There are three worlds supported by a huge tree – the upper world, lower world and the middle world. You might recognise the pictures below:
When you start taking journeys, you will journey to meet your guides and helpers. Keep an open mind, you might have a bear or you might have a mouse. At this stage in your learning, you might struggle with your ego!
The following is not meant to insult you, we all struggle with our ego, our belief systems and patterns of behaviour. This journey into shamanism is not an easy one. It will test your resolve, it will give you what you need to grow spiritually and ….. for those who take this on fully as a life path, they will help you to rid yourself of all your past emotions, belief systems and patterns of behaviour. In short, it will, over time enable you to look at your dark side, the stuff, you would rather not acknowledge and turn this side into the gold it truly is. For instance – huge fears of rejection and unworthiness – when worked with and accepted as part of you, can become the strength and bravery you need
Going back to the ego, I don’t know how many people I have met whose guides are always either big figures like Indian chiefs or queens/kings, knights, Merlin etc. Or impressive beings and animals like Lions and Bears and Wolves and Dragons. You might well have one or more of these but be careful, always use your senses, be careful not to project what your ego would like rather than what is real. What do I mean? Well, let’s say a ragged looking man comes to you, he looks as old as the hills and his skin is wrinkled and grey. However, he has a staff with him and has a grey tunic on – before asking him his name and who he is, you have created a picture in your mind, of who he is and pronounce him a monk or perhaps Merlin during his madness in the woods after the battle where he lost all of the people he loved!
I cannot stress enough, the importance of being open and using good sense! Beggars can be a trickster in disguise to see if you are in your ego space or if you are genuine. Beggars can indeed turn out to be Merlin or a monk! An old hag, could turn out to be a beautiful goddess. The test is not a game, it is to help you approach this work with good sense, a willing heart and a genuine desire to learn and be taught.
Always ask the creature that appears, if they are offering to be your guide. Always ask questions, the mouse may have just come out to peer at you and wonder what you are doing there! When you journey for the first time, there may be tricksters who will lead you a merry dance. They have a purpose! To test your resolve and to see if you are savvy! Always treat any creature or being that you meet with respect as you would in this world. You may not hear words, you might feel that this is your helper, like a knowing. The other thing to remember is it takes time to build a relationship. This needs to be nurtured with time and practice. I will go into this in a later blog.
Some guides and helpers are with you in the beginning, to be replaced by others as you grow. Some are there to protect you and others are there to help you with specific issues or for something you need right now. There are a multitude of creatures and beings, too many to name but being open is the most important thing. You might meet a wasp or a bee or a knat! You might meet a spider. Approach each with the same respect and ask questions. You may sense the answers or be given pictures or you might hear words or get a body sensation.
The other thing is, you might see an otherworldly being, like a gnome or a goblin or a dragon or a winged horse. The important thing is to be as open as possible. Avoid dismissing something either because you can’t believe what you are seeing or sensing is your guide/helper or because something is so small that they couldn’t possibly be a guide/helper!! There is always either a lesson in this or something that you need at this time from this creature/being. As I have said, always treat with respect as you would when meeting someone for the first time in our world. Use your discernment as you would with anyone you meet.
When you journey to meet your guides/helpers, you will use something in nature to take you down to the lower world. You might choose a small hole at the base of the tree and imagine climbing down through the roots. You might see a long slide that you race downwards on. You might dive into a river or jump down through a stream. Whatever feels right to you.
When you travel down, take a good look at your surroundings when you get down. I am not going to make any suggestions here, you can trust where you find yourself.
Prior to going on your journey, you will use something called an intention. You will start rattling/drumming and repeat the intention out loud, three times – e.g. My intention is to travel to the lower world to meet with my guides and helpers.
Trust what you see/feel/hear. Try to zoom in and take in what your surrounding look like and what any creature/being you meet looks like. Ask the questions you need to ask. If they turn out not to be your guide, thank them and say good bye.
Move on with your journey. If you are in a cave, move further in, if you are on a path in nature, continue walking. Keep your intention at the front of your mind and trust that they will present themselves. Don’t let your mind wander off your intention. If you find that you are filled with doubts, gently acknowledge them and let them go. Keep going.
If you are journeying for the first time, a teacher may be drumming for you. If this is the case, she/he will explain the different drum beats to expect and the calling you back beats. When you hear the call back. Thank whoever, you are speaking to and come back the same way that you went. This is very important. So retrace your steps to the root of the tree, the bottom of the slide or to the river, or whatever else you envisaged to go down to the lower world. Come back up the way you came, e.g. climb back up the roots of the tree, climb up the slide, jump up through the stream. If you are laying or sitting or standing, allow yourself time to come back into the room. Wriggle your toes and hands, yawn, or take a few deep breaths, in through your nose and breath out of your mouth. Become aware of any sounds in the room. Open your eyes. You now want to ground yourself. This can be done by drinking some water, walking round out on some grass in bare feet, or eating something. 
Don’t take yourself too seriously, this should be fun. It is a new beginning and is exciting! If everything didn’t work out just as you wanted, don’t worry. Take what you have seen/done/heard and thank the spirits for their help and guidance.
I always like to teach people, from the beginning, to give a gift of thanks. Its a good habit to get into. This can be later when you get home, just out in your garden or at the local park but out in nature somewhere.
Take an apple or some herbs or whatever feels right, out and place it on the ground or under a tree etc and bless the offering and say what it is for – e.g. Thank you to the spirits and my guides/helpers for helping me today on my journey. Use your own words, whatever feels right for you.
Now you have met your guides/helpers – there might be many or you might have only one. Whoever you meet as your guide/helper, is what is right for you at this moment.
Native Shamanism 