When we think about conferences, we are often caught in the imagery of large groups of businesses or corporations or political parties, getting together to appear to deliberate and make decisions about some future direction and that these decisions will eventually filter out to the populous as a fait accompli; something that has happened or decided before anyone gets a chance to question or reverse it.

Better that a likeminded group of people or people linked by a common quest come together and explore the possibilities raised by that commonality; a conference is not just about coming together to listen to already set concepts or decisions but to participate in the creation of a different perspective to illuminate our path ahead.

It has long been a shamanic process of gathering together to hear the Elders speak and in that listening to enable the birth and manifestation of new Elders and new ways of moving forward held by the ancient wisdom that is collected and dispensed at such gatherings

For many spiritual traditions these conferences were not just with those that gathered, rather that a call, an invitation was sent out from a convergence of spiritual energy and there was a need to come and be present with this energy, to partake of and share it. In this communion gatherer left with new insight into who, how, why and where they were in the world about them. It was these who left nourished by this banquet of wisdom and spiritual awareness that returned from these gatherings to feed an even hungrier and eagerly waiting community.

So many times groups of the powerful and the controlling, gather together to affirm to themselves their way in the world. It is these gatherings, conference s that do not feed society, but rather keep it is a sense of just being hungry waiting for more; it is this that maintains the power of such groups.

The Shamanic Gathering was and is a family orientated affair; a family not just of blood, but of belief, concern, seeking, soulfully lost, spiritually hungry, sharing and support. The family tie was of these questions and answers in the community. And in these Gatherings it was not just the Elders, the Teachers, the Shaman that spoke; these were truly participatory and collaborative sharings. Everyone who came brought some part of themselves or their community or tradition to be part of the Gathering which was a great deal more like energising a great starburst firework, that would be sent high into the sky illuminating the world not just for those that gathered but for the community. In this way the Gathering was a Healing tool that healed through Inspiration, Consolation and Connection.

In Squamish, 4th – 8th November this year, the Society of Sacred Circle of the Great Mystery, hosted a Residential Shamanic Conference and Gathering in the spirit of community.
The conference was held at the Easter Seals Camp. The Camp is a residential summer camp for children 6 to 18 years of age. Through corporate and public donations and the time and effort of countless volunteers, the BC Lions Society is able to subsidise the camps, so all children get to attend free of charge. Through the summer season, around 900 campers have an opportunity to attend a one-week session at one of our three camps. Easter Seals Camps in British Columbia are located in three different areas: Camp Shawnigan, located on Vancouver Island; Camp Squamish, located outside of Vancouver; or Camp Winfield in the Okanagan Valley. It was an honour to support each others aims and goals through this conference

The SCGM is a Shamanic group amongst whose tasks are to foster, support and advance the spirit and practice of the Shamanic Way and our relationship to and with the Universal Creator, The Great Mystery, manifesting this revelation to all our relations, and to be a visible light for others of the Shamanic Way and to be a focus of the Universal Creator Spirit, The Great Mystery and to ripple that compassionate energy, unity and healing outwards to the sacred Earth, her children, to the Sacred Stars and the waiting Universe. Moreover it is a community concerned for their global family and in that concern care for each other and our communities.

The focus of the Conference was Fire & Ice, Ancestors & Descendants and in coming together we hoped to bring a healing answer to the prayers sent by our Mother the Earth and all Her children. With that objective, the Conference was as ecologically responsible as possible in its conception and manifestation.

This was a powerful five day Residential event, with workshops, teachings, and ceremonies by teachers from the US, Canada and the UK and guests from as many places. Amongst these teachers were Christina Pratt author of the Encyclopaedia of Shamanism and presenter of the radio show “Shamanism Now”, Dr. Alan Davis, president of the Society of Shamanic Practitioners, Marsha Scarbrough, author of Medicine Dance, Howard & Elsa Malpas Directors of the Isle of Avalon Foundation in England, renowned Shamanic teacher Betsy Bergstrom from Seattle, Nancy Sherwood & Brenda Marita from Nova Scotia, Kat Naslas from New York & Greece, Yvonne Owens PhD from Victoria and many other great teachers who brought their magic and vital wisdom to the Gathering.

This conference and gathering was open to all and anyone who had an interest in Shamanic or Earth centred Spirituality; who want to be part of a seekers community; who are curious about the shamanic path in their lives; who are those that have been left spiritually hungry, practitioners and healers.

The Society is underpinned by an ancient Shamanic Tradition often misquoted as being Celtic, whereas in truth it is of a Northern European history. The Wolven Way maintains a tradition which at its heart is the Family and Community. The Tradition believes that Shaman are not made, rather that they are sent by the Creator in answer to the prayers of the community into which they will be born. As a pre-conference event, the initiation and induction of seven new Shaman to this Tradition was undertaken in an ancient ceremony witnessed by all the community.

The opening Ceremony was blessed by Chief Alana Andrews, respected Elder of the Squamish Nation which was an honouring and respect of the Squamish People and the Land of their Nation.

Together a community gathered; together they sang, danced and prayed for the lands and peoples of this world. We learned and connected to our spiritual ancestors; we worked together in prayer and ceremony to lessen the shadows over the eastside on Vancouver; we learned to connect to our souls in order to serve our community through more awareness; we faced the conditions of fear that hold us back from our dreams; we listened to the soul of the Earth and all Her children and committed ourselves to be ready to work towards a better world. We hope that the gatherers have taken this healing and community spirit back into, not just their lives, but the lives of the communities around them.

The conference underpinned by the Tradition of Community & Family and the giving out and back into the world donated from each participants fees to a surgical clinic for the indigenous Maya in Guatemala as organised by Project Hands. Project HANDS is a group of people who want to do their part in rebalancing these scales. Our goal is to provide healthcare, education and other support to those who, by chance of birth, have less fortunate lives than our own.

They are a Canadian-based, non-profit organization and are currently working among the indigenous Maya in the rural regions of Guatemala. This is where their mission begins, but their aim is to spread their work worldwide and in doing so offer a hand to anyone who reaches for it.

Guatemala is a country which has minimal healthcare and where many have never seen a doctor, cannot afford to educate their children, and live in the most impoverished conditions.Through their projects they aim to create sustainable changes. They work with Guatemalans not for them. They work not to change them but to nurture their own change. Project HANDS believes this concept is key. ‘The steps maybe small at first but they add up, and when we see smiles appear where before there was emptiness, we know we have succeeded and then it is time to move on and offer our hand to somebody else.’

A donation also went to Northern Lights Wolf Sanctuary in for the upkeep of a pair of wolves. Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre promotes wolf and bear conservation throughout the natural environment. They value the role these carnivores play in nature. They strive to provide a one-of-a-kind, quality experience to the public as they support conservation through education.

The current information for the BC Residential Shamanic Conference is now on line and shortly a slide show of the event will be available from that site.
It can be viewed at www.circleofgreatmystery.com/bcconference.html

Inspired by the enthusiasm and community spirit, plans are already under way for the May 2010 Shamanic Retreat – “Standing in the Ancestral River” and the second Conference and Gathering “Birthing & Blossoming” to be held May 2011. Information of these will shortly be posted to the website.

For further information about these and other events please contact Dr. John-Luke Edwards This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it