Sacred Paths with Angell Deer

In "Challenging New Age Myths: Authentic Shamanism," we explore what true shamanic practices entail beyond the surface of contemporary New Age interpretations. Hosted by Bram from Ayahuasca Alchemy, the podcast features an enlightening conversation with Angell Deer, the caretaker and founder of The Sanctuary, located in Upstate New York.

Conversation Highlights:

Healing Through Understanding: The interview discusses the transformative power of compassion and understanding in healing. Angell Deer poignantly describes how many individuals are often seen and treated as broken, leading to issues such as addiction and violence. Through a compassionate lens of love and humanity, he emphasizes that healing comes from understanding and embracing all parts of oneself rather than viewing individuals as fundamentally flawed or broken.

Introduction to Angel Deer and The Sanctuary: Angel Deer introduces The Sanctuary, a center that teaches shamanic studies. The space supports multiple traditions and protocols and hosts retreats and trips to places like Peru. Angell elaborates on his background, primarily influenced by Andean cosmology, along with including Native American traditions, which have enriched his learning over the past 15 years.

The Andean Cosmology: Angell Deer delves into the unique aspects of Andean cosmology, primarily from the coastal traditions of Peru. He clarifies how different regions in Peru, such as Chavin and the coastal areas, contribute diverse shamanic practices characterized by oral traditions, nature-based prayers, and altars. Unlike the mountain-based Queros traditions, many are familiar with, the coastal practices offer a distinct perspective on sacred rituals and spiritual journeys.

Plant Medicine Practices: The discussion extends to using plant medicines such as Huachuma. Angell clarifies that, in traditional Andean teachings, plant medicines are not frequently used. Instead, they are reserved for specific ceremonies to ensure proper integration of their powerful effects, similar to infrequent vision quests. He emphasizes the grounded nature of these practices, which involve deep, land-oriented engagements like farming and community-based rituals over routine plant medicine use.

Western Influence and Cultural Integrity: A critical topic addressed is the impact of Western influence on Peruvian practices. Angell shares insights on how Western stimuli, like information overload and commercialization, lead to an overemphasis on dramatic experiences with plant medicines like ayahuasca and Huachuma. He advocates for more subtle yet profound interactions with nature and traditional practices often overshadowed by the more "loud" spiritual experiences favored by visiting Westerners.

Embodied Practices: To truly embrace and embody shamanic teachings, Angel Deer conveys the importance of patience and deep connection with the natural world. He reminisces about his teacher's foundational lesson about planting and nurturing corn, which symbolizes a sacred bond with nature and the slow, contemplative journey of spiritual learning. This hands-on engagement fosters a genuine understanding and transformation, far from the quick fixes sometimes sought in Western spiritual practices.

Integration and Application: For those seeking to learn at The Sanctuary, the challenge of integrating profound teachings within the constraints of modern Western life is recognized. Angel discusses the educational approach of providing foundational shamanic wisdom and practical applications, helping individuals plant and nurture "seeds" of learning that will grow in their everyday lives. This method encourages continuous personal growth and connection, regardless of professional or urban lifestyle.

Through this enriching dialogue, the podcast "Challenging New Age Myths: Authentic Shamanism" seeks to illuminate the rich, nuanced, and often misunderstood world of shamanic wisdom. It underlines the timeless relevance of ancient practices and the significance of cultivating a deeper, more authentic connection with ourselves and the natural world around us.

In this episode of "The Wisdom Path with the Jaguar & The Deer," titled "Grounding & Belonging," Angell Deer and Marita One Who Catches Lightning explore the profound concept of grounding and its significance in our lives. 

They delve deeply into what grounding means and discuss personal practices, philosophies, and ways of being grounded.

Key Topics Covered:

- Connection to the Land: Angell shares how being a land caretaker ties him back to the earth, making grounding synonymous with presence and being in the moment.

- Cultural and Political Dimensions: They discuss how the fast-paced, western, capitalistic world tends to be ungrounded, and why grounding can be seen as a revolutionary and political act.

- Emotional Awareness: Grounding is also about facing and processing our emotions, which often surface when we slow down and turn inward.

- Wisdom from Nature: Marita brings in the imagery of birds and how they ground even when they are flying, suggesting that grounding is about knowing who you are in your core being.

- Lessons from Animals: They share stories of turkeys and pigeons, often overlooked as wisdom keepers, highlighting their roles in teaching us about grounding and caretaking the land.

