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 | Shamans are walkers between worlds. They journey, go out of their physical bodies into other worlds to gain understanding, knowing, knowledge, the 'bigger picture'. From this they enable the healing of other beings, creatures, people, plants, the land itself. Journeying is an essential part of being a shaman - else he is not walking between worlds. It can be difficult and dangerous. To be a shaman requires total commitment. |
This comes from a master in the early 20th century and expresses what rainbow warriors do. Please don't be put of by the somewhat archaic language J, take it all in and ponder it for yourself...
So Rainbow Warriors work for others rather than just for themselves. Of course, personal development goes on anyway - you cannot stop developing once your feet are on the path, and you learn continuously from others, But the warrior's focus is not on themselves. They serve, all of creation including other human beings. But, here again, the focus is much broader than humanity alone. As shamans, Rainbow Warriors know the interconnectedness of all life, and know that they play a part in helping everything in creation become its true self. They turn back from personal completion, refusing to be blinded by the light and focused only on self, to shed the light of their own knowing (in as far as they have got) onto the path, to help light the way for others.
Rainbow Warriors is a 3 year advanced training in practical shamanism done through the Internet, ordinary mail and a workshop. It is based in, but not exclusive to, the Western & Celtic magical traditions. It gives a solid grounding in and knowledge of experiential shamanic practice and is designed to enable Students to become Walkers Between the Worlds - rather than "shamanic practitioners".
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We do not give a certificate of graduation. Shamanism is invisible and cannot be accredited in the common academic way. |
In the course, you come to know (not believe) that the Earth is alive, has a spirit. In the Celtic tradition The Earth goes under several names, but the overall term is Sovereignty, Sovereignty is the spirit of the Land, the Earth herself. The elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water - animals, trees, plants, fish, birds, insects, the very soil itself, all have spirit. Your work, over the three years, is to learn to contact, listen to and converse with these spirits in order to bring back the gifts and knowledge they have for the benefit of the Earth - not just humanity but the whole Earth and everything that lives and moves and breathes therein. The shaman is the intercessor between these spirits, otherworld and his people. The shaman knows respect for all life, whether it has the same shape as him or her self, the same number of legs, the same language. The shaman knows Life, and soul (anima) and spirit in all things. This is animism. Anima is the soul and animists (and shamans) know the soul within everything - even if many folk cannot see or know it. Shamans learn respect and responsibility, knowing that every action really does have its equal and opposite reaction ... in the east, they call this karma, in Britain the ancient word is geas which has more of the idea of duty, respect and responsibility behind it. Geas is the promise, and whatever promise you make you will be held to. The shaman knows this, hence he does not make promises lightly.
In Britain, the old ways are still handed down, but they are well hidden from ordinary view. Many people are unaware that Britain has a living tradition. Rainbow Warriors is one way of handing that tradition on, in ways which make it very pertinent to the 21st century in which we live. Rainbow Warriors are able to help those they come in contact with in many ways, healing can take many forms besides the simple 'curing' of an ailment. Rainbow Warriors are especially concerned with human beings' relationship with the Land and the Earth. They carry their magical work into their everyday jobs, like accountancy, ecology, teaching, engineering, business, counselling, psychotherapy and the arts. This is practical shamanism. Always, shamans are part of their community and that still follows today.
The word 'shaman' comes from a Siberian word of the Tungus tribe which speaks of someone who is 'excited' - you will learn this excitement on Rainbow Warriors. To excite means to stimulate, animate, motivate and even electrify, these are all qualities you will find within yourself as you progress through the course. Rainbow Warriors are able to converse with spirits, shapeshift, far-see, and work within the dream-world. Sometimes this appears amazingly simple, happening in the 'everyday world' - this is a part of magic, of shamanism, being able to see the extra-ordinary within the ordinary, and it's quite a skill. It works ... but only when you work for others and not for your own self-aggrandisement. The shaman is a servant to his people, not an autocrat or dictator.
