ally Archives - Owl Medicine: Shamanic Healing

Valuable Nuance

I mentioned in my post last night that the card underneath my Ace of Air did seem to hold some relevance to the question I’d posed. Indeed, it probably provides some valuable nuance to my query, “What’s next?” My initial focus, of course, was on paying attention to the details of the Ace of Air, the ‘main’ card I selected. I didn’t even allow myself to look at the bottom card until later. So when I did finally glimpse the 10 of Water (from the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot*), I was surprised to see a few personally relevant details popping out right away.

I immediately noticed the Black Panther peeking out at me from the jungle foliage. The energy of Black Panther first showed up in my life (on a noticeably consistent basis) shortly after I published my book, Owl Medicine*. I kept seeing images of them in the weirdest places, including my dreams. To make a long story short (something I actually loathe – give me a good story!), it turned out that Black Panther was a harbinger of my initiation into the Q’ero tradition. Black Panther was my companion as I honored my immersion into shamanism as a calling and way of life.

A New Path

Black Panther is an ally of mine, particularly with respect to certain shamanic tasks I undertake. Interestingly, Sheila (our first Boston Terrier) ‘told’ me shortly after we adopted her that she was the physical embodiment of my Black Panther. I know that probably sounds weird, but it was a palpable experience – and lasted throughout her life.

Finally, Black Panther showed up in a shamanic journey I took earlier in the day on November 12^th, 2011, the day we found out Karl had died the night before. Indeed, Black Panther showed me what had happened before I even had the slightest inkling anything was wrong. (Yet another story.)

Other Details

Another detail that jumped out at me when I looked at this card, beyond the verdant abundance, was the Toucan. It just so happens that the Toucan is intimately related to a Being with whom I interact in the Lower World (Uhupacha), especially when journeying on behalf of clients (as opposed to journeying for myself).

Of course, the myriad (ten, to be exact) Frogs depicted in the card immediately brought to mind my harping on the need to clean out and make space for the next phase in my life. This theme has persistently demanded my attention.

Without even opening the book, my overall sense of the foundation of the message being brought to me was that whatever that Ace of Air is suggesting is my ‘next’ devotion or Act of Power, it may also bring an abundance of flourishing energy and magic.

And then I looked it up in the book that accompanies the deck. The keyword was not what I expected – but it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Patience Personified (or Catified)-Brutus loving Tigger – Photo: L. Weikel

*affiliate link

(T-21)

Rainbow Bridge – Photo: L. Weikel

An Abundance of Riches

I chose Buffalo with Raccoon underneath today. Of course, I’m referring to my ‘pick’ of a card (and its foundation or context) on my day from the Medicine Cards* deck by Jamie Sams and David Carson. The keywords for Buffalo in the Medicine Cards are prayer and abundance. And I can attest that I engaged in a form of prayer for another Being today – and later realized an abundance of riches in quite an unexpected manner and setting.

Buffalo set the tone for the day when I found myself holding space for a dear friend’s cherished pet to make its transition. The experience gave me the opportunity to demonstrate how to energetically lessen the effort it takes to separate soul from body when the time comes. The process reverently makes it just a little easier for the soul to disengage when it is ready. It does not rush the process in any way.

A Storm Approaches – Photo: L. Weikel

Rainbow Bridge

One of the expressions used by my Teachers in Quechua is the ‘rainbow bridge’ when describing where a soul goes when it leaves its body here on Earth. The soul ‘crosses the Rainbow Bridge’ in order to get to the next realm. I’ve also been taught that we have allies that assist us in making that crossing.

Without going into a great deal of detail, suffice it to say that I have a number of specific allies who help me assist others in crossing the Rainbow Bridge. The number of them has increased over the years as I’ve been called upon to act as a psychopomp – a facilitator of the crossing from this world to the next. I’ve actually established deeply trusted relationships with a handful of allies upon whom I know I can rely in this work. Most requests for assistance come when a soul becomes lost or stuck in this realm after their body dies.

As might be expected, my mind was on the Rainbow Bridge a lot this afternoon. And as might be recalled from my recent posts, but especially what I wrote last night, I was especially eager to take a walk this evening. It was hard to contain my need to simply ‘be’ in the presence of Mother Earth and her children.

An Ally on the Bridge – Photo: L. Weikel

Astonishing Reflection

I don’t think I’d walked half a mile late this afternoon (or was it early evening?) before a most ominous storm amassed on the horizon. I decided to take my (our) chances, and Spartacus didn’t offer any objections.

It crossed my mind that perhaps I’d made a grievous mistake when thunder shook the ground underneath us and rain began cascading upon us. We managed, for the most part, to thread our way from one sparse patch of rain to another, mostly enjoying the protection of a number of trees along the way.

Of course, before we even got halfway around, the Rainbow Bridge appeared before our eyes. Yes, it had been on my mind and in my mind’s eye frequently this afternoon. But here it was, before my eyes in this reality as well.

YCMTSU – LtWD – Photo: L. Weikel

An Ally Appears

As we made our way home, we stopped now and again to capture the utter beauty unfolding before us. I managed to take a couple of photos that I didn’t fully appreciate until beginning to write this post.

For instance, the appearance of an ally precisely upon the Rainbow Bridge – without a doubt checking in to give comfort and a ‘high sign’ that a successful crossing had indeed occurred.

The close-up is even more astonishing.

My life is without a doubt filled with an abundance of riches.