Epilogue

Because of the Western world’s lack of appreciation for the abilities of indigenous cultures to enter an ecstatic trance and journey to other realms, many have lost their contact with the deep levels of the inner psyche.  In Books of the Dead: Manuals for Living and Dying, Grof tells us that cross cultural research has shown that ancient cultures held the ability to intentionally enter alternative states of consciousness in great esteem.  These alternative states were the ways that these cultures communicated with their deities and learned healing techniques from nature and learned an appreciation for all life on Earth.

Our Western culture has taken the stance that intentionally inducing alternative states of consciousness is wrong and has spent tremendous amounts of time and energy in suppressing these abilities.

This negative connotation with the ecstatic trance has taken a toll in the spiritual realm.  The number of souls “stuck” in the liminal space between realms rises while those able to assist them diminish.

The tribal societies that once spanned the globe have faded and now are only seen through archeological finds and through expeditions by missionaries – whose very purpose for finding these tribes is to perpetuate their eventual annihilation.  Bringing these tribes into “civilized” living effectively wipes out their myths and legends which results in more lost souls.

Moving civilization into close-knit, tribal communities is not the answer and is certainly not a viable option.  I believe the answer lies in regaining a sense of self to include heritage and environmental surroundings.  Learning to harmonize with the reciprocal nature of the universe and accepting the paths of those whose search may take a different road from our own is a trait greatly needed.

One way of regaining this harmony with the universe is to clearly understand the cyclical nature of death.  Death is an ending and a beginning.  It is the ending of physical life but the continuation of spirit.  The spirit lives on in other planes of existence, as we have seen.  We, as shamanic practitioners, cycle in and out of lives on these two planes, always seeking growth and spiritual evolution.

The ability to intentionally enter an altered state of consciousness or ecstatic trance is nothing to fear.  In Journeys Out of the Body, Monroe voices his hope that one day, man will seriously study these altered states of consciousness and through direct experience, acceptance will follow.  Once that acceptance is in place, perhaps man’s relationship with deity will develop, which would end the conflict of religious theologies.  It is a wonderful thought and not outside the realm of possibility.

Together we have explored the call to shamanism, ecstatic trance journeys and the realms of the dead.  We have pondered why a soul would need the assistance of a shamanic practitioner and have looked at how to prepare to help that soul make the crossing into the next realm.  We’ve examined our feelings upon our success and failures and have shared tales of psychopompic journeys.

Hopefully the sharing of my journeys has provided a guide for those to compare their own experiences with.  To know that they are not alone in their travels through the spiritual realms.  To verify that their experiences are real and not simply creations of their imagination.

By joining together and sharing our tales, we can shape the cosmology of the Western world to include the myths and legends once thought lost.  We can redevelop the spirituality that was once, and can be again, a vital and integral part of everyday life.  We can cast aside the role of life’s observer and don the armor of life’s participant.  We can make a difference and our willingness to do so is greatly needed.