When I was in my early twenties, I didn’t love myself. Honestly, I didn’t even know what self-love was. I was filled with deep, existential doubt.

Because I felt empty inside, I spent all my energy begging for love from the world around me. I became a professional at seeking validation.

I looked for it in women. I wanted beautiful girlfriends who would adore me, thinking that if they loved me, I would finally feel worthy. I looked for it in my family. I did everything they wanted me to do. I said “yes” to everything. I became the perfect “good boy.”

I also looked for it in my friends. I wanted to belong, so I acted exactly like them. I betrayed my own personality and desires just to be accepted.

I was chasing a feeling that I called love, but it wasn’t love. It was just a cheap substitute. It was an anesthesia to numb the pain of my own emptiness.

I was constantly anxious, trying to “rob” energy from the outside world because I couldn’t generate it within myself. I forced my behavior, my words, and my actions just to keep everyone else happy. Eventually, this pressure caused me to explode existentially. That breakdown was the beginning of my spiritual path.

The Solitude Paradox: Finding Connection When You Are Alone

Seven years later, my life looked completely different. I had gone through a massive spiritual awakening and moved to a new city where I didn’t know a single soul.

On the surface, it looked like I had lost everything I used to chase. I had no friends in town. I had no girlfriends. I lived alone in an apartment and spent most of my time working or being by myself.

But something incredible started happening.

Every night, I would lie down in a huge bed in a lonely room, in a neighborhood where nobody knew my name. And yet, I felt completely full of love.

One night, I opened my eyes, stared at the ceiling, and asked myself: “How is this even possible?”

Back when I had friends, girlfriends, a good job, and social success, I felt empty. Now, when I was more alone than ever, I felt more love than ever.

That was the moment I began to understand. I realized that self-love isn’t something you get from others—it’s a state you enter. And to enter it, I had intuitively followed a process that I want to share with you now.

Step One: Radical Acceptance (Meeting Your Shadow)

The first and most important step to finding self-love is acceptance.

But be careful—people often confuse acceptance with resignation. Resignation is when you look at something you don’t like and say, “Well, I guess it’s going to be like this forever.” That is not acceptance. That is giving up.

True acceptance is the ability to include everything in your perception. It means looking at what is happening in your body, your emotions, and the world around you, and letting it be there without trying to push it away.

Stop Hiding Your “Underworld”

In shamanism, we talk about the Underworld or the Shadow. This isn’t some mystical place in another dimension; it is right here, inside you.

Your Shadow is where you store all your pain, guilt, unresolved wounds, and the parts of yourself you are ashamed of. It lives in your body—in your muscle tension, in your joint pain, and in those intense, uncomfortable emotions you try to avoid.

For years, I tried to hide my Shadow. For example, I used to be a bit chubby, and I hated my body. Instead of accepting it, I covered it up with clothes and looked the other way. I put on my “good boy” mask to hide my insecurities from others and from myself.

But here is the secret: You cannot feel love if you are hiding.

To find love, you must start observing the parts of yourself you don’t like. You don’t have to like them, but you have to feel them. Ask yourself: “Why does this make me feel bad? Do I feel ashamed? Sad? Weak?”

Relax into those feelings. Include them in your experience. This is the prerequisite for love to enter.

Step Two: Trusting That Life Makes No Mistakes

Once you develop the habit of looking at your dark places, you need something else to keep you going: Trust.

You need to trust that your pain, your shadow, and your struggles are not mistakes. They are not glitches in the system. They are a fundamental part of your existence.

The Limiting Belief That Kills Love

Most of us walk around with a subconscious belief that life is dangerous, chaotic, or accidental. We think that if we stop controlling everything, things will fall apart. We believe that pain is proof that something has gone wrong.

This belief is the enemy of inner peace.

The truth is that life does not fail. Nothing that happens to you is accidental. Everything in this universe follows the law of cause and effect.

Your “Underworld”—that heavy baggage of karma and pain you carry—is actually there for a reason. Without it, your life would have no direction. It is intimately connected to your life purpose.

There is a hidden order behind the chaos. The ultimate goal of every experience, even the painful ones, is your healing, your growth, and your eventual return to love. When you start to see life this way, you stop fighting against reality and start trusting the process.

Step Three: The Art of Losing Control

This was the final piece of the puzzle for me. Once I accepted my shadow and trusted life, I started to develop a new ability: entering a state of non-control.

I used to try to control everything in my life to get what I wanted. But it never worked. I realized that the most beautiful things in life—like authentic love—only happen when you stop trying to manage the outcome.

Love is not a math problem. You cannot solve it like an equation. You cannot force it.

Transcending the Mind

Love only occurs when we transcend the mind and enter a space of non-control. This is what we do in our shamanic rituals, meditation, and breathwork practices. The goal is always the same: to stop directing the experience and just let it flow.

In this state, you stop fighting. You start including everything.

• A difficult emotion comes up? You include it.
• A painful memory surfaces? You include it.
• A negative thought arrives? You include it.

Instead of pushing these things away, you welcome them with care and trust. This capacity to include everything is what love actually is.

Love is not just a sweet, romantic feeling. Love is your capacity to connect with everything—the good, the bad, and the ugly. It is the energy that binds you to reality when you stop resisting it.

That is why you never fall in love with the person you expect to fall in love with. It happens spontaneously, on a random day, when you least expect it. Why? Because love needs spontaneity. It needs the absence of control to breathe.

Conclusion: True Love is Connection, Not Need

When you learn to accept, trust, and let go of control, you arrive at a beautiful, unique place in your life. You realize that you don’t need anyone to feel love.

The people in your life will be there because you want them there, not because you desperately need them to fill a void. Your relationships will come from a place of freedom, not dependency.

You will feel lighter, more energetic, and more joyful than ever before. Instead of adapting your life to get validation from others—like I did when I was younger—you will finally start creating your own life.

Ready to Go Deeper?

This power is already inside you, but you have to learn how to access these different states of consciousness.

If you are curious about how to enter these states of non-control, acceptance, and trust, we are here to help. We are always working with these energies through practices in nature, retreats, and community gatherings.

Contact us, leave a comment, or join our community. Let’s walk this path back to love together.

We are connected. See you soon.

I remember a specific time I went to lead a shamanic ritual. The setting seemed perfect. Everyone was ready, sitting or lying down in their positions, waiting to begin.

I picked up my drum and started playing. My intention was clear: to connect with the spirits and start the healing process. We wanted to journey into the “underworld” to cut cords with the past, release old pain, and let go of the fear stopping us from living the life we wanted.

But then, something strange happened.

As I beat the drum, I couldn’t move the energy. It felt completely stuck. Solid. Heavy. It just wouldn’t shift or flow. It ended up being a very weird, difficult session.

Confused, I later went to my master and asked him, “What went wrong?”

He explained something that changed everything for me. He told me that whenever you want to journey into the underworld to do shadow work or heal the past, there are two fundamental things you must do. Always.

If these two elements are missing, you won’t be able to go deep. You will get blocked. Instead of healing, you’ll just get trapped in your own heavy emotions and looping thoughts.

Let me share these two missing keys with you, so you never get stuck again.

Element #1: Activate Your Vitality (The Warrior Energy)

The first thing my master told me was simple yet profound: “Your vitality must be active.”

In our modern world, we often arrive at spiritual practices feeling drained. We come from long days at work, scrolling on phones, or being stuck in our heads. We are disconnected from our bodies. But you cannot enter the underworld in this state.

