My Blog

New Ezine featuring Indian Snake Magic. Psychic Kids

sylviabrallier — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:42:08 GMT

The Tantric Shamanism Institute's July Newsletter is up This edition features: Snake Charmer interview in India... Now this you have to see! (unless perhaps you are deathly afraid of snakes.) A snake swami from India talks to me about his work with snakes and his spiritual practices. Psychic Kids! Some very insightful interviews with Marsha Calder regarding Managing Psychic gifts. She and her husband were recently on A&E’s Psychic Kids, Children of the Paranormal with two of her children who have enormous Psychic gifts (I know because I get to work with them!) The Magic of Rhythm… A really interesting article by Morwen Two Feathers on the power rhythm has to entrain, to heal and to bring people together. Enjoy! http://www.tantricshamanism.com/TSIezine.07.08.html warm regards, Sylvia Brallier Director of the Tantric Shamanism Institute http://www.tantricshamanism.com Please consider coming on retreat to India with The Tantric Shamanism Institute this fall... Visit Goddess temples, Meditate by the Ganges River. Experience the mystery and Magic of a culture that worships the sacred in all things. I have 4 more spaces open for this retreat. You can find out more about this adventure at: http://tantricshamanism.com/India

Tantric Shamanism Institute's Ezine is up!

sylviabrallier — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:41:08 GMT

The Tantric Shamanism Institute's Ezine is now up. If you'd like to view it, please click on the link. http://www.tantricshamanism.com/TSIezine.05.08.html In this month's edition of the TSI Ezine I've got a couple of special treats for you. First off, last weekend I took a trip to Bryce canyon, which is one of those incredible south west geological sites with strange rock formations. What a remarkable place! We took some spectacular pictures which I'm sure you'll enjoy. I've also got part two of the Speaking with Shamans video series ready for you to see. ( It is an interview with ancestral Mayan shamans about being a shaman.) There is also information about my spring tour to New England and upcoming retreats. Of special note, now is the time to let me know if you are interested in coming to India with me. I'm so looking forward to returning to the Himalayas and hope you might join me. warm regards, Sylvia Sylvia Brallier Director of the Tantric Shamanism Institute http://www.tantricshamanism.com my Blog, Weaving Worlds: http://weavingworlds.blogspot.com/

Sylvia's New England Tour schedule

sylviabrallier — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:48:20 GMT

I'm heading back east to teach three weekends coming up really soon. The first stop, Rites of Spring. It's 30th year anniversary. I've made it to quite a few of those 30 years by now. I love to see all my old friends here. I'll be teaching a 3-4 classes at Rites this year. Next stop, Psychic Healer's training Course in Maine, May 30-June 1st This is a great opportunity to awaken and hone your intuitive skills to help others June 6-8th I'll be teaching Awakening the Light Body through Tantric Shamanism in the Northampton, MA area. This workshop includes the big hoohaa breathwork that I'm known for. If you haven't experienced that yet, I really recommend coming along for the ride! Al the details are below. See you soon? Love, Sylvia Psychic Healer. Training Course with Sylvia Brallier In the Greater Portland Maine area May 31st and June 1st Intro workshop May 30th- 7-10pm Strengthen your psychic perceptions. Learn how to apply your extra sensory skills to help people have greater health and a sense of well being. Learn how to: See auras Read the body energetic Develop skills as a medical intuitive Develop clairvoyance, clairaudience and clairsentience Offer past life readings Learn how to augment the healing skills you already have with psychic ability. Sliding Scale $250-175 for the entire weekend Sponsored by the Spiritual Rennaisance Center To pre-register, call (207) 883-1081. or email us at info@tantricshamanism.com www.tantricshamanism.com/psych...8.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Awakening the Light Body through Tantric Shamanism with Sylvia Brallier June 6th-8th In the Northampton, MA area Interpenetrating and surrounding the physical body is a body of light. Light body awareness is a key to unlock the cosmic doorway to the next octave of your spiritual journey. Friday and Saturday: Learn breath, meditation and movement techniques that will help you to access and harness powerful forces with in you that will empower and transform your life. Their regular application will help you to have more peace, balance, energy and a sense of personal mastery.. Sunday Breathwork: Ready to go beyond where you've ever been before? This breath work journey will assist you to remove the blockages that have been holding you back and open the gateways to deep bliss and profound change. This extremely potent initiation is only for those who are truly ready to take the next step on their path of spiritual evolution. Intro experience Friday night: 7pm-9pm-$25 InSpirit Common, Hadley, MA Saturday and Sunday Workshop 10am-5:30pm Sliding scale $140-$180 Wildlife Studio, Florence, MA Pre-register at: 702-697-7003 info@tantricshamanism.com www.tantricshamanism.com/awake...8.html Sylvia Brallier is the Director of the Tantric Shamanism Institute and the Author of the book Dancing in the Eye of Transformation. She has been teaching healing and tantric shamanism workshops nationally and internationally for 21 years. Her work is based on her own experiences with both ancient and new techniques for the evolution of consciousness. She has a deep commitment to creating safe space for the deepest of transformations.

