Shamanic Breathwork

Venus Rising Institute For Shamanic Healing Arts


Getting Started With The 30 Shamanic Questions
Who and How: The 30 Shamanic Questions were originally designed to be given one day at a time for 30 consecutive days. A sacred agreement was entered into by two individuals who I refer to as shamanic co-journeyers. The intent of the agreement was to provide the co-journeyer answering the 30 questions a sense of safety and honoring, which was provided by the co-journeyer holding space. The co-journeyer holding space was a “graduate” of the 30 questions, meaning they had already successfully completed answering the 30 Shamanic Questions. The two co-journeyers agreed to connect daily until the questions were finished. Occasionally it was not possible to finish within the 30 day time frame. This was acceptable as long as there was a legitimate reason. This process is not intended to be dogmatic or rigid. It does, however, provide efficient, disciplined, daily support to the process of major change in one’s life. Unless there is a heart-felt commitment the process will not bear fruit. When I worked the questions with one friend, we ended up doing part of it via email while she was traveling in England. She is one of the intrepid souls I referred to in the dedication of this book; as she was receiving these questions from me she was simultaneously working them with two other people – one in Iowa and one in North Carolina. Another time I worked the questions while on vacation at Disney World in Florida, while the friend I co-journeyed with lived in Maui. We used a combination of phone conversations, voice mail and email to complete the process. It is important to be truly committed to The 30 Shamanic Questions process whether you are giving or receiving the questions. Like most things in life you will only receive back as much as you put into the process. I have heard of many innovative ways that people have found to work together including one lady who lived in England and did all 30 questions via email with her friend in the United States. Several therapists have begun to use the questions with clients, giving them several to answer one day at a time until the next prearranged appointment. A few people have passed the question they have answered the previous day onto someone else who was a day behind them in answering the questions. People have made this journey in all kinds of combinations such as friend to friend, spouse to spouse, parent to child, sibling to sibling, employee to employer. There are therapists who have been open minded enough to receive the questions from their clients. I know of one journeyer who worked the questions with two of her dear friends simultaneously, a married couple, via three-way telephone conferencing. There has even been discussion about starting weekly meetings to discuss The 30 Shamanic Questions. The 30 Shamanic Questions not only appeal to, but also “work” for, people from all walks of life. A few examples of the diversity of individuals who have co-journeyed through this powerful process are: an attorney from Oregon; a factory worker from Des Moines, Iowa; a master electrician from Toledo, Ohio; a caterer from Kentucky; an addictions counselor from North Carolina, a psychologist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; a psychiatrist from Washington state; a grandmother from Portland, Oregon; a psychotherapist and tantra teacher from Atlanta, Georgia; a guide to stately homes from England; two horsewomen from Dahlonega, Georgia; a housewife from Missouri; a corporate manager from Kansas City; a house painter and horticulturist from Atlanta; a real estate agent from Georgia; a businessman and entrepreneur from Georgia. They range in age from early 20’s to their late 60’s. Among them are Christians, Jews and Buddhists as well as worshipers of the Goddess, Nature, or New Age beliefs. Some people are agnostic; others feel a direct connection to their Higher Powers. Several have been involved with 12 step recovery programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Alanon or Co-dependent Anonymous. Several had worked with a counselor or therapist on personal issues. For some it was their first time engaging in any kind of psycho-spiritual process. It truly did not seem to matter if they were male or female, gay or straight, young or old, where they were from, what they did for a living, or what religious beliefs they held. All these so-called differences were simply unimportant when it became time to begin the journey of The 30 Shamanic Questions. The reports of the lives that have been changed, the healing's that have taken place and the love that has been shared between so many individuals who have had the courage to “to change the things they can” touches my heart beyond words! This book now offers the journey to a larger audience. In so doing I would like to humbly offer some suggestions as to how this process might work best for all concerned. Other Ways to Work the Questions: 1) If you prefer to work these questions with a seasoned journeyer, you may contact a graduate of the process through the Venus Rising Institute of Shamanic Healing Arts. Email us at venusrising@shamanicbreathwork.org or call 828-631-2305. 2) You could take this book to your counselor or therapist and ask if they would be willing to assist you through the process. 3) You could start a 30 Shamanic Questions study group. Go to the website for directions on setting up a group. Special Note to Shamanic Journeyers: This journey is not meant to be taken alone. The spirit of unconditional love and acceptance that we access by working this process with another person can be one of the greatest healing experiences we will ever encounter in this lifetime.
Book Cost - $25 US Email venusrising@shamanicbreathwork.org or call 828-631-2305 to order

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