That is why, before any deep ritual, we often go for a hike, a walk in nature, or do physical exercise. We need to wake up the body and ignite the inner fire.

The “Victim Trap”

Here is the hard truth about energy healing: You cannot heal while you are in a state of victimhood. It is 100% impossible.

The underworld is filled with heavy energies—grief, guilt, sadness, and lethargy. If you enter that space feeling weak or thinking, “Poor me, life is so hard, my parents did this to me,” those heavy spirits will eat you up. You won’t heal; you will just get stuck in the mud of your own complaints.

To avoid this, you need to be in a state of power. You need to be a warrior.

Even if you feel weak, you must generate energy temporarily. Jump into cold water , run for an hour, do intense breathwork, or practice yoga. Do whatever it takes to fill your system with fire. With that fire, you can journey down, face the shadows, and come back up. Without it, you just get tired.

Element #2: Open Your Heart to the Spirit

The second missing key is the reason why, sometimes, I spend a good 30 minutes (or even an hour) praying before I even start a ritual. I simply cannot move the energy until the hearts in the room are open.

This element is prayer.

Shadow Work is a Team Effort

Many people try to do shadow work alone, from a mental place. They treat it like a mechanical fix—like taking a car to the mechanic. They think, “I want to fix my trauma so I can be more successful,” or “I want to feel like a powerful shaman.”

But doing it from the ego, or treating it just like a business transaction, will not work.

Real shadow work is done with the help of the spirits. You cannot do it by yourself because the whole point is to remember unity. It is a guided journey.

When you release deep pain or trauma, you aren’t just throwing it into the void. You are handing it over to the spirits. They are there to receive what you are ready to let go of. But for them to help you, you must ask for help. You must be humble.

You don’t need to be religious. You don’t need to believe in a specific “God.” But you do need to open your heart to something bigger than yourself and trust the journey. Only when you surrender and say, “I can’t do this alone, please guide me,” does the real magic happen.

How to Know If Your Shadow Work Is Working

So, how do you know if you have successfully navigated the underworld? It’s actually quite simple.

When you have both your vitality activated (the warrior) and your heart open (the humble student), the spirits can finally guide you deep. Your vitality protects you from the heavy “victim” energies, and your open heart allows the release to happen.

You will reach a moment of intense emotional release. You let it go.

The clear sign that the work is done is how you feel afterward. You should feel lighter, joyful, and motivated. You feel a spark of life returning to you.

Even if you haven’t solved the “root of the root” of all your problems, you have cleared enough space to move forward. You have energy for your life, your projects, and your passions again.

The Warning Signs

On the flip side, if you finish a session feeling drained, stuck in negative loops, complaining, or criticizing yourself, it means one of the two elements was missing.

Remember this for your next healing journey: Bring your Fire, and bring your Prayer. Without them, you are just walking in circles in the dark.

Have you ever felt stuck during shadow work? Or have you experienced that rush of energy after a good cry? Let me know in the comments below. We are connected.

Join Us in the Dark to Find Your Light

We have talked about traveling to the underworld and the importance of doing it with a guide. Now, nature is inviting us to do exactly that on a cosmic scale.

We are approaching the Winter Solstice. This is the darkest night of the year—the “Zero Point” where everything stops. It is the ultimate moment for shadow work.

If you are in Brussels, I invite you to stop running and sit in the silence with us.

Winter Solstice Drum Ritual: Into the Silent Sun

On Saturday, December 21, 2025, we are gathering at the Inner Spark Ashram for a powerful 3.5-hour journey.

We will apply exactly what you learned in this article:

• Activate Vitality: We will recover the energy trapped in your past.
• Open the Heart: We will connect with the spirit of the Winter Sun to guide us.
• Deep Release: We will use the shamanic drum to journey through the four worlds and let go of the heavy baggage from 2025.

You don’t have to do this alone. Come sit by the fire (metaphorically and spiritually) and prepare yourself for a new beginning.

Where: Inner Spark Ashram, Woluwe Saint Pierre, Brussels
When: December 21, 2025 | 17:00 – 20:30
Spots: Intimate group (only 10 spots)

Are you ready to close the cycle and reclaim your spark?

Book Your Spot for the Solstice Ritual

(Hurry, spots fill up fast!)

We have all been there. We have these situations where we yell at the people we love, we get into fights with important people in our lives, or we just fight over silly things. Sometimes, we explode emotionally without any real justification.

Other times, we stop ourselves. We sabotage what we are doing with negative, destructive thoughts, undervaluing the beautiful things in our lives or our projects. Or perhaps we pour our energy into addictions—food, tobacco, drinks—wondering why our energy manifests destructively and feeling like we can’t do anything to stop it.

But before we go any further, I want you to know one thing: You are not broken.

Thinking “I am broken,” “I am doomed,” or “everything I do is wrong” is just another negative, destructive pattern.

The truth is much simpler. The only thing happening is that you have an excess. You have an excess of creative energy that you are not using. Destructive patterns simply feed on the creative energy that we are holding back due to fear and blocks.

Your Gifts Are Not for You

Now, what does this river have to do with you?

Every single one of you has a gift. You have gifts and talents that you received from God, from life itself. We all have them.

But what exactly are these gifts?

• For some, it is intelligence.
• For others, it is fire—a strength and confidence to do things in this world, an incredible vitality.
• Some have the gift of consciousness, the ability to see the truth of what is happening.
• Others are masters of beauty.
• Some have an innocent heart that never judges, that forgives with deep compassion.
• Some have a strong, resistant body, a physical power to achieve great things.
• And some have the gift of humor, bringing joy to the spirit.

Whatever your gift is, imagine it is that river of energy flowing toward you. It is a faucet you cannot turn off. Just like the water from the mountain snows never stops coming, this energy never stops coming to you.

But here is the key you must understand: These gifts are not for you. They are for you to give.

In fact, you often cannot even recognize you have a gift until you give it away. That is why a person who is naturally extremely strong, confident, and full of fire might actually feel weak. Why? Because they aren’t expressing their great gift.

We usually have our biggest blocks right where we have our biggest gifts.

Think about it. Imagine you have that internal fire—the energy of a warrior. But you live in a world conditioned for a quiet, comfortable life where the only goal is simple survival. If your life is just going to the office, going to the supermarket, and maintaining a routine, you cannot express that quality. That fire screams to be put into a great battle, a great project.

Or imagine your gift is creativity. It is screaming at you to create something new, something incredible. But if you are in an environment that is rigid, hermetic, or stuck in old habits, that creativity has no space to get out.

And so, the river gets cut off. The energy accumulates, and accumulates, and accumulates… until it becomes too much.

Why “Managing Emotions” Doesn’t Work

So, how do we solve this? Or rather, why does everyone fail when they try to solve it?

The reason is simple: Everyone tries to manage the consequence.

You tell yourself: “I have to manage this conflict. I have to manage my emotions. I have to manage my intensity, my fear, my anger.”

But the truth is, it is unmanageable. You cannot manage it.

Once your energy has been invested in fear, conflict, frustration, or anger, and it grows enough… you can no longer control it. It dominates you. It covers you. You act based on it. It is almost as if you are possessed by that destructive energy.

And that is when the destructive attitudes come: the fights, the judgments, the negative internal dialogue, the self-sabotage.

Trying to stop the flood after the dam has broken is impossible. You are working at the wrong level.

The 3 Levels of Healing

So, how do we actually work with this?

We can work on three levels. It is super important that you understand these and apply them in your life.

This process of redirecting your energy to a place where it can be expressed takes time. Sometimes, you need to restructure your life. You need to change habits. You need to try new things, invent new projects, and—crucially—you have to “let go” of some things.

