The foundation of my service is “shamanism”. I place this term in quotations, and throughout this text will use italics to indicate a conscious use of the terminology. This word shamanism is the term that western society places on a variety of indigenous healing traditions and knowledge systems. Although I would prefer, and do use the term indigenous in my personal vocabulary and referencing…I also respect the culture that I am currently living within – and for that benefit will use the terms of shamanism. If you would like to learn more of my thoughts and beliefs on this…please contact me, and I would be pleased to forward to you some of my writings on this topic – or engage in discussion with you.

Shamanism, for my self, is not simply a practice/modality or a service/business offering, it is a way of life. It is about traveling in all worlds (physical and spiritual) and living in all worlds – experiencing the reality of all worlds. It is about carrying our self in a way that recognizes the effect of every action and step we take…and how that radiates out, contributing to the balance or the imbalance of the whole. It is about change and constant learning. It is about living the teachings and processes that have been passed to me through my indigenous healing and knowledge systems and traditions…and those teachings and processes that have been shared with me through others indigenous healing and knowledge systems and traditions. Experience that is acquired through this indigenous process is also something that I sometimes find difficult to place a language or description upon. So, it is only fitting for me to begin this section with gratitude for all the people that have supported this specific aspect of my journey.

Gratitude

• Thank you to all those who have chosen to record in written form their observations of shamanic cultures/practices and their personal experiences with shamanic practices/development. Although the list is endless, I would like to thank the following writers in particular… Jeanne Achterberg, Ted Andrews, Ken Cohen , Mircea Eliade, Michael Harner, Ake Hultkrantz, Sandra Ingerman, Holger Kalweit, Kenneth Meadows, Lewis Mehl-Madrona, … you have often, through your words, provided affirmation for my experiences and assisted me to find a way to describe my experiences.
• Thank you to Elina Helander, Sami elder. Elina, you opened your heart to me…a girl from a foreign country tracking her ancestry…trying to explain to herself what she was experiencing. Thank you for your patience, support and sharing. You contributed in such a profound way to both my research and personal development. Now, in a deeper sense, I am beginning to see/understand the echoes of the words.
• Thank you to Rudolph Ryser and Leslie Korn, founders of the Center for World Indigenous Studies and the Center for Traditional Medicine. You believed in me, encouraged me, supported the children and myself through the best of times and the worst of times. There doesn’t seem to be enough words to describe how I feel about the two of you. Thank you for the conversations…for the direction…for the assistance with defining, accepting, translating and placing into language what I held within. Thank you also for assisting me in recognizing and claiming my indigenous roots. You both are inspiration to me and I will always hold you dear to my heart. I am looking forward to the day Spirit has us working together again!
• I also need thank my friends…the spiritual family I have adopted, and who have adopted me - for your patience, encouragement and unconditional support. You all know who you are…thank you for the questions, the comments, the recognition of who I am…sometimes before I was ready to stand up, open the door and step out into the wind.

All of you have helped not only me … but those I serve.

In my teachings, my understanding, there are many forms of Shamanic Healing practices…or to language another way – of Indigenous Healing Arts traditions. The gifts I bring to the table are specifically related to the recognition, engagement, transformation and understanding of energies and energy patterns. As a mixture of many cultures, and a student of the land I live in communion with…many of the practices I engage in are similar, in essence, to other culturally specific practices. These traditions include the essence of Sami, Christian mysticism, Strega, and native North American traditions (particularly nations within the eastern woodlands and great lakes regions – as I currently reside in southern Ontario, and spent much of my early life in northern Ontario). I am not Native North American, Finnish, Sami or Italian. I do not facilitate the rituals and ceremonies that are culturally specific. The practices I engage in are an eclectic blend of all. In some circles this style of practice is being referred to as ‘contemporary shamanism’. Although historically, and also currently for some, the shamanic healer would travel, on behalf of the individual or community, between the realms … the teachings I carry are directed toward facilitating the individual, group or community to travel on their own, to become aware of and use their innate abilities. I am who I am – Sandi, Ayahwehwah, Spirit WombMan … one who has claimed her indigenous roots … one who has claimed her truth … one who is here to serve … one who is here to share with others.

There was a time, historically, where the individual, group or community would have known who I was and what I offer – without me describing or speaking this offering. We have had decades and in some cases centuries of separation…so that this type of knowing is not always obvious or evident any longer. Therefore I lay before you, to the best of my abilities, a description of the services I currently offer.

