Tasks
at the level of Mind:
- Dispel
the illusion that the human "psyche" is somehow
separate from the natural world by acknowledging and granting
psychological status to our relationship with the natural
world.
- Overcome
our deficient childhood psychological development stemming
from insufficient reciprocal and harmonious relationships
with the natural world.
- Bring
to light our current valuation and affiliation for the natural
world so as to critically assess both our lifestyles and philosophical
views.
- Identify
specific psychological imbalances in our relationship to the
natural world.
Tasks
at the Bodily level:
- Reclaim
the awareness that our physical body is the most obvious and
intimate component of the natural world that we could ever
know, and that alienating our selves from our body also alienates
us from nature.
- Realize
that our physical health is continually impacted by the health
or sickness of our environment and also by what our body is
receiving as sustenance.
- Reconnect
with the inherited ancient wisdom held within our human body.
- Learn
that our body is capable of an awareness that is distinguishable
from but complimentary to the awareness of our mind.
- Develop
and engage in shamanic practices to acknowledge that our human
flesh is the same as the flesh of the world.
Tasks
at the Environmental level:
- Recover
the moment-to-moment awareness that every one of our thoughts
and actions are tied to the web of life that encompasses the
entire planet.
- Promote
environmental education with a holistic systems approach.
- Develop
a deep and genuine connection and affiliation for the land
where we live.
- Learn
to see a deeper reality by removing the facades and disguises
that obscure the true identity of objects, situations, and
circumstances.
Tasks
at the Spiritual level:
- Identify
and heal the spiritual - ethical illnesses that allow for
the continued degradation of our natural spiritual home.
- Engage
in spiritual practices that allow the controlling aspects
of our ego to dissolve and our consciousness to flow outward
in connection with the sacred elements and entities of the
natural world: air, water, sun, fire, earth, moon, and also
with the animating spirit of trees, birds, animals, insects,
and flowers.
- Develop
a spiritual connection to the natural world that allows us
to listen to and understand what the earth and her living
entities are telling us.
- Find
our individual reconciliation with nature's cycles of life,
death, and rebirth
- Create
and utilize spiritual ecoshamanic rites of passage and initiation
in order to grow into wise and mature members of the earth
community.
Ecoshamanic
Training
The ecoshamanic
training courses offered by the Earth Spirit Foundation are
designed to provide the tools and experiences that will a usher
a person into a new mode of being. They are more properly rites
of passage and therefore we refer to them as initiations. Each
initiation has specific goals and tasks for the initiate to
accomplish. Instruction is given for completion of the tasks,
but only the initiate can accomplish them and embody the knowledge
contained within them.
First
Initiation - Entering the Vortex
Tasks:
·
Learning the art of counter-practice and how to apply it to
your everyday life.
· Inducing altered states of consciousness through ecoshamanic
practice in nature.
· Learning to see in holistic systems within the spiraling
reality.
· Forming new cognitive maps through bioregional awareness.
· Constructing a personal ecoshamanic temple.
· Making of offerings to attain balance with the spirits
of nature.
· Learning to create ceremonies and rituals with the
powers that rule the world - wind, water, soil, and fire.
· Learning the steps to fashion an animal spirit jicara.
· Making a first approach to ecoshamanic chanting.
· Experiencing an internal energetic cleansing with the
sacred flame.
· Discovering personal ways to share in the unfolding
dream of the earth.
The first
initiation opens the door to the ecoshamanic worldview of holism
and cooperation with the world that provides us with life. We
call this - entering the vortex - as we intentionally induce
altered states of consciousness by extending our awareness and
perception to include the entities and beings that we previously
felt that we were separate from. The conclusion of this initiation
is simply another beginning as you reenter the world with an
enhanced sense unity, power, and vision. Prerequisite: A strong
calling to learn the holistic ways of the shaman.
Dates in 2008:
March 19-20
The First
Initiation is an ongoing activity of ESF and can be scheduled
at need for both individuals and groups. To request a special
date simply contact ESF with your request.