It is a profound transformation process, and most people skip it because it’s hard. But here is the roadmap:

Level 1 & 2: The Deep Work

These two go hand in hand, and they are the foundation.

• Identify your gift. You need to find that specific quality (fire, beauty, intellect, etc.) that flows through you.
• Create a space to express it. You must create a project, an environment, or a place in your life where that energy can be redirected.

If you have a creative gift but believe “I have to be a farmer like my father” or “I don’t want to hurt my family by doing something different,” that is your block. You have to dissolve those beliefs to create that space.

Level 3: The Bridge (Energy Alchemy)

Now, what do you do while you are building that new life? What do you do while you are transforming?

You still have that “stagnant water”—the anger, the frustration, the negative self-talk.

This is where Energy Alchemy comes in. You need practical support to handle the destructive energy right now. You do this through spiritual practices:

• Meditation
• Breathwork
• Hikes and walks in nature
• Rituals (like using the drum)
• Ocean baths

These aren’t just for relaxation. Their purpose is to transform heavy, destructive energy (lead) into light, constructive energy (gold). They return you to a state of inspiration and clarity so you can see what is blocking you and keep moving forward.

The Invitation to Transform

This is the great transformation—the secret that almost nobody tells you. Everyone works on the level of the “situation,” trying to fix the fight or the bad habit. Very few people work at the higher level of how you are redirecting your energy.

You can read about this, but to truly heal, you often need to step out of your current environment and experience it.

If you want to take this journey, we are traveling to La Gomera for our next retreat.

In this retreat, we are going to do exactly what we have discussed here, but we are going to do it with our bodies and souls, not just our minds.

Over the course of 6 days and 5 nights on this incredible volcanic island, we are going to:

• Reconnect with nature: We will hike in the mountains, meditate in ancient forests, and swim in the ocean.
• Experience the alchemy: We will connect with dolphins and use powerful practices to transform that negative, heavy energy into something light and vital.
• Find your clarity: You will leave understanding exactly what your gift is and, just as importantly, what specific fear or block has been stopping you from expressing it.

This trip is a gift you give to yourself. It is an escape from the tension, the conflict, and the fear. No one can just “tell” you this truth; you have to feel the process of energy alchemy within yourself. You will be amazed at the shift.

You will finally understand the missing element needed to escape these destructive cycles forever.

Join us in La Gomera (February 2026).

Don’t miss this opportunity to change your life’s flow from a flood into a river.

Reserve your spot here: InnerSpark Life – La Gomera 2026

It all started with a message that made no sense at the time. During a retreat, a tarot reading gave me a strange piece of advice. I drew the Moon card, and the reader looked at me and said, “Pablo, you have to overcome the influence of the moon.”

I just stared at him, perplexed. Then I looked up at the sky. The moon? What was it doing to me? I couldn’t understand it on a spiritual level. “What is that influence?” I asked him. “What is the moon doing?” I was confused and, honestly, a little scared. Did that giant rock in the sky have some kind of power over me? I needed to understand.

His answer changed everything. He told me, “The negative influence of the moon is your negative emotions.”

And suddenly, it all clicked.

Unmasking the Moon’s Shadow: The Energy of Heavy Emotions

The “lunar” energy he was talking about wasn’t about astrology in a technical sense, but about a very particular type of feeling. It’s that gravitational pull of negative, heavy, slow emotions that can completely take over your day. It’s like walking around with a heavy blanket over your shoulders that you just can’t shake off.

Think about it:

Sadness and Sorrow: A general feeling of melancholy that you can’t seem to shake, tinting everything in a grayish color.

Nostalgia for the Past: Getting lost in old memories, especially those tinged with regret or longing, replaying conversations and moments over and over.

Regret and Guilt: When you make a mistake and get emotionally entangled in it. You replay it in your mind endlessly, blaming yourself, feeling guilty, and wishing you could turn back time.

This is the moon’s shadow. It’s emotional quicksand. Once you step in, it slowly pulls you under. You start overthinking, blaming yourself, and feeling heavy. This emotional storm consumes all your energy, your vitality, your creativity, and your drive. You end up exhausted on the couch, feeling completely empty, having accomplished nothing you set out to do.

When you’re trapped in this energy, your life can’t move forward. It becomes mechanical, low-vibration, stagnant. You can’t do what you truly want to because all your power has been drained by these dense feelings.

A Universal Pattern We All Share

As I listened, I had a powerful revelation. This wasn’t just my story. This was a pattern I had seen my whole life, but one I had never put a name to. It was an invisible inheritance, passed down from generation to generation.

I saw it in the men in my family: my father, my uncles, my grandfather. This lunar energy would take away their capacity to act, their masculine power to move forward and make things happen in the world. I also saw it in the women, who often express these emotions more openly, making the pattern even more visible.

This isn’t a personal failure. It’s a human tendency. We all have a “moon” inside of us, an emotional tide that can drag us into these dark, unproductive states. The key isn’t to pretend it doesn’t exist, but to learn how to manage it when it arrives.

The Antidote: How to Instantly Shift Your Energy

So, how do you overcome this influence? The solution is surprisingly simple and incredibly powerful: shift from your mind to your body.

The moment I feel that gloomy, heavy energy starting to creep in, the instant I notice my thoughts starting to spiral, I know I have to move. I don’t think about it; I just do it.

I put on music and dance.

I do an intense workout.

I practice a yoga session.

I go for a brisk walk in nature.

By moving your body, you immediately break the spell. You pull your energy out of the mental story of sadness or regret and anchor it in the present moment, in your physical body. You don’t give the gloomy energy a chance to settle in and take control. This simple practice has been a game-changer for me.

The Other Side of the Moon: A Gateway to Healing

But here’s the beautiful paradox: the moon is not our enemy. Its energy is not just negative. The moon is also the gateway to our unconscious mind, the realm where our hidden emotions are stored.

This is why the full moon is such a powerful time. During a full moon, our emotions surface with incredible strength. If we aren’t conscious, we can become very reactive, leading to arguments, conflicts, and anger.

However, if we use this time consciously, it’s a golden opportunity for healing. We can perform rituals or meditations to consciously connect with that energy. It allows us to see the emotions that are normally suppressed—the old wounds, the hidden fears—and bring them to light to be healed.

By doing this, we are no longer victims of the moon’s influence; we are consciously working with its power. We are using its light to illuminate our own shadows and turn it into our ally.

Take Your Connection to the Next Level: Retreat in La Gomera

Understanding the moon is just the beginning. Imagine being able to extend this awareness to all the planets and stars, and doing it in one of the most magical places in the world for sky observation.

That’s why we want to invite you to a transformative experience. From February 17th to 22nd, 2025, we will be holding a special retreat in La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands, recognized worldwide for having one of the cleanest and most spectacular night skies on the planet.

In this retreat, we won’t just talk about the stars; we will learn to feel their energy in our bodies through movement practices, meditation, and rituals under a blanket of stars. It’s an opportunity to disconnect from the noise of daily life and connect deeply with your own energy and the cosmos. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

If you feel the call to transform your connection with the universe and yourself, this is your moment.

Discover more and book your spot for the La Gomera retreat here.

When I was a little boy, my world was filled with the rhythms of nature. My grandfather ran a family business centered around orange groves, and I used to spend a lot of time with him out in the fields. My favorite time of year, without a doubt, was spring.

