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BASIC COURSES

THE SHAMAN'S JOURNEY - introductory workshop

Shamanism is humanity's oldest spiritual practice, a tradition for healing and problem solving. It is a way of maintaining balance in the individual, and between the individual and the rest of creation. During this basic course, participants will be introduced to some of the main ideas and methods used for thousands of years by shamans around the world. Shamanism is not limited to Native Americans or other exotic cultures. Northern Europe also has an ancient shamanic tradition, and we all have - as human beings - the ability to work shamanically.  

The main emphasis of the course is on the shaman's journey to the world of the spirits. Participants will learn to use the traditional methods of singing, dancing, and drumming to shift to shamanic consciousness, meet their spirit helpers, and explore the spirit world.  In this other reality, one can gain power and knowledge for oneself and others, and touch the spirit side of Nature. Basic shamanic healing will also be taught. In the circle, we will share the experiences of the journeys, and learn how to understand them.  We will look closely at the ethics of shamanic work, and see how shamanism can empower our everyday lives.

You can read more on the subject of the Basic Course in Jonathan’s articles ALL LIFE IS CONNECTED and POWER IN YOUR HAND.

July 22 - 25, 2010:        Tokalynga, Halland, Sweden. Extended basic taught by Jonathan in English. To book a place, contact Carin Westman, email: carinebba@gmail.com, Tel: + 46 (0)31 775 2630, best evenings before 9pm. Price: SEK 3450 including room and board, deposit SEK 700.

Oct. 22 - 24, 2010:        London, England. Taught by Jonathan in English. To book a place, go to www.centreforshamanism.co.uk, or contact Lisa Sture, Tel: + 44 (0)797 1148 531, E-mail: shamancentre@gmail.com  See below under Registration. Price £155, deposit £60

Oct. 29 - 31, 2010        Copenhagen, Denmark. Taught by Annette in Danish. To book a place, contact Annette, best on tel +45 32 54 28 08 , 10am to 6 pm, or email annette@shamanism.dk See below under Registration. Price DKK 1375, deposit DKK 500,-

For basic courses with Liam Glenane  in Ireland
Please contact him at Liam Glenane, Email: glenanes@yahoo.co.uk, Tel: +353 (0)719 131851 or +353 (0)87-7562725 (mobile).

For basic courses in Moscow taught by Angela Sergeeva in Russian
Please contact her at Tel: +7 495 12 46 582. E-mail: moscow@depo-club.ru

 

 

 

 

 
ADVANCED COURSES
The Basic Course is necessary for participation in advanced courses

 

Shamanic Practice Weekends at Åsbacka

With the retreat center Åsbacka, located in the southern Swedish woods, comes the opportunity to do more varied kinds of spirit work in a wild natural setting. These intensive weekends are held every few months and are intended to help people at all points of their shamanic paths. We come together in a small group to widen our experience of many possible ways of working with the Spirits - not only journeying, but also group healing, medicine walks, stone council, nature work, ceremony, song, dance and ritual. By sharing our experiences in the circle and learning from each other, it is hoped that participants will take away a deepening sense of their relationship to the Spirits, to themselves and to the world around them. 

Each weekend will have a different theme. Participants must have completed the introductory workshop "The Shaman's Journey" with SCSS or agreed equivalent. If you want to receive information about the weekends, contact courses@asbacka.org with “SPW info” as the subject and you will get an email when each course theme is announced.

The weekends can be taken together or as separate individual workshops. Each workshop runs from 12 noon on Saturday, to 16.00 on Sunday, unless otherwise stated. Places are limited to max 14.

4-5 September, 2010 - theme: ”BLESSING”

This weekend will look at different ways to use the power of Blessing in shamanic practice. As well as blessings that come from our hearts, there are also blessings from the Spirits. These work as Healing Words or a Call for Power. They are often used at threshold moments of transition or transformation, and are given in a ceremonial way. We will explore different kinds of blessings and how to use them - for people, tools, gifts, a project or a place. The way of Blessing is a powerful shamanic practice that is particularly relevant at this time of year when the harvest comes in. During the workshop we will use drum journeys, Nature work, singing and ceremony to find out more about how to work with the healing and power of Blessings. 

