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| Shamanic Practice To reclaim, rediscover, return to one’s SOUL To EMPTY all that is not SOUL To HEAL intrusions, injuries, wounds, damage to the SOUL To TRANSFORM one’s outer life to an ascending SOUL…. a SOULFUL Work of ART To TRANSCENDENCE where the SOUL descends to SPIRIT To Guide to SACRED INTUITION Red Bear, Shaman My Path to Shamanic Practice •Group Facilitatior * Group Trainer •Studies, Experiences, Practice in the Jungian Wisdom •Clinical Social Work Practice with Individuals, Couples, Families and Groups •Studies, Experiences, Practice with many models of Counseling and Therapy with Adults and Adolescents •Studies, Experiences, Practices in Mentorship with Adults and Adolescents •Studies, Experiences, Practice and Guiding Rites-of-Passage VisionQuests, Shamanic VisionQuests, and Shamanic Retreats •Beginning in 1970, integration of my whole journey and entire life into Shamanic Practice ___________________________________________________________________________ Red Bear, Shaman My Journey to Shamanic Practice In 1970, I began on a path that now in 2006 has led to becoming a Shaman. In 1970, I started out as an accounting major at Bernard M, Baruch College of Business Administration of the City University of New York. From 1970-1976, I apprenticed to Morton Mintz who began my shamanic path. I first became a group facilitator and trainer in sensitivity training-encounter groups. I intensely experienced and studied small group processes and dynamics. The next path was to experience and study the wisdom of Carl Gustav Jung. My working and learning of the magic of groups and the mystery of Jungian wisdom continues in this present moment, Morty guided me to go to graduate social work school. In 1976, I received my masters in social work in individual, family and group treatment from the Social Service Administration of the University of Chicago. I returned to the University of Chicago from 1980-1983 and completed course work and qualifying exams for a Ph.D. in social work. Intensive therapy with Florence Anderson, who became my mentor, greatly advanced my journey. Studies and work with Peter Homans, Professor of Divinity at the University of Chicago, in Jungian wisdom was another vital step. Mentorship with Father Davis Barker, a Jungian scholar and therapist, and Billie Head, Jungian counselor and educator, offered vital learning and growth. Since 1976, being a clinical social worker doing counseling and therapy offered essential teachings. From alcoholism and drug abuse programs to unions/companies to schools to colleges/universities to hospitals to health maintenance organizations, I learned the craft and art of counseling and therapy. Starting my part-time private practice in 1978 and going to full-time private practice in 1984 (which continues in the present moment), I have been able to learn, grow and transform myself as a wounded healer and alchemist for transformation. This is written not to share about my professional background (go to Background on this website), but to provide an understanding of what guided me to shamanic practice. All the time in every session, in every group, in every training program, in every consultation, I sought to sneak in mentorship. After awhile, I found I was truly a mentor and no longer a clinical social worker, counselor or therapist. Clearly, at times, my mentorship draws on and must be involved in clinical social work, counseling and therapy, but as a mentor. In 2000, after 26 years of counseling and therapy sneaking in mentorship, I moved to only being a mentor and offering mentorship which I continue to offer in the present moment. In 1998, I guided my first VisionQuest in Warrenville, Illinois for older adolescents. This was the beginning of returning to shamanic studies and practice which began in 1970. I had experienced many quests, retreats and programs by shaman, but wasn’t ready to return to the shamanic path myself. In 1999-2000, I guided two VisionQuests for older adolescents and two VisionQuests for adults. These were initiation, rite-of-passage quests and they were truly amazing. In 2000-2001, I went through great personal trauma that I called my “11 Months in Hell”. For 11 months, after a great personal loss, I seemed to be falling into a bottomless pit of despair, suffering and death. It was these 11 months of dying that led to my rebirth and to embracing the path of the shaman. If it wasn’t for this life threatening “11 months in Hell”, there would have been no path for my becoming a shaman. In 2001, I guided my first VisionQuest in Sedona, Arizona. This VisionQuest changed and transformed me in every way personally and professionally. It was this VisionQuest in Sedona that began the alchemy to transform me into shamanic practice, In 2001, I guided my first retreat in Sedona, Arizona that continued the painful, wondrous, delightful, humbling and luminous to shamanic pratice. Truly, the first Sedona VisionQuest lit the fires to my Shamanic Fire.VisionQuests continued in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 in Sedona and so did retreats in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006. I have also guided three retreats at Devil’s Lake/Spirit Lake, Wisconsin. It was these VisionQuests and Retreats built on a foundation of my journeying and being mentored since 1970 that has led to my shamanic practice. It was difficult and challenging to move from counseling and therapy to mentorship. It is far more difficult and challenging to move from mentorship to shamanic practice. It is also almost overwhelming humbling. However, with profound humility and gratitude as well as trust and faith, I have moved to shamanic practice. My shamanic practice encourages and supports my continued practice as a Mentor that is still vitally important to me. I bring all I have learned, all I have experiences, all my studies, and my SELF and SOUL to Shamanic Practice. However, humbly, it is my amazing gift of INTUITION that guides all my SHAMANIC WORK. Till my mentorship with Morton Mintz, I didn’t know