The Muddy Underworld

Mixed media art piece I started
to capture my journey.
I enjoy creating art
from my journey experiences. 

On the recent Imbolc Full Moon, which represents the halfway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, I went on a Shamanic Journey to the Underworld. 

My journey began looking for an entryway down. Sometimes it's hard for me to get started on these journeys. Often times the portals that present themselves do not make sense to the mind and reality I normally live in. 

Journeywork calls for you to allow the experience to guide you, deep into the mystery of the unknown. Trust what shows up and simply go with it....

My descent began with a smaller version of me walking a clockwise circle on my abdomen, which was a swirling vortex of black ooziness. The smaller version of me walked the perimeter of the vortex, and with each rotation sank deeper into the black ooze; to the ankles, knees, pelvis, abdomen - slowly sinking deeper and deeper...

...then suddenly the vortex sucked me down and in. 

Swirling around and down - the black ooze vortex spit me out onto a grassy prairie. Before me was a Tipi made of animal hide. I entered, and cicumnavigated the fire pit. Meditating on the flames I was informed that to descend into deeper wisdoms I must exit through the Doorway of the North. 

I approached the Doorway of the North and was instructed to take off my clothes. I did, stepped through the portal, naked and exposed, and descended into mystery calling me deeper.  

Once I stepped through the doorway, I found myself at the top of a steep muddy slope.  As I walked down it took so much effort to stay upright. With each step my legs sank deeper and deeper into the mud. Exhausted, I gave up, sat down and let the mud consume me. 

I was surprised. I had no fear of drowning. I had submitted to the process. Mud found an opening at the base of my spine and slowly started to fill the center of my being; filling me with dark, moist soil, weighing me down, taking me deeper into depths of mystery. 

Dripping out of the mud portal, I found myself on all fours, naked and alive in primal animal instincts. I found myself in a meadow I know very well. This was where I met Bear, many years ago, eye to eye, in the wild. One of the most profound experiences in my life.

Bear approached and I re-experianced the feelings of strength and power I absorbed from our last connection. However, this time, Bear shrugged its head and asked me to follow it through the forest. I did. 

Bear led me to it's den. I crawled inside and found two small cubs inside. Bear crawled in, laid on her side, exposed her underbelly, and welcomed us to her breast. The bear cubs and I crawled to her tits and started sucking.  

It was a POWERFUL experience, wrapping my lips around the nipple of Bear and sucking its milk. I had only connected to the strength and power of Bear from my past connection. This experience showed me the nurturing side of Bear, reminding me that we can be both strong and soft, and that both are needed in how we parent ourself. 

Throughout Winter, I've been engaging the Root Chakra and in doing so, have been transforming how I parent myself. I am so grateful that Bear has re-entered my life as a guide for me in this process. 

Thank you Bear for being such a powerful force in my life.

I bow to your strength, and your softness. I welcome these traits 

deeper into my life and honor you for you wild, primal living.  

What Direction Are Your Tires Pointing?

Want to learn more about the
Root Chakra? Join Raven Shree
in a Root Chakra Tele-Session. 
Click Here for More Info

Your feet connect you to the earth, to your physical foundation. They support your vertical architecture and hold you up against the ever present forces of gravity. Your feet have carried you through life, holding the weight of you since you started to walk. 

The feet and how you use them are excellent indicators of how stable and grounded you are, core aspects of deepening Root Chakra consciousness.

Feet are designed to be strong, yet flexible. Strong so you can be stable and self-supporting, yet flexible enough so you can move freely and safely through the uneven and often slippery terrain of life. 

If your posture is out of line (feet are part of posture too), your body has to compensate elsewhere. If the feet are not used properly, the full efficiency of your body cannot be realized. The body has to work harder to stand its ground and support you against forces of gravity. If your BodyMind feels it has to work hard simply to support your body, it will take more energy and effort to engage in higher level movement and actions in life.  

When a car is moving forward, what direction are its wheels facing?   Answer: Forward.  If the wheels were pointing in or out, the car wouldn’t move very far, and the axial would get messed up. The same is true of the body. If you want to move forward in life, what direction should your feet point?  
Answer: Forward!

From a BodyMind standpoint, if the momentum of your body is moving forward, and your feet are not pointed in that direction as well, your BodyMind receives conflicting messages. This dissonance can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression and the inability to get your needs met in a healthy fashion. And like the car mentioned above, if your feet are rotated in or out as your body moves forward, you’ll mess up your axial, which in this case are your knees and hips.   

Let’s do an Exercise
Stand up…
Yes, stand up, right now, this will only take a minute. 
Stand facing forward. No peaking or reading forward. 
Simply stand facing forward like you would if you were standing in line at the grocery store. 
Now freeze your body…no moving. 
Hold this position....
Read on. 

Look down…what direction are your feet pointing? 
Are both your feet pointing forward (2^nd toe pointing forward) or are one or both rotated in or out? 

• If they are pointed forward, continue to keep them pointing forward, not only when you are standing but when you are walking too.  
• If your feet are rotated, either slightly or a lot, this is not about judgement.  It's simply an awareness that you have access to additional resources in your body to support you with manifesting stability and expansion in your life. 

Root Chakra Encouragement  
As often as you can, be aware of what direction your feet are pointing. 
When you are standing in line, taking out the trash, washing dishes, hiking.. 
Adjust your feet as often as you can so 2^nd toe points forward. 
It may feel weird for a while, but stick with it and see what shows up.  
As your feet move into new positions, you may feel adjustments in other areas of your body. 
As you modify your foundation, your whole vertical architecture adjusts to it's new foundation and deepening roots.  

Each subtle adjustment you make to operate your body more effectively 

improves the whole of your being. 

Point your feet in the direction you want to go and you are more apt to get there!