- Historical and Cultural Stories: Discussions about the cultural implications of being "grounded" and historical narratives about animals and their symbolic meanings.

Through this rich conversation, Angell and Marita invite listeners to reframe their understanding of grounding, seeing it as an essential practice for cultivating mindfulness, presence, and deeper connections to the earth and each other.

In the video "Listening to the Moon" from "The Wisdom of the Jaguar & The Deer," Marita One Who Catches Lightning and Angell Deer delve into the profound connection humans can cultivate with the moon. 

They share insights on how to sync with the lunar cycles, emphasizing that the moon's influence is not limited to its full phase but extends through its entire cycle. The discussion highlights the Apache moonwalker tradition, which sees the moon as a daily guide. 

It explores the significance of the new moon in birth and regeneration, contrasting it with the peak experiences often celebrated in Western spirituality. The speakers also touch upon the interconnectedness of the moon's phases with land and life cycles and the importance of fostering a continuous and deep relationship with the moon. 

They conclude by inviting viewers to discover their own moon cycles and listen to the moon's wisdom, integrating it into their daily lives.

Key points explored in the video include:

- **Holistic Moon Practices**: Emphasizing the importance of engaging with all phases of the moon, not just the full moon, to foster a continual relationship.

- **New Moon Significance**: Highlighting the role of the new moon in representing birth, beginnings, and unseen potential, advocating for a balanced approach that values all phases equally.

- **Interconnected Life Cycles**: Discussing how the moon's phases influence natural processes and rituals, and its historical role in the evolution of life on Earth.

- **Inclusive Traditions and Cycles**: Stressing that moon cycles are experienced by all genders and describing cultural practices that elevate inclusivity and broader participation in lunar traditions.

These points underscore a profound and inclusive understanding of the moon's role, encouraging a deep, ongoing relationship with its cycles for personal and ecological harmony.

In this episode, we sink into some important depths of the human experience, honoring life's transformative trials and tribulations along the journey toward wholeness. 

Join us as we tenderly traverse the terrain, uncovering invaluable qualities forged amidst adversity and exploring the distinction between mere knowledge and embodied wisdom. 

Together, we reflect on the sacredness of mystery and the profound humility that accompanies genuine understanding and healing. Amidst our contemplations, we revere nature as a primary teacher, acknowledging its ancient laws and its vital role in our collective healing journey.

This dialogue invites us to welcome life's mysteries and envision a new collective dream rooted in love, curiosity, and gentleness. Let us be guided by the wildness of the heart and the boundless wisdom of the unknown.

Thematic Show Notes Below

Website: https://www.thesanctuaryheal.com

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In this enthralling episode titled "Surrender," hosts Angell Deer and Marita One Who Catches Lightning delve deep into the dynamic concept of surrender, exploring its active essence contrary to common belief of passivity. The dialogue opens with a vibrant touch, setting the stage for a profound discussion that redefines surrender as an immensely alive state, requiring full presence and acute awareness.

Marita initiates the conversation by challenging the conventional views of surrender, depicting it not as a defeat but as a powerful engagement with life. She eloquently discusses the transition from self to interdependence, highlighting the importance of being supported by Mother Earth and moving beyond competitive or dominant Western practices. Angell complements this by describing surrender as being fully present and active, rather than passive like a “jellyfish dying on the beach.”

Both speakers weave personal insights with spiritual teachings, emphasizing that surrender involves acknowledging the need for help and embracing every aspect of oneself, both the good and the bad. They discuss the somatic and beyond-mind experiences of surrender as moments of true presence, like holding a newborn or witnessing a sunset, where the world fades away, leaving only a profound connection with the moment.

The episode also touches on the social and spiritual responsibilities of surrender. It’s depicted as a method of engaging in life actively without running away or losing one's sovereignty. Discussing scenarios from real life to metaphorical and cinematic examples, such as the movie "Don't Look Up," they illustrate how surrender can lead to beautiful moments of community and connection, even in dire circumstances.

This discussion not only unpacks the layers of meaning within the word "surrender" but also invites listeners to redefine their approach to personal challenges and life itself. By the end of the episode, surrender is shown not as giving up, but rather as a courageous acceptance of life’s flow, a stepping into mutual co-creation with the universe, and a gateway to awe-inspiring moments of clarity and connection.

