Face to face on 9th – run by Shenoah and David face to face Zoom on 10th – run by Shenoah on Zoom
Information circulated We have run an annual Seidr day as part of LODG since 1998 to introduce people to the wonderful practice of seidr and to support those already working with it to deepen their practice. There will be two opportunities this year, a face to face meeting on the Saturday and a Zoom meeting on the Sunday.
Seidr is a nordic shamanic tradition that uses the staff, the song and the seat as key elements. It is a freer yet focussed and power filled way of working that offers a different experience than journeying with the drum or rattle. Being able to sing in tune is not required, it is the power our intention carries not how it sounds that is important.
The face to face meeting on Saturday will take place at the Wheatsheaf Hall. The Sunday meeting will take place on Zoom and will have a different community ritual than the Saturday.
1st Journey – singing self on journey with staff Going on a Journey to meet the spirit of my staff to ask how we can work together If you have not worked with a staff before or do not have a seidr teacher go with one of your known helpers.
2nd journey in pairs – Blessing The client sings the seidr worker on the journey at the start and back at the end of the journey then swap. Recipient decides what they want a blessing for. Going on a journey to ask for a blessing
3rd journey – Community Seidr, both days we did the same intention – Sending power to the COP29 Wisdom Keeper Delegation Face to Face Seidr – Participants sang 3 seidr workers who were sitting on the seidrhjel to gather the healing power from the spirits and deliver it to the Wisdom Keepers. When the work was done the seidr workers took personal questions Zoom Seidr – Community Seidr – All participants perceived themselves standing around the world tree with their staffs touching it and singing. They sent power to the world tree so it could be delivered to the COP29 Wisdom Keeper Delegation.
Information Circulated We receive many insights, teachings, and healing from the spirits, but how do we collect, remember and put into use the teachings / guidance / help / information received in our Journeys in a way that is easily accessible?
At this meeting we will explore different ways of keeping the essence of the teachings we receive alive to help integrate them into our lives.
Ways that were shared to remember journeys and teachings
Write them up – highlight the points of power / at the bottom write the main teachings from the journey and how to integrate into your life
If write it up on a computer – can search for words when looking for something
Each season look back over the journeys to see if there are any ‘red threads’
Do a drawing – one page the journey, the opposite page images to help remember
If drawing on separate its of paper ensure you put the date, intention and teaching on the back
Download a photo or image onto your phone so you see it
Set a timer to ‘remember’ the teaching
Write a Poem that encapsulates the teaching
Put a photo or post it note on your fridge
Jewellery that helps to remember the helper or teaching
Walking journey to find an object
Ordinary reality things – when drinking water / having a shower / each time the wind touches you
Can ask on any journey – for a way to keep connected to the teachings
Can ask for a daily practice
Do journeys with a journey buddy – they are great for seeing patters and if any teachings are being repeated
Do a ‘story board’ with pictures and writing
create ‘flash cards’ with words or sentences that the spirits have given you on your journeys
Ask for a song
Wear colours that come up in your journeys
Ask for a daily practice to keep you connected
Ask on the journey how to remember to do the practice
1st Journey– drum journey Going on a journey to ask my spirits what is it important for me to pay attention to in this season When on the journey pay attention to the colours, images, feelings. When you get back – create an image to help you remember the points of power. It does not have to be amazing artistically, just get the feel / colours / help you remember the teachings
2nd Journey – drum journey I am going on a journey to ask my spirits for help to reconnect when I am disconnected and for a song of reconnection The song can be a tone, it can have words, may not be a song but be words
3rd Journey – Acted out journey If you have had a journey recently, or not so recently, and were told to pay attention to something and you are finding it hard you can do this journey. I am going on a Journey to ask my spirits for a daily practice to help keep me connected to (insert what you were told to pay attention to)
If you have not had one do the following journey I am going on a Journey to ask my spirits for a daily practice to help keep me connected to what it is important for me to pay attention to this season
Information Circulated the Autumn Equinox is on 22nd September, a point in space halfway between the summer and winter solstices. It’s a time of preparing for the coming winter, putting supplies aside (physically and mentally) and asking for help as the longer nights draw in. Many Spiritual traditions give thanks for the harvest and celebrate this time of plenty, we will be celebrating the harvest within our own life as well as natures harvest and asking how to prepare for the coming season. For part of the day we will working with the spirits of nature in Vauxhall Park.
