Tales of a Druid Shaman

Last weekend, I visited the Smithsonian Zoo when DC Pagan Pride Day ended. I was parked in a good spot at Dupont Circle, and took the opportunity to visit some Nature Spirits in the flesh.

Sadly, there are no Coyotes in the zoo (cause they are everywhere else!), but I did enjoy talking with the bear, big cats, maned wolf, snakes, flamingos, owls, etc.  One of my favorite areas I visited was the Giant Bird Aviary, because it had no walls or fences (once you are in the enclosure). There were numerous ducks and peacocks, as well as ibises (hello Thoth!), and I enjoyed walking up the path and seeing cute little grouse run ahead of me.

I've been to this particular area of the zoo numerous times, and had my favorites that I liked to visit. I rounded the corner of the sidewalk and heard "Cro--ak"-- I was stunned and stopped moving. Was it a crow that flew in for some free food? Was it a real noise, or just inside my head?

"Croak!"

Oh my gods, RAVENS!

I have never seen…

Recently, I was in DC for a shamanic healing appointment. After completing the ceremony, and scarfing down food and drink, I walked the city, and ended up at the White House.

I sat on a bench, and watched all of the people walking by. Of course, I couldn't help but think about the terrible state our American government is in, and how badly the People of the USA are in need of healing and support.

I was inspired to pray.

I prayed as I walked around the Oval, asking that Washington DC serve as representative for the entire United States. I asked that the great Goddess Columbia hear my prayers, and that the Spirits of the buildings and monuments hear me, too. And although I could have prayed for the healing of the environment, the increase of brain cells for our Legislative body, the reduction of War, or many other needed things, I am a psychologist and a shaman. I prayed for her People, and their mental health.

As I finished my prayers and offerings, I ended up at the Sacred Christm…

The most recent Crystal Healing Ceremony was very intense.

 Caroline and I used many volcanic minerals, such as Sulphur, Obsidian, Pumice, Granite, and others. These, along with other stones, woods, and animal skins, helped us to create a vortex that worked like a volcano. Blockages and intrusions would get sucked in and either go up into the sky via "volcano-like" explosions, or they would get sucked down into the Earth via an "inverted" volcano. It was really cool to watch!

The hero of many of my healings was Vesuvianite, a rock found near Mt. Vesuvius in Italy.

This volcanic stone resonates with the Heart Chakra, and helps to release, in a powerful way, pent-up feelings of rage, fear, anxiety, anger, and disappointment. I noticed that it helped many clients, especially women, bring forth and release powerful emotions that either they themselves have clamped down (in order to protect others), or that they may have been blocked from expressing (because others may …