ALBERTO VILLOLDO COLETTE BARON-REID MARCELA LOBOS... MYSTICAL SHAMAN ORACLE GUIDEBOOK Hn HAY HOUSE, INC. Carlsbad, California * New York City HAY London * Sydney © New DelhiCopyright © 2018 by Alberto Villoldo, Colette Baron-Reid, and Marcela Lobos Published in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: wwwihayhouse.com® * Published in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd: www.hayhouse.com.au * Published in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk * Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in All artwork is copyrighted by the artist and may not be reproduced by any means, electronic ot otherwise, without first obtaining the permission of the artist Interior design: Riann Bender * Interior illustrations: Jena DellaGrottaglia All rights reserved. No part of this guidebook may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private use—other than for “fair use” as brief quotations em- bodied in articles and reviews without prior written permission of the publisher. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being, In the event you use any of the information in this guidebook for yourself, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions. Printed in ChinaAtso By ALBERTO VILLOLDO, PH.D. Books Courageous Dreaming Power Up Your Brain The Four Insights (with David Perlmutter, Ph.D.) Illumination One Spirit Medicine The Illumination Process Soul Journeying Mending the Past and Healing the Yoga, Power & Spirit Future with Soul Retrieval Atso By Cotette BARON-REID Books The Map Messages from Spirit Uncharted Card Decks The Enchanted Map Oracle Cards The Wisdom of Avalon The Good Tarot Oracle Cards The Oracle of E Wisdom of i Hidden Realms (with Pam Grout) Oracle Cards Postcards from Spirit Wisdom of the Oracle Divination Cards +: All of the above are available at your local bookstore, or may be ordered by visiting: Hay House USA: www.hayhouse.com"; Hay House Australia: www.hayhouse.com.au; Hay House UK: www.hayhouse.co.uk; Hay House India: www.hayhouse.co.inCONTENTS A Message from the Authors .... Introduction... How to Work with This Deck . THE Carbs — 1. The Ancient Ones. 2. The Andean Cross. 3. The Arrow . 4. Beauty Way 5. The Beloved 6. The Blade 7, The Child... 8. The Circle 9. Completion 10. The Corn LL. The Council 12. The Coyote 13. The Crow 14. The Curse. 15. The Drum 16. Eagle . 17. Earth 18. The Earthkeeper 19. Fite cscs 20, FLOW... sees 21. The Gatherer 22. The Ghost Dance 23. The Giveaway. 24. The Heart of Sky 25. The Holy Mountain 26. The Hummingbird 27. The Hunter...... 28, Jaguar...... 29. The Journey30. Lightning .... 31. The Lower World 32. Luminous Warrio 34. Many Paths........... 35. The Medicine Wheel 36. Middle World 37. The Moon ...... 38. The Mystical Shaman. 39. The Owl 40. Pachamama 41. The Rainbow . 42. The Rainmaker 43. The Rattle . 44. The Sacrifice . 46. The Serpent 47. The Smoky Mirror 48. The Sorcerer ... 49. Soul Retrieval 50. The Spiral... 51. The Staff .. 52. Standstill .. 53. The Sun vcs 54. The Sweat Lodge 55. Taming the Wind 56. Thunder. 57. The Time Master. 58. The Tree of Life 59. Upper World ... 60. The Vision Quest 61. Water esscsceee 62. Wild Woman 63. Wind... 64. The Witness .. About the Artist... About the AuthorsA MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHORS m~ The sacred symbols in this deck are shared by all peoples. They can be found in the ancient rock carvings in the Mongolian steppes and in the pictographs of the American Southwest. They are the centerpiece of African, Aboriginal, and Andean petroglyphs. They are the heart of the collective wisdom of humanity. The three of us have dedicated our lives to studying ancient wis- dom traditions and divination practices. These teachings have allowed us to heal ourselves and find love and compassion for others. They have helped us understand the inner workings of destiny, and how the future unfolds through each and every one of us. One day, while sharing a pot of fragrant jasmine tea at the Omega Institute in New York, we discovered that we shared a longing to bring the ancient shamanic art of divination into a practical guide, an oracle for the modern world. We wanted to create a sacred oracle that could help everyone using it to craft a rich and meaningful destiny in these times of great change. Because the deck is a blend of mystical and shamanic wisdom we decided to call it Mystical Shaman Oracle to honor all our spiritual ideas and to be reminded that Oneness is the true nature of all things. The stunning artwork is by Jena DellaGrottaglia, who reached into her heart to capture and bring forth the essence of the ancient symbols we selected. Through her art, the timeless symbols have been brought to life—to speak to you. We hope you receive rich and meaningful messages from the Mystical Shaman Oracle. It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of its birth. In Spirit, AV, CBR, ML viiINTRODUCTION mx The future enters into us, in order to transform itself