what INTUITION was. Since 1970, the great gift of INTUITION has guided my work and my life. It is with this incredible gift of INTUITION that I ever humbled by and grateful for that I guide human beings to their SOUL. • I dedicate all my work as a shaman to Morton Mintz who was a great shaman and, without him, there would be no path for me. Meegwetch Mort…oh where, oh where would I be without your Love, mentorship and guidance. ___________________________________________________________________________ Red Bear, Shaman Shamanic Practice My shamanic path and practice is very simple to share. As a shaman, I seek to guide human beings to their Soul. My work in shamanic practice is to guide clearing out and emptying all that blocks one from their Soul. My work in shamanic practice is to guide cleansing and healing so one is carried and taken to their Soul. My work in shamanic practice is to guide transformation to a great returning, reclaiming, rediscovery and reunion (communion) with one’s Soul. My work in shamanic practice is to guide transcendence to human beings becoming interconnected—in inter-are-ness---with one’s Soul and Sacredness, Holiness, Divinity, the Great Mystery, the Tao, the ONE…. My work in shamanic practice is emptying, healing, transformation and transcendence to/with/of/in Soul---the ascending Soul and the descending Soul. Shamanic work guides human beings to their ascending Soul coming forth in one’s outer life (i.e. work, relationships, education). Shamanic work guides human beings to their descending Soul….inter-are-ness with Sacredness and Divinity regardless of the word or name used. My work in shamanic practice is offered with great humility and gratitude. I have great trust and faith that the gifts I have been given have called me to this work. My shamanic work is centered, rooted, grounded and flows in the gift I have been given of intuition and the gifts of my journey, through the guidance of great teachers, to intuitive wisdom. My work in shamanic practice is to guide others to what I have been gifted with because of other shaman, mentors, guides and teachers. Simply, my work in Shamanic Practice draws upon my INTUITION to guide human beings to their SOUL. •Shamanic Work with Individuals Adults, Young Adults and Older Adolescents •Shamanic Groups for Adults, Young Adults and Older Adolescents •Four-Five Day Shamanic VisionQuests and Retreats in Sedona (and Dugas), Arizona •Three Day Retreats at Devil’s Lake/Spirit Lake, Wisconsin •Shamanic VisionQuests and Retreats for Schools, Colleges, Agencies, Organizations…. •Seminars, Talks and Workshops on Shamanic Practice at your location •SPRING 2007 in Sedona, Arizona SACRED INTUITON VISIONQUEST (REGISTRATION INFORMATION FORTHCOMING) ___________________________________________________________________________ The Shaman Sits Alone Written on the 5/06 VisionQuest in Sedona, AZ ~ by Red Bear The shaman sits alone just outside the cave making his offering singing his power song Inside the cave, the Bear Spirit listens to his Call Surrounded by the Ancients and Ancestors The Turtle Spirit, Moose Spirit, Deity Spirit, Wolf Spirit, Dancing Kachina Spirits, Magician Spirit, Tree Crone Woman Spirit, Great Maiden Spirit, Fire Eagle Spirit and his Anima are present The shaman sits alone Outside is a world that he wonders and worries about questioning where is SOUL in this culture Feeling very old in these modern realities that offers far too little Truth, Meaning, Wisdom, Love The shaman sits alone Oh yes, he Loves and is Loved But the outer world demands a high price for its promise of mere survival, numbing comfort, trivial pleasure that he has trouble paying The shaman sits alone Reflecting on the problems of the outer world Problems built on illusions that cause untold suffering to individuals, relationships, communities, nations, the creatures of the Earth, Water, Air, and to all of Nature The shaman’s piercing vision of intuition sees through these problems, illusions, suffering But recognizes that they will not be emptied, will not be healed, will not be transformed, will not be transcended until one’s SOUL and the collective SOUL ascends and descends deeply--- very deeply The shaman sits alone This last VisionQuest has birth and aged this shaman A birthing a good decade in the womb and many decades creating the womb The shaman sits alone WHAT NOW---he asks 10, 20, 30 years to walk the Earth swim in the Waters of Chaos dance in the Fire soar in Father Sky pray to the 7 Directions, the Ancients, the Ancestors What now awaits this shaman The shaman sits alone just outside the cave witnessing Grandmother Moon leaving watching Grandfather Sun begin to rise soon he will be reenter this cave a sacred ritual and holy ceremony that seems new each time asking What now What nowance. ___________________________________________________________________________ The I Ching An Oracle of Wisdom In 1970, Red Bear began learning, studying and reading the I Ching. He continues his learning, studying and journeying with the I Ching in the present moment. I Ching readings by Red Bear average at least two hours and can take up to four hours. Red Bear uses many I Ching oracles and sources in his readings, but, at least, 50% of the reading arises from his intuition. Each reading is unique and no two readings are or can ever be the same. After receiving an I Ching reading, one is guided on a path to learning and work that needs to be done for many months and, often, for many years. Red Bear has profound respect for this wellspring of eternal wisdom, truth, direction, guidance and vision. The I Ching reading shines a brilliant light on what one needs to understand and learn from their past, shines an illuminating light on what one needs to understand and learn about one’s present and a radiant light on what lies ahead on one’s future path and journey. Red Bear also enjoys workshops, talks and teaching about the I Ching. He is continually amazed at how each and every reading offers in-depth truth, wisdom and guidance. |
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