shp program manual

© 2008 Monroe Products & Byron Metcalf

The Shaman’s Heart Program The Path of Authentic Power, Purpose & Presence

Created by Byron Metcalf, Ph.D. In collaboration with Monroe Products

Program Manual Ver. 1 (August 2008)


2


Table of Contents

Introduction 1 Acknowledgements 3 Using The Shaman’s Heart Program 6 Creating & Opening Sacred Space 7 Intention & Preparation 8 Invocation/Opening Prayer 9 Chakra System & Luminous Energy Field 10 The Audio CDs 12 Exercise 1 13 Exercise 2 14 Exercise 3 16 Exercise 4 18 Exercise 5 19 Exercise 6 21 Expanded/Extended Exercises 22 Program Support 23 About Byron Metcalf 24


3

The Shaman’s Heart Program The Path of Authentic Power, Purpose and Presence

The Shaman’s Heart Program is the first-ever comprehensive home-learning program for developing one’s full capacity for soul-based and heart-centered living. The Shaman’s Heart Program is a unique and practical integration of shamanic practice, transpersonal psychology, ancient wisdom teachings, and various contemporary methods of spiritual growth, development and personal transformation. Created by Byron Metcalf, Ph.D., The Shaman’s Heart Program is specifically oriented toward creating the capacity to navigate these challenging times and complex world in a heart-centered and soul-based manner. To the degree that a person commits to ongoing practice, experience has shown that deep, profound and lasting change can occur. The Shaman’s Heart Program is not designed to teach or train you to become a shaman or shamanic practitioner. The program is for people who are truly interested in authentic personal empowerment, and those who are drawn to explore and develop the capacities of the heart from a shamanic and transpersonal perspective. This program is ideal for both seasoned and beginning shamanic practitioners, as well as those who are interested in, or curious about shamanic work in a more general sense. Experienced shamanic practitioners will be able to explore new dimensions and aspects of the heart and may even open into surprisingly new territory. This program is the result of Dr. Metcalf’s 20+ years of research, clinical application, spiritual and transpersonal development, and shamanic/holistic healing and transformation. The goal of the program is to support you in developing your authentic power, purpose and presence – your capacity for soul-based and heart-centered living – and from a larger perspective, contributing to the healing and maturity of humanity as a whole. Dr. Metcalf calls this integral process "HoloShamanic,” which means to see, recognize, and experience wholeness and completeness. The Shaman’s Heart Program is evolutionary – meaning that your development continually unfolds in an organic and uniquely personal way. More fundamentally, this approach is holonistic: meaning that each aspect, quality and potential of the heart is in itself a whole system, embedded in other whole systems. For example, the quality of strength is in itself, a whole system that is also embedded in the quality of compassion. Similarly, compassion is a whole system that is embedded in the quality of intelligence, and so on. As such, the heart is the cosmological center of the personal human experience – the whole and the parts are an interpenetrating matrix of evolving maturity and wholeness that support and guide you toward the full realization of your essential nature and the source of all reality. Your understanding, knowledge, skill and ability to live fully in a soul-based, heart-centered manner, continues to increase, deepen and expand as you go deeper into the program’s practices, training and teachings. The foundational component of The Shaman’s Heart Program is a series of exercises contained in a 4-CD package produced in collaboration with Monroe Products. The CDs contain verbally guided exercises, Byron Metcalf’s award winning music, subtle sound effects, and specially blended Hemi-Sync® frequencies to guide you into focused whole-brain states of consciousness. Hemi-Sync® helps you achieve and sustain synchronized brainwave activity in


4

both hemispheres of your brain, helping the student/listener to integrate and assimilate the program’s exercises more effectively. Expanded and advanced exercises, additional supplemental practices, and detailed information related to the program’s exercises, practices and theoretical components are available online for clients, students, and customers of The Shaman’s Heart Program.


5


Acknowledgements

As with any project of this scope, there are too many individuals to include in a limited amount of space. To those whose names do not appear, I offer my humble apologies and a sincere “thank you” for your efforts and support. To Ralph Metzner for years of support and encouragement, and for the use of some of my favorite invocation phrases. To Frank Owen for early invocation ideas, and helping me to organize my writing path. Your steady support over the years has been a true blessing. To Peter Vajda for helping to hold the space for this project with skillful coaching and guidance. The Shaman’s Heart Program would never have been completed without your unconditional support and generosity. To Steve Roach for ongoing support and friendship, and for helping to plant the seed thought that eventually took shape in this form. Your sonic wizardry on the original recording of The Shaman’s Heart helped to make it one of the most important and well received shamanic recordings of our time. To Carol Moore, Projects Manager for Monroe Products/The Monroe Institute, for steadfastly maintaining the integrity of my vision. I am deeply grateful. To Matthew Stelzner for helping to me to navigate the archetypes. To my clients and all the amazing teachers, healers, and shamans I’ve worked and studied with – you all have challenged and supported me to find and follow a path of authentic power, purpose and presence. And most importantly to my wife, Shawn – your love, patience, and support always help to make dreams come true.

