Thunder Valley Drums Podcast & Blog
Photo Essay To Accompany "A Walk With A Ghost"
Here are a few photos I promised to post as a supplement to the Shaman Drums 2.0 Podcast episode,
"A Walk With A Ghost", posted Feb. 5, 2012. And by the way, I
offer thanks and a big hug here on Valentine's Day to everyone who
called, wrote and emailed about the episode. I am so deeply appreciative
of your loving kindness and support.
Now for those photos.
(Left) The Hawk Tree, located in a playground, is flanked on the left by pines and on the right by an open field. Behind it are two fenced-in tennis courts, and then, just beyond, The Three Titans.
The grounds I'm referring to in this piece presumably belong to the local UM Church I mention in the podcast, since they are adjacent to the church. And I also assume the congregation and its leadership carry on the core religion begun with the revolutionary actions of a Church of England cleric, John Wesley (b 1703 d 1791; photo, right, public domain), and others who believed that people have a chance at perfection. It was a radical idea, even if the "chance" had a catch!
The grounds are nothing fancy, and in fact appear rather stark in places, like the old tennis courts beyond repair. Wesley would probably have preferred it this way so that any monies collected from the flock could be devoted to the service of people who needed it instead of blowing it on fancy lawns or sports facilities. Keeping with his thoughts and intentions, I know these United Methodists offer a monthly food bank for disadvantaged people and, I'm sure, they undertake many other community and socially-oriented services and support. They even cut back on expenses last year by choosing to no longer mow the bottom portion of their land that butts up against the yard surrounding the housing track where I live. I liked their decision because the resulting grass and weed growth in that quarter or so acre allowed nature to begin reclaiming and populating it with some new plant species, along with birds and crawly critters. So the land is returning to its natural state, and to my eyes, that brings it closer to perfection. Too, it probably more closely resembles the properties Wesley would have been familiar with when he traveled to America to help found and spread his theological movement in the New World.
But I rather doubt that he would have seen the land I'm writing about from the viewpoint of my backyard in quite the same way I do. For example, I see the Hawk Tree as representing a spiritual perch. I shared a not-so-good photo of it in an earlier post ("Guns And A Prayer For The New Year," here, link will open a new window) with a hawk sitting in it. It’s a wonderful tree! Obviously, it has some friends, too, a line of fluffy pines and a few happy cedars.
About six feet above ground level, just out of reach of the tykes who play there, the tree offers a most intriguing opening in its trunk (photo, right). It’s like a porthole. It must drive kids crazy in trying to figure out how to climb up to it in order to “see through a tree.” The tree’s girth is too large to facilitate a small one’s arms reaching around it, so if kids are to peer through the intriguing opening, they must work together to reach the prized view.
Afternoon sun can also turn the area behind the hole in the tree into a whimsical scene where a one-eyed monster can appear to devour the playground equipment (photo, left).
In a shamanic context, though, the hole acts as a portal between two worlds, inviting an observer to pass his or her awareness through it into a greater reality. The shamanic journey is often predicated on the traveler passing through a hole of some kind into another world. Indeed, on a sunny day, the tree itself offers a lesson in contrasts, as the sunny side offers beauty and intriguing symmetry, while the shady side entices one with a sense of the mystery of the unknown. Their union, though (photo series, below), suggests something about the nature of perfection.
Given that the Hawk is a sacred spirit guide, there's no wonder it prefers to sit in such a spiritual tree.
Also, as I’ve mentioned before, the Hawk is recognized by many traditions as a messenger who delivers people’s prayers to Spirit. So, once again, it’s only right that this beautiful courier should wait patiently until it gets a sacred load of messages to deliver from those nearby in the church.
I am sure Wesley would fail to see perfection in that, however. Nor would he have agreed with the opinion of some Christian scholars and exegetes who consider Jesus to have been a shaman (see notes at end). Reading the Oxyrhynchus papyri, which had not been discovered until well after Wesley's time, (photo, left is excerpted from a book about the subject), it is evident that Jesus instructs his disciples to find the Kingdom of Heaven in shamanic terms (emphasis mine):
“Ye ask, who are those that draw us to the kingdom
if the kingdom is in Heaven?
... the fowls of the air and all beasts that are under the earth or upon the earth and the fishes of the sea, these are they which draw you, and the kingdom of Heaven is within you, and whoever shall know himself shall find it.”
The bottom line on this matter, I believe, is that regardless the method, we all want to commune with the Divine. Wesley would certainly endorse that!
I want to get back to the Three Titans for a moment. They have a beautiful sense of motion about them, with roots protruding in just the right proportions to imply large, heavy feet (photo, right), and with majestic crowns that move in yielding tandem with even the slightest zephyr. Because of this, and especially when the threesome heave and sway on a windy winter day, it’s easy to imagine them moving over the countryside.
Lovers also find synchronous charm with the Titans, as evidenced by these initials carved into one of them (photo, left).