Åsbacka, Southern Sweden. Taught by Jonathan in English, assisted by Zara. To book a place, contact Zara, email: courses@asbacka.org or tel: + 46 (0)431 441 220. Price incl. food and accommodation: 2200 SEK, deposit 700 SEK. For information about the venue, see www.asbacka.org

 

After this, the next Shamanic Practice weekend will be:

15-16 January 2011 - theme: "SHAMANISM & STORY".
For more information, email courses@asbacka.org

 

SPIRITUAL ECOLOGY

This course deals with the shaman's intimate relationship with Nature. From ancient times shamans have worked together with Spirits of Nature for healing, power, know­ledge and wisdom. By learning from the plants and animals, from the rocks and moun­tains, from the winds and waters, from the Sun, Moon and stars, shamans have helped their people to live in bal­ance with the Universe.

As shamans have done for thousands of years, par­ticipants will com­mun­icate directly with the Spirits of Nature, and re-learn from them how to respect and work together with the Earth on a deep spir­itual and practical level for our mutual well-being and survival.

We will also work extensively with the Four Elements of Fire, Water, Earth and Air, to receive a felt understanding of their powers and how they can help us in the physical and spirit world.

As well as working with drum-journeys, much of the course will be spent in Nature. Participants will work together in groups, as well as alone, and will also have the oppor­tun­ity to be isolated in Nature overnight for a traditional “Utesittning” (Sitting Out) to ask for deep personal teachings.

It is necessary that participants can easily journey to the spirit world, and have a clear relationship with at least one spirit helper

July 27 – Aug 1, 2010:       Tokalynga, Halland, Sweden. Taught by Jonathan in English. To book a place, contact Carin Westman, email: carinebba@gmail.com, Tel: +46 (0)31 775 2630, best evenings before 9pm. Price: SEK 5500 including room and board, deposit SEK 2000.

For information about the venue, see http://teateralbatross.se/tokalynga-teaterakademi/om-tokalynga-teaterakademi/

 

 

SHAMANIC COUNSELLING TRAINING 1

This practice is a spiritual counselling method based on classic shamanism. The dual purpose of the course is to teach in-depth the basic techniques of shamanic counselling, as well as to deepen each participant's felt understanding of his own journeys.

The shamanic counsellor works by teaching her client to journey for himself, to meet his own spirit helpers and teachers, who in turn become the real counsellors. The shamanic counsellor does not interpret the client’s journey, but uses her own shamanic experience in helping the client to learn how to formulate missions and uncover teachings, thereby opening the door to deeply experiencing the power of the journeys.

In essence, the shamanic counsellor helps her client to learn to recover spiritual power directly, to develop the ability to obtain practical spiritual insight, and to find answers to important personal questions. The client has the opportunity to create relationships with his spirit helpers and receive their teachings first-hand, while being supported by the councellor and assisted through the process.

Participants will work partly in the role of client and partly in the role as counsellor. During this intensive training, you will be taught all the basic techniques of shamanic counselling, with an increased emphasis on sharpening your journeying skills. You will learn how to work with different types of journeys, and ways to formulate clear powerful missions, as this is a key factor in both counselling and personal work – a focused mission helps to give a powerful journey.

This training is designed both for those who are interested in working as shamanic counsellors and those who want to use the techniques to deepen their own personal practice at home. An early application is recommended.

Aug 15 - 21, 2010:        Åsbacka, Skåne, Sweden. Taught by Jonathan in English, assisted by Zara. To book a place, contact Zara Waldeback, Email: courses@asbacka.org or Tel: + 46 (0)431 441 220. Price 6000 DKK, deposit 2000 DKK

Please note – this course is offered with MAX 10 places only. For more information about the venue, see www.asbacka.org

 

SEIDR:- working with Vision, Power and Land.

Seiðr, the old Nordic form of shamanism, once also practised in England and Scotland, is the source of this course. Traditionally, the practitioners of seiðr used a unique combination of staff and ecstatic song as means for the soul to journey. Seiðr is described in late Viking age sources, but origins much earlier in fertility cult and early shamanism.

We will explore the power of the main tools of the seiðr craft, the staff and the song, and we will practise seiðr together as a community ritual as well as in pairs and alone.

