The School of Shamanic Midwifery

Shamanic Drum Journeys available on Moonsong website

2011-11-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone,

Greetings this Gibbous Moon!

I'm writing to let you know that the long promised Shamanic Drum Journey to your Womb, to meet your inner Goddess, is now available for free to download on my website. ENJOY!

And to accompany this gift are two more Shamanic Drum Journey albums for sale.

One with four journeys:

The Four Shamanic Drum Journeys is a collection of shamanic processes with instructions that can help you access realms and information to guide you on your path. Meet your Teachers and Guides, your Power Animal, and the realms the shaman-you can access.

And the other a special one for pregnant women to meet their baby:

A Shamanic Drum Journey for Pregnancy to Meet Your Baby, and Drumming for Labour has been created to enable mothers and mothers to be to meet with and commune with their baby inside, if they are pregnant, and their "soulbaby" if they are planning pregnancy. The benefits of this process are explained and accompanied by women's stories. Also included is a drumming track that can be played on repeat during labour for the benefits that will provide.

Best wishes and love,
Jane
xxx

Jane Hardwicke Collings
Midwife
Teacher of the Women's Mysteries
The School of Shamanic Midwifery

Big Picture Perspective

2011-09-04T05:44:00.000-07:00

In the current situation of the maternity care services of Australia, its so tempting to see the conspiracy to 'knock off' all the 'powerful' women, but truly I doubt 'they' are that smart.

We need to remember this sort of thing is actually happening 'across the board', in other parts of health care, in education, in agriculture, in mining, etc etc.

We live in a patriarchal culture and all these things are examples of the mindset that supports the culture. Technology and control.

And all these related situations are part of the one thing, the eventual evolution of consciousness.

So, to my mind, even though its reeeeeally hard, we must not take any of this personally.

'We' have an important role to play here and its to hold the place from which we come from, our ideals, our philosophy.

We may not see the change come in our lifetimes, we need to hold a bigger picture than our current jobs or the next birth or our registration and insurance situation.

We need to be thinking ahead, to our children's children and beyond, for the future generations.

The metaphoric seeds of change ( to the current maternity care services) that have been planted, are sprouting, many are being stomped on, and some will survive and go on to grow very strong, a new variety, adapted to the environment.

The women and men who are living this dream of the healed feminine, will raise their children to know this, and then they will, and they will etc etc.

This is may not have many short term or even middle term results, but it will be part of what will be.

People will look back on this time and wonder 'what the hell were 'they' thinking?'.

We need to keep on keeping on and actually let go of the fight, it drains our energy and resources.

The current situation of 'reverting to 'support person' from midwife when transferring or attending a woman in labour in hospital' is a great example.

This is actually progress, although it really is just reverting back to the same as the way it was before all the current 'developments'.

So what happens in that situation,depends, as it always did, on who you encounter on the hospital admission, ie whether the hospital midwives are sympathetic to the situation or not.

This is not a new thing, Im sure we've all had lots of practice with this.

And as it always has, it highlights the need for ALL midwives to support women's choices.

As it says in the Tao Te Ching - "...in any event, the more conscious force will win."

Be strong, see the big picture.

We require stamina, and strategy. Strategy that works long term.

Using the wisdom of Starhawk and the principles of permaculture, what we need to do is create the environment that creates the best conditions for what we want to grow, to be able to flourish.

So what does that look like in your home town? Probably what you are doing.

Keep on keeping on.

Trust the process.

Vision Quest, Four Seasons Journey 2011

2011-06-22T05:46:00.001-07:00

Greetings this side of the Solstice.

The current School of Shamanic Midwifery Four Seasons Journey group of beautiful courageous women are deep in the lunar cycle following their Vision Quest. It's a bit like a BabyMoon, time to integrate and marvel over the magnificence of the process.

The Vision Quest was a deeply transformative experience for the women.
It rained, it shined and eagles soared above.

The Leaving Ceremony

Vigil Night Altar at Basecamp

Returned from Solo

These Warrioress Priestesses are headed next to their Dark Moon Gathering, where we focus in on the dark moon energies, the cycle of transformation and the role of the shamanic midwife in all that.

Full Moon Gathering, Four Seasons Journey 2011

2011-03-25T03:38:00.000-07:00

Before we can be all we can be in our role within our communities as Shamanic Midwife, we must first know ourselves. 'Know Thyself' is the foundation of this practice, it is the practice. For if one does not 'know oneself' then one brings to each and every interaction an unconscious agenda that plays out. So in our mission to be the 'hollow bone', the vessel through which the universe works, the Shamanic Midwife, we gathered again on the journey of healing to wholeness.

