oakenleaf.co.uk

Welcome to the website of Oakenleaf, a shamanic healing practice with Brian Anderson based outside the city of Perth in Scotland. People have come from all across the UK and beyond to expereince personal healing sessions, workshops, and sacred activism events.

Shamanism is a method of healing that is able to address the core of challenges we may be facing – be they emotional, mental, spiritual or physical. The healing focuses on the root of the problem, opens up to solutions to resolve this, and enable a new way forward.

Over the years people have come for many reasons, and I have worked effectively on a number of issues including:

• resolving trauma
• emotional challenges
• dealing with grief and loss as well as supporting those facing death
• dealing with a long-term illness or stress
• problems with depression, anxiety, fear, issues with self-esteem and un-supportive beliefs
• support when feeling stuck in life or going through a time of transition
• working on creative projects to manifest ideas
• as part of a personal development programme.

I came to shamanism in much the same way that you are now. This was in 2004 as part of my own healing and in truth, my life has never been the same since. It continues to lead me deeper into my essence, bringing resources to express this, which has led to greater health, wellbeing, fulfillment and a more natural way of life.

I trained here in the UK with the Sacred Trust and Foundation for Shamanic Studies, also with Sandra Ingermann and at Anam Cara with Twobirds Cunningham. I also have learnt with a number of indigenous Teachers that grew up with these ways from the Americas and my heart’s home in Ireland.

I am currently learning and researching the traditional healing ways from my celtic ancestors and listening for the healing stories and spirituality of the land here in Scotland.

I do believe our world can be a better place, this belief comes from hard-won experience and from this, I am able to uphold a vision of a culture that supports all life. The key to this I believe lies within each of us taking the responsibility to come to our own unique essence or nature, and then expressing our uniqueness in the world as we come to see ourselves as nature.

Shamanism offers a way back to this possibility along with establishing a life-supporting connection as we enter the healing process to let go of all we are not and bring through all that we are.I do not underestimate the courage and support this quest requires and have a sincere respect for those that step forward.

Sessions can be in person or at a distance to book or find out more as well as to see if shamanism and the way I work are what you are looking for, please do contact me details on the contact page.

When we meet, the most important thing for me is to welcome you to the session and explain the work to come. I will listen deeply to your words, which in itself can be healing, as well as the energy that feed the words you share. I will also will answer and invite you to bring any questions you may have.

The core of my work, in your healing, is to listen to the helping spirits, who have a greater view across our life. It is they that bring healing and guidance for us, enabling us to move towards a greater potential my role is to facilitate this.

To talk about shamanism without talking of spirit would be like an electrician denying the existence of electricity. The spirits do not see us in our perceived failings, but in our authentic and powerful nature, and guide and invite us towards this.

When I talk about shamanism with people, I often find there is a sense of familiarity that comes through, as if the act of speaking about it unlocks a memory within our psyche – this maybe because it has been such a part our history. It is likely that your own ancestors would have experienced these ways at some time, this is a time tested and ancient practice.

The word “shaman” comes from the Tungus language of Siberia; however, it has been practised in a local form, across all cultures, throughout the world, including here in Europe. It translates roughly as “the one who sees”, “the one who knows”, or “the one that can see in the dark”.

What it is that they see, and know well it is the spirit world. Shamans develop trusting relationship with helping compassionate spirits as partners in their healing work and learn how to navigate in these realms safely and effectively.

So, what are these spirits? My understanding is evolving with my experiences; Today I feel that what we are connecting with, and call “spirit”, is the wisdom and intelligence that creates, sustains and supports life.

Using shamanic methods this wisdom can be communicated with as we access the healing and guidance available to find solutions to the challenges we face, and questions that we bring. one of the most amazing benefits for me in practising shamanism is to feel how supported we actually are and using questions as a key the wisdom available.

The spirits present themselves in ways we can relate to, for example as “power animals”. As we develop a working relationship with this spirit, we ask for what we need; as we bring this guidance out into our everyday lives and see results, we develop trust in the method and our relationship with spirit.

I am, though, aware that trying to define something such as this is really difficult, and there also is a great mystery to spirit that can only come to be understood through our personal direct encounter.

I can say from experience that if you engage with shamanic methods and work in partnership with your spirits, your life will change in ways you may not of imagined and new opportunities will emerge.

From a shamanic perspective, the word “power” means that we are with spirit. To be “disempowered” from a shamanic perspective would to be with our perceived limitations and fear.

This power, though, is not over others, but self-mastery as we come to know ourselves in a deeper way. Our healing is not in isolation, but ripples out into our communities. This is not only people, but the land we walk upon and all life upon it.