For part of this meeting we will be working in nature in Vauxhall Park which is a few minutes walk from Wheatsheaf Hall.
1st journey Going on a Journey to give thanks and ask what in my life is ready to be harvested
Go to Vauxhall Park to do Walking Journeys in nature 2nd Journey – walking journey Walking journey to ask what does the autumn equinox mean for me and how, if at all should I mark or celebrate it? 3rd Journey – walking journey walking journey to ask what are the gifts of autumn for me. (and find an object to keep me connected to the gifts and what I am harvesting from the first journey)
Back at the venue put all the objects round around the altar
4th Journey – acted out What is it important for me to pay attention to in the coming season
To finish – stand around the altar and with the song and rattle ask the spirits to charge the items on the alter with the resources needed to support people in the coming season
Information circulated Embracing the healing energies and wisdom of crystals invites us into a sacred partnership with these natural entities, fostering a profound connection that enriches our spiritual practices and everyday lives. As we explore their unique energies and qualities, we can harness their healing and calming presence to enhance our well-being, facilitate personal growth, and deepen our shamanic work, ultimately aligning ourselves with the ancient power and knowledge that crystals embody.
You are invited to bring your own crystals to work with to this meeting. If you do not have physical crystals we will work with their essence in the spirit world.
1st Journey – Journeying to the sound of crystal bowls Going on a journey to meet the energy of the crystal beings and understand what their presence offers world
See which of your crystals wants to work with you for this journey. If you do not have a physical crystal you can ask one to present itself to you when you start the journey. It will be representing all the crystal beings as opposed to only itself as an individual crystal.
Hold the crystal – or close eyes and see one arise in minds eye and perceive yourself holding it. Feel it’s energy, soften and expand your own energy, ask for your boundaries and the boundaries of the crystal to soften
meet the energy and spirit of the crystal, how does it see itself and the place of crystals in the world
Ask if the crystal has an opinion about the ethics of how they are collected / mined
2nd journey – 20 mins drum journeys Going on a journey to ask how to work with, care for and honour my crystals
Can work with one or more of your crystals one by one. take each one in your hand, open to its energy what are its gifts / is there something specific it can support with, is it for you or can it be dedicated to help others, what specific Wisdom does it carry?
ask how you can work together
Ask how you can honour and care for it
Journey 3 partner work intention: I am asking this crystal to offer …. Insert partners name … the help they need at this time
The may be a blessing, or healing or energy, or information. The spirits will decide.
Sit opposite your partner. The receiver softens and opens to the energy of the crystal.
The person doing the work holds the crystal in front of you and towards your partner – as an offering and to make a connection. You can continue to hold it or put it down in front of the screen. May be more than one that wants to offer support at this time. If you do not have a physical crystal ask one to manifest in the journey.
Call your spirits
Ask the crystal for the healing your partner needs at this time – can use your rattle, may say what you are seeing, energetically, or may have a song or sound that is sung through the crystal and to your partner. The crystal magnifies the power that arrives with your parter
Information Circulated Mandalas are used in many spiritual traditions to represent wholeness, transformation and to focus attention and power. We will tap into the healing energy of the spirits of nature in Kensington Gardens, using the ancient symbolism of the mandala to channel our intentions and manifest positive change. By creating our own personal mandalas, we will foster a sense of wholeness and balance inviting transformation and renewal in our lives.
Our annual outdoor summer meeting will be held Kensington Gardens in the centre of London. We meet under a grove of trees which gives protection from the sun and light showers, we have an alternative sheltered place to work if it is very wet. We will be having a picnic so please bring food to share. There will also be a give away so you are welcome to bring anything shamanically or spiritually focussed that is ready to be passed on. Everything will be put on a blanket for others in the group to take. If anything you bring is not taken you will need to take it home with you.
1st Journey I am going on a walking journey to find a place of power to ask what in my life my mandala should bring attention and to
2nd Journey I am going on a walking journey to gather what I need to create my mandala to bring power and attention to …. (Insert what your mandala is focussing on)
Break for second sitting of picnic
3rd Journey – Create the mandala David and shenoah create the centre, each person creates theirs around the centre Connect with spirits, be betwixt and between the worlds Create it with intention, singing the power in, placing everything in connection with the sprit, can use the rattle to re-connect / bring power to it.