Byron Metcalf, August 2008


6

Using The Shaman’s Heart Program The Shaman’s Heart Program is a comprehensive self-learning method for personal, interpersonal and transpersonal development. Optimal benefits require that you sincerely commit to a regular, systematic program that includes doing the verbal guidance exercises on the CDs. Extended/expanded exercises, additional supplemental practices, and detailed information related to the program’s exercises, practices and theoretical components are available online at www.holoshamanicstrategies.org/shp. These materials will be regularly updated. Important Note: Before using the verbal guidance exercises, please download the additional online materials and take your time to carefully review the booklet and all of the additional materials available online. It is important for you to have a good sense of what this program entails before starting with the exercises. It is especially important that you read each exercise instructions transcript before proceeding with the verbal guidance audio exercise. Try to arrange your schedule so that you can do some of the verbal guidance exercises at least two or three times per week; experiment with finding a schedule and pace that works for you. Exercise # 1 is a foundational exercise and if possible, should be practiced daily during the initial two weeks of your program. The online materials will include instructions for various meditation practices, breathing exercises, and other simple but important practices that eventually should be integrated into your daily life. The Shaman’s Heart Program is ultimately designed to become a “way of life” that allows you to fully engage and live your life in a heart-centered and soul-based manner. Using the Audio Exercises Listen over a portable or home stereo system using stereo headphones for best results. Alternatively, you may position yourself between conventional speakers, but using headphones will produce optimal results. Lie down or sit comfortably in a distraction-free environment. Adjust the audio volume to a comfortable level. Visualize or simply think of doing what the words describe. Pacing the Exercises The general guideline is when you feel comfortable and familiar with a specific exercise, move on to the next one. Expanded exercises (described in the Exercises section) build upon each other and are designed to deepen and strengthen individual and combined exercises in a synergistic manner. For example, when you are comfortable and familiar with exercises 1 and 2, an expanded exercise is to do exercises 1 and 2 together as a single exercise.


7

The Shaman’s Heart Program Creating and Opening Sacred Space

Serious shamanic work is always practiced in an atmosphere and environment that is sacred and safe. Ideally this would be a special room or area in your living space that is designed for spiritual practice such as meditation, prayer, quiet reflection and other types of inner exploration. However, any space will suffice as long as you can insure that you will be free of interruptions and distractions from the outside world for an hour or two for each session of The Shaman’s Heart Program. By creating and opening sacred space, you are intentionally stepping out of your normal, ordinary activities into the world of the sacred. The Shaman’s Heart Program invites you into the sacred domain of the heart, the spirit, and the soul. You are encouraged to create a physical space that supports shamanic work as well as working with Hemi-Sync®. For The Shaman’s Heart Program exercises, this requires a place to lie down comfortably, or a chair that reclines. You will need a CD player with a decent set of headphones (a portable “discman” type of player is fine) or you can position yourself between conventional stereo speakers (use headphones for optimal results). Most people like to place some spiritual, sacred or ritual items/objects in the space such as photos, shaman drums, rattles, feathers, rocks, stones or crystals, candles, plants, special books, alter cloths or shawls, etc. Anything that feels personal and supportive is appropriate. It is very important to always enter into the space with an attitude of respect, reverence, openness, and humility. Cleanse and clear the space with sage, incense or by other means that you may be familiar with. When you feel ready to begin an exercise, read aloud The Shaman’s Heart Program Invocation/Opening Prayer or listen to the recorded Invocation on the first track of CDs 1, 2 & 3. At the completion of each exercise session, it is important to close sacred space before leaving. This can be something as simple as bowing with an expression of gratitude for the discoveries, insights or gifts you’ve received in your exercise session, and acknowledgment for your courage, openness and sincerity to engage yourself in this way. When I close sacred space, I also offer gratitude to my non-physical helpers, guides and allies, the spirits of the directions and other archetypal support that I have invoked or experienced in a session or ceremony. I then burn some incense or sage, blowing some of the smoke in the cardinal directions and to the sky and the earth with the intention of clearing away any toxic residue or negative energies that may be lingering in the space.


8

The Shaman’s Heart Program Intention & Preparation

It is not possible to over-emphasize the importance of intention when working in the domains of the heart, the spirit and the soul. Each exercise in The Shaman’s Heart Program is oriented around a clear, precise intention, and a crucial component of your preparation includes spending some time reflecting on the intention of the exercise(s). For example, the primary intention of Exercise-1 is to strengthen your connection with your heart and its rhythm. After you have created and opened sacred space, you should sit or lie quietly in a contemplative or prayerful state, considering and reflecting on your will, desire, openness and commitment to fully engage the exercise as instructed. Please do not skip this process. You will be greatly rewarded for any extra time you spend with this aspect of your work. It will also help prepare you for advanced exercises that involve developing your own intention for specific goals and objectives of The Shaman’s Heart Program. Preparation Please use this basic preparation for all of the Shaman’s Heart Program exercises. Begin each exercise by creating and opening sacred space as described in the booklet and online materials, or you can play the Invocation if you prefer – call in the 4 directions and other spirit helpers, or ask for guidance and assistance from the spirit world that feels appropriate for you. Then take a few moments to reflect on the intention of the exercise. Each exercise will begin with this heart-oriented relaxation. First, with your eyes closed –connect with your breathing, and take a few deep breaths, expanding your lungs fully. Notice that this is also expanding the heart space. Breathe into your solar plexus and your entire belly, making sure to also stay connected to your heart. After consciously breathing this way for a few moments, return to the normal rhythm and pattern of your breath – your breathing. And now, slowly scan your entire body to see if there are any areas of tension or discomfort – starting with your feet and moving up to your head. If you notice any discomfort, gently use your breath – breathing into the area to help relax and soften any tension or discomfort – making sure to retain an awareness of your heart center and the heart while you do this. The goal here is to relax your heart, your breath and your body.