in us, long before it happens — Ratner Maria RILKE For millennia, men and women of wisdom sought to understand the workings of destiny. Those who were able to peer into the past and glimpse the future, to see beauty and purpose in the illusory randomness of nature, were considered prophets and seers. Today the task of reading the signs of destiny falls upon every one of us. If you do not discern the dangers and opportunities waiting for you, then you could be caught in the tidal surge that drags most people toward an unconscious destiny—what we call fate. And fate can be deadly. It is preordained by the past and can hold you captive to a life of ever-narrowing choices. The good news is we can become our own prophets and vision- aries. We can converse directly with Spirit, dialogue with the forces of nature, speak with the great archetypes—the ancient gods—without intermediaries. No one needs to stand between the Creator and you, or between you and the great powers of nature. Legends say that before there was time, before there was language, there were the sacred symbols. The Medicine Wheel, the Curse, the Eagle, the Jaguar, and others spoke to us intimately. In their count- less manifestations, they offered hope, expressed caution, illuminated opportunity, inspired creation, courted power, and shared knowledge. The sacred symbols belong to the realm of archetypes and the collective ixunconscious, the spiritual common ground shared by peoples modern and ancient. Mystical Shaman Oracle offers a doorway into this realm of the sacred symbols. When you consult the oracle, you summon power and wisdom that can help you understand the present, heal the past, and influence the course of your future. While our modern culture tends to look for meaning in the vis- ible, in the realm of things, people in ancient times looked for meaning beyond the visible. Shamans today still communicate with the invisible world of Spirit through the use of symbols. Inherent in the world of symbols is the understanding that things are not merely as they appear to be; there is a hidden dimension, and all things have two aspects: essence and matter. As you use this oracle, you will learn to integrate its symbols with ordinary reality, and in doing so, your world can be transformed. In this way, an eagle in a card is not merely an eagle, but a numinous eagle, a form suffused with sacredness, holiness, and light. As you shuffle the cards, the images—the eagle, the sun, the fire, and all the others—can emerge from the sea of possibilities to convey a message or a warning to you. The more you get to know them, the more clarity the cards inspire in you via your intuition. Then each symbol will begin to shed its light upon your life stage and illuminate your topic of inquiry. Lame Deer, the Sioux shaman, describes it this way: “We Indi- ans live in a world of symbols and images where the spiritual and the commonplace are one. . . . We try to understand them not with the head but with the heart, and we need no more than a hint to give us the meaning.”The Law of Synchronicity An oracle operates by the Law of Synchronicity. The moment when you have a question or need help, the world of symbols is available to provide that help. With a moment’s clear request for guidance, you will choose the symbol that can best shed light on the current situation. Syn- chronicity is the noncausal manifestation of events, and can allow the moment to be influenced not only by the past, through the law of cause and effect, but by the future. Symbols have the power to represent reality and the power to engage in the process of transformation—to change reality. In their cer- emonies, shamans recognize a duty to co-create the world by the use of symbols, and we see the evidence of this in the sacred art from all parts of the planet where shamans have lived. The Double Motion of the Oracle An oracle is, by nature, in motion. The symbols are alive, and reading them is like following the jaguar tracking a scent in the rain- forest, leading us through the thick brush into the clearing. Each card represents something that is known, while simultaneously pointing the way toward something that is not known—but that toward which they are reaching is also in motion. As everything in the cosmos is in flux, the dynamic communion with the symbol, where you invite the image into your heart, has a transforming effect on this moment of your life. Simple answers do not transform our spirit. In consulting this ora- cle, you will be disappointed if you expect definitive answers such as, “Yes, you should take the job offer” An oracle only does service when you claim your individual responsibility, It is meant to assist you in the process of making a decision, or to clarify an issue when you feel the need for guidance. xiHow To Work WITH THIS DECK mx This deck has 64 cards, each one depicting a sacred symbol. Remember that nature speaks in symbols and not in the language of facts. Stay with the image of the card or cards