click here to discover The Apprenticeship

The Shamanic Spiritual Momentum Membership:

A monthly membership to help you feel Spiritually Supported every day.

Weekly LIVE events – Training workshops, Healing Circles and Ceremonies.

Plus a whole lot more.

Click here to discover the membership (and get your first month FREE!)

It’s my hope that you commit to moving into right relationship with yourself, for the good of yourself, your family and the wider community you live in. Every step towards empowerment you take ripples out and affects the world in unimaginable ways.

This episode delves into the intriguing world of ancestral communication in Celtic shamanism, with a unique focus on addressing some common challenges people face in this journey. The podcast offers insightful info for those grappling with a difficult lineage, providing guidance on how to navigate and heal relationships with ancestors who may have had complicated or troubled histories. You will also explore the emotional and spiritual implications of great distance from ancestral lands and Rhonda offers practical advice on how to forge a deep and meaningful connection with one's roots, irrespective of physical location. Rhonda also emphasises that you don't need to have an extensive knowledge of your family history or even know who your ancestors were to establish a connection with them. The podcast guides listeners through various techniques and practices that enable anyone to initiate conversations with their ancestors, fostering a sense of belonging and identity. Connect with Rhonda on instagram @centreforshamanism 🧡

Negative thought patterns, otherwise known as cognitive distortions are thought patterns in our minds that convince us of something that isn't true.

These thoughts are usually used to back up our negative thinking. We tell ourselves things that sound rational and accurate but really only serve to keep us feeling bad about ourselves.

In this week's podcast, I'll be helping you to identify any cognitive distortions that may be ruling your mind and keeping you in patterns of stuck-ness. 

We all have those days when we wake up and things just don’t go our way.

Sometimes is best to get the head down and finish the day as best you can but sometimes, if we catch it right, we can shift our day for the better.

So this week I talk about setting up your day. Get yourself in the best possible place right off the bat. Then I talk about ideas, tips and tricks to help you out of a funk when things aren’t going your way.

1. Pick something you KNOW will make you feel better and take time to do that.
2. Start to notice your reactions.
3. Try to find the humour in a situation if appropriate – and laugh
4. Accept what is happening and don’t get into a battle with yourself or others.
5. Smile for 5 mins
6. Call in your Guides and spiritual team and ask for help.

But I guess the most important message from this podcast is that ultimately you decide how you feel. I never really believed that to be honest. In fact, it made me really angry! But boy do I believe it now…

So tune in for some general day to day tips and some support for longer-term change & transformation.

Activities & Journeys

Journey with your guides and ask either healing or guidance on what you can change in your life to move into a more harmonious state within. Something that will support you to overcome those bad days. Or something that will support you to avoid those bad days.   You can do two separate journeys. One asking for support to overcome and one asking for support to avoid.

The 4 Agreements task

1. Buy the book

2. Read the book and implement the teachings.

If you don’t want to buy the book then here are the Four Agreements.

• Don’t take anything personally
• Don’t make assumptions
• Be impeccable with your word
• Always do your best

I challenge you to choose the first two in the list and for the next 7 days make an agreement with yourself to:

1. Not take ANYTHING personally, even if it feels completely over the top.
2. Not make assumptions about ANYTHING. Don’t know? Then Ask.

Get into the Facebook group and please share your experience. I really want to know how you get on!

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

 The Holidays are almost upon us, and this will be the last Podcast until the New Year!  I thought it would be fun to end the year with a slightly different episode.  So, I invited my husband Scott to interview yours truly!  I didn't know what the questions were going to be and I was really nervous!  Was this going to be light-hearted or a deep conversation? 😬😬😬 Did Scott have any unexpected curveballs for me?  It turned out to be quite a vulnerable sharing, but very cathartic.  It did get me to thinking though.  I'd love to get to know YOU a bit better.  So this week's podcast competition post is this:  Answer these five questions for me: ·  What is your earliest memory? ·  What are the first words you remember being spoken to you? ·  Are there any images or symbols that have seemed significant at many points throughout your life? ·  If you were to transform into any animal, what would you be? · Clichéd questions! You are on a Desert Island - food and shelter is available, what one item do you choose to have with you? In the announcements section of the Facebook group (join here) there is a podcast competition post.  Just pop your answers in the comments section to be in with a chance to win a really GREAT prize.  Well done on making it through this year. It's been hard for us all.  I hope you have a wonderful Holiday season. Blessings, Rhonda

We all have a tendency to be a bit over dramatic. I know I can be guilty of that sometimes too. 

Over the years I’ve found working with the Drama Triangle super helpful. It gave me a map to understand some of my less appealing behaviours! 

It was hard to admit my crappy behaviours to start with, but I got over myself! I admitted my faults. I opened up to my shame and vulnerability. And this was a key element in my transformation from old me to new me! 

In this episode I talk about this brilliant concept and give ideas for weaving in our shamanic connection. 

>>> What is the Drama Triangle 

>>> Breaking down the archetypes of the Drama Triangle. 

>>>How to start stepping out of the Drama & the AMAZING feeling of emotional freedom that comes along with that. 

>>>Signposts to keep an eye out for that let you know when you are in drama (and how to get out of it). 

>>>Shamanic Journey ideas for working with these concepts

Click here for all the links & the free download

Many people that I work with have fears about how to stay safe in the spirit realms.

They’ve been given fear-mongering stories about boogie men and nasties – evil waiting to pounce around every corner.

This week I'll be helping you to dismantle the fear you may feel around this subject, and teaching you how to stay safe in these realms. 

In this weeks episode I have a wonderful conversation with Wendy Dooner of the Dundee Herbal Clinic (she is also my sister). We have both had interesting journeys and I thought my listeners would be inspired by Wendy's journey. How she navigated a few difficult life transitions. And how she found her spiritual heart with Shamanism…. Eventually! The topics we cover: >> Wendy’s life in Australia (pre shamanism) and how she found what I do a little bit strange... >>> How shamanism saved Wendy's marriage. >>> What we both love about Shamanism and how it’s so relevant on our lives. >>> How after finding Shamanism, Wendy now works with Plant Medicine in a completely new way. Links mentioned in this episode: Register for our FREE live online Introduction to Shamanism workshop here. It's on 20th February 2020 @ 8.pm GMT. If you can't make it live, register anyway as i'll be sending out a replay.  Registering for this workshop also gets you access to our pop up Facebook community where I'll be on hand before and after the workshop to guide you through the whole process and answer any questions you may have. If you're interested in Shamanism but don't know where to start, then you don't want to miss this workshop. If you’re interested in working with Wendy, pop over to her website. Like the Dundee Herbal Clinic on Facebook  you can join Wendy’s new Facebook group here. A wee word from Wendy: "I have spent the last 17 years in the natural medicine industry and have gathered comprehensive clinical and human experience. I have had the privilege of working with many patients, providing insight and answers to their health problems. Graduating from Napier University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Herbal Medicine I’ve also undertaken extensive post-graduate professional development so I stay at the forefront of the latest research and developments in health and wellness. Being a wife and mum, I understand how difficult it can be to juggle your health with demanding careers, families, exercise, socialising and life in general. Whether you are after a complete transformation or just looking to take things one step at a time, I will work with you to create a program that is achievable, practical and sustainable."