9

The Shaman’s Heart Program Four Directions Invocation/Prayer

Spirit of the East – Place of the Rising Sun – Spirit of new beginnings Grandfather Fire – Life-energy, vital spark – The Power to see far and to imagine with boldness – Power to purify our senses, our hearts and our minds – We offer thanksgiving for your solar graces – for faithfully and tenaciously giving forth the light of day, new energy, and abundance to support us along our way. Thank you for all that you give. Ho! Spirit of the South – Place of the Greening Spirit – Protector of the fruitful land and of all green and growing things – Grandmother Earth, Soul of Nature – You who nurtures and endures – We offer thanksgiving for your flowing powers of life – for always acting on our behalf, filling us with life-force, helping us to maintain our vital link to life. Thank you for helping us to grow. Ho! Spirit of the West – Place of Water, Lightning and Thunder – Of rain, rivers, lakes and springs Grandmother Ocean – womb of all life – the power to dissolve boundaries – To let go and release attachments –To cleanse and to heal, to shed the past so we can remember the truth – Teach us the ways to step beyond death – to walk with dignity and integrity – We offer thanksgiving for your power to remind us, for always carrying us into the tides of true memory, making us look into the mirror of our soul at what is most true. Thank you for helping us to remember. Ho! Spirit of the North – Place of the Quiet Earth Sleeping and the invisible Spirit of the Air and Winds – Grandfather Sky – Living breath – Yours is the power of strength and clarity– The power to hear the inner sounds – We offer thanksgiving for your slower rhythms – for the deep rest of winter's grasp, and the power you have to stretch us beyond what we thought possible. Thank you for testing us – tempering us – and healing us. Ho! And we now call upon the spirits of all our helpers, guides, allies and teachers – The spirits of the animals – the spirits of the plants – and the spirits of the ancestors, the elders, the wise ones – We call you with an attitude of respect and reciprocity, and we affirm our intention to maintain our relationship in a balanced way, conscious of our interdependence, always and ever balancing the giving and receiving, the receiving and giving – We stand in awareness of the luminous grid of energy that binds us all together – May we journey deep and strong – for ourselves – and for all sentient beings – Ho!


10

The Shaman’s Heart Program Introduction to the Chakra System and the Luminous Energy Field

A fundamental component in the development of authentic power, purpose and presence involves working with the entire bio-energetic field of the human experience. Accordingly, some of the exercises in The Shaman’s Heart Program focus on activating, balancing and energizing the chakra system and the luminous energy field that surrounds the body. Virtually all ancient and modern spiritual systems and healing traditions include very specific theories and practices for working with the chakra system and the luminous energy field. If you are not familiar with functions of the chakra system or the luminous energy field, some basic information is included here, and you are encouraged to review the more detailed information contained in the additional online materials. The chakra system refers to the basic, primary energy centers in the body. The word charka is a Sanskrit term that means “wheel” or “circle”. The charkas are in the form of swirling discs of radiating energy that rotate clockwise, beginning at the nerve centers at the base of the spine, continuing up to the crown of the head. They are shaped like funnels or cones connected to the spine and central nervous system, and extend 3 to 4 inches out from the body (both the front and back) as spinning vortices (see Figures 1 & 2). The chakra system serves as the central processing center of our being – digesting and metabolizing life energies from our daily lives and the world around us. Each chakra has a specific location, a pure frequency, and is associated to a classic element, a specific color, certain aspects and attributes of psychological and physical functioning, and levels of consciousness. The most familiar model of the chakra system consists of seven charkas, although some traditions and spiritual systems describe as many as eight or nine. This series of The Shaman’s Heart Program utilizes the more common seven chakra model. The Luminous Energy Field (LEF) has also been referred to as the human aura, the light body, the human energy field, and other similar terms. It is a complex multi-layered system of energy patterns which define the unique physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual characteristics of an individual. The LEF is egg-shaped and extends out from the body about the length of our arms extended straight out. The radiating motion of the LEF cycles up through the body, interacting with the charkas, and out through the crown – continuing around the outer body and down into the earth a few inches before returning back up into the feet (see Figure 3). Robert Monroe referred to the human energy field as the “second body” and developed specific methods to assist in balancing, harmonizing and strengthening a person’s energy field. Some shamanic traditions believe that the LEF serves as a bio-energetic database of all the imprints related to the traumas and wounds from our personal and ancestral history, as well as karmic material from past incarnations. Most importantly, the LEF contains the templates for disease and health, how we live our lives, how we heal, and how we age and die. The Shaman’s Heart Program follows this shamanic understanding of the LEF. The chakra system and LEF interact with the energy meridians – internal energy pathways that have a central role in the theory and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as well as most systems of contemporary Energy Medicine. Exercises in The Shaman’s Heart Program that focus on the chakra system and the LEF will help you gain better awareness of the unique patterns, problems and potentials within your bio-energetic field.