Information circulated Trees are powerful wisdom keepers, healers and bringers of life. We will embark on a journey to tap into their ancient wisdom, honouring their profound role as guardians of the natural world. As we cultivate a deeper connection with these majestic beings it allows us to tap into their healing energy, absorb their calming presence, and integrate their wisdom into our lives and shamanic work.
1st Journey – Middle World Drum Journey I am going on a journey to be in the presence of a tree I know
Ask your spirits to take you to a tree you know in ordinary reality that wants to open itself to you – it may be one you know well and is a good friend, or one that you pass but have not paid much attention to or have seen only once.
This journey is for you to expand your consciousness and for the tree to expand its consciousness and be in its presence as opposed to asking for something specific to happen. When you arrive approach it slowly.
Before starting the journey we sang ‘I open my heart’ to open our own hearts and to ask the trees to open their hearts to us. You can find the link to the song here
2nd Journey – Drum journey I am going on a Journey to the world tree to ask …..
Ask spirits to take you to the world tree – could be upper, middle or lower world to ask a personal question. Suggested pre-fixes could be:
What is my next step to …
What needs to happen for me to …
I am asking for a healing for ….
I am asking for help to …..
What effect will it have on my life if I….
If unsure what to ask you can ask for the help or healing I need at this time
3rd Journey – Working in pairs in Zoom breakout rooms I am asking for a blessing to honour the trees
The world tree is connected to all trees so the blessing goes to the tree that you worked with as well as all trees that are, have been and are yet to come
One person will be representing the world tree, soften relax, open and ask to stand for the world tree, be in the place of receiving the blessing
One person will be asking their spirits for a blessing to honour the trees. Call your spirits to you and perceive the person in front of you to be representing the world tree. Allow the blessing to flow through you to the world tree. It may be with the rattle, song, you may see images or be given words.
When you have finished the work let your partner know the work is over and swap over
Information circulated Connection to and working with nature is fundamental to shamanic practice. By connecting with nature, we can tap into the natural world’s rhythms and cycles, allowing ourselves to move in harmony with the seasons and the flow of life. Spring is an especially powerful time of the year. The energy of the season offers us a chance to release the old and embrace new beginnings, helping us to realign and find balance in our lives. By tapping into this natural energy, we can harness its power to make positive changes and move forward with a sense of renewal and growth. For part of this meeting we will be working in nature in Vauxhall Park which is a few minutes walk from Wheatsheaf Hall.
1st Journey – drum journey Going on a journey to meet the spirit of spring to ask what new beginning or energy am I ready to receive into my life at this time
In Vauxhall Park 2nd journey – walking journey Walking journey to meet a tree in the orchard to ask for a teaching about coming into full growth (worked with the orchard as they know about bringing something to fruition. Also we have worked with the orchard for wassail so already have a relationship with the trees)
3rd Journey – walking and connection journey Walking journey to find a place to connect with and receive the power of the sun to support my renewal and growth (sun is also making big changes in the heat it offers, and also the daylight increases)
4th journey – Acted out journey Going on an acted out journey to merge with the tree I met in the orchard to receive the power I need to ……. (insert whatever energy you were shown in previous journey)
5th journey Make representative of self and rattle over self to integrate and balance the new energies and teachings received
Information Circulated Many traditional cultures maintain an active relationship with their ancestors who offer ongoing support, guidance and strength. At this meeting we will explore how different ways of connecting with our ancestral lineage can support us in our lives. This session is inspired by the systemic ritual work of Daan Van Kampenhout.
Introduction to the day Studies have shown how the experience of our ancestors can have an effect on our biology, mindset and patterns. Some cultures believe the dead have a continued existence, and may possess the ability to influence the fortune of the living. As spirits who were once human themselves, they are sometimes seen as being better able to understand human needs than would a divine being.
The ancestors were concerned with the same areas of life that we are – love, relationships, providing for our family, where to live, earning a living etc. Within the field of our ancestors there will be those that overcame obstacles successfully, those who have wisdom and resources and who can and want to support their descendants. Below shows a representation of 6 generations of the ancestral field. If the red triangle is you, behind you in brown is your mother and father, behind them in yellow are their mother and father – your grandparents, behnind then in green their parents – your great grandparents and so on, In just 6 generations you will have 64 bloodline ancestors.
