Writing Elemental was definitely a challenge, living the experiences and operating as a Dream Oracle was arduous, difficult, stressful, and dangerous. The experiences were real and the account is real. I can tell you exactly what the streets of Santiago Atitlan smell like, because I was there. I can describe to you the rooms that house the Holy Boy, the Rij Al Mam, the Maximon. I can tell you who was in that room, what they were wearing, what they were saying because the memory is etched in my mind like an old phonograph, the needle of remembering passing over the grooved and ridged valleys and peaks.

I can tell you what Bhutan is like, the crisp Himalayan air, the endless switchbacks over the Black Mountain Range, the hidden and occult inner chambers below the altars in Monasteries housing 30 foot statues of Guru Rinpoche.

And I can tell you the layout of Sedona, Arizona, the effects of the positive and negative vortexes, and the mystical aspects of the land. I can tell you all these things because I was there. Elemental Shaman is a true story. And I have pictures, recordings, and notes: all the things required of an ethnography. My background is Anthropology. This is what I do, this is what I live for: learning about cultures around the world.

The problem with a lot of Shamanic accounts and literature is that most of it is fake. Most of it is make believe. Marlo Morgan never found a lost tribe in Australia when she wrote ‘Mutant Message Down Under’. Carlos Castaneda never found a shaman named ‘Don Juan’. Castaneda’s writings are a mishmash of local accounts, historical retellings, and pure fiction. Today, there is even a self-proclaimed ‘International Maya Elder’ who is 100% Caucasian and was born in Illinois. I’m sorry, but there’s no such thing as an International Maya Elder. You’re either born Maya or not. The ‘Mayan Code’ is just another elaborate account of a misinterpretation of 2012 in the Maya Calendar. There is no Apocalypse on December 21, 2012 because the Maya Calendar never ends.

Which ties into my second point, the Rise and Fall of the Plastic Shamans. The recent deaths in Sedona, Arizona illustrate this point of a New Age or Plastic healer or ‘Medicine Person’ attempting to misappropriate culture for their own selfish reasons. It is a complete tragedy that Multi-millionaire self-help guru James Ray didn’t take the most basic precautions to prevent his participants from coming down with heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Charging sums in excess of $9,000.00 USD to sit in an oven and go through a so-called spiritual awakening is obscene and wrong. A traditional native American sweat lodge never operated like this.

The sweat lodge is a ceremony developed by Plains Indians to purify the participant’s spirit and commune with the spirits of the land and ancestors prior. The sweat lodge consists of a lean-to (a type of shelter), constructed with willow branches, ash branches, or other light tree limbs that can be bent into a dome shape. The branches are then covered with blankets. A small pit or depression is dug into the ground. In this pit, heated stones are placed. The leader of the ceremony will then pour water over the stones. Sacred invocations (and sometimes the smoking of tobaccos) are used to call down the spirits. The maximum number of participants in the sweat lodge is 5 to 7, no more.

The participants will stay in the lodge about 20-30 minutes, go outside for air, and then come back in. At no point are the participants forced to stay in the lodge. At no point, are the participants staying in the lodge for 2-3 hours. And at no point, does the Medicine elder charge the participants $9,000.00 for this unique experience, let alone stack 50 people into this hot place.

With the New Age Oven of 50 people, any visions experienced are undoubtedly the result of heat stroke as the body shuts down its organs to preserve the temperature of the brain. As the temperature of the brain increases, the body’s regulatory system begins to malfunction further, causing even more disorientation in the person. As the brain cooks, even more organs began to fail, until eventually the body goes into cardiac arrest. The utter and complete tragedy is that these instances of heat stroke can be prevented with two things: 1) Water and 2) Fresh Air. There is absolutely no excuse for heat stroke either in sweat lodges or High School football fields if people are provided one thing – Water.

And where was James Ray during this episode? Near the entrance to the lodge, enjoying the fresh air. There are so many potential claims against Ray, the landowners, the builders of the sweatlodge, the advertisers. Would you want your son or daughter in this oven? What about your Mom or Dad? And all of it could have been prevented, with a single glass of water.