Beneath the full 'supermoon', with masks of our creation to represent our power animals, invoking and embodying them, we drummed and danced. We danced our power animals, our sacred wound healing and 'sent' the energy we raised to Japan.

T'was a magnificent weekend, a deepening of our connection with each other and our 'work' together, being and becoming the women, mothers and shamanic midwives that the Earth needs now. Healing ourselves 'for all our relations'.

With great thanks to all the wonderful women of this Four Seasons Journey, to the land, and to the support that helped us be there.

Blessed Be

New Websites For Moonsong and The School of Shamanic Midwifery

2011-01-19T01:13:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

Bathing in the auspicious energy of this first full moon of the year 2011, as the full moon energy shifts from Cancer to Leo, from the home to the stage!

It is with great pleasure in the sharing of this with you
and with immense gratitude for Leia Sidery's brilliance in creating them, that I announce and invite you to the launch of the new Moonsong website and the birth of The School of Shamanic Midwifery.com!

Please be invited to this virtual launch party, here under the full moon, get yourself your glass of champagne (virtual will do) and enjoy:

www.moonsong.com.au
www.schoolofshamanicmidwifery.com

Best wishes and love
Jane
xxxx

SSM1 Closing Gathering, December 2010

2010-12-14T13:51:00.000-08:00

The Closing Gathering for the Virgin Journey of the School of Shamanic Midwifery was a blessed gathering of learned wise women, gathering to give and receive and give again, over and over.

Each woman gave a presentation relevant to the SSM work done this year, a sample of what the student is interested in developing and taking out into the world.

The Closing Gathering was both and ending and a beginning. A point of no return, a transformation. A death and a rebirth.

The final gathering in the year long program that holds as its intention:

To create the opportunity for women to find within themselves the skills and abilities needed to midwife transformation for themselves and others on their journey.
To offer education that honours menstruation, pregnancy, birth and menopause as the shamanic experiences they are in a women's life journey.
To offer education that serves to deepen women's understanding and connection with the natural cycles of the Earth, the moon and their bodies.
To midwife, mentor, support, guide and empower women to become leaders and facilitators of this education within their own communities.

And now there are 10 graduates of The School of Shamanic Midwifery - gatekeepers, way show-ers, Earthkeepers, Birthkeepers; hearing the whisperings of nature and responding.

When the SSM website is up there will be a Graduates page so you can meet them, see their special interests and contact them if you wish.

Blessed Be

Four Seasons Journey 2012

2010-11-26T16:11:00.001-08:00

Enrolments are being taken for the next School of Shamanic Midwifery Four Seasons Journey starting in November 2011. This year long program will be based in the Southern Highlands of NSW, an hour and a half from Sydney. Numbers are limited to 15 women.

Please email enquiries@schoolofshamanicmidwifery.com for further information.

Opening Gathering, SSM2 Four Seasons Journey

2010-11-11T03:54:00.000-08:00

The Opening Gathering of the 4 Seasons Journey of SSM2 was held in late October, deep in the forests, high on a hill, near Mullumbimby, NSW, under a full moon.

We sat in circle, created sacred space, were graced by many bats and owls, made drums and connected with our guides, teachers and power animals.

This year long program is graced by three apprentices from SSM1 and ten women from around Australia.

Following this Opening Gathering, the students now prepare for the Full Moon Gathering where they will meet the Shamanic Midwife as healer. This time will also include attending Pregnancy the Inner Journey and Moonsong Workshops to deepen their experience of the cycles of a woman's life and their own personal journey. Healer Heal Thyself is one of the fundamental aspects of the SSM, the guide must know the territory.

The next year long School of Shamanic Midwifery program (Four Seasons Journey 2012) starts in November 2011.

If you are interested please email jane@schoolofshamanicmidwifery.com for more information.

SSM Birthkeeper Intensive Weekend Workshops planned for 2011

2010-09-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

The School of Shamanic Midwifery is planning a series of SSM BirthKeeper Intensives. These will be for Birthkeepers - midwives and doulas, interested in learning shamanic midwifery practices and processes to augment their 'work'. The workshops will be held over a weekend and will be both personally experiential and skills training and will focus on providing a framework and processes to honour and support the shamanic journey of pregnancy, birth and mothering for the women you care for. These will be given in various locations in Australia 2011. Please email me if you want to be informed of the details and let me know your location for the planning. janecollings@bigpond.com

SSM1 Dark Moon Gathering, Victoria, July 9-11th

2010-08-04T03:15:00.000-07:00

The Dark Moon Gathering for SSM1 was held in the country side north of Melbourne at a beautiful retreat centre.