11

The Shaman’s Heart Program Overview of the Chakra System

First: Element: Earth, Color: Red – Physical identity, primary, instinctual, self-preservation. Located at the base of the spine between the genitals and the anus, the first chakra forms our foundation and is the gateway to the feminine. Also referred to as the “root” chakra, it is related to our sense of grounding, connection to our physical body and our survival instincts. Seed potentials of the first chakra are security, prosperity, health, dynamic presence and basic trust. Second: Element: Water, Color: Orange – Emotional identity, sexuality, self-gratification. The second chakra is located below the navel, in the abdomen, lower back, and sexual organs. The second chakra is related to our emotional life, sexuality and reproductive capacity, and connects us to the world and others through sensation, feeling, desire, and movement. Seed potentials of the second chakra are sexual fulfillment, creativity, family, depth of feeling, fluidity and grace. Third: Element: Fire, Color: Yellow – Ego identity, sense of self, energy. The third chakra is located in the solar plexus and is the “seat of the ego” – the power chakra. It governs our personal power, will, courage, autonomy, and our metabolism. Seed potentials of the third chakra are effectiveness in the world, selfless service, spontaneity, fulfillment of dreams, and non-dominating power. Fourth: Element: Air, Color: Green – Social identity, love, self-acceptance. Located in the center of the chest, the fourth chakra is called the “heart chakra” and it is the axis of the chakra system. It is related to the essential qualities of love and serves as the cosmological center of the human experience – the integrator of the mind and body, male and female, persona and shadow, ego and unity. Seed potentials of the fourth chakra are compassion, unconditional love, true forgiveness and authentic intimacy. Fifth: Element: Sound & Light, Color: Blue – Creative identity, communication, self-expression. Located in the throat, the fifth chakra is related to communication, creativity and psychic expression. We experience the world through vibration, sound and language thus the fifth chakra is directly connected to our “voice.” Seed potentials are will, creativity, personal power and clear expression. Sixth: Element: Pure Light, Color: Indigo – Archetypal identity, truth, self-reflection. Known as the “third eye”, the sixth chakra relates to “right seeing” – spiritual awareness, logic and intelligence. It is connected to our psychic faculties and spiritual vision – our understanding of archetypal dimensions. Seed potentials of the sixth chakra are self-realization, intuition, telepathy and enlightenment. Seventh: Element: Thought, pure energy, Color: Violet – Universal identity and ethics, integrity. The “crown chakra” located at the top of the head relates to universal oneness and cosmic unity. It is our personal connection to the essence of Being and the boundless dimensions of pure awareness. Seed potentials of the seventh chakra are wisdom, transcendence, illumination, understanding, spiritual connection, and liberation.


12

The Shaman’s Heart Program The Audio CDs

Discs 1, 2 and 3 contain six foundational verbal guidance exercises with special mixes of the music tracks from the award-winning CD The Shaman’s Heart with Hemi-Sync®. Disc 4 is a new and unique version of the entire CD The Shaman’s Heart with Hemi-Sync® that you will use with the expanded and extended journey exercises in The Shaman’s Heart Program. Each music track fades in and fades out so that you won’t be distracted by abrupt starts and stops when listening to the various sequences that you will be asked to program into your player. The majority of the expanded/extended exercises will flow much better by using this special version of the CD. Note: For long, uninterrupted journeys (without fade-in/outs), use the original Shaman’s Heart with Hemi-Sync® CD. Each of the first three CDs has three tracks. The first track on each of these CDs is Dr. Metcalf’s Invocation/Opening Prayer. The Invocation can be very useful for centering and empowering the intention(s) you bring to each exercise. If your CD player has track programming capabilities, just select track 1 and then either track 2 or track 3 to make the Invocation a part of your listening exercise. Exercises 1 thru 6 all have a built in relaxation/preparation time with no verbal guidance after the initial introduction. Use this time to further relax your body, focus your intention(s), and allow the Hemi-Sync® signals to expand your state of awareness. Verbal guidance for each exercise will resume after this initial period. CD 1 Track 1–Invocation Track 2–Exercise 1: Strengthen your connection with your heart and its rhythms Track 3–Exercise 2: Connect and balance the chakra system and align the energy centers with your heart CD 2 Track 1–Invocation Track 2–Exercise 3: Activate, connect and align your heart with your physical body and the luminous energy field Track 3–Exercise 4: Heart focused shamanic journey to practice the skills and capacities you have acquired through using the previous three exercises CD 3 Track 1–Invocation Track 2–Exercise 5: Invite and work with animal spirits and other non-physical helpers, guides and allies Track 3–Exercise 6: Heart-Breathing/Ecstatic Opening – further expand, strengthen and energize your heart center CD 4 The Shaman’s Heart with Hemi-Sync®. As mentioned previously, this is a special version of The Shaman’s Heart with Hemi-Sync® CD that has fades during the beginning and ending of each track. Use this CD for the expanded and advanced exercises as directed in the online materials. CD 4 does not include verbal guidance.


13

The Shaman’s Heart Program – Exercise 1 (CD-1 Track 2)

Exercise 1 is both a training and an ongoing practice to strengthen your connection with your heart and its rhythm. A useful analogy is that of strength training with weights or other exercise equipment. For optimal conditioning, one must commit to a regular training routine or schedule. The focus of this exercise is to synchronize and align your heartbeat to the heartbeat rhythm in the music. The heartbeat rhythm tempo in the music track is 55 beats per minute. This is an easy – calm – relaxed, and yet strong and very present resting rhythm of the life force. Typically we are only aware of our heartbeat when we feel anxious, or after physical exertion. Few people are really tuned into their heartbeat – the actual beat of their heart – unless they feel challenged or threatened in some way. Bring your focus and attention to your heart center and the heart itself – sense into the experience of your heartbeat – become familiar with it. Reflect again for a few moments on the intention of the exercise – which is to strengthen your connection to your heart. Regular practice will develop and strengthen the capacity to make room for and hold other experiences in your heart and the heart space. During this exercise, try to focus primarily on your breath and your heartbeat, and the heartbeat in the audio track. You will hear other rhythms in the music created by the rattles and drums, but for now, try to keep your attention as fully on the heartbeat rhythm as possible – almost “tuning out” the rest of what is happening. As you begin to feel like you are “locked in” to the heartbeat rhythm, begin tuning into – sensing into – your own heartbeat. Continue sensing into your heart while you simultaneously focus on the music’s heartbeat rhythm. The idea is to relax and surrender into the synchronized heartbeat experience. It is important not to force this to happen or exert any effort in any way. Very gently feel and sense your own heartbeat – you may not feel it physically – you may just sense it. Eventually, you will notice that your heartbeat is synchronized and locked into the audio heartbeat rhythm. As this becomes more apparent and familiar, expand your awareness to include your body and all of your other senses. If you become distracted, gently bring your attention back to the audio heartbeat rhythm – then begin to re-align your heartbeat with the music’s heartbeat. Do this as often as necessary – remembering to breathe. Most people will find it difficult to not be distracted by all the sounds and sonic atmospheres in the music. However, Exercise 1 is not about journeying into other realms, worlds or realities – which you will do in subsequent exercises. Exercise 1 is a disciplined practice that will develop your capacity to stay connected to your heart. (Music begins) With your eyes closed, gently relax and allow yourself to surrender into the audio heartbeat and the music. Again, just focus on your heartbeat – your breath – and the audio heartbeat – staying present with whatever unfolds in this heart-centered journey. (After music fadeout) As the music fades out, remain relaxed and continue focusing on your heartbeat, your breath and your overall experience in the present moment. When you are ready, take some time to reflect on the exercise and then document your experience in your journal. For optimal benefits, I recommend that you do this exercise at lease 2-3 times per week for a minimum of 4-6 weeks. All subsequent exercises in The Shaman’s Heart Program build upon this core, foundational practice.


