| Awakening the Memory: An interview with shamanic practitioner Jaes Seis by Jennifer Penrod "A Shaman remembers, awakening the memory in others." -- Jaes Seis Jaes Seis has been studying and practicing shamanism for more than 20 years. She has trained extensively with Sandra Ingerman, and is a continuing member of Michael Harner's Foundation for Shamanic Studies. She has studied with various other Shamans including, Alberto Villoldo and Luzclara. Seis lectures and leads intensives and classes on shamanism. She is a founding partner in the creation of Pachamama, a 120-acre spiritual gathering place in Southwestern Wisconsin. She spoke with The EDGE about her role in journeying outside ordinary time and space into a parallel reality, or "non-ordinary reality," to help others restore what is out of balance and promote harmony. When someone asks you what you do for a living, what do you tell them? Jaes Seis: I might begin by explaining a bit about shamanism. Shamanism honors the spiritual aspect of all things and seeks to create and nurture harmony and balance within individuals and communities, extending out to our world. When imbalance or disharmony occurs within an individual's life, he or she often turns to a trusted practitioner in the healing arts. In shamanism, we realize that no personal problem or aspect of suffering in the individual is separate from the whole of creation. There is an interconnection between all things and a relationship that can be supported and brought into wholeness through interacting with the spiritual realms. My greatest joy in the work I do is in teaching others about shamanism and helping to create an experience where they can integrate the information in a personal way. I create experiential workshops where people come together to explore the spiritual transformative healing energies that are generated by connecting in sacred circle. I give presentations at colleges and have been called to work in other settings and institutions. I also meet with individuals who come for private sessions seeking wholeness. In simple terms, I search for and return what belongs to them that may be lost, such as life force or soul essence that may have slipped out due to trauma. I take out or help release what does not belong to them or may be intrusive or misplaced, returning it to where it belongs. My job basically involves witnessing and working in collaboration with spiritual helpers in "non-ordinary reality," a parallel spiritual reality to our physical reality. I do a healing ceremony to create harmony and balance for people who seek me out. Because I have never advertised, all my private work with individuals is referral based. Generally, practitioners of various other healing modalities, including doctors, nurses and psychotherapists refer clients to me. Over the last seven years, more than 1,000 people have found their way to working with me. I enjoy working in collaboration with other practitioners. Because the work I do generally creates many changes in a person's life, I feel better knowing they have others supporting them in their communities. Realizing the great need and interest in shamanic healing, I began teaching classes about shamanism. My classes range from the basics on how to journey, or go into altered states of consciousness to access information and healing from the spiritual realms of being, to advanced apprentice training programs. I helped to create and am presently the president of Pachamama Inc., a shamanic community non-profit organization. Why does Shamanism appeal to you? Seis: Shamanism appeals to me because it is a natural accessible form of spirituality. It gives each individual access to the Divine through their own experiences in life, through nature, and as a part of a community. It is one of the oldest forms of spirituality, dating back as far as 40,000 years. There are deep roots to shamanism and its branches extend into many other religious or spiritual beliefs. It is a form of spiritual awareness and practice that belongs to the people in that everyone has their own unique connection to God/Spirit and the Divine aspect of the Earth and Nature. It supports people in finding and maintaining a sense of wholeness, which allows them to more readily give their gifts back to their families and communities. It's a belief that embodies reciprocity. When was your first shamanic experience? Seis: That is somewhat difficult to answer. It's a linear question about a non-linear experiential subject. I might begin by saying that I have always been sensitive spiritually. I sometimes describe myself as someone who came with my memory intact of being a spiritual being in a human experience. When I was 8 years old, it suddenly became very clear to me that many others had forgotten who they were and where they came from. I entered a confusing time then, trying to figure out how to be part of the world and share what I had to bring to it. I think many people suffer this way. I see more and more children coming in remembering, maintaining an active sense of spiritual connection. It's wonderful. I hope those children will be supported and encouraged. I went through some very sad times during my teens when I suffered from social and generational pressures to conform. I