In context though, growing as they do so near to the Hawk Tree, the maple trio often offer themselves as the "Realm of the Crows." Nearly every day, and particularly when the hawk is in the vicinity, the boisterous, tawdry crows blast into the maples like a biker gang. Throwing insults and threats over to the lone figure perched above the playground, they work themselves into a frenzy. Then – attack! Three, four, five or more squeal out of the maples and make for their target.
Air raid!—harassing, strafing, squawking! Black rockets! Incoming!
As anyone who watches birds can tell you, crows simply don’t like hawks. I’m not so sure that it’s mutual, though. In most instances I’ve witnessed, hawks are rather unfazed by crow attacks. From my bedroom window, I’ve watched many times as the she-hawk sat quietly up there in the tree while a band of crows did their best to chase her away. I’ve seen many other occasions where crows buzz all around a flying hawk, zipping in close to peck at a feather, and feign a mid-air crash, all to no avail. The crows have to work their wings so hard, while the hawk sails along with more lofty wings holding them steady.
But I’ve also seen instances when a hawk will fight back, like in the dramatic photo, left, courtesy of photographer Steve Gosser (you can find his wonderful work on Facebook). And man-oh-man, that always results in a brief battle! Once that hooked beak and those sharp talons get into the action, the crows quickly sound retreat.
These brief battles fought above these exquisite trees with their beauty and expressions of love and spiritual connection can give us deep insight into the nature of existence and the dichotomy which accompanies it. But amidst it all, (photo below, shot at sunset from a different perspective that reveals the Three Titans on the left, and to the right behind a few pines, the precious Hawk Tree). Who could fail to see the perfection in that?
A worthy goal, perfection, even if Wesley’s definition may differ from yours or mine. We all know it when we see it, though, and sometimes it’s right in front of us when we walk out the back door.
Aho & Namaste, my friend.
Bob
PS— Here are a few links I had forgotten to include in the "Walk With A Ghost" post. These represent just a smattering of the multitude of references to Jesus as a shaman.
Book mentioning the shamanic characteristics of some of Jesus's acts: Rabbi Jesus, An Intimate Biography, by Bruce Chilton, Doubleday, 2002
Book which directly portrays Jesus as a shaman: The Life of a Galilean Shaman, Jesus of Nazareth in Anthropological-Historical Perspective, By Pieter F. Craffert, Wipt and Stock Publishers
Old Laura Lee Show, "Conversation for Exploration," which asks the question, Was Jesus A Shaman?
Now for those photos.
(Left) The Hawk Tree, located in a playground, is flanked on the left by pines and on the right by an open field. Behind it are two fenced-in tennis courts, and then, just beyond, The Three Titans.The grounds I'm referring to in this piece presumably belong to the local UM Church I mention in the podcast, since they are adjacent to the church. And I also assume the congregation and its leadership carry on the core religion begun with the revolutionary actions of a Church of England cleric, John Wesley (b 1703 d 1791; photo, right, public domain), and others who believed that people have a chance at perfection. It was a radical idea, even if the "chance" had a catch! The grounds are nothing fancy, and in fact appear rather stark in places, like the old tennis courts beyond repair. Wesley would probably have preferred it this way so that any monies collected from the flock could be devoted to the service of people who needed it instead of blowing it on fancy lawns or sports facilities. Keeping with his thoughts and intentions, I know these United Methodists offer a monthly food bank for disadvantaged people and, I'm sure, they undertake many other community and socially-oriented services and support. They even cut back on expenses last year by choosing to no longer mow the bottom portion of their land that butts up against the yard surrounding the housing track where I live. I liked their decision because the resulting grass and weed growth in that quarter or so acre allowed nature to begin reclaiming and populating it with some new plant species, along with birds and crawly critters. So the land is returning to its natural state, and to my eyes, that brings it closer to perfection. Too, it probably more closely resembles the properties Wesley would have been familiar with when he traveled to America to help found and spread his theological movement in the New World.
But I rather doubt that he would have seen the land I'm writing about from the viewpoint of my backyard in quite the same way I do. For example, I see the Hawk Tree as representing a spiritual perch. I shared a not-so-good photo of it in an earlier post ("Guns And A Prayer For The New Year," here, link will open a new window) with a hawk sitting in it. It’s a wonderful tree! Obviously, it has some friends, too, a line of fluffy pines and a few happy cedars.
About six feet above ground level, just out of reach of the tykes who play there, the tree offers a most intriguing opening in its trunk (photo, right). It’s like a porthole. It must drive kids crazy in trying to figure out how to climb up to it in order to “see through a tree.” The tree’s girth is too large to facilitate a small one’s arms reaching around it, so if kids are to peer through the intriguing opening, they must work together to reach the prized view. Afternoon sun can also turn the area behind the hole in the tree into a whimsical scene where a one-eyed monster can appear to devour the playground equipment (photo, left).In a shamanic context, though, the hole acts as a portal between two worlds, inviting an observer to pass his or her awareness through it into a greater reality. The shamanic journey is often predicated on the traveler passing through a hole of some kind into another world. Indeed, on a sunny day, the tree itself offers a lesson in contrasts, as the sunny side offers beauty and intriguing symmetry, while the shady side entices one with a sense of the mystery of the unknown. Their union, though (photo series, below), suggests something about the nature of perfection.