In this podcast I talk about how I found the sacred in my life. I asked myself the question often ‘what is sacred anyway’? It made no sense to me and I also thought that I was looking for a thing, an object, something tangible I could hold onto. I was looking in all the wrong places! I talk about my realisation that the sacred is not separate. It’s not a thing to find and add to our life. Rather it is our life. The sacred is in everything. From making a cup of tea, to a beautiful dawn or making dinner or even, yes, doing the dishes! I also talked about the 5 Key steps to finding the Sacred in your life – here is the list for you again: KNOWING that those sacred moments are available to you. This is real and it will appear for you (if it hasn’t already!) REMEMBERING one moment in your life that you recognise as sacred. (birth, death, a special ceremony, a life changing conversation). Write this down and take yourself back to that moment. Feel it in your body. Keep that memory present and allow this feeling to remind you of other moments in your life that are sacred for you. Setting and INTENTION for your day and asking for the sacred to become visible for you (check out podcast 12 for 6 key ways to work with intention) CONSITENCY is key 0 there is no magic bullet. Daily small efforts will reveal the sacred to you. BE IN NATURE to support you to reconnect with the sacred in your life. I suggested a Shamanic Journey idea and promised to remind you so here it is Go out into Nature and find a place that you are comfortable with. Go on a Journey in this place with your Guides and the Spirit of Nature that you are with (you can use am actual drum if appropriate or a drumming track on headphones). Ask to feel the Sacred in your body in a way that will help you to identify the sacred in your life more often. If you don’t Journey yet, sit with a tree, river, meadow or other place in Nature and close your eyes. Concentrate on your breathing. Ask Nature to allow the sacred to flow through you supporting you to understand what that feels like for you. Stay with this for a while and notice what you experience in your body. Remember to pop over to our Facebook Group and share your own sacred experiences.

March is the month I turn 40 and it’s a deep transition time for me. I can feel the pull of a new decade and I feel the call to truth & vulnerability. In this podcast I tell my story in as much detail as I think will be interesting. About my life, struggles & triumphs these past decades. I want to share these moments with you not only so you can get to know me better, but because EVERYONE has a story. We all face difficulties in life. And each of our difficulties is unique. There’s no comparison between my struggles and yours… the only thing to know is that we each have our darkness and sometimes we need some divine light to open up a way forward. I found mine and I hope you have found yours. If not, do not despair… it is on it’s way! I hope you enjoy this podcast. I don’t have anything to give you except truthful, heartfelt, vulnerable me. I know that’s enough. I hope you know that you’re enough too.

In this episode, host Rhonda McCrimmon interviews Dave Beroset of Spiritos Training, a trainee practitioner of shamanism and a successful awareness coach. Dave shares his journey of leaving corporate America to search for something deeper and more fulfilling. He discusses the importance of listening to intuition and the challenges men face in reconnecting with their intuitive abilities. Dave also talks about integrating shamanic practices into his coaching business and how shamanism has influenced his personal growth. He recommends books such as 'The Imagination Matrix' and 'Fool's Crow' and shares a body scan meditation practice for listeners to try. Takeaways Shamanism can be integrated into various aspects of life and work, blending with different practices and professions. Men often face challenges reconnecting with their intuition due to societal expectations and conditioning. Shamanic practices can be integrated into coaching and business to help individuals reconnect with their own inner divine. Shamanic training can greatly influence personal growth and transformation, leading to improved boundaries, presence, and connection with the sacred. Exploring different shamanic modalities and connecting with the land are important aspects of the shamanic journey. Recommended books: The Imagination Matrix, The Cauldron and the Drum and Fool's Crow. The body scan meditation practice can help individuals become more present and aware of their physical sensations. Connect with Dave: Instagram: @spiritos_training www.spiritostraining.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:25 Shamanism as a Blend of Life and Work 11:29 The Importance of Listening to Intuition 14:21 Defining Shamanism and its Relevance in Coaching and Business 16:28 Men and Intuition 23:30 Personal Growth and Influence of Shamanic Training 30:50 Experience with Other Shamanic Modalities 33:18 Favorite Books 42:31 Body Scan Meditation Practice 48:15 Closing Remarks

When we talk about the shadow, we mean all the parts we deny, hide, repress or reject about ourselves. It’s called the shadow because it hasn’t been captured by the light of our consciousness and because it has been banned from the surface of our visible life. In this week's episode, we'll be taking a dive into shadow, finding out what it really is & learning how to begin working with it. 

The thing I hear a lot from my clients is 'Rhonda, I'm not really focusing on my Shamanic work' or I just can't seem to get started.

We all suffer (at some point in our lives) from a lack of perceived momentum on our spiritual paths. This episode talks about ways to overcome and avoid momentum issues and it’s not as difficult as you think!

Some key things I cover in this episode: 

My relationship with momentum and zero days

Easy ways to get started each day (for everyone whether you work with Shamanism or not!)

Ways to walk an intentional path with Shamanism

With a bit of self-reflection, maybe your Zero Days are Something Days after all!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Online Learning Portal: learn.centreforshamanism.com

My Website: www.centreforshamanism.com

Subscribe & Review in iTunes

I’d love for you to subscribe to my podcast! I don’t want you to miss an episode. I’m adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the mix and if you’re not subscribed there’s a good chance you’ll miss out on those.

Now if you’re feeling extra loving, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast and they’re also fun for me to go in and read. I'd love to know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you!

When we’re called to walk a path of personal and spiritual transformation, it can be easy to lose sight of what we are going and what we are trying to achieve. Or perhaps we’re aiming for something that doesn’t exist?

So what are we trying to achieve? Enlightenment? Always being Joyful & in Flow space? Being Happy?

I’m going to burst some bubbles here… life ebbs and flows and when we’re happy and in flow state… then super! But how easily are we knocked out of that space when life happens around us? When we are faced with hardship, loss, break-ups and breakdowns?

Then we’re not happy or joyful. Old stories and behaviours come up – we find ourselves acting in ways that really don’t serve us. But it’s happened before we even realise.

So what is it we need?

We need a toolkit – that’s the point of the work. To build an effective, supportive toolkit that we can open at any time and know we have what we need to be able to ride this wave called life. We may not become an enlightened being – but we can become effective shamanic people.

But there’s a step to this that many people miss. And that’s the action and the work it takes to awaken our inner healer, fill our toolbox and move through life with as much grace as we can muster.

Some steps we can take include

1. Building confidence with our spiritual work
2. Learning how to work with our resistance
3. Finding Spiritual momentum and overcoming self-limiting beliefs to transformation
4. Working with effective boundaries in our life
5. Overcoming and avoiding the Blame Game
6. Understanding our shadow and how we can understand and integrate our worst bits
7. Learning how to be vulnerable and admitting when we need help – whilst also standing in a place of radical self-responsibility
8. Recognising and releasing old stories – we stay trapped by the stories we tell ourselves and those we have been told by others.

So, take those steps every day – whatever it takes, find a way to work towards a tool kit that actually works for you.

Activities this week

1. Write down all the self-care, spiritual steps, meditating, journaling, mantras, behavioural changes, counselling techniques, reiki, shamanic (or otherwise) steps you take or have taken in your life to support your personal and spiritual growth.

Spend some time and celebrate those steps.

Don’t let that voice come in that says ‘I should be doing more’ or ‘this isn’t good enough’

Just spend some time in gratitude and thank yourself

Do this at least once a week to keep yourself motivated and in a positive place.

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

Today I talk about what the Shadow is and it may surprise you! I invite you to think about the Shadow side of Shamanism and also the Shadow side of yourself. Shadow work is extremely freeing and is also a key aspect in the creating of a great Shamanic Person!

Most people have a hard time facing their negative side – especially those of us interested in meditation, self-development, or spirituality. We would like the world to be a gentle, loving place, and therefore try to cultivate those parts of ourselves that fit that image and suppress the ones that don't.

We think we are in control of our thoughts until they come back to control us when we less expect it – usually when we are in the grip of intense emotions.

This episode is not designed to point the finger or make anyone feel bad. If you feel like that after this episode, please try to be compassionate and gentle with yourself. Remember that the Shadow needs to be seen, loved and integrated. Not denigrated and beaten with a big stick!

So, I thought I would cover some key issues I see in Shamanic People to help us all examine these within ourselves and work to free ourselves from the Shadow side of Shamanism and integrate some of our own Shadow in the process.

1. I’m better than/superior to you because….
2. Journeying about or for others without permission
3. Giving our personal responsibility away to Guides
4. Psychic stalking
5. Thinking that journeying is the work and never truly going within or making changes

Activities & Journeywork

A shadow faced is a shadow weakened. While it will still be there, once we are aware of it, it loses the power to knock our good judgement out of the way and take control of our reactions.

I invite you to go on a Journey with your guides to the Upper World and ask for transmission of Shadow knowledge. Ask to be given what you need so that you can begin to know your Shadow on a soul level, face it and work through it.

