{"id":9862,"date":"2020-02-03T19:34:37","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T00:34:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/?p=9862"},"modified":"2020-02-07T01:27:28","modified_gmt":"2020-02-07T06:27:28","slug":"the-guardian-spirit-and-creativity-in-the-healing-expressive-arts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/03\/the-guardian-spirit-and-creativity-in-the-healing-expressive-arts\/","title":{"rendered":"The Guardian Spirit and Creativity in the Healing & Expressive Arts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A 2-Year Workshop Series at Crows Nest:  May\n2020- May 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c Among the gifts of the shaman are the strong\nalignment with his or her Guardian Spirit and Compassionate Helpers, the skill-sets\nof voyaging into the Otherworld, the realm of muses, daimons and the numinous,\nfor guidance, inspiration, and assistance in bringing back and powerfully\ncommunicate these resources in service of those in this world who have need of\nthem.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                           -Mikkal, Fire Talks <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026what the doctor does is less a question of treatment than of developing the creative possibilities latent in the patient\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n                     \n                     \n            -C.G. Jung, CW 16, par 582<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     In this two-year workshop\nseries at Crows Nest Center for Shamanic Studies we will experientially explore\nand develop our relationship with this foundational Creative Power at the heart\nof the human aliveness. This series will present new material expanding beyond\nmy book JUNG AND SHAMANISM IN DIALOGUE<\/em>.\nWe will begin by deepening our commitment to the Guardian Spirit, also known as\nthe Personal Daimon, Power Animal, Spirit Twin, Double, Guardian Angel in\nvarious cultural contexts. The Guardian Spirit is at the center of shamanic and\npsychoshamanic life and work. Our creativty increases in proportion to the\nstrength of our relationship with and faith in the Guardian Spirit. Essentially\nit is your inner source of Inspiration, Inner Guidance, and Vitality. It may be\nconsidered your Inner Companion, the Dream Maker, the Symptom Giver, the\nSynchronicity Orchestrator, and it is crucial to your own initiation and\ncreative life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     We will be using the Shamanic\nJourney for these explorations, and will learn from Jung\u2019s own theurgical<\/em> sacred ceremonies for\nevoking, painting, and creating icons of the Gods, his prayers and imaginal\ndialogues, with various gods and mythical heroes, and other Archetypal Powers.\nWe shall also learn from Jung\u2019s actual method in developing theurgical ceremony\nand ritual process for invoking his Guardian Spirit or \u201cPersonal Daimon,\u201d\nPhilemon, which he later translated into more modern concept of Active\nImagination, and as personification the  Self for the profession of\nanalytical psychology he was establishing. But we shall be following those\nprivate aspects of his path and practice, the daimonic side of Jung, which has\ndeeply helpful information regarding shamanic wisdom and practices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our Guardian Spirit is a\nprime source of our creative and vital energy, what we need for health,\nwholeness, and for healing energy. Creativity and inspiration come through\nrecognition, alignment, and ongoing relationship with the person\u2019s Guardian\nSpirit. When creativity is high, vitality and health are high. When creativity\nis not being accessed vitality drops, resistance to infections and intrusions\nis weakened, sickness and depression can move in. So there is a direct\nrelationship between creative living and vital living. The shamanic ceremony of\nretrieving a power animal is a retrieval of this lost power, or our lack of\nconnection and relationship to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Beyond serving our\nimmediate concerns with vitality and health, the Guardian Spirit as your\ncreative daimon seeks to help you become more alive through becoming more\nimaginative and actively creative in your everyday living. This does not mean\nyou have to be a fine artist or musician, but you can use the various arts and\ncrafts as spiritual practices, as icons and symbols for ceremonies, portals of\nconnection with your own Guardian Spirit, and have a lot of fun and joy doing\nit. Additionally, intentional creativity comes in as we create a life we really\nwant, and stop the default mode of creating one we don\u2019t want. This entails not\njust imaginative and visionary modes of experience, but deeply somatic\nexperiencing of the creative energies of your Guardian Spirit in the body and\nthrough the open and Earth-honoring heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Each workshop in the series\nwill draw upon the shamanic journey practice and somatic resources for deeply\nconnecting with your own Guardian Spirit, for the purpose of strengthening your\nrelationship to it, and benefiting creatively in your life and relationships,\nin your work or profession, in your creative aspirations, and in your service\nin community, and for the sake of Mother Earth. Each participant will draw on a\nspecific area in which you want to develop your creativity, and on a specific\nproject you want to develop. The various shamanic and creative arts we employ\nwill be inspired, guided, and developed in dialogue with your own Guardian\nSpirit. We will be exploring various media for creative practice, including\nShamanic Dreaming and Theatre, painting and mask making, creative dance and\nmovement, sculpture in various media, writing of poetry, liturgies, prayers and\nhymns, developing chants and a Guardian Spirit song, as spiritual practices and\nopportunities to create our own kind of Red Book, if we wish. For those who may\nbe life coaches or psychotherapists or shamanic healers or nurses you we learn\nhow to more fully extend your creative powers into your work, as well as your\npersonal life and relationships. If you are retired you may learn how to Mentor\nand guide the younger generations more creatively and effectively. If you are\nyounger, you will benefit but having this Inner Companion and Guide to help you\nnavigate the various challenges and opportunities of stages of life yet to\ncome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     By the series completion we\nwill have experienced\/explored various modes of communications with the\nGuardian Spirit as Dream Maker, Symptom Giver,<\/em> and Synchronicity\nOrchestrator<\/em>, and learned how to use the creative arts and acts as a\nregular part of our spiritual practice, to deepen and enrich our own heart-path\n(individuation) in a way that is beneficial to all our relationships, and in\nour professional work and service projects. Where possible will encourage you\nto set up your own little studio, writing room or or inglenook, or chapel for\nyour Guardian Spirit to dwell at home, a place to muse, reflect, and practice\nyour sacred artistry.You<\/a>\ndo not have to be a professional artist to create art that nourishes the soul.\nFrom the perspective of this series, your art will be in service of your own\nsoul\u2019s well being, and the soul of the world, and of your relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This series is open to all who are sincerely\ninterested, regardless of profession or background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2020\nSchedule<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

