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The Tantric Shamanism
Q and A Blog
Welcome to our blog. This space is an opportunity to ask questions of the senior staff of TSI. All questions should be sent to us at info@tantricshamanism.com.
We'll respond as soon as we are able.
Extraction Shamanism
Tonight I'm going to hear a talk by one of the last 4 known extraction shamans from the Philippines. Supposedly, when they do a healing and pull something out, it's not tumors OR chicken livers. It is the negative psychic energy in the body so gathered and compressed that it becomes material in nature. Since extraction healing is one of my magics, I'm particularly keen on hearing what he has to say and to experience his work first hand. I will be doing several sessions with him this weekend as well.
If you live in and around Las Vegas, you could call The Natural Care Institute at (702) 617-3285 and see if you can still get a space to hear him talk, or perhaps to set up a session if you like. (BTW,..The sessions aren't cheap but I hear they are totally worth it... he is the real deal.)
If you want to learn more about Brother Gregorio, you can read about him at this URL: http://marybontempo.org/brothergregorio.htm
Once I get back from the experience, I'll write another letter to share what I've learned with you.
warmest regards,
Sylvia
PS: I am still offering one on one sessions. Feel free to contact me if you are interested.
There are only 3 spaces left in our Spring Equinox Spiritual Transformation Retreat to Mexico. Want to be one of the lucky three? http://tantricshamanism.com/tantricshamanism_retreat
(702)697-7003
Brother Gregorio
The other day I told you I'd be sharing about my visit to see Brother Gregorio, who is an extraction shaman from the Philippines.
Here are some notes from his talk, and from the first session I had with him.If you want to find out more, go to this website that has several pages of info about him.
http://marybontempo.org/brothergregorio.htm
Miracles are a regular phenomenon where Brother Gregorio grew up in the the southern Philippines. The Virgin Mary statue in his church grows.. It actually becomes becomes larger year after year. Spontaneous or miraculous healings are a common phenomenon, from dentistry to bones knitting to organ healing.
Brother Gregorio has been doing healing since the age of 8 years old. His main methodology for healing is prayer. He uses an ancient prayer while performing the healing. Some people believe that the Philippines were a part of the continent Lemuria in ancient history. He wonders if the prayer is Lemurian in origin. Another Philippino healer he know uses an ancient prayer, which his friend found years later in an ancient kabalistic text. I don't think he is sure of the origin of his prayer, but it doesn't seem to matter, as it seems to be working just fine. He sees all the worst case scenarios, the hopeless cases that the AMA has given up on, and often he is able to bring people back to health.
Someone asked him if he was afraid of taking on the negative energy he takes out in the extraction healing. He is completely unafraid of taking on energy. This "negative debris" often comes out as a substance which he flushes debris down the toilet. Looking at the man, my refection is that it is likely that he is so filled with the light of the holy spirit that nothing dark can enter him.
He spends much of his time praying.
First Session.
Session begin by the person receiving the healingmeditating and praying for a half an hour.There are no rules about eating before or afterwards, however, he asks that people drink at least 8 oz of pure water before and after the session. After a very deep meditation, I am lead to where Brother Gregorio is offering his sessions. After greeting me, he asked me my intention. I shared with him that I am seeking healing for the neurological condition that effects me. (If you are curious what that is, go to www.wemove.org and look up Paroxysmal Dyskinesia). Personally, I'm ready to be completely healed. For the longest time it's seemed most beneficial to be open to healing, yet except what is presenting in my life. It's refreshing to dip a good bit deeper into hope and belief for a change.
He took a long time to really bring home the importance of drinking at least 10 cups of pure water (not tea , juice etc..) a day. Water in necessary to keep both the physical and energetic body clean and clear. A battery must have water to run properly. The energy body works on the same principle.
Brother Gregorio is a Christian and works with the energy of the Divine Mother, but he is open to all believes and encourages people to draw on their connection to source to assist the healing. He talk about the Goddess quite a lot, so he is clearly quite open to all ways of accessing source.
We began with 7 breaths. On the inhale he asked me to imagine myself comforted and held by the Divine Mother. On the exhale, I was to release whatever negative emotions and energies were within me. Then he had me lay down on a massage table and cover myself with a towel.
He asked me if I wanted to see what came out of me from the extraction. I said yes. He thinks this is a good idea because it helps people to say good bye to what is released. He proceeded to put alcohol soaked cloths bordering my mid section and my neck.