I can still close my eyes and remember it. Imagine standing in a field surrounded by hundreds of orange trees, all bursting with the most beautiful, fragrant white flowers you’ve ever seen—we call them azahar. For a kid who was 5 or 6 years old, it was pure paradise. The sight, the incredible smell… it was magical, an experience that captured all your senses.

But then came the part I couldn’t understand. A few weeks later, all those perfect, beautiful flowers would die. They’d just fall away. It was heartbreaking for me. I’d look at my grandfather, who was always so calm and peaceful, and ask him, “Grandpa, why do the flowers have to die? Why can’t we just have these beautiful flowers all the time?”

He would look at me, not even raising an eyebrow, completely at peace, and say something so simple yet so profound: “Pablito, the flower has to die for the orange to come in October.”

Wow. For the orange to come—the fruit, the goal, the very purpose of the tree—the beautiful flower had to die. It wasn’t a tragedy; it was just part of the process. In that moment, a seed was planted in my mind, though it would take many, many years for me to fully understand it: death is not an end. It’s a necessary part of a much larger cycle. It’s a part of life.

Why Do We Get Stuck? The Modern World’s Missing Piece

That lesson from the orange grove is a beautiful metaphor for our own lives. We all have “orange trees,” don’t we? Maybe it’s a project you want to launch, a relationship you want to build, or a personal transformation you want to achieve. We all have goals, dreams, and things we want to manifest.

But here’s where we run into trouble. We start a new venture, full of excitement and beautiful “flowers,” but then something happens. A challenge appears, an initial plan fails, or a relationship ends. We experience a small death, a dissolution. And what do we do? We panic. We think, “Oh no, I’ve done something wrong. This isn’t working. This is a failure.”

Imagine if you didn’t know how an orange tree worked and you saw all its beautiful flowers falling off. You’d probably think the tree was sick or dying. You might even try to “fix” it by spraying it with chemicals, only to end up harming the tree and preventing the fruit from ever growing.

That’s exactly what we do in our own lives. Our modern world has lost touch with the wisdom of cycles. We live in a culture of instant gratification. We want the perfect outcome, and we want it now. We don’t respect the process. We resist the natural endings and deaths that are necessary for new life and growth. By fighting the cycle, we get stuck. We end up stagnant, drained of energy, and wondering why we never get to the fruit.

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Problems: The Shamanic Cycle of the Four Suns

So, how do we get back in sync with this natural flow? Luckily, we have two powerful guides that can teach us everything we need to know.

The first, as my grandfather showed me, is nature itself. The seasons, the cycle of day and night, the life of a plant—they all reflect this constant rhythm of birth, growth, death, and renewal. It’s a wisdom that is always available to us if we just pay attention.

The second guide is ancient traditions. Shamanic cultures, Druids, and other indigenous peoples lived in deep connection with the earth. They understood these cycles intimately because their survival depended on it. They didn’t see life as a straight line but as a spiral, a sacred dance.

One of the most profound maps for this journey comes from the shamanic traditions of Altai, Siberia. It’s called The Cycle of the Four Suns. This beautiful teaching breaks down the adventure of life into four distinct phases, giving us a clear and practical framework for understanding our own journey of manifestation and growth.

The First Sun (Spring & Sunrise): Answering the Call of Your Soul

What is the First Sun?

The first phase of the cycle corresponds to spring and sunrise. It’s that magical moment when a new idea sparks, a new passion ignites, or a new path calls to you. It’s the feeling of pure enthusiasm for something new and brilliant. It could be the desire to take a trip, start a creative project, get to know someone better, or finally free yourself from a fear that has held you back.

This is the stage where your soul opens up. It’s a connection to the future, to potential, to the promise of a bright new day. You feel something pulling you forward, something that seduces and excites you. This is your inner child saying, “Yes! This! I want to experience this!”

How We Get Trapped in the First Sun

Many of us get stuck right at the beginning. The first major obstacle is losing the connection with our inner child. When we are disconnected, we can no longer see what excites us. Life becomes a mechanical routine, and even though a new sunrise happens every morning, we feel nothing. We become incapable of even starting the adventure.

The second obstacle is when we do see what calls us, but we immediately judge and reject it. We don’t have the faith or the guts to follow it. Our minds jump in with a thousand excuses: “That’s just a fantasy,” “I don’t have the time/money/energy for that,” “Maybe next year,” “I’m too old for this.” By doing this, we reject the existential journey before it even begins, settling for a life of mere survival and comfort that eventually leads to burnout, depression, and a deep sense of being stuck.

What You Need to Move Through This Stage

To successfully navigate the First Sun, you need to cultivate a strong connection with your inner child. It’s about giving yourself permission to dream, to feel excitement, and to listen to your soul’s desires without judgment. It requires the courage to say “YES” to that inner calling, even when you don’t have a perfect plan. This is the essential first step to entering the sacred cycle of growth.

The Second Sun (Summer & Midday): Turning Your Vision into Reality

What is the Second Sun?

Once you’ve answered the call of the First Sun, you enter the second phase, which corresponds to summer and midday. This is the stage of action. It’s a yang, masculine energy phase where you take that inspiring idea and bring it down to earth. It’s about creating a plan, taking concrete steps, and committing to the project. This is when you’re full of vitality and energy, moving and making things happen in the world.

Think about the peak of summer—it’s a time of high activity, travel, and experiences. You are actively working to manifest the dream that gave you butterflies in your stomach during the First Sun.

How We Get Trapped in the Second Sun

The biggest obstacle here is confronting resistance and non-ideality. In the First Sun, your dream was a perfect, ideal potential. But when you try to make it real, you encounter the messy reality of the material world. The train is late, the hotel smells weird, your business plan hits a snag, people around you react negatively to your changes. Things are not perfect.

This is where many people give up. They think, “This is too hard. It shouldn’t be like this. If it were truly spiritual and aligned, it would be easy.” They retreat back to the safety of the First Sun, preferring to daydream about the perfect vision rather than face the challenges of reality. They get stuck in a loop of planning and dreaming, but never truly manifesting.

What You Need to Move Through This Stage

To navigate the Second Sun, you need personal power. In shamanism, we call this kut—your inner fire, determination, and the capacity to handle intensity. It’s about developing resilience, self-love, and the strength to overcome obstacles without giving up. You must accept that resistance is a natural part of creation. Manifesting anything meaningful in the physical world requires effort, confidence, and the courage to face imperfection head-on.

The Third Sun (Autumn & Sunset): The Crucial Inner Journey of Integration

What is the Third Sun?

After the action-packed phase of the Second Sun, we enter the period of the Third Sun, which corresponds to autumn and sunset. This is a yin, feminine energy phase where the focus shifts from the outer world to the inner world. All the actions you took and experiences you had in the previous stage have stirred something inside you—emotions, memories, fears, and attachments. The Third Sun is the time for the inner journey.

For example, you missed the train on your trip (Second Sun action). You managed the situation and found a solution, but now you feel insecure and out of control. That feeling is the beginning of your Third Sun journey. The cycle isn’t just about building things externally; it’s about discovering yourself. This is the crucial stage of emotional and energetic integration.

How We Get Trapped in the Third Sun

The main obstacle here is an inability to feel and take responsibility for our inner world. We live in a society that encourages constant doing, not feeling. So, when uncomfortable emotions surface, instead of looking inward, we project them outward. We blame the train company, our friend who was ten minutes late, or our partner for our feelings of insecurity. We see our inner state as someone else’s fault.

By projecting instead of integrating, we interrupt the cycle. We create conflicts, ruin relationships, and sabotage our own projects. We get stuck in a loop of blame and emotional reactivity, never getting to the root of our experience and never learning the lesson the cycle is trying to teach us.

