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"Why Shamanism Now?" with Christina Pratt

What is a Wounded Healer?

Today being "the wounded healer" has become the excuse for poor discernment in contemporary practitioners around boundaries, responsibility, and personal healing. In western thought the concept of the wounded healer began with Karl Jung who used the phrase to refer psychologically to the capacity "to be at home in the darkness of suffering and there to find germs of light and recovery with which, as though by enchantment, to bring forth Asclepius, the sun-like healer" and to assist healing. However before Jung, before Asclepius, and even before western thought there were shamans, the first wounded healers. Shamanically speaking the wounded healer is the initiated shaman, the person who has entered her own death, illness, or madness and found the path through it with the help of Spirit. And in that journey the wound is healed for the shaman and because of that journey the shaman is able to work with the spirits to assist the healing of others. Join host and shaman, Christina Pratt, as we explore the concept of the wounded healer, bust some myths, and consider the reality through the eyes of spiritual maturity.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 11:00 AM Pacific

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Why Shamanism Now? on Co-Creator Network
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James Ray Sweat Lodge Trial Resumes

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.

James Ray with Defense Attorney Tom Kelly

Thanks to CNN's abandonment of the James Ray trial, we missed what looks to have been an exciting couple days of testimony. The trial resumed from its Luis Li induced hiatus on Thursday and ended the week in the high drama of perjury charges and another announcement from the team Ray that they will attempt to have the case thrown out.

What follows is a round-up of the meager news coverage available.

From the Associated Press we learn that Brandy Rainey found the sweat lodge unbearably hot and that Tom Kelly covered at least two of the three pillars of the defense's strategy as outlined here.

There are three major pillars to the defense's cross examination strategy: 1)You signed a waiver so you knew what you were getting into. 2) You are a grown-up and you are responsible for all your choices to participate in these activities. 3) Some questions may seem obscure but they lay the groundwork for the poisoning, as opposed to heat related death, theory.

Horoscope for May 30 - June 5

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

Aries (March 21st - April 20th)
The energy of forward motion and the power of communication are evident in your life this week, Aries. The new moon and partial eclipse fall in your 3rd house of ideas, communication, siblings, and local neighborhood. There is an aspect that helps you connect with your Higher Self, guides, and angels. Let go of the need to order and control. Look, listen, and allow. Initiate conversations with your mate, family members, friends, and new people. Cultivate the art of listening to deepen your connections and learn information or skills that can help you grow emotionally, become more materially abundant, and lead a more effective life.

Taurus (April 21st - May 20th)
Your finances and needs must be examined this week, Taurus. Big changes in your life are indicated by the new moon in your 2nd house of money and personal values. Self-love, self-worth, acceptance of healing, and new beginnings is your primary focus. Your negative self-talk and years of wrong thinking can be undone this week. I'm not telling you it will be a cake walk, but it can be a profoundly healing and enduring change. Whatever you begin this week will establish itself quickly and become a foundation or supportive structure in your life.

Astrological Trends for May 30 - June 5

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

A powerful problem solving day begins on Monday, May 30th, with the moon in the fixed earth sign of Taurus conjunct Mars, the planet of action, in Taurus. Together, they form a steadying and polite quincunx to hard-working Saturn in diplomatic Libra. This combination allows you to flow easily from thinking to doing. Saturn receives support from a trine to the sun in Gemini until June 4th. Constructive communication is favored now and anyone who writes or sells for a living can have a few very productive and satisfying days. Your physical energy should be high and your willpower will be strong, as well, with the air sign Gemini sun receiving a shot of strength from a quincunx to powerful Pluto in Capricorn. Some conflict between old and new may arise from time to time this week due to Uranus in upstart Aries making a challenging square to Pluto in traditional Capricorn. But Pluto is also involved in a sextile to Chiron in Pisces, indicating there will be opportunities for healing transformation. Jupiter, now in the final degree of Aries, is sextile Neptune in Pisces. Jupiter and Neptune in favorable aspect to each other act as a protective and blessing energy. Grace will be present if you have any difficult situations to handle this week. Mars, Venus, and Mercury are all in the sensual fixed earth sign of Taurus. They help you create things that are useful or beautiful, follow through on projects, and enjoy the material pleasures of life. The quincunx between the moon and Saturn fades as the day progresses. Your mood will lighten up as you move from work to leisure pursuits. The pleasure-seeking Taurus moon joins Venus and Mars by the evening. You may be singing, "All You Need is Love." And maybe a good meal, wine, music, and a partner to make the most of a potentially romantic evening.

