KAJAMA.COM NEWSLETTER

March 27 through April 2, 2023

We'll feel quite invincible as the week begins, sharing our thoughts and hopes with anyone who'll listen under Monday's Gemini Moon. With all the planetary shifts we went through last week, this is a good time to go inward and ask for spiritual direction before we make our next move. Ride the waves on Tuesday and Wednesday as the Cancer Moon promotes introspection and emotional balance. With the Moon traveling through Leo Thursday through Saturday, we'll be drawn to focus on ourselves. More self-care, commitments to healthier living, and restoring our balance of give and take are essential now before we don our spiritual armor and set out to slay all those dragons standing in the way of our dreams! The Virgo Moon holds reign on Sunday, inspiring us to clear a physical path to our goals, so addressing clutter, clearing out our cyber inboxes, and organizing our homes and schedules will be a theme.

Mysticism of the Unseen, by Daniel Moler

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

What does it mean to be a mystic?

Almost every human being seeks communion with some sort of creative power in the universe, whether it is called God or Goddess, Jehovah, Allah, Great Spirit, or Brahma. Science is no different, pursuing the origin of life through the intricacies of quantum mechanics or Big Bang theory. We all have a draw toward uncovering the mystery of existence, what is often called the Great Originating Mystery.

Is this connection to the unseen reserved for only priests or priestesses, monks or nuns? Are they the select few who get to experience the source of all creation?

What if it was the destiny of every human to be able to interact with the unseen force in the universe that seems to propel all life? Further, what is the goal of such a spiritual experience and how can it be approached?

Although there is no definitive answer to these questions, our ancestors have provided direction through various modalities of mystical participation with the world around us. Known as the Mystery Traditions, these modalities have been shrouded in secrecy and symbolism for millennia. It has only been the last century or so that the disparate spiritual practices of these traditions from around the world have come to light and surfaced in the global arena. I can now observe, study, and even take part in mystical practices from a Thearavada Buddhist in Cambodia. Likewise, a Shipibo medicine woman from the Amazon can touch base with my own spiritual paradigm and worldview. Thanks to modern technology and academia, most every human being has the potential to tap into spiritual practices that had been hidden for centuries.

Now, I'm a project manager at heart. In the daytime, I am coordinating dozens of teams to implement and deliver millions of dollars' worth of product to customers who expect high quality. If I stick to a textbook-style methodology of project management, those teams will fail. In order to stay relevant and provide value, sometimes you have to throw away conventional models, pull up your sleeves, and just find out what works in reality. It seems we are now in a place in our global spiritual culture where we can now do something similar. Likewise, in these Mystery Traditions, if we can uncover the best of what works from these systems, and perfect them, then we will provide a solid framework for the coming generations who seek answers to the mysteries of life.

The first objective, then, is to empower people to become mystics in their own right, rather than making the direct connection to the spiritual realm exclusive.

This is why I have always been drawn to shamanism. Shamanism is not a religion, but moreso represents a set of spiritual practices that is alive in most all religious traditions. A shaman normally serves the community by directly engaging with Spirit (God) through various interactions with the natural world. A good example of this is found all over Christian history, including the Old Testament with Moses and Elijah, as well as post-New Testament via the early Christian Gnostics. Also, Siddhartha Gautama's direct revelation of enlightenment under the tree, which spawned Buddhist philosophy. And so on. In essence, shamanism is the root of all spiritual traditions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. Hence, every religion's origin is truly shamanic, because every religion started as a means of facilitating a direct relationship with God.

My own personal work and training in shamanism has encouraged a direct relationship with the unseen world. Instead of being beholden to some other person for my spiritual experience, I am now enabled to take full responsibility for my own direct mystical revelations. Shamanism does this primarily through its technique of engaging non-ordinary states of consciousness. Within that state of awareness that is not conventional, my mind can move into a space where it can then begin to receive visionary imagery and/or information that contribute to my spiritual purpose.

