Here you will find all our 2012 newsletters. Click on the links to see other newsletters from:

NEWS WINTER SOLSTICE 2012

Scandinavian Center for Shamanic Studies

Here in Scandinavia it is the darkest time of the year, the days when the Sun begins travelling North again – Midwinter, a time of celebration! Asking my Teachers how to celebrate this Solstice, they answered not only my question but also deepened my understanding of how to live. They told me that this is the time to remember those who have gone on before me, not only my blood-line ancestors, but all those who have made my life possible today, from the smallest organism to the greatest ecosystem. They told me to remember them, for they are also my Ancestors, and to give them thanks for being here now.

This is the time to be quiet and listen to the silence and to remember all of those who have reached out to offer help. This is the time to stop and see how to receive that help and how to carry it further. This is the time to ask the Power of the Solstice to help and to heal those in illness and pain. This is the time to ask the Spirits to help us and to ask how we can help them. This is the time to rededicate myself to what I know my life is for and to always remember the fullness of Life.

Contemplating what they said, I am touched by what an all-encompassing gift we receive when we are born into this Life. It is our responsibility to live it fully and to share it with all those who dance with us, with all of creation, starting right here where we stand.

Listening to Mayan elders talk about the end of their Long Count Calendar – and the beginning of the next Sun - it feels to me like the beginning of a New Time. This is a time for changing into balance. We are not here to individually survive into new times. We are here to carry these new times to where they can be shared by all. Whether we give or receive, we can - and must - let the power flow through us, for none of us are in this alone and the power belongs to no one alone, but to us all.

So thank you all for the times we have shared, all the help you have given, all the help we have received. And thank you all for the times to come. What do you want for this new world, and how do you want to be? These are magical times, the days to live the dreaming. Together with the Spirits, we will find our way.

~ Jonathan ~

 

- COURSES IN 2013 -
(click on course titles for more info)

Now that Winter is here, we are taking our seasonal break from teaching to allow time to rest and focus on other aspects of our shamanic practice. Our courses begin again in the Springtime. Our first offering is THE SHAMANS JOURNEY in Copenhagen, taught by Annette in Danish, 8-10 March.

On 6-7 April, Jonathan and Zara are leading a SHAMANIC PRACTICE WEEKEND at Åsbacka. The theme will be announced nearer the time. There are many other courses with Jonathan in 2013, including Blessing the Shamans Way in Italy, and Into the Journey and Peace & Power in England.

Annette has only scheduled a few courses so far for 2013 as she is concentrating on writing her next book on Nordic Shamanism and Seidr. She is offering a new workshop on Forest Power in May and an updated Moon Power course later in the year, both in Denmark.

We wish you all a wonderful festive Yule-tide and that the season brings you joy, vitality and peace. We look forward to seeing you in the circle.

For more information on courses and how to book, see the website coursepage.

You can now find both Jonathan and Annette on Facebook, with separate profiles under their own names. Here we share more wide-ranging shamanic news, spirit poems and thoughts about living here on Earth.

Jonathan Horwitz can be reached on email jonathan@shamanism.dk or daytime tel (+46) 431 441 220
Annette Høst prefers daytime telephone (+45) 32 54 28 08. Email annette@shamanism.dk

 

NEWS JULY 2012

Scandinavian Center for Shamanic Studies

Birthdays are special days. They are markers of change. All my life I’ve had early winter to help me celebrate, but I always dreamed of a summer birthday. So this was the gift I gave myself this year. At the celebration, I was surrounded by some of the people whose love has touched me for years. In their faces I saw my life mirrored; in their eyes moments from our shared past. At the same time I was aware of the pain in my heart from the departure of loved ones no longer in the land of the living.