By this time we have come to know ourselves as mermaids - mistresses of transformation - and have gathered to journey deep into the dark.

The Dark Moon Gathering is about mapping the inevitable yet often avoided descent. We experience the descent in the cycle of the Earth’s seasons, in the lunar cycle and in our menstrual cycle. Within these cycles and inherent in the descent and subsequent ascent process is - transformation. In a culture that values the 'up and on' position as opposed to the 'down and out', its not surprising that we do all we can to avoid what is not seen as, or supported as, a natural and necessary part of the journey.

Stories of descent abound from the Ancients. One such story we will use to experience the process of descent is Inanna's.

We had a huge day of processes leading up to a ceremony re-enacting Inanna's descent into the Underworld and ascent to a place of truer self knowing.

Ready for the 'Dance of the Seven Veils", preparing to let go of the wounded ways that we express ourselves in the various roles in our lives for the journey ahead.

Integration time after the ceremony, making beautiful artefacts.

And so the Virgin Journey of The School of Shamanic Midwifery approaches it's completion.

So much has been learned, discovered, re-membered, let go of, and birthed, including (by the Closing Gathering) three babies! Several of the SSM1 women will continue the journey as Apprentices with SSM2 and SSM3. The others will take 'the work' into their own worlds and practices to 'spread the word'. Such brave courageous women paving the way for their sistars - reclaiming feminine power through reconnection with the women's mysteries - as simple as that!
For all our relations.
Blessed Be and Blessed Do.

SSM1 Dark Moon Gathering 2010

2010-07-05T19:17:00.000-07:00

As the moon wanes, SSM1 prepares to go on retreat to journey deeply into the dark. We will gather this weekend and as Shamanic Midwives will ceremonially re-enact the descent and ascent of Inanna to and from the Underworld. This will be a personal as well as a collective experience, as we do our magick for all our relations.

Blessings to the brave and courageous women that pave the way reclaiming their true selves.

"Aahshay"

Shamanic Midwifery Vision Quest 2010 - Video Montage from Melody

2010-06-22T03:17:00.000-07:00

It is with great thanks to Jane that I offer a sharing of the Shamanic Midwifery Vision Quest 2010. After this deeply profound, fortifying and beautiful experience, I felt called to collate for our circle, images and sound of meaning. My intent was and is to shine back to this year's Shamanic Midwifery sisterhood the love and gratitude I feel for the journey we are taking, carving this new way in the road together. The montage below is an imagery interpretation of the Vision Quest week. Each image used to communicate the core of the Quest was chosen for its potency in reflecting both the individual and collective Shamanic Midwifery experience thus far. My hope is that those intending upon joining the Shamanic Midwifery circle in the future, as well as other interested folk, will also have a window into the magic that was the Quest.

Blessed Be.

Shamanic Midwifery Vision Quest 2010 from Artemis Awake on Vimeo.

SSM1 Vision Quest May 2010

2010-06-02T05:03:00.000-07:00

So, here we are, halfway through the SSM1 program, the

Virgin Journey.

Winter time, deep within and embarking on a Vision Quest.

And the SSM1 Vision Quest was wonder-ful.

"Shamanic Midwifery is the facilitation of finding the purpose of everything in terms of personal evolution and consciousness raising. On Vision Quest - an exercise in 'knowing thy self' and experiencing the mystical laws in action - you are your own Shamanic Midwife.

So,
What does it take for me to truly know myself?
What does it take for me to be She Who I Am?

This and much more you will find as you sit quietly on the Earth, in the lap of the Goddess.
Come sit for a while,
You are safe and protected by all you believe in.
Choose wisely for that which you believe will hold you."
JHC

"As the Questor seeks retreat into nature in solitude, shifts in consciousness begin to occur. Old memories come to the surface to be resolved. Fear is confronted. A sense of purpose emerges. In the heightened state of awareness that a quest elicits, archetypal images can appear. A tree becomes a sage. A cloud becomes an angel. A power song is received, a soul name comes. A voice speaks out of the darkness. The unexplained and mysterious occur. Understanding of Self deepens and often remarkable transformations take place"
Denise Linn, The Quest

One's Vision Quest is something remembered forever. It will mark the start of a new journey, the beginning of a new way of Being, a new way of co-responding with Mother Nature, the Earth our Mother, The Goddess. Introspection and self-evaluation take place, and a simplification occurs helping one to discover or remember what is truly important in life. One can begin to reach the source of any pain so it can be healed. It is a time of symbolic death and rebirth into a new way of being in your world.