If you want to learn about Native American traditions, ask. Ask a Native American. Our nation is replete with excellent sources on the traditions and tribal customs of our First Nations brothers and people. Go to a museum, pick up a book, study an Ethnography of the Kiowa, or the Sioux. Learn about the dispute over the Black Hills. Find out more about these tribes.

But please, be a bit skeptical when a Plastic Shaman, shows up at your door with a New Age rattle, driving a Mercedes, and offers to cure your ills and take you on a spiritual journey for $9,000.00

Regards,
Omar W. Rosales, J.D.
Author, ‘Elemental Shaman’
Director Heaven in Exile

I just wanted to thank Jennifer Hill Robenalt of Soul Lab Media for an Excellent Interview. Jennifer is an ingenue of the web, a one-woman publicity army, and Spiritual Traveler. You go, Guru!

As part of the Promotion for Soul Lab Media, if you tuned in to the Interview today and purchase a copy of Elemental Shaman within 48 hours, just email me a copy of your Receipt and I’ll give you a Free 15 Minute Dream Interpretation Reading.

Dream Readings are an excellent way to re-connect with our Spirit Guides, Ancestors, and God. By listening to the messages in our Dreams, we open ourselves to a New World of possibilities.

So, please buy a copy of Elemental Shaman on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

http://www.tinyurl.com/shaman2012

And I’ll be more than happy to give you a Free 15 Minute Dream Reading.

Take Care,
- Omar

For tonight’s X-Zone Radio Show, we’re having a Promotion. If you buy Elemental Shaman within the next 48 hours (by 5PM Saturday, Aug 15th) and send in your Invoice number or Customer Order number, or a copy of your email receipt from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, I’ll provide a Free 15 Minute Dream Interpretation Reading.

We’ll discuss your dream, talk about meanings, symbols. And I’ll also provide tips on how to improve your sleep patterns and dream lucidity.

Just Email the receipts or invoice numbers to: omar@elementalshaman.com

Thanks,
- Omar

Figure 1 – Maya Lintel from Yaxchilan, Mexico. Maya Late Classic c. 709 A.D. (Courtesy British Museum). Maya King emerging from a elongated Snake.

Figure 1

Figure 2 – Maya Lintel from Yaxchilan, Mexico. Maya Late Classic c. 709 A.D. (Courtesy British Museum). Maya King emerging from Disc

Figure 2

Figure 3 – Buddhist Stupa or Prayer Mound

Figure 3

Figure 4 – Buddhist Stupa Cross Section

Figure 4

Figure 5 – Saturn V Rocket

Figure 5

The topic of tonight’s discussion was 2012, Maya Lords, and UFOs. As we all know (I hope), there is no direct archaeological evidence of UFO visitation. The pyramids of Guatemala, Mexico, and Egypt were built by advanced and intelligent, ancient human civilizations.

However, there are some artifacts in the Archaeological record which are interesting.

The first artifact is Figure 1, a Lintel from the Maya Late Classic Period (c. 709 A.D.). In it, a Maya King is depicted emerging from a Snake. The Maya King is giving another seated Maya great knowledge. Now a snake can be elongated, or it can also be coiled. So, if its a coiled snake spins, and a person with great knowledge emerges from within, what is that similar to?

Figure 2 is another Lintel from the British Museum, uncovered in Yaxchilan, Mexico. Maya Late Classic period (c. 709 A.D.). Again, we see a disc or saucer that’s open. A great Maya King is emerging from the underside of the saucer (the saucer is inverted). The king bestows knowledge. Interesting.

Figure 3 is a Buddhist Stupa, found in India

Figure 4 is the Cross section of the Buddhist Stupa

Figure 5 is an Saturn V Rocket

Now, the interesting question. Why does a Buddhist Stupa look so similar to a Saturn V rocket? Or why does a Saturn V rocket look so similar to a Buddhist Stupa? Was it monks, dreaming they were astronauts? Or Astronauts, remembering that they were once monks.

