oakenleaf.co.uk

Welcome to the website of Oakenleaf based near Perth in Scotland offered by Brian Anderson an experienced shamanic practitioner. Here you will find details of 1:1 shamanic healing sessions and day/s, my workshops and also free sacred activism events I offer.

The way I work with shamanism, we are looking to address the root cause of any challenges you currently may be facing – be they showing up as emotional, mental, spiritual or physical. The healing process is to find solutions to resolve the issue  and empower you  to find a new way forward.

Shamanic healing connects us to a more natural and personal rhythm with life-taking us beyond the stories and events that have shaped us, so that we can become the ones that shape and create a life that has personal meaning brings health and vitality and a greater connection and service for ourselves our communities and the land where we live.

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 learned with a number of indigenous Teachers that grew up with these ways from the Americas and my heart’s home in Ireland.

My own healing story has shown me that I was not bound by the stories and events of my life and with willingness and some courage new possibilities have emerged. As a result I have been able to shape a life that is creative, supports me and brings a growing contentment and joy in simple things.

If you feel that shamanism and the way I work can support you please contact  to book a session or with any questions via the contact page or by phone. Sessions are held in person near Perth Scotland and can be offered at a distance also.

 

Shamanism is a ancient healing method that has been practised across all cultures in various forms and has enjoyed a return to humanities awareness in the western world since around the 1950’s.

A definition that captures something about shamanism for me is “that while in a shamanic state of consciousness the shaman works by asking for help from the spirits, bringing this information back and then doing something with it!” In my work I attain this state of consciousness through working with the drum rattle and song.

To talk about shamanism without talking of spirit would be like an electrician working away while denying the existence of electricity. The spirits do not see us in our perceived failings, but in our authentic creative 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 – maybe this is 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 that is 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 community though 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 to this.

“With practice and dedication shamanism opens a new relationship with life inviting a way of being that honours the sacred and holds respect of all life helping us to see the reality of the cause of pain in the world while allowing us to see the beauty and feel the joy too” Brian Anderson

I remember my first encounter with shamanic healing – as I lay there I opened my eyes and for a moment in the candle light seeing the practitioner drumming and singing, it all felt very familiar to me and I thought this is my way I felt at home, from that moment I liked shamanism and shamanism seemed to like me.

The resulting changes that occurred after that inspired me to train in these ways and I have worked with individuals since 2006 and groups since 2008. In my own life shamanism is very much a practical support for me – now when I am challenged I can turn to shamanic methods that bring a different perspective of the compassionate helping spirits as to what is going on and how to find practical ways to move forward.

In my own life I have experienced a number of traumatic and distressing events which have impacted my life greatly and are the reason I came to a healing path – I really needed relief from my distress and my own awakening really took off in 1999.

As a result of my ongoing healing process these events no longer hold power over me. Shamanism has been the catalyst to let go of these experiences and find a inner strength and flow with life and with the support and wisdom of spirit in a helping partnership I have been able to shape a life that works for me.

Nature has always been a immense support for me as a child it was the place I want to be as it still is today. When my own healing process began the call from the natural world came and so much healing and insight has come to me simply by deepening my connection with the land in physical and spiritual ways. My own shamanism is rooted in natural cycles both our own and the natural worlds.

In my professional life I am a qualified counsellor graduating from the University of West of England and worked as this as well as a trainer and group facilitator for over 12 years. This was In education and health care settings the NHS as well as in restorative justice with our young people. While I no longer work in this way I uphold the ethics of the profession.

Meeting Shamanism changed the course of my life and brought a deep connection and acceptance of both my gifts and my shadow. The integration of these has brought peace creativity and joy and where once the traumatic events of my life I once dragged behind me they now serve the work I offer.

I believe shamanism offers a new hope and vision for individuals as well as our society as a whole. I am inspired by the courage of people that come as they heal from there own challenges and I love to lead workshops showing students the possibilities that await as we learn to safely and effectively navigate the world of spirit.

The sacred activism events I offer are a way to serve and deepen our connection to our home the earth from a earth centred perspective in a supportive partnership with spirit these free events I am excited to expand in time and I see as a contribution to the awakening that is occurring for humanity at this time.

I share our home with my wife, cat Lilly and a tortoise Buggle and am a companion to Bees, here we all live just outside Perth city and I just love this amazing land of Scotland. Coming to live here has been another home coming, a move that logically made no sense but intuitively needed to be done, I am glad we all listened to this intuitive and spirit led call.