Videos from India are up!

sylviabrallier — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:24:34 GMT

Dear Friends, I've just arrived home from India, and I've created some amazing videos that I'm sure you'll be interested to see. The first is pictures and video footage from our time visiting temples and villages in Rishikesh and Haridwar, India. Rishikesh and Haridwar are in the foothills of the Himalayas next the Ganges river. This place is very beautiful and sacred. Here is the link to the video: www.tantricshamanism.com/india...o.html The second video is of my pilgrimage up to the Bijli Mahadev temple in Kulu, India. "Bijli" means lightening. The Bijli Mahadev temple is a temple dedicated to the aspect of Shiva that removes excess electrical energy from the body so a person can live. Being someone who has personally experienced a powerful kundalini opening AND been struck by lightening, this was an important pilgrimage for me. You can see my personal experience of this amazing place here: www.tantricshamanism.com/Bijli.html Enjoy! Namaste, Sylvia Sylvia Brallier Author, Dancing in the Eye of Transformation Director of The Tantric Shamanism Institute www.tantricshamanism.com

The Secret to Manifestation

sylviabrallier — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 23:06:05 GMT

I've got some big dreams I'd love to see happen. I bet you do too. I'd love to share my thoughts with you about some basic keys to success which I've been applying to my life in order to make those dreams a reality. These days, these "secrets" are becoming less of a secret. However, how to actually follow those keys can be a bit tricky to do, especially when most of us have mental, emotional and lifestyle habits that don't necessarily support those big changes. No matter how long you work on shifting your relationship to reality, there is still more work to do. If you are especially savvy, that work can be a way to approach life more lightly instead of making changes that really do feel like work. Life Mapping If you wanted to build a house, you'd use a blueprint. To make your dreams come true, it's good to be clear about what it is you actually want. Making a "life map" is a creative way to embrace your dreams. Take a while to write of a description of what you want in your life. Then get a big piece of paper or poster board, some magazines with great pictures, and some paints and or pens. Draw, collage and/ or paint your dreams in living color. Don't worry about it being perfect. Remember, this is supposed to be fun. It's great to leave this up somewhere in your home as a reminder or where you are headed. It's Already So, Right? An important part of creating the reality you want is done by placing your vision in the proper spot on the time line... the present. When we visualize things in the future, they stay that way.... in the future. Placing them in the present helps them to manifest in the here and now, at this time, on this planet, in this life. When you are doing this meditation, get all your senses into it. What does it feel like? Sound like? Look like? Taste and smell like? Enjoy that sense of success and completion. An Attitude of Gratitude No matter what you want that's different than what you've got, you've already got a lot. By really appreciating the blessing of your life, you draw in more blessings. When we are negative and sour, we get more things to be negative and sour about. When you appreciate, you get to have your fun twice. Once when you are appreciating, and then later, when you've got more to appreciate. Actively seek things to be grateful about daily. Appreciate those around you regularly. Everybody will be happier. Watch That Mind! The mind can be a big trouble maker. There you are, doing your best to make reality better through positive thought and attitude. The next thing you know, your mind is creating a whole sad-afraid-angry story about "How your life is." Enough is enough! Stop being such a party pooper, you mind you! It's good to practice discerning awareness, but it's not so useful to be thinking about something you've already mulled over ad infinitum. It doesn't change a thing, except to succeed in getting your panties in a bigger twist. Watch your mind, and when it starts getting agitated, change the channel. You might find there will be a lot of action with the remote control in the beginning, but I promise, it WILL get better. Don't Sweat the Little Stuff (or the big stuff) Obsessing on what ain't happening just digs you a deeper hole for you to fall into. Worrying and over-planning just creates more misery. Taking a strangle hold on your life squeezes out the joy. When we let the difficult bits of our lives roll away like water off a duck's back, it's a lot easier to be positive and happy. When I find myself worrying or overstrategizing life, I imagine a gateway of light before me. In the infinite light of Divine wisdom there is always a way through. I step into that light and TRUST the way is opening before me. It works just great. Practice Joy Believe it or not, your emotional state is a matter of choice. You can choose joy, love, happiness and peace in a moment. It is true that we have neurochemical cascades that create tendencies towards depression and other stressful states. These cascades are habits, and habits can be broken. However, it does require persistence in order to transform them. Try it out. What does peace feel like? What does joy feel like? What does love feel like? Give yourself a moment to cultivate each of these states and make them living experiences...not just ideas. Do it regularly throughout your day... if only for a moment. Put a smile on your face and transpose it to your heart. It feels SO good, and you CAN feel the way you really want to, providing you are more invested in feeling happy than you are in proving how tough your life is by feeling bummed out. Be Easy And most importantly, be easy on yourself about it all. Do your best. You can't do better than that. Every moment of your day you are always doing your best with the amount of energy, well being, information and experience you have. Everything is unfolding perfecting in it's own perfect time. Trust and be kind to yourself. © Sylvia Brallier Author of the award winning book, Dancing in the Eye of Transformation, 10 Keys to Creative Consciousness

