The Initiation Series: Michael Dunning

Shaman-healer, Michael Dunning is our guest this week in our Initiation Series: Curing our Cultural Sickness.  He joins us to discuss his exceptional initiation experiences with a Yew tree in Scotland and how they transformed him.

It is our hope that in hearing the stories of a diverse range of contemporary initiation experiences—that have functioned to truly transform individuals into shamans—that we will come to remember what initiation truly means.

Michael gradually became aware of his calling as a shaman-healer following a near -death encounter with an elemental spirit in the far north of Scotland.  A second near-death experience occurred several years later that entirely destroyed his health. Michael began to experience regular visions, prolonged out – of – body states and intense physical pain.  Managing his daily life became a great challenge. He was finally rescued by a friend who lived in a small cottage close to a 2000 year -old, female yew tree. This marked the beginning of a ten-year period of healing and a shamanic initiation through nature, which took place under the vast enclosure of the tree.  Michael now teaches Yewshamanism throughout New England where he is a biodynamic craniosacral therapist and teacher.

Listen to the show (just click the Play arrow):  

or download (right-click the link) The Initiation Series: Michael Dunning .mp3 audio file.

About Christina Pratt…

Shamanic teacher and author, Christina is a skilled shamanic healer who weaves her authentic shamanic experience, extensive training, and experience with shamans from Ecuador, Nepal, Tibet, and Africa into her contemporary practice. She has been in practice for 20 years, specializing in soul retrieval healings, soul part integration, and ancestral healing. She is the director of the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing in Portland, Oregon.

Comments (1) Original post date: Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010