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 is a part off.

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 most days 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 of “sacred activism” 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 considerd and 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 9th November  2018 at 7pm

“There is no better “manager” of nature than nature itself”

When the Wolf returned home to Yellowstone Park in 1995 there controversal return effected the whole eco-system in positive and surprising ways. The Wolf was an essential and until then missing part of the eco-system and its homecoming dramatically supported all life.

While in Scotland we no longer have Wolf and Bear wild on the land their spirit and story are still very much alive and intrinsic to the landscape. For them to return requires a shift in human consciousness for us to become willing to share the land again with them in a return that supports all life.

These ceremonies working with the generosity and partnership with the spirit of Bear and Wolf help us to deepen our connection with our own innate wildness. This brings a change to our relationship with ourselves and the natural world.

We step away from seeing nature only as a resource and towards a sacred encounter with a living landscape, one that we are very much a part of. This work brings personal benifit even if you do not wish to see Wolves and Bears back on this land.

An excellent book to read on this subject specifically to Scotland is “The Last Wolf” by Jim Crumley

Vigils to and of the Earth

Upcoming dates Winter Solstice 22nd/23rd December 2018 starting at 7pm

These ceremonies are held over 24 hours, start in the evening at 7pm and work through to the following evening you are invited to attend for the whole duration of this or for a part of this time.

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

We spend our time in ceremony and practice, with the drum song and with movement, as well as time out on the land, as we follow the flow of the ceremony as it leads us. Held within our intention of coming back into balance and harmony within ourselves and the time of the year in natures world.

Dates are generally around the solstice and equinox time please contact for details and practicalities.

Bee Alchemy Ceremony

Upcoming dates Thursday 25th October 2018 7pm

The world of the bee hive is described as a “super organism” where each individual bee works for the collective group of bees. Shamanic cultures understand this wisdom for humans and we have much to learn from the bees as a result.

This ceremony both honours the Bee and how they shape our world as well as opening us to seek learning from the Bees. We use shamanic methods to develop a partnership with the spirit of the Bees where their wisdom is gifted in how we can develop our own mind of the hive moving into a more connected and relationship of integrity with all life.

Visioning Circles

Upcoming Dates Thursday 18th October  2018 at 7pm

“Once something is held in our thoughts and then spoken it exists”

Holding a vision for a world that upholds peace, respect and compassion for all life is a important practice for the times we live in. We are so often fed negative and violent images and words this work brings a balance to this hypnosis and opens us up to a new possibilities.

Working in a intentional and sacred circle brings power to our visions. We work within deep silence and with focus as we bring out our desires and hopes. From this silence we contemplate and give voice for the world we wish to live in both for ourselves our families, communities and the generations yet to come.

This simple practice brings a new hope into the world and supports us so we have the courage to live this in our own lives and be the very change we wish for in the world.