Yes, the headline is meant to be sarcastic. I'd like to get your opinion on something, and I suppose it can apply to shamanism or to any spiritual path. In my recent post about shamanic expressions at the Vancouver Olympics, a news story described how a shaman blessed the sleds of the skeleton team. And this bothered me. I wondered, is it "right" or spiritually appropriate to do something like this? I hear about this more and more, individuals who call themselves a shaman offering various blessings on events, homes and objects, with what seems like a specific goal in mind. Does that de-value the practice somehow?
As you may know, I now offer home blessings myself for those who have recently bought a new home. I go in, clear out the old and usher in the new, and work with the family to create the kind of loving environment they truly want. But when a friend suggested that I bless her house to help it sell, I balked. Then someone else suggested I offer my services to local Realtors in order to move houses. My gut said no. So then I hear about this Canadian shaman blessing sleds, which I assuming was to help propel the athletes to Olympic glory.
Now, there isn't anything wrong with winning an Olympic medal or selling a house. But it feels different when I bless a home somehow has just purchased or moved into. My intention is to help them bring to life, to manifest, the kind of home they want--not with things but with love, warmth and safety. But blessing a house so its sells is very specific. What if it takes 1 year to sell instead of 1 month--does that mean the blessing didn't "work?" What if the seller doesn't get their ideal selling price--did it not "work?" When it comes to outcomes like these, people have all kinds of expectations. And I believe strongly that something can "work" even when it turns out completely opposite from how you hoped or intended.
It could be that some of these opportunities are coming my way in order to simply help me work out in my own mind how I feel about these things. Which is good. Part of my problem with some of these requests is that they remind me of some Christians who believe they can pray their way to a great parking spot, an "A" on a test or into the arms of their one true love. That always sickened me. Spirituality--Christian, shaman or whatver--isn't a magic trick. It isn't a switch you flip in order to get something.
I would never say this out loud to anyone who I turned down for a blessing, but it seems to me that their priorities are misplaced. Are they just interested in selling the house for as much money as possible, or do they truly want to tap into the subtle energies present in the home? If a house doesn't sell, I believe shamanism would point us toward personal patience. We might ask questions like: Whose advice about the selling price have I ignored? How can I better present my home so it will sell? Or, is the universe telling me to stay put and not sell? What can be learned from this experience? Shamanism isn't about instant results, but to me it's about sifting through the layers of everyday life for the greater meaning and purpose. Shamanism doesn't "care" whether the house sells or not, but rather it is here to teach us about ourselves and our world.
So maybe I've answered my own questions! Writing does seem to help me sort it out. So--thoughts on the matter anyone?
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