May 15-17, Strengthening\nOur Relationship and Faith in the Guardian Spirit:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crows Nest Center for Shamanic Studies (SW\nMichigan). Cost $300.00 ($275.00 Early Bird by May 1st<\/sup>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

July\n1-5, 2020 Xoxocotla, Mexico<\/strong>: Indigenous Toltec and Mayan Elders\nand Mikkal will share teachings, creative arts, and power plant ceremonies. Stay\ntuned for this as we will post it soon with the plan, details, and moderate\ncosts. Est Cost $590.00 USD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

August\n15-17, 2020 Accessing the Guardian Spirit and the Realm of the Muses in<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expressive\nArts as Personal Practice and Healing Art.<\/strong> Crows Nest Center\nfor Shamanic Studies, Michigan. Cost $550.00 (Earlbird \u201c$490.00 by August 1st<\/sup>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oct\n23-25, 2020.<\/strong> Developing\nthe Shamanic Mode of Knowing, in Concert with the Doctor Mode of Knowing:\nHealer Practice as Creative Process<\/strong>. Crows Nest Michigan. Cost : $300.00 (Earlybird\n$275.00)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

November 20-22, 2020. Developing The Trickster in the Creative Process and Healing Arts<\/strong>.\nCrows Nest Michigan. Cost $300.00 (Earlybird: $275.00)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dates and topics for 2021 to be announced.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will offer a certificate of completion of\nthis series in Creativity in Shamanism and Jung. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each workshop is also open for new people who\nwant to explore their Guardian Spirit and their creative life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Some of the Major Themes\nand Topics of the Series are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessing your Creative Ground:<\/strong> Divining\nyour Guardian Spirit <\/strong>through the Shamanic Journey and other methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognizing and Entering into Committed\nCo-Creative Relationship with our Guardian Spirit.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating Symbols & Icons: <\/strong>Masks,\nTalismans of your Guardian Spirit, as portals of access, and as honoring,\nmaterial objects for worship and reverence of your Guardian Spirit, using\nmultiple forms of arts and crafts media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting or Clarifying a Vision<\/strong>\n(for where you are headed, or for a service project).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Heart\u2019s Invitations: <\/strong>Recognizing\nthe Call or Message of the Guardian Spirit through the middle of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Four Acts of Power: <\/strong>Psychoshamanic\nCreativity Process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Importance of Core Questions <\/strong>in\nconnecting with your Guardian Spirit<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exploring your creative potentials and\nresources.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating Beauty and Exploring its Different\nForms:<\/strong> Beautiful feelings, beautiful landscapes,\nbeautiful friendships, beautiful images, beautiful ideas, beautiful actions,\nbeautiful heart, beautiful chants and poetry, a beautiful legacy\u2026so many kinds\nof beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Art of Not-Knowing and Deep Listening<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Art of Sacred Ceremony<\/strong>\nand Therapeutic Ritual Crafting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creative Cosmology<\/strong>:\nMaking your own Creation Myth, while building in heart-open and Earth-honoring\nvalues for subsequent generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developing Shamanic Poetry and Chant<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mining the Shadow for the Creative Gold.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improvising and Creating through Quicksilver\nMoments:<\/strong> Developing experience and skill in spontaneous\ncreative responsiveness, and recognizing even offering humor, or an inflow\npresentation as a creative art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessing the Trickster<\/strong>\nin Stuck or Stultifying Situations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Utilizing Serendipity<\/strong>\nand Recognizing the Signs (Synchronicity).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shaman as Epic Poet<\/strong>\nand The Art of Story Telling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating Shamanic Regalia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating S-I-Z-E in your Personal Practice : <\/strong>creatively\nreducing the imprint of spiritual narcissism by embracing more of the planetary\nlife forms around you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating L-E-S-S in your Personal Practice: <\/strong>Creative\nLiving as Living More Simply and Responsible<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Series Schedule, Format, and Logistics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Number and length of Workshops in the Series:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each year we will have a mixture of