I have a daily practice that includes prayer and meditation, shamanic work, walking with nature, exercise and yoga. I practice Ahimsa (the way of non-harm) as well as my creative practices with writing and music. I play the guitar, recorder and am learning keyboards.

I also have been published writing articles on shamanism in Indie shaman magazine. Currently I am learning exploring and researching the traditional healing ways of our land here in Scotland and see how these are effective for modern times. I am learning in such a transient world to put roots and connect and build a sacred relationship with the land you live on has great benefit for human and all that live on that land also.

In offering myself as a shamanic practitioner I feel its important you have a sense of who I am and why I do this and hope these words meet this for you and may all blessings be yours, I wish you well in your life’s journey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sessions are held in a dedicated space, created and built in ceremony and partnership with spirit, so that the building can be in harmony with the land it is now a part off.

When we make a decision to change or let go of something, the healing process has 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 searching and hoping for, or looking 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 consider what happens when you ask these questions. It will also help to be aware of any 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.

Before you arrive I will have prepared the space so that it is dedicated to your healing and wellbeing. This creates a safe and sacred place that holds and will support the work we are about to engage with.

There will be time to talk and let you settle when you arrive, and again afterward there will be a time to talk where I will share any healing stories and practices that 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.

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.

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 offer sessions on all days and I ask the fee of £65 per session. Please bring cash or a cheque on the day. I do offer a reduced fee of £45 if your circumstances are such. I have found it useful to have at least two sessions to support your healing and integration.

HEALING DAY/S RETREATS

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

We will work together for your healing needs throughout the day or days (10am-5pm) as well as how to enhance wellbeing and with the integration and practical application of your spiritual life beyond the day. Please contact me to talk through your needs and for further details, the fee per day is £120.

WHAT IS SACRED ACTIVISM?

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 as a society is 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 that we are collectively facing and to find solutions from a spiritual perspective.

We do this in a considered and ethical way in partnership with spirit so that we are clear our actions support all life. I see shamanism offering new hope and vision for individuals as well as our society as a whole for as we change everything around us changes also, it does not seem possible to have one without the other.

The purpose of these events is to find inspiration for us to act, to bring healing and transformation, as well as creating a community that supports us.  Each of the events below brings us deeper into a sacred relationship with ourselves as an expression of nature. From this place of personal insight, 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 at a distance and all events are free to attend;

please contact me for further information.

NATURES SOVEREIGNTY

Upcoming dates Friday 9th August 2019 at 7pm

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

In “Natures Sovereignty” we drop into a deeper level of connection with ourselves as part of the natural world. If we can gain experience of ourselves as nature that we are off the earth itself, related and connected with all life, what kind of world would that be?

This has been a lived experience for humans many eons ago, however, if our kind has lived this in the past then this wisdom exists within us today, and may well be the power that is leading many at this time and in so many ways to seek and live this again.

This event is an opening to experience this homecoming though not as it was for our ancient ancestors but drawing on the power of their inherent wisdom we use this to guide us to our own connection effective for now and our modern world within the sanctuary of our wild and free nature.

How do we experience ourselves as nature as one with the earth?  How do we live our everyday life as nature in the times that we live in? How can we serve ourselves and our communities from this place? Who am I when in my power? These questions and many more are explored in this ongoing journey of homecoming.

VIGILS OF THE EARTH

Autumn Equinox Friday 20th September 7pm/10pm

These ceremonies where 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 into a traditional and natural way and time of the year in nature’s world.

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

BEE ALCHEMY

Upcoming dates Friday 16th August 2019 at 7pm

The world of the beehive is described as a “superorganism” 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 honors 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 the relationship of integrity with all life.

PRAYER AND VISIONING CIRCLES

Upcoming Dates Sunday 28th July  2019 at 7pm

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

We can so often be fed in our everyday negative and violent images and words that it has almost become normal. This work within this dedicated circle brings a balance and challenge to this hypnosis.

The action of prayer opens the way for new possibilities, a place we can express gratitude and find hope for a way of life that is in harmony and with power. 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.

Working in an intentional and sacred circle with the support of spirit and our companions brings power to our prayers and vision for our world. Holding a deep silence with this focus we bring through our desires and hopes for this way and give a 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.