This week I also include an activity worksheet.

How to begin to work with Shadow

1. Reflect on every action
2. Reflect on every reaction
3. Reflect on every interaction

Allow judgements to melt away. Just observe. This takes practice! Use your breath to calm your heart rate and just observe.

Here is a PDF worksheet to support you with your Shadow work.

Don't know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

In this transformative episode of ShamanTalk, your host Rhonda, a Celtic Seer & Shaman, takes you on a soul-stirring journey into the world of boundaries—those sacred guardians that protect not just our physical and emotional spaces, but our spiritual essence as well.

Have you ever felt lost, disconnected, or resentful, not knowing that the absence of clear boundaries was the unseen barrier to your healing? Rhonda shares her personal journey from misunderstanding boundaries to embracing them as everyday opportunities for self-honor and growth.

We delve deep into the concept of the "Middle Cauldron" in Celtic Shamanism, exploring how lack of boundaries can disrupt this emotional and spiritual core. Learn the difference between boundaries and non-boundaries and why the latter can be the silent killer in relationships.

Discover practical tips on how to set and communicate boundaries with clarity and compassion. Whether you're dealing with a trusted friend or someone who continually crosses your boundaries, this episode equips you with the tools you need.

By the end of this episode, you'll understand that boundaries are not barriers but bridges to deeper understanding, respect, and love. They are the key to a consciously connected spiritual life, empowering you and those around you to thrive in authenticity, love, and respect.

Tune in to unlock the transformative power of boundaries and take a significant step forward in your spiritual journey. Don't forget to subscribe and reach out with your thoughts and questions on Instagram @centreforshamanism.

Join us, as we explore how embracing boundaries can be your pathway back to your roots and forward into a life of greater spiritual connection and fulfillment.

It’s Spring. If you’re anything like me then you’re noticing those corners. And maybe the cobwebs as well!

My house has an Oak frame and really lends itself well to sneaky cobwebs.

When the light is around longer and we feel the real promise of Spring, it makes me want to clean house. Get ready for the Summer. Get ready for the light. So the dusters come out!

I was reminded the other day in a journey that Spring Cleaning our Spiritual ‘stuff’ is just as important – we can stop it getting stale and samey.

There’s nothing like monotony and boredom to choke off a Spiritual Path.

And that’s what this episode is all about. 6 ways I use to check in with myself and my work.

In this episode I talk about:

1. Using the season of Spring to support you.
2. De-clutter your spiritual ‘to-do’ list
3. Sprucing your Core Values
4. Check in with your Souls Purpose
5. Spring Clean your relationships
6. Overhauling your Attitude

FREE EPISODE DOWNLOAD

The download has 6 key steps PLUS 6 suggestions for Shamanic Journeys you do to support each step. Super Simple. Actionable. Focused. What more do you need to support a Spring Clean?

Download the free Spring Clean Guide here.

Last week we talked about common cognitive distortions – many of you resonated with this topic, so this week I thought we could explore some ways to work more effectively with these distortions.

You can use one or any combination of the methods described in the podcast to combat irrational thoughts and cognitive distortions.

Try them out and look for the one that seems to work best for you because we all respond to different methods.

I also recommend listening to last weeks podcast first if you haven't already.

What is the Drama Triangle?

The Drama Triangle is a model of the connection between personal responsibility and power in conflicts, and the destructive and shifting roles people play.

The Drama Triangle refers to a dysfunctional model of human interaction.

The three roles are Victim, Saviour (Rescuer) & Perpetrator (Persecutor)

In this podcast series, we will explore each of these archetypes or roles. From this series, I invite you to explore these roles both within your Self and within others.

I was new to Shamanism, and about to embark on one of my first journeys to meet a power animal.

I couldn’t wait to find out what my power animal was.

I had grand visions of Wolves, Owls, Eagles and Stags.

You know the score.

I began my Journey and, much to my devastation, I was met by…

A slug.

Yep. A slug.

I was gutted.

My hopes for an elegant power animal that I could tell people about were dashed.

And my ego was thoroughly bashed.

Spirit has a sense of humour after all.

That slug actually turned out to be one of my most powerful allies and taught me to slow down and be patient.

The point of this story is to illustrate that your guides, power animals and messages can come in many forms – all as powerful as the next.

Some people never ‘see’ their guides.

You have guides that you don’t know about and may never meet.

Your messages can come in strange forms.

It takes practice to learn the language of Spirit and to build confidence in your intuition.

Rather than Googling the meanings of your Journeys and Guides, It’s important to divine your own meaning. 

When you ask others what your Guides or journeys mean, you are giving away your power and missing the real message that Spirit has for you.

It’s important to learn to deeply connect with our Guides and messages.

Different ways to connect with your Guides outside a Shamanic Journey.

1. Ask to connect with your Guides. Make it a habit. Only call in Guides who are there for your best and highest good. This is especially helpful if you don’t cognitively ‘know’ your Guides. You can call and connect with your Guides anytime – you don’t need to be in Journey state.
   
2. Learn to listen. We need to slow down and quieten our minds enough to ‘hear’ the messages we are given.
   
3. Try writing. When you feel that you are missing a message – sit down and allow your pen to flow over the page. See what comes through for you.
   
4. Omen Walking and asking for signs is a great way to connect with Guides.
   
5. It’s one thing to ask for guidance. It’s another thing to witness it, to really take it in and relish in the presence that’s supporting you.
   
   The practise of paying attention to guidance isn’t about demanding. You don’t go around all day asking, “Where’s my guidance? Where’s my guidance?”
   
   Instead, you simply allow yourself to be open to the wonder of that guidance.
   
   Your guidance may show up in unexpected ways,. Your guidance can show up as a song on the radio, or somebody saying to you exactly what you needed to hear.
   
6. Shift the way you talk to your guides and be in a space of GRATITUDE. If you find yourself thinking things like, “Guides, why haven’t you given me this yet?” or “Guides, I don’t believe in you. Why haven’t you shown up for me faster?” — you’re showing your distrust of them. You’re telling them you’re not really open to their guidance and that you want to be in control. Instead, you want to be thanking your guides, appreciating them, and feeling deep love and gratitude for them.

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

Find out if your shamanic gifts need a retune!

Do you ever feel like your need to be understood by others is draining your personal power? Are you caught in a cycle of justice sensitivity that leaves you emotionally exhausted? If so, this episode of Shaman Talk is for you.

Join Rhonda McCrimmon as she delves deep into the emotional and spiritual aspects of needing external validation. Explore the roots of this need, often embedded in childhood trauma and societal conditioning, and discover how it can manifest as a draining sense of injustice in your adult life.

But it's not all doom and gloom! Rhonda shares transformative shamanic and spiritual practices that can help you reclaim your personal power.

Hear some readings from my new book (releases 9th Jan 2024!) and get some behind the scenes stories of my book journey that I’ve not shared before…

It’s understandable to want to help someone one in a bind.

But what if they didn’t want help?

Do we accept their refusal? Or do we insist on helping, believing we know exactly how to handle their problem, regardless of their desire to work it out themselves?

A saviour complex describes this need to “save” people by fixing their problems.

People with a saviour complex tend to:

• only feel good about themselves when helping someone
• believe helping others is their sole purpose
• expend so much energy trying to fix others that they end up burning out

This week we take a look at how to recognise this kind of behaviour and why it can do more harm than good.

We also discuss how compassionate ways that you can respond to being ‘saved’ by others when you didn’t ask for help.

Activities & Journeys

1. Work with the energy of Swan and take a deep dive, go beyond the surface, go on a Journey and ask to be shown something you don’t know about the Saviour Complex.
   
2. Try going 7 days with giving people advice, telling them what to do and why or finding solutions for the people around you. Was that easy? Difficult? What did you learn from this project?

Thanks to Moira for this excellent question!

An in-depth guide to the ancient Toltec practise of Recapitulation - gifted to the world, for all to use. 

Many of us, especially at the beginning of a spiritual path, try to avoid discomfort like the plague.