14

The Shaman’s Heart Program – Exercise 2 Levels of Consciousness – Chakra Connecting-Balancing

(CD-1 Track 3)

The intention of Exercise 2 is to connect and balance the charka system – to connect your charkas and align the energy centers with your heart. The heart center – and the 4th chakra – serve as the bridge to the other charkas or levels of consciousness (see Figures 1 & 2). As directed in Exercise 1, start with the preparation, opening sacred space, and reflect on the intention of this exercise. In Exercise 2, there are two parts. In the first part my voice will guide you through the exercise while the music track is playing. In the second part, the music track will play again without verbal guidance so that you may practice the exercise in a deeper more focused manner at your own pace. (Note: Some people find that they initially move through the second part of Exercise 2 fairly quickly “finishing early”, resulting in an extended period of the music after they complete part two. If you do “finish early”, you might wish to repeat the exercise, being mindful to slow down and take your time, and breathe more consciously with the rhythm of the rattles and drums while moving through the charka balancing/connecting process. Experimenting with finding your own pace and rhythm will serve to further strengthen your chakra system’s connection to your heart center.) Connect with your breath and bring your attention to your heart center and the heart chakra. – Place your left hand over your heart center and then place your right hand gently over the left. Allow yourself to relax into the basic rhythm of the music – the drums and rattles. – With each drumbeat, allow your awareness and attention to “deepen” into your heart chakra. Feel your heart center resonate with each drumbeat. Take a slow, easy breath and exhale between the drumbeats. As you tune into it closely, you will sense that your heart center’s resonance will begin to expand outward with each drumbeat – similar to ripples in a pond extending outward (See Figure 4). Now with this connection to your heart center, move your right hand to the first chakra while keeping the left hand on your heart center. Imagine a band of energy connecting the 4th and 1st charkas. Allow the drumbeat, rattles and other sounds to deepen this connection. You will sense or feel a kind of vibrating, radiating resonance when this connection is in place. If you have difficulty with this, allow the drums to do more of the work. Let each drumbeat help to increase the radiating energy and resonance until there is a clear sense of connection. Continuing to keep your left hand on your heart center, move your right hand up to your 2nd chakra and repeat this connecting process. You will sense or feel a kind of vibrating, radiating resonance when this connection is fully in place. Feel each drumbeat increasing the radiating energy and resonance until there is a clear sense of connection. The drumbeat resonance should also extend to include the 1st chakra but your primary attention is on your heart and 2nd chakra. Now continuing with your left hand on your heart center, move your right hand up to your 3rd chakra. Feel the vibrating, radiating resonance of the connection between your heart center and your 3rd chakra. As before, sense into how each drumbeat – with the music and sounds – increases the radiating energy and resonance to help the connection be strong and clear. The drumbeat resonance should also extend to include the 1st and 2nd charkas but with your primary attention on your heart and 3rd chakra.


15

Move your right hand up to your 5th chakra – keeping your left hand on your heart center. Feel the resonance of the connection between your heart center and 5th chakra. Sense into how each drumbeat and music increases the radiating energy and resonance to help the connection be strong and clear. The drumbeat resonance should now extend to include the 1st, 2nd and 3rd charkas but your primary attention is on your heart center and 5th chakra. Now move your right hand up to the 6th chakra – keeping your left hand on your heart center. Feel the resonance of the connection between your heart center and the 6th chakra. Sense into how the drumbeat and the music helps the connection to be strong and clear. The drumbeat resonance should now extend to include the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th charkas but your primary attention is on your heart center and 6th chakra. Now move your right hand up to the 7th chakra – the crown – keeping your left hand on your heart center. Feel the resonance of the connection between your heart center and the 7th chakra. Sense into how each drumbeat and the music increases the radiating energy to help the connection be strong and clear. The drumbeat resonance should now extend to include the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th,and 6th charkas but your primary attention is on the heart center and 7th chakra. Now with all of the chakras connected to your heart center and to each other, you’ll begin the balancing phase of the exercise. Place your arms and hands straight out to sides or you may have both hands crossed over your heart center if you wish – right hand over the left. Starting with your focus on your heart center, imagine the radiating resonance of each drum beat extending from your heart center down to your 1st chakra and simultaneously – up to your 7th chakra (see Figure 4). You can enhance this process by taking a deep breath with every drumbeat – the deep inhalation will support and energize the resonance and balancing. The deep breath will help you to fully experience how you are working in partnership with the drum and your heart center to balance your entire chakra system. After the music fades out, stay still for a few moments – just be present with your experience – notice your breath and your body and whatever else you are aware of. Sense into the experience of a connected and balanced chakra system. What is it like to be fully connected to yourself in this way? When you are ready take some time to reflect on the exercise and then document your experience in your journal.