The mystical core of seiðr is inseparable from the wild nature. Therefore a key part of our work is connecting our practice with the power of the land: “Sitting out” alone with our staff between hills and trees, the songs of earth and wind will blend with our own songs, and dusk and darkness will teach us to see. In this way our seiðr takes takes root in our own landscape and time.

One of the greatest gifts the ancient seiðr tradition has to offer practitioners of today is a skillful way of dealing with power, expressed in the Norse term ergi, with hints of parallels to tantra. Seiðr can profoundly inspire our shamanic work, we become freer to choose the right ritual tool for the right task, and we deepen our experience of the power of earth.

To  participate you must have clear contact with your spirithelpers and/or –teachers and know how to journey.  Seiðr work is for both men and women. Good preparation for seiðr is singing, shamanic counselling, finding your staff, or befriending a powerplace in nature. You can read more in THE STAFF AND THE SONG and KEEP IT CLOSE TO NATURE.

Sept. 15-19, 2010      Dundon, near Glastonbury, UK. Taught by Annette in English. To book a place, go to www.centreforshamanism.co.uk, or contact Lisa Sture, tel: +44 (0)7971148531, E-mail: shamancentre@googlemail.com. See below under Registration. Price £540, deposit £265.

For information about the venue, see www.earthspirit-centre.co.uk

 

PEACE and POWER

Shamanism is a spiritual practice that gives us the power to walk through life and guides our steps. Power is at the core of the shaman's work. It is the shaman’s ability to call power which brings healing from the Spirits. Power is also at the centre of much of our lives. But what is power? How do we deal – or not deal - with power in our lives? How do we leak our power? How can we restore it? And why are so many people afraid of it?

Here we will work with power to learn how to receive it and use it rather than be controlled by it. A good place to start is by working with the power of peace. Peace is one of the most powerful forces to be found, and it teaches us to carry power and use it appropriately. From a shamanic perspective it could be said that peace is the ‘operating system’ of power, and that power without peace is no power at all. Working in a balance of peace and power can bring deep healing and shift our way of relating to the world. We will explore the dance of peace and power and what teachings and gifts their relationship has to offer.

The aim of this retreat is to deepen our understanding of what is at the centre of our lives in shamanic practice. Our tools will be drum journeying, meditation, singing, dancing, and working in nature. By bringing the essences of Power and Peace together, we can carry them with us, not just while on retreat but also on returning to our everyday lives.

Sep 21 – 26, 2010:        Russia. Taught by Jonathan in English. For more information, contact Angelka Sergeeva, Email: seangel@yandex.ru after March 1, 2010

 

 

SHAMANIC HEALING

The main work of the shaman is, and always has been, to heal illness and help others maintain their good health. The concept of power is essential in understanding shamanic healing, as it nearly always deals with re-empowerment. On this course we will examine different ways of returning lost power and working with the client’s essential and natural power as a way to health.

Course participants will also learn to sense and identify unwanted power intrusions and work with shamanic extraction healing - the removal of inappropriate energy. Together we will undertake group healing ceremonies and explore ways to work shamanically with distance healing.

Tools can be useful for both diagnosis and treatment, and we will look at how to identify and assemble them. We will work with the healing power of song and words, and ally ourselves with plant helpers for treating specific illnesses and creating health.

The course will also cover the ethics of working with shamanic healing and essential practices such as deep listening, helping clients receive healing, and maintaining our own health when doing this work. Shamanic Healing relates deeply to both Soul Retrieval and Life & Death, and these three courses help to inform each other and deepen the work.

Participants should be experienced in shamanic journeying and have a good connection with their spirit helpers.

For introductory courses with Liam in Ireland, please contact him directly on glenanes@yahoo.co.uk

Oct 6 – 10, 2010:        County Sligo, Ireland. Taught by Jonathan and Liam in English. Contact Liam Glenane, Email: glenanes@yahoo.co.uk, Tel: +353 (0)719 131851 or +353 (0)87-7562725 (mobile).  Price €680 incl. room & board, deposit €260. For information about the venue, see www.staroftheseacentre.ie

 

RETURN TO SPIRIT: Shamanism As A spiritual Path

The main emphasis of this retreat is to deepen our personal relationship to the Spirit World. Many people have powerful experiences through practicing shamanism, but these are only the beginning. Our test is to bring back the wisdom and spiritual power (kraft) of these experiences to our daily lives. What is it we seek through shamanic practice? How can we prepare to receive it? How can it guide us in our actions and decisions in life?

