Bear's Journey into Water: A Powerful Shamanic Initiation for Healing and remembering

The South - The Water - The Dragonfly

Today, Bear embarks on the second element of her first year of Shamanic training: the initiation into the element of Water. During this initiation, Bear will participate in ceremonies that will challenge her limits and help her discover her true capabilities. She will emerge more connected to her personal power than she could ever have imagined.

The first four initiations that she will encounter this year provide the strength and framework for all her future work. Without personal power and a deep reverence for and connection to spirit, the sharing of wisdom becomes empty and fruitless, which can lead to sickness for both the participant and the practitioner.

As a mother, watching Bear navigate shamanic initiations in a wheelchair has been both challenging and deeply emotional. I won't lie—I'm nervous about this weekend. I'm all too aware of the challenges they will face and how their body and wheelchair will need careful consideration in traditional settings, like sweat lodges, mud and rivers. I can only imagine how this may create feelings of fear and vulnerability for them.

Yet, what strikes me is their resilience and strength, the very power that kept them alive in the Trevor Mann baby unit over 23 years ago. I draw on faith in the bigger picture, in spirit, and in the group they have joined in the woods. I've come to realise that true living comes from trust within, and that physical limitations can be challenged. Each step they take brings them closer to understanding themselves and their place in this world, reminding me of the incredible strength they possess and the unique path they are forging.

As a family, we have chosen to embrace the path of animism, using the medicine wheel as a framework for our lives, including our creative projects, work commitments, and the sharing of knowledge in our unique ways. I never asked Bear to join this journey. I lived my life, and she witnessed my transformation of suffering into something meaningful. Bear could feel that my reconnection with the land, with myself, and ultimately with our family was something she wanted to be a part of!

In the culture many of us have grown up in, particularly in the West, we have lost many of our traditions. It is vital for our health and the Earth's well-being that we incorporate some of this knowledge into our lives. We need to reconnect with the primal powers that reside deep within us, that if we pause for a moment and listen, we know are real, and revive the traditions that will restore harmony for the ancestors yet to come.

Bear will introduce herself to the spirits of this land, where each cardinal direction holds medicine and power that can be brought back into our community. She will share the gifts she receives from a well-grounded place, connected to the spirit of the land and the fast-paced moment we are currently living in.

This weekend focuses on the element of Water, where Bear will engage with our shared ancestral lineage. I have initiated this process, and now she will join in to bring healing to the ancestors who need relief from their burdens. Listening to our ancestors' struggles is an essential part of this process. Our immediate ancestors are our first gateway into the invisible realms, guiding us back through the elements to the original ancestor—the ineffable spirit of life.

The element of Water represents the river of our lives, nurturing and guiding us on our journeys. As humans, we experience a vast array of emotions, which allow us to truly understand what it is to be human. We encounter the ebb and flow of changing tides, learning to let go and surrender to this moment—a difficult challenge for many of us. Water symbolises our receptivity and the interconnectedness of everything around us—love, dreams, visions, and psychic awareness.

Water is our blood, connecting us to our family, our ancestral ties, and the wounds we carry. We hold a commitment and responsibility to all our relations, striving to heal the burdens our ancestors bear so that each of us can take responsibility for our communities and our home—the Earth.

I would also like to add that to make this possible for Bear, there is a very special person accompanying them on this three-year commitment. And it takes a special and beautiful soul to undertake this role - I wonder how I would write a job description for the role of Bears 'Carer. What do you think of this -

Job Title: Personal Assistant, Night Owl and Drum Keeper

Location: Enchanted Forest

About Us:

We are a family on the Shamanic way, looking for someone special to join us. If you enjoy staying up late and dancing under the stars, we want to hear from you!

Job Description:

Can you stay up all night and love drumming? If you can keep the beat for our ceremonies without sleeping for days, this role is for you!

Your tasks will include:

- Keeping the fire alive and everyone energised.

- Playing drums for 48 hours straight.

- Creating songs and stories.

- Supporting Bear while managing your own well-being.

- Engaging in deep conversations with snacks.

Requirements:

- Enjoy late nights and drumming sounds.

- Have camping or long-awake experience.

- Be open to spontaneous dancing with spirit.

Benefits:

- Get plenty of hugs from Bear.

- Connect with nature and ancestors.

- Gain wisdom through sleep deprivation.

- Change your life forever.

If you think you can help us and enjoy caffeine, please reach out! Join us for a fun and unique experience!

We love you Beata.

See you both on the other side!

Big love, Kim x