I found this exchange while perusing the Shamanism Newsgroup a while ago. It seems to me to sum up the opening process effectively. With permission of the author, Forrest Mage, I offer this letter as introduction to the process.

To whom ever.. I have recently looked into shamanism and have found that this is completely what I've been looking for. Organized religion has torn me apart... built my fears and anxiety and this (the old religion) is completely fascinating me. I'm half irish, half cherokee indian. Can I talk to anyone familiar with shamanism... I could use an ear to hear me out.
HELP!!!!

What do you need help with? My ears are both outside and inside.

Above all, do not fear.
In time you will find that you do not need to fear the Otherworld. It is already a part of you and you are already a part of it. I know this because it is calling you; I can see that behind your words. Allow the misleading beliefs provided to you by your former organized religion to fall away completely. Let yourself be free from it. Let the tensions spawned by it drain with great relief from your body and mind. Feel them draining completely out of you into the ground. If laughter comes, let it come; if tears come, let them come; if it is simply a feeling of release from bondage, then let it be that. Your mind has been enslaved to an erroneous belief system, and now you are being freed from it. I know where you are; I've been there. Let the Earth be the floor of your temple; let the trees be your walls and the spaces between be your doors and windows; let the sky be your roof. The sun, moon, and stars are your lights and the rivers and streams are your blood. Feel this connection flowing; there is no separation.

If you can get to a clear creek in the forest or some wild place where you are alone, stand in the water facing upstream. Listen to the voice of the water. Become aware of all the animal life around you: dragonflies, water striders, birds, crawdads, etc. Don't forget the ones you may not see: squirrels, deer, etc. Take your time. Extend this awareness until you sense the totality of all animal life on Earth, one great continuum of animal energy. You are already every bit a part of this; feel this energy filling your every cell.

Next become aware of all the plant life around you. See all the different kinds of plants and trees. As before, extend this awareness until you sense the totality of all plant and tree life on Earth, one great continuum of plant and tree energy. Let it fill you.

Next become aware of the Earth whose substance you are standing on. Become aware of all the soil and stone around you. Extend this awareness until you sense the totality of all the Earth, one great continuum of Earth energy. Let it fill you.

Next become aware of the water flowing around you. Extend this awareness until you sense the totality of all the waters of the Earth, one great continuum of water energy. Let it fill you.

Next become aware of the air whispering around you. Extend this awareness until you sense the totality of all the air surrounding the entire Earth, one great continuum of air energy. Let it fill you.

Next become aware of the fire within you and within all life, the same as the energy flowing from the sun, the spark that energizes all that lives and moves. Extend this awareness until you sense the totality of all living fire everywhere on Earth, one great continuum of fire energy.

Let it fill you.

Next become aware of Spirit which quietly shines within you and around you. Extend this awareness until you sense the totality of Spirit everywhere on the Earth and throughout the universe, one great continuum of Spirit. Let it fill you.

Above all, do not fear.

ForestMage

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