that you choose during a reading. Savor it; let it speak to the depths of your psyche. You will discover that a very primal part of your soul recognizes and responds to these timeless symbols. Every card is a dynamic snapshot of a situation or a moment, and shows you how the moment can transform from one condition to another. The symbols present the forces and influences at play and the direction that the energy is moving toward. After you meditate on the image and the power that it holds, consult the text in this guidebook. Each card has three important messages: the Essence, the Invita- tion, and the Medicine. ¢ THE ESSENCE tells you the timeless message of the card. It expands the symbol until you grasp its message, without your needing to analyze it. Always read the Essence first. © THE INVITATION tells you the gifts that Spirit is extending to you at this moment. It is a call to action. Read the Invitation only if your card is upright. ¢ THE MEDICINE tells you the aspect or area of your life or relationships that you need to bring into balance and repair. Read the Medicine only if your card is reversed. (Remember there are no “bad” cards, so reversed cards should not be avoided. In fact you might want to see this as extra help from the unseen world to guide and protect you.) xiiiMystical Shaman Oracle is a system of divination. The cards give you a bird’s-eye view of a situation. They show the evolution of events and reveal both probable and possible outcomes. The probable outcomes are the ones most likely to occur if you do nothing; the possible outcomes are ones available to you when you participate in selecting a destiny that is for your highest good. Working with this deck will give you a deeper understanding of the web of life, how everything is connected, and how your place in the world is not random but deliberate and divine. Make this deck your friend, get to know its symbols and mysteri- ous language, and you will see that as your awareness grows so does your relationship to Spirit. You will go from being a passive observer, reacting to the workings of fate and complaining about your lot in life, to becoming a conscious co-creator, shaping your destiny in partner- ship with a Higher Power. The mundane world will reveal its mystical underpinnings and the power of synchronicity will actively surprise and delight you. Be courageous and authentic as you dream the world into being, for it is only with awareness and respect for the laws of the universe that mir- acles can and will be discovered, like many treasures hidden in plain sight. How to Ask a Question The best questions ask for details, deeper understanding of situa- tions, or knowledge as to how to take a “next right step.” Questions that require yes/no answers should be avoided, as they foster passivity instead of inspired action, awareness, or empowered understanding. It is best to ask open-ended questions such as the following © What do I need to know about [describe the situation] for my highest good? © What will be the result if I take this action? © What do I need to change in order to improve things? xivSample Readings One-Card Reading A one-card reading is like opening a window into a new direction, new understanding, or confirmation about what you may already feel you know but need more certainty about. It’s the simplest way to get to know your Mystical Shaman Oracle. We like to pick one card daily to get a sense of what the synchronicity holds for us today, and help us be more conscious of opportunities we might otherwise miss. All you need to do is ask your question, then pull a single card. Allow your reading to percolate before you decide you know exactly what it’s about. Oracles have an uncanny way of tracking your energy, your state of mind, what is now or has been influencing you. Give it time if the meaning doesn’t immediately resonate. If, after a while, youre still puzzled by it, choose another card or two for more information. Example: We fanned the cards out in front of us and asked, “What impact will this deck have on helping people be more powerful, authen- tic, courageous, and prosperous?” We chose the card The Giveaway, which is about generosity and paying it forward. It essentially says, “You are the one you've been wait- ing for. The wisdom is not yours until you can give it away to another.” We were moved by this card because all three of us have commit- ted our lives to gather knowledge and experience in the mystical and shamanic traditions. We do feel that we are called at this crucial time of chaos and change to bring all we know and give it away to others Three-Card Reading: The Source and Outcome A three-card reading will give you a picture of the past, present, and future of the topic or situation at hand. This reading is particularly useful in finding the source of blocks and obstacles in matters relating to Work/Wealth, Relationships, Personal and Spiritual Growth, and Health and Well-Being. xvDraw three cards, placing them face up in