| Ridgway, Connie. When Two Worlds Collide: Shamanic Journeying and Modern Medicine. Holistic: Harmonizing Pathways to Wholeness (Fall 2006):10-13. Available at URL: www.holisticjournal.org. |
| When Two Worlds Collide: Shamanic Journeying and Modern Medicine By Connie Ridgway, LCSW, LMT |
| Artwork by Gail Kapusnick |
Shamanic journeying involves a trust that one can be in two worlds at once. Feet are planted
firmly on this earth, and also travel to a mythic realm where anything is possible. Journeying to
the other world has been practiced for over 30,000 years, documented in cave paintings and
other historic relics. The journeyer travels via drumbeat-induced trance, often communicates
with animals, plants and other improbable beings, and receives information in the form of
images and experiences.
I was not surprised, then, on a journey a while back, to find two little men, who looked like
miniature Tibetan monks, perched on both my shoulders. I had asked for the removal of
obstacles to enable me to obtain clarity of my vision and purpose. I assumed the “Bear”
posture, which traditionally induces a healing journey.
The two men removed poisons by sucking them out through red straws. They specifically
worked on the area between my clavicle and neck, and took out “black spots” in and around
my left chest and heart.
I was grateful for their help, and offered some butter as a gift (inspired by accounts of
Hungarians in the early 20th century who treated bears visiting their town as royalty, inviting
the bears into their homes and offering them butter and other delicacies as treasured gifts.) I
set the butter on the windowsill and then threw it into the woods the next morning.
Two weeks later, I had a routine mammogram. Such tests are normal for me, ever since I was
diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 at age 36. Although a mammogram hadn’t found the
previous cancer, it was the only tool offered by modern medicine for regularly checking my
breasts’ health status, so I willingly submitted to its pressure and discomfort once a year.
The juxtaposition of ancient healing methods and modern medical technology has been my
path for some time. My skepticism about “alternative” healing methods is only outmatched by
my mistrust of high-tech diagnostic tools and invasive surgery and powerful drugs that harm as
well as help. Yet, I find myself the recipient of both, a curious alliance. Do I “believe” in them?
I’m not sure. But I’m practical, and if something works, I use it. I’ve heard it said: “Believe
nothing; entertain possibilities.” Given the statistics of the numbers of people using
“alternative” healing these days, I gather I am not alone.
Before the mammogram, I had a twinge of anxiety. Maybe it was a premonition, or simply an
acknowledgement that, once a year, I focus on the possibility that I may once again have the
experience of cancer. Nevertheless, I was shocked when the radiologist said that the
mammogram showed “abnormal” growths that he would label “suspicious.” Curiously enough,
the growths, called calcifications, are indeed “little black spots” that show up in many people’s
breasts. However, when they begin to form a pattern, as they had done in my case, there is
concern that they have crossed the netherworld border into the realm of cancer.
The doctor recommended a biopsy. I went into action mode and contacted my surgeon. She
explained that a needle biopsy was required this time, since the calcifications were very small
and a radiologist had to use a scan during the procedure to find their exact location and
remove the tissue in question.
The day of the appointment, I was in good spirits but nervous. I knew many loved ones were
holding me in their thoughts and prayers, which comforted me. I had a trusted friend who
accompanied me to the appointment.
Upon arrival, I was introduced to my doctor. A hint of recognition later gave way to surprise
when I realized my doctor’s strong resemblance to the little Tibetan monks on my shoulder.
Not only that, the procedure involved small incisions that were suctioned out—not unlike the
action of a straw! I started to chuckle, then laughed out loud when I realized the doctor was
wearing red, the color of the straws. What a little joke the spirits were playing!
The effect calmed me immediately. I was peaceful and even happy throughout the entire four
and a half-hour procedure, although I was physically uncomfortable for much of that time. It
also helped that I chose to listen to music via headphones—Gregorian chants. I imagined the
chants being done by Tibetan monks resembling my little men.
I knew these spirit-men were accompanying me on the journey of the four-plus hours technical
procedure. We were all in this together.
The next day, I had jury duty. Sore but alert, I trudged between jurors’ lounge and court
chambers until about two o’clock, when I received the call that the biopsied tissue was
malignant. I contained my anguish long enough to explain to the judge why I would rather not
serve on the jury that day, and was dismissed, breaking down in tears moments after I left the
courthouse. Hadn’t the spirits taken out all the black spots? Why, then, did I have cancer?
Ah, the tandem importance of the two worlds collaborating hadn’t gotten through to me yet.
The truth was, they worked together. The spirit-healers had not removed the spots before the
biopsy—one would truly need the other.
The next day, I was told that the cancer was not only unrelated to the previous malignancy 13
years before, it was also totally self-contained (“in situ”) which meant that it had not spread at
all. The bad news was that, because the breast was radiated once before, this time I had to
have a mastectomy.
I believe that the little men had done their job—the cancer was contained. Modern technology
removed the rest, but modern medicine needed the little men to accomplish their part of the
healing also.
Joseph Campbell, the famed scholar of myth, said that computers and technology are one of
the main features of our current mythology. We are in a period where time moves so fast, that,
he says, a new myth has yet to be fully formed.