Love and Death

sylviabrallier — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 13:37:30 GMT

Dear Friends, Last night at 8:45 pm EST my dear sweet father passed from this world. I am grieving, yet I feel the perfection of it all knowing that he lived a very long, full life. It was his time. I do not have the official word yet, but it can be assumed he died of congestive heart failure and old age, as he lived to the fullness of his 92 years. It seems some how strangely fitting that he should die on the day of my birth, as I was conceived in the solace of love in the face of grief. My parents were on a three day trek across the country to attend the funeral of my father's mother when the star of my soul fell to this earth. The wheel has apparently turned full circle. My father was a very special man, He was loving, kind and wise. Both a minister and psychotherapist, my father dedicated his life to helping people have completion in their lives, and to the fullness that the love of the Divine brings. He was not a "fire and brimstone" preacher.. he believed that God was love, and walked his talk to the best of his ability. He was an open minded man. When I was ten he received his TM mantra. He was always reading some book about spirituality or healing. He was ever growing and moving with the times. My father strongly believed in living community. He helped to start the food co-op in our town, initiated the planting of fruit trees in the town park, and promoted events that fostered mutual interdependence and holistic living, transforming a normal middle American town into its own progressive intentional community. He had a deep interest in alternative healing methods, and was a strong advocate for the elderly to help maintain and improve their physical health through proper nutritional supplementation, herbs and pure water systems for better health. He was ever researching to find ways to help alleviate the pain and discomfort of others. He always saw the best in people... even to his detriment. This ability to see good in all people made him a bit gullible.. but perhaps it is better for the soul to look for the best in others to be than to be cynical and hard. He lived through scandal, made good decisions and bad, but he always did his best, and tried to do so with mindfulness and the best intentions possible. I am so grateful for my great good fortune to have had this man as my father. He was a true elder, in every sense of the word. I have always respected and honored the warm and constant presence he was in my life. I will greatly miss the steady support he represented for me... though I know I'll be feeling him around me a good bit through the veil. My parents strongly believed in life after death and the ability to communicate between the worlds, so likely he'll be lending as much support as he can from the other side. He is survived by my mother Marie, who now lives in in the Boston area of Massachusetts. I am most concerned for her. They were happily married for 68 years, and I don't know if she will live long in this world without the tangible presence of my father. Please pray for her in particular... she will need a lot of support to make it through this. She is also a very magical little being. This will be a tough blow for her. I am sure she would welcome your prayers and well wishing. Thank you for reading my words and allowing the opportunity to share my deep and abiding love for my father with you. Sylvia

Sitali Pranayama

sylviabrallier — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 18:06:19 GMT