What You Need to Move Through This Stage

To navigate the Third Sun, you need the capacity to stop, be still, and feel. It requires you to connect with your body, your emotions, and your sensations without judgment and without identifying with them. It’s about observation. You need the courage to sit with your inner discomfort and ask, “What is this experience trying to show me about myself?” This requires a gentle, receptive, and feminine energy—the willingness to simply be with what is, allowing for true integration to happen.

The Fourth Sun (Winter & Night): The Sacred Art of Letting Go

What is the Fourth Sun?

Finally, we arrive at the Fourth Sun, the phase corresponding to winter and the deep night. This is also a yin stage, but it goes deeper than the third. This is the moment of death, surrender, and rebirth. After integrating your emotions, you come face-to-face with the root of your inner journey: the beliefs, memories, and personalities you developed (often as a child) that are generating these experiences.

This is the most profound part of the cycle. It’s where you realize, “Oh, this pattern, this fear… this isn’t the real me. It’s just a construct.” The Fourth Sun is the sacred process of letting go of these false identities so your true self can emerge. This is where the old flower truly dies, making space for new life.

How We Get Trapped in the Fourth Sun

The biggest obstacle in this final stage is a lack of faith in a higher power. We try to fix ourselves with the same mind that created the problem. The ego cannot release itself. We resist surrendering control because we are afraid of the unknown. We cling to our old, painful identities because, at least, they are familiar.

This final, crucial step cannot be done alone. It requires help from what shamans call Spirit, or what others might call the Universe, God, or Higher Consciousness. Without the humility to ask for help, we block the miracle of transformation and remain stuck with our old baggage, unable to complete the cycle and be truly renewed.

What You Need to Move Through This Stage

To navigate the Fourth Sun, you need faith and humility. This is the stage of prayer and open-hearted surrender. It’s not about begging, but about opening a genuine dialogue with something greater than yourself. It’s the humble recognition that you don’t have all the answers and you need help.

In A Course in Miracles, this moment of release is called a “miracle”—a correction in the mind performed by a higher intelligence. By opening your heart and asking for this intervention, you allow your psyche to be healed. This act of surrender is what finally liberates your soul, completes the cycle, and prepares you to enter a new spring with renewed energy and wisdom.

Are You Ready to Let Your Own Cycle Flow?

From the enthusiasm of spring to the action of summer, the introspection of autumn, and the surrender of winter—this cycle is constantly happening within you and around you. It’s in your projects, your relationships, and your own body. The trees don’t cling to their leaves in autumn, and the flower doesn’t resist dying to become a fruit. Yet, we do. We interrupt these natural processes, and as a result, we get stuck, burnt out, and disconnected from our own vitality.

By ignoring this ancient wisdom, we accumulate old energies, unresolved conflicts, and fears from the past. We forget how to renew ourselves. But when you learn to understand and respect these four stages in your own life, everything changes. You stop fighting reality and start flowing with it. You regain your creativity, your joy, and a deep sense of purpose.

Your Invitation to Experience the Four Suns in La Gomera

Understanding these cycles intellectually is one thing. Embodying them is another. If you feel that these cycles are blocked in your life and you’re ready to get the engine running again, I want to invite you to something special.

From February 17th to 22nd, 2026, we are hosting a six-day retreat on the subtropical island of La Gomera. This isn’t just a trip; it’s a total immersion into nature and into the wisdom of the Four Suns. We will work with each cycle through shamanic practices, meditation, breathwork, hikes in magical forests, and even dolphin watching.

This is your chance to disconnect from the modern world’s frantic pace and reconnect with your own natural rhythm. You won’t just learn about the cycles; you will live them. You will leave feeling renewed, with the clarity and vitality you need to move toward your goals with ease and confidence.

If you’re ready to bring this forgotten wisdom back into your life, find out more and join us:

Learn More About the La Gomera Retreat 2026

Why Is It So Hard to Have a Good Relationship with Our Parents?

Let’s be honest—healing our relationship with our parents is one of those deeply personal challenges that never really goes away. Especially for those of us walking a spiritual path, this question keeps resurfacing: How can I stay true to my soul while dealing with parents who don’t understand or support this journey?

Often, our spiritual awakening leads us down a very different road—different values, different beliefs, different ways of expressing love and truth. And when these differences clash with the people who raised us, pain surfaces. So what’s the most common reaction? We distance ourselves. We create space. We disconnect emotionally and sometimes even physically. Why? Because it just hurts too much to stay close.

There’s frustration. Old memories that sting. Unspoken words. Resentments that quietly pile up over the years. So we do what seems safest: we cut the cord in the material world.

But then something strange happens. We begin to feel that something essential is missing. Even if we’re thriving in other areas, the absence of peace in our relationship with our parents leaves an invisible wound. And that’s where the confusion starts: Should I try to reconnect? Is it even possible?

Healing Is Not About the Physical Relationship—It’s About the Spiritual Connection

Here’s something that changed everything for me: Our pain with our parents doesn’t just come from what they did or didn’t do—it comes from the spiritual disconnection underneath it all. In shamanic wisdom, we speak of the Divine Father Archetype and the Divine Mother Archetype—pure, powerful forces that represent the highest qualities of the masculine and feminine.

These archetypes exist beyond our earthly parents. In fact, our physical parents are meant to be symbols, or as we say in shamanism, amulets, that help us connect with these sacred energies. The father and mother you were born to are supposed to be bridges—portals to these higher spiritual guides.

The Divine Father brings qualities like inner strength, confidence, clarity, protection, and grounded power. The Divine Mother offers nurturing, forgiveness, compassion, beauty, and unconditional love. These are the energies we all need to evolve—spiritually and emotionally.

But here’s the challenge: most earthly parents are not aligned with these divine energies. They might be wounded themselves. They might have never received the love they needed. So they struggle to reflect these divine archetypes. And when that happens, a painful gap forms—a break not just with our parents, but with the Divine Mother and Father themselves.

And that’s the real source of our suffering. Not just a broken relationship with mom or dad—but a broken link to the sacred masculine and feminine that we deeply need in our lives.

How to Reconnect with the Divine Mother and Divine Father Archetypes

So what do we do when the bond with our parents feels broken? When healing the physical relationship is simply not possible—because they’ve passed away, or the distance is just too great, or communication is toxic or nonexistent?

The answer lies in something deeper. You don’t need your physical parents to reconnect with the divine essence they were meant to reflect. You can restore your relationship with the Divine Father and Divine Mother archetypes directly.

This isn’t about fantasy or imagination. It’s about reconnecting with the qualities that these archetypes represent and inviting them consciously into your life. For example:

• The Divine Father brings: strength, structure, trust, direction, presence, grounding energy, and healthy authority.
• The Divine Mother offers: tenderness, compassion, forgiveness, nurturing, creativity, intuition, and unconditional love.

Every single one of us needs these energies to live a balanced life. And when we lack them—when we grew up without a supportive father figure or a nurturing mother—we end up searching for them in places that often confuse us more than help us.

Some people try to find their divine parents in their romantic partners, which creates tension and codependence. Others chase external validation, achievements, or constant approval, trying to fill a void that only these inner archetypes can truly satisfy.

So how do we actually reconnect? Let’s look at some real-world examples from our shamanic school and retreats, where these practices are part of the path.

Shamanic Practices to Awaken the Father Archetype Within You

In our tradition, we work with the archetypes through rituals, nature immersion, and deep personal challenges that help awaken these energies from within. For example, once or twice a year, we organize a special men’s retreat—a sacred space for men to reconnect with the Divine Father.