front of you, from left to eight. The karthest cata to the left represents the past, the card in the center represents the present, and the card farthest to the right represents the possible future. Sit with each card and gaze at the image, before you read the name. As you hold each card in your hand, you will find a message from the past and the present, and the dangers and opportuni- ties that the future holds. The present moment is the product of events that have their origin in the past, just like the fruit is the product of the seed that then grew into the tree. When you understand the causes—the forces, beliefs, and persons—that define your situation in the present, you can set these energies free. When you become conscious of the moment, you begin to break free of karma—the unconscious tendencies from the past. And remember that karma can be good, bad, and indifferent. Do not be seduced by good karma, because it is still karma after all. Four-Card Reading: The Hidden Treasures in the Medicine Wheel When you need to dream your world newly into being, you have to discover hidden resources, the deeply buried treasures. When you have already harvested the gems and precious stones from the surface, you are ready to explore the depths with all its beauty and creative chaos. To that end, a four-card reading will reveal the hidden influences to your situation and show you things you might not be aware of. The layout of a four-card reading follows the four directions of the medicine wheel. Draw four cards, placing them in front of you in the four cardinal directions, in this order:The card in the south represents that which you need to let go off, what needs to be shed. It is an old wound that you no longer need to define yourself by. The card in the west represents a part of you that needs to die. It is an old story that needs to be let go so that you may find a new meaningful story for your life. The card in the north represents the wisdom that you need to acquire. You have learned the lessons from the south and west cards. What wisdom is ready to mature within you? What is your great medicine that you are ready to embrace? What are the deeply buried treasures that have become available to you? The card in the east represents your possible destiny, the way that you will share your treasures and gifts with others. xviiTHE ESSENCE The Ancient Ones are the shamans of old who defeated death and escaped from the tyranny of time. The Ancient Ones once walked the earth like us, in flesh and bone. Now they reside in infinity and can counsel us after we say yes to our calling. They are available to help us attain our full realization. THE INVITATION The Ancient Ones are inviting you to reach to the future to help birth a new destiny for the Earth. Go ahead; find out who you are becoming 10,000 years from now. If you accept the invitation, great power and blessings will come your way and allow you to craft a new destiny for yourself. Do not hesitate to bite off more than you can chew, because you have unlimited spiritual resources available right now. THE MEDICINE The Ancient Ones beseech you to examine your attitudes and actions, and be sure that they are of the highest integrity. Not forgiving an ances- tor (or yourself) is keeping you from the freedom you seek. Remember this is no longer your karma. You can break the chains that once bound you to the family drama and be free of your generational curses. For; the ones you need to release. Honor your biological ancestors by light- ing a candle to them tonight.o Gs Andean, Cross oa +0)THE ESSENCE The Andean Cross represents the cosmology of the shaman. It depicts the four cardinal directions, the upper and lower worlds, and the steps to reach these realms. The hole in the center is a gateway to interdimen- sional travel, the proverbial eye of the needle we can all go through to experience higher states of awareness and wisdom and to break free of linear time. THE INVITATION The Andean Cross announces the start to a great journey. It’s time to raise your gaze from the mundane day-to-day to that which, until now, has seemed beyond your grasp. Allow new wisdom to guide you and stop trying to make sense of it all before you respond with a resounding yes. THE MEDICINE The time has passed and the window of opportunity has closed. Now is not the moment to take that leap you have been overpreparing for. It is best to wait until conditions in heaven line up again to offer you a more propitious moment. Any bold action you take now will require tremendous effort on your part. Just as important as knowing when to act is knowing when to return to your inner stillness and wait for more favorable times.oa 0 2) - e_THE ESSENCE Receiving this symbol reminds you that when you are in alignment with your heart and soul, you are on target and will soon be hitting your mark. Be true to your calling, release attachments, and free yourself from the bondage of unbridled ambition. Now is revealed to be a moment of contact in