IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog has been written with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence: Chat GPT on 31st May 2023. Passages that appear in italics are drawn from the AI short essay created. Some of the AI writing style is a little more ‘poetic’ than I might normally write: however, [it has] challenged me to express my inner feelings and help overcome any vulnerability that I might otherwise feel. I’ve written this blog as I’d normally write, integrating relevant AI passages where appropriate. To maintain essential authenticity, I’ve carefully read each AI passage more than once to ensure they honestly reflect my beliefs, practice and experiences, and as usual the completed blog is proof read a number of times. If in any doubt, I haven’t included some passages (about 50%). It’s remarkable that this tool can create a comprehensive short essay about such abstruse subjects, in such a personable style that fits so closely to my own understanding of the subject – and all within one minute! This was an experiment and your comments are particularly invited on this controversial subject!
Continuing this series of different aspects of shamanic belief systems and practices, it’s often said that in the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's easy to lose touch with the deeper realms of our existence. Two ways one can regularly re-connect with some of the important aspects of life and spirituality are through the ancient practices of shamanic meditation and journeying. And then through photography, my challenge is to try to express this pictorially, not only to give deeper meaning to my work, but to share this with you the reader, who might hopefully be touched in some positive way. The images included here have all been captured in the past month, specifically aiming to illustrate this blog. This month I’ve also experimented with a different, more impressionistic, photographic style for six of the images to portray these difficult-to-describe experiences. I hope you gain something from all these images, maybe even feel something deeper on the way…
“The soul is infinite, made up of aspects that come and go all the time. It’s our nature for parts of the soul to travel while we meditate or dream. Through this process we grow, we learn new thoughts, and our consciousness evolves.”
S. Kelley Harrell, Gift of the Dreamtime
Shamanic Meditation
Many people these days have some awareness about Eastern meditation and in today’s modern world people have tried, or regularly practice, meditation for a variety of reasons: as part of a yoga practice, to reduce stress and anxiety, to experience mindfulness, to become more self-aware, or to deepen their spirituality. Interestingly, Googling the term ‘meditation’, there are various analyses by different traditons, ranging from 3 to 23 types of meditation - a potentially bewildering array!
Eastern meditation philosophies, most popular in the West, generally aim to transcend physical reality, to calm the mind and leave behind the stresses, anxieties and illnesses of daily life by aiming to “simply be”. However, shamanic meditation seeks to connect with the spiritual world, focusing instead on exploring and using this spiritual connection to heal any worldly concerns/ailments and to live more fully and openly in physical reality.
Over the years, I have discovered that entering into shamanic meditation has become my gateway to understanding the interconnectedness of all things. As I delve deeper into this practice, I realise that it’s not merely a means of relaxation, but a profound tool for exploration. Through this meditation, I am more aware of the subtle energies that permeate our reality, unlocking the door to hidden dimensions. I practice this form of meditation daily, and during the past year have developed a more specific 5-minute meditation when photographing out in the field. This sensitizes myself even more to the environment that I’m in with the objective of finding more relevant and powerful compositions.
“Being present is being connected to All Things.” S. Kelley Harrell, Gift of the Dreamtime
Journeying
As alluded to above, the main difference between meditation and journeying is that while meditation observes the nature of the thread of feeling, thought and sensation without getting involved or exploring ‘the storyline’, journeying usually starts with a significant question that one wants to address, e.g. “How can I best heal from my current negative feelings?” or “How can I reduce my sense of vulnerability?”. It then follows the thread and sees where the subconscious takes it. In undertaking the journey through a conscious experience, one can induce a kind of ‘altered state of consciousness’ that connects with various aspects of the unconscious mind and the spirit world. On completion, this experince can subsequently stay in the memory, be subject to further thinking and reflection, and impact positive changes in the way one lives. Each journey is unique and helps the individual to receive what they need in order to strive to live their ‘best life’. As well as an individual practice, the journey can also be aided by someone ‘guiding’ the consciousness, by drumming, or using oracle cards to direct the attention away from day-to-day reality and towards a more transcended state. Neurology and increased research in this area have resulted in many scientific studies finding that these techniques can induce an alpha state of wellbeing and euphoria. They access the whole brain, synchronising the two cerebral hemispheres, and generating dynamic neural connections in the brain. On a spiritual level, the vibrations of the drumbeat, guide’s voice or cards drawn aid a shifting of the consciousness, encouraging the alignment of mental, emotional and spiritual energies.
Typically in the field when seeking compositions, I sense the following kind of experience: in the heart of [nature], I find serenity and wisdom emanating from [the natural world]. I capture the dance of sunlight filtering through the leaves, revealing patterns of light and shadow that speak of the interconnectedness of all life. By patiently waiting and observing, I witness the ethereal beauty of delicate flowers, birds and animals, evoking a sense of wonder and reminding me of the cyclical nature of existence.
“Mystical insight and enlightenment occur when the veil between the worlds is lifted, the worlds are bridged, the gap closes, and we cross over.”
Tom Cowan, Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit
Expression through photography
As a landscape photographer seeking to discover the deeper meaning, I actively seek to discover the remarkable synergy between these seemingly disparate passions. Through my lens, I have embarked on a profound exploration of the unseen, capturing the ethereal beauty that lies beyond the ordinary. Through the fusion of shamanic meditation and photography, I have discovered that the camera becomes an extension of my spirit, a tool to bridge the visible and invisible realms. Each click of the shutter becomes an act of reverence, a testament to the profound connection between the seen and the unseen, and in capturing these moments, I find solace and fulfilment, as if I have finally unravelled the mysteries of existence. In this expanded state of awareness, I find inspiration and guidance for my photographic endeavours. The practice becomes a spiritual journey in itself, with my camera serving as a portal to capture the essence of what I’ve discovered.
I don’t want to over-state this, as there are still all the usual compositional, technical and practical issues to master that all photographers struggle with and enjoy improving. However, shamanic meditation, journeying and photography have become inseparable companions on my journey. The practice of consciously integrating these more, together with trying to express this through my blog, has taught me to cultivate patience, embrace vulnerability, and recognize the beauty that lies beneath the surface. They have enabled me to share the profound stories and messages that words alone often fail to convey. As I continue to explore the unseen through the lens, I am reminded of the interconnectedness of all things. Each photograph becomes a portal, a visual poem that hopefully might invite others to embark on their own journey of discovery. Through the union of meditation, journeying and photography, I have discovered a profound sense of purpose, a means to touch the souls of others, and a constant reminder that the unseen is always present if we dare to look.
"Photography is the story I fail to put into words."
Destin Sparks
If you’ve reached this point, please do leave a comment or email me however this might have moved you or not….