At these retreats—like the one we’re hosting this June in Germany—we challenge ourselves physically and emotionally. We swim in ice-cold rivers. We walk on fire. We push beyond the mental limitations that keep us small. And in doing so, something magical happens: we reconnect with our inner strength, our confidence, our masculine essence.

We’re not just doing extreme activities—we’re reclaiming the spiritual power of healthy fatherhood. A power that’s firm but loving. Strong but wise. Grounded but visionary.

This power allows us to show up more fully in our lives. To manifest the life we want. To protect what matters. To speak truth with authority. And perhaps most importantly, to forgive our physical father and heal that ancient wound that still echoes in our hearts.

Connecting with the Divine Mother Through Nature and Compassion

Just as we work with the Divine Father through strength and challenge, we reconnect with the Divine Mother through softness, surrender, and nature. In our shamanic retreats focused on feminine healing, we often go deep into natural landscapes—forests, lakes, mountains—and open ourselves to the quiet wisdom of the Earth.

Why nature? Because nature is one of the purest reflections of the Divine Mother. She nourishes us without asking for anything in return. She holds space for us to cry, to breathe, to slow down. The sun on your skin, the breeze through the trees, the stillness of a lake—these are all reminders that you are loved, accepted, and held.

We use simple yet powerful practices to awaken this connection: walking barefoot, meditating under trees, speaking our truth to the water, or simply lying on the ground and listening. In those moments, we remember who we are. We feel what it’s like to be seen and loved without judgment.

Through this reconnection, we start to experience the essence of the Divine Feminine: forgiveness, beauty, nourishment, emotional healing. And slowly, the pain we carry from our physical mother begins to dissolve. We understand that she, too, was hurting. That maybe she was never taught how to nurture, because she was never nurtured herself.

And from this place of understanding, we can finally forgive her—not for her sake, but for ours. We reclaim our ability to receive love and softness. We become our own source of nourishment and emotional safety.

When You Heal the Archetypes, You Heal the Wound with Your Physical Parents

Here’s the beautiful part: when you reconnect with the Divine Father and Mother, your relationship with your earthly parents naturally begins to shift—even if they’re not physically present anymore.

This doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly become best friends with your mom or dad. In some cases, direct communication may never happen. But internally, something changes. You no longer feel defined by the pain, the absence, or the rejection. You feel whole. You feel free.

And that’s what we’re really longing for, isn’t it? Not necessarily perfect relationships, but inner peace. A sense that we are loved, supported, guided. A sense that we belong.

Once the archetypes are restored within you, your family history no longer defines your identity. You become the bridge. The cycle-breaker. The healer of your lineage. And this is one of the most powerful steps you can take on your spiritual path.

Stop Looking for the Divine Mother or Father in Your Romantic Partner

This is a subtle but important trap many of us fall into—trying to fulfill the missing Divine Mother or Father energy through our romantic relationships. When we haven’t healed our wounds with our parents, or reconnected with the archetypes, we unconsciously expect our partner to fill that role.

We may crave unconditional support, guidance, approval, or care that’s more parental than romantic. And while these desires are natural, our partner is not meant to play the role of our divine parent. That confusion often leads to unmet expectations, emotional dependency, or patterns of neediness that damage the relationship.

In shamanism, we talk about another archetype that lives in our heart: Oname, the Divine Lover. This is the energy you’re meant to connect with in your romantic relationships—not the Divine Father or Mother. Oname brings a completely different energy: passion, partnership, shared purpose, creative intimacy, and co-evolution.

When we confuse these archetypes, we block both romantic and spiritual growth. But when we restore the Divine Father and Mother within us, and keep Oname sacred in our partnerships, we liberate ourselves from confusion and open the door to true love.

Final Thoughts: You Are the Bridge Back to the Divine

If there’s one thing I hope you take from this article, it’s this: healing your relationship with your parents starts by reconnecting with the Divine Archetypes within you. Whether or not you’re able to speak to your mom or dad, the healing is still available. The peace is still possible. The love you’ve been missing is still yours to receive.

You are the bridge. The one who breaks the cycle. The one who remembers what’s sacred and brings it back into the lineage—not just for you, but for those who came before and those who will come after.

Reconnect with the Divine Father. Reconnect with the Divine Mother. Let their energy hold you, guide you, and empower you. Because when you do, you’ll walk your path with more strength, more clarity, and more love than ever before.

And if you feel called to explore this deeper, join us at one of our upcoming retreats. There’s a space waiting for you—one where you can be seen, supported, and spiritually reborn.

With love and strength,

— [Tu Nombre Aquí]

Have You Been Haunted by the Past? You’re Not Alone

Have you ever felt like a memory—something or someone from your past—still has a hold on you? Like no matter how much time has passed, there’s a wound, a face, a phrase, or even a moment that tugs at your heart when you least expect it?

If that sounds familiar, then this story is for you.

In shamanic traditions around the world, there’s a deep understanding of why the past can still grip us so tightly. And more importantly—how to release that grip so you can reclaim your life energy and live freely in the present.

What you’re about to read is not just a story. It’s an initiation. A legend passed down through generations of shamans. A ritual journey into the unseen world—where healing truly begins.

So find a quiet place, breathe deeply, and let’s step into the sacred fire together.

The Apprentice and the Fire: A Shamanic Teaching Begins

Inside a smoky yorta, deep in the ancient forest, a young apprentice sat cross-legged, gazing into the flickering flames. The fire cracked softly, like it was whispering secrets. His thoughts drifted—home, family, pain, regret…

Suddenly—thump. A gentle tap on the head brought him back. The old shaman, eyes gleaming with quiet wisdom, had struck him with his drumstick.

“Again you wander into your past,” the elder said. “You think of your family. The life you left behind. The pain, the judgment. You are not here, apprentice. You are feeding the spirit of the past.”

“How do you know what I’m thinking?” the apprentice asked, eyes wide.

The shaman turned his gaze to the flames. “Because you’ve just connected with a powerful force… Toss. The spirit of the past. And you’re feeding it with your pain, nostalgia, and memory.”

He paused. “Today, you learn a lesson you must never forget. Never walk into your past unconscious or distracted. It’s time. Take your drum. We are going on a journey.”

The old man threw a bundle of juniper into the fire. The smoke thickened, swirling like a spirit come alive. Then the drumming began—slow, deep, ancient. A rhythm that touched something primal.

And just like that, they drifted into trance, descending together into the dream world. The world beneath the world…

Descending into the Dream World: The Spirit Called Toss

As the drumming echoed through the underworld, the two shamans arrived at a vast open field. All around them, men and women lay motionless, eyes closed, bodies still. But their life force—their energy—was not still. It flowed downward into the earth, pulled by something unseen.

Below the soil, a sea of glowing cords pulsed with light. Endless threads reaching deep into the earth, each one connected to a memory.

“These,” said the old shaman, “are the ones who live in the past. They replay the same stories over and over. They send their life energy backward, not forward. Instead of nourishing their dreams, they feed their wounds.”

The apprentice looked around, stunned. “Is that why some people, as they grow older, only talk about the past?”

The elder nodded slowly. “Yes. They’ve been feeding the spirit called Toss for too long.”

He continued, “Toss is the soul of the past. It begins as a harmless memory… but the more energy you give it—through pain, nostalgia, regret—it starts to grow. It gains shape. Weight. It becomes something alive. And if you’re not careful…”

“It can devour you.”