ended up getting very ill and nearly dying several times. As a child, I spoke to spiritual beings, animals and to the spirits of trees. The trees were my allies and teachers. I felt I had an open line to God, and through nature I felt connected. I knew I was a divine being with a purpose. During the period of my life when I lost this connection, there was still some part of me that held a space to return to and remember. In the process of getting lost and ill, I learned many things about what happens to people who don't feel whole or connected to God or the Divine. It has given me more compassion and humility in my life's work. I find that most people also have a space or place within themselves that remembers source. Sometimes it's the ability to see and remember others in their wholeness that can help reflect back their own inner truths and deep resources. It can help awaken forgotten gifts and hidden treasures within. In this way, what was once a wound can become a gift. When did you commit to being a shaman? Seis: I don't call myself a "shaman." Other people have described me as a shaman. I sometimes describe myself as a shamanic practitioner. It is out of respect to the old shamans who lived in tribal culture, and still do, that I reserve that title. They are the ones who live and maintain cultural shamanic traditions and are part of a lineage of shamans. I am part of a new lineage that is born of many beliefs and traditions that are coming together now in modern times. In many ways, I would say that I was drafted into the service of my community. Shamans are chosen by their community and they are in service to their community. When I moved to Richland Center to live here full-time in 1993, I shared some of my beliefs. There was interest, so I offered a free workshop for those who wanted to learn more. In 1995, I began getting calls from people who wanted to see me for sessions. I was asked to teach more and so I began developing more classes. I think I finally accepted my role and responsibility as a "shaman" when I helped begin a non-profit organization. It was clear to me that I had been called into service and that I needed to honor this calling. What does shamanism offer the Westerner of the 21st century? Seis: Shamanism is ageless and timeless. It has always existed and I believe that it will continue to exist as long as there are human beings to experience and express it. We are living in a very exciting time. Spiritually, it is a time of death and rebirth on a grand scale. Death and rebirth are constant themes in shamanism, and there is an understanding of the nature and necessity of this transformative process throughout life. I think that the old shamans from indigenous cultures from around the world are bringing their ancient wisdom traditions to modern awareness because of the global awareness of its need at this time. We have choices to make as a species that involve the spiritual and physical well-being of the entire planet and all its creatures. Shamans have traditionally been the watchers and caretakers of their communities and their regions on the earth. Enormous collaboration is taking place to pool the resources of so much wisdom and experience now. I don't think it is any accident that shamanism has become popular. More books are being written and published than ever before. Generally, shamanic culture and wisdom have been passed down as oral traditions. All the rules are changing in that the need is being felt at such a level from the people, that the information is coming in many forms and from many sources now. It has never been so accessible. Shamanism offers people the opportunity to remember their own inner place within the context of the matrix of our spiritual/physical world. It empowers people and communities and allows a vibrant connection between humans and the rest of nature. That connection has been damaged and needs healing at this time. Shamanism provides an easy way to access connection spiritually and allows for individuals to connect to more hopeful possibilities for themselves, their families and communities, and our world. Why is the "driftless area" so spiritual? Seis: The driftless region is an area in Southwest Wisconsin that was untouched by the glaciers during the ice age that flattened most of the Midwest. This area of the Midwest has an ancient, primal energy to it. The Ocooch Mountains are among the oldest in the world, as is the Kickapoo River. Ancient burial and effigy mounds built by the ancestors of this land still remain and harbor sacred powerful human and earth connection points. Many people have been drawn to this area that are brilliant, creative, spiritual and into various forms of healing, teaching, learning and organic farming. They are people who are socially and ecologically conscious. I think the land is calling people to it. They just show up, for whatever reason, they become inspired and stay, becoming part of the fabric of the new landscape we are all part of creating. I've sensed an energy field that extends out from LaCrosse to Madison that has a shape when viewed on a map that looks very much like an egg. I have felt and heard others describe a feeling of passing through a membrane when entering and leaving this area. My