Self-generated ceremony
There is a difference between ritual and ceremony. Ritual refers to the procedures that we use on a regular basis, over and over. Ritual often provides us with a sense of security and with connection. Ceremony may contain ritual within it. Ceremony is the dance … the creation of connected procedures that mark change – often a celebration of a coming of age, a turning point, the beginning or the end. Ceremony can also be ritualistic in nature. That is, the procedures may be repeated in a specific order, at a specific time, for a specific reason. Ritual and ceremony assist us in bringing the spiritual into the physical. In this context, the term self-generated ceremony is used to refer to the creation of ceremony that is unique to each individual or group. Service is available to assist in the creation of the ceremony, and when requested in facilitation, witness or attending of ceremony. Co-creation of ceremony is available in person or at a distance. Facilitation or witnessing ceremony is available in person. Attending ceremony is available in person or at a distance.

Shamanic Counseling
Shamanic counseling is a term given to describe a session that is primarily a talk based approach. During the talking, or rather the telling of the story, internal energies (body, mind, spirit and emotions) are being tracked. At the same time, external energies and their influence on the internal energies are tracked. Within the session, there is often movement of energy patterns – through awareness and intent. These sessions are available in person or at a distance.

Shamanic Experience
In recent years, more and more people have asked me to share my knowledge of shamanic practices and to facilitate various forms of shamanic experience. This service is provided on an individual or group basis. It involves mentoring and support prior to, during and following an experience. These sessions are primarily offered in person and are available on a special request basis or through The Opening Way. Examples of offerings include: stone people communication; drum, rattle or sound journeys; ceremony; cleansing of people or space; blessings.

Shamanic Healing
This service is provided in many different ways depending upon the needs of the individual, partners or group. When an individual decides to embark upon a healing journey involving the use of the services, the first step is an intake session. During this session, we engage in talk and storytelling (much like the Shamanic Counseling). The focus is on the individual relating their story, beginning with why they have chosen this service at this time in their life and moving into details of the present. From there we then continue to connect with a few key historical details as well. Any questions or comments directed to the individual are intuitively driven. At any point in the process, you, the client, may ask where the information is arising from. The process involves the opening of doors, the recognition of energy patterns and a commitment to the healing journey. It is an opportunity for my self to understand the energies and patterns to better serve you, the individual (partner or group). It is also an opportunity for the individual (partner or group) to develop their understanding and comfort level with working together in this manner. Toward the end of the first session, if the individual (partner or group) indicates they would like to embark on a healing journey together … the possibilities, specifics of services applied and any further required resources are then discussed.

The healing sessions use many different techniques including: induction of deep relaxation or meditative states (also known as altered states of consciousness), shamanic counseling, shamanic journeys, sound, smudging (cleansing of energies through the use of plant medicine), bodywork, spirit/energy work, shape shifting, and intuitive guidance. The healing sessions may occur, at request, in privacy … or with the invitation of family and community members. Team healing, where other energy medicine practitioners or shamanic practitioners are involved, is also available. Shamanic healing sessions are provided in person or at a distance. When the session is completed at a distance, the session occurs prior to the appointment time. The appointment time is then used for sharing of the information (what occurred during the session) – and further exploration. Healing sessions are often include direction for application to daily life through development, or ‘home play’ exercises. Further connection as needed, following sessions, is made available to the individual.

Shamanic Journeys
A Shamanic journey is a process which facilitates movement between the worlds (physical and spiritual). Alternative ways of describing this journey include facilitation of an altered state of consciousness, spirit body travel or out of body experience. This service is provided on an individual, partner or group basis. Preliminary instruction is given with the first experience – providing a fully detailed explanation of the process. The journey itself may be likened to an active meditation. In this style, the journey begins in the individual’s sacred space. From there the individual is encouraged to proceed through an opening, portal or tunnel which provides the passage from this world (physical) to the other world (spirit realms). In classic Shamanic cosmology, there are three worlds that may be visited – the lower world, the upper world and the middle world. Different cultures, different traditions have varying descriptions for each world and what they represent, or what the individual may encounter. Once in the other world, the individual receives the teachings/information they require, and then returns through the tunnel to their sacred space. The deep relaxation state required in the shamanic journey is facilitated through the use of sound. Depending upon the needs of the individual, partners or group, this may involve the use of a single-head hoop/frame drum, rattles or chanting/vocalizations. Following the journey, the individual is provided with information on how to be with the journey, how to amplify the journey, understand the processing and develop meaning or insight from the information obtained. Full support is provided outside of the session. These sessions are provided in person. In special circumstances, a shamanic journey can occur on behalf of an individual … where, Sandi, the facilitator, would travel on behalf of the individual, and then report the information obtained.

