| I was introduced to alternative healing in a very | | | | knowledge, and only one with whom I was |
| alternative way. I had a vision. In my vision an old Indian | | | | comfortable even mentioning the experience. It took |
| woman approached me. When I asked who she was, | | | | one year before I found anyone who could help me |
| she replied: | | | | understand what it meant. |
| I am you, I am your mother, I am your sister, I am your | | | | I had moved with my family from Dallas to Portland. |
| grandmother, I am the Earth. She had gray hair pulled | | | | This move created whole-sale changes in my life: a |
| back tightly in a bun, and her skin was wrinkled and | | | | new job, new community, new church, and new |
| weathered by life. She was wrapped in a wool blanket | | | | friends. I did not know at the time, but I understand |
| and smoking a pipe. She asked if I wanted to join in the | | | | now, that this move was part of a major shift that |
| sisterhood, but warned me that my life would be | | | | would lead to a reordering of my life. |
| forever changed. I was doubtful, but kept hearing the | | | | Shortly after the move, I was at the Oregon coast |
| word "trust" in the background. I nodded my head and | | | | with my husband, who was attending a convention. He |
| spoke the word yes. | | | | burst into our hotel room saying, "Jan, come down to |
| When we finished smoking the pipe, she spoke again. | | | | the vendor displays with me and meet this person |
| "Your guidance will be provided. Your medicine that | | | | who has a booth with some very unusual books. I think |
| you carry is North, Wisdom, Healing, and Love. Begin at | | | | you will be intrigued." |
| this time to start reading and learn to understand the | | | | I followed him down and browsed through the various |
| Ways." | | | | books. They addressed a wide range of spiritual |
| Looking back on this experience, I see the meaning of | | | | matters, many from nontraditional perspectives. I do |
| the vision with clarity and understand fully the intent of | | | | not remember the specific titles of the books, but I do |
| the visitation, but at the time I was left perplexed and | | | | remember feeling an uncontrollable urge to ask the |
| wondering. I had had no exposure to any indigenous | | | | sales woman if she knew anything about visions. She |
| teachings. I did not know what sisterhood meant. I did | | | | did not, but offered me the name of a woman who |
| not know anything about the pipe ceremony; I did not | | | | might help. I remember the excitement-the bolt of |
| even know that it was traditional for Indians to smoke | | | | energy-that ran through me as she handed me a |
| pipes. I had no idea what the word "medicine" meant | | | | business card with the woman's name and phone |
| except as some combination of chemical elements to | | | | number written on the back. I called immediately when I |
| take when you are sick. I was engulfed in the mystery | | | | returned to Portland. |
| of the vision, but confused as to its meaning. Why had | | | | The woman referred to herself as a channel, and |
| I had a vision? What did it mean? What, if anything, | | | | claimed that she connected with the client's guardian |
| was I supposed to do with these strange images that | | | | spirits, or angels, for guidance. She told me over the |
| had invaded my consciousness? | | | | phone that she felt my own guardian spirits could help |
| Even to start reading about the Ways presented a | | | | me understand my vision. I caught my breath. The |
| mystery. What were the Ways? Where would I find | | | | whole concept of guardian spirits was completely |
| readings that would teach me the Ways? I was | | | | foreign to me. I had been to psychics in the past, but I |
| involved in psychology in a very traditional way; I knew | | | | had never experienced anyone who claimed to |
| no other way. I was active at the time in the Methodist | | | | channel. I had little idea what the word channel meant |
| Church. In fact, I was considering studying for a | | | | or what I had gotten myself into. Yet still I was curious |
| doctorate in theology and perhaps pursuing a ministry. | | | | and felt innately that this was the right choice. I drove |
| This vision was not at all a part of my existing reality | | | | to her house. From that point on everything changed. |
| system; it left me completely baffled. However, my | | | | Due to this shift in my awareness and my willingness |
| love for God was so great that I honored the | | | | to open to new possibilities, I became exposed to the |
| experience. I reminded myself of the many stories in | | | | people, training, and concepts that completely remolded |
| the Bible where visions had occurred with wondrous | | | | my life and my profession. Each shift has been a step |
| messages accompanying them. I believed that this | | | | along the divine path of my development and my |
| vision had come to me for a purpose I did not yet | | | | understanding of how we all can heal. |
| understand; however, for me to fully honor this spiritual | | | | Since the original vision, I have had numerous additional |
| visit, I needed to seek greater understanding. Thus | | | | spiritual experiences. I began to reorder my life, renew |
| began my voyage of discovery. It would prove to alter | | | | my thinking, and interlace my knowledge of psychology |
| my very existence, and it is a voyage I continue to this | | | | with elements of spirituality and actual teachings from |
| day. The wonder of it has proven to be in the journey | | | | the spiritual realm. As I integrated these experiences |
| itself, not in any final destination. | | | | into my own consciousness, I became acutely aware |
| I committed to joining the sisterhood, whatever that | | | | that my experiences were not only for me but were |
| was. I had made a contract with the vision, and I would | | | | also to be used as teachings for others. The teachings |
| keep my commitment. I just had no idea what to do or | | | | and experiences hold universal messages, or basic |
| where to start. I felt that I needed guidance, but there | | | | truths, that need to be shared. |
| was no one in my network of friends with that kind of | | | | |