Q: I read on your website about Shiva energy. I recently was doing a Kali mantra. and felt overheated with kundalini. So, I began Sitali pranayam to cool it down and it worked. In your opinion, is this a good way to stimulate Shiva energy down the spine in conjunction with visualizing the Shiva energy descending down the spine? A: Thanks for your great question. Sitali pranayama is one of the three best pranayams for cooling the nervous system. Here is some information for those of you who are not familiar with it: Sitali Pranayam soothes and cools the spine, particularly in the area of the fourth, fifth and sixth vertebrae. This in turn regulates the sexual and digestive energy. It will also help cool the brain and the nervous system in general and can be used to lower a fever. It can help to calm the mind by removing tension and anxiety. Sitali Pranayam offers strong potential for rejuvenation and detoxification when practiced regularly. Some people find that the tongue may taste bitter at first. This is a sign of toxification. When the Sitali is performed regularly, the taste of the tongue will ultimately become sweet. Instructions for Sitali Pranayam (Beak Breath): Perform Gyan Mudra. (Keep both the hands on knees, bring together the upper tip of index finger and upper tip of thumb. Put light pressure. Keep other three fingers straight and touching each other. Roll the tongue into a “U” with the tip just outside your lips. (If you can’t roll your tongue, then just extend the tip of your tongue outside your lips, resting on the lower lip.) Inhale deeply through the mouth, making a hissing, whistling sound. Concentrate on the coolness that you feel at the back of the throat. Hold the breath, then exhale through the nose, and feel this coolness spreading out into your nervous system, and up into the brain. Begin with a 1-1-1 ratio, then change to a 1-4-2 ratio. There are lots of different takes of how long or how vigorously to perform this practice.. Some say inhale quickly, some say smooth and even. Some say 52 times per day, some say do 6 cycles. Each person will have to feel out what works for them. In regards to your question about Shiva energy, I know it seems counter-intuitive, but Shakti energy is considered cool (rising from the Earth) and Shiva energy is considered hot.(descending from above.) For this reason, Sitali would not be ideal for awakening the Shiva energy. While both Sitali and Shiva's descent will calm the nervous system, Shiva's descent does that by redistributing the energy and awareness throughout the chakras. I highly recommend performing Nadi Shodhana regularly. It is very balancing for the nervous system. It will assist the functioning of both the sympathetic and para-sympathetic aspects of the nervous system. This will also help to keep the nervous system just the right temperature, while stimulating both the lunar and the solar currents. Fire in the head is no laughing matter. I had it very intensely for a period of my life back in the late '80's. For months, whenever I shut my eyes, I saw fire and fireworks. I had so much of it for a period of about six weeks my head was sweltering hot, and I had the headache of the doomed. I'm so happy you brought this up, as tools like Sitali, Shiva's smile, Hung Sau, and Nadi Shodhana are helpful in keeping the system in balance. Kundalini rising does not have to be a trauma drama, particularly if one has the tools to transform and transmute the energies and toxins. Then again, perhaps we always get what we ultimately need, even if it isn't what we want. Blessings on your journey, Sylvia Brallier Director of the Tantric Shamanism Institute http://www.tantricshamanism.com (702)697-7003 PS: The article mentioned can be found at: www.tantricshamanism.com/Shivas.descent.htm or on my blog on tribe.

New Favorite song

sylviabrallier — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 21:42:00 GMT

Home, by Zero 7 listen to it at www.pandora.com Guess I'm seeking refuge. Sylvia www.tantricshamanism.com