He had me hold a glass of water on my heart. He said to envision the sun above me, then to draw the energy of the sun into my heart and feel the energy of the sun moving around in my body, bringing healing and clear away what needs to go. I feel him gathering something up with his fingers over my liver. After about 20 seconds there was a little a little plop! sound from him dropping something from my body into the cup of water on my chest. He repeated the process over my pancreas, then did it again on either side of my neck. When I looked in the cup the water was bloody, and there were little gobs of dark red like clotted blood in the cup. I said good bye to what ever that was.. Farewell and good riddance. There were no marks where anything appeared to leave from my body, but I can tell you moments before he removed the gobbet from the left side of my torso, I felt a little nodule rolling under his fingers beneath my skin.
Then he moved to performing cupping all over my torso and over my ears. Cupping is an oriental technique used to get stagnant chi moving. It is a glass cup that is shaped a little like a squat little old-fashioned key hole (only rounded). In the bottom of the vessel is a wick and wax. The wick is lit, then the cup is placed rim down on greased skin, which creates a vacuum. That vacuum draws the blood to the surface and moves the energy and toxins around in the body. Anywhere one has a lot of toxins can create a large hicky that can last up to a week or so. I ended up with a hicky on my upper back and the side of my neck. Ahh, what some people will do for healing!
After completing the cupping, Brother Gregorio had me sit on the side of the table. He handed me a piece of white paper that was folded in quarters. I'm not sure if there was something written on the inside or not... I expect is might have been the prayer he uses for healing, but don't quote me on that. He had me breathe in through my nose, and out through my mouth, breathing in healing energy and releasing any negative thought and feelings towards family, and well as helping my family to release it's karma as well.
We were asked to bring a bottle of water to be blessed. He had me place my hands over the bottle while he prayed. Then I went to meditate for another half and hour. After the healing, I could really feel al of those toxins moving around in my body. I drank a lot more water. That night a felt tired and weak as though I'd had an over full day. This sort of reaction is pretty normal, because when you do a big healing, often you feel a bit worse before you get better.
Second session:
I went again today for another healing. This time the focus was again my neurological condition, as well as some help for my aching knees. This time, instead of working with the energy of the sun at the beginning, we working with the river of healing and forgiveness. He said anytime you need it, you can open to that river again to allow the healing to flow through me, and let go of that which is causing me pain. Yesterday's process was repeated, only this time he pulled something out of my spleen and from around my ovaries. He told me a I have a prolapsed uterus. (which I had suspected.) He cautioned me about the dangers of using tampons... not only to avoid the possibilities of Toxic Shock Syndrome, but also because he says it builds up hormones in the site where the blood sits in the body increase a woman's chances of getting fibroids later in life. He gave me a Taoist Chi Kung self massage exercises that I am to do twice a day for a month and once a week for the rest of my life thereafter.
He then proceeded to do cupping around each of my knees, then around my hips, then around my shoulders... even near the armpits to get the lymph glands moving. I have to tell you, the knee ones and hip ones HURT! But if it works, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get better. Tonight, I'm going to go home looking like I've been attacked by an octopus. I'm going back to see him one more time tomorrow.
Third session:
After beginning the session with a bit more cupping to work with clearing the glandular system, Brother Gregorio then moved to working with the sacred plate. He uses the sacred plate to check for and remove entities around the individual. He took some blessed oil out, and put some on my forehead. then he draw a cross on the plate, and in the four quarters draw in and called the angels and guides that protect me. He then waves some special resin incense around me. It seems the way he works is to collect the connection to the entities into the resin. I believe he than ran the plate over the smoke. If there are any places the oil has turned grey, there are entities.In my case there were.
I wasn't entirely surprised, because year ago before I got sick I when I went to a Native American Tribal gathering in Canada. While there I was under the distinct impression that two of the grandmothers were under attack. I did my best to shield them, but that put me in harms way. Some one stole my shirt. I did know there were black magic practitioners there, and that's likely who did it, especially since someone overheard those women saying something that did implicate them. Both one of the grandmothers and myself were deeply aware of when the attack happened, as we were both subject to it. We did our best to clear that away after the fact, but I don't think we cleared it. However, after the healing, I got a very distinct impression Brother Gregorio had succeeded where several other powerful shamans had failed. I do believe I'm free. After the healing he told me to take the remains on the incense wrapped in tissue and bury it.He said to not let the incense enter my house... even the garage.
He suggested that I make an amulet for protection... the ingredients of which I'll share with you now. Make a small bag out of red cloth. take a small piece of pyrite and 9 pieces of chili pepper. wrap the chilies and the stone in saran wrap, place in the red bag, and sew up. Keep on your left side all day, and at night put it under your pillow. So I guess he does use some protection that he hadn't mentioned Thursday night! I'll be trying that out. I've used the Kansas pop rocks, which I prefer to pyrite. I think I'll try this with them as well.