- OWR

The coolest part of the tour is always talking with readers. And at every stop, I have at least 3-4 people come up to me and say, “Yes, I’ve seen ghosts too!” or “Once I had a precognitive dream” and “Yes, I get messages from Dreams!”

So, it seems that the phenomena is more common than uncommon. ESP, Psi-abilities, precognition happen all the time. But for whatever reason, we choose to ignore it, or not tell anyone about it, or what-not. We’re afraid about what others may say or we fear society’s response.

However, I would say that psychic abilities are an evolutionary trait, that helped the species to survive and thrive. Moreover, as we expand our consciousness, our bodies evolve as well. The mind creates brain chemistry and neural pathways, not the other way around. Psychic abilities, dream interpretation, clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience – all these traits, all these characteristics are what it means to be human.

So, welcome to the human engine. The future is now!

To purchase Elemental Shaman, click here: http://www.tinyurl.com/shaman2012

S/F,
Omar W. Rosales

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6651937.html?industryid=47152

What an interesting article. I think that this century, we’ll see a definite shift in our perception of the Earth, and how our day-to-day decisions directly impact the Earth and our environment. Recent news stories detail how thousands of tons of pharmaceuticals are dumped into water treatment systems, but also how definite improvements are being made in water quality, air quality, etc. Imagine how many jobs would be created if we implemented nationwide recycling programs to harvest used aluminum, plastic, glass, etc. Ultimately, the decisions rest with us.

When I was in Bhutan, the Manchen Lopon (High Buddhist Master) put it this way. When the Universe was created, the gods used the Four Elements of Fire, Earth, Water, and Air. But the gods utilized wisdom and power. Human beings are now creating life, using the four elements. But humans want the Power, not the wisdom. So, we must be vigilant, lest we be destroyed by our own creations.

So Earth day, and everyday, is an opportune time to reflect that our decisions can make a difference. And that the Earth can be saved.

S/F,
- Omar W. Rosales

Pronounced (Tare-oh), a Tarot deck consists of 78 cards including the major arcana, the minor arcana, and four suits of cards numbered 2 to Ace (2-10, plus Jack, Knight, Queen, King, and Ace). Most will immediately recognize the similarity between a deck of Poker playing cards and a Tarot deck. This is because the Poker deck and most playing card games are derived from Tarot. So, when you are playing Poker, you’re actually reading your fortune!

The origins of Tarot are somewhat murky. Some authors claim that Tarot first began with the Egyptians or Ancient Sumerians. However, there’s no archaeological evidence to support this, nor have any Ancient Sumerians made themselves available for interview. Tarot first appeared in Europe in the mid-1300s. Known as Carte da Trionfi or Triumphs, the game of Tarot spread throughout Italy during the Renaissance. Eventually, the card game was adapted for divination purposes. So, apologies to those who would prefer a more sinister or mystical beginning to the Tarot deck, but it actually started off as a card game for European nobility.

We’ve noted the components of the Tarot deck – Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, and 4 suits of Deuce through Ace. Typically the suits are Wands, Coins, Cups, and Swords. But of particular interest is the Major Arcana. The progression of the Major Arcana is also known as the Journey of the Fool. It is quite interesting because the Major Arcana corresponds nicely with the archetypal Hero’s Journey as defined by Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell.

The Journey of the Fool begins at CARD 0, which of course is, the Fool. The next card is the Magician, symbolic of possibilities. Along the way, the subject encounters obstacles, does away with old ways of thinking, harnesses new abilities, and completes the journey to the cosmos with CARD XXI – The World. So, the Journey of the Fool (also known as the Major Arcana) is the symbolic and allegorical representation of a Spiritual Journey or a Voyage to Enlightenment.

As far as individual Tarot readings, no one method of having cards read is better than the other. The difference will always be with the experience and competence of the reader. It’s the interpretation that’s important, not the actual symbols. Some Tarot readers and psychics don’t even utilize the images on the cards to convey meaning, but rather use the rhythm of the Tarot to tune-in to the querant’s energy and auric field. (As an aside, the person who lays/reads the Tarot deck is the Reader and the person who asks questions or who is obtaining a reading is the querant.)