One thing I know, through hard-won personal experience, is that it is possible to transform our lives. This happens when our willingness and openness to change meets supportive conditions, and when this happens so much more is possible.

My role as a practitioner is to create those conditions for you, and your responsibility after the session is to step back into your life in a different way – all that you need to do this will come through in the session, and will support and guide you.

I have worked within a health and social care setting for over 30 years, including as a counsellor within the NHS as well as a number of local charities, also as a restoritive justice worker with our young people and in education settings. I have worked with individuals and groups with shamanism since 2008.

Within this I have been both a professional and client and my own life has been a great teacher and inspiration to me and has shown me that unimaginable changes are possible with a dedication to ourselves and a trust in a effective healing path.

I have tried many healing paths and philosophies personally and it is with shamanism that I found a deep connection  and with the resulting personal life changes, I have dedicated myself to use shamanic methods to offer healing and hope for others, as it resonated with me on a deep level and I grew to trust in these ways also I have come to see the potential possibilities for these times.

My professional background in counseling enable me to hold the sessions in a atmosphere of listening and respect of you and your personal situation and although I no longer practice as a counsellor, I will uphold the ethics of counseling.

I have my own daily spiritual life which include prayer, meditation, yoga and working with shamanic practices and time with nature. I also exercise regulaly and am a music maker playing guitar, recorder and  I am currently learning piano.

I always have loved being in nature and as a child I only wanted to be outside observing the animals and birds. I care about our home the earth and see we need to continue to change our relationship to all life in a more respectful compassionate and honouring way starting with ourselves.

Shamanism offers this through our own personal healing. I believe from experience that a greater potential can be brought through for us all and one that is life affirming and true for ourselves and needed in the world.

I know pain, suffering and seeing the world through trauma; I also know the personal strength that come through working to heal and resolve this and the new possibilites that emerge as the healing process evolves, of heaalth creativity, of joy, understanding, and seeing the beauty within ourselves and our world.

Healing is a process and in trusting in that process step by step I have come to a life that I could not even of considered 20 years ago and its not over yet! I really believe this is possible for all.

 

 

Sessions are held in a dedicated space, created and built by listening to spirit, so that the building can be in harmony with the land it lives on.

When we make a decision to change or let go of something, the healing process will have already begun, as we ask and are opening ourselves up to something new and different to come forward into our lives and awareness.

Arranging a session can be seen as a commitment to the decision you have made, as you are taking action to follow this through. The session will then become a part of your healing process. As with all healing, it is driven by your intention, and is an active process asking for your participation.

Therefore, it will be helpful to prepare with some simple practices to support you before we meet. I have found this helps the session greatly, and I encourage you to engage with them:

Firstly, to be with nature and on the land as much as possible before the session. While out there, try to sense that, as you go, you are being seen by nature itself – there you may wish to ask and contemplate the following questions.

• Why am I coming to shamanism at this time?
• What is it I am looking for, or need to change or let go of?
• What is my vision and feeling of how I would like my life to be?

The asking is as important as getting the answer, as it opens us up, so do not worry if you do not have complete clarity. It will also help to be aware of dreams you have, and any synchronicities or omens you encounter.

Finally, the night before we meet, as you go to sleep ask for a dream that will support you in our work the next day. As you wake, take a moment to give thanks for your life and all that is to come.

There really is no typical session; each is a unique meeting, and I work with each person in different ways, depending on your needs, and by asking and listening to spirit. Together we co-create the session; my role is to act as a facilitator and holder of the space, and to bring the healing through to you from spirit.

There will be time to talk and let you settle when you arrive, and again afterwards there will be a time to talk, and to share any healing stories and practices, to support the integration of the healing as well as to make sure you’re ready and grounded, as you re-engage with your life now in a new and different way.

Sessions tend to last an hour and a half to two hours, though I will always work with your process as it unfolds, which may be more or less in this time frame.

I feel it is important to support you both before and after, so once we have both committed to the session, I am here to support you to help integrate the work done and answer any questions or to listen to your experiences.

I offer sessions on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and I ask the fee of £65 for the session. Please bring cash or a cheque on the day. I do offer a reduced fee of £45 if your circumstances are such.

I also offer a healing day or days, which gives an opportunity to really deepen into and bring through what is needed for you at this time. These have been useful for people in times of transition or going through a, or desiring change of direction in life.

We will work together for your healing needs throughout the day as well as how to enhance wellbeing and with the integration of your spiritual life into the everyday. Please contact me to talk through your needs and for further details, the fee per day is £130.

We live in a time when our world needs compassionate healing and wise support,  the way we are treating each other and the natural world are just not sustainable, so what can we in the spiritual community do to help?

