Franco Santoro,
Guest Writer
Waking Times
The term trance comes from the Latin transire, which means “to go
over” or to move from one state to another. Although this word is often
popularly associated with unusual states of mind or altered states of
consciousness, its implied conditions play a vital role for all human
beings and extend in all areas of life, from shamanic journeys,
meditation, dreaming, day-dreaming to watching television, reading a
newspaper or doing housework.
To experience a state of trance or enter a shamanic state of
consciousness, means to achieve an ecstatic awareness and perception
that extends beyond the physical senses and functioning of the ordinary
mind. What I perceive in everyday life is merely the result of what I
have decided to see in accordance both to the consensus reality (agreed
by my social environment) and my specific role in that context. I have
conditioned myself to see the world through the development of defined
programmes, but when I shift my awareness beyond the ordinary mind,
which keeps repeating those programmes, then I perceive the world in a
different way. One of the basic assumptions of shamanism is that I am
not a physical being: I am an energy field or I am part of the whole.
Actually, from a more genuine shamanic perspective, the entire notion of
I, seen as separate from you and them, does not make any sense at all.
In bygone ages, human beings lost connection with this awareness and
have since confined themselves almost exclusively to identification with
the physical body and the idea of being a fragmented unit (no matter
whether I call it ego, personality, self or soul). Shamanic experience
is one way in which it is possible to perceive others, the world and
myself in their original united forms again. Trance and shamanic states
of consciousness are part of the genetic structure of mankind. Each one
of us has an inner biological need for ecstatic experience. The problem
is that such experiences, as is emphasised by the terms used to define
them (altered or non-ordinary states of consciousness, hallucinations,
trance, etc.), are often regarded as abnormal or dangerous. In the
majority of contemporary human cultures they do not find space in the
official educational or scientific context and tend to be socially
unacceptable. As a consequence, this unmet need often ends up being
expressed through harmful manifestations such as alcoholism, drug
addictions, perversion, sex addiction, criminality, etc. Shamanic states
of consciousness represent the major taboo for the ordinary perception
of the world as they cause its deceptive structure to vanish and expose
to the secrets of our origin, that is where we truly come from and how
and why we got to be here.
A
large portion of humanity seems to live in a state of ecstasy
deprivation, as the anthropologist Felicitas Goodman calls it, yet the
ecstatic experience is a fundamental need. The contact with the source
of this need is disturbed or blocked by something that occurred in a
distant past and that extends far beyond official historical
documentation. According to various researches, ecstatic experiences and
the relationship with non-ordinary dimensions constituted a daily
routine for the people who once inhabited our planet. These were nomad
hunter-gatherers that later gradually abandoned their customs and moved
to horticulture and animals husbandry. As a result, human beings
retreated into limited territories and began to lose the connection with
the rest of nature and existence, which they once knew so well. In
their spiritual practices, however, they continued to keep the link with
the experiences of former cultures. Through the metamorphosis activated
by trance states they could again enter into ecstatic states of
consciousness and activate their relationship with other realms.
Shamanism developed as the attempt to preserve and access those
connections. For this purpose various methods and tools were transmitted
until, with the expansion of belief systems based on separation,
shamanic states of consciousness became incompatible with the consensus
reality that prevailed on most parts of our planet.
