Hedgehog
"Great Mother". When in balance, people with Hedgehog energy are the embodiment of the manifestation of provident prudence, careful caretaking and cautious conservation. They have auspicious foresight. They prefer a constructive civilization over one that has destructive tendencies, so can become disillusioned when they see the destruction that occurs around them. This sometimes leads them into a "hunker down in the bunker" kind of personality; one who becomes afraid of the intents that others hold and the agendas that they see before them. Yet they can also rise up with the "Masculine Fire" and become the Hero in the face of Evil. They will, at times, be on a moral crusade and often see themselves as the guardian of all whom they see as pure, including not just people around them but also projects and things that they areworking on manifesting. Their intent in taking on a cause is usually to elevate humanity, indeed all of Creation, to a higher level of inspiration.
On the shadow side of things they can harbor a deep distrust of the Universe, but this is usually as a result of being raised in a non-nurturing environment. They can also be mischievous and destructive in their relationships and work environments if they have a family background that has fostered a psychology of a criminal mind.
Reflections from the Shaman's Hut by Trent Deerhorn
When Lightning Strikes
There is a saying that has been passed down through the ages amongst Pagan folk that goes like this:
When the lightning bursts forth from the earth and shoots to the sky you will have been witness to the divine dance of the Goddess and the God. And when you look into the heavens and see the Sun and the Moon, you will be reminded that they watch over you always.
I have always found the "watch over you" part particularly comforting. I have on many occasions felt the presence of that Higher Intelligence...whatever one chooses to call it. I know that it is there, but my awareness of it is not limited to any particular religion or faith or philosophy. It is simply a "knowing" that I am a part, as are we all, of something much bigger in Universal Consciousness than ourselves. That consciousness, for me, weaves its way throughout all time, space and dimension. We access it in our meditations, in our dreams, during the performance of menial tasks such as washing dishes, and when we eat or make love. It is all a part of the Divine Dance of the Universe.
I remember at the end of a workshop that I was co-presenting a number of years ago, back when I lived on an acreage, the group spent an entire day in darkness. Then at the end of the day we went out into the pasture, close to dusk, and simply watched nature around us. Seeing things in a much different way was certainly the task and was certainly accomplished. Everything had an aura that was quite visible to most participants. Then,
without warning, lightning burst forth from the earth about 3 or 4 kilometers away. The lightning was blue. Then it did it again about an equal distance from us but on the other side of us...and this time it was pink. Something in me was whispering..."Hey...this is familiar somehow...did I dream it? Did I feel it coming in a vision at some point? How is such a rare event so familiar?" It took me until the next morning to remember the saying. And then it occurred to me that the two colors perhaps represented the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine! How thrilling! I emailed the participants and the co-presenter this information just for their consideration....not that I felt in any way that they had to accept this or that they had to believe what I believed. They all found it to be quite interesting. The experience had been quite powerful for everyone.
It got me thinking about how we incorporate fear into faith. Rarely have I found any faith that I have studied (former religious studies student here) to have anything that equates to a comforting deity. Yes, they can create things. Yes they can have power. But they
also have rage beyond belief and this makes people afraid of them. I don't personally believe in any religious deity per se, especially raging asshole deities. I personally think that these deities were created by humans. Those "in charge" were likely sitting around trying to figure out how to get some crowd control in their caves when suddenly someone came up with an angry God idea that would keep people in check. And so it began. Fear gets threaded through Faith....a faith that otherwise would perhaps have been guilt and shame free.
Imagine a world where guilt and shame were not ingrained into the psyches of small children! Wow! The wonderful things that could then be! But there is, nonetheless, fear. We have come to think in a fear-base in day to day reality. Nowadays we fear a terrorist attack. Before that it was Communism, and before that it was Paganism, and before that it was that new kid on the block they called Christianity. That fear has led humans to hate and to attack without adequate knowledge of what it is they fear.
We fear the strike of lightning. Yet was anyone in the group afraid as we watched the lightning burst forth from the earth? No. We were amazed. And it didn't harm us at all. I think that we need to approach all new experiences with an open mind and a certain level of amazement. That way we can actually experience what is before us instead of being dragged, kicking and screaming, into whatever it is we have made up in our minds to fear. If we can manage to go boldly into the world, into the universe, and leave our fears behind (while at the same time locking our doors, of course) then imagine how differently our experiences of life could be! We just might find ourselves highly entertained instead of cowering and shaking in our shoes.
I hope that everyone who reads this will find a way to approach life with excitement and awe so that the kaleidoscope of possibilities have an opportunity to actually present themselves before they get shut out by the fear that has been taught. It is okay to allow yourself to lay down old and out-moded teachings and simply embrace new experiences. Had this not been a basic ability that all humans possess, then we would never have been able to survive the Ice Age.
Many Warm Blessings!
About Trent Deerhorn: Imagine sitting around a sacred circle of stones, deeply connected with nature and the universe, allowing yourself to access your personal insights and answers. Imagine being able to access your intuitive, intrinsic connection with all. Imagine being able to heal on a deep soul level. Imagine what it would be like to no longer be a victim or even a survivor of your past traumas, but instead be a thriver, full of health and vitality, able to flow with life and truly be in the present moment, free of personal and mental clutter. This is what Trent Deerhorn helps people do every day.
