Secrets of Shamanism

(^140) SECRETS OF SHAMANISM
detachment from the problem at hand and surrendering to its
eventual solution is critical to successful problem solving.
Have you ever efficiently solved any problem while engulfed
in its emotional trauma?
Shamans would say that each one of your problems points
you one step further in your life's direction, the path your
spirit self has chosen. Likewise, they would say that each
solution brings you closer to the ultimate goal, greater per-
sonal power. Therefore shamanic problem solving is about
realizing those goals that your spirit self has set, not just
those of your physical self. Each time you go through the
process of problem solving the shamanic way, you under-
stand yourself and your place among all living things a little
better. Shamanically speaking, looking at the greater picture,
the ultimate goal of every person is to become self-sufficient,
realize their greatest personal power, and understand their
connection to all life. This is the natural outcome of striving
for balance.
The process of problem solving in a way that will ulti-
mately empower you requires sensitivity and listening skills.
Take for example a relationship between two people where a
problem exists. What relationship doesn't have challenges
and obstacles to be overcome? Relationships are the instru-
ments of growth and, being such, they generate problems as
surely as they provide the opportunity for breakthrough. Re-
lationships are the ground where you can learn the most
about yourself as well as about others. But in order to get the
most out of dealing with relationships and their problems,
you must first understand shamanic body language or the
nuances and signals of a person's spirit body.
Usually, problems arise in a relationship due to unrealized
expectations that each person has an emotional attachment
to. In many cases, the problem would be identified as one or
both people not getting what they want or not getting what
they think they should have. Resentment tends to build and
suddenly there is a stalemate where each, identified with
their position, refuses to give ground. Imagine if entities in
nature that rely on an internal balance for survival were sud-
denly to begin acting this way. Flowers would refuse to
bloom, thinking they were not appreciated as much as they
should be; bees then would make no honey and the rain
would refuse to fall, saying that the flowers don't deserve it
for refusing to bloom. In short, there would be chaos due to
the imbalance generated by each obstacle. Our world would
indeed be short-lived.