16


The intention of Exercise 3 is to activate, connect and align your Heart with your physical body and the luminous energy field (see Figure 3). Exercise 3 builds upon the chakra connecting and balancing process of Exercise 2 by connecting your body to your heart center, the charkas and the luminous energy field (LEF). Start with the preparation, and reflect on the intention of this exercise. Exercise 3 also has two parts. In Part one my voice will guide you through the exercise while the music track is playing. Then, in Part two, the music track will play again without verbal guidance so that you may practice the exercise in a deeper more focused manner at your own pace. (Note: Some people find that they initially move through the second part of Exercise 3 fairly quickly “finishing “early”, resulting in an extended period of the music after they complete part two. If you do “finish early”, you might wish to repeat the exercise, being mindful to slow down and take your time, and breathe more consciously with the rhythm of the rattles and drums while moving through the process of connecting your heart with your physical body and the luminous energy field. Experimenting with finding your own pace and rhythm will serve to further strengthen your body’s connection to your heart center, and will further energize the luminous energy field). As the heartbeat rhythm fades in, connect with your breath and use the heartbeat rhythm to synchronize with your heartbeat as you did in Exercise 1. Try and sense into the “physicality” of the rhythm and your body. As the drumbeat begins, bring your awareness to your feet - it may be helpful to move your feet in time to the rhythm. Imagine that your feet and ankles are being connected to your heart center – allow the drums and rattles to assist with making this connection. Sensing and feeling this heart and feet connection, now bring your attention up to your calves and thighs. As with your feet, feel your heart connecting to your calves and thighs (including your feet). You may wish to move your legs as if you are walking in time to the music, allowing your legs to embody the heart connection. Allow each drumbeat and each breath to deepen and strengthen the connection. Move your attention up to include your pelvic region – breathing a little more deeply now, connect your pelvic area – your hips, buttocks and sexual center - to your heart. Make sure to include the connection to your legs and feet but the primary attention is on your pelvic area. Now move your attention up to include the entire area of your belly – the belly center – again breathing a little bit more deeply. Let your body move to the music and rhythm in a way that feels natural but make sure to always keep your awareness on your heart center and the areas of your body you are connecting to. Move your awareness to your chest – not just your heart center, but your entire rib cage – front and back. Take a few deep breaths and expand your lungs as fully as possible, really feeling each breath and each drum beat deepening and strengthening this embodied experience. Experiment with timing your breathing to the drumbeats: inhale on a drumbeat and exhale on the next. The drumbeat rhythm of the music track is perfectly timed for taking easy but full deep


17

breaths without hyperventilating. Make sure to also include the connection with your belly center and your lower body. Now engage your arms and hands, allowing your entire body to flow and move. You may experience a sensual quality to this. Now move up to your throat – feeling the breath move in and out and sense the connection to your chest, lungs, heart, belly center and your lower body. Allow the synthesizer drones in the music to support the circulating movement of the luminous energy field surrounding your body. If you really tune into this, you will feel and sense the energy circulating both within and around your entire body (the luminous field) – take a few more breaths and allow yourself to completely surrender to the experience – let the music fully support your experience. Continue to include your entire head – your eyes, ears, eardrums, back of the head, and your scalp – even sense into your hair follicles – a very exquisite kind of attention. After you’ve completely connected your heart and body, you may want to experiment with standing up. Allow your body to move and sway in place, walk in place, shifting your weight back and forth from one foot to the other. Make sure to include your entire body in your awareness – head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, torso, especially your belly, your hips & sacrum, legs and feet. Although you can do this in time to the music, the idea is to let the music and the experience itself direct whatever happens. Remember to breathe and continually feel the total connection of your heart and body. After the music fades out, stay still for a few moments – just be present with your experience – notice your breath and your body and whatever else you are aware of. What is it like to be fully connected to yourself in this way? If you sense that your heart is not connected to certain parts or areas of your body, simply notice this and make sure you record your experience in your journal. You will be able to do this exercise as often as you like so there will be ample opportunity to explore any issues or questions you may have about embodied connection.


18


Exercise 4 is an open-ended traditional shamanic journey with a heart focus. The intention of Exercise 4 is to practice using the skills and capacities that you’ve developed from Exercises 1, 2 and 3. Start with the preparation and reflect on the intention of this exercise. Compared to the previous exercises, the music for Exercise 4 involves a dramatic increase in sonic intensity, tempo and duration. Approximately mid-way into the music track, the volume and character of the music shifts to a more “subterranean”, underworld environment that encourages the journeyer to explore with more nuance and sharper focus. The primary goal is to journey and explore with open, receptive attention and awareness - while staying connected to your heart center, your body and your energy. Do not set any other goals or objectives or look for anything specific to happen. As much as possible, let go of any agendas or expectations. Simply be open to whatever may arise or unfold in your experience in the moment. For some people, this exercise may be more challenging than the previous ones but it is an opportunity to practice the skills and capacities that you have been developing in your previous work. When the shamanic drumming starts, allow yourself to settle into it – make sure that you are breathing fully and easily – nothing forced. Connect with your heart center as you’ve done in the previous exercises and sense into your physical body and the luminous energy field surrounding your body. Once you feel connected to yourself in this way, just let the multiple drums, rattles, didgeridoo, soundworlds and sonic atmospheres take you wherever your inner guidance wishes. Remember – don’t attempt to control or direct your experience in any way. If you become distracted or feel challenged by what is happening in your journey experience, just bring your attention back to your heart center and sense into your body making sure to breathe into your solar plexus and your belly center. Simply stay present with whatever is happening and unfolding. Of course, if at anytime you feel as if the experience is “too much,” simply remove the headphones and take some slow, full, easy breaths into your heart and belly centers. Return to the journey when you feel ready or simply take a break for now. This is an exercise that you should do regularly, so it is not necessary that you finish the entire music track in your initial journey. If you are new to this type of work, it is important to become familiar with these journey methods and the various shamanic landscapes – and to build confidence in your navigating skills. Regardless of how you proceed, make sure to record your experience in your journal as soon as you feel complete. Now gently relax and allow yourself to surrender into the sounds and the music – remembering to stay present with your heart, your breath and your body.