Negotiations and formalizing plans are favored activities on Tuesday, May 31st, when the Taurus moon joins Mercury in Taurus. The fixed earth energy of Taurus, when filtered through the emotions and intellect, makes you practical, purposeful, and steady. Monday's quincunx between the sun in Gemini and Pluto in Capricorn is gone at lunchtime, removing some pressure or feeling of urgency. You no longer feel as though everything rests on you alone or is a test of your capability. Later this afternoon, the moon in Taurus forms a square to Neptune in Pisces. For some, this may bring up feelings of unrequited love, a yearning for something you can't have, or nostalgia for things from the past. As you bring a project to a close, you may also feel that you weren't able to do a perfect job. The less-than-perfect impression is just a Neptune illusion. In reality, you have probably done the best that you could, and after this square fades, you will see that this is so. When the square begins to dissolve between the moon and Neptune later this evening, the moon leaves Taurus and enters the mutable air sign of Gemini. Gemini curiosity looks ahead to new ideas and fresh beginnings. You feel the tickle of the Gemini new moon approaching.

Oprah, James Ray, and the Media Effect

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.

As Oprah wrapped her history-making show this week, amidst the cascade of media coverage could be found a lot of ambivalence about her impact on society. On the one hand, she had an undeniably positive impact on public perception of what a woman of color can accomplish in America. She broke a lot of ground for women, period. For that we can all be grateful. On the other hand, she foisted a lot of pop psychology and dumbed down spiritual teaching on an eager public. It ranged from the helpful to the useless to the destructive to the deadly. I'm referring, of course, to James Arthur Ray, on whose watch -- during his post-Oprah years -- four people have died. Many people are angry with Oprah for enabling Ray's success and subsequent recklessness.

So is it fair to blame a woman who simply had someone on her talk show for the deaths of his students? I don't think there's an easy answer to that but in the final analysis I have to say, "with great power comes great responsibility."

Oprah is singular in her ability to sell books, ideas, and social trends. This is something the New York Post referred to as the "Oprah Effect."

The “Oprah effect” has shaped our national consciousness in profound ways. “There are a lot of people whose lives are better, thanks to what she’s done,” says Robert Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. “Her whole message of empowerment is the idea that you can change your circumstances.”

Occasionally, however, that influence has seriously misfired. “Oprah has mainstreamed a lot of very questionable characters in my opinion,” anti-cult therapist Steven Hassan has said, pointing to Oprah acolyte James Arthur Ray whose infamous sweat lodge led to the deaths of three people in 2009.

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Around the Web, Around the World

"Why Shamanism Now?" with Christina Pratt

Intimate Apprenticeship with Paula Denham

"It is your commitment to be in your highest level of integrity, to teach what you are and not what you want to be." So begins Paula Denham's covenant with the Spirits to teach. "This means that you teach authenticity by being authentic. While you may speak of your aspirations, you are true to where you are in your approach to them." Paula Denham, founder and director of the Sacramento Shamanic Center joins host and shaman, Christina Pratt, to share her experience with local and intimate apprenticeship. Working with the guidance of her helping spirits, Paula has cultivated an ongoing system for teaching and apprenticeship that steps out of the workshop format and back into the power of the circle, of community, and of the personal growth and accountability inherent in authentic shamanic practice. Paula is our next guest for the Society of Shamanic Practitioners sponsored interview series. Through these monthly shows we explore how contemporary shamans are meeting the challenge of their world where the relations of things-the living and the dead, the humans and nature, and Western Way and the spirit world-are profoundly out of balance. It is the ancient role of the shaman in all cultures to tend the balance of things. How are these shamans meeting this extraordinary need today?