It hurts to let go of what we love, especially when we have no choice. But as I once was told, the pains of love are nothing to the gains of love. Life is full of endings, partings, goodbyes. Life is full of new growth, new steps, starting over. Each new beginning follows an ending. Each moment is a threshold for the next. In my shamanic work I never try to see into the future. Instead I ask for help to be here now – in the moment of beginning

~ Jonathan ~

- UPCOMING SUMMER COURSES -
(click on course titles for more info)

Jonathan will be teaching the extended residential basic course THE SHAMAN’S JOURNEY, 19-22 July, at Tokalynga, southern Sweden. It is fully booked but please let us know if you want to be on the waiting list as there is always a chance a place will become free.

Also at Tokalynga, Jonathan offers the special advanced course SPIRIT DANCE, 24-29 July. It combines shamanic dancing with ritual, ceremony, nature work and drum journeys. There will also be the opportunity to Sit Out over night, a traditional practice to help you step into power and change. There are only a few places left, so let us know soon if you want to come.

The SHAMANIC COUNSELLING 1 course in August is full but you’re very welcome on the waiting list.

LOOKING AHEAD TO AUTUMN

There are still places on SHAMANIC HEALING taught by Jonathan at Poulstone Court in England, 12-16 Sept. It is a powerful introduction to a range of shamanic practices, including empowerment and extraction. It takes place in a beautiful countryside venue and includes work with plants, song, ceremony and words.

In Copenhagen, Annette will do a BASIC COURSE 14-16 Sept and INTO THE JOURNEY 26-28 Oct.

For more information on courses and how to book, see the website coursepage.

 

- SPECIAL EVENTS -

ISC SUMMER GATHERING ~
The annual shamanic summer gathering for ISC members will take place in south England on 6-8 July. The International Shamanic Community was set up by and for people who have worked with Jonathan and Annette, to help sustain a sense of community, support and inspiration beyond workshops. To find out more, see www.shamaniccommunity.org

SSP UK SHAMANIC CONFERENCE ~
This year’s theme for the Society of Shamanic Practitioners conference is “Dancing with the Rhythms of Change”. Jonathan and Zara will be there to offer a half-day workshop called “Step into Power, Step into Change”. The conference takes place 6–9 September at Gaunts House in Dorset, south west England.

-- BACK TO THE TOP --

NEWS MAY 2012

Scandinavian Center for Shamanic Studies

(photo by Kocsis Eszter)

One of the many reasons I love leading courses in shamanism is that I keep learning. The recent trip to Hungary was no exception. Looking back on it, it seems the essence for me was about the cycle of giving and receiving and I realized that there is a word for this: sharing.

When I got back to Åsbacka, I read about the Awá, which Survival International has called “the most threatened tribe in the world” due to logging in the Amazon. We who practice shamanism receive enormous inspiration from people like the Awá – we look to them for wisdom about how to live in community with the Earth. Living in community does not have to be a story of control. Real community, as the Awá show us, is about mutual respect – respect for each other and for the world we live in. But how can we share with them in return and keep the wheel turning?

For me, sharing is the essence of life. Our so-called civilized world has been fuelled by greed for thousands of years. The time for change is pounding on the door, and our own situation is a lot like the Awá’s. But perhaps letting the Awá stay in the rainforest in peace is a step toward making a major change for ourselves and the rest of the world. You can visit Survival (www.survivalinternational.org) to find out what you can do – and let the Awá inspire you even more.

In the meantime, may you cross over the Beltane/Valborg threshold and enter into the summer months with power.
~ Jonathan ~

UPCOMING SPRING & SUMMER COURSES

- Click on course titles for more info -

Jonathan will be teaching the special one-off course SOUL OF NATURE in England 21-25 May, together with Stephan Harding (author of Animate Earth) at Schumacher College in Devon, England. It is open to everyone, you do not need to have done the basic.

Annette is teaching a new weekend workshop (in Danish) called RITUALS FOR LIFE in Jutland, 11-13 May. Ritual is a well-known tool for transformation in shamanic tradition. Here you will learn how to apply it to empower many kinds of situations in your life.