After each of the healings I felt really tired. I'm going to rest, relax and let the healing sink in. I 'll write more in a few weeks to let you know the results after time.
I understand that he does some different things with different people, so this is by no means the full extent of his mode of operation. I do recommend seeing him if you ever have the chance. he does tour around the US. He and I discussed teaching a retreat sometime in the future. I'm really excited about the prospect of that.
It' bound to be really interesting.. If you are interested in knowing about when that retreat happens, do be sure to sign up on the TSI mailing list and you'll be one of the first to know.
Sylvia
Sitali Pranayama, and Shiva's Descent
Dear Sylvia,
I read on your website about Shiva energy. I recently was doing a Kali mantra. and felt overheated with kundalini. So, I began Sitali pranayam to cool it down and it worked. In your opinion, is this a good way to stimulate Shiva energy down the spine in conjunction with visualizing the Shiva energy descending down the spine?
Mike
Dear Mike,
Thanks for your great question. Sitali pranayama is one of the three best pranayams for cooling the nervous system. Here is some information for those of you who are not familiar with it:
Sitali Pranayam soothes and cools the spine, particularly in the area of the fourth, fifth and sixth vertebrae. This in turn regulates the sexual and digestive energy. It will also help cool the brain and the nervous system in general and can be used to lower a fever. It can help to calm the mind by removing tension and anxiety. Sitali Pranayam offers strong potential for rejuvenation and detoxification when practiced regularly. Some people find that the tongue may taste bitter at first. This is a sign of toxification. When the Sitali is performed regularly, the taste of the tongue will ultimately become sweet.
Instructions for Sitali Pranayam (Beak Breath): Perform Gyan Mudra. (Keep both the hands on knees, bring together the upper tip of index finger and upper tip of thumb. Put light pressure. Keep other three fingers straight and touching each other. Roll the tongue into a “U” with the tip just outside your lips. (If you can’t roll your tongue, then just extend the tip of your tongue outside your lips, resting on the lower lip.) Inhale deeply through the mouth, making a hissing, whistling sound. Concentrate on the coolness that you feel at the back of the throat. Hold the breath, then exhale through the nose, and feel this coolness spreading out into your nervous system, and up into the brain. Begin with a 1-1-1 ratio, then change to a 1-4-2 ratio. There are lots of different takes of how long or how vigorously to perform this practice.. Some say inhale quickly, some say smooth and even. Some say 52 times per day, some say do 6 cycles. Each person will have to feel out what works for them.
In regards to your question about Shiva energy, I know it seems counter-intuitive, but Shakti energy is considered cool (rising from the Earth) and Shiva energy is considered hot.(descending from above.) For this reason, Sitali would not be ideal for awakening the Shiva energy. While both Sitali and Shiva's descent will calm the nervous system, Shiva's descent does that by redistributing the energy and awareness throughout the chakras.
I highly recommend performing Nadi Shodhana regularly. It is very balancing for the nervous system. It will assist the functioning of both the sympathetic and para-sympathetic aspects of the nervous system. This will also help to keep the nervous system just the right temperature, while stimulating both the lunar and the solar currents.
Fire in the head is no laughing matter.
I had it very intensely for a period of my life back in the late '80's. For months, whenever I shut my eyes, I saw fire and fireworks. I had so much of it for a period of about six weeks my head was sweltering hot, and I had the headache of the doomed. I'm so happy you brought this up, as tools like Sitali, Shiva's smile, Hung Sau, and Nadi Shodhana are helpful in keeping the system in balance. Kundalini rising does not have to be a trauma drama, particularly if one has the tools to transform and transmute the energies and toxins. Then again, perhaps we always get what we ultimately need, even if it isn't what we want.
Blessings on your journey,
Sylvia Brallier
Director of the Tantric Shamanism Institute
http://www.tantricshamanism.com
(702)697-7003
PS: The article in question can be found at: http://www.tantricshamanism.com/shiva
New Favorite song
Home, by Zero 7.
listen to it at www.pandora.com
Guess I'm seeking refuge.
Sylvia
Empathy and Psychic Fibers
Dear Sylvia,
For years I have not understood the feelings and experiences I have had for the past 26 years. But when I read your posting of empathic abilities I realized that was me. I usually receive them from people I love and then I have had a few clairvoyance episodes. But now I need help on closing a link between me and someone I must get over. I didn't read on the posting how to really do it, or maybe I just don't understand. Also, I'm terminally ill and what happens if I die while linked, will the other person suffer? Please help me, I don't understand what is going on or how to deal with it.