which your intention meets the material world. The Arrow also symbolizes the need to set your creativity free. THE INVITATION When the Arrow zings through the air, it is inviting you to pay attention and signifying that you are about to make your mark in some aspect of your life. It illuminates the moment of contact when you know that your desires and intentions have traveled on the wind and landed in the perfect place for your highest good. Trust that your job is to be relaxed yet focused, keeping your eye on the prize yet releasing your intention with full expectation that it will land as it is supposed to. Don’t worry about the “how” or the exact form. This is not a time to interfere with the manner in which the arrow flies. It will make its mark, and you will have cause to celebrate! THE MEDICINE This is a time to admit that by continuing on the path you are on, you might be shooting yourself in the foot. Could it be that you have become so attached to winning this game that you have missed the true mark? What if your arrow was never meant to land where you wanted it? Now is the time to regroup and ask yourself if what you desire is really worth your energy. This is a sign that something better is waiting. Consider the wisdom in not getting what you want. Suffering in this case is a pathway to heal the parts of you that feel unworthy, the parts that worry there isn’t enough. Make peace with those voices. What is truly yours will be waiting for you. NPa. Lo Bae WayTHE ESSENCE The Beauty Way is both a path that you travel on and a daily practice. The path is where you choose to perceive only beauty before you, behind you, and all around you as you journey through life. The practice is where you take action to bring beauty to every situation you are in. When things get ugly, you act to bring integrity and peace to the dif- ficult encounter. When everyone else perceives only darkness, you point out the light and help uncover the hidden treasures. THE INVITATION The Beauty Way invites you to create beauty in your life and to recog- nize the beauty inside yourself and in others. Stop to smell the roses, take a deep breath, look up at the stars, and recognize the splendor that surrounds you. See the beauty in whatever situation you find yourself in, and you will receive the lesson that life is teaching you in a kind and gentle way. THE MEDICINE Stop trying to fix relationships that you believe are broken. Recognize that things are exactly as they need to be in this moment, and acknowl- edge the inherent beauty in that. When you understand this, you will be able to bring about the change you want. Do not engage in gossip about the darkness and flaws of others. Be careful not to be seduced by the superficial beauty of a project or relationship you are toying with, unless you are willing to pay a price for it later.“Be ear lovedTHE ESSENCE The Beloved is the recognition of Spirit in another, and moving toward Spirit through the other. It is when the divine appears to us in the form of our child, our partner, our friend, and we experience being in love. As we grow, we start to recognize the Beloved in everyone, not confus- ing their personality with their divine nature. THE INVITATION Accept the invitation to learn through the path of love. Expand your being through union with another. When you recognize the Beloved in another, you call forth their highest and purest nature. Follow the path of love. THE MEDICINE Be careful with romantic love, the kind of love you “fall” in and out of. Own all the projections you have placed upon the person you are dreaming of. Remember that they are only mirroring back your own deep longings rather than revealing their true selves. If you fail to notice this, be prepared to walk through the fire of strong emotions once again.See 0 eeeTHE ESSENCE The Blade represents sharpness of the mind, body, and spirit. Pointing upward, it summons the power of heaven. When aimed down to the ground, it anchors the power of the heavens on Earth. The blade can be a healing tool or a weapon. Wield it wisely, and it will transmit power, bestow initiations, cut energetic cords from the past, or sever toxic rela- tionships. Use it with anger, and it will slash, stab, and kill. THE INVITATION You are invited to draw your blade and use it. It is not auspicious to hesitate, to waste time in idle talk, or to hide from the inevitable. Heaven and Earth are aligned to support you in claiming your power, so take decisive action. Overcome your fear of hurting others, unsheathe the blade, and use it wisely! THE MEDICINE It’s time to put down the sword and place it back in its scabbard. Do not offer your blade in service to toxic emotions! You will be faced with an even more disagreeable future with the people or situations you are attempting to banish. Put the blade to rest until your inner fire has mellowed. Then use your blade with impeccable intention to cut the energetic cords that are tying you to the drama at hand. Set yourself free! 13