It's an underworld journey. Some things will fall away, others will grow in strength and all will make sense to the journey of one's life. It's about your authentic self getting in the driver's seat. It's about cultivating a relationship between your ego and your soul.

"True solitude - alert aloneness without diversions - can be challenging, it is often the necessary gateway to our deepest passions, and the discovery of what we must do to live them. Earth so effectively mirrors our soul powers simply because our souls are elements of earth's soul"
Bill Plotkin, Soulcraft
It rained 75% of the time.
The solo time was an experience of the Great Mother's offering of the weather conditions for an inward and reflective time and one with many challenges - rain.
The vigil night was clear, the moon was full and the Questors were held in the 'lap of the Goddess'.

Base Camp was an experience of living on the land...in simplicity, with two babies, their mothers and me 'holding the space'.

Blessings and great thanks to all our relations - the beings - human, animal, plant and 'other' - who supported, guided, nurtured and protected us on our journey.

And as Vision Quests do, it wove its magic.

I give thanks for all that was.

SSM1 Full Moon Gathering, Feb 26th - 28th

2010-03-04T16:11:00.000-08:00

....and the journey continues.

To this point, most of the SSM1 students have participated in a few Moonsong and Pregnancy The Inner Journey workshops, deepening their experience and knowledge. Their knowledge of the cycles - lunar, menstrual, Earth season, life season and the inner journey of pregnancy with all its transformative opportunities, as well as the experience of being with women in circle. Several of the SSM1 women have done this work - or play - for many years, and for some its new, but for all its 'old' and very, very familar. I opened the Full Moon Gathering with the following words that came to me one night.....

We have been here before. That time, those times, there have been many, were different, are different. This time is more different again. This time as we gather together, finding each other again, we are free. This time we need not fear being seen or found, this time we may be openly who we are, in fact we must be. That's the point, you know what to do, but now this time do it openly, proudly and share it with whomever is interested.

We come this time as well with many more gifts, talents and connections, we come each in our power. Each in our power and ready for the tasks ahead. Individually we shall each have a major influence in our communities and together we will combine our forces and make the prayers and actions required of us. I don't know what those are, but we will know when we know. The Goddess as I call her, She to whom I have dedicated my life, over and over, will speak to me and I will know. She, in whatever shape and form you recognise her this time, will do the same to you.

All this is.

The School of Shamanic Midwifery is a school, as in a school of fish - together, feeling the 'at-one-ness', we move.

We felt this at-one-ness this weekend as we sat around our central altar, positioned according to where we each were in our menstrual cycle or for those pregnant or breastfeeding, in alignment with the moon phase - one day off Full. This was the most populated as we had two women breastfeeding, two women pregnant and two in sync with the moon. Hearing each other speak we could easily sense the ''many faces of the Goddess', the energy across the circle was both where we had been and where we were headed.

One of the focuses of the Gathering was journeying to meet our power animals, making masks of them, sharing their medicine, invoking them and beneath the full She Moon, dancing them. Power animals or totem animals or familiars, have long been worked with in various traditions. They are known as the messengers of Great Spirit, a connection with the essence of Nature as guide, advisor, healer and another opportunity to feel the interconnectedness of all things and beings in all realms, a way to tap into a deeper sense of knowing.

We danced the 'Long Dance' described by Elizabeth Cogburn. Winding into the ceremony, dancing the Yang circle then the Yin circle, we arrived at the centre. One by one, together in the dark, dressed in our masks and accoutrement, we called our power animals in. Scaled, winged, four legged and all of the above, the many She's expressed themselves with sound, movement and in relationship to each other. Held by four drummers, in turn at the directions, maintaining the beat that pulsed through and around us. Clouds reflecting the energies swirled above us, the full moon bursting through lighting us, the drums carrying us, we journeyed on, through and within the animals medicine. Many of the women had profound and deep experiences of their power animal's gifts and teachings that helped make sense of their connection and filled them with meaning and answers much needed for life.

Either side of our ceremony in the daylight hours we had two dialogues. One on 'ways to protect self and others' and 'ways to use the breath to raise energy and power'. Such wisdom we hold. As scribe I wrote quickly, catching the wise words of the experiences of twelve lifetimes. Blessed we are to now have these manuals.