On the meaning of Tantra

sylviabrallier — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:29:06 GMT

The word tantra is said to have several meanings, as you can imagine. Here is a little snippet from my upcoming book about it. "Let's face it; sex is a touchy subject for most people (pun intended). Some people think sex is heaven. Some believe sex is a sin. Some believe sex is a sin in some cases. Others don't believe in sin. Some believe in monogamy, some believe in polyamory. Some people don't believe in marriage. Some people believe homosexuality is evil; others believe homosexuality is the best thing since apple pie. Sexuality is an arena in which people often have very strong opinions. Sexual drive is a physical expression of the life force energy. We cannot help but feel strongly about it because its influence touches the core of our energetic self. According to some tantric texts, nothing is forbidden. In Left-handed or Red Tantra, everything is seen as sacred. Nothing is judged as good or bad. Every experience is an opportunity to learn that there is no division between us and source. We are not separating people, things and behaviors into good and bad; we are not dividing the world into right or wrong. Both pleasant and unpleasant experiences are opportunities for us to grow. When we embrace all things, our capacity to love, to enjoy life, and to be ecstatic becomes stronger because we are not rejecting reality or rejecting aspects of our experience. The word tantra is derived from two root words. "Tan" comes from tanoti, which means expansion. "Tra" is derived from trayati, with means liberation. Through Tantra, we are given tools to expand our consciousness and weave our perception of all creation as limitless and indivisible as the Divine experience. This expansion liberates our energy, increasing our potential on every level." Some people say tantra means "Tools for the expansion of consciousness." Still others say the word means "weaving." According to my calculations, if we were to reduce the word tantra down to a number by means of gematria (numerology), it would come to the number 2. No big surprise there.Many say the key to enlightenment through tantra is to balance the two ida and pingala nadis so that the energy can rise up the shushumna channel. Here is another snippet from the book about that: "The ida and pingala channels relate to our dual nature. It is believed that when they are in perfect balance, the center or shushumna channel awakens, bringing us to enlightenment. This is apparent in the meaning of the word hatha of hatha yoga. In Sanskrit, "ha" and "tha" are two mantras. 'Ha' represents the vital solar force of pingala, and 'Tha' represents the lunar qualities of ida. The ida channel begins and ends on the left side of the body. The energy that runs through the channel is considered lunar, cool and nurturing by nature. It represents the more feminine aspects of our personality. Within the pingala channel travels the solar energy, which begins and ends on the right side of the spine. It is warm and stimulating by nature and oversees the masculine aspects of our personality. The interaction between these channels directly relates to the relationship between energy and consciousness, intuition and rationality, and the functioning of the right and left brain hemispheres. Throughout the day, one or the other channel is dominant. Those changes are determined by our tendencies of personality, behavior and health. Most people tend towards either ida tendencies or pingala tendencies. People whose strength is in ida will have a tendency towards lunar qualities but may lack the ability to direct energy and action. People with strong pingala tendencies are likely to have lots of creativity and vitality but may lack the introspection and receptivity necessary for peace and spiritual awakening. When ida and pingala are perfectly balanced, it causes the prana, or life force, to flow evenly so that the central shushumna channel can then open awakening sublime awareness. The balance of these channels is like a marriage. It is the wedding of the sun and the moon, the night and the day. In Sanskrit, this wedding is called sandhya and this marriage is a cause for happiness. All of the self becomes joined in union, merging self to self, joining together as a manifestation of the Divine being." According to white tantra, the approach has much more to do with detachment from the senses. For that matter releasing both attachment and repulsion from everything in order to get beyond the cycles of birth and rebirth, living in a state total union with the Divine is the goal. It means living as purely and consciously as possible in order to move beyond worldly existence. All of these definitions work for me, though I am more of a left hander in my approach when it comes to the senses. I prefer to dive in rather than repress. Being both a pagan and a Tantrika is of a big influence regarding the sensory, as paganism asserts that the earthly realm is as sacred as the celestial... and I would tend to agree. Namaste, Sylvia Director of The Tantric Shamanism Institute www.tantricshamanism.com (702)697-7003

