“Meet your power animal,” says Lillyanne

Psychic medium Lillyanne says we all have shamanic roots and the ability to meet our guides

For some, the word ‘shaman’ conjures up mystery and intrigue; to others, it might summon up images of Native American drumming or Celtic song. The truth is that shamanism is a way of connecting with our own spiritual nature, practised by every culture and people on Earth at one point or another.

Set yourself free

It’s almost a guarantee that you have an ancient ancestor who practised the shamanic arts from birth. You may even have a shamanic connection yourself, perhaps in a past life, or even within your calling on Earth today.
That’s why I’ve been called to write this article – I know that some of you reading this have a shamanic connection that longs to be set free, and if that grabs your attention, I want to help you think about what that journey might mean for you. To do so, I’d like to invite you to accompany me in a shamanic exercise that is intended to assist you in discovering your power animal. Also called a spirit animal, your power animal reflects the person you are, as well as the person you’re becoming and can be a guide in any further shamanic exploration and practice.
Please be aware that shamanism is the exploration of what we call “extraordinary reality” – a space not usually accessed by the conscious mind. You have my word that it is safe to do so, but if at any point you feel unready, please end the exercise.

Travel like a shaman

1 Begin by sitting in a comfortable position, as you might for meditation, and placing your hands together in the prayer position in front of your heart chakra. Play a recording of drumming (many are available online) in the background, ensuring that the drumming is at a constant, medium-fast pace.

2 Close your eyes and visualise an opening in the earth. This might be a hole in the ground, or in a tree, a den dug by an animal or a spring of freshwater. The important thing is that it feels inviting to you.

3 Visualise yourself journeying through that opening. It should feel like passing through a tunnel, perhaps with some twists and turns, until you emerge in an open area. If you encounter an obstacle, try slipping through a crack or crevice; if it is truly impossible, return and try again another time.

4 Once you find yourself standing in that open area, ask an animal to approach you; visualise yourself reaching out and touching its fur, feathers or scales. The animal that you lay eyes on is your power animal and reflects a deep facet of your spiritual self.

5 You may ask questions about it, such as what it has to teach you and what its purpose in your life is. Once you have spoken with your power animal, you may freely return to your consciousness, and it’s then helpful to write or record what you’ve experienced.

Should you choose to continue your shamanic journey, your power animal will be a companion throughout, and I wish you the best of success wherever your journey leads from here.

For more information and to buy her book Lillyanne: Memoirs of The People’s Medium, visit lillyannepsychicmedium.com