In closing, we planned for our next gathering - the Vision Quest. And we dreamed of what we're to do together beyond our school, how we can serve the greater good, how we can share the wealth we're accumulating in our blessed experiences together.

And dreamed we did, dreamed big. So stand by!

The SSM1 program has started ...

2009-10-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

The SSM1 program has started with 15 awesome women on the virgin journey.

We camped together on our family land, engaged in ceremonial practices, made our intentions, made drums and connected with each other, the Earth, our Inner Shamans and the two beautiful babies, Callum and Jarrah, that were with us.

The drum making was a very potent experience. The creative act gave the women an opportunity to revisit their own births and for the mothers, their experiences of giving birth. How we are born determines how we ‘do process’ and becomes the precursor for how we give birth ourselves. The shamanic midwife knows this and helps women (and men and children) to see the connections between their birth and their daily life and the opportunities that continually present themselves for healing and self-realisation. How you are born, or how your children are born, is not a ‘sentence’, it’s a soul-crafting experience and an opportunity for deeper understanding.

From a soul’s perspective your birth is the beginning, this time, of the journey you have come for.The shamanic midwife helps the woman to see into the unseen realms, her inner world, to access her memories, held emotions, fears and beliefs, so she can see what drives her behavior, what influences her experience of life, enabling her to make choices and avoid old patterns. And of course, for the shamanic midwife, in whatever way she expresses herself, her knowing of the impact her own birth has had on her, enables her to draw from it, the gifts the experience gave her, her unique qualities.

One of the SSM1 women, Stephanie, has started her own blog:http://journeyofoneshamanicmidwife.blogspot.com/

Dates have been finalized for the SSM2 (Nov 2010 – Nov 2011) and SSM3 (2011) programs. SSM2 will run in a combination of Northern NSW and Queensland venues and SSM3 will be in Tasmania. Email me if you’d like to enroll, numbers are limited, so please contact me as soon as you know this is for you to avoid disappointment. Best wishes, Jane janecollings@bigpond.com

The School of Shamanic Midwifery

2009-02-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

The School of Shamanic Midwifery (SSM) is a Women’s Mysteries School for midwives and doulas, a gathering of wise women, a year long Earth based ‘religious’ experience. It will awaken in you a deeper connection to the cycles - the way of life - and enable in you a range of ancient and traditional skills and tools to serve women and the birth process.

Commencing in the Southern Spring of 2009, SSM will offer a program run over a year or so.

The aim of the program is:
* to awaken the Shamaness in you so that you may take this to your practice as midwife or doula and serve the women, their process and the birth process at a deeper, healing level.
* to learn ways of ‘being with woman’ that best facilitates the transformation possible for women, and their families, during pregnancy and birth.

This is a program designed to develop shamanic skills, a connection with the Earth, the Goddess and self-awareness. Besides offering you further tools for your practice, the program aims to provide you with the opportunity to see who you really are and why you do the things you do the way you do them.

The School of Shamanic Midwifery is based in Australia and is given and co-ordinated by Jane Hardwicke Collings, Homebirth Midwife, Mother, Grandmother. Jane has apprenticed with many great teachers – Maggie Lecky Thompson, Blackbear James Harvey and the late Jeannine Parvati Baker. She brings the experience of 25 years of homebirths and shamanic practice together and, as requested, presents what she has learned and commits to helping facilitate those who are interested on their journey toward being Shamanic Midwives.

SSM1 October 2009 - November 2010, will be held in a combination of Southern Highlands, NSW and Melbourne venues and is fully booked (15 women) with a waiting list. Fee: $2000

SSM2 October 2010 – November 2011, to be held in a combination of Southern Highlands, NSW and Northern NSW/Queensland venues. Taking bookings now. Fee: $3500

What is Shamanic Midwifery?

Shamanism is humanity’s oldest 'religion' and healing art. It is universal across cultures. It involves working with the cycles, in alternate dimensions of reality with guides and powerful subtle energies, episodes of visionary states and serving others as a gatekeeper and a guide. It is about facilitating transformation and healing. Shamanic midwifery is midwifery working with the energy of healing and transformation. Childbirth is a transformational experience what ever happens.

The practice of shamanic midwifery facilitates for the mother - personal growth and development, self awareness and positive change. This happens by asking the appropriate questions, accessing inner wisdom, practicing intuitive listening and mindfulness. What arises for a pregnant woman in her relationships, in her day to day life, as her fears, her concerns, are not random occurrences. In the same way that her cravings for various foods are her body calling for a specific vitamin, mineral or nutritional content - what arises are the ‘tips of the icebergs' of the issues she has the opportunity to be with and deal with at that time, as she travels toward wholeness and balance in her being. Pregnancy and childbirth provide this opportunity, shamanic midwifery is the art of facilitating that.