Integrative Spirituality

sylviabrallier — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:55:55 GMT

Eclecticism sure does get a bad rap, doesn't it? Yet, it's the fastest growing spiritual trend in the world right now. Is it because we're all messed up, or we are evolving that direction? Hard to say, but if it is the wrong way to go, guess I'm going to hell in a hand basket. Looks as though I'm going to have lots of company though. Here is some information about the "Cultural Creatives,” many of whom are interested in integrative spirituality. From the site, www.integrativespirituality.com Spiritual Creatives are spiritual seekers who value their personal spiritual freedom and autonomy, and the adventure of the creative journey of developing their unique spirituality into its completeness. They are spiritually courageous individuals who want to customize or re-energize their religion by picking and choosing ideas and practices from the best wisdom of the world's greatest religions and spiritual traditions --- often without any particular attachment to doctrine. For some this process becomes a revitalizing new synthesis of both their original religion and other spiritual sources. They sense that the main goal of all religions is basically the same (expanding direct spiritual experiences of the Divine), only the paths to get there are different. They sense that one religion or one religious perspective alone might not have all the answers, or that all current religions might be partial or complementary views of the infinite wholeness and unfathomable mysteries which will forever surround the infiniteness of the Divine. Consequently they seek to integrate the partial or complementary views to gain a more complete spiritual perspective. They are able to both embrace and work with paradoxes. Cultural Creative Demographics In the United States alone there are now an estimated 63 million Cultural Creatives. They could become half of the American population in ten to fifteen years. There are more Cultural Creatives in Europe, about 80 to 90 million, which is about 30 to 35% of every Western European country. In all Asian countries including Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia there may be another 60 million. In Africa, the Middle East and South America there may be another 10 million. It is estimated that the cultural Creatives population has been growing at half of a percent per year for the last 40 years and this population will grow much faster as people become more educated and aware of how many cultural Creatives there already are in society. Personally, I hope there are a lot of people who stick to the traditional paths so that we can still sort the strands of belief and practice many generations from now. When I teach something that was given to me as a lineage teaching, I am very careful to attempt to teach it as close to the traditional way as possible. If I do make any alterations, I do my best to be clear what is mine, and what is the tradition. I think this is important, so it all doesn’t become a very elaborate game of telephone, in which the source material comes out fuzzy at the end. I just wish everybody could practice what they want without someone else telling them it’s bunk. When my book comes out, I’m sure to get plenty of flack for being a syncretist (one who attempts to reconcile disparate, even opposing, beliefs and to meld practices of various schools of thought. It is especially associated with the attempt to merge and analogize several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, and thus assert an underlying unity.) Oh Well, at least I’m being me. BTW… I’m sending the book out for lay out today! Yeay! I really am getting it done! Love, Sylvia Director of TSI www.tantricshsmanism.com

What is the Relationship between Art and Spirituality for you?

sylviabrallier — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 00:22:45 GMT

"When I am in my artistic process, I get such a strong experience of the numenous. Art helps me to reach an ecstatic place in which I feel the Divine as it flows through me. When the dance, the paint, the music is flowing through me... it sometimes feels almost like surfing.. I have caught the creative wave, and now I'm riding it out. It is a ride like none other." I am working on finishing the 9th chapter of my book, entitled The Relationship between Art and Spirituality. I have completed a majority of the chapter, but I want to make sure I haven't left out any really important points. In addressing this subject, I want to express the fullest interpretation possible of how art and spirit are cojoined in this chapter... addressing the dreaming in, the experience of the act of creating, and the observance of art in it's many guises. I'd love to hear your reflections on your experience of how art and spirituality are connected. Could you think about it and pen a line or two in my blog comments? I'd love to work with your reflections as a springboard to help me complete this piece. thanks. Love, Sylvia www.tantricshamanism.com

Shiva's Descent

sylviabrallier — Sun, 03 Jul 2005 18:33:28 GMT

Many yogic lineages put a strong emphasis in the rising of Kundalini, but put almost no emphasis on the descent of the Shiva energy down the spine. I believe Shiva's descent is equally important to Kundalini Ma's ascent, though a bit more difficult to achieve. Kundalini is a vast powerhouse of primal energy, and the Shiva current is the stillness of awakened awareness. From the Kriya perspective, the Kundalini brings the energy and blockages in the lower centers up to the light of day to be transformed, and the Shiva energy brings that enlightened awareness into the worldly realm, creating heaven on Earth. When we are really spiritually awake, we come to the realization that spiritual reality completely interpenetrates our entire existence.. There is no separation between the worldly and the spiritual. Many spiritual traditions emphasize getting beyond worldly existence, when we are already in Eden, but have lost the eyes to see it. The Shakti or kundalini current purifies the vehicle. The Shiva current merges with that energy and imbues it with awakened awareness. Together, they can help us to remember our sacred wholeness. So what is this Shiva energy, and how do we open ourselves to it? The Kundalini and Shiva currents travel up and down the spinal nerve from root to crown, and crown to root. More specifically, in many tantric techniques, the upper chakra focus is actually on the third eye, as the crown chakra opening is a result of all the lower chakric centers opening. So perhaps it would be more accurate to say from the root to the third eye, and back down. Part of the trick to allowing the Shiva energy to flow down the spinal nerve, is in opening the "Shiva's Smile," which is located at the juncture of the spine and the skull in the occiput, and more specifically, the Medulla Oblongata, which is located in the dent between the two occipital lobes. To open the Shiva's Smile, place a little Mona Lisa smile on your face, and then transpose it back to the occipital ridge. You can actually move the bones back there with this exercise. When the Shiva's smile is activated, it opens the flood gates so the energy may descend back down the spine when you place your attention on it. When the Shiva energy is flowing, you might experience a rush of warmth moving down the spine, and a sense of alert relaxation. When it descents back to the root, you may even experience a rush of sexual energy, and the kundalini begins it's ascent again. Sometimes people get headaches or a sense of "burn out" when they get a lot of Kundalini energy cranking up their spine. When you allow the energy back down the spinal nerve, it quiets the nervous system. It is very nurturing to the entire system. A lot of "kundalini burn out" symptoms are due to too much energy moving up to the head without balancing the flow back down to the root. Sylvia The Tantric Shamanism Institute http://www.tantricshamanism.com