In my book, Shamanic Qabalah: A Mystical Path to Uniting the Tree of Life & the Great Work, I offer an approach to the Mysteries through the precise symbolism found in Jewish and Hermetic Qabalah (also seen as "Kabbalah") applied with the down-to-Earth techniques of indigenous shamanism. Why I have chosen to mix Qabalah with shamanism is a question which gets asked quite a bit, but my answer is always the same: because they are the same thing, just Qabalah has a refined system that can be more readily understood in a modern context than, say, indigenous symbols and ideas.

At its heart, Qabalah is a system of Judaic mysticism and is the very basis of understanding the Old Testament. "Qabalah" is a Hebrew word that literally means, "to receive," so it is a set of concepts and ideas meant to cleanse the soul to receive the experience of Spirit. Qabalah has evolved from being entirely Jewish-centric, and over time was utilized by many religious traditions across the planet: Christianity, Islam, neo-paganism, etc. Many scholars believe Jesus himself would have been trained in Qabalah, being raised Jewish and even impressing the priests at the Temple, and many of his teachings incorporate Qabalistic concepts if one is trained to spot them. Elements of Qabalah have even been found through the spiritual practices of cultures throughout the world.

In my own training in curanderismo (Peruvian shamanism) I found many references and correlations to Qabalah. So many, in fact, that they could no longer be ignored. Both shamanism and Qabalah are systems that aim to lift the veil of illusion that pervades our senses, to tap into the unseen forces in the universe around us. With the ecstatic and naturalistic techniques offered by shamanism and the precise symbolism of Qabalah, I began opening pathways into my own consciousness that have now made me confident of my own spiritual path...I am a mystic. I have the ability and privilege to connect with the unseen spiritual powers of the universe and gain the guidance I require to continue my own evolution toward liberty and happiness.

"Initiation, the Great Work," I state in the second chapter of my book, "engages with symbols in an unconscious way—via ritual—to reach the subconscious recesses of the mind."

The Great Work is the ability to reach into the subconscious mind and, through connection with the unseen, find one's true purpose as an individual in this life. Qabalah has a rich history of symbolism that cannot be ignored to any practitioner of the mystic arts, whether it be the high ceremonial practices of occult magick or earth-based spiritualities such as Wicca. The problem has been to take these high-brow concepts and make them accessible to those who may not want to go through the rigorous tomes of the Western Mysteries. Therefore, Shamanic Qabalah attempts to integrate academic occultism with the naturalistic execution of indigenous shamanism.

As with any process, if it becomes too difficult, take a step back and go back to basics. Utilize what works for your own individual practice yet be open to new ideas. The Mystery Traditions are chock full of wisdom, but none of it matters if we can't apply it to our everyday lives. The whole goal of having a relationship with the unseen universe is to have a better relationship with the universe that is seen.

Otherwise, what is the point?

In Shamanic Qabalah, I lay the groundwork for a shamanic practice based upon Hermetic Qabalistic symbolism. The backbone for this system is the Tree of Life, a composite symbol that acts as a schema of consciousness, as well as the inner and outer universe. Some say it is a map to God. Within the Tree of Life resides roadways and destinations (referred to as paths and spheres) that designate the stages of spiritual evolution and growth. Shamanic Qabalah teaches one to engage with the Tree of Life, through a shamanic elemental methodology. Whereas the Tree of Life normally appears as an inaccessible and often high-brow concept for some, I hope to make its concepts approachable and useful to anyone willing to give it a shot.

A mystic takes charge of their own spiritual legacy. A mystic needs no authority. It is my hope and wish that Shamanic Qabalah is a guide and reference to propel individuals to that level of confidence. Mysticism is our birthright and hopefully we can all entrust one another lift each other up to provide the best tools and practices at our disposal. We are in this together. The Great Work is all about discovering and living out our individual spiritual destiny, all while supporting others on their own path.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2018. All rights reserved.

How can my spirit guides help me handle my grief and depression over the loss of my son? My son's first birthday would have been a few days ago. I thought I was handling his death fairly well, but now I seem to be slipping into a very dark period and I'm not sure how to help myself. I know my spirit guides can help me, but I don't know how.