In a thoughtful discussion between Angell Deer and Marita, the topic of patience—particularly as a vital skill on the spiritual path—is extensively explored. They open by acknowledging the pressure our modern culture places on speed in almost every aspect of life, from food delivery to education and transportation, highlighting how these expectations alter our perceptions of time and accomplishment.

Marita recognizes that our impatience is partly fueled by an existential anxiety tied to our mortality and a deep-seated reluctance in believing that there are forces besides ourselves influencing our lives. This insight segues into discussions about patience as a form of deep relationality and connection—not just with other people, but with the land and broader cosmic rhythms.

The conversation delves into how impatience can restrict possibilities, foster disconnect, and create unrealistic expectations that ultimately lead to dissatisfaction and a constant feeling of inadequacy. Angell illustrates this with personal experiences, such as the slow, inevitable growth of a walnut tree, which symbolizes a surrender to natural processes and timelines that cannot be expedited.

They also talk about the inherent wisdom of the body and nature, which modern society often overlooks or tries to dominate through hurried schedules, reflecting a broader societal impatience that can also manifest as violence towards the self.

The dialogue ends with a call for a more present, contemplative stance toward life. By slowing down, we permit ourselves to co-create with the universe, embracing the vast range of possibilities that patience can offer. This idea is encapsulated in the sentiment that urgent times require us to slow down, suggesting a profound cultural shift that could lead to deeper, more grounded forms of wisdom.

Join Angell Deer and Marita One Who Catches Lightning for an enlightening conversation in "Discipline, Skill for the Spiritual Practice." In this discussion, they delve into the often misunderstood concept of discipline, exploring how it's more than just a set of rules or restrictions—it's a path to aligning with your true essence.

Marita shares insights on the natural laws that govern all of life, from the cosmos down to the cycles of water and trees. She illustrates how discipline is mirrored in nature, particularly through the consistency of trees like the oak, which, without fail, grows towards the sun and nourishes the ecosystem around it. Through the metaphor of the disciplined oak tree, Marita emphasizes the importance of regular spiritual practices as a means to maintain alignment with one’s essence, regardless of the external circumstances.

They discuss the negative associations linked with discipline—confinement by societal norms, parental expectations, or academic pressures—and contrast it with the discipline needed to stay true to oneself and one’s spiritual journey. Discipline, as Angell and Marita describe, isn't about limitation but about committing to practices that enhance interdependence and connection with the world.

This dialogue invites you to reflect on how you engage with discipline in your life and encourages you to cultivate practices that support your spiritual growth and alignment. It's a call to recognize and honor the discipline inherent in life itself and find your place within it.

Whether you’re seeking guidance on your spiritual path or simply curious about integrating more discipline into your life, this video offers profound perspectives on how disciplined practices can lead to freedom and fulfillment.

🌿 **Watch, reflect, and grow with us. Discover how discipline can be a liberating force in your life.** 🌿

In this evocative episode of "The Wisdom Path of The Jaguar & The Deer," hosts Marita One Who Catches Lightning and Angell Deer dive deep into the realms of intuition and channeling to explore the essence of spiritual communication and the discernment required in distinguishing between genuine guidance and misleading entities.

Their conversation sheds light on the nuances of human interaction with the spiritual world, balancing the wisdom of ancient traditions with contemporary practices in spirituality.

The discussion begins with a foundational question: What is intuition? Both hosts agree that intuition, often described as a gut feeling, is an essential aspect of human perception linked to the soul's wisdom beyond the limited self. 

They emphasize the importance of questioning and refining one's intuitive senses through connection with the body, engagement with spirit guides, and identifying whether impulses arise from true guidance or mere reactions to external conditions.

Marita and Angell then navigate the complex topic of channeling, cautioning listeners about the responsibilities and risks involved in opening oneself as a conduit for spiritual entities. They discuss the potential for channelers to inadvertently become mediums for essences that may have unfinished business in the material world, highlighting the importance of conscious agreement and critical questioning of the spirits we engage with.

The hosts highlight the significance of grounding spiritual practices in relation to the earth and nature. They advocate for a deep, reciprocal relationship with the land to ensure a firm foundation for any spiritual work. This connection serves as a safeguard, enabling individuals to verify spiritual messages and align with authentic paths of growth and learning.

Throughout the episode, Marita and Angell emphasize the diversity of spiritual experiences and the personal nature of intuition and channeling. They remind their audience of the crucial role of teachers, elders, and lineage in providing guidance, support, and accountability on the spiritual journey.

