What is Depth Shamanism?

   Depth shamanism was developed by Scarlet Kinney, MA, founder and director of The Standing Bear, evolving over many years of shamanic experience and academic study. The process of developing depth shamanism involved integrating her understanding of the archetypal content of her 1988 shamanic initiation experience with her ongoing shamanic practice and her graduate studies at Pacifica Graduate Institute, where she earned her master's degree in Mythological Studies with an Emphasis on Depth Psychology.

  A word about depth shamanism and patriarchy: It is all too easy for us to believe that patriarchy is something from our past, thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of countless dedicated feminists over the last century and longer. Their work regained and restored many of the rights and privileges that women enjoyed prior to patriarchy. We now have the right to vote, work, and divorce, to name but a few. But in reality, patriarchy is not something from our past. It continues to express itself today in the many virulent, yet often disguised or subtle forms of abuse that every woman encounters every day in our culture. Contemporary forms of patriarchal abuse continue to adversely affect women psychologically and spiritually. Depth shamanism addresses those levels of abuse~the deep, internal, often hidden levels. You might think of depth shamanism, whether you experience it through depth shamanic counseling, or as a personal feminine practice, as a kind of antidote to contemporary patriarchal abuse of women. To inform yourself of patriarchy's sources, its symptoms, and its impact on indigenous culture, I recommend that you read the following books:

The Serpent and the Goddess: Women, Religion, and Power in Celtic Ireland, by Mary Condren; The Verbally Abusive Relationship, by Patricia Evans; and The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Traditions, by Paula Gunn Allen.

  Depth shamanism integrates ancient shamanic practices with a modern feminist depth psychological perspective based upon Scarlet's understanding of the Medicine Wheel as a living mandala expressing psychospiritual wholeness, and as a map of human consciousness. 

  The practice of depth shamanism includes strict adherence to an ethical code that includes confidentiality, clear maintenance of psychic boundaries between practitioner and client, and respect for the perspectives of others. At the same time, the depth shamanic practitioner perceives herself to be part of, rather than apart from her cultural milieu, and does not set herself apart from or above other members of
  her community in any way. This is an expression of the non-hierarchical nature of depth shamanism. 

  While depth shamanism benefits both women and men, the practice of depth shamanism is essentially a Feminine process.
  First, shamanic reality is the realm of mythic Feminine consciousness. In order to enter mythic Feminine consciousness, or shamanic reality, one must first bypass one's intellectual, left-brain process, which is a product of the Masculine principle, by means of specific kinds of percussion which actually alter one's brainwave patterns.

  Depth shamanism is a discipline that empowers you to directly experience archetypal shamanic realities and energies on both personal and mythic levels. As you progress in your studies, you learn to imaginally enter and explore the incredibly beautiful living mandala of the Medicine Wheel. Once there, you seek guidance and teachings from the archetypal energies residing there, who present themselves as images. These images include landscapes and oceans, times of day, celestial bodies, Animal Spirit Helpers, Upper World Teachers, and various Goddesses.  Perhaps most important, you learn to enter and return safely from shamanic reality at will, and to maintain intent of purpose for each individual shamanic adventure upon which you embark.

  Depth shamanism supports the evolution of psychospiritual balance between the Feminine and Masculine principles, both within one's own psyche and within the cultural, or collective psyche as well. Western culture tends to foster the over-development of the left brain thought patterns of the Masculine principle, while simultaneously fostering the repression of the right-brain thought patterns of the Feminine principle. The disciplined practice of depth shamanism offers an antidote to such conditioning, by training you to remember, enter, become comfortable with, and integrate Feminine consciousness and thought patterns into your sense of Self. 

  Depth shamanic practice has a profoundly positive influence upon one's personal experience of life and one's attitudes towards the Earth and Her ecology. The practices of shamanic visualization, meditation, movement and  journeying, combined with depth shamanic personal growth practices and contemplation in nature teach us that all living beings, including rocks, trees, elements, animals and humans are equally valuable participants in the intricate web of energy exchanges that constitutes life on Earth. This is in sharp contrast to the patriarchal oncept that humans are superior to- and have dominion over- nature and all other living beings.