This work using ceremony and shamanic methods helps us deepen into an earth-centered way of looking at issues we are collectively facing and to find solutions from a spiritual perspective.

We do this in a ethical way in partnership with spirit so that we are clear our activism support all life. I see shamanism offering a new hope and vision for individuals as well as our society as a whole.

The purpose of ceremony is to inspire, bring healing and transformation, as well as creating community. Each of the events below brings us deeper into a sacred relationship with ourselves as an expression of nature then from that place of wholeness we hold a vision for what can become and offer this out to manifest.

No experience is needed, your open heart and mind with a willingness are all you are asked to bring. All events can be attended in person or participated in at a distance and all sacred activism events are free to attend;

please contact me for further information.

Wolf and Bear Ceremonies

Upcoming dates Friday September 7th 2018 at 7pm

If the Wolf were to return to Scotland the conditions would need to be supportive so that this can be a successful reintroduction and life-affirming for all, and it may well be that currently, they are not.

There needs to be a clear shift in human consciousness for this to occur so that humans are willing to share the land with the wolf and live more in harmony and connection with nature, knowing that it is this relationship that keeps us alive and healthy.

However, the spirit of Wolf and Bear is here and still very much roams and influences this ancient land. This brings us the chance to engage with these powerful spirit companions of the land and step deeper into our own nature,  our relationship with nature deepens as a result and brings with it the opportunity to dive into personal freedom and a re-wilding of ourselves.

The ceremony can be transformational and bring shifts to our everyday lives, in how we see and engage with ourselves our environment and the life we encounter in a more life-affirming way. Instead of takers, we can open to becoming co-creators with nature as a part of its structure and with humility.

It may be that one day the Wolf will return and even maybe the Bear but today they hold a powerfull symbol of possibility and if we are to continue to move to a more earth centred culture, and I feel deeply we need too, then changes are needed and quickly, working in this way we clear a path for these changes within to occur. 

Vigils to and of the Earth

Upcoming dates Autumn Equinox 29th/30th September 2018 starting at 7pm

These ceremonies are held over 24 hours, we start in the evening at 7pm as all life is born from darkness and work through to the following evening you are invited to attend for the whole duration of this or for a part of this.

We work with the energy of the time of year and traditional ways for this time as we step deeper into becoming nature. With the Autumn Equinox, we honor and work with Water, the Winter Solstice Earth, Spring Equinox with Air and Summer Solstice with Fire completing the circle of the year.

We spend our time in prayer, with the drum and with movement, as well as time out on the land, as we follow the flow of the ceremony and go where it leads, with our intention of coming back into balance and harmony with ourselves, each other and ultimately, our home and witness of each step and breath we have ever taken, the earth which we may come to experience we actually are.

Dates are generally around the solstice and equinox time in the circle of the year; do contact me for details and practicalities.

 

Bee Alchemy Ceremony

Upcoming dates Friday 14th September 2018 7pm

Without the Bees, our landscape and life would be completely different the bees are such an integral support to all life. This ceremony is a way to honor the Bees and to also open to learning from them bringing through a transformation for our own lives.

To achieve this, we will build a working partnership with the spirit of bee, we start by finding the courage to embrace the wisdom that “I do not know”, from this place of power, we open up to experience and understand something of the Alchemical way of the bee that comes through the practices in this simple ceremony.

Using meditation, song, movement and journeying with the guidance and support of the Bee spirits and each other we move out beyond our personal space and to the connected truth of life. Here we can open to the possibility of moving deeper into an earth-centered consciousness.

We really come to honour the Bees in how we leave the ceremony and enter back into our every day perhaps with a new focus and way of interacting with our own communities in practical ways. The bees are willing to gift us this collective view our task is to listen and act.

Visioning Ceremonies

Upcoming Dates Friday 24th August 2018 at 7pm

If it is indeed true that we are unable to continue as a collective society in the way we currently are, with violence, war, poverty and injustice accepted as the norm then the question that needs to be asked next is, so how are we to live and be?

A visioning ceremony gives a space to contemplate this question and to see and name what kind of world we wish to live in and then to actually ask how we are to do this as well as the actions needed in our own lives to acheive this?

Working in an intentional sacred space empowers this personal vision and will enable us to access  the wisdom needed to see the actions required for our lives. We use the creative impulse of silence and a staff to connect with the earth to open up to what this can be enabling us to dream a new earth vision.

Like all activism we may or may not live to see this manifest globally, but like those that built stonehenge, we will know we have played our part. However we can bring this vision into our homes and communites today and to quote Ghandi “be the change we wish to see in the world” trusting this will ripple out into the collective whole and make a difference globally.