at least\ncouple one day workshops, usually in Winter, and four weekend workshops that\nbegin at 6:pm on Friday evenings and end around 4:pm on Fridays. In August is a\n5-day intensive Workshop, a kind of creative summer camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2020 the One day workshops are Feb 15, and\nMarch 14. The weekend workshop dates are May 15-17, October 23-25, and November\n20-22. The 5-Day August Summer Intensive is Aug13-17. We also have  a\ncollaborative event in Mexican Shamanism (Aztec, Mayan, and Toltec lineages and\nJungian psychology. Lets of ceremonies of all kinds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleeping Arrangements: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weekend workshops and five-day Intensives\nentail options to sleep in the Medicine Lodge, Guest cabin, in cooler weather,\nand enjoy our numerous camping sites here in the Crows Nest Forest. There is a\nlocal hotel, Baymont, if you prefer such accommodations, and a local hostile nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start & Stop times<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weekend workshops begin on Fridays at 6:pm and\nend Sundays at 4:pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One day Workshops may begin in a pre-workshop\nMedicine Sweat led by Robert Wagner, and his assistants at roughly 6:am. The\nOne-day workshops the follow beginning at 9:am sharp, and end at 4:pm, and you\nbring a brown bag lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crows Nest Michigan is located in the S.W.\nMichigan woodlands, at 55525 Nubour Rd., Dowagiac, MI 49047<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workshop Schedules & Registration<\/strong>, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dates, Preparations, informative articles\nRegistration links and additional resources can be found at www.crowsnestshamanism.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meals<\/strong>: We Generally provide\nbreakfast food and beverages, lunches are on your own (people usually team up\nand go to a restaurant in town on lunch breaks). Some dinners are pitch-in, or\nwe pool our resources and cook up our own dinner, always there is plenty of\nfood, and its is tasty, with options for vegetarians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuition Costs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Day workshops run $100.00 USD and weekend workshops run between $275.00 and 350.00. The Summer intensives are $550.0055<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to register and pay<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

C. Michael Smith Ph.D<\/strong>\n(aka Mikkal) is a clinical Jungian psychologist, international shamanic\nteacher. He is author of the classic Jung and Shamanism in Dialogue<\/em>, Psychotherapy\nand the Sacred,<\/em> and has authored many book chapters and papers on shamans,\npsychotherapy, and has presented for Sounds True<\/em> and the Shift\nNetwork<\/em>. Founder and director of Crows Nest Centers for Shamanic Studies\nInternational, he has presented more than 200 workshops and lectures in France,\nBelgium, Romania, South Africa, Mexico, and the Peruvian Amazon. In 2018\nrepresented the Saybrook University Keynote Lectures in Clinical and Humanistic\nPsychology, under the sponsorship of Professor Drake Spaeth and professor\nMarina Smirnova on his work with the Archetype of You and the Creative\nDaimon<\/em>. He has served on many doctoral dissertation committee for Pacifica\nGraduate School, California Institute of Integral Studies<\/em> (CIIS)<\/em> as\na specialist in the integration of Jungian psychology, shamanism, and Amazonian\nmedicine traditions involving Ayahuasca. He considers the spiritual thread\nrunning through all these activities to be expressions of creativity, and that\nthe most fundamental creativity is none of these particular endeavors, but is a\nway of aliveness in creating life moment by moment, day by day, in a heart-open\nand earth-honoring way. He views art-making as a spiritual practice that brings\nyou alive and in service of results that bring forth the pragmatic fruit of\nmaking you more loving, freer, and of benefit to others. www.crowsnestshamanism.com<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A 2-Year Workshop Series at Crows Nest:  May 2020- May 2022 \u201c Among the gifts of the shaman are the strong alignment with his or her Guardian Spirit and Compassionate Helpers, the skill-sets of voyaging into the Otherworld, the realm of muses, daimons and the numinous, for guidance, inspiration, and assistance in bringing back and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[114,116,115,16,34,117,33],"class_list":["post-9862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mikkals-blog","tag-expressive-arts","tag-guardian-spirit","tag-healing-arts","tag-jung-and-shamanism","tag-jungian-psychology","tag-power-plants","tag-shamanism"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/hqdefault.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p211tE-2z4","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9862"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9922,"href":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9862\/revisions\/9922"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crowsnestshamanism.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}