Jose ATID LENA STEVENS 29Exercise #3: A Synopsis
Choose an object in your house. Relax and close your
eyes. Re-create the object in your mind as carefully as possi-
ble, including every detail you remember. If you need to,
open your eyes and look at the object again.
When you have re-created this object to the best of your
ability, begin to focus on each part of it. Notice everything:
color, texture, smell, sound, temperature. Take each quality
that you have noticed and describe it to yourself in natural
terms. For instance, if you are looking at a lamp with a rough
brownish ceramic base and a silk white shade, you might see
the base as having the same qualities and color as a rock,
and the shade may resemble the white petal of a lily. Go
through the entire object in this way using every sense you
can.
Now let your imagination take over. Begin making some
changes in your object, again using natural qualities and all
the senses. You can make these changes humorous for added
benefit. For example the lamp now can become furry like an
animal, smell like cinnamon and dance around the room
singing loudly. This step is an important once since it exer-
cises your imagination as well as your ability to empower
your images with the spirit of nature. Spend as much time
here as you like. You may even try to allow the object to
change on its own without your instruction. See what comes
in; it may surprise you.
Exercise #3: The Steps
- Choose an object.
- Relax, close your eyes.
- Re-create the object in your mind.
- Focus on each part, notice everything, using all
senses. - Describe each quality in natural terms.
- Imagine changes using natural qualities.
Beginning the Shamanic Journey
Now that you know the basics of creating effective images
in shamanic visioning, let us move on to the shamanic jour-
ney. By way of introduction, the shamanic journey is the
most common method used in shamanic advising for the pur-