July 30, 2026
The prevailing stories in our culture are that bears are big, physically powerful, and scary. Yes, they can be big. Yes, they are physically powerful. Yes, that much size and power can be scary to us as humans.
However, in the Non-Ordinary Reality of Shamanic journeys, Bear shows up differently.
Recently Bear has volunteered itself as a Helping Spirit in my Shamanic journeys. I have been doing and facilitating Shamanic journeys, for many years. Until a couple of weeks ago Bear had not showed up and volunteered to be a Helper for me. Bear first showed up as a painting on the face of a drum. I was a participant in a Shamanic workshop. There, hanging on the wall, was a drum with a magnificent Bear face painted on it. I felt the tingle of recognition run up and down my spine. It was an invitation, a call from Bear, a powerful pull. I played that drum during the weekend and purchased it so that I could bring it home to continue the work.
What, I wondered, did the Bear want me to know?
This has been a quiet, rather lonely time in my life. A time where I have felt directionless, as if I am in a holding pattern. Not quite sure what to do. Where to go. Do I still love this life I have created? Feeling irritated by myself and the world around me.
So, I picked up the Bear drum. Beat the Shamanic journey rhythm. Traveled into the Non-Ordinary Realm of the Lower World. Buffalo, the Helper in the Lower World who has greeted me for so many years, was joined by Bear. I rode them, standing with one leg on Buffalo’s back, one leg on Bear. Together we traveled to the meeting place at the Fire Circle. They tossed me like a ball between them. As they did, pieces of me fell into the fire, burned up, smoke carried that version of me up and away. Bear placed one great paw on my heart chakra. Buffalo placed one hoof there as well. Ocean lapped around my ankles then gathered into a huge wave that flowed over me, filling me up with salty water. A shining green-gold Dragon blew fire into me and Air Dragon fanned the winds of Wisdom and Freedom across me. A crystal grid appeared within me, glowing with light. Deep peace. Yes. Deep peace.
The voice of Bear vibrated through every cell of me. “Yes, physical strength and power are gifts I share with you. But remember, I know when to rest, to retreat, to go quiet. I do so without resistance and judging it as wrong. You can learn this from me. Listen to your rhythms. Follow them. Your schedule may not be that of others. Be like me and follow my example resting when the time is right. Rising when the time is right. Oh, and sometimes the best way to deal with irritations is to walk away. Do not engage. I am within you. Listen. Feel me.”
Bear’s message: Listen to your own knowing. Rest when it is your time. Work when it is your time. You know what is right for you. And walking away is sometime most powerful thing you can do.