Shaman-wa?

So, a reply to my business card post from Jaguar pokes at me about every 3 days. I'm going to ramble out loud here to see if I can start working on a reply to her reply, by, well, replying here.First off, an issue of language:http://www.cauldronfarm.com/writing/shaman_compare.htmlThere are two different predominant definitions of Shaman in our culture right now- spirit taught grabbed by the ass and hauled into a new life type shamans (aka classic shamans) and people who attend Harner-esque weekends and use shamanic techniques as part of self growth, helping others, counciling, etc.So, to start with that issue first- I am of the classical shaman category, but *want* to become part of the second category because I feel like the skills I currently have do not help me with the job I have been given as a spirit worker. I actually like the term spirit worker better, but most people go "huh" to that one even more than Shaman. Yes, I've had my life changed, my astral body changed, my viewpoints on life changed, my work life changed, my sleeping and eating styles changed by Bear, Trash, and a few others. Spirits. Deities. There ya go.Some days writing such things down feels a bit crazy-like, but so be it.So, to tackle some of her specific comments:>what can he do, what is he offering? Trained? Self trained? Spirit trained?Funny enough, in a specific branch of the spirit worker community we decided to fill out a roledex of sorts, who you are, what you can do, etc... it was a pain in the ass. But I did it. No, I'm not going to post it all publically- but the answer is partially one on one trained, partially self trained, and a huge load of spirit trained. Both by specific spirits and by the dead, as well as by two past lives, and a few kick me in the ass and hit me over the head with a fish and a gold brick wrapped in lemon type astral journeys that had the trade off of various oaths, taboos, and redes that I have to live up to to keep going.>What are "sacred sexuality consultations"? Is that something special for sacred whores, or >people wanting the tantra instruction or what? Consultation... hmm.The short answer is yes, like sacred whoredom. But, for obvious reasons like US law issues, I choose not to regularly post on some of that stuff.>Private lessons? In what?I have taught private lessons on rope magic, tasseomancy (pattern-seeing, like tea leaves etc), astral shapeshifting, astral body awareness, sacred sex and how we create a sacred sexual practice (or if doing it as whores, how we keep it sacred and potentially separate from other parts of our lives), breath work, techniques for invocation and evocation, and some other stuff as well.>Reclaim sexuality or broken spirits? How are we doing that? Is it like talking therapy? Is he >gonna make out with me to make me feel better? What does he mean "broken spirit"? How is he >gonna fix a broken spirit?Yes, like therapy. I have only had 3 clients in this realm, but all have had success with our work. However, I often feel like I am groping in the dark with some of my spirit-taught work in this field, which is why I am actively looking to incorporate more human-taught work into what I know from elsewhere.>Visualization or guiding me in my visualization? To what end?I have had a few people work with me because their inner monologue does not allow them well to visualize what they want out of life, or because they are trying to piece together memories, or for a variety of other things... this is me using a term other than hypnosis as I am not a liscenced hypnotherapist at this time.>Intuitive readings? Ah, divination! That I understand. Tools? What kind?I have used ogham (an am actually under a geas that I need to go into formal training on this and not just be spirit taught or book taught in the next 4 years and 2 months), tarot, witches stones (a pictographic style of runes from N. England), various forms of tasseomancy from crystal ball gazing (I actually own a crystal gazing butt plug, so crazy its true) to rope or pattern reading to coffee ground reading- plus I have also done a chunk of work, usually when I am not me in any way shape or form as it were, cracking open the akashic records and just pulling out information- most of which I am not present to learn, only the recipient is.>Astral journeying work? What for? He's going journeying? I am? He gonna take me with? What's >gonna happen out there?The answer is yes. I have done work being the "stays on earth as a tether for you" while someone else journeys. I have gone with people and been a guide. I have had people give me a stack of info and I go out and do the work for them, and come back with answers, info, brokered deals, etc. There are some parts out there I know well, some I have brokered deals with guides on the other side of the veil, and some parts that I just throw up my hands and refer them to someone else.>Sacred bondage? Whassat? Sounds kinda sexy but what is it?I have done a few types of sacred bondage work. Examples off the top of my head- putting people in mummifications or bondage for doing sensory-deprivation divination (nihliomancy), or them going astral journeying. Doing ropework as a physical tie-in to people who have silver cord work that needs re-worked, changed or cut, creating a physical counterpart to what I see in their astral bodies and then helping them manage it. Binding people who are going to be horsing/being possessed by spirits, daemons, or deities. Doing ropework to create a space for horsings to occur (in one case suspending someone so that they could physically fly and thus more easily be ridden by a flying deity who needed to manifest). Creating physical ordeals. Blessing handfasting cords.... just a few ideas of stuff I've done in this vein.There ya go, a few clarifications of some of the bevy of things I do right now as a spirit worker, or Shaman.Why my issue with the word Shaman?The issue of community.Under "classical shamanism"- I'm supposed to be working for a community.I'm not sure I have the right one yet?Does that make any sense...Because I believe I work within and outside a variety of communities- fetish, trans, bondage, bdsm, edge magicians, parts of the pagan community, D/s, M/s, mental illness circles, age play, queer, women's space, men's space... but most of the Shamans I know have a specific demographic, and I'm not sure yet what mine is.But I'm in the middle of the 2nd? 3rd? round of friggin shaman sickness, so who knows. I'll be informed.