Spooky Things to Discard

It’s the time of year when the trees show their beauty before the leaves begin to wither. Long walks in the woods, hot chocolate, evening fires, and blankets all add to the cozy fall feeling we all look forward to. Towards the end of the season, it’s also a time for ghosts, goblins, haunted houses, and things that go bump in the night. Darkness seeps in, and the fright of what lurks beyond the shadows might be fun for some, but scary for others. During the Samhain season the Celts took time to “make things right” before winter arrives.

It was the season to settle debts, prepare food for the cold days ahead, commune with the ancestors, and take a look at one’s shadow to see what’s lurking there. When doing shadow work in modern times, the first thing to look at is fear. Ask yourself, “What things still frighten me, or cause me worry?” In shamanic work, we learn that fear can entice other forms of negativity to enter into our sphere. But, we can counteract it by looking at the antidotes to fear which are love, courage and peace. So once you identify what you are afraid of start backtracking by asking, “Why am i feeling fear instead of love around this particular issue?” Then see if you can determine what the blockage is. You can also look at the degree of presence or peace you’re experiencing, and how you could cultivate more peace, calmness or presence in your life. Then you can look at why you may not be able to muster up the courage needed to face your fear. Looking at all three of these areas attack fear from the psychological, physiological and spiritual perspectives, checking off all the shamanic energetic boxes. Try it and see what comes up for you. It’s amazing how liberating it is when you can conquer a fear, and there’s no better time to do so than during Samhain!

Way of the Warrior Starts Jan 2026!

Real Awakenings’ new flagship program, Way of the Warrior (WOW) is well underway, and a third round will be offered next January. Built around Celtic spirituality, this new robust 45-50-hr. workshop is divided into 6 modules. Each session meets one full day per month, for six months, ranging from 7-12 hours each. The first module is a comprehensive Introduction to Shamanism, while the other 5 modules dive deep into Wisdom Wheel technology, and it’s relevancy to modern life.

Way of the Warrior includes lectures, a notebook full of handouts, crafts, drum journeys, and guided meditations. Mugs, and a poster are sold separately. WOW is specifically designed for newcomers to shamanism, where you’ll start from square one with all the basics, including how to journey.

Availability: After its debut in Sept 2024, the third offering is scheduled for January 17, 2026. See website for details, or email me to set up a Zoom interview-application. This one-on-one meeting gives us a chance to see if the program is a good fit on both ends.

Note: All courses are currently being taught in small intimate gatherings of 6 or less. An online version can be made available by request, and an on-demand website version is TBD. If you have a small group that might be interested, I would consider traveling a reasonable distance to offer the class—email me to discuss! WOW is for personal development, and not a certification or practitioner-level program.

Besides WOW, shamanic services, and group ceremonies, other things are in the works:

• Possible Companion Workbook for the WOW program
• Path of Empowerment – Advanced Celtic Shamanism & Working with Clients
• Mini Workshops in: Negative Energies, and Nordic Studies
• Mentorship program for individuals/practitioners