Second
Initiation - The Embrace of the Earth Rite of Passage
Tasks:
·
Internal preparation at home for the Embrace of the Earth Rite.
· Making of offerings to the land and construction of
the tombs.
· Preparing mentally, physically, and spiritually by
sweat lodge cleansing, fire purification, water practices, blessings,
and group work, among others (depending on weather conditions
and the location).
· Passing through the all night Rite of Passage.
· Learning steps to integrate discoveries made while
in altered states during the night.
· Making of offerings related to your personal experience
during the Rite.
· Leaving the land as we found it.
In the second
initiation we clean our connection to the world even more as
we humbly open to the awareness that the consciousness we call
"me" is actually an extension of an infinitely larger
field of consciousness that creates our reality. This is facilitated
by spending the night embraced by the living earth in a personal
grave-like tomb that each initiate digs by hand. Intensive preparation
before and during the rite insure the proper mind-set before
entering the tomb. This nurturing and healing rite of passage
is known to stimulate a wide range of altered states of consciousness
that induce visions, out of body experiences, merging of perception
with the earth mother, purging and healing of emotional wounds,
heightened awareness of our mortality, collection of divine
energy, profound feelings of unity and rebirth, among many others.
Please note that this initiation has been safely practiced by
several hundred initiates during the last 20 or so years by
shamanic researcher Victor Sanchez. James Endredy was trained
in the rite by Victor Sanchez and since 1999 has adapted it
for inclusion in the ecoshamanic training of the foundation.
The practice is totally safe - no soil is placed on the initiates,
you can be physically removed from the tomb at any time if necessary,
and the facilitator stays awake and vigilant the whole night
in close proximity to the tombs while feeding the central fire
and offering blessings and prayers. The physical dimension to
the rite is only one small part - it simply helps facilitate
the altered states that are the main element of the rite. This
rite of passage is so unique, empowering, and nurturing that
by the end of the night most initiates want to stay longer in
the ground before they rise from the tomb into the sun and "sprout"
into a new form of being. For a complete description of the
rite, including personal experiences from initiates, refer to
chapter 7 of James Endredy's book on ecoshamanism. Prerequisite:
A thorough reading of Ecoshamanism: Sacred Practices of Unity,
Power, and Earth Healing, and a strong calling to transcend
your perceived limitations.
Dates in
2008:
March 22
- 23 Sedona, AZ
May 24 -
25 Sedona, AZ
June 21
- 21 Sedona, AZ
October
18 - 19 Sedona, AZ
Click here for details
Third
Initiation - Quest for Vision Rite of Passage
Tasks
·
Internal preparation at home for the Quest for Vision Rite.
· Spend at least 3 days and nights alone fasting in nature.
· Making of offerings to the land.
· Experiencing an altered state of consciousness by perceiving
that while you are watching the land, the land is watching you.
· Deepening your ability to let the land sing through
you with the ecoshamanic chant.
· Receiving visions and songs from the beings and entities
of the land.
· Leaving the land as we found it.
· Integrating the experiences of the Rite into daily
life.
From time
immemorial, prophets, mystics, and spiritual seekers of every
kind have journeyed away from civilization to find answers and
connect to spirit in the solitude of nature. In this rite of
passage initiates lay themselves bare to the elements and the
spirits of nature by fasting alone in a sacred place. Intensive
preparation to set the personal intent of each initiate is of
primary concern, as is the assimilation of the experience into
your everyday life. This rite of passage is an offering that
you make to the spirits in return for guidance and knowledge.
Prerequisite: First or Second Initiation.
Dates in
2008: This is an ongoing program during May and June. Contact
ESF to request your date.
Fourth
Initiation - Sacred Fire Initiation
Tasks:
·
Placing your total mind/body/environment/spirit awareness in
direct contact with the fundamental energy of the fire for an
extended period of time.
· Learning how to create your own authentic personal
rituals of inducing and sustaining a sacred fire.
