11.7-8.05 05 Sámi-Finland, part 17 & 18

I am NOT a Sámi shaman. I did NOT go to Sámi-Finland to become a Sámi shaman. I journeyed to Sámi-Finland to meet and learn about the Sámi folk. I journeyed to Sámi-Finland just as my ancestors did, to exchange spiritual wisdom. I have NOT embraced Sámi gods, for their ancestors are not my ancestors. I respect the Sámi people and thank them for allowing me to visit, for sharing their life and thoughts, and showing me their gods and ancestors.

Part seventeen: More Madness

I don’t really recall leaving the tent though I know I did. I vaguely remember eating but mostly I remember feeling ‘shocked’ and ‘numb’ and ‘not in my body’. Here are some notes from my travelogue written a few days later:

-Kjell did not join us in the tent because he is a ‘weapon carrier’. His role on this hunt is to carry a gun, which is metal, so he did not feel it appropriate to receive the ‘Mad Shamans’ blessings.

-I refer to this man as the ‘Mad Shaman’ because that is the energy I feel from him: wild, erratic, crazy, out-of-control, dangerous, mad, and predatory. Johan Olaus refers to him as ‘Old One’ and “Venerable One” and ‘Old Man’. All of these are titles of honor.

-The ‘Mad Shaman’ lives in his lavvu year round, regardless of weather. I do not know how old he is, nor does Johan Olaus know. I do know that he feels ‘ancient’ - like peat bogs and yew groves.

-Over the next few days when the the Mad Shaman was sitting or eating, talking to someone, or just doing something – normal – I was still unable to fully focus on him. His appearance, like that first night, still shifted-shimmered. It drove me nuts trying to get a clear picture of him. Even in daylight he always appeared dark – this half-man, half-cat-dragon, predatorial thing.

-The little cigar-man the Mad Shaman gifted me, Johan Olaus told me to ‘bury it’ when I returned home. He didn’t explain about how it would protect me from “violent injury”.

-When I related to Johan Olaus about my spirit horse-shaman vision he told me that “all souls” are shaped like horses and that “everyone has a horse spirit”. However, not everyone’s spirit horse transforms into a shaman. Of this, Johan Olaus said, “This tells me much about you. About who you are.”

-Among other things, these two thoughts kept going through my head, like a broken record: “Blessings to Blossom to Bone”, and, “Sex and Violence, Death and Marriage”.

Part eighteen: Metsän Kuningas

The next day started like any other but finished differently.

Johan Olaus joiked:

“Bear came to visit us today.
Bear lay down to sleep.
Bear Journeyed to God – telling God of our Worth.
Bear is a good friend, a beloved friend.
Our tears for Bear will fall to earth –
Where Bear Woman will collect them.
Our tears are seeds that will grow Bear Spirit.
Bear Spirit will be seeds that grow –
Bringing wealth and health for all souls.
Bear came to visit us today.
Bear lay down to sleep and woke-up God.
Our love for Bear is now with God.”

It has been Nine Days.

Live Deliberately!
Yngona