Urban Shamanism

Back into the fold with eyes open

Jesus is attribute to have said "to be in the world, but not of the world," and the formula is found in some form or another in many cultures far older than Christianity. The phrase is an encouragement to be fully Present for what is happening around us but in the awareness that it's all illusory. This is really hard to accomplish and it's never a permanent state, it has to be developed constantly. As an example, when we enter a house, we must abide by the rules within, even if we don't agree with them, but that means that we can discard those rules when we leave and that we're in no obligation to call that place our home, it just isn't.

As I've said a few times in these posts, this material Universe in which we exist is naught but a huge Narrative, and our Egos are inextricable from it. In other words, we're preconditioned to believe in the Narrative, to assume its truth, and the more we believe, the stronger our identification with it, the harder it is for us to see beyond it. But our real selves are far more than these constructs of identity, our souls aren't bound by the rules and concepts of the Narrative, so why does it exist? The Narrative is a tool for Evolution, a means by which our truth may expand and develop. If we're Present and pay attention, we can use the things we experience to get closer to the reality of Oneness beyond the physical coil.

The only way that we can learn is by opening things, dissecting, dismantling and disaggregating them; by seeing their parts individually and observing how they relate to one another. This is why Dual Reality is important, it allows us to differentiate that which has no essential difference. In dual terms, a watch is composed of gears, cogs, springs, screws, needles, each one with its own function; a body is made up of organs, bones, muscles, nerves, arteries and veins. Both are a collection of molecules which in turn are formed by atoms, themselves defined by quantum particles. At this level, duality breaks down and we get closer to material Oneness because these particles are in everything, from clouds to rocks, from sound to color. We reached that level by using Science, a narrative with unique rules, to penetrate layer after layer until we found a common denominator in all matter.

I began my work as a Storyteller (consciously, that is) with a fascination for stories and the connections between them. I didn't know what to do with them at first but then I glimpsed the system, the underlying mechanics of their interactions, and realized that, in order to provide my Service, to fulfill the task that I've been given in this incarnation, I needed to shed that fascination, to step out of the tales and see them from the outside, so I decided to willingly dismantle my identity piece by piece: my hopes, fears, dreams, memories, ideas, opinions, behavioral patterns, necessities, desires and even my sense of nationality, my character and name. This work has left me with a sort of blank slate, prompting me to admit my ignorance and embrace naiveté once more. It has demanded profound self-questioning, solitude and the price of appearing as a stranger to others, none of which has been nice or comfortable, but the rewards are already far more than I imagined.

Now I can reshape myself however I wish, I can change my character any way I want to suit my needs of the moment. Now I see, after this time of being away from the Narrative, that I have to return to it and play the Game, but with a lot more awareness of its rules. I'd put my humanity on hold, so to speak, and now I must don it again, never again as a wall keeping my Self from Love and Truth but the opposite, a growing avenue to the Source of all things.

Night Rune: Kenaz

I observe great phenomena, I discuss them with other people both from the scientific and the spiritual perspectives.

Daylight Rune: Ansuz inverted

If you keep quiet about what you feel and know, nobody has the obligation to ask of understand, communicate. Remember also that a good communication depends on knowing how to listen, not every opinion is valuable or useful, not every idea has to be shared. Have care with giving more explanations that required, you can cause more confusion than understanding. Intensely question your beliefs, especially your convictions, for they define the quality of the information you receive and restrict your adaptability in various contexts. The Question grants more freedom than the Answer; inquire, reflect, investigate, seek the truth. Study and convey what is happening, avoid adorning it or reducing its relevance with stories and dramas, put the stories aside.