Concluding on a note of profound wisdom, the speakers encourage listeners to question everything, cultivate deep connections with the earth, and seek guidance from trusted mentors. This episode of "The Wisdom Path of The Jaguar & The Deer" illuminates the intricacies of intuition and channeling and offers valuable insights for those navigating the rich, sometimes daunting, landscape of spiritual exploration.

Join Angell Deer in an enlightening conversation with Jessica Carew Kraft, the author of "Why We Need to Be Wild: One Woman’s Quest for Ancient Human Answers to 21st-Century Questions," as they delve into the essence of rewilding our modern lives.

This interview unravels the time-worn tales of human connection with nature and challenges the conventional narratives presented in reality survival shows and modern culture.

Theme Highlights:

**Rewilding Parenting:** Rethinking child-rearing with nature at its heart.

**Community vs. Lone Survival Myths:** Debunking the image of the isolated wild man with historical truths of communal living.

**Reality of Survival Shows:** Discussing what popular TV gets wrong about the real skills and spirit of survival.

**Access to Wilderness:** Advocating for universal access to wild spaces and skills crucial for personal and communal growth.

**Living with Stone Age Technology:** Insights into contemporary individuals who harness ancestral skills to navigate the modern world.

**Personal Rewilding:** How anyone can start rewilding their lives, regardless of location or background.

**Critique of Civilization:** Exploring the notion that many of today's personal and societal issues stem not from individual failings, but from the very structure of modern civilization.

**Technological Skepticism:** Jessica shares insightful critiques on how today's technological advancements, while beneficial in some areas, often fail to address deeper human needs and can create an additional disconnect.

**Egalitarian Societies:** Discussion on the inherent equality within hunter-gatherer societies and how this contrasts with today's hierarchical structures.

**Mythological Implications of Rewilding:** Unpacking the myths and romanticism often associated with returning to a 'simpler' or 'more authentic' way of living, and what rewilding realistically looks like in the modern context.

**Digital Detoxification:** Emphasizing the benefits and methods of reducing digital overload in our lives to improve mental health and interpersonal relations.

About Jessica Carew Kraft

Author and independent journalist, Jessica brings a rich background in anthropology to the fore, exploring pressing contemporary issues through the lens of ancient wisdoms. Lifelong learning led her from the tech-centric atmosphere of Silicon Valley to the wild expanses where she practices and teaches ancestral skills. Also an editor and ghostwriter, Jessica has worked with influential figures in the wellness and sports sectors.In-Depth 

Discussion Points:

- Jessica’s transformative journey from a high-tech lifestyle to embracing a reconnection with nature.

- The importance of community over isolation and how modern survival shows often miss this aspect.

- The practicality of ancient skills in the modern era and how they offer robust alternatives to the fragility of contemporary technology-reliant lives.

- Rewilding as an inclusive, voluntary return to nature-rich living rather than a forced abandonment of modern conveniences.

- The role of community building in both rural and urban settings to foster deeper, meaningful connections. 

This interview promises a deep dive into rewilding as a survival tactic and a profound, fulfilling lifestyle choice that reconnects us with our human roots and offers a more sustainable, joyous approach to living. Tune in to uncover how integrating ancient skills and mindsets can invigorate your daily life and community interactions.

**Read More:**

Jessica's book is available at major retailers for those captivated by the discussion and eager to delve deeper. It is a compelling read filled with rich anthropological insights and personal anecdotes. Join us as we explore how embracing our "wild" roots can address many of the existential and practical challenges facing us today.

In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary journey of Angell Deer, a beacon of holistic wellness, environmental stewardship, and spiritual enlightenment.

Here’s what you will discover in this new podcast episode:

1. The Importance of Putting Teachings on the Heart and Allowing It to Break Open

2. The Struggle with Entrepreneurship and the Pressure to Succeed

3. Creating Bee Sanctuaries

4. The Importance of Pollination and Decline of Honeybees and Its Impact on Ecosystems and Food Production

5. Shamanism as a Practical Way of Connecting to Nature

Tune in to uncover the wisdom of a modern-day mystic and gain valuable insights into conscious living, environmental stewardship, and spiritual awakening.

This is a replay from The Conscious Living Podcast at https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Vpy68r9nwQtQ5ykvgoIwc?si=N7GVfgstSueoLdKQwcLuyw