Soul Retrieval
Soul retrieval is a specific form of a shamanic journey or shamanic healing session. The operating premise is that there are events, times or experiences (often overwhelming) in an individual’s life that could cause a person’s soul to fragment or fracture. The soul retrieval is a process of using the tool of a shamanic journey, with the specific intent to discover, provide all necessary conditions and return the fragmented or fractured pieces to the original whole. The preferred style of approach, for Sandi, is to facilitate the individual’s journey. The alternative available is for Sandi to journey on the individual’s behalf. Soul retrieval requires a shamanic counseling or intake session prior to the service being provided. A person choosing soul retrieval will be assisted in full preparation, support following the session and assistance in ensuring a network of support within the person’s community. This session is available in person.

Sound
The use of vibrations, through sound, during a healing session is an important process within many indigenous practices. There is much that is experienced beyond the realm of language. Resonance through vibration is used to facilitate the journey process, to invoke altered states of consciousness and to affect the movement of energy. Specific vibrations invoke different aspects of energy movement – strengthening a specific vibration or pattern of vibrations; anchoring in an energy or pattern of energies; assisting energies/vibrations to be moved/transformed/released; encouraging deep relaxation; encouraging a harmonization of brain wave patterns; facilitating hemispheric coherence and/or assisting secretion/balance of neurotransmitters.
The sound vehicles used within the different sessions engaged in include:

• chimes (tuned to the East Indian understanding of chakras and tonal equivalents)
• rattles – variety of types
• single-head hoop/frame drum – variety of types
• toning – pure sound, pattern of sounds and chanting (use of healing songs – vocables, joiks and words)
• wooden flute

Sound sessions may be offered individually or as a component of other sessions. They are available in person or at a distance. When offered at a distance, experience is then translated into language and shared with the individual in following the session.

Drum Making Workshops
Drum making workshops for single-head hoop/frame drums are offered by special request and through the Opening Way. The mechanics of drum making as well as the spiritual teachings of carrying and using a drum are given during the workshop. The workshops are individually designed to meet the needs of the group – in some cases spreading the teachings and completion over two sessions. If you would like to receive information prior to the workshop in order to assist you in making the decision to carry a drum (for example: the difference between the intent for the drum as musical instrument or as a spiritual / healing tool) this is possible. All workshops are followed approximately two weeks later (depending on weather and drying time) with a drum awakening ceremony. These workshops generally occur where Sandi’s current home base is. It is also possible to arrange these workshops to occur in your community.
There are currently three variations on workshops:

• individual instruction
• pre-arranged group instruction – if you are interested and have a specific group of people that you would like to create your drum with
• general group instruction – workshops are occasionally offered through the Opening Way

Prior to the workshop you may choose from three different sizes of drums – 10”, 12”, and 14”. Currently the hide available is deer, and the frame is pieced from red cedar. There are two styles to tie the drum that are taught.

Service is also provided to those individuals who are looking for more information on developing a relationship with/using their drum in a spiritually dedicated manner. For example: perhaps you purchased a drum and are in a place of looking for further information; maybe you would like to create a self generated ceremony with your drum; you wish to know how to communicate with your drum or care for a drum you have purchased; a ceremony facilitated where you wake your drum; you have carried a drum for awhile now and the drum is changing; you are a practitioner/teacher using the drum in your services…and you would like to share this use with others, but do not carry all the teachings.

Shamanic Mentorship
In the past, Sandi has offered, on an individual basis, mentoring services to assist people as they are developing their skills and walking an indigenous based path. Beginning in 2007, Sandi will be expanding these services to a small group of individuals. There are a maximum of four people per group. Full training will develop over a number of years. The group will meet once each month beginning early in the year. Specific teachings will be shared along with a definitive progression of development that matches both the individual and group needs. Sandi will share with you the knowledge she has acquired through the years. She will also share with you the processes that she has been trained in and developed on her own. You will be taken through a variety of experiences that will assist you in connecting with your indigenous roots, accessing the knowledge you have within and amplifying this to share in the world surround you. Through this realization of self, you will also be assisted in translating this knowledge and experience to your unique profile. As a member of this group you will be expected and encouraged to be participating in other courses, events, training and community activities. This is an approach and way of life that will heighten your ability to stand in your truth and bring that truth forward into the world. It is also an approach that is in full alignment with the gifts and purpose that you chose to be on this earth walk along with the world surround you. If this is a process that interests you, please contact Sandi for further details and application process.