In recent societies, perceptions beyond the physical body have been
generally ignored or disregarded. The forms I see with my physical eyes,
identified with names and specific shapes, have been extracted from
their original unity and transformed into fragmented pieces. They are
seen as definite configurations and separated from each other by areas
termed as nothing or void. The acknowledgement of these separated units
and the denial of the forms found in the empty spaces represents the
basic assumption on which the current perception of most human beings is
founded. I see and identify the physical spaces to which I have decided
to attribute meaning, yet I do not see anything in the areas that exist
between those spaces because I have decided that they do not have any
meaning. Most mankind seems to live in a symbolic reality where only
that which is conventionally accepted is acknowledged as real, whereas
everything else disappears from sight and dwells in a dimension
surrounded by fear and mystery. In my perception we have become
estranged from something of which we were once aware, establishing a
mythology of separation where unity and ecstasy are the most rooted
taboos. As we believe we are individuals severed from other people and
the environment, we tend to invest much energy to exploit our fellows
and the Earth, acting as the ‘separated’ cells of a cancer. This causes
enormous damage to our planet and ourselves. As we have split with the
Earth, we have also disconnected with the dimension of the Sky. Through a
blind adherence to religious and social conditionings, we have denied a
natural and direct access to Spirit, resigning ourselves to the power
of religious teachings or hierarchical structures to operate as
mediators between us and God.
Through shamanic work each one can obtain visions and spiritual
experiences without any mediation. This is not a question of mounting
opposition to political and religious authorities; this is what we have
been doing throughout history and it has resulted only in even more
grievances and separation. To achieve ecstatic experiences and visions I
need to give up being a victim. It is the attachment to this condition
that prevents me from taking responsibility and pushes me into a frantic
search for a well-being that will never come. According to shamanism,
as I see it, the true revolution consists of taking the courage to face
the spiritual or inner world, for it is from this world that all that
seems to be outside emanates. This does not mean that life should be
limited to shamanic journey or shamanic states of consciousness. These
experiences are important, yet I also need to take physical actions.
Often it is necessary to be simple and see the world with the ingenuity
of a child. For example, I can go among the trees in nature, and take
care of them or speak with them, both in the imagination and also by
actually communicating. Trees will find a way to reply and to tell me
something about myself. What is the difference between men and plants?
Plants do not judge. I create complex problems with my judgements and
the conviction that my problems are due to something that was done to me
or that exists outside. When this happens, I create further separation
and this contributes only to increasing my pain. Alternatively, I can
relate to the ordinary activities of everyday life: working, washing,
cooking, talking, playing, walking, driving from the perspective of
their true but hidden and shamanic essence.
In the western world what counts is the goal. To reconnect with the
Earth and the Sky what matters is the present, not the destination.
Trance or shamanic states of consciousness have to do with the present
and with getting out of the most dangerous trance: that of my
conditioning and daily conventions. The fact is that on the Earth we are
always in some kind of trance and the actual work consists of learning
to balance such states and of being aware that you cannot go into a new
trance without moving out of the one you are already in. When there is
unbalance I live in a state of hallucination where I perceive pain,
anger and all kinds of grievances. When there is balance I choose
consciously to open only to the trance states that bring love, ecstasy,
peace and blessings to me and others.
Opening up to shamanic states of conscience and non-ordinary
realities means to truly say yes to life and to be fully responsible. It
means to accept becoming a conscious part of the universe, choosing to
trust a divine purpose, identifying with the maximum expressions of our
being and moving further to project this potential on all that surrounds
me. It is a process that requires my sole individual consent. After
all, it is a choice between a state of total responsibility regarding my
perception of the world and a condition of passive victim to events
determined by others. The process of taking responsibility develops
gradually, through a progressive healing work that, through our attempts
and experiences, releases blocks and grievances. It is a painful
process because the ego’s inability to identify culprits outside itself
prevents it from finding a refuge to preserve its hallucinations. At the
same time, this process is an act of love aimed at carefully
determining the access to one’s inexhaustible tools of power. These
tools have been kept hidden in the unexplored territories of the
shamanic world. The only way to access them consists of moving beyond
the trance of ordinary reality. This can occur spontaneously and without
complex procedures. The precariousness and the illusion of conventional
reality is such that anyone can access the perception of what exists
beyond. In this regard it is a question of considering and developing a
series of experiences to which no importance is usually given: for
example, dreams, visions, fantasies, intuitions, shadows, spaces of void
between one object and the other, etc. A more operative method consists
in employing shamanic techniques. Their task is to create gaps in the
awareness and therefore facilitate access to new channels of
communication.