Given that the Hawk is a sacred spirit guide, there's no wonder it prefers to sit in such a spiritual tree.
Also, as I’ve mentioned before, the Hawk is recognized by many traditions as a messenger who delivers people’s prayers to Spirit. So, once again, it’s only right that this beautiful courier should wait patiently until it gets a sacred load of messages to deliver from those nearby in the church.
I am sure Wesley would fail to see perfection in that, however. Nor would he have agreed with the opinion of some Christian scholars and exegetes who consider Jesus to have been a shaman (see notes at end). Reading the Oxyrhynchus papyri, which had not been discovered until well after Wesley's time, (photo, left is excerpted from a book about the subject)“Ye ask, who are those that draw us to the kingdom
if the kingdom is in Heaven?
... the fowls of the air and all beasts that are under the earth or upon the earth and the fishes of the sea, these are they which draw you, and the kingdom of Heaven is within you, and whoever shall know himself shall find it.”
The bottom line on this matter, I believe, is that regardless the method, we all want to commune with the Divine. Wesley would certainly endorse that!
I want to get back to the Three Titans for a moment. They have a beautiful sense of motion about them, with roots protruding in just the right proportions to imply large, heavy feet (photo, right), and with majestic crowns that move in yielding tandem with even the slightest zephyr. Because of this, and especially when the threesome heave and sway on a windy winter day, it’s easy to imagine them moving over the countryside.Lovers also find synchronous charm with the Titans, as evidenced by these initials carved into one of them (photo, left). In context though, growing as they do so near to the Hawk Tree, the maple trio often offer themselves as the "Realm of the Crows." Nearly every day, and particularly when the hawk is in the vicinity, the boisterous, tawdry crows blast into the maples like a biker gang. Throwing insults and threats over to the lone figure perched above the playground, they work themselves into a frenzy. Then – attack! Three, four, five or more squeal out of the maples and make for their target.
Air raid!—harassing, strafing, squawking! Black rockets! Incoming!
As anyone who watches birds can tell you, crows simply don’t like hawks. I’m not so sure that it’s mutual, though. In most instances I’ve witnessed, hawks are rather unfazed by crow attacks. From my bedroom window, I’ve watched many times as the she-hawk sat quietly up there in the tree while a band of crows did their best to chase her away. I’ve seen many other occasions where crows buzz all around a flying hawk, zipping in close to peck at a feather, and feign a mid-air crash, all to no avail. The crows have to work their wings so hard, while the hawk sails along with more lofty wings holding them steady.But I’ve also seen instances when a hawk will fight back, like in the dramatic photo, left, courtesy of photographer Steve Gosser (you can find his wonderful work on Facebook). And man-oh-man, that always results in a brief battle! Once that hooked beak and those sharp talons get into the action, the crows quickly sound retreat.
These brief battles fought above these exquisite trees with their beauty and expressions of love and spiritual connection can give us deep insight into the nature of existence and the dichotomy which accompanies it. But amidst it all, (photo below, shot at sunset from a different perspective that reveals the Three Titans on the left, and to the right behind a few pines, the precious Hawk Tree). Who could fail to see the perfection in that?
A worthy goal, perfection, even if Wesley’s definition may differ from yours or mine. We all know it when we see it, though, and sometimes it’s right in front of us when we walk out the back door.
Aho & Namaste, my friend.
Bob
PS— Here are a few links I had forgotten to include in the "Walk With A Ghost" post. These represent just a smattering of the multitude of references to Jesus as a shaman.
Book mentioning the shamanic characteristics of some of Jesus's acts: Rabbi Jesus, An Intimate Biography, by Bruce Chilton, Doubleday, 2002
Book which directly portrays Jesus as a shaman: The Life of a Galilean Shaman, Jesus of Nazareth in Anthropological-Historical Perspective, By Pieter F. Craffert, Wipt and Stock Publishers
Old Laura Lee Show, "Conversation for Exploration," which asks the question, Was Jesus A Shaman?
Posted by Bob at Tuesday, February 14, 2012 2:09 PM 
Categories: Shaman Drums 2.0 Podcasts and Notes, Shaman Essays Videos And More
Tags: Shaman Drums 20 Podcast Hawk Tree UM Church Rev. John Wesley perfection Jesus as shaman theology shaman shamanism heavenly messenger Oxyrhynchus kingdom of Heaven lovers love crows nature of existence
Categories: Shaman Drums 2.0 Podcasts and Notes, Shaman Essays Videos And More
Tags: Shaman Drums 20 Podcast Hawk Tree UM Church Rev. John Wesley perfection Jesus as shaman theology shaman shamanism heavenly messenger Oxyrhynchus kingdom of Heaven lovers love crows nature of existence
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