If you think this course might be for you read Dreamweaver by Elen Sentier. This book gives the basic tenets used in the course and shows you how we work. If you find yourself comfortable with this then Rainbow Warriors may be for you. |
The Training |
This works through the old stages of Apprentice to Journeyman and finally to Master and is based around the three main tenets of spiritual practice
The study work includes reading and written assignments. The experience work includes journeying, ritual, ceremony, craft, storytelling. The service work is about work you do for others, people, animals, plants, the planet. You will need to write all of these up and send them to us. We will discuss these with you, help you find answers to your questions and support you through your apprenticeship and journeyman-ship.
Timing is important on the course, as in all magical work. You will need to organise your life to get your work to us on time. to help with this we suggest you find a rhythm to your work. Rhythm is one of the most important things in all shamanic practice. The training revolves and focuses around the seasons and the eight festivals of the Celtic year.
| Reading and Listening. You will need to read a lot, listen to stories, music and songs as well as practise and write up your experiences. We give you book, music and song lists which, whilst extensive are not exclusive. We are also interested to hear about books, music and songs, not on the list, which you have found useful. The books include stories as well as technique and history. Story, song and poetry are the major ways the lore is transmitted in the Celtic tradition. We will be encouraging you to make your own poetry. |
| Craftwork is a major feature of the training too. Shamans, like many magical practitioners, try always to make their own "paraphernalia". Making your own rattles, staff, mask, silver branch, Dreamweb, wand, drum, etc. invests the instrument with your own energy and that of the guides, helpers and other beings who were with you as you made it. This is very important to shamans. |
| Storytelling is also a major feature of the training. The lore was passed on through story, by the shaman or bard, and it is a beautiful art. Remember when you last listened to a story rather than read one or watched one? Using the hearing sense enables the imagination to be evoked and expanded more than using visuals - although these work too but in a different way. The art of storytelling is rather like music. It has cadence, rhythm, flow, loudness, softness, different tones. All these touch different parts of our inner being and can also transport us across the worlds. |
You will also participate in a final workshop. This takes place over five days and is very experiential. You put into practice what you have learned over the three years through practical biodynamic work, dance, singing, storytelling and walking between the worlds. Participation is a vital part of the work.
We ask you to tell us about yourself, your background and experience when you apply for registration. The training is deep work and will change your life. Both we and you need to know that you are ready for this before we proceed.
Lore - you learn will be about the spiritual structure of your own body and soul; how these work together; their connection to the Web of the World and to the Cosmic Web. Each lesson lasts six or seven weeks, corresponding to the rhythms of the eight Celtic festivals. The period from a Lunar festival to a Solar festival (e.g. Samhain to Winter Solstice) is seven weeks. The period from a Solar festival to a Lunar festival (e.g. Winter Solstice to Imbolc) is six weeks. Over this time you are asked to read understand and come to know a piece of lore (wisdom teaching) so that you can tell or write it back to your tutor in your own words – you read about it, draw it, journey it, hear and read stories, then write your own understanding back to your tutor.
Experience comes about through the journeys and craft work as well as how you live your life. You'll find this changes as you grow through the course.
Journeying - This helps you in your role as a Walker Between the Worlds. You learn how to journey and journey on a particular theme. For example Finding Your Sacred Space, Journeying Within your Body, Meeting Your Familiar, which are the first three journeys of the course. Even if you already have a Familiar it will be well worthwhile re-making your relationship at the new level you will find yourself at on the course.
Craft - We ask you to make an instrument for your Craft, the making of your own magical implements, your paraphernalia. Interacting with wood, stone, metal, plants, water, air, fire, in order to craft your shaman's tools will give you a very deep knowing and knowledge of how and why they work. This will stay with you far more than learning it out of a book. You have two seasons to do this as it can (but doesn’t always) take time. You have to "envision" the instrument – the first is a Rattle – which means asking for your rattle to show itself to you. Not someone else’s, yours. You will find the materials and decorations, and make it yourself. Many of us find a song or chant comes with it and an image of the Guardian Spirit of that instrument. Maybe also the guardian power which over-lights it. You will then enliven it, call out its spirit and befriend that spirit. You will also learn to use the instrument in ceremony, ritual, healing and augury.
