Dear reader ,

my name is James Harold Bardwell
  





i have been on the shamanic path for over eleven years now ,
i may call myself a shaman ,however i still feel like a novice and in the spirit of generosity and sharing i would like from time too time share my thoughts and experience  along the way ,exploring shamanism,philosophy,mysticism,and its relevance in contemporary life  so please read enjoy (hopefully) and i would love to have any feed back ,





"learn your theories well ,but lay them aside when you touch the reality of the human soul" 


Carl G Jung (1875-1961)




Following a recent shamanic journey which took place on the 21st of October in  local woods, i have been prompted to start this blog,the following account is a sincere record of what took place during the shamanic seance ,the only thing that has been changed is the name of my otherworldly shamanic teacher , i feel it would be unwise and disrespectful to leave his name unchanged  .


Shaman's Ascent -night flight

The fire glowing illuminates the woodland canopy ,embers fly heavenwards, as my eyes follow them up i can see the waxing moon and starry night sky, incense & earthy  smells fill my nostrils,woodland creatures stir in the night, roe deer bark ,owls hoot . sitting there waiting waiting and then just being ,relaxed, meditatively absorbed in the atmosphere of  this sacred place , the owls call  a signal from spirit i begin too shamanize.
with reverence and humility in my heart and soul i pick up the drum and bell , i begin too drum, throat singing a song too spirit and the elements,to all of nature and to the sun, the moon & the stars, calling to crow to accompany me on the journey to the otherworld .

As i continue to sing ,drumming all the while  rhythmic vibrations fill the air around me traveling through my body i feel the ordinary world slip away as i pierce the veil entering the otherworld, its shadowy, yet at the same time it has a certain luminescence which surrounds and permeates my spirit body.

Singing crows song, calling out to crow "cragh ,cragh ,cragh" requesting his assistance ,crow arrives too my right i turn too face him ,he cocks his head on one side and looks at me quizzically fanning his wings out hopping towards me in his usual manner. Our greeting dance follows pinwheeeling and hopping calling out in celebration of our reunion .the dance finishes when crow flies up into the boughs of an oak ,he calls to me with urgency ,i silently request from my heart beseeching crow to guide me to the upperworld to visit my otherworld shamanic teacher Nungklar (Nungklar resides in a cave near the very peak of a mountain which over looks a vast lake.)

Continuing to drum and sing i begin dancing again and feel my illuminated spirit body shapeshifting into crow form, wings grow, my head and torso change shape my black as night beak and plumage appear ,as i continue to dance my body feels electric and lighter at the same time ,i take too the wing with one leap and sit next to crow on the oak bough, he examines  me briefly and preen's some of my primary wing feathers as if in approval of my crow form .
wings outstretched  and with one single flap of his wings crow takes to the wing, flying swiftly upwards spiraling into the night sky ,i follow suit and we are soon flying alongside each other heading in a south westerly direction .The neon and street lit town passes below and soon we arrive in the country side on the other side of the urban sprawl.As we flew on a disembodied voice that i recognized as Nungklars spoke "James it is time to let go of fear and doubt ,trust in your abilities more!" ,(in the post journey notes i write for my own record i recall that this hadn't happened before, when in meditation- yes ,and when of course in his presence
Alighting in front of the hallowed oak ,(this sacred hollow oak  which at some point has been struck by lightening has served as an entry point to the upperworld,middleworld and lowerworld for me and my companion for around eleven years now)

Entering the oak's hollow we fly straight up through the open crown and sat there for a moment pausing briefly taking in the surrounding vistas of the upperworld( in recent years of mapping the otherworlds i have been shown that there are many levels to the upperworld this one that the branches of the Hallowed oak reaches up only into the first of these) we leave the Hallowed oak and continue with our ariel journey north ward bound ,in the upper world its quite different to the "ordinary world" in that it is usually the opposite of the "ordinary world"   here it is daytime perhaps early dawn and its snowing, as we fly we pass over a wilderness landscape , frozen rivers ,forested valleys and fells covered in rowan clinging to the side of the snow covered fells ,snow blankets everything, were flying now through a snow storm as we start to ascend i take note we are ascending upon a rainbow using it as a bridge to gain altitude ,suddenly as the clouds part slightly i spot Nungklar's mountain hideaway.

