My Creator, today grant me the wisdom to seek Your wisdom. Help me to Walk of the Red Road.

I'm currently reading Carlos Castaneda's book The Active Side of Infinity ISBN # 0-06-019220-8. I've only read the first hundred or so pages but it's enough for me to realize the path that we all are on is made possible by our awarenes of the existence of other dimensions and realities. One of the words in the book that I was not familair with was Nagual (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagual). So far, in my mind, I see a Nagual as a shapeshifter of esoteric proportions. Which in plain language means that this isn't for everyone. Some people's belief systems won't allow for the tranformative apporach to eternity to be applied to their own lives. So be it. Other people won't be able to see past religious dogma and doctrine that was part of their human conditioning. For them I truly feel sorry, they bought it- part and parcel and are the kind to go down with a sinking ship.

But the good news is that with them out of the way it leaves the field wide open for the rest of us. I am more familiar with the concept of Shaman in terms of transformative soul applications. I rather like the definitions of a classic and traditional/core Shaman that I've found online. I've found this article in several places but the site I'm citing and linking to this morning is ~ http://www.cauldronfarm.com/writing/shaman_compare.html

Here are the defintions of classic and traditional/core Shamanism in their original format ~

Core Shamanism	Classic Shamanism
Is theoretically open to anyone who is sincere. Some people who are more talented in energy- moving techniques may do better, but no one is technically banned from the practice.	Is open only to those who are clearly chosen by the spirits. Although one can offer one's self to the spirits, they may or may not accept.
Is generally entirely voluntary. The individual chooses the path, rather than being chosen for it by the spirits. Although the seeker may feel "drawn" to shamanic practices, they are not in danger of illness, insanity or death for refusing to follow a particular path. They may choose their own human teachers, and they may stop at any time; although their lives may be poorer for it, they will not usually be penalized by the spirits unless they have made specific bargains.	Is generally entirely involuntary. The individual is chosen by the spirits, often with no warning, and is not allowed to refuse the "gift", or they will suffer illness, and/or insanity, and/or death. They can never stop being a shaman so long as they live, or it will recur.
Is not generally accompanied by severe life-threatening experiences.	Is nearly always accompanied in the early stages by severe life-threatening experiences, including but not limited to chronic serious illness, psychotic break, and/or near-death experience.
May engender growth of personality and an empowering change of life path, but is not generally accompanied by a traumatic death-and-rebirth experience. No one specific image, vision, or symbolism predominates across the board in the early stages of shamanic work.	Is nearly always accompanied by a traumatic death-and-rebirth experience, after which the personality is radically changed. A visionary experience of being dismembered and rebuilt differently by the spirits is evident cross-culturally in the accounts of many tribal shamans, and is almost a hallmark of the experience.
Causes slow and gradual change to part of the aura and astral body due to working with the various shamanic techniques. The process is usually largely under the control of the seeker.	Causes radical, unusual, and permanent changes to the aura and astral body. This process is inflicted onto the shaman by the spirits, and is entirely out of their control.
Shamanic practice can occupy however large a space in the individual's life as they wish. It can be a part-time hobby or a full-time occupation, as they decide.	Shamanic practice occupies the main focus, time, and energy of the individual's life for the rest of their existence. All mundane careers, projects, loyalties, and relationships are secondary to the shaman's career of spiritual service.
Primarily taught by human teachers, although in the more advanced stages the seeker may work with divine and/or spirit teachers.	Primarily taught by divine and/or spirit teachers, although in the beginning stages the novice is usually taught the cultural context and symbolism by another shaman.
Often taught in groups, or in books.	Never taught in groups; always one-on-one as an oral tradition.
Taboos are rare, and taken on only as a deal with a particular spirit. Violation of those taboos generally only result in loss of power, although bargains with powerful spirits may result in traumatic incidents.	Lives are bounded with dozens of increasing taboos, violation of which generally brings immediate illness, pain, or other physical and spiritual retribution.
Can work shamanic practices alone, or see clients unattached to any demographic group.	Cannot work entirely alone; must be attached to a tribe. If no tribe is in evidence at the time of their shamanic rebirth, one will be provided for them by the spirits. Ability to see clients outside their demographic group varies, usually depending on their tradition and their particular patron spirits.
Can be seen as a path of service, or as a lucrative career.	Is almost always seen primarily as a path of service to a particular tribe.
Mental illness as rare or prevalent as it is in the ordinary population demographic, and unrelated to shamanic practice.	Mental breakdown or temporary psychosis common to the early "death-and-rebirth" stage, after which shamans have been tested and found to be comparatively extremely sane and stable. Mental illness never returns as long as they continue to do their jobs.
Can draw from any cultural contexts, or create their own.	Generally requires one specific central cultural context, although they may borrow from neighboring (and thus not radically different) cultures. The symbolic context seems to be a useful "anchoring-point" for the training of beginning classic shamans, and aids in bonding them with the tribe that they are to serve.
Often seeks to have a relationship with the gods and/or spirits that is "equal", or even "mastery over the spirits" in order to gain access to their powers.	Relationship with gods and/or spirits ranges from propitiating/coaxing to being their outright slave, for which the shaman gains access to their powers.

Classic Shamans are similar to Naguals in terms of being called and chosen by the universe. In Carlos Castaneda's book a Nagual possesses a dissimilar energy filed to those of other shapeshifters -or sorcerers if you will. I believe that a classic Shaman also possesses different abiltities and therefore energy than other,say, Mystics and Illuminati. Afterall, anyone can say they're a Shaman (or anything else for that matter) but to truly be called, and to accept, is another matter entirely.

Anyone called to serve the universe is bonded physically with the tribe from which they come. Therefore if you're Irish in descent you would have more of a proclivity to the Celtic Druid tradition. You wouldn't be called to serve the universe as a Native American Shaman. Although sadly there are those who try to serve outside their realm. Of course some are adopted. As a person who was adopted herself I understand this phenomenon completely but it deons't mean I believe that everyone giving readings etc. knows what they're talking about. Those who are true to their beliefs do not advertise anything for $19.99 and a free reading. The universe freely gives of itself and is open to anyone and for anyone to truly see. So to it should be with the "enlightened". But that doesn't mean that what I write isn't copyrighted, wink.

Enough for today, it's 28 degrees here in Buffalo and I need to get in to UB. We have cloud cover but I think I would prefer some sun, after all the freezing rain we've had here this past week I miss the sun. We've had some sun but not nearly enough to suit me, I worship the sun, but that's a topic for another day....