The mission here is to move our shamanic practice from working mainly with techniques to deepening our understanding of the Spirits and our personal partnership with them. When we do this what often happens is a transformation, not only in the way we experience our shamanic practice but also in the way we live our lives.

Working with drum journeys, ceremony, nature-work and song, this shamanic retreat is intended for those who are ready for a more profound way of being with the Spirits and themselves. It is for those who wish to make a deeper commitment to their spiritual path, in an environment of focus, support, and challenge. 

This retreat is only recommended for those who journey easily to the Spirit World and have a good connection with their Spirit Helpers and Teachers.

Oct 27 – 31, 2010:        Herefordshire, England. Taught by Jonathan in English. To book a place, go to www.centreforshamanism.co.uk, or contact Lisa Sture, Tel: +44 (0)797 1148 531, E-mail: shamancentre@gmail.com  See below under Registration. Price £565, deposit £260 – this includes room and board in a beautiful countryside location. For more information about the venue, see www.poulstone.com

 

SPECIAL EVENTS

DANCING WITH THE CYCLES OF LIFE
Conference for Society for Shamanic Practitioners,

Sept. 9-12, 2010:    Gaunts House, Dorset, UK

Jonathan will participate with: ”The Shaman’s Thread: the Unseen Rhytms of Life”. You can see more on www.shamanconference.co.uk

COURSES NOT IN SEASON

Not all our advanced courses are available every season. Most of them return in a rhythm of around one and a half years, and the work in nature happens mostly in the summer season.

 

SPIRIT VOICE: Shamanic Singing

On this course we work with song as a tool and source of power in our shamanic practice. We will explore Song's ability to open the doors between the worlds,  to call power and joy, to express, heal, and release.
    Magic chanting was central to and highly developed in early Nordic shamanism, as seidr, galdr and runesongs. On the course we will be introduced to the practise of seidr. We will use the old traditions of singing as inspiration, and to sense the deep kinship between our songs and the ritual use of voice in other times and cultures.
    Shamanic singing does not obey the rules of acceptable singing of our culture. Song is a wild, natural force like wind, sunshine and thunder and  singing in a shamanic way often leads to a changed state of consciousness, where the song sings us.  Therefore, it is not at all necessary to be able to "sing" in the ordinary sense. 
    The course is good as a next step after the Basic Course. The course is good introduction to the seidrwork. You can read more about shamanic singing in the article THE STAFF AND THE SONG

 

INTO THE JOURNEY  
         
The journey to the spirit world and the relationship to the spirits is the heart of the shaman’s practice. When this heart is strong, it gives strength and clarity to all aspects of the shamanic work, whether it be healing, working with dying, community ceremonies or nature magic. Therefore, the apprentice shaman continues to explore more fully the ways of the spirits, gaining experience, understanding, knowledge and trust. On this course we will develop our journeying skills, learn to work more powerfully with our spirit helpers to deepen our trust and commitment, and discover new possibilities for helping others and ourselves in our daily lives.

This course is designed to strengthen your practice and inspire your work, no matter if you are new on the shaman’s path or if you have walked it for years.  

 

 

SHAMANISM,  DEATH AND LIFE 

As a healer, the shaman must often come into contact with death. On this course we will face death from a shamanic perspective. The workshop is for those who wish to learn classic shamanic techniques to help others who are close to death, and to develop a deeper understanding of death. To do so we will confront our own mortality, and learn to use death as an advisor for living fully. We will experience ways to complete unfinished business, explore the territories one travels to after death, and learn to help others cross over to the Other Side with traditional soul-guide work. 

The shaman's work with death and dying is closely connected to both soul retrieval and shamanic healing and is one of the core practices of this work. To be able to be in the presence of death enriches all shamanic practice, as well as teaching us to be more fully alive right now.