Within a split second we have arrived ,the pair of us alighting at the mouth of the cave ,changing into human form i entered the cave , a fire was alight for light as well as warmth ,as i approached, Nungklar stood up he was wrapped in a fur his long hair loose his small eyes twinkled with warmth and wisdom and we embraced he then stood back and gave a mock clout across my head a gentle chastisement for it being too long (it had only been a week but perhaps in the otherworld this was a long time ,only those that dwell in spirit would know that answer)he then laughed mockingly .he looked deep into my eyes ,my peripheral vision picked up movement at Nungklars side, breaking away from his gaze at Nungklars side was his old friend and ally( some would call her a "familiar") the snow leopard,she had returned .
The large powerful cat bristled up against me in an affectionate greeting in much the same way a domesticated cat would but when its a large wild snow snow leopard its quite a different sensation.
 Nungklar reiterated what i had heard on the voyage here "James ,it is time for you too let go of fear and doubt,trust in the knowledge you receive, the time has come for you too share what you have experienced in your otherworldly travels ,the time has come too teach, too write,to help others along the path,don't forget your calling or doubt it"
Nungklar looked into my eyes once again ,and shook his head disdainfully ,perhaps he cold see the skepticism that resided in my soul holding me back ,for self belief was something that on occasion reared its ugly head ,"very well "he said with gentle authority "follow me" he walked outside with me following closely in his wake .
Nungklar lifted his drum and began a fast regular rhythm ,almost immediately  he ascended skyward occasionally gracefully placing a foot on a cloud and propelling himself even faster upwards i followed Nungklar and felt my spirit body  almost effortlessly pass through several membranes of the upperworlds .

we alighted gently at the steps of the celestial jade palace of Xi Wang Mu (the great western mother goddess) &  Avalokiteshvra (some scholars believe they are the same deity?!),walking up to the gates Nungklar pointed to the jade gates ,i followed to where his finger was indicating ,there sculpted in fine relief was a shaman ,dressed in full shamanic regalia a headress,heavy tunic adorned with tiny intricate protective amulets ,jingle cones ,feathers etc, a large off round shamans frame drum ,Nungklar spoke with a sombre tone"remember that is you and all shamans at the same time",i nodded in humble response to what i had been shown.We walked through the crystaline corridor Nungklar leading the way soon we arrived in the main chamber which is very large and with a domed roof in the centre of which is a crystal circular mandala displaying various sacred geometry .Avalokiteshvra materialized from nowhere radiating a brilliant luminescent ethereal white light emanating from his/her heart chakra,countless arms unfolding as he/she sat with one leg under and the other extended over the edge of the dais,as i looked closer i could see an illuminated eye on each palm of her multitude of hands,also her/his eyes including her third eye radiated a light of compassion .peaceful and serene .
Bowing i lowered my gaze ,then she spoke

"do not fear,have courage ,listen to your soul ,your heart for you know what I'm about too tell you is true"
there was a brief pause  again Avalokiteshvra spoke "you were one of those that elected to come to the earthly plane ,to incarnate when you did ,to teach others ,to help others awaken ,to help in their healing,too illuminate the way (with this proclamation Avalokiteshvra's heart chakra shone even more brightly)do not forget why you incarnated at this time ,you have journeyed for long enough on the earthly plane ,you have travelled and been taught in all realms ,the time has come for you to help others ,too teach,illuminate their path do not forget your mission ."

she said nothing more,and i dared not speak for it may have been words of doubt and fearfulness,i had been reminded of my life's purpose and yet gently chastised for the fear and doubt i sometimes feel ,i had been told to let go of this feeling (in hindsight i realize the significance of Avalokiteshvra's words "to help others awaken,to help in their healing,too illuminate the way " and this was the moment when Avlokiteshvra's heart chakra shone even more brightly ,  love ,compassion ,forgiveness,unconditional love, all of this ,illuminating the soul and overcome fear allowing us to let go)
Bowing, Nungklar and i left ,silently thanking Avalokiteshvra for her/his audience from my heart.
Immediately i sensed this was the right time to return to the earthly plane and home to my physical body ,the rhythm of the drumming increased faster and faster urging my spirit body home,we flew rapidly myself, crow and Nungklar ,pausing briefly at the tree to say farewell too Nungklar ,crow and i crows together flying at great speed back to the woodland in north Hampshire ,as we approached i could see the fire and my physical form still drumming with gusto within a split second my spirit body entered once more into my physical body and i filled my lungs with refreshing air as if it was the first time i had used them .

I stopped drumming and began throat singing a song of thanks and praise honouring  spirit ,the elements ,thanking the hallowed oak ,thanking Nungklar ,crow and Avalokiteshvra.I reassembled the fire and placed more incense on the embers and sat down and silently with joy and humility in my heart listened once more to the noise of the woodland creatures in the dark yet starry night.