The time commitment required for the program is attendance of the following:

Opening gathering - 2 days plus overnight camping
Moonsong workshops – weekend workshop, attendance at a second Moonsong workshop later in the year as well if possible. Attendance at two preferred.
Pregnancy Workshops - 3 days. Attendance at each scheduled Pregnancy Workshop over the year is encouraged, but at least two.
Vision Quest - 5 days away, 3 days and 3 nights solo,
2 x 1-2 day camping retreats around particular moon phases (not necessarily on weekends)Closing gathering - 2 days plus overnight camping
Besides these gatherings together you will be required to stay in email contact with me and do specific reading and research and engage in a meditation practice.
For inquiries and to enrol please contact Jane.
Jane Hardwicke Collings
Email janecollings@bigpond.com
www.moonsong.com.au

Shamanic Midwifery (GAIA newsletter Feb ‘08)

Shamanism in the modern day serves to remind us of the ‘web of life’, the interconnectedness and interrelationship of everything. A woman who lives in accordance with the natural cycles of her life accessing all the power and magic of her menstrual cycle, the potential of childbirth and menopause is herself a shamaness.

My homebirth midwifery career, spanning more than 2 decades, has been of itself quite a shamanic journey. Birthing my own three children and travelling betwixt and beyond the ordinary and non-ordinary realms as a shamanic midwife has taught me much to say the least.

I started my shamanic training with Black Bear aka James Harvey back in the early 1990’s and it was the blending of midwifery and shamanism that I learned from Jeannine Parvati Baker that helped me marry my passions and find my true purpose, my way to serve.

I use shamanic techniques in my Pregnancy Workshops to help the women access information from within and without. We do drum journeys to our wombs, we invoke the ancient Birth Goddesses, we do powerful fire rituals to burn away our fears and we delve deep to see the patterns and themes that configure our experiences of life.

Following is an excerpt from my (nearly finished) book Birthing With The Goddess that details an example of shamanic midwifery.

Artemis, friend of the animals, reminds us of our connection with our four legged, winged and scaled animal allies. Animal allies have long been worked with by Shamans and Shamanesses. We each have special animals, alive or in spirit that we can communicate with and work with in the spiritual or physical realm.

“Nearly all shamanic cultures believe in Animal Allies or helpers. These creatures have the appearance and many of the characteristics and behavior patterns of ordinary animals, birds, and fish, but they can communicate with the shaman. Sometimes these animals become protectors and guides for the shaman, both while she/he is journeying in the Otherworlds and in the physical realm ”

I had long been familiar with my animal allies and was always excited to see an Owl fly ahead of me in the night on my way driving to a birth. One night before a birth, I was sitting alone in the dark on my verandah contemplating the pending birth, the mother and her circumstances. I felt a fear rise in me, complete with very uncomfortable physical symptoms. I got very scared thinking about the birth that the baby would die. I remembered what my shamanic training had taught me about taking on other people’s feelings and issues literally, to help them process them. An Owl flew into my vicinity and was hooting loudly. Owls are around our property but I had never encountered one so close to the house. I heard in my mind, words from the Owl. “Wrap up all the fears in a bundle and give it to me, I’ll take care of it.”I imagined all the fears of the baby dying at the birth, all the feelings associated with that, the words, the faces, the pain, the panic and wrapped it in a bundle as the Owl had said. In my imagination I reached forward to where the Owl was and gave her the bundle. I gave great thanks to the Owl for taking the bundle. Sitting still with all my senses open I heard the Owl fly off. With my eyes shut there in the dark I went inside myself to see if that had worked. I couldn’t rouse any feelings of fear what so ever. The fear that had been overwhelming me was gone. Thank you Owl.

The next day I had an antenatal appointment with that very pregnant mother and she talked about how she had been feeling really scared about her baby dying at the birth. She said, as she sat then with the fear, that actually it wasn’t there anymore. I told her about my experience with the Owl the night before and we both gave great thanks to the Owl.

Call Artemis and give thanks for her assistance and guidance for you with finding your animal allies. Awaken the Shamaness in you and feel the magical connection between yourself and the animals.

It is my vision (one of them!) to create the School of Shamanic Midwifery – The Midwifery of Transformation (SSM).

Blessed Be