19

The Shaman’s Heart Program – Exercise 5 Working with animal spirits and guides

(CD-3 Track 2)

The intention of Exercise 5 is to make contact with animal spirits and other non-physical helpers, guides and allies, while maintaining connection with your heart center. Start with the preparation, and reflect on the intention of this exercise. The primary goal of Exercise 5 is to invite animal spirit helpers, or other allies from the spirit world, to make their presence known to you. If you already work with power animals or other spirit allies, in this exercise you should not invite them directly, but simply open up to whatever wants to show itself to you. Of course, familiar personal allies may indeed present themselves, but it is important to remain completely open to any and all possibilities. As much as possible, enter into this exercise with a “beginner’s mind.” If you have prepared and created your space as directed - and you remain connected to your heart center, you can be confident that you are protected and completely safe. You can trust that only friendly and helping spirits will enter into your journey experience. As the music track begins, you will hear some nature sounds and the calls of ravens. The ravens are quite dominant at times in this music track. Cross-culturally, raven is a primary shamanic power animal – it is recognized for its ability to travel within the void or the Great Mystery. Raven is a shape-shifter, a messenger from the spirit world – it possesses the power of transformation, changes in consciousness, clairvoyance, prophecy, magic, protection – and opens the doorway to all knowledge. Raven is the ideal animal spirit for inviting other helping allies into your journey. Once you feel connected to raven’s energy, you may wish to ask Raven to help you in this journey by saying something like: “Raven, I ask that you assist me – to help me with my intention for this journey.” Stay very connected to your heart center as you do this. Allow yourself to surrender fully into the music and your journey, always staying connected to your heart center and your breath. The ocarinas (clay flutes) are used to help call in the helpers from the spirit world. You may have clear visions of animal spirits or simply sense their presence. Often they will approach from behind and you may sense them looking at you. If this happens, just imagine yourself turning and looking at them or ask them to approach you from the front. Other non-animal helping spirits may appear as well. It is important to just be open and receptive to whatever unfolds or happens. In this initial journey in Exercise 5, do not invite animal spirits or helpers to return with you to the ordinary world. Just acknowledge their presence with gratitude and respect, knowing that they are available to you if you wish to call on them – which you will do in subsequent exercises. Now allow yourself to relax into the sounds and open up to Raven’s call – and have a wonderful journey. As the music fades out, gently bring your full awareness to your heart center and your breath. Let your left hand rest on your heart center and gently cover the left hand with your right. Spend a few moments reflecting on your journey and when you are ready, document your experience in your journal.


20

Note: If you do not see or sense animal spirits or other helpers presenting themselves in the journey exercise, you may consider programming track 5 on CD # 4 for repeated playback and do the exercise again for a longer period. Also, take some extra time in preparing the space and reflecting on your journey intention. Don’t be overly concerned – sometimes your spirit helpers want to test your sincerity and commitment to this kind of work – but with practice, they will show up and provide whatever guidance and protection you may need.


21

The Shaman’s Heart Program – Exercise 6 Heart-Breathing/Ecstatic Opening

(CD-3 Track 3)

The intention of Exercise 6 is to expand, strengthen and energize your heart center. Start with the preparation, and reflect on the intention of this exercise. Exercise 6 is multi-faceted – the primary intention is to further expand, strengthen and energize your heart center – which makes room for a wider range of experiences, and helps develop your capacity to “hold the space” for yourself more effectively. As the heart expands and opens, one can enter into an ecstatic experience similar to the shaman’s trance state – often referred to as “ecstasy” or “ecstatic flight”. As the heartbeat rhythm begins, align your heartbeat and your breath as you did in Exercise 1. Once you feel connected and aligned to the heartbeat and drumming rhythms, focus your attention on deepening your breath. Take full deep breaths, eventually expanding your chest as fully as possible, making sure to completely exhale each breath. Breathing in time to the rhythm typically feels most natural – and it will also enhance the overall journey process. The drumming slowly builds in intensity throughout the music track – supporting you to deepen and expand your experience in a similar manner. If it feels right, allow your body to move freely. If you breathe deeply with the music’s tempo and rhythms, you will sense and feel a shift in consciousness as you enter into the journey state. Just stay focused on the breath and your heart center allowing your experience to unfold without any attempt to control or direct it. If you sense that you are becoming distracted or disoriented to the point of being uncomfortable or overly fearful, simply slow down the rate of your breathing. Try to find a pace and rhythm that feels “right” for you. The rate and depth of your breathing has a direct effect on the level of consciousness shift. If you are new to this type of journey-work, allow yourself to practice and experiment. Its normal to feel a bit anxious when preparing to journey in this way – and especially as consciousness begins to change. In this context, fear or anxiety is simply a reaction of the ego in the face of surrendering control of your experience. Just breathe into whatever arises and trust in the wisdom of your soul, your breath, your heart, your inner healer, and your helping allies. The final part of the exercise is to rest in your experience for a few minutes which will support a deepening and an integration of your journey. As the drumming rhythms fade out, continue to stay connected to your heart center and allow yourself to simply float and drift into the sonic atmospheres and evolving textures of the music. Take as much time as you need to reflect on your journey and then document your experience in your journal.