The ritual theme continues with SPIRIT DANCE in south Sweden (Tokalynga), 24-29 July. This is a rare treat as Jonathan only teaches it every five years, and usually only in Sweden. It combines shamanic dancing with ritual, ceremony, nature work and drum journeys. There is also the opportunity to Sit Out over night.

Also at Tokalynga there is the opportunity to go deeper with a long version of THE SHAMAN’S JOURNEY with Jonathan, 19-22 July. This residential course is not only a full introduction to shamanism, but also brings in the shaman’s work with nature. It is very valuable both for beginners and those who want to re-connect to or strengthen their shamanic practice.

The SHAMANISM, DEATH & LIFE course in June is fully booked but you’re welcome on the waiting list.

For more information on courses and how to book, see the website coursepage.

- SPECIAL EVENTS -

ISC SUMMER GATHERING ~
The annual shamanic summer gathering for ISC members will take place in south England on 6-8 July. For more info, click here. The International Shamanic Community was set up by and for people who have worked with Jonathan and Annette, to help sustain a sense of community, support and inspiration beyond workshops. To find out more, see www.shamaniccommunity.org

ANNETTE AT NORWEGIAN FESTIVAL ~
Annette has been invited to present the history and craft of SEIDR at the Norwegian SjamanGathering festival 21-24 June, in the forest close to Oslo. Read more about the festival at www.sjamangathering.no

PODCAST WITH JONATHAN ~
Jonathan has been interviewed by Barry and Neil at Merlin’s Diary. He talks about moments that have influenced him, different ways of getting to the world of the Spirits and what it means to practice shamanism. You can listen to it here.

SACRED HOOP FEATURE ~
Jonathan was the Featured Shamanic Teacher in the new-look POP pages of the latest issue of Sacred Hoop. For information about subscribing to the magazine, see www.sacredhoop.org

 

-- BACK TO THE TOP --

 

NEWS FEBRUARY 2012

Scandinavian Center for Shamanic Studies

UPCOMING SPRING COURSES

This spring THE SHAMAN’S JOURNEY introductory course is taught by Jonathan in Devon, England, 18-20 May and by Annette in Danish, 16-18 March in Copenhagen.

The SHAMANIC PRACTICE WEEKEND at Åsbacka, 24-25 March, is on the theme of "Peace & Power" and is nearly full so if you want to come, let us know soon.

Jonathan is also offering RHYTHMS OF LIFE in Hungary, 17-22 April. This beautiful retreat explores the cycle of giving and receiving, helping you to bring shamanic practice into everyday life and letting it nourish and inspire you. It is held near Lake Balaton and is a powerful way to experience the people and land of Hungary.

On 21-25 May there is a rare opportunity to work with Jonathan and Stephan Harding (author of Animate Earth) at Schumacher College in Devon, England. The SOUL OF NATURE course is open to everybody, you don’t need to have done the introduction though it helps.

Annette is teaching several courses in Danish, Herb Lore and Plant Magic 21&22 April and 5&6 May, and Rituals for Life in Jutland, 11-13 May.

SPECIAL EVENTS

ISC MEETING - the next shamanic community meeting is 3-4 March, in London, England. It is for all members and those who want to become members. For more info, click here.

The International Shamanic Community was set up by and for people who have worked with Jonathan and Annette, to help sustain a sense of community, support and inspiration beyond workshops. It also offers help as a Healing Circle. Read more about the ISC and how to join at www.shamaniccommunity.org

SHAMANIC PRACTICE JOURNAL - Jonathan has been invited to be European Editor for the US-based Journal of Shamanic Practice. His first editorial and commissioned article (by Jörgen I Eriksson) will appear in the Spring issue, out April/May. For information about subscribing, click here.

INTERVIEW WITH ANNETTE - Annette has been interviewed on Danish radio about the pre-christian view of Nature in Scandinavia. You can listen to it in Danish here.