Have you noticed how channeling seems to be coming more into the mainstream? It is wonderful that this is becoming more common place in our world.

I’d like to demystify the ancient shamanic art of channeling. In our culture, at times, channeling has been romanticized, seen as a phenomenal or mystical gesture, when in fact, it is an innate skill that anyone can have access to.

The word trance can mean a lot of different things. I am using it as “a state which we are unconsciously stuck in where we are not utilizing full awareness or volition.” When we are in a trance we are caught in habitual, robotic-like behavior and thoughts, without presence.

There are many different kinds of trance states. There may be a shopping trance, an “I’m not enough" trance, an “I don’t have enough time" trance, a sex trance, a romantic trance, work trance, and the list goes on and on. That means that we are caught in a set of behaviors, internal and external, where we are not fully present and some part of our unconscious is running the show.

I would like to share with you a personal story regarding Faith. For many years in my youth up to my 30's I felt that my birth name “Laura” was not truly my name. It was a nagging feeling like it wasn’t quite fitting me. Finally, after relocating in my early 30's to Ashland, I started to have a stronger feeling that there was a name that was to come through for me. So, I did what I always do and I closed my eyes, calmed my breath and sat on my meditation cushion. I simply asked spirit “Is there a name that you wish for me to have that is my name?”

Contrary to popular modern belief romanticized by western culture, a shaman is not a path of personal choice made by the ego or personal will. It is not glamorous. It is messy and raw and death is always on one’s shoulder informing one of how to proceed. A shaman has died many times over.

A shaman is chosen by a higher calling, made by the Spirit, chosen by the Spirit.

These ones are anointed by the Spirit at some point in their making, regardless of their original dream or personal desire.

The true ones are made of impeccability and have a near to no tether for going off course, yanked back immediately onto the path.

It is not a glamorous path nor is it easy…