Some questions about Tarot that often come up are 1) What does the Tarot mean?, 2) What is the significance of the Devil Card? (cue the spooky music), 3) What does the Death card mean? First, Tarot is like a series of signposts. You should never allow a signpost to rule your life. But if it’s a persistent message, you should probably heed it. So, Tarot can mean everything, but Tarot can also mean nothing. Simply, its what you make of it.

Second, what is the significance of the Devil card? The Devil card symbolizes Materialism or being a slave to base or materialistic desires. Its not an actual Devil. If the Tarot reader starts to say that they see tremendous darkness around you and they can remove it for $$$$, leave immediately! The reader is a fraud.

So, if you’re having a Tarot reading and see the Devil card, don’t panic. Its just a reminder not to become a slave to materialism. The other mysterious card is the Death card. Automatically, when a person sees this card, the next question is, “Who is dying? Is it me?”. And the answer is, of course not! You’re not dying.

The Death Card symbolizes a possible end or change of state. Most life comes from the death of something. New flowers and pine trees, grow only after a fire has scorched a forest. A new life, such as a baby or marriage, comes only after old ways have been eliminated. So, an unexpected ending often welcomes a new beginning. In short, there is nothing to fear.

That’s a fairly decent review of the Tarot. If you have any questions, just email me at omar@elementalshaman.com.

S/F,
- Omar W. Rosales

Gritty, realistic, and visceral, Slumdog traces the adventures of Jamal Malik as he attempts to find the love of his life and solve the final question to India’s version of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’. A Dickensian tale, Slumdog is a rags-to-riches story that includes historical accounts and dramatized scenes of life in India’s slums.

I very much liked Slumdog Millionaire. I thought the Cinematography was excellent, along with the performances of the actors. Danny Boyle did an outstanding job of bringing to the screen the difficult life in India’s slums. Boyle is also well-known for other hits including Trainspotting and Millions.

With regard to the protests, I think we should be sensitive to other cultures, particularly the suffering of other individuals. However, I also think that art should be provocative. By definition, art should stir and motivate the soul. If a piece of art cannot elicit a response from a viewer, then it fails. The art is now nothing more than a convocation of materials.
I don’t think the Producers or the Director of Slumdog meant any harm to anyone by its depiction of life in India. I think the scenes help to establish the milieu and are device for the storyteller (the Director) to get the point across.

That being said, we acknowledge the protestors’ viewpoints, but we posit that Slumdog is not meant to disrespect India, but is a celebration of life and potentialities.

S/F,
- Omar W. Rosales

I’ve taken several weeks off the blog, catching up with work and finishing a Trailer. Recently, I came across a stunning photo of a V-22 Osprey. Wow! What a cool shot.

The V-22 is a medium lift tiltrotor aircraft that’s designed to replace the aging fleet of CH-46 helicopters. The V-22, or Osprey, has the unique ability to take off like a helicopter, then tilt its rotors and fly like a plane. This gives the Osprey increased range and higher altitude capabilities.

Flying in Marine helicopters was always fun. I never felt safer in the air, than with Marine pilots and Marine aircrew, flying in Marine aircraft. As safe as it is, its also very dangerous. My good friend Jerry died in a helicopter crash, while flying a combat mission in Iraq.

This demonstrates that war is indiscriminate, taking precious lives of both young and old, feeble and strong, brave and the not-so-brave. Ultimately, war is perhaps humankind’s most terrible and destructive invention.

Yet peace comes from within. If our leaders have inner peace, they are less likely to find conflict with those around them and then exacerbate fragile situations. Without inner peace, there is constant turmoil. War within, leads to war without.

Next week, we’ll look at the Final Realization of Buddhism – that we are more connected than we believe and that the Buddha-mind is the ultimate transcendant point of consciousness.

S/F,
- Omar W. Rosales