We might have the idea that avoiding discomfort and always feeling good is the point of a spiritual path; unfortunately, that isn’t the case and is only saving up problems for a rainy day.

Learning how to embrace our discomfort and turn it into an ally is a crucial step on a spiritual path.

So listen this week for my thoughts on discomfort, why it’s important and how to work with it effectively.

Activities & Journeys

This week I invite you to go on a Journey with your Guides and ask to be shown why discomfort is so significant to you. What can it teach you?

If you don’t journey in this way, go on an Omen Walk or meditate on the question.

I’d love to hear how you get on in our Facebook Community.

Don’t know how to Journey? 

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

Despair. It's something that most of us will experience at some point in our lives. 

It can feel all-consuming, but there are things we can do to get out from under it. 

This episode takes a deep dive into despair and how we can overcome it. 

You don’t need to be a shaman to work with shamanism.

Let’s think about it in terms of a tribe.

Every tribe member would be connected to nature, their body and their soul. Every member would have innate skills of connection, from where to gather food and when and what type, to hunting, being deeply connected to the animals they hunted. They were linked to each other on such a deep level that they almost moved as one.

This connection is what we are missing in our western lives. And shamanism (or at least the type of shamanism I teach) can bring us to that place of intimate connection.

What we’re looking for ultimately is real, deep, safe, unswerving connection. We want to belong (not just fit in), we want to be able to listen to our inner and outer landscape and understand our bodies. We want to walk through this life feeling strong and confident, clear with boundaries of steel but deep compassion and understanding.

The work we do here aims to lead every individual to that place which is first a connection to ourselves, our bodies, our hearts, souls and minds. Then that will mirror in our relationships in the outer world.

At the Centre for Shamanism, I do that by supporting you to create a map for this work.

There is no right or wrong way here. You can bring all of your spiritual experiences together under one roof. The joy of living in this time is that you get to decide.

Activities for this week

1. Journey with your Guides in whatever way works for you. There are multiple ways to connect with your spiritual team so go with whatever works!

Ask to be shown how shamanism can help you within your life. And how the inner work that you do ripples out and into the world. Feel free to split this into two journeys if you need to.

1. Think about what you expected of Shamanism when it first crossed your path. And think about what it means to you now.

If you’re brand new to the work, how has this podcast broadened your understanding of shamanic work?

If you been at it for a while, how has your understanding changed over the years?

I’d love you to share in the group as the competition for this week, your experience with Shamanism, what it’s done for you, and how your perceptions have changed.

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

What is projection, how do I spot it and what can I do about it?

I’d like to start off by thanking the Spirit of Horse and the guidance and wisdom that has been gratefully received this month. At the end of Horse month, I did some intuitive readings via Facebook and there was a theme! Lots of people had decisions to make. So I’ve created this podcast to support us as Shamanic People to make informed choices and the Guides have given me a list of things to think about when making decisions. Important life decisions can be challenging to make. They are often complicated, involving many factors, some of them with competing interests. The stakes may also be high. But daily decisions can also be hard to make, we may feel a bit crippled and end up stuck doing nothing. So listen and hopefully the information will support you in creating momentum in your decisions. Slow down Accept that making decisions can be hard Aim for integrity. Many different paths can nurture your soul. There is not necessarily a right and wrong way. Go with the Flow – taking the path of least resistance. You are your own No.1 priority in this life, and you have to live with your decisions on a daily basis. Be careful about making a decision to keep others happy. Don’t fear the consequences. What is your gut/instincts telling you? Ask advice but avoid giving your power away to others. Activities This is a Listening exercise. A way to work that will support you to listen to yourself. Set your sacred space and call in your Guides. Write down what you’re thinking about with regards to the decision you have to make. Don’t correct, edit or think – just write. Don’t think about the order, just allow the words to flow out. If you don’t want to write for any reason, record yourself talking. Then read it/listen back as if a friend were talking to you asking for advice. How does it sound now? What would you say to that friend? How does it feel hearing the choices? When you’re complete you can throw out or burn the paper.      2. Got a difficult decision to make? Don’t ask your Guide – ‘what should I do?’ This is akin to fortune-telling and you won’t get far. Try doing a      journey asking what healing or support you need to make the decision for yourself. 3. BUILD A VALUES LIST | Download this FREE value list building exercise and go through it in your own time.   Having a values list that you can call on any time you need to make a decision is going to be a game-changer for your decision-making process. I HIGHLY recommend that you do this exercise.

When it comes to our spiritual path, it can be hard to commit to it when you have self-limiting beliefs that are holding you back. 

You find yourself saying things like:

• “I’ll never know enough”
• “I don’t have what it takes.”
• “I’m scared I’ll fail.”
• “I don’t trust myself.”
• “I’m not worthy of a more Spiritually connected, happy life.”

Sound familiar?

All of the excuses you make up in your mind as to why you can’t do something all boil down to the same feeling:

I’ll never be good enough.

But what does ‘good enough’ mean to you?

Compared to who?

‘Good enough’ is an imaginary line that you’ve drawn in the sand of your own mind.

If you’ve decided that ‘good enough’ means:

• Knowing the most
• Being the best
• Being fearless
• Being the perfect mother/daughter/wife
• Being an enlightened being who floats through life in a state of spiritual bliss

Then you’ll NEVER feel good enough because no one is perfect.

You’re stuck – not because you don’t feel good enough.

You’re stuck because ‘good enough’ is an impossible standard that you’ve set for yourself.

It’s not your fault. You live in a world where you’re bombarded with images of greatness on TV & Social Media and anything less than perfect is an unacceptable goal.

When the goal is perfection, then the fear of failure sets in because deep down you know that you’ll never be perfect (and that’s OK by the way).

Drop the impossible standards. They are not serving you.

As a human being on this earth, you’re already good enough.

But if you need a standard to measure yourself by, then make it this:

Trying your best every day, no matter what.

Even if your best isn’t that great.

Even if you fail.

Even if you’re scared.

Seven Reasons that might cause your self-limiting belief that you’re Not Good Enough

1. You have hidden core beliefs that are ‘running the show’
2. Your inner voice is critical and judgemental
3. You surround yourself with critical people.
4. You had critical, demanding or aloof parents,
5. Your main caregiver couldn’t offer you stability or safety
6. You didn’t get enough attachment as a child
7. You’ve experienced strong traumas in the past

Activities & Journeys

1. This Journey will help you to understand your Inner Voice more clearly so that you can begin to make changes to your inner narrative.

Journey with your Guide and ask to meet your Inner Voice. What does your Inner voice look like? What does it sound like? What do you think needs to change here?

1. Begin to turn your negative thoughts into positive mantras. If you find yourself being critical of your inability to speak up for yourself, perhaps try a mantra ‘I have the right to speak up and be heard’

Over time, these positive affirmations will change the neural pathways in your brain and you will begin to naturally think differently.

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

In this week's episode, I'm taking a deep dive into the eight main things I wish I'd known at the start of my spiritual journey (which would have helped me along the path immensely) 

Question of the day 🦋

Rhonda talks about some of her struggles with self sabotage and how she continues to overcome her difficulties.

In this fascinating episode of Shaman Talk, we dive deep into the world of herbal medicine and shamanism with our guest, Wendy Dooner. A medical herbalist and shamanic practitioner, Wendy shares her unique journey into these two intertwined fields.

May is the month of Horse – Freedom is Yours

You have freewill and are capable of making powerful choices for yourself.

Powerful choices that will mean that you experience freedom in a new way.

Escaping the Blame Game

I had an interesting week… one of our family called it a ‘Blip in Harmony’. My big lesson was realising how Blame still plays a big role in my Psyche.

I thought, and wrote, and journeyed, and wrote and walked and wrote…

And I realised that although I no longer live in a Blame Space, I am definitely visiting too often… without even realising it.

This week I am bringing my sneaky Righteous Blame out and into the light… and I invite you to join me!

So, this week I talk about how Blame sneaks up and manifests in our lives.

And also, what we lose when we play the Blame Game.

What happens to us when we live in a space of blame is that we give all of our power away to other people.