 Participants must be able to journey easily and have a good connection with their spirit helpers and teachers.

You can read more about this work in Karen Kelly’s interview with Jonathan "Shamanism, Death and Life" in SPIRIT TALK - 15, 2001

 

RHYTHMS OF LIFE

Life is change. Shamanism is change with power.

We are continually changing - sprouting, flowering, bearing fruit, harvesting and decomposing. This is the cycle of life. How do we best move through these seasons? This retreat offers an opportunity to explore nourishment, fruitfulness, gratitude and balance, to help us flow with the rhythms of life.

These are important issues both personally and for those working with clients. They offer a key to effective healing, for others and ourselves. What nourishment do we need? How can we receive fully what we are given? How can we be more fruitful? How do we bring our gifts to the world without becoming depleted? What is the role of gratitude in healing? How can we thank the Spirits for the help they give?

The aim of this work is to create good spiritual health so we can live fully and in our power. Using journeying, ritual, song, dance and nature work, this retreat explores the full circle of what it can be to give without losing and receive without taking.

SOUL RETRIEVAL TRAINING: Working with Soul-Loss

In traditional societies around the world, soul-loss is seen as a major cause of much serious illness. Soul-loss can make us feel separated from our bodies, our feelings, our relationships, and from Life itself. Soul-loss keeps us from feeling connected to the Earth, and to the joy and power she has to offer to us.

It is a classic part of the shaman's work to find lost soul-parts and bring them home again. Participants on this course will be introduced to shamanic work with soul-loss, and learn how this work can be effective in working with those who have suffered spiritual, emotional or physical trauma.  

This course is for people who want to bring soul retrieval healing work into their practice with others. It is also for those who wish to use their experiences from the course to go deeper in their own learning process and strengthen their relationship to their spirit-helpers.

Participants should be well experienced in shamanic journeying, as well as having completed the basic workshop.

You can read more about the work with soul retrieval in Jonathan’s article COMING HOME.

 

  SHAMANIC COUNSELLING TRAINING 2

Shamanic Counselling 2 starts where the Shamanic Counselling Training 1 course stops, and is designed for those who have taken the basic shamanic counselling training, and who also do shamanic counselling along with their own shamanic practice. Shamanic Counselling 2 is an intensive training course which introduces the work of shamanic guidance. The main purpose of this course is to learn to help others to walk even more consciously on their life-paths
    Although shamanic counselling is a part of this work, this training will differ from the shamanic counselling training in several ways. The group will be small (maximum 12 persons). On the course we will be working in groups of three, where each participant will experience the different roles of being guide, counsellor, and client. This also offers the opportunity of being witness: sitting quietly and witnessing a guidance or counselling session, thereby being inspired and learning from the ways others work.
    An essential part of Shamanic Counselling 2 will be to develop deep listening qualities within ourselves by speaking from the heart and listening with the heart in the circle of the whole group. The course also gives the opportunity to meet with other experienced shamanic counsellors for sharing experiences and moving deeper into the work of shamanic counselling.

Participants should have completed Shamanic Counselling Training 1, as well as have some experience with shamanic counselling from their own practice. To apply, please send a letter describing your shamanic practice and how it informs your daily life, your shamanic counselling practice including some of the difficulties (if any) you have experienced. Please also list the courses you have completed with The Scandinavian Center for Shamanic Studies, and any other relevant experience.

 

 

SHAMANIC DANCE AND RITUAL

Both dance and ritual are keys to the World of the Spirits. They are used in the shaman’s work as well as by the entire community for giving thanks, asking for help, meeting  ancestors, celebration, and to help us over the thresholds of life. Properly done, rituals become sacred space and containers for the power of the Universe.
    Today, many are drawn to ritual, and want to use them in their shamanic practise and to bring magic and power to their everyday lives.  At the same time they feel unsure as to how to make a ritual “work” This summer course will concentrate on becoming familiar with the ways of ritual and magic-ritual dance. Working in Nature and with our Spirit Helpers we will find rituals and do them to learn and know their power. Participants will also have the opportunity to do utiseta, the ancient Nordic ritual of being alone in Nature overnight. 
    Participants must be able to journey shamanically. Experience with dancing and ritual is totally unnecessary.

