We learn through stories and through sharing
Occasionally I am asked to share some of my experiences with others, either by submitting articles or by being interviewed by writers who then write books or magazine articles about ancestral healing ways.
I present them here to give people more perspective about my relationship with the Gods and Spirits and how this relationship helps bring forth healing.
—Peter
FROM SHAMANPORTAL QUARTERLY REVIEW VOL. 4
The SPQR is an add-free quarterly online publication of articles “by leading Shamanic practitioners and teachers about Shamanism —Ceremonies, Rituals, Traditions, Techniques and more. Each issue contains 4-7 articles and featured art work.” In this issue, Peter Brown describes the impact of his and his wife Sharon’s work as Graniceros, Weather Workers, in the “mountain lineage” tradition of Nahua Caporal Mayor Don Lucio Elizalde of Nepopualco, MO, MX.
To open a PDF of Peter’s article follow this link: When the Rains Stopped Falling
To explore the entire publication with all of its articles, follow this link: ShamanPortal Quarterly Review vol. 4
From the Seattle Globalist
In the spring of 2016, Christina Acuna interviewed three shamanic practitioners in the Pacific Northwest, including Peter Brown. Christina had grown up in Peru where her abuela (grandmother) used traditional indigenous healing techniques to alleviate her anxiety and depression. After moving to the United States, Christina lost touch with those traditional ways (which we in the North often label as shamanism). She wondered whether those traditional healing ways were available locally, and described what she found in an article for The Seattle Globalist. Here's the article.
“WASHINGTON SHAMAN CONSULTS SPIRITS TO HEAL ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION”
From SHAMANIC TRANSFORMATIONS: TRUE STORIES OF THE MOMENT OF AWAKENING
Edited by Itzhak Berry
Destiny Books, a Division of Inner Traditions
Itzhak Berry is an author and founder of the New York Shamanic Society and publisher of Shaman's Portal website. He asked me to contribute a chapter to his collection of stories of experiences written by a variety of shamanic and energy healers.
Excerpt my chapter "Sacred Place":
I was walking on a logging road that wound its way up the side of a volcano in the Sierra Mountains of California and was struck by the fact that I was being pulled or asked to follow this particular path. It was a continuation of a path that I had been fortunate to embark on with the guidance of a Marakame in the Huichol tradition of Mexico and a Granicero in the Nahua tradition of the same country. It was a path leading to a sacred place, a place to which one pilgrimages to gain gifts for oneself, one’s community, and the beings in all the realms.
As I proceeded down this shamanic path, the presence of this volcano, this mountain, was making itself better known to me. On this particular trip, I placed an offering of chocolate and a candle in thanks, asking nothing of the mountain in return.
As the year progressed, however, I thought more and more about the mountain. I studied its geology and the history of human development on it as regards the original people who had lived there. An urgency to start working with the mountain was beginning to develop within me, and thus the following summer, after the snows had receded, I returned to place another offering of respect. As I was approaching the mountain, the most magnificent buck that I had ever seen, almost a caricature, appeared from the north and walked in front of me to the south, and then stood very still on the side of the trail.
The deer is a central figure in Huichol culture and because of this I deemed my sighting of it to be confirmation that I was indeed to start working with the volcano. The problem was, I didn’t know where to begin. I presented my offerings of thanks and went home.
The next time that I had a chance to sit and talk with my attending shaman, I told him of my experiences and my belief about the mountain. I was looking to him for counsel. He told me that it was very dangerous to begin a relationship with a Kakayari – a deity that has taken land form such as a mountain, lake or river –unless you have a person helping you along this path. I was told that if you just start making offerings, not knowing the customs and rituals or even the being of the Kakayari, then you are opening yourself up to problems. It is not enough to just hear the Kakayari calling.
Several years passed as I awaited instructions from my elder…………….
From the By Region website
The By Region community directory website offers information and articles by and about Health and Wellbeing.
Four of my articles were posted to the site in August, 2016. You can open them from these links.