22

The Shaman’s Heart Program Expanded & Extended Exercises (Level-1)

Use CD-4 for the following exercises. Exercise 1 After becoming familiar with exercise 1 – completing it a few times with verbal guidance, you may wish to experiment with open eyes while doing the exercise. This will give you a kind of “practical application” or “real world” application of what you are experiencing with this practice. After all, the experience of the physical world – the ordinary world – is an “eyes open” experience. Exercise 2 After doing exercises 1 & 2 separately and with verbal guidance a few times, program your CD player to play tracks 1 & 2: do both exercises together. The pause between tracks 1 & 2 is very brief (not more than a breath). It is important to become comfortable with each exercise before doing them together. Exercise 3 After doing exercise 3 with verbal guidance for a few times, program your CD player to play tracks 1, 2 & 3, doing the three exercises together. Remember to become comfortable with each exercise before doing them together. Exercise 4 – Extended Journey Program your CD player to play tracks 1 through 4 for an extended-journey experience. For this initial extended-journey exercise, practice each exercise (1, 2 & 3) as you’ve previously been doing, and then allow track 4 to support an open-ended exploration of your immediate experience as it unfolds in the moment. Do not attempt to direct your experience in any way. Stay present with whatever is unfolding for you and remember to make contact with your heart and belly centers. Continue to breathe deeply and consciously. Exercise 5 – Extended Journey After you have practiced and become comfortable with exercise 5, program your CD player to play tracks 1 through 5 for an extended journey experience. Exercise 6 – Extended Journey After you have practiced exercise 6 and are comfortable with it, you may want to experiment with playing the entire CD for an extended journey experience. When you first attempt to do the six exercises together, focus on the specific intentions for each exercise. You should set aside at least two hours of uninterrupted time for this extended exercise. (Note: For an uninterrupted, continuous flow of music, use the original The Shaman’s Heart with Hemi-Sync CD for this extended exercise.)


23


Program Support

For technical questions related to using The Shaman’s Heart Program, contact Dr. Metcalf via email at support (at) holoshamanicstrategies.org or phone (928-776-4590). Dr. Metcalf’s workshops and training groups are offered in a variety of formats. He also works with individuals in person and long-distance (phone sessions). For students and clients who wish to take their program into deeper and more expanded levels of development, Dr. Metcalf is available for direct personal guidance and mentoring for The Shaman’s Heart Program (contact Dr. Metcalf for details on fees). Note: Although The Shaman’s Heart Program is completely safe, like any home-learning program that supports personal and spiritual development, it is possible to encounter difficult and/or challenging emotions while doing some of the exercises and practices. If this happens, some of the following practices may support you during your experience: * Focus on your breath and gently breathe into your belly center and your heart center. * Get up and slowly walk around, while breathing consciously. If possible, go outside in the open air (weather permitting). * Invoke any power animals or other non-physical helpers, guides, allies and teachers that you may work with to assist you. * Stand up straight and sense your feet, feeling the support of the ground beneath your feet and imagine this support moving up your legs and into your belly center and heart center. Feel the ground connected to your pelvic region, your belly center and your heart center. * Take some time to journal your experience. * Slowly and consciously drink some juice, water or tea. * Contact Dr. Metcalf to schedule a free 30-minute phone session (applies to initial sessions only).


24

About Byron Metcalf Byron Metcalf, Ph.D., is a transpersonal guide and educator, shamanic practitioner, researcher, teacher, and professional musician. Byron holds a Ph.D. in transpersonal psychology, a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and is a certified graduate of Grof Transpersonal Training and Eupsychia Institute’s Psycho-Spiritual Integration programs. Byron has studied and worked with shamans, healers, and psycho-spiritual teachers from many parts of the world including Stan Grof, Jack Kornfield, Hameed Ali, John Davis, Angeles Arrien, Jose and Lena Stevens, Sandra Ingerman, and Don Americo Yabar. For over 20 years, Byron has been involved in consciousness research and spiritual development, specializing in the transformative potential of alternative states of consciousness. As a drummer, percussionist and recording engineer, Byron produces music for deep inner exploration, breathwork, shamanic journeywork, body-oriented therapies, various meditation practices and the healing arts. “The Shaman’s Heart w/Hemi Sync” was awarded the 2006 Visionary Award for “Best Meditation/Healing CD.” Byron is the founding director of HoloShamanic Strategies, LLC, offering spiritual and shamanic healing services and experiential educational programs.

Byron Metcalf, Ph.D. 119 Garden St

Prescott, AZ 86303 928-776-4590

http://holoshamanicstrategies.org http://byronmetcalf.com

info (at) holoshamanicstrategies.org

Disclaimer The Shaman's Heart Program is not intended as a substitute for psychological or medical care. The FDA, AMA, or APA have not validated the potential benefits described above and Byron Metcalf, Ph.D. and HoloShamanic Strategies, LLC make no curative claims. Although the benefits derived from The Shaman's Heart Program reflect typical client/student reports, such results cannot be guaranteed. Byron Metcalf, Ph.D. practices as a transpersonal/shamanic educator and consultant and does not practice under any license such as medical doctor, psychologist or professional counselor. Transpersonal/shamanic education and consulting, and spiritual and shamanic healing practices are not regulated by any Arizona licensing board. Any spiritual guidance provided by HoloShamanic Strategies, LLC or Byron Metcalf, Ph.D. is not intended as the practice of clinical psychology, psychotherapy or behavioral health counseling.

shp program manual

Documents