Think about it. If you are constantly blaming others for your problems/issues then you are powerless to change it – because it’s someone else’s fault.

And often when we take blame out of the equation we find that we are all in the same boat. Struggling to make sense of this life and live in a way that brings us meaning.

I talk about how it is important to know the difference between Escaping the Blame Game while still holding true to our boundaries.

Blame is insidious and it is the wind that gives momentum to negative drama in our lives.

Becoming free from it is one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself and others.

Here are the Journeys and Activities for this week.

1. I want you to sit down and write a very honest list of all the instances in your life where you are blaming others for being/doing/saying something that is making you unhappy. How it would feel to be free of the energetic burden of blame?
   
2. Journey with your Guides and ask what it would feel like to be free of blame. This may be an Upper, Middle or Lower World Journey. Your guides will know best.
   
   
3. Journey with your Guides and ask to be shown the energetic effects of Blame on you & on others. Also ask for either a healing an action to tale to begin to escape the Habit of Blame.

I would love to hear your experiences so please share in the ShamanTalk podcast Facebook group.

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

Amazing what you chat about in Tesco!

Sometimes we need a quick hand out of a funk. In this podcast, I'll run through some super easy techniques that you can use to lift you out of a bad day.

I’ve been fielding a lot of questions recently about Spiritual protection and space clearing.

There so much information out there about what’s ‘right’ and wrong’

It’s no wonder everyone gets confused about protection, smudging, space clearing etc.

So I’m going to share what I do and why I do it.

And why there’s NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY with this work.

Then I’m going to discuss how you can develop your own sense of how to work with protection and clearing.

Using only clear, mindful intentional action.

These are techniques I’ve developed a relationship with over many years and they work because I intend them to work.

So, if you want to dance around naked, singing Kylie songs and waving a feather duster to clear your space…. Go ahead…. It will work! It’s ALL ABOUT INTENTIONAL ACTION.

And when we talk about Spiritual Protection, our old friend FEAR comes out to play! We imagine all sorts of nasties in the night! But here’s the thing, we wear a seatbelt because we MIGHT crash. We don’t crash every time we get in a car… and many of us never crash.

Spiritual Protection is the same. We learn how to work our spiritual seatbelt on the rare occasion we MIGHT crash… not because there are ‘bad spirits’ waiting to pounce at every corner!

Activities & Journeys

This project will help you to develop ways to protect and clear your space from unwanted energy.

Part A

1. Go on a Journey with your Guides and ask to be shown a technique to use to protect your home.
2. Put the technique into practice
3. Spend some time noticing how different your home feels (this can also work with offices, hotel rooms etc.)

Part B

1. Go on a journey with your Guardian Guide (who we met in Episode 46) and ask to be shown what techniques you can use to clear your body at the end of each day.
2. Put the technique into practice for a few days

3.  Keep a note of how you feel and how this changes for you.

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

I had a difficult interaction in my life this week and it put me in a thoughtful place.

I have also been working with Dolphin Spirit and the idea that both this and that are true.

This week's podcast is all about perspective, our memories and how we can build emotional intelligence in difficult interactions.

What does that mean for us?

Perspective is important and it’s OK if people have different perspectives based on their differing values.

Human memory is notoriously unreliable, especially when it comes to details.

Scientists have found that prompting an eyewitness to remember more can generate details that are outright false but that feel just as correct to the witness as actual memories.

In day-to-day life, this isn’t a bug; it’s a feature.

I’ll discuss five important aspects of perspective. Because building this type of emotional intelligence is a key component of happy, drama-free living.

I’ll also talk about how I understand this concept of Two Truths and what my balance looks like.

For example, I have my own value structure that I understand and have an intimate relationship with.

I know what OK for me is and what isn’t.

I understand that my initial reaction to situations is coloured by my life experience, trauma and also my values. I always take a minute to check-in and ask myself – what is triggering my trauma and causing me to react in a way that’s not ethical and what has happened here that goes against my values. Both can be true in just one interaction!

Join me this week for a discussion on memory, emotional intelligence and letting go of right and wrong.

This Weeks Activities

Journey with Dolphin Spirit and ask for a transmission of emotional healing to support you to fully embrace the Two Truths concept.

Work on building a value list.

Click here to download an extensive list of values that you can choose from.

Spend some time thinking about why these values are important to you and how you will build them into your boundary work.

As Otter Spirit is calling us to look at our relationships in July, this week’s podcast is going to be all about relationships and keeping them healthy!

​We’ll be delving into what to look for in a relationship (counts for friends and partners!), is it healthy? Could things be better? Do I have good boundaries?

A good friend/partner will: Show a genuine interest in what’s going on in your life, what you have to say, and how you think and feel. Accept you for who you are Listen to you attentively without judging you, telling you how to think or feel, or trying to change the subject. Feel comfortable sharing things about themselves with you

A friend is someone you trust and with whom you share a deep level of understanding and communication.

As friendship works both ways, a friend is also someone you feel comfortable supporting and accepting, and someone with whom you share a bond of trust and loyalty.

Here’s what I cover in this episode (I’ll go into each point in much more depth):

1. Communication – don’t let things fester. Be brave and speak up.
2. You’ll never have to negotiate your way into a heart that wants you there
3. The silent treatment – this is not OK. Either coming from you or being directed at you. It’s used to shut down communication, to avoid confrontation, its manipulative and its used to punish.
4. Don’t make assumptions about other people – just ask!
5. When someone is having a bad day – don’t take it personally (but see 6!)
6. Have good boundaries. Learn to say NO!
7. Know that’s it’s OK to have your needs met in a relationship whether that’s a friendship or otherwise. It should never be all one way.
8. Do you have fun? Do you laugh together?
9. Trust is really important. Do you feel safe to be vulnerable?
10. Belonging vs. fitting in
11. Watch out for the Drama Triangle

This week’s Journeys

1.      Go on a Journey with your Guides and ask to be shown changes you can make in your behaviour, perceptions or actions that will help to foster healthy relationships

2.      If you are having doubts about a relationship, go on a journey with your guides and ask for wisdom and guidance to support you to decide what actions need to be taken.

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

‘I know that I need to make changes, but I just can’t do it’ Sound familiar? Damn right. We all experience resistance to change. Everyday. So why not try to work with it, rather than against it? In this episode, I talk about different kinds of resistance and how to utilise the resistance to be a driving force for change. I also talk about understanding resistance and the different kinds of resistance that you may face. Sometimes we face intuitive resistance – where we can’t bring ourselves to do something, but then it turns out that NOT doing the thing was actually for the best. For example, this year I was very resistant to organising workshops at the Centre for Shamanism. Now I’m VERY glad that I didn’t, because I would have had to cancel them all.  That’s intuition disguised as resistance & we all need to be able to tell the difference. But if there’s one thing we all need to know… it’s that Resistance is real, affects us all & knowing Resistance is a skill you to develop. Like everything, it takes practice. There’s no magic bullet! In this podcast I talk about the process of knowing & releasing Resistance: Identifying Understanding Utilize Release Identifying Forms of Resistance – this list will help you to identify the different type of resistance in your life: Believing you’re not good enough Numbing with TV, alcohol, exercise, drama, concentrating on what everyone else is doing Getting uncontrollably angry (for example during a healing circle or at a therapist) Scepticism – ‘you guys have no idea what you’re talking about, this is a load of rubbish’ Avoidance of a potentially healing situation Projecting issues onto others – I’m so angry at x person/self-consciousness/that person looks terrible in that outfit Avoiding group work Rejecting help Being the saviour, victim or perpetrator of your group Time management – I’ve got so much to do and don’t have time for spiritual work Counter-will – I’m not doing that just because you said so – in fact, I’m not doing it BECAUSE you said it! You can also experience counter-will from within yourself too. Journeys for this week Find a place in nature that you love. If that’s not possible for you right now then use a house plant, your garden or go into NOR (Non- Ordinary Reality) to find a place for this work Nature is a wonderful teacher and can help us to understand that everything is in its right place without hierarchy. I invite you to think of how your resistance manifests for you. Is it anger, jealousy, greed, numbing, being emotionally closed off, – the only way to work through resistance is to identify it, understand it & process/utilise it. Write down your thoughts and take them to your place in nature. Open your sacred space, be with your guides and then ask the Nature spirits to begin to shift your resistance. Give yourself over to the experience. Listen to the sounds in nature or listen to a track of nature sounds. To deepen this work over time, continue to write a journal of your resistances and work with Nature. Remember to work compassionately with yourself and from a place of love. Know that Resistance is your greatest teacher if you choose to look at it that way! Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you. You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

Are you feeling stuck on your healing journey? Do you find yourself intellectualizing your experiences or chasing spiritual highs? In this eye-opening episode of Shaman Talk, Rhonda McCrimmon explores the concept of the Four Healing Quadrants—Physical, Spiritual, Emotional, and Mental—and why it's crucial to address all of them for a balanced, effective healing journey.