Storytelling - This helps your skills as Bringer Home of Wisdom, Mediator and Walker Between Worlds. It will come about through the actual telling of the stories, which we ask you to do and tape and then send us the tape. To tell a story successfully is to live it, have it alive within you as you tell. You are there, seeing out of the characters' eyes, feeling with them, hearing and sensing. This way it becomes real for your audience. Also, you will find that the story itself has ideas of how it wishes to be - on this day. It will change itself within your mouth as you form the words and you will hear yourself saying them as though you hadn't heard them before. The skill you acquire is how to enable this interaction, this walking across the worlds, to happen.
Service ... do we do all this work for our own delight? It is unlikely we get too much delight if this is our aim. Funnily enough, sharing our loves and delights with others makes them get bigger rather than smaller. We enjoy ourselves more. Perhaps that is part of the "carrot" the gods offer to get us to do all this work! The form your service takes will be your own. We can offer suggestions - if you want. There have been shamans who work as healers (of course) but also as financiers, people managers, vets, farmers, psychologists, factory workers, people who serve tea in cafes, writers, scientists, housewives and husbands, teachers, cooks, gardeners, policemen ... the list goes on forever. One of shamanism's main tenets is "inclusiveness".
Don't worry about how you may serve. It will come to you as you listen and work with Otherworld, a bit at a time, as you are able to see it.
Shamanism is about being within and a part of the world, a knowing rather than an unconscious part. Shamans work willingly within the world, knowing their deep connections to it over the whole life of our soul - which is made up of many, many personal lives. By service they help it to grow and realise its potential. As it becomes real to all of them so they discover a most joyful reason for being here.
The Australian native peoples say that only so much of the world as we can dream at any time is able to exist. We need to become greater Dreamers.
We take on new Apprentices at Samhain (31st October in the northern hemisphere, where I live) each year. If you would like to apply please do so by 1st August. We close the books on applications on 29th September each year and we need to discuss your application with you in great detail so make sure you have your application form in to us by August in the year in which you wish to begin the course.
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Send your application to Grymalkyn NOT the webmaster !!! |
Read these questions carefully and think about how you feel - also feel about how you think! This is a difficult and personally stretching course, it turns students current concepts on their heads which can be quite difficult - not everyone wants this. The more fully and deeply you answer these questions the more you will know, for yourself, if this is the work you wish to do. And we will have a much better idea if this work will be suitable for you. We have to be quite sure that you will find the work appropriate.
There is a great deal of work in the course. You will find that you need to organise your time very carefully, and your relations with your family, and how you deal with your everyday job. This is part of the shaman's skill - how s/he integrates seamlessly with the world around in which s/he lives.
| We don't provide any more information until we have seen your application. |
Please write to us giving your own responses to the following questions. The application form is the beginning of a process by which we get to know each other and decide if we can work together. It form the basis for further conversation. There are no "right answers". We suggest you cut-and-paste the following questions into an email and send your responses that way.
If you would like to look at some other trainings with a Celtic perspective, try these ...
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Hallowquest - Caitlin & John Matthews are world-class scholars in the knowledge of Celtic customs and do a training for those beginning the path. |
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Living Druidry - Emma Restall Orr's course on druidry |
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Sacred Spirits Vixen (Christine Cleere) runs these workshops which are an good way into druidry and related practices. |
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OBOD - Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids, training in Druidry |
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Faerie Shamanism - Tira Brandon's training for beginners |
Send mail with questions or comments about this web site to designerlifetimes@yahoo.co.uk
Copyright © 1998-2003 Peagreenboat.
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One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by
making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable
and therefore not popular