This wasn’t just metaphor. In the world of dreams, the spirit of Toss is real. And it lives off our energy when we dwell in the past unconsciously. The longer we avoid healing, the stronger it becomes.

Memories Are More Than Memories: They’re Fragments of Your Soul

They walked deeper into the underworld, guided by rhythm and spirit, until they reached a cave. Its walls were covered in crystals—each glowing with its own light, some warm and golden, others cold and blue.

“Each of these,” the shaman said, “is a cord. A link to a memory. And inside every memory, there’s a piece of soul.”

The apprentice stepped forward, sensing the strange energy. Some crystals glowed with joy, love, tenderness. Others felt heavy, dark, filled with shame and fear. “Some of these… I don’t even want to look at them,” he whispered.

“That’s because they still hold your pain,” the elder said. “They were born from moments when you were hurt, rejected, abandoned. And back then, you were too small to handle it. Your heart was open, defenseless. So your soul did what it had to do—it split. It left a part of itself behind, right here.”

He pointed to one of the darker crystals. Around it, a shadow moved—dense, heavy, alive with grief. “This is not just emotion. This is your shadow. The emotion you couldn’t feel back then. The part of you that was punished for being different. For speaking your truth. For not fitting in.”

The shaman turned to the apprentice. “But now… you’re strong enough. It’s time to retrieve what was lost.”

This is the essence of soul retrieval: Not remembering the past to wallow in it, but entering it consciously to reclaim what was yours all along.

How to Face the Shadow and Heal the Wound

The apprentice stood in silence, facing the dark crystal. The energy around it pulsed with fear, rejection, grief. His first instinct was to turn away. But the shaman’s voice anchored him.

“Do not run. Do not look away. Presence is your power.”

He continued, “To heal, you must look directly into the shadow—not with fear, but with your full attention. Your awareness is like light. When you look at pain with honesty and courage, it begins to change. It no longer controls you. It becomes a bridge to reclaim your soul.”

The apprentice took a deep breath and stepped closer. He placed his hand on the crystal. For a moment, everything around him stopped. And then… something stirred. The memory began to unfold. A moment from his childhood. A wound he had buried long ago. It felt raw, but he stayed. He breathed. He didn’t fight it.

And then—something miraculous happened.

A wave of warmth spread through his chest. As if something was returning. A sense of wholeness. He had just retrieved a piece of his soul.

“This is why the past still hurts,” the elder whispered. “Because a piece of you is still in it. But when you return—not as a victim, but as a spiritual warrior—you can bring it home.”

When the Past Pulls You Back: What It Really Means

Back in the cave, the shaman turned and looked deeply into his apprentice’s eyes. “There will be times,” he said, “when the pain returns. Sudden. Heavy. You’ll feel the pull. You’ll want to sit in it, to relive it, to let it wash over you again.”

“But don’t.”

He stood tall and beat his drum once more. The sound rolled like thunder.

“Rise your energy. Move your body. Run through the forest. Scream. Jump into the freezing river. Walk barefoot on fire if you must. But do not sink into the memory. Lift your spirit first. Only then can you face the shadow with power.”

This is one of the greatest teachings in shamanism: energy first, healing second.

Because if you try to process pain when you’re energetically low, it drags you deeper. But when your life force is strong—when you’re centered, grounded, alive—you can meet the wound with presence, not with collapse.

“And remember,” the elder said, “if the past still pulls on you… it means it’s time. Not to revisit it out of nostalgia, but to return as a warrior. To go back into the underworld—not to remember, but to retrieve. To retrieve your soul. To reclaim your life.”

That’s the power of true healing. Not just feeling better, but becoming whole again.

The Journey Back: Integration and Freedom

Guided by their power animals, the two shamans began their return. The beat of the drum shifted—faster, lighter—like wings lifting through the dark. The dream world faded, and with it, the shadows. They opened their eyes back in the physical world, the solid dream, as some shamans call it.

The smoke still danced in the air. The apprentice looked at his master. No words were needed. He felt it—lighter, brighter, more alive.

He stepped outside, barefoot on the forest floor. A breeze moved through the trees. And for the first time in years, his heart beat without weight, without fear. It beat with joy. With peace. With presence.

This is the power of soul retrieval.

It’s not a metaphor. It’s a sacred technology—an ancient practice of real, energetic healing that shamans have used for thousands of years to recover the lost pieces of ourselves.

When done properly, with presence, intention, and spiritual guidance, these rituals can change lives. They bring your soul back home. They return your energy to your body. And they allow you to walk forward—not as a fractured being, but as a whole, radiant self.

Feeling the Call? Here’s How to Begin Your Own Journey

If this story touched something inside you—if you felt seen, or even stirred by something you couldn’t name—you may be ready for your own healing journey. You don’t need to be a shaman. You just need willingness, honesty, and courage.

You can begin by learning the basic principles of soul retrieval and energetic cord cutting.

You can work with a trained guide or practitioner who understands the landscape of the soul.

And you can call on your own inner power, your ancestors, and your spirit allies to walk beside you as you reclaim what was always yours.

You are not broken. You are whole. You just have to bring your pieces home.

If you’d like to go deeper, I invite you to connect with us. We guide people through powerful soul retrieval journeys, both in person and online, through ceremonies, retreats, and 1:1 mentorships. This is sacred work. And if you feel called, we’re here to walk it with you.

And if this story resonated, don’t forget to like, share, or leave a comment below. Tell us: what part of your past still calls to you? What shadow are you ready to face?

We read every word. And we walk with you.

Until next time, may your spirit be whole, your path be clear, and your soul come home.

Embarking on a shamanic journey to the underworld is a profound experience that allows you to confront the darkest parts of yourself while connecting with powerful spiritual forces. In shamanic traditions, the underworld is not a place of evil or punishment, but rather a realm of deep truths, ancestral wisdom, and hidden energies that shape your life. It’s a sacred journey where the soul ventures into the depths of consciousness, guided by a shaman or spiritual practitioner, to uncover the shadows we often avoid in daily life.

During this journey, a shaman typically enters a trance state, often aided by rhythmic drumming or chanting. This altered state of consciousness allows them to traverse different spiritual realms, including the underworld. Unlike our common perception of this realm, the underworld is not a place of torment but rather a domain where hidden aspects of ourselves—our fears, trauma, and unresolved pain—reside. It’s a place where personal and ancestral healing can occur, as long as we’re willing to face the shadows we find there.

While this journey is challenging, it’s deeply transformative. It’s not just about understanding your darkness but also about healing it. When approached with respect and guided intention, a journey to the underworld can offer immense spiritual growth and empowerment, unveiling truths about your soul’s purpose and the hidden forces that influence your life.

How to Prepare for a Shamanic Journey to the Underworld

Before embarking on a shamanic journey to the underworld, preparation is crucial. This isn’t a casual meditation; it’s an intense, spiritually charged process that can unlock deep insights and bring up old wounds for healing. To ensure a safe and effective journey, here are a few key steps to take before diving into the underworld:

1. Find Your Sacred Space

The first step in preparing for your journey is identifying a sacred space—a place that feels energetically potent or spiritually significant to you. This could be a natural environment, like a forest, or a quiet room in your home where you’ve performed rituals before. Your sacred space should feel safe and help you connect with your spiritual guides. Creating an altar with items that hold meaning, such as crystals, feathers, or ancestral symbols, can also amplify the energy of the space and guide you during your journey.