  Depth shamanic practice can inspire us to find ways to deal with some of the desperate situations requiring our attention in these times. But perhaps most important, depth shamanism reconnects us with our ancient ability to enter and leave mythic, Feminine consciousnes and shamanic archetypal realities at will. This, in and of itself, is of great benefit to human consciousness, and to the Earth our Mother, who supports and sustains us all.

To view the Depth Shamanic Counselor Certification Program & Curriculum, please click on the link provided in the sidebar.
           
                                                              Benefits of Depth Shamanic
                                              Study and Practice

                           ~You achieve self-mastery through disciplined study and practice.
                                 ~Your self confidence and self-esteem are enhanced.
    ~You learn to encounter and integrate universal Goddess archetypes into your sense of Self.
                 ~Your relationship with the Earth grows and evolves.
                              ~ You reclaim your ancient Feminine Earth Wisdom.
           ~ Your sense of being "at one" with Earth and all the life She supports deepens.

                                                            Depth Shamanic Services 
                                 Offered at The Standing Bear
                                    
Depth Shamanic Counseling, Kinney Method

My method of depth shamanic counseling helps you to become aware of the mythic aspects of your life challenges and of the shamanic energies informing them. Following a shamanic "scan" (something like a psychic reading) of the shamanic energies and archetypes around you as you describe your issue, I journey into shamanic reality on your behalf. While there, I seek out and communicate with the specific archetypes present during your scan, and return with guidance for you based upon their perspective on your issue.  Initial 90 minute session, including intake: $90; additional 90 minute sessions: $75

Distance depth shamanic counseling is also available, and is done by phone and email or regular mail. Distance sessions include two phone consults and a written transcript of the shamanic journey I do on your behalf. Cost: $150

Power Animal Retrieval Ceremonies

There is a difference between power animals, totem animals and animal spirit helpers. Your power animal is a teacher for survival in physical reality. By learning, integrating and using its ways, you enhance your ability to function well regarding mundane, everyday matters in the physical world. Your power animal also may accompany you on journeys into shamanic reality, and guide or assist you in your work there. The retrieval of your power animal is a ceremony, during which I journey into shamanic reality, identify your power animal, and bring it back to you as an archetypal energy in physical reality. You then learn its ways and begin the lifelong process of integrating them into your sense of who you are.
Cost: $125

Soul Retrieval Ceremonies

If you have experienced physical, sexual or emotional trauma, a part of your psyche may have retreated into shamanic reality as a way of surviving the trauma. In such instances you may benefit from a Soul Retrieval ceremony. This three-part process begins with an initial consultation after which I journey into shamanic reality on your behalf to determine the need for soul retrieval, and to seek guidance for you regarding how to correctly prepare for it. The second part is the actual ceremony. After you have begun the integration process for the returned "soul part", you schedule a final session for follow-up regarding your progress with the integration process. Cost: $225

Puberty Ceremony for Women of All Ages

The puberty ceremony, which was created by me and my advanced students, is offered during the Shamanic Foundations Intensive each summer, and is open to all women. Women who have been acculturated in patriarchal cultures, such as ours is, are strongly discouraged from expressing their power, are encouraged to "make nice" and to deal with the larger culture and adult males with an immature, girlish aspect of their psyches, which is termed one's "Little Girl". This aspect of a woman's psyche is incompetent to deal with society and adult males. Much suffering results from our attempting to face the challenges of life as a little girl might do. During the puberty ceremony, you first meet and activate the Warrioress, or adult female aspect of your psyche, during a shamanic journey. You then meet your Little Girl aspect and explain to her that she no longer has to try and deal with things she's not equipped to deal with. She is then put under the protection of your Warrioress, who from then on protects her, and takes on the responsibility for dealing with the challenges of a woman's life in a patriarchal culture. The ceremony concludes with your making a commitment to face life as a Warrioress rather than as a Little Girl, and you are recognized as a mature, capable female by those taking part in the ceremony.