My own experience attests that old and new are not separate. I can invite them both to
accompany my on this healing journey, wherever it takes us.
firmly on this earth, and also travel to a mythic realm where anything is possible. Journeying to
the other world has been practiced for over 30,000 years, documented in cave paintings and
other historic relics. The journeyer travels via drumbeat-induced trance, often communicates
with animals, plants and other improbable beings, and receives information in the form of
images and experiences.
I was not surprised, then, on a journey a while back, to find two little men, who looked like
miniature Tibetan monks, perched on both my shoulders. I had asked for the removal of
obstacles to enable me to obtain clarity of my vision and purpose. I assumed the “Bear”
posture, which traditionally induces a healing journey.
The two men removed poisons by sucking them out through red straws. They specifically
worked on the area between my clavicle and neck, and took out “black spots” in and around
my left chest and heart.
I was grateful for their help, and offered some butter as a gift (inspired by accounts of
Hungarians in the early 20th century who treated bears visiting their town as royalty, inviting
the bears into their homes and offering them butter and other delicacies as treasured gifts.) I
set the butter on the windowsill and then threw it into the woods the next morning.
Two weeks later, I had a routine mammogram. Such tests are normal for me, ever since I was
diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 at age 36. Although a mammogram hadn’t found the
previous cancer, it was the only tool offered by modern medicine for regularly checking my
breasts’ health status, so I willingly submitted to its pressure and discomfort once a year.
The juxtaposition of ancient healing methods and modern medical technology has been my
path for some time. My skepticism about “alternative” healing methods is only outmatched by
my mistrust of high-tech diagnostic tools and invasive surgery and powerful drugs that harm as
well as help. Yet, I find myself the recipient of both, a curious alliance. Do I “believe” in them?
I’m not sure. But I’m practical, and if something works, I use it. I’ve heard it said: “Believe
nothing; entertain possibilities.” Given the statistics of the numbers of people using
“alternative” healing these days, I gather I am not alone.
Before the mammogram, I had a twinge of anxiety. Maybe it was a premonition, or simply an
acknowledgement that, once a year, I focus on the possibility that I may once again have the
experience of cancer. Nevertheless, I was shocked when the radiologist said that the
mammogram showed “abnormal” growths that he would label “suspicious.” Curiously enough,
the growths, called calcifications, are indeed “little black spots” that show up in many people’s
breasts. However, when they begin to form a pattern, as they had done in my case, there is
concern that they have crossed the netherworld border into the realm of cancer.
The doctor recommended a biopsy. I went into action mode and contacted my surgeon. She
explained that a needle biopsy was required this time, since the calcifications were very small
and a radiologist had to use a scan during the procedure to find their exact location and
remove the tissue in question.
The day of the appointment, I was in good spirits but nervous. I knew many loved ones were
holding me in their thoughts and prayers, which comforted me. I had a trusted friend who
accompanied me to the appointment.
Upon arrival, I was introduced to my doctor. A hint of recognition later gave way to surprise
when I realized my doctor’s strong resemblance to the little Tibetan monks on my shoulder.
Not only that, the procedure involved small incisions that were suctioned out—not unlike the
action of a straw! I started to chuckle, then laughed out loud when I realized the doctor was
wearing red, the color of the straws. What a little joke the spirits were playing!
The effect calmed me immediately. I was peaceful and even happy throughout the entire four
and a half-hour procedure, although I was physically uncomfortable for much of that time. It
also helped that I chose to listen to music via headphones—Gregorian chants. I imagined the
chants being done by Tibetan monks resembling my little men.
I knew these spirit-men were accompanying me on the journey of the four-plus hours technical
procedure. We were all in this together.
The next day, I had jury duty. Sore but alert, I trudged between jurors’ lounge and court
chambers until about two o’clock, when I received the call that the biopsied tissue was
malignant. I contained my anguish long enough to explain to the judge why I would rather not
serve on the jury that day, and was dismissed, breaking down in tears moments after I left the
courthouse. Hadn’t the spirits taken out all the black spots? Why, then, did I have cancer?
Ah, the tandem importance of the two worlds collaborating hadn’t gotten through to me yet.
The truth was, they worked together. The spirit-healers had not removed the spots before the
biopsy—one would truly need the other.
The next day, I was told that the cancer was not only unrelated to the previous malignancy 13
years before, it was also totally self-contained (“in situ”) which meant that it had not spread at
all. The bad news was that, because the breast was radiated once before, this time I had to
have a mastectomy.
I believe that the little men had done their job—the cancer was contained. Modern technology
removed the rest, but modern medicine needed the little men to accomplish their part of the
healing also.
Joseph Campbell, the famed scholar of myth, said that computers and technology are one of
the main features of our current mythology. We are in a period where time moves so fast, that,
he says, a new myth has yet to be fully formed.
My own experience attests that old and new are not separate. I can invite them both to
accompany my on this healing journey, wherever it takes us.
| Ridgway, Connie. When Two Worlds Collide: Shamanic Journeying and Modern Medicine. Holistic: Harmonizing Pathways to Wholeness (Fall 2006):10-13. Available at URL: www.holisticjournal.org. |