Ancestral Field by Daan Van Kampenhout
1st Journey –going on a journey into my ancestral field to ask for a healing I need at this time for my ancestral line
The healing is for something that has come down through the ancestral line that is still effecting you – once on the journey you will be shown what it is, it may be something you are already aware of or something new.
Ask your spirits to take you to your ancestral field, it is usually in the middle world, but you may be taken somewhere else
Stand at the front of the ancestral field, feel your ancestors behind you, how does it feel, turn around and see your ancestors in front of you, experience what it is like
Speak to your ancestors and ask them to help you – speak respectfully, introduce yourself as their descendent, why you have come, ask them to look kindly upon you
Walk into the ancestral field and walk amongst the ancestors, find one who can help and see what unfolds.
You may find that the healing comes down from them to you, it may also go back the other way, as we heal ourselves so we can heal our ancestors
2nd journey – Going on a journey into my ancestral field to ask for a resource / gift from my ancestral line and is there anything I can do for you
This is asking the ancestors for a gift that has come down to you through the ancestors. It may be someting you already know or it may be new. They may give you information about how to use it or deepen it or how it was used by other ancestors.
Start in the same way as you did for the first journey by walking into your ancestral field
Journey 3 – working in pairs Asking (insert partners name) ancestors for the help (insert partner name) needs at this time
The work is in pairs using zoom breakout rooms. Decide who is going to receive and who is going to give the help. You will be facing each other on the screen for the work.
person receiving help – will be sitting perceiving their ancestral field in front of them
Person giving help will be standing perceiving your partners ancestral line behind you. You are representing their ancestors and being the vehicle for ancestors to offer help to their descendent
Person receiving – Relax and be in place of receiving. Speak to your ancestors and ask them out loud for the help you need ‘ dear ancestors it is I …… your descendent, i ask you look kindly on me this day and help me with ….
Person giving – percieve yourself at the front of your partners ancestral field with the ancestors behind you. Call your spirits and ask to receive the help from that persons ancestors – may be via rattle, drum, singing, words may come, you may be shown images.
When you have finished the work. let your partner know the work is over, share and swap.
The following are other ways of working with the ancestors that were suggested to those attending after the meeting
•perceive the ancestor field when not on a journey and walk amongst them •perceive the ancestors in a circle around you walk to the one that can support you •Use the ancestor field map and use stones to represent the ancestors
Information circulated From drums, songs and rattles to feathers and herbs, the diverse toolkit of shamans goes beyond their journeys, offering hope, healing, and insights to people seeking them. At this meeting we will delve into the power of sound in shamanic healing exploring the use of the drum, rattle and song and how to use them in our shamanic practice for ourselves and others. You do not need to be able to sing in tune or to have a drum to attend but please let us know if you do have a drum and will be bringing it when you book your place.
1st Journey – drum journey Going on a journey to meet my healing teacher to ask how to work with song, rattle and drum, as healing tools (they may also speak about other healing tools you use)
2nd journey – partner work with drum healing 2 rounds – first partner says what you want healing for. Calls their spirits and listen to the drum and where it wants to be played and the rhythm – be sure to be sensitive to how loud it is, do not want people jumping out of their skins Share and swap
3rd journey – partner work with song healing 2 rounds – first partner says what you want healing for Call spirits and allow song to sing – may be words, or sounds, or just one phrase that repeats and repeats Share and swap
4th – Journey – group healing with rattle Half in the middle others round and go in and do rattling over people Swap over
Information Circulated Imbolc at the start of February marks the coming of spring when seeds are sending roots down into the earth their shoots up into the world. At this meeting we will plant and nurture the seeds of our life and work with the energy of the coming spring to help them grow and flourish.
1st Journey – drum Journey I am going on a Journey to be shown the seeds of my life to plant at this time and the place of fertility to plan them – do not plant them just look at the place. If you have some ideas of seeds you want to plant let your spirits know about them too
2nd Journey – Acted out Journey Journey to the place of fertility to give of my heart the food for the growth of my seeds (and to ask how I continue to nurture them) it could be in song / dance / energy / intention / speaking words of hope – allow it to flow through you. It comes from you but it also spirit power of your spirits and the spring energy.
3rd Journey – partner work Journey to ask the spirits to release anything that may get in the way of (insert partners name) seeds coming to fruition Could be a narrated journey or sung journey or just rattle or drum and say what happens afterwards Share and swap over