This week's guest:
Paula Denham

Paula Denham, CSC (Harner Method Certified Shamanic Counselor), has been practicing shamanism for 19 years. She is a founder and Director of the Sacramento Shamanic Center, and a Minister of the Circle of the Sacred Earth Church. She is a Foundation for Shamanic Studies Three-Year Apprenticeship Program graduate (1996); studied with Carol Proudfoot-Edgar in her first Bear Medicine Circle (1995-2001); with Tom Cowan in the Celtic shaman's ways and perspective, and with a number of indigenous shamans internationally. She says, "This work is the great joy of my life. It fills my heart every day."

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 11:00 AM Pacific

Log on to Listen
Why Shamanism Now? on Co-Creator Network
Questions? Comments? Call: 1-512-772-1938

All episodes are now available in the iTunes Podcast Library.

Horoscope for May 23-29

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

Aries (March 21st - April 20th)
When you look back on this week, Aries, it may stand out as a pivotal moment in your life. There is a distinct difference between you at the beginning of the week and you at the end of the week, which will always be a before-and-after kind of thing. An event or internal shift will precipitate this. It may be meeting a life mate or marrying, achieving a title you have worked hard for, finding your life purpose, or simply feeling like you have finally met yourself and knowing you are meant to be.

Taurus (April 21st - May 20th)
You've still got the planets on your side, Taurus. They are almost as good as a magic spell or charm if you are bold enough to go after the things you want. The more you pull together into a cohesive Taurus whole, the less your vibration will match with certain people or groups now. In the past, when you were a follower, going along with others to keep the peace or be accepted, you may have made allowances for differences in values or overlooked incompatibilities because you wanted to belong. Your self-esteem is healthier now and you are not afraid to express yourself. Now it is up to the others to decide how to respond to the full you and it may be up to you to let go of the ones who choose to leave.

Astrological Trends for May 23-29

Cross-posted from Aloha Astro

Significant advancement in work is possible on Monday, May 23rd. The moon is in the fixed air sign of Aquarius, which gives you an extra dose of genius and a vision of how your completed project will serve in the future, which helps it to manifest in the present reality quickly. Venus, the planet of affection and pleasure, Mars, the planet of action and drive, and Mercury, the planet of thought and communication, are all conjunct in the fixed and stable earth sign of Taurus, where they form a supportive trine to Pluto in the cardinal earth sign of Capricorn and a favorable quincunx to Saturn, the planet of discipline, in the cardinal, relationship-minded air sign of Libra. This potent combination of aspects works well for both work and romance. It enables you to stay on task and cooperate well with other people. It also outweighs the potentially confusing effect of the sun recently arrived in the mutable air sign of Gemini square to Neptune in the mutable water sign of Pisces. This sun/Neptune square settled in last week and continues to be with you this week. Doubt and confusion are the primary energies it may create. I have heard people mention a feeling of stagnation or plateauing where suddenly they feel as though nothing is happening or energy is not moving. I believe the earthy Taurus planets can contribute to this feeling of slowness or stuck-ness, as well, if earth is an element that is lacking or afflicted in your own natal chart. I have personally noticed that manifestations are happening in a backward sort of way for me or the signs I receive as confirmations of things come after the fact. I attribute this to the distorting effect of Neptune, which can make everything feel like you are looking in a funhouse mirror. You may be feeling this sun/Neptune square profoundly on an emotional level or you may not notice it other than some odd little events or people behaving strangely. You may be frustrated by your inability to see around the corner or you may not be bothered at all. It is an aspect that is best interpreted through a look at how it applies to your own planets. Today, the strength of the other planets and aspects keeps the strangeness of the square in the background. The planets are telling you to keep working and stay focused. A sextile between the sun and Uranus in the cardinal fire sign of Aries indicates that there may be flashes of genius-like clarity or visions of the upcoming future that will encourage you to keep going through any doubt or fog. In the early evening, the Aquarius moon makes a square to Jupiter in the cardinal fire sign of Aries. This is a "biting off more than you can chew" aspect. It is not a negative aspect because Jupiter is generally benevolent, even when squared or opposed by another planet, but it is an aspect of emotional overwhelm. Chillaxing may not be easy due to the electrifying, unsettling effect of an Aquarius moon. You may find that playing video games or surfing the Internet are good ways to unwind gradually after a busy, productive day.

