Values

In these times one has to be clear about values, that which you hold dear. I recommend benevolent* values - meaning very simply that benevolence for you and yours, meaning family and close friends, and benevolence for all others is the way.

It won’t be an easy path but it’s the path I recommend. You will catch yourself many times thinking things that are dramatic and maybe even conflicting within yourself or even externally, arguing about little things, not things that are essential meaning food, shelter, best health possible.

So, I’m gonna to recommend that you keep it simple also. Watch as little news on television as possible. You’ll find that reading the news, in whatever is your language, might actually be better because the people that put out news in print are sometimes, not always, but sometimes less involved in making things dramatic when they’re not.

It is seductive for broadcasters of television or other video to make things dramatic so that people will watch. But these days those who publish words are sometimes less involved in the dramatic.

You’ll have to decide whether drama and excitement is more important than benevolence. Keep in mind that if benevolence does not include, not just as an ideal but as a practice, all other human beings on the planet that it will reduce the benevolence for all, including yourself.

This is not a punishment, it is simply that the more people that are experiencing benevolence the healthier everybody is. The less people that are experiencing benevolence the unhealthier in various ways everybody is.

It’s not complicated. Just a reminder to let you know that for life to go on it must go on as well as possible, meaning as benevolent as possible, for all human beings on Earth. Goodlife

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*Good and kind.

A Shaman's Apprentice, Part 2

There is more to be said. There is no question that you will be tested and by tested I do not mean the finger, so to speak, proverbially coming out of the sky to grab you by the collar and shake you - meaning you will not be put through some horrible test but rather life all around you will at times attract you - you will be pulled this way, you will be pulled that way.

The way to know that you are on the Shaman's path, and it is your intent, is that no matter which way you are pulled - and you will be pulled - you will always begin to notice what needs help, who needs help, "How can I help in this situation." That will tell you you are on that path.

There is more. There will also be a tendency at times to want recognition but a great deal of your work will be done in secret. This is not because you are trying to hide out from anyone, rather it is because it is not necessary - very often - for you to have any direct contact with the parties involved whom you are trying to help.

You will hear about something from someone - perhaps you will hear about it from a source or even a news report, someone will tell you something. In short something will come to your attention which then you can act upon in the ways in which you have been trained to improve the quality of life for the people and places where this thing has happened.

Most of the time, as I say, people will not know that you have had anything whatsoever to do with the improvements that they may experience. They may even credit others for that, or their own prayers which is a possibility in terms of it helping - no questions about that. So if you are attracted to public recognition or appreciation of what you may be doing as a Shaman this is probably not the job for you.

I know it's sounding more and more like this is something impossible or difficult to do but I don't feel that way. I feel that more and more these days that people are seeing around them what's really going on. They are feeling with their senses what's happening and what needs to be improved. They are noticing how much people are really alike and how very small in terms of percentages are our differences.

This kind of recognition will smooth the path towards desiring to know how to apply that which I have already taught in part on my A Mystical Man's World and on my Benevolent Magic site as well as all the other places I put up knowledge and information.

So...further on my answer to you. I feel that this is a good path for you Questioner, if it is something you feel attracted to. I also feel that a great many of you out there are leaning in this direction for one reason or another and that's alright. Look into your hearts and into your feelings as to what you want to do.

Read my blogs and read the books if you like to see if you're drawn to doing some of these things. If you want to find your own answers, if you want to contribute - that's so important - and if you do then find a way.

Ask someone to help you, ask someone to guide you but don't ask someone to lead you. My feeling is that our desire for leaders these days is truly a desire to tell someone, "Help me for I cannot help myself." And if you feel that you cannot help yourself the Shaman's Way and the Path of the Mystical Person or Medicine Person may not be for you but if you ask someone to help you, to guide you, to teach you - that's different and then this path may just be for you.

I wish you many blessings on that path if you choose to follow it, all those of you out there who are interested, and I am hopeful you will find the best teachers to help you along the way. Goodlife.

A Shaman's Apprentice, Part 1

Someone has asked a question that is getting asked more and more these days so I will make a brief public reply.


Comment with question:

I have followed you, Mr. Shapiro, through more than 10 years of The Sedona Journal and am delighted to have just recently found this site. The Grandfather videos are a treasure, thank you so very much for posting them on the Internet.

I've received advice that I would benefit from working with a Shaman as an apprentice. Can Grandfather comment on this, please?

Again, many, many thanks.


There are people now that are attracted to working with a Shaman or a Mystical Man or a Mystical Woman (or a Medicine Man or Medicine Woman). This is a natural progression considering the interests of the day and the more awareness that people have about life around them.

So I would say the following to this particular questioner who really with this question represents many people which is why I can answer it.

First - regardless of what you've been told about it being good for you to do this or that ask yourself, "Is this something I want to do? Would this be a way I'd like to commit to something that I would learn from and that there would be a great many responsibilities for."

When you learn from a Shaman or Mystical Person or other the art and craft of what's involved you also change as a person. It involves a lot of self-examination and introspection in order to be certain of your purpose and your ideals. This happens along the way all the time and never really stops.

It's not questioning yourself, that's not the case, it is more however checking that your natural human reactions to life around you aren't influencing your actions as a person of wisdom. You must then remain to a degree separated from those motivations.

This might create a degree of separation on your part from some aspects of society. It doesn't mean you have to live in a cave or be aloof - that's not it - though some people might think you're aloof but it isn't that. It's that in order to do your work objectively, in order to create and help to create benevolent outcomes for people, places, things, everything - you cannot be biased one way or another.

This means that even if someone has caused grief, if you are going to be able to help the person who was injured - the injured party eh - you must not act against anyone, and I mean anyone, in order for the most benevolent outcome to take place - whatever form of shamanic practice or mystical practice or even medicine practice - it cannot be against, it must be for. In this way all parties agree at the soul level and more likely the outcome will be benevolent for all beings.

This will be difficult because many times you might even feel a personal bias or you might feel that someone has been wronged but it's very important to engage with that. It will be a discipline all your life as a Shaman, as a Mystical Person, as a Medicine Person or other.

I will speak more about these things as time goes on but I feel it's important because it addresses not only the idea of being an Apprentice and the commitment to do the same but it literally addresses the values, the morals, the purposes and the intents of being that particular occupation which is more than a job. It is a way of life that takes place in every waking moment and I believe even in sleep.

So...ponder on that for a time and I will speak again on this topic here. Goodlife.

Question

Question now the values of others if they restrict your kindness. Question now the enforcement to be the same at a loss to you and to others. Question the value of departing from a good feeling about human beings. And question the judgement that some are better than others.

These issues have plagued the human race for a great many years. They are nothing new but this is a time now when we can fully engage our spirits, our souls, our bodies, our wisdom, our hearts, our love and reconstitute the image - I believe - Creator always had for us here.

I believe that Creator felt -I'll take a little of this and a little of that. These people from this planet. Those four legged beings and multi-legged beings from that planet. Those plants and trees from this planet over here and these beautiful creatures who swim in the sea. I'll put them all on one planet and they will bring the best of their worlds to this one place.

Question it when someone says that human beings are the superior ones to the four leggeds, to the many leggeds, to those who have fins and swim in the sea, to those who have feathers and fly in the sky. Question the judgement and consider the answers. This is not for you to judge. It is for you to value.

Goodlife.