82 SECRETS OF SHAMANISMalways thank them afterwards. We have a close friend who
makes an effort to do this exercise every day using different
plants in her house and garden. She has been able to estab-
lish relationships with each of them and has learned about
their distinctive properties. For example, she claims that one
of her trees is great at giving business advice and her camelia
bush helps her with health issues. Considering how expensive
medical advice is these days, it may be wise to listen.The Power of the Elements
For shamans, all elements have their source in the spirit
world and therefore are infused with spirits that can be con-
tacted for any number of purposes. The spirit of air, for ex-
ample, takes many forms. Each form may be called upon for
its unique contribution of knowledge. Light breezes, whirl-
winds, tornados, cyclones, dust devils, jet streams, hot
winds, and cold winds, all have at their source the spirit of air
or wind, yet each has a particular job to do. Each form has a
special store of wisdom that may be garnered by forming a
relationship with it. By acknowledging the wind and talking
to it, shamans gain in wisdom, power, and mastery because
they know what the wind knows. They can be ready to take
whatever precautions they need to in preparation for storms
and the like. Shamans who speak with the wind do not need
to listen to the local weather reports because they know first-
hand what the wind will do.
Old Ted pulled his tractor into the bam and then am-
bled to the farmhouse door in the clear morning light. The
air was already beginning to warm for a perfect spring
day.
Just then his neighbor Frank pulled up by the fence in
his pickup truck. "Perfect planting day," he called out.
Old Ted wandered over to the fence. "Think I'll wait for
two weeks before setting those crops in. I just have a
feeling we haven't seen the end of winter yet."
Frank looked incredulous. "You must be out of your
mind, Ted," he said. "Why it's always over by this time of
year. Besides, all the reports are for a warming trend.
We're clear of it now. You'll never get a second crop in if
you wait. I'm planting. So's everyone around. What gives
you that crazy idea anyhow?"
"Oh, you might say a little bird told me." Ted grinned in
his mischievous way, a twinkle in his eye.
Frank shook his head. "Wall, ifs your skin," he said