Tony
Dear Tony,
Sometimes a strong unhealthy link can be transformed through shamanic extraction of the psychic fibers. While itis possible to do this on one's own, it is often better to have someone else do it who is not a direct link to the cording in question. For the most part, the extraction will help to alleviate some of the karma of both parties if done properly. If the link remains after death, the linking still will take time to unravel, but do not be overly concerned about that aspect. You have an eternity to work it out, and this person will continue to work on their karma, and you'll do the same.. Ideally, we get as clear as possible before passing so as to have easier karma with that person in the future.
I do this sort of work, as do my apprentices. There might be others around you who have this experience, though I can not vouch for people I don't know.
If you are unable to get help, the best thing you can do is firstly notice what part of you is hooked? An attachment can only go in where we have "stuff." Try to resolve that issue internally. Secondly, can you forgive or release that person, and maintain a boundary for what doesn't work between you?
You can also try to feel where in the body they are connected to you. Often, it's in the third chakra, but if the connection /attachment is overtly sexual, it could be in the second chakra.
It could frankly be any of the chakras, but 9 times out of ten, it's in the the solar plex, which relates to power issues.
You can imagine you are grabbing the cord and pulling it out.
Remember, you are always connected through the heart fibers to this person no matter what, so the good stuff stays.
I hope this has been helpful.
Wishing you great peace,
Love,
Sylvia
The Tantric Shamanism Insitute
www.tantricshamanism.com
Red Tantrics and Mantras
Hello Friends~ I would like to do a 40-day mantra practice. How do I get started? What's involved? How do you decide on a mantra? If you've done this practice yourself before, what was your experience like?
Love, Jan
Dear Jan,
There are so many mantras for so many purposes! What is your intent?
When a guru gives a mantra, it typically related to your ishta devi, which is your favorite God or Goddess. The mantra will also contain bija mantras such as Om, Hreem, Shrim, Klim or hum, as well as a salutation, usually Namaha or Swaha.
There are other mantras that relate to deities that have other components as well, and mantra that do not specifically relate to a deity, but relate to a quality that you would like you embody.
If you can tell us a bit more about what your intent is, I might be able to suggest something.
I have done mantra practice for years. It is a very important part of my spiritual practice. It is an amazing centering tool. It always helps me to return to my spiritual nature. I have a mantra that was given to me by Ammachi which I use always, and others that I use for specific purposes.
>My desire is to have this practice support me in dissolving my limiting unconscious beliefs and patterns around money. I joyfully welcome the energy of money to flow with abundance in my life as a natural outcome of living my soul's purpose in the world.
>I happen to have one of Thomas Ashley-Farrand's books on Shakti Mantras. I like it. There is a particular mantra to Lakshmi that appeals to me. I'll work with that one.
>Bob mentioned some mantras are taught with a specific rhythmic and melodic profile to produce the most effective results. Will a mantra work just as well if I use pitches and rhythms that feel natural to me?
From my reckoning, following your own intuition is going to be your best guide here if you don't know for sure what "proper" is. On the other hand pronunciation is extremely important, as mantras are not only their meanings, but by the relationship of tones produced by the vowel sounds and the guttural stops of the consonants.
>How important is it that a guru give you a mantra? Will it work just as well if I just pick one out of a book that I like and suits my purpose? I kind of like the idea of being creative with the process and feeling into what resonates with me.
If I was a dyed in the wool traditionalist, I'd tell you that it won't work right unless it has given to you by a guru. I haven't been dying any wool lately. Perhaps the guru within you knows what is right for you. I have always been a bit of a rebel myself, so I say, go girl!
On the other hand, I get a lot out of having a guru mantra as well. I've found it to be immeasurable helpful. It's so comforting to have a mantra that not only connects me to my Ishta Devi, but also to a truly enlightened being who is a guiding force in my life.
***The heart of my question is how much does tradition play a role here in the power of the practice? If I make the practice creative and fun for me, will it diminish the results in any way? My intuitive sense is that the more I make it my own, the more excitement and energy I will bring to it. I imagine someone who has been schooled in some very traditional tantric or yogic lineage might think otherwise.
What do you all think, feel, and know about this?
There are so many rules! Funny thing is, different rules seem to work for different people, so I'm inclined to believe that intention and attention carry more weight than the rules themselves. If things are done with a pure heart, perhaps anything is possible.
