I do remember the shamanic, John. And the knowledge your refer to is the Greek 'gnosis', which is so much more than the Latin 'science'.john wrote:Ishtar wrote:Well, I think we're going to have to do our usual, here, and agree to differ.
Except I will just say that shamanism isn't a belief system. There is no belief system attached to it.
Ishtar -
Bingo.
"No belief system attached to it".
Thus the Shamanic.
Thus the Bicameral
(remember the Bicameral?)
The belief system was created by people
Who wanted to attain,
And maintain,
Physical power over those
Who created things of economic value.
Thus is the continental divide
Between
Knowledge
and
Belief.
Take it anywhere you want........
hoka hey
john
But unfortunately I've been trolled by ignorance of anything outside of intellectual belief and science, or even that it could have any value.
So let's consult our compasses, reset our course and hoist the mainbrace ... er, whoops, sorry! Wrong thread ....
Anyway, these verses by the Persian poet, Rumi, are a good starting off point. They describe the experience of death. But at the same time, they also serve to provide a quite beautiful account of what the shaman experiences when he journeys from this dimension - which is all that death is, a journey from this dimension into the Other. It is death to this world and rebirth into another.
In fact, the only difference between death and the shamanic journey is that the shaman comes back.
So let us soar into the shamanic:
Gone to the Unseen
At last you have departed and gone to the Unseen.
What marvellous route did you take from this world?
Beating your wings and feathers,
you broke free from this cage.
Rising up to the sky
you attained the world of the soul.
You were a prized falcon trapped by an Old Woman.
Then you heard the drummer's call
and flew beyond space and time.
As a lovesick nightingale, you flew among the owls.
Then came the scent of the rose garden
and you flew off to meet the Rose.
The wine of this fleeting world
caused your head to ache.
Finally you joined the tavern of Eternity.
Like an arrow, you sped from the bow
and went straight for the bull's eye of bliss.
This phantom world gave you false signs
But you turned from the illusion
and journeyed to the land of truth.
You are now the Sun -
what need have you for a crown?
You have vanished from this world -
what need have you to tie your robe?
I've heard that you can barely see your soul.
But why look at all? -
yours is now the Soul of Souls!
O heart, what a wonderful bird you are.
Seeking divine heights,
Flapping your wings,
you smashed the pointed spears of your enemy.
The flowers flee from Autumn, but not you -
You are the fearless rose
that grows amidst the freezing wind.
Pouring down like the rain of heaven
you fell upon the rooftop of this world.
Then you ran in every direction
and escaped through the drain spout . . .
Now the words are over
and the pain they bring is gone.
Now you have gone to rest
in the arms of the Beloved.
.