2. Clear Your Mind and Spirit

Entering the underworld with a clear mind and spirit is essential. Begin by practicing mindfulness or deep meditation to release any attachments to daily concerns. You need to approach this journey with a sense of openness and readiness to confront whatever comes up, whether it’s past trauma, unresolved pain, or forgotten memories. Let go of societal labels, the roles you play in life, and even your fears. By clearing yourself of these attachments, you’re preparing your soul for the depth of the experience.

3. Set a Clear Intention

One of the most important aspects of a successful shamanic journey is setting a clear intention. Why are you embarking on this journey? Is it for healing? Spiritual growth? To uncover hidden knowledge about yourself or your ancestors? Your intention will act as a guiding light throughout your journey, helping you navigate through any challenges or obstacles you may encounter in the underworld.

Remember, the underworld is not a place of punishment but a realm of personal discovery. By entering it with a clear purpose, you’ll be better equipped to face your inner shadows and find the healing you seek.

The Role of the Drum and Other Ritual Tools

One of the most essential elements in a shamanic journey to the underworld is the use of ritual tools, particularly the drum. In many shamanic traditions, the steady beat of a drum is believed to mirror the heartbeat of the Earth, creating a rhythm that helps you enter a trance state. This rhythmic pulse is your guide, helping to shift your consciousness from the everyday world into the spiritual realms. The repetitive drumming patterns facilitate an altered state of awareness, making it possible for you to access the underworld and communicate with spirits, ancestors, and other energies that reside there.

The drum is often considered the shaman’s “horse” or “vehicle” because it carries the practitioner to other realms. As you focus on the sound of the drum, your mind detaches from ordinary reality, allowing you to cross the threshold between the physical world and the unseen realms. When preparing for a shamanic journey, it’s important to let the drum’s rhythm guide you naturally. The goal is to surrender to the sound and allow it to open the doors to the underworld.

Other Ritual Tools and Symbols

In addition to the drum, many shamans use other tools to aid in their journey. Rattles, chanting, and sacred objects like feathers, crystals, or stones are often incorporated into the ceremony. These items carry spiritual significance and can act as protective symbols or focal points during your journey. In some traditions, specific plants or herbs—such as sage or palo santo—are used to purify the space and the body, ensuring a clear and focused connection with the spirit world.

In certain cases, plant medicine, like mushrooms or ayahuasca, may be used to deepen the connection to the spiritual realm, but these should only be taken under the guidance of an experienced shaman. They are potent and can greatly amplify the experience, making it essential to have proper supervision and respect for their power.

Navigating the Underworld: Facing Your Shadows

Once the shamanic trance has been achieved, the real work begins: navigating the underworld. This journey is deeply personal and symbolic. The underworld in shamanism represents your unconscious mind—it’s where the deepest parts of yourself reside, the parts you may have ignored, suppressed, or forgotten. Here, you will meet your shadows: past traumas, fears, negative emotions, and unresolved conflicts. These shadows are not inherently bad, but they are parts of yourself that need to be acknowledged and healed.

As you descend into the underworld, you may encounter spirits or beings that represent these shadows. They could manifest as frightening figures or unsettling emotions, but it’s important to remember that their purpose is to guide you, not harm you. Facing these shadows can be challenging, but doing so allows you to integrate these forgotten aspects of yourself. By confronting them directly, you take the first step toward deep healing and transformation.

Often, the shadows you meet in the underworld are tied to old wounds or unresolved issues from your past. They could be linked to your childhood, your ancestors, or even past lives, depending on the tradition you follow. The key is to approach them with courage and compassion, recognizing that these parts of yourself need to be healed in order for you to grow spiritually.

Learning from the Spirits

During your journey, you may also receive messages or guidance from spirits or ancestors. These entities may offer wisdom or show you specific areas of your life that need attention. Some spirits act as protectors or guides, while others may challenge you in ways that force you to confront deeper truths about yourself. In many cases, these challenges are the catalyst for transformation.

As you navigate the underworld, remember that the experience is unique to each individual. No two journeys are the same, but the ultimate goal remains consistent: to face the shadows within yourself and return with the wisdom and power to heal and transform your life.

Returning from the Underworld: Integration and Healing

The journey to the underworld is just one part of the process—the return and integration are equally important. Once you’ve faced your shadows and gained insights from the spirits, it’s crucial to bring that wisdom back into your everyday life. This is known as the “return” phase of the shamanic journey, where you come back to the material world with newfound knowledge, clarity, and healing.

After a shamanic journey to the underworld, it’s common to feel a bit disoriented or emotionally raw. You’ve just confronted deep aspects of your psyche, and now it’s time to integrate what you’ve learned. This can be done through grounding practices, such as journaling about your experience, meditating, or connecting with nature. Allow yourself time to reflect on the messages you received and how they apply to your life. The wisdom of the underworld may not always be immediately clear, but over time, its lessons will begin to unfold.

Some people find it helpful to speak with their shaman or a spiritual mentor after their journey to process the experience. Integration is key to making the most of the insights you’ve gained. By reflecting on your journey and applying its lessons to your life, you can use the power of the underworld to heal past wounds, release old patterns, and move forward with a renewed sense of purpose.

The Importance of Self-Care After the Journey

Because a journey to the underworld can be emotionally and spiritually intense, self-care is essential in the days following your return. This might include practices like taking salt baths, spending time in nature, eating nourishing foods, and getting plenty of rest. Your body and spirit need time to recover and integrate the powerful energies you encountered. It’s also important to stay grounded—engaging in activities that keep you connected to the present moment, such as yoga or walking barefoot on the earth, can help you feel balanced again.

Remember, the goal of the journey isn’t just to visit the underworld but to return transformed. By taking time to honor your experience and nurture yourself after the journey, you’ll be able to fully absorb the healing and wisdom you gained, allowing it to ripple out into every area of your life.

The Benefits of a Shamanic Journey to the Underworld

Though a shamanic journey to the underworld can be challenging, the benefits are profound and far-reaching. By confronting your deepest fears and unresolved traumas, you’re able to access a level of healing that’s not possible through conventional methods. This type of shadow work allows you to release old wounds, break harmful patterns, and reconnect with your true self, leading to a sense of wholeness and inner peace.

Many who undertake these journeys report feeling more empowered, having greater clarity about their life’s purpose, and experiencing a deeper connection to the spiritual world. As you integrate the lessons from the underworld, you’ll notice a shift in your everyday reality: you may become more intuitive, more resilient in the face of challenges, and more aligned with your higher self.

Healing Trauma and Emotional Wounds

One of the most significant benefits of a shamanic journey to the underworld is its ability to heal trauma. By facing the shadows that represent past pain—whether from this life or ancestral wounds—you’re able to release the emotional charge these traumas carry. This leads to deep emotional healing, freeing you from the weight of old wounds and allowing you to move forward with greater freedom and joy.

The journey can also bring to light ancestral patterns that have been passed down through generations. By breaking these cycles, you not only heal yourself but also bring healing to your family lineage, creating a ripple effect of transformation for future generations.

A New Perspective on Life

Ultimately, a shamanic journey to the underworld changes the way you see the world. You return from the experience with a broader perspective, understanding that the shadows you once feared are actually gateways to your own power and healing. By embracing the darkness and integrating its lessons, you unlock the potential to live a more authentic, empowered life.

If you feel called to embark on this journey, remember: it’s not just about facing the underworld, but about finding the courage to transform. The shadows you confront in the underworld are, in reality, opportunities for growth, healing, and spiritual awakening. And by undertaking this journey, you gain the strength, wisdom, and inner peace to navigate both the spiritual and material worlds with grace and purpose.