Rhonda dives deep into the common pitfalls many encounter when focusing too much on one healing aspect. Whether it's the allure of spiritual highs or the trap of intellectualizing your journey, Rhonda offers shamanic insights into how these imbalances can stall your progress... plus ways to correct these imbalances.

This week we're getting practical! I want to share my understanding of Sacred Objects and how they can be used in our spiritual practice and daily lives.

If you Love this podcast, please do me a favour and SUBSCRIBE wherever you listen. Thank you! Saining is a protective & cleansing charm that starts with a symbol of intention and works on the premise that the Celts were an animist culture who believed everything had a Spirit and soul.  Saining has a long history in Scottish folk magic, and there is evidence of Saining practises throughout the Celtic archaeological landscape.  Although it is not a direct equivalent of Native American smudging, it is a beautiful alternative you can weave into your Shamanic practice for cleansing and clearing yourself and your surroundings of unwanted influence.

In this conversation, Rhonda and her daughter Eve (22) discuss their experiences with narcissism in their family and the impact it had on their mental health. They also explore their different spiritualities and how they have found healing and growth. The conversation highlights the importance of self-reflection, taking responsibility for one's actions, and the power of love and acceptance in overcoming challenges. Despite their differences, Rhonda and Eve have built a stronger relationship and supported each other on their respective journeys.

Takeaways

Narcissism can have a profound impact on mental health and relationships within a family.

Recognizing and taking responsibility for one's narcissistic traits is an important step towards healing and personal growth.

Spirituality can play a significant role in the healing process, and different paths can lead to the same destination.

Building a supportive and inclusive family environment allows individual spiritual exploration and growth.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:24 Mental Health Struggles and Coping Mechanisms

05:16 Narcissism in the Family

06:16 Lack of Parental Support and Emotional Maturity

08:36 Effects of Narcissism on the Family Dynamic

10:21 Realizing the Narcissistic Parenting

12:16 Journey of Healing and Breaking Family Curses

14:39 Recognizing Narcissistic Traits in Oneself

15:35 Healing Journey and Relationship with Siblings

16:35 Spirituality and Christianity

27:55 Using Psalms as an Oracle Deck

42:10 Best and Worst Traits in Each Other

47:15 Conclusion

May is the month of Horse – Freedom is Yours

You have free will and are capable of making powerful choices for yourself.

Powerful choices that will mean that you experience freedom in a new way.

Finding Freedom by opening up to others

Working with Horse Spirit will remind us that freedom of choice, personal responsibility and direct revelation are all key components of an effective shamanic person.

But I think there is one part of being an effective shamanic person that is sometimes missed and it’s vitally important. And that is being part of a sacred and trusted circle of people.

I see a lot of people who do this work alone. I hear various reasons for that.

1. You’re new to Shamanism and haven’t found a tribe yet
2. You don’t feel safe sharing your practice with others or that you won’t be welcomed
3. You feel you might be ridiculed or outcast
4. Avoiding being in a group to spare yourself from the reflections of others
5. You don’t feel good or worthy enough to be part of a tribe
6. It’s never crossed your mind that you need anyone else… you’ve always worked alone.
7. You’ve had a bad experience in the past and you prefer to work alone now rather than be hurt or feel unsafe.
8. You like to be in control of your spiritual life and don’t like/worry about the chaos of other spiritual people
9. You are unable to work with others due to mental health (anxiety, depression etc.)

Be vulnerable. Be part of a Tribe. We are tribal people. And evolved for millennia in that way. We would not have survived otherwise. Now in the past couple of hundred years, we’ve mostly moved away from tribal living. But I invite you to consider moving back in that direction in a way that’s safe for you.

A healthy, safe and well-held community (online or otherwise) is a beautiful space for sharing and drawing inspiration. It’s also a great place to explore your shadow side and do some deep inner work. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t benefit, in some way, from moving out and being with others.

Activities & Journeys

Journey 1

Go on a journey with your Guides and ask to be shown if you need to expand your connection with others. This Journey will likely be to the Upper World but your Guide may take you elsewhere and that’s absolutely fine.

Make a note of the people in your life that you can share your journey work with. How many people are on the list? Do you trust them and feel safe, seen and heard with your spiritual experiences?

If the answer is yes, super! Keep that going.

Journey 2

Go on a Journey with your Guide and ask to be shown the next steps for you in terms of vulnerability & communication that will support your forward momentum on your Spiritual Path.

If the answer is either I have no-one, or I don’t trust those I do have – then it might be time to make some changes?

Journey 3

Go on a Journey with your Guide and ask to be shown what needs to change in order that you can move forward with your spiritual work. (And by that I mean, does a relationship or friendship need to end? Do you need to seek out a new circle? Is there an attitude change required? Is there a new perception needed?)

When you do this work I encourage you to share your experience in the ShamanTalk podcast group. Please only share what is comfortable for you to share. But know that in sharing, we open ourselves up to a vast new world of heart connections.

Closure can be described as the end of a relationship, job, stage of life, or way of thinking and is often associated with difficulty.

Finding closure implies being able to completely accept what has happened and finding ways to honour the transition.

Tune in to find out how. 

What is a mental load?

The invisible, non-tangible tasks involved in operating a family are called the mental load, also known as cognitive labour.

The mental load is the unseen – not necessarily the physical tasks but the remembering of all of the daily stuff that needs to be done – so shopping, dinner prep or when laundry needs doing – it also includes reaching out to other family members and remembering birthdays.

In this episode, we explore how you can climb down from having an excessive mental load and bring more balance into your daily life. 

In this episode I talk about my journey with ADHD, some common problems we face, some of the techniques I used, books I read and shamanic healing I connected with to start overcoming my diagnosis.

..and how to easily make LASTING change this New Year. ​I hope you had a restful festive period and are feeling energised to embrace the incoming year. ​ ​In this week's podcast, I talk about New Years resolutions and why they never work. ​ We all have the urge at this time of year to follow the crowd and set some resolutions. I know I used to get all fired up with my list. I’ll do it this time! Eat better, exercise more or learning something new were among my top resolution themes. But it never worked. I ended up failing and falling into shame and self-loathing. How could I have failed again? I had so much drive and determination. After decades of the same cycle, I decided to step away from this strange cultural phenomenon. I was shown in a journey that this particular ceremony (and it is a ceremony) is cursed by a cultural story of failure. And this just the start of the problems with resolutions! ​Join me this week as I discuss the toxic energy behind new years resolutions and some viable, long term alternatives to this story of perpetual failure. We will also meet Janus, the Roman God of beginnings and endings, after whom the month of January was named.

In this re-focus week, you'll go back over how to effectively deal with negative energy, both inner and outer, so that you can continue on your Shamanic journey to reaching your greatest potential with fewer blocks and more resilience. 

If you love this podcast, do me a favour and subscribe! According to the vision of a Celtic Poet and prophet from the 7th century, the root of a Celtic person's physical, spiritual & emotional health comes from their three Cauldron Power Centres.

Similar to the Eastern traditions of Chakras and Dantien, the relative positions of these cauldrons within each person determine their overall spiritual, emotional and physical health.

Within each of these cauldrons, you ferment, cook, boil, & brew like an ancient alchemist so you can bring to the light, nourish and sustain the life force gifted to you at birth.