Is there a difference between healing and spirituality?

sylviabrallier — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 04:02:36 GMT

The way I see it, healing of the psyche and spirituality are intimately linked. I have heard it said that some Native American tribal people believe that the inner child is actually the high self. When a person completely heals this inner self, that being reaches enlightenment. This is very central to the way I view the process of enlightenment. Each step we make forward in our search for the truth heals our soul, and when we heal our soul, we experience the truth of the universe. Healing and spirituality are woven together inextricably as the warp and the woof in the loom of change. Perhaps the very nature of the word "healing" is in the way of making the connection. The word healing can imply that something is broken. But then again, doesn't "searching for enlightenment" imply that we are not already enlightened? Perhaps both enlightenment and healing are processes of remembering our wholeness as Divine beings. Have you even known a "deeply spiritual person" who did not treat people well, or whose life was a complete shambles? Didn't it make you wonder how advanced they were after all? I believe spiritual growth, emotional growth, and the ability to cope with the difficulties of incarnation are inextricably linked. It is not enough to be knowledgeable about spiritual practices, and know the workings of arcane rites. Perhaps it is even more precipitous to know the complex workings of your own psyche. This powerful self awareness can transform the relationship between the mind and the emotions, making it possible to be a person who radiates the beauty and power of a healed psyche. One of the great dangers of being "advanced" is spiritual ego. Once you think you've got it all figured out.... Then you are really in trouble. This is a place where a good dose of emotional intelligence really comes in handy. I am often surprised when I hear people who are obviously interested in their spirituality say, "I'm not into doing "healing stuff."" The way I look at it, spirituality without the healing of the emotional body is a mental act. When I am having a deep spiritual experience, I am acutely aware of the relationship between my body, my mind, and my emotions... as well as my spirit. They are synergistically linked. If any link in that chain is weak.. The whole thing is weaker for it. Every time I meditate, I experience a healing. More truth, power, energy and wholeness are created and maintained within the vehicle called "me." The meditation is an act of healing, whether I intend it that way or not. Similarly, when I am present for a powerful piece of healing work, I am constantly awed by the immense spiritual power present. Healing is a very direct way to participate the sacred play of the Gods. Those on a shamanic path perform ceremony and inner work that recovers power and soul retrieval. For the shaman, once all the power from trauma and wrong thinking is fully recovered, it is possible for that person to have remarkable spiritual powers. The shaman's role in the tribe is as a healer on all levels of consciousness, assisting people to regain lost power, release intrusions that are in the way of that power, and to align with the spirit world. The path of the shaman is truly a path of healing spirituality. The way I see it, the more enlightened you become, the more you are inclined towards a path of service. You are in a state of abundance that inclines you to want to give the gift to others. There are many ways to give the gift to help others. For me, the gift is wanting to help people to feel more whole on every level. In so doing, perhaps those people will reach out and help others. It is an exponential movement of transformation. Together, we can bring about the healing of consciousness and of the earth for all of us, not just create a personal experience of the Divine. I'd love to hear people thoughts on the relationship between healing and spirituality.