· Feeling the differences in the energy and mood of the
fire as you provide the fire with different types of food (physically,
emotionally, and psychically).
· Obtaining a merging of your perception with the fire
so that the fire can provide you with vision(s) and songs.
· Realizing an experience with the fire at a deep enough
level that the energy of the fire will travel with you in a
way that you can draw on it to give you strength for the rest
of your life.
For most
shamanic cultures the sacred fire is very much a force or presence
that is found in all organic life. In this sense the fire is
very much alive and carries within it the universal energy of
not only our sun but the entire cosmos of constellations in
such an immeasurable way that it is truly the spark that animates
what we call nature and spirit. Intentionally bringing forth
the fire and placing yourself within it's light and heat for
extended periods produces altered states of consciousness that
foster purification, protection, connection, and visionary experiences.
Once the initiate completes this rite of passage the sacred
fire will be an ally for the rest of their life and will walk
with them wherever they go. Prerequisite: First or Second Initiation.
Dates in
2008:
The Fourth
Initiation is an ongoing activity of ESF and can be scheduled
at need for both individuals and groups. To request a special
date simply contact ESF with your request..
Fifth
Initiation - Pilgrimage
Tasks:
·
Demonstrating to the spirits of nature in a most tangible way
your desire to learn and develop a reciprocal relationship with
the sacred place.
· Passing through the sometimes difficult obstacles in
completing the pilgrimage journey.
· Making offerings to the scared place.
· Recounting the previous year (or your whole life) to
the sacred place in order to gain clarity and perspective.
· Speaking to the sacred place about your goals and tasks
for the upcoming year.
· Asking for guidance to complete your tasks and goals.
· Integrating your pilgrimage journey into your daily
life.
The pilgrimage
to a sacred place where powerful spirits dwell is a journey
of unparalleled proportion. Through the making of powerful energetic
offerings to the visible face of the spirits we humbly make
ourselves "small" in the face of the great mystery.
This opens us to receive our specific tasks in life, both short
and long term. Prerequisite: Second Initiation
Dates: 2008
dates will be posted soon.
Ecoshamanic
Instructor Training:
Tasks:
·
In-depth learning of the philosophy, methodology, and practice
of all 5 initiations.
· Development of speaking and facilitating skills.
· Embodiment of the ecoshamanic worldview as a way of
life.
· Making of concrete offerings to the spirits that will
guide your work with the public.
· Making of a formal statement of intent infront of your
peers and spirit guides relating to your commitment of service
to the human community and the kin-doms of nature.
This intensive
2 week training is specifically for those that have received
the calling to impart the initiations and rights of passage
of the Earth Spirit Foundation whether in affiliation with the
foundation or as a compliment to an already established form
of service. Counselors, educators, and the general public are
invited. It is the goal of the foundation to train as many ecoshamanic
instructors as possible in order to spread this knowledge worldwide,
but not at the expense of the quality of training offered. Completion
of this training does not guarantee your certification as a
trainer. Each initiate will be evaluated on an individual basis.
It is possible that some individuals may need supplemental training
in certain areas. Initiates in this training are expected to
help one another. For example, those that already possess skills
in public speaking may be asked to help others that don't. Those
that already have an intimate connection to the spirits of nature
may be asked to help guide those that don't. It is the goal
of this training to not only produce trainers that embody the
ecoshamanic worldview but also have the skills and inner fortitude
to successfully and authentically impart it to others. Although
the core of the work is the in-depth knowledge and practice
of ecoshamanic initiations, participants will also be required
to present the material as if they were training others. This
process will include video taping, critiquing, and refining
of the presentations made by initiates in order to produce a
high quality training experience. The basic prerequisite for
this training is completion of the 5 initiations of the foundation.
However, acceptance into this program will be made on an individual
basis. For example, if you have previously passed through a
vision quest experience with a quality school such as the School
of Lost Borders you may not be required to complete the Third
Initiation. Under all circumstances participants are required
to complete the Second Initiation and the formal application
process before acceptance.
Dates: Contact
ESF for more details.
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