The Course
This will be a comprehensive course in opening oneself to the parallel realities that surround and suffuse our lives, while still staying grounded and aware in the present. The techniques shown are intended to support the understanding that flows from the experiences that unfold during the course. This course is not designed to create nor instill ritual practices. Further, this is not a course in Native Shamanism. However, this is a course in personal, innate shamanism and is intended to empower the participants to utilize their experiences to enhance their own lives and by reflection, those of others.
Preparation
Participants are asked to refrain from non-prescriptive drug and alcohol use for one week prior to the course. Dream life and non-normal experiences (such as unusual animal behaviour) will start to occur with increased frequency up to two weeks prior to the course. These experiences should be written down and brought to the course.
What to Bring:
Something upon which to lie (a bed roll, Thermarest, sleeping bag or foam) a blanket, small pillow to support your head, a talisman (something important to you such as a small stone, crystal, gem, jewellery, icon), a notebook (stenographer’s size) pen, a drum only if you own one (do not buy one for this course), and a rattle (which, if you don’t have access to one, can be made from a yoghurt container and white navy beans or rice). Most importantly, bring a mind free of all expectations.
Biography
Bernard’s formal introduction to Shamanism occurred in courses he pursued with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies in 1989. During the second course (Death and Dying with Sandra Ingerman) he recognized that he had been seeing and journeying shamanically since very early childhood, but had managed to suppress it fearing it was a symptom of a frail mind. Subsequent to this adult revelation, there followed a trip to visit and to witness the work of Shamen in Equador in 1995. Though choosing not to be a participant in the use of a psycho-tropic drug available during that journey, he soon realized that he was having the same visions and experiences which were occurring to others who had ingested the drug. Following this trip to Equador, in his own healing practice, he became aware that he was successfully applying these gifts of vision to the healing of others.
In late 1990 he heeded the urgings of friends and colleagues and started to teach his journeying techniques and awareness to others.
The physical travels he holds significant to this teaching have taken him to the Arctic, Newfoundland, the shores of Lakes Superior and Huron, Stony Lake (Ontario), Haida Gwaii and Equador. He currently resides in Port Hope.
Cost
Members $270 Non-members $300