 

THE RITUAL AND CEREMONY WORKSHOP

The idea of this workshop is to learn to find new, meaningful rituals and ceremonies for the big events of life. Our focus is on the ceremonies typically held in our own community of family and friends, when celebrating the great life thresholds of birth, coming of age, wedding, and death.
        The magic of a good ritual is that it takes us between the worlds, closer to the mystery of life. The ritual itself is not the source of spiritual power, but it serves as a bridge to that source.
        In this workshop we aim at finding such good rituals. We will both work with finding the inner spiritual content of the ritual, its essence, as well as finding the outer, practical form that can carry that essence over into the physical world. We will seek help and guidance from both our own spirit allies and from the nature spirits and powers in the great, hilly forest surrounding Åsbacka. We will also draw on the body of traditional experience, for example around the classic rites of passage. In our circle we will works with examples of the newfound rituals.
        The aim is that the participants acquire both the magic and practical tools for finding authentic, effective rituals themselves, and that they find the courage to pioneer as ceremony leaders in their own community and network.

TOUCH THE EARTH: Shamanism In Daily Life And Nature

To touch the Earth means to be connected to the healing power of the Earth and to feel at home in nature. To touch the Earth means to root our shamanic practise in physical everyday reality, knowing when and how to use it. To touch the Earth means to be present and grounded.
      In the Swedish forests we will learn from the Earth and the Spirits of Nature by using basic shamanic skills, with the focus on bringing that power to the challenges of daily life. We will work together in the Circle, in smaller groups, and alone at our power places in Nature. Those who wish to will have the opportunity to do the ancient Nordic practice of Sitting Out overnight alone with the spirits.
      The course is good as next step after the Basic Course. It provides the nature connection which we turn to in almost all advanced shamanic work.

 
 

DRUMMING CIRCLES: Practising shamanism in daily life

After having been on courses, it can sometimes be difficult to continue the practise alone. Many people find it helpful to meet with other people, who are also learning, exploring and practising shamanism. Here you can enjoy working together, supporting each other, and celebrating. Such working groups, or drumming circles, are more or less loosely or tightly organised, and typically meet every moon or fortnight. They already exist many places, but maybe you will want to drum people together for a new circle in your own area.  

 

   REGISTRATION
 

If you want to sign up for a workshop please send your deposit or the full course price to the contact person or organiser. They are listed under each course. Please write your name, address and telephone number clearly,  and name the course you are signing up for. The contact person can tell you about the deadline for registration. To ensure a place please sign up well in advance, as the course may fill up before the deadline, but also to prevent unnecessary course cancellations.

After registration, about a month before the course, you will receive a letter with all necessary practical information. The outstanding payment should be paid before the course.

Weekend courses start on Friday at 6 pm, unless otherwise stated in the program. The courses normally end late Sunday afternoon. It is important that you are present all course hours.

FOR COURSES IN THE UK:
Lisa Sture, Tel: +44 (0)797 1148 531 Email: shamancentre@gmail.com.
Please make cheques payable to Centre for Shamanic Studies and send to Lisa. PLEASE NOTE: All courses in the UK can now be booked and paid for on-line at www.centreforshamanism.co.uk  This is our preferred method of booking.

For courses at Åsbacka, Sweden, contact:  Tel: +46 431 441 220. E-mail: courses@asbacka.org


Please note that with international payments, banks are increasingly adding a “service” surcharge on both ends. Please ask the course arranger for details, so the correct amount is payed. 

PLEASE NOTE:  
The workshops offered in this program are courses in shamanic techniques, life-ways and spirituality. They are not intended as therapy courses.

CONTACT:
For further information, you are welcome to contact:

Jonathan Horwitz, tel +(46) 431 441 220 or: +(45) 5017 7044
E-mail: jonathan@shamanism.dk

Annette Høst, tel + (45) 32 54 28 08. E-mail annette@shamanism.dk

B-Joe Johansen, webmaster, tel + 45 46 42 41 12 or mobile +45 26 36 13 70, email:  info@b-joe.com

Or the contact persons above

SCANDINAVIAN CENTER
FOR SHAMANIC STUDIES