Angel

Susyn:

Few things are more challenging than living with the loss of a child. You have my heartfelt condolences. To cope with your grief, I believe it would be most helpful for to you to gain understanding of why his time on earth was so brief.

A few years ago, I attended a seminar held by an author who had penned a version of The Tibetan Book of the Dead. He relayed a fascinating story about a couple who took a trip to India accompanied by their two-year-old son. While visiting a temple there, the toddler suddenly collapsed and died on the steps. In their grief, the parents sought out the priest of this temple. To explain to them what had happened, the priest told them that in a past life, their son had fulfilled all his wishes save one: to visit this particular temple. Once he was in the temple, his mission was complete, so his spirit left his body at that exact time and place.

It is helpful to remember that there is a higher plan at work and that we enter each incarnation for specific purposes. Even though his life was a short one, I am certain there were many joys and lessons your son brought to you while he was here, and that you continue to learn valuable things about him, yourself and Spirit as a result of his passing.

You can take comfort in the fact that he chose you to be his mother, for he knew that you would be the perfect person to nurture and protect him and then allow him to pass when the time was right. When these moments of sadness overtake you, try to view them as further gifts from him, for these strong emotions are designed to expand your awareness and understanding of the plan Spirit has for each of us.

If you'd like to know more about what his specific purpose was and why he had to leave so soon, I recommend you contact a psychic who specializes in channeling. I believe that our loved ones send us signs from the spirit world, and that the more open we are to receiving these signs, the more will appear. When your grief feels like too much to bear, remember that your son is trying to comfort you from beyond, and ask for signs from him. Unlike your spirit guides, he is your own special angel. He is at peace now and wants the same for you, so he will try to bring you comfort and lead you to understanding.

Though this may not make sense to those of us here in the physical, it's possible that he felt he could better serve you in spirit form. The good news is that your son lives on in your heart and memories. Since your spiritual bond is eternal, you are sure to be reunited one day.

*****

Oceania:

I'm so very sorry for your loss, and I'm glad you reached out to us for support. That means you're already on the path of healing. Please know that it's normal that your son's birthday stirred up your grief again, for holidays and milestones tend to do that.

You're right: your spirit guides can and will help you. As for how, those three letters - H-O-W - suggest the answer: by being Humble, Open and Willing. Your guides may have inspired you to reach out and write to us, and I'm sure they will lead you to other forms of support. For starters, it would be extremely helpful for you to participate in a support group for bereaved parents, for we often receive messages from Spirit and our guides through the words of other people.

There are also things that you can do to feel better and move through your grief with greater ease. Be extra gentle with yourself. Nurture and pamper yourself during this vulnerable time. Welcome your feelings; don't judge, minimize or try to get rid of them. Embrace and sit with them for as long as you need to. Take your time.

When we try to escape painful feelings, we interrupt our natural healing process. We become depressed and shut down because it takes a tremendous amount of energy to hold back feelings. Our thoughts darken, we feel fatigued, and nothing seems enjoyable. This is because we have shut down our feeling system. Instead, give yourself permission to sob, wail, scream, pound the bed with your fists, tear up a phone book, grunt, shake and tremble, curl up in a ball and hide in the corner. These are ways of experiencing and expressing your feelings. Anything goes as long as you do not harm yourself, others, or property you might later regret destroying.

I'm certain your baby is one of your angels. You had a precious visit with him for a while. Now, talk directly to him and say how you feel. Trust that he and your other guides hear your pleas, and are already responding. Open your heart to receiving their signs, nudges and cosmic hugs.

Shakespeare's most beloved plays include silly comedies and gut-wrenching tragedies. Audiences do not favor one above the other, for both are needed to reflect the full spectrum of human experience. Be in your dark period because that's what is authentic and real today, and rest assured that you won't get stuck there. Grief comes in waves that over time become less frequent, less intense, and shorter in duration. Life will carry you as you spiral through her many cycles: winter and summer, night and day, grief and joy, goodbye and hello.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.