Trent Deerhorn descends from a line of mystics and healers and has worked in the field of Shamanism for over 20 years. He has received training throughout his life from many shamanic practitioners and offers services throughout Western Canada and long distance work worldwide. He is a writer and trainer and leads workshops on numerous shamanic principles and techniques including Spirit Animals, the Medicine Wheel and Shamanic Journeying. He is a storyteller, public speaker, songwriter, visionary artist, ceremonial leader and dreamwalker.
Trent is currently working in Saskatoon in a beautiful setting that provides the perfect environment for completing universal life work including drumming circles, ceremonies and work with the medicine wheel.
Visit Deerhorn Shamanic Services
On the shadow side of things they can harbor a deep distrust of the Universe, but this is usually as a result of being raised in a non-nurturing environment. They can also be mischievous and destructive in their relationships and work environments if they have a family background that has fostered a psychology of a criminal mind.
Reflections from the Shaman's Hut by Trent Deerhorn
When Lightning Strikes
When the lightning bursts forth from the earth and shoots to the sky you will have been witness to the divine dance of the Goddess and the God. And when you look into the heavens and see the Sun and the Moon, you will be reminded that they watch over you always.
I have always found the "watch over you" part particularly comforting. I have on many occasions felt the presence of that Higher Intelligence...whatever one chooses to call it. I know that it is there, but my awareness of it is not limited to any particular religion or faith or philosophy. It is simply a "knowing" that I am a part, as are we all, of something much bigger in Universal Consciousness than ourselves. That consciousness, for me, weaves its way throughout all time, space and dimension. We access it in our meditations, in our dreams, during the performance of menial tasks such as washing dishes, and when we eat or make love. It is all a part of the Divine Dance of the Universe.
I remember at the end of a workshop that I was co-presenting a number of years ago, back when I lived on an acreage, the group spent an entire day in darkness. Then at the end of the day we went out into the pasture, close to dusk, and simply watched nature around us. Seeing things in a much different way was certainly the task and was certainly accomplished. Everything had an aura that was quite visible to most participants. Then,
without warning, lightning burst forth from the earth about 3 or 4 kilometers away. The lightning was blue. Then it did it again about an equal distance from us but on the other side of us...and this time it was pink. Something in me was whispering..."Hey...this is familiar somehow...did I dream it? Did I feel it coming in a vision at some point? How is such a rare event so familiar?" It took me until the next morning to remember the saying. And then it occurred to me that the two colors perhaps represented the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine! How thrilling! I emailed the participants and the co-presenter this information just for their consideration....not that I felt in any way that they had to accept this or that they had to believe what I believed. They all found it to be quite interesting. The experience had been quite powerful for everyone.
It got me thinking about how we incorporate fear into faith. Rarely have I found any faith that I have studied (former religious studies student here) to have anything that equates to a comforting deity. Yes, they can create things. Yes they can have power. But they
Imagine a world where guilt and shame were not ingrained into the psyches of small children! Wow! The wonderful things that could then be! But there is, nonetheless, fear. We have come to think in a fear-base in day to day reality. Nowadays we fear a terrorist attack. Before that it was Communism, and before that it was Paganism, and before that it was that new kid on the block they called Christianity. That fear has led humans to hate and to attack without adequate knowledge of what it is they fear.
We fear the strike of lightning. Yet was anyone in the group afraid as we watched the lightning burst forth from the earth? No. We were amazed. And it didn't harm us at all. I think that we need to approach all new experiences with an open mind and a certain level of amazement. That way we can actually experience what is before us instead of being dragged, kicking and screaming, into whatever it is we have made up in our minds to fear. If we can manage to go boldly into the world, into the universe, and leave our fears behind (while at the same time locking our doors, of course) then imagine how differently our experiences of life could be! We just might find ourselves highly entertained instead of cowering and shaking in our shoes.
I hope that everyone who reads this will find a way to approach life with excitement and awe so that the kaleidoscope of possibilities have an opportunity to actually present themselves before they get shut out by the fear that has been taught. It is okay to allow yourself to lay down old and out-moded teachings and simply embrace new experiences. Had this not been a basic ability that all humans possess, then we would never have been able to survive the Ice Age.
Many Warm Blessings!
Trent Deerhorn descends from a line of mystics and healers and has worked in the field of Shamanism for over 20 years. He has received training throughout his life from many shamanic practitioners and offers services throughout Western Canada and long distance work worldwide. He is a writer and trainer and leads workshops on numerous shamanic principles and techniques including Spirit Animals, the Medicine Wheel and Shamanic Journeying. He is a storyteller, public speaker, songwriter, visionary artist, ceremonial leader and dreamwalker.
Trent is currently working in Saskatoon in a beautiful setting that provides the perfect environment for completing universal life work including drumming circles, ceremonies and work with the medicine wheel.
Visit Deerhorn Shamanic Services
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