The
basic experience of shamanic states of consciousness is ecstatic and an
important way to accomplish it consists of employing particular
stimuli, able to produce alterations in physical perceptions. In this
regard various possibilities have been transmitted according to
traditions. Sometimes they are ferocious methods, of complex or
difficult management, such as the employment of poisoning substances or
hallucinogenic plants, intensive temperature conditions, sensory
deprivation, painful practices of initiation, etc. In other contexts non
traumatic and playful tools are used, such as chant, dance, drumming or
other auditory aids, massage, body postures, or other simple ritual
practices. While the first methods expose us to the risk of dangerous
repercussions on the physical or mental plane and generally require a
complex preparation hardly accessible to contemporary man, the latter,
besides being very efficient, are safe and within easy reach of anyone
who honestly wishes to have a shamanic experience.
Once a shamanic state of conscience is achieved, the decisive element
that determines the ecstatic experience is always represented by the
will to receive it. The exercise of this will requires practice and
patience as it often clashes with a wall of obstacles (doubts, fears,
uncertainties, distrust, etc.) created by the ego’s defence system.
Despite the strong oppositions and conditioning of the consensus
reality, shamanic states of consciousness are regularly experienced by
all human beings. What is missed is solely the willingness to
acknowledge them or consider them significant. For those who are
available to open to this path, the answers arrive sooner or later. An
ecstatic world defines itself in all its particulars and give a sense of
indescribeable love and beauty. When this happens, the classical
question that most people ask themselves is: “Did I make it all up by
myself?”. The answer to this question is the secret key of shamanic
work.
About the Author
Franco Santoro is a shamanic facilitator, healer, artist, member of the
Findhorn Foundation, the developer of
astroshamanism and
supply director of the Sacred Cone Circle. His work is based on the
connection with expanded realities for healing and transformational
purposes, the retrieval and integration of ancient mistery traditions,
the relationship with inner guides and the principles of the Findhorn
Community. From 1996 he has run the Operative Training in
Astroshamanism, an intensive programme for shamanic practitioners and
healers. He is the author of
A Guide Book to Astroshamanism, Sacred Cone Press, 2001;
Astroshamanism: A Journey Into the Inner Universe, Findhorn Press, 2003;
Astroshamanism: The Voyage Through the Zodiac, Findhorn Press, 2003, and of
Iniziazione all’astrosciamanesimo:
la via zodiacale alla Guida Interiore, Edizioni Mediterranee, 2000 (in
Italian). He has also composed and produced a series of recordings, such
as
Drumming for the Astroshamanic Voyage (on
CD/cassette). Franco lives in Northern Scotland, where he serves as
resident member and educator of the Findhorn Foundation, regularly
running workshops on astroshamanism, shamanic healing, trance dance and
core educational programmes (Experience Week, Exploring Community Life,
Spiritual Practice), employing his unique and innovative approach to
support individuals or groups in connecting with their authentic nature.
He also regularly lectures and conducts seminars in other parts of the
world.
Follow
Franco Santoro on Facebook.
For more information and news on astroshamanism visit
Astroshamanic.blogspot.com and
www.facebook.com/astroshamanism.
This article is featured as part of a partnership with AllThingsHealing.com.
All Things Healing (allthingshealing.com)
is an online portal and community dedicated to informing and educating
people across the globe about alternative healing of mind, body, spirit
and the planet at large. We are committed to bringing together a
worldwide community of individuals and organizations who are working to
heal themselves, each other, and the world. We offer 39 healing
categories, 80 plus editors who are experts in their fields, a forum for
each category, and an extensive “Find Practitioners” listing. Our Costa
Rica Learning Center and Spiritual Retreat is coming soon. Join us!
This article is offered under Creative Commons license. It’s okay
to republish it anywhere as long as attribution bio is included and all
links remain intact.