The Celts believed a person must activate all three cauldrons to live a whole, connected, meaningful life. Tune in to this podcast to find out more and begin your Cauldrons path!

Outer connection reflects inner connection

In this episode, I talk about Grounding – and as I read through some of the articles available on this topic, I realised that I also wanted to dispel some myths. Many of these articles overstated what being ‘ungrounded’ meant and also placed responsibility on the client to become grounded. For those of us in trauma, this can be an impossible task and can result in some feeling ‘shame’ that they can’t manage such a ‘simple’ thing as being grounded. So, I address that straight off the bat! I then go into more detail about why it’s essential to be grounded with this work, what that means and how to achieve this state. Being grounded in our spiritual connection ensures we don’t lose energy to open and unattended connections. And being grounded keeps us connected to our day to day life. This is so important for effective personal work. We can’t spend all our time with our awareness in the spiritual clouds – we would never get any personal work done! Activities & Journeys Go on a Journey with your Guide and ask to be shown the nature of being Grounded. Take care to focus on how this feels in your body. Take note of this experience so you can reconnect with this feeling of groundedness when you need to. Grounding exercises Here are a few grounding exercises. You can choose any number of these to support you to feel grounded. Focus on your pelvis, thighs, calves and feet. Envision your energetic connection with the earth even if you are not standing outside. Close your eyes. Turn on all of your senses. Become aware of any pain or annoying sensations in your body. Breath inward, inhaling the pain or annoyance and blowing it out until it is gone. Then go through your five senses as you become completely aware of and in tune with your physical environment. Bring awareness to the back of your body. Cleanse your space afterwards. Focus on your breathing and exhalation as you return from your experience, journey or healing work. Sit quietly and notice the sensations of support in your body – the ground, cushion, or chair. Feel the contact points of your body where you sit, stand or lie. Allow gravity to soften and pull your awareness into the centre of your body. Chant, om, or sing from your belly, using deep, vibrating sounds. Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you. You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

There are a LOT of terms within Shamanism, some of them you may know, and others you may not. This week's episode will teach you the lingo of the Shamanic world so that you can better understand & communicate the key concepts within this ancient practice.

In this episode, I'm covering toxic positivity which is defined as the excessive and ineffective overgeneralisation of a happy, optimistic state across all situations.

The toxic positivity process results in the denial, minimisation, and invalidation of the authentic human emotional experience.

You can't truly be positive while burying and denying your feelings. 

As usual, there will be lots of actionable hints and tips to help you avoid this trait and focus on working through your emotions in a healthy way so that you are a more balanced and whole person. 

Self-worth is such a big topic! And yet, it is a symptom of deeper issues, not a problem in itself. So focusing on low self-worth can sometimes be detrimental.

In this week’s podcast, we’ll look into the symptoms of low self-worth and what you can do if you find yourself having these issues.

Do you have an inner checklist or a set of rules that you assume, if you follow them, will lead to a perfect or happier life?

“When I eat healthily and go to the gym, I’ll have a better body; then I’ll love myself.”

Or

“If I do yoga and meditate every day, then I’ll be less anxious, and people will like me more.”

Most of us live in this transactional space within ourselves, where we’ve decided that if we do X, then we’ll be ‘good enough’ (whatever that means for you).

But somewhere along the way, the pressure to live up to this ever-growing set of inner conditions and rules becomes too great to live up to, and we end up failing in these transactions.

It’s at this point that the voice of your inner transactional relationships morphs into the voice of your inner critic, and you can find yourself in a highly anxious space, often teetering on the edge of depression and anxiety or falling into that dark space entirely.

Luckily, we don’t have to wait until our lives start to crumble under the weight of our transactional relationships.

This week’s podcast is all about how we can move out of this transactional space and into more positive unconditional internal and external relationships (yes, this can apply to external relationships too, tune in to find out more.)

As always, there are tips, tricks and journey Ideas to help you in your journey of Shamanic self-discovery.

I’m often asked, “if I learn how to go on a Shamanic Journey & meet my spiritual team, does that make me a Shaman?”

The answer is usually no. Becoming a Shaman takes years of experience and training. But being able to tap into the unseen realms and work with your spiritual team does make you a Shamanic Person!

In this episode, I talk about working with Shamans and the things we need to look out for when choosing a practitioner to work with.

I also talk about being a Shamanic Person and the one key thing that we all need to know to embody Shamanism in our daily lives.

Here are the highlights:

1. The 1 KEY THING we need to know to be a TRUE Shamanic Person
2. What’s the difference between Shaman and a Shamanic Person?
3. Why see a Shaman for an individual session?
4. What changes can you expect from an individual session?
5. What to look out for when looking to work with a Shaman or Shamanic Practitioner

Journeys to do this week (don't forget the free resources page to access drumming tracks!)

1. Go with your Guides and ask to be taken to the Upper World to the Temple of Soul. Ask for the gift of Soul Wisdom for your Soul in these times. Be open to what comes forward for you!
2. Working with others is an essential part of our Tribal Nature. If you're feeling drawn to work with others then go on a journey with your guide and ask for a recommendation for working with others that will be the best thing for you on your path right now.(For example, working in a circle, group or working with a one to one practitioner)

Links mentioned in this episode:

>>>The Most Vulnerable Podcast I've Ever Recorded

Don't know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

Don't want to wait until the next live training? I got you too!

Get access to the recording of the last live workshop I did (It's not real-time but the content is still just as powerful).

Sign up using the form on this page

Do you ever binge-listen podcasts or get really inspired by a book, just to forget most of the content a few weeks later?

Well, you're not alone. So many of us do this, and we forget many important lessons along the way.

With this in mind, I've decided to Refocus on past episodes of ShamanTalk that I feel are REALLY important.

I've added new insights to each ReFocus podcast and things I've learned along the way since recording

In this week's ReFocus, we take another look at toxic self-blame...

This week I’m going to be talking about something that I see quite regularly and that is Shamanism for Shamanism’s sake or more bluntly: Using Spirituality as a way to avoid doing the real inner work that is required for us to make grounded, lasting change in our lives. This discussion has the potential to push some buttons and perhaps be triggering for some, but there is no blame or judgment here. Seriously. Not one bit... However, I do feel like this subject is incredibly important and really needs to be brought out into the light so that we can know it, see it, change it in ourselves (if we do it) and put up firm boundaries to protect ourselves from it when it manifests in others. I truly love working with such a dedicated, amazing group of people and it is my mission with The Centre for Shamanism and ShamanTalk to make sure that you are armed with everything you need to bravely step out into the world as a true Shamanic Person and show the Universe what you’re made of! I won’t shy away from a topic because it has the potential to be uncomfortable. Especially if it has the potential to help you. The path of the Shaman isn’t all sweetness and light. We’re in the trenches, doing the work. And when you do the work, it really pays off. Believe me.

In this episode - part two of the Drama Triangle series, we go into more detail and look at ways to start to work effectively to overcome the drive to be a saviour and instead move towards personal responsibility and empowerment.

Get the full show notes here

Celebrate episode 100 with me as I share some wins and losses of the past few years. You can also find out how to win an Intuitive Guidance reading (which you can’t get any other way!)

Do you ever feel like something or someone is draining your spiritual & mental energy even when you’re not around them?

If so, then perhaps a cord-cutting ceremony is what you need.

What is cord-cutting?

Cord-cutting is a healing technique to help “unhook” you from draining or unhealthy emotional dynamics, freeing you from relational patterns that squander your mental and spiritual energy.

It is a ceremony that you can use with places, people, and sometimes even memories.

This technique can even allow relationships to grow into more healthy states; for example, it enables you to free yourself from unhealthy patterns within the relationship and redefine it entirely.

And it’s the topic of this week’s podcast episode.

I’ll be giving you the full rundown of when and where cord-cutting can come in useful, and I’ll be teaching you how to safely do it yourself.

As always, there are lots of tips, tricks and journey ideas to help you on your path of Shamanic self-discovery

We’ve all come into contact with someone who displays narcissistic tendencies.

We’ve likely displayed some of these tendencies ourselves at some point in our lives.