How to Lie with Statistics for Church Money

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.

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I've been following more of the coverage on the John Jay Causes and Contexts study commissioned by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. I am definitely not the only one having a huge problem with what reads more like apologia for the Church than a serious study of their sexual abuse problem.

An excellent column by Debra W. Haffner in the Washington Post points to some of the excruciating illogic.

It is nearly silent about the abusing priests’ flagrant disregard for the church’s teachings on sexuality and sexual behaviors, while condemning the culture of the 1960’s and 1970’s for these crimes against children. The extensive sections about other agencies serving youth and other denominations facing similar problems, and the concluding paragraphs that these others should take steps to prevent child sexual abuse seem to obviate at least in part what I wished would have been an urgent call for reform, lamentation, and restitution by the Catholic Church.

I can’t help but wonder if a single sexologist was asked to read and comment on the report before it was published. Although I was pleased to see that the writers directly address the fact that there is no evidence that gay priests are any more likely to abuse children than heterosexual priests, it was odd that they didn’t call then for the Catholic Church to end its proposed ban on gay seminarians. Further, the writers (inaccurately) define pedophilia as sex with children ten and younger--and then criticize the media for talking about “pedophile priests” when 22 percent of the victims--nearly one in four! --were these ages. Using the more accepted definition for pedophilia, their own data reveal that 73 percent of the victims were under the age of 14. These children and early adolescents were not capable of consent, regardless of the ages used.

Lies, Damned Lies, and the Catholic Church

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.

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There is nothing new about the Catholic Church blaming society for its sex abuse problem. What is new is a study from John Jay College that seems to support that tiresome excuse.

Released yesterday was a $1.8 million study prepared by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice on the subject of sexual abuse by Catholic priests. The report “Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010,” was commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and seemingly makes attempts to blame society for criminal acts of sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests.

The report makes gross attempts to blame the “liberal” society of the 1960’s. Researchers at John Jay College of Criminal Justice state that the peak incidence of sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the 1960’s and 70’s reflected the increased level of other “deviant behaviors” in American society including drug use, crime, an increase in premarital sex, and divorce. The sexually abusive priests were ordained in the 1940’s and 50’s and therefore were not properly trained to confront the social upheavals of the 1960’s.

When I read early reports and outrage over the scapegoating of the '60s counter-culture, I thought it was the kind of leap so often made by soundbite seeking reporters, probably based on an equally sensational press release, and that the paper itself would be more cautious and even-handed.

Vatican Continues to Disappoint on Abusive Priests

Crossposted from Reflections Journal.

Cardinal William Levada

A Vatican directive for bishops to set national policies for dealing with abusive priests has been characterized as dangerously flawed and toothless by victim advocates.

The world’s Catholic bishops have one year to set national policies on clerical sex abuse of minors, the Vatican said on Monday (May 16), but such policies may vary significantly in each country, and will not be binding on individual bishops.

All national bishops’ conferences are to prepare “guidelines” on preventing abuse, caring for victims, disciplining abusive priests, and reporting suspected abuse to local police, according to a letter from Cardinal William Levada, head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office.

. . .

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi called the May 2012 deadline a “very strong and eloquent statement” on the need to address sex abuse “promptly and effectively” around the world.

The Vatican's definition of "prompt" is to allow another year to address a problem that's been known for decades. It's definition of "effective" is a plan that is not universal, does not include a zero-tolerance policy, and does not penalize bishops who drop the ball.