impression is that the egg is a perfect metaphor for what appears to be a powerful primal energy awakening here that is helping to awaken those who come. I imagine it as a spiritual gathering place. I am aware that it was a gathering place for the native people who lived here for centuries. It seems that all of those who are called or inspired to be in this area have some part in a greater purpose that relates to a message from the earth. Each person will have to discover what that is about for them. For me, it has meant devoting myself to the creation of a spiritual community and helping to create community gatherings, which have ceremony and rituals for the benefit of the community and the earth. Tell me more about that community. Seis: The organization is Pachamama Inc. We create annual events open to the public on our land. We invite shamanic teachers and healers to the area to give workshops. We may rent spaces to provide for the size and needs of the group. We also have a monthly drumming circle held for those who want to learn how to journey and practice shamanic journeying and drumming. Another program that I developed is called The Circle of Healers. They are circles of trained shamanic practitioners who have completed an apprenticeship with me and usually have other training, as well. They volunteer their time to work in collaboration with each other for the benefit of the community. People who have had some deep shamanic healing work such as a Soul Retrieval, done by me or another practitioner in the circle, are referred and seen by several of the members for follow up and remedial care. The purpose of the Circle of Healers is to create and support communities of healers who look after each other, as well as those in their communities. What is Pachamama? Seis: Pachamama is a Qechua word. I've studied with the Qero', a tribe in Peru who are the direct descendants of the Inca. They were the shamans who knew when to leave their cities and go live high in the Andes Mountains, where they stayed for 500 years, maintaining their wisdom and their culture. They are beautiful people who have an ability to see auras and have a spiritual tradition that is pure. It was their prophecies that brought them out of the mountains to share the lineage of wisdom they have preserved. The word Pachamama means Earth Mother in the language of a culture that has incredible respect for the balance and well-being of the Mother Earth. As an organization, Pachamama is really about a spiritual relationship of people in a community, our relationship and connection to this community and other spiritual communities and of our relationship with the earth and her relationship with us. What shamanic rituals can average people integrate into their daily lives? Seis: One of the core or common elements of shamanism is the process of what is often called a journey. There are various ways to experience a journey. There are techniques that can be taught and learned that help people go into an altered state of consciousness to access information through spiritual helpers. It is a way of tapping into the parallel spiritual reality of the physical reality we live in. It has been really useful for people that are interested in shamanism, to learn how to journey, to learn how to access for themselves, an active spiritual connection. I believe everyone can learn to achieve heightened spiritual states of consciousness that allow them to access information and inspiration that can be used for the benefit of themselves and others. Some people may feel their minds get in the way and chatter or do not allow for a clear connection or interpretation of spiritual communication and presence. I believe most people are capable of both prayer and meditation. Shamanic journeying embodies elements of both prayer and meditation, or speaking to God through a strong intention, and being open and clear to receive a reply. Is there a message that you would like to leave with us? Seis: People from all walks of life now are being called to awaken spiritually. It doesn't really matter what we call ourselves. It's more important that we awaken. I am diligently on a path right now to help people become more empowered in their spiritual connections and to help them feel more whole. I offer them tools and confidence in developing their abilities so they can strengthen their connections with their own spiritual source; not mine, necessarily, but maybe through me, I can inspire and encourage them. I believe we can develop strong sustainable spiritual communities. I think our communities are in need of support and have the ability to heal themselves. Shamanic spirituality is one way of creating strong roots that will allow us to grow into more harmonious ways of relating to each other and our earth. Whole connected individuals help create wholeness and connection in their world. For more information, Jaes Seis can be contacted at www.mwt.net/~isis/ or e-mail isis@mwt.net, and Pachamama Inc. can be contacted at www.mwt.net/~pachamama/ and e-mail pachamama@mwt.net. Write to P.O. Box 346, Richland Center, WI 53581. Copyright (c) 2002 Jennifer Penrod |
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June 2002 |
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