But did you know that there’s more than one type of narcissist?

We call the narcissists we tend to know and love ‘overt narcissists’, and the traits they tend to display are well known.

But there’s another type.

The covert narcissist - and they are much harder to spot.

In this episode, we're going to do a deep dive into covert narcissists, and how we can work to heal and release that energy shamanically. 

How are your boundaries? In this episode we explore some common struggles with boundaries to help you identify any issues you might face.

Empaths are highly sensitive individuals, who have a keen ability to sense what people around them are thinking and feeling. Psychologists may use the term empath to describe a person that experiences a great deal of empathy, often to the point of taking on the pain of others at their own expense. Here are some key pointers to Empathic Ability: Closeness and intimacy can overwhelm you You have good intuition You don’t do well in crowded places You have a hard time not caring People tend to tell you their problems You don’t like conflict You often feel like you don’t fit in You tend to isolate You have a hard time setting boundaries You sometimes find it tough to cope with sensory and emotional overload If these describe you then you are what I call an Enslaved Empath. You currently don’t understand your gifts or how to use them appropriately. They control your life and often make it difficult to function well in your world. Some people are deeply defined by their label of Empath and also use it to absolve responsibility for their own health and well-being… I’m an empath so I can x or y… Here are some steps you can take to become an Empowered Empath! Believe you can make changes & protect yourself. You need to choose the path of empowerment & not be defined by the apparent weakness of empathic gifts. Use visualisation techniques like light or bubbles to surround your energetic field. If you need something stronger imagine a blast of light pushing energy that’s not yours away. Work with the Guardian Guide from last weeks episode. I’ll include the journey to meet this guide again this week. Sort out your boundaries and learn to say no. Work with a therapist or practitioner to support you with the mindset you need to make the shift from enslaved to empowered. Remember that walking around feeling others emotions is not ethical or appropriate. Set the intention in your life that you only feel or hear or know things that will DIRECTLY affect you. That way you will develop your intuition properly knowing you are only hearing or feeling energy that’s relevant to you. It’s also way more ethical. No guilt here! When you know better you do better! Don’t play the victim. Empaths often lack self-worth. After a while, your need to be loved can turn into a victim mentality. This is commonly seen in spiritual relationships where the guru ends up with all of the resources and the devotees are drained of self-esteem, money and more. The benefits of being an Empowered Empath You have way more energy. Your intuition is clearer, ethical and pointed at the right things for you, not for others. Your sense of inner personal power and confidence will grow. If you work or want to work in the healing field you will be a way more effective holder of space. You empower yourself to move towards your destiny in this life as your energy is held in your centre and not scattered to the four winds. You empower others. Activities & Journeys A) Do the Guardian Guide Journey from last week Click here to listen. If you have not met this guide yet go ahead and do the Journey from last week. When you’ve met your Guardian Guide, move on to part B below. B) This is what I used to call the Body Protector Guide. If you have a relationship with this Guide already then go on a Journey and ask to be shown how this guide can help and support you through an empathic transformation. If any of the list above or a combination of them describe you then here is a mantra that I would like you to use for 7 days. ‘I am an Empowered Empath’ For at least 60 seconds as often as you can remember throughout the day. Min 3 times Working with water to transmute negative energy. Run yourself a bath, take a long shower, swim in a river or ocean – find water that you can immerse in. Take your time to connect with the water, feel it all around your body. Then ask the water to take from your

This week I give you 6 steps and things to think about. We will work within the Drama Triangle map. Coupled with the Blame work from a couple of weeks ago, it’s a powerful combination for transformation and change!

And if you’ve done the Drama Triangle work with me already (I know many of you have taken my drama triangle workshop) – listen anyway. This work is about layers and peeling those back.

In case you aren’t familiar with the Karpman Triangle, it represents the dynamics of unhealthy and manipulative relationships. Each corner of the triangle depicts a role that people play in the game of a dysfunctional relationship. One corner is the victim (please help me); one corner is the rescuer (the over-responsible, controller); and the third corner is the persecutor (the villain, the bully, the superior one).

So how do we escape these archetypes and create healthy conversations free from blame and invalidation of others?

The 6 steps I’ll talk about in this podcast are:

1. Realise that you are repeating a pattern. Stand back and observe your pattern.
2. Under any circumstance, do not become defensive. Keep a neutral attitude.
3. If you find yourself feeling like a victim, learn to take responsibility for yourself instead of blaming others for how your life is turning out.
4. If you find yourself feeling like you’re taking on too much responsibility, back off, allowing others to take on their own responsibilities, even allowing others to fail if that happens.
5. Refrain from the following: blaming, criticising, accusing, lecturing, scolding, monitoring, threatening, preaching, obsessing, over-reacting, or under-reacting. Instead, focus on being neutral. Ask yourself, “How can I bring a blessing to this situation?
6. Escape the FOG. FOG stands for Fear, Obligation, Guilt.

Rituals & Journeys

1. Go on a Journey with your Guides and ask to be shown a repeating pattern or behaviour that needs to shift for you. Ask to be shown in a clear and understandable way. Also ask for any actions (for example a ritual, apology, a life change) that you can take to start shifting that pattern or behaviour.
2. Go on a journey and ask for a ritual to carry out that will unhook us energetically from a person or situation that we find difficult to step away from or avoid being triggered by.

This could be a Fire Ceremony where you write down all your blame, hurt, guilt and fear and ask the fire to transform that for you.

If you need more confidence or support with ceremonial work click here for a free pdf to support you.

Podcasts episodes that support this episode

Episode 36

Episode 37

Episode 24

Don’t know how to Journey? No worries. I got you.

You can sign up for my free monthly live online introduction to Shamanism training here.

In this episode of ShamanTalk, I go on a deep dive into Shamanic Reiki with Jayne Goodsir of "Shamanic Reiki UK." Join the waitlist for Energy: The Course here…. https://shamanic-reiki.ck.page/abe3cf5c3f

Many of my clients and students struggle with Journey Interpretation & other Spiritual messages early on in their path. This week we dive into a comprehensive guide to understanding your spiritual messages.

So, I’ve been getting a lot of questions around fear. People seeing or experiencing things in their spiritual work that bring them fear… People who are experiencing intense energy from outside sources and don’t know how to control it… …Scary dreams etc. And people who are scared of their perceived abilities or inabilities when it comes to Shamanism or any other Spiritual work… …Especially people who are new to this work We’ve been living in a Christian-based culture for thousands of years now and we’ve been trained to fear the types of connection that Spiritual work outside of Christianity can bring. Shamans, witches, healers (whatever you want to call them) have been historically persecuted and still are in some places today. The fear of the unknown that has been instilled in our culture over many many lifetimes still lives on in us, through our ancestral lines Even if we know it or not, it affects us and our perceptions of the world around us and our experiences, even today. As a result, we have a tendency to experience a deep fear of things that we don’t understand. So this week’s episode of ShamanTalk is all about overcoming fear of the unknown and letting go of control to flow with whatever is going on around us. I’ll be helping you to step out of fear and into the light. We’ll be working with new processes to aid us in overcoming our fear and we’ll be meeting a new guide who will aid us in keeping us free from unwanted energetic influences. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. YOU are the master of your own destiny. You have the power to work firmly in the light and choose how you experience your spiritual path.

This may seem like an odd question, but have you ever considered your relationship with time?

​

Most of us feel incredibly frustrated when it comes to time. I continuously hear my clients tell me, "I don't have enough time" or "wouldn't that be great if I had space to do such & such”.

​

Not to mention our societies gripping fear of ageing, regret, and wasting time– that is a lot of pressure we put on ourselves regarding time.

​

The truth is, most of us have a pretty adversarial relationship to time.

​

There's never enough. We're always behind. It goes by too fast. We can't do important things because we don't have enough time.

​

This week I talk about how daily (or even weekly) spiritual practice can redefine our relationship with time, so we end up feeling we have MORE time rather than less time.

​

I give you lots of actionable tips and tricks to help you redefine your relationship with time so you can start using it in a way that serves you and your spiritual goals better.