I heard a story of a man in India whose intention was to connect with Healing powers of Rama. In his ignorance, he chanted "Mara, Mara, Mara" which is the name of the demon representing "the death of spiritual life" instead of Rama. He still received enlightenment anyway because his heaart was of pure intent. Red tantrics and westerners seem to be generally more inclined to draw outside the lines. Breaking the rules! How taboo of you!
You might want to consider doing some Ganesha puja and mantra as well to help remove the obstacles.
Love,
Sylvia
The Tantric Shamanism Institute
www.tantricshamanism.com
From Jan:
Okay, this is really wild . . .
My intention was to somehow manifest $5000. I wrote it out to clarify it.
"My intention is to have $5,000 in my savings account by June 10, 2006 to easily cover the costs of travel in Europe and bills back home during the months of June and July of this year."
Since then I decided to work with a Lakshmi mantra. I first found thisone: "Om Shrim Maha Lakshmiyei Swaha!" Like Shakti Iva shared, I felt the melody came to me (rather than me `inventing' it). I liked what Sylvia wrote about considering doing a Ganesh mantra as well. That appealed to me but I felt I only wanted to work with one mantra at a time. This morning I came upon a version of the Lakshmi mantra that includes the seed sound for Ganesh: "Om Gam Shrim Maha Lakshmiyei Swaha!" Cool. This morning I purchased a mala (a very pretty rosewood one with just the right sized beads for me). I started going to town intoning my new mantra with my new mala. I might as well been skipping down the street while I was doing it I was having so much fun.
The thought crossed my mind this afternoon: I don't know exactly how I'm going to manifest the $5,000. I felt positive about it though. A teacher of mine once gave me this very sage advice, "Be clear about your intention and leave the `how' up to the Universe."
This evening my mom called. She said she had some news for me. She went out to play bingo in Las Vegas for St. Patrick's day and won a hundred dollars. Somehow, I sensed there was more. And she received a check in the mail for $170,000. A close friend of the family had passed away recently and included my mom in the will. Until my mom meets with her tax accountant she won't know how much money she can give to me and my sister without us having to pay taxes on it. In the meantime, she offered me *$5,000*!!!
"Om Gam Shrim Maha Lakshmiyei Swaha!"
Jan
************
WOw! Thant amazing Jan.
Ther eis a lot to be said for setting a strong intention.
Let ius know what happens after you finsih your entire 40 days.
warm regards,
Sylvia
Tantra, Sex and Personal Transformation
One of my primary interests in Tantric practice, is the purification of the nervous system. Through purification of the nervous system, we can remove the samkaras (negative conditionings) which are the roots of our karmic patterns. Through regular tantric practice, we can transform these channels in a natural way, by applying intention and attention. When we purify our nervous system, our potential for personal transformation, and the manifestation of higher reality is greatly intensified.
While sexual interaction does play a part in my tantric practice, it is a small part compared to regular daily yogic practices which are the basis for effective Tantric transformation. Tantric sex is often the proverbial "carrot on the stick," particularly for Westerners, who have not been trained in the importance of daily practice as a means to transformation and the experience of bliss states. It can get some one interested in the path of tantra, and then next thing you know, there might also be a spiritual interest present that wasn't present before.
I love sex as much, if not more than the next person, but I think of sex as the "dessert" of tantra, than the main course. Without the yogic basis well established, sex tantra is just "new and improved sex." While that is plenty of fun, and very satisfying in and of itself, my understanding of the highest intent behind tantric practice is untimately spiritual liberation. Isn't it nice that liberation and pleasure can walk hand in hand?
In my experience, a requisite for effective tantric transformation is the healing of the emotional and mental bodies. Once a person has that material well under control, then they can really gain the benefits of Tantric sexual practices. When a person approaches sex from a purely sexual perspective, that person's subterranean material is more likely to direct the process from the underbelly of consciousness. Then he or she is back to working out our unconscious desires and repulsions, with only a glimmer of true conscious thought entering the picture. Sex becomes a way for us to work out all the material of our empty ghosts.... the parts of ourselves that come from lack, loss, separation and low self esteem.
By doing the solo yogic tantric practices, we can establish the Tantric practices in the cellular memory, without them being karmically connected to another person. They are all yours, and not linked by association to someone else. That way, if your relationship gets weird or ends, you don't lose your own relationship to yourself and your tantric practice. It helps you to keep centered and clean inside yourself, which incidentally, helps to keep your relationships cleaner and clearer as well.
Sylvia Brallier
Director of the Tantric Shamanism Institute http://www.tantricshamanism.com
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