Shamanism, Addiction & the Medicine of Awareness

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

—Wayne Dyer

Watching a child repetitively fail at connecting the final, s-shaped segment of a toy train track that will complete the winding route is a study in human nature.

He knows he’s close to launching his first locomotive run, but he’s not there yet and is getting frustrated. The last piece is upside down and not quite right. Unable to see the problem clearly, he continues pounding an ill-fitting, upside down section into that devil-of-a-space. Driven by the “I-can-almost-hear-the-engine-whistle” desire to see his train go around the track, he does his best to force it.

Of course, no amount of pounding is going to make that piece of track fit. Frustrated and trying the same thing again and again, he can’t see that he needs to find a different way.

From the outside, we can see that all he needs to do is flip the s-shaped piece over and slide it into place. The answer is simple. So, we wonder, “How long is he going to keep pounding before he realizes that his way will never work? Or that he has to try something different?”

This is what it’s like watching someone struggle with addiction. From the outside, the solution is clear. From the perspective of the person struggling, it “makes more sense” to keep doing the same thing again and again. Even though it will never work. Even though it has never and will never lead anywhere good.

Addiction Is a Cycle

The second of The Path of Recovery’s three Principles is: Addiction is a cycle. In the Program, we take a close look at every phase during the patterned and repetitive use of a person’s drug of choice.

Because addiction is a repetitive, predictable cycle, we can catch what’s happening, interrupt it, and break its momentum. We do so at exactly this juncture: The one where “doing the same thing over and expecting a different result” kind of pounding is occurring.

So, two questions:

1. How long are they (or you) going to keep pounding?
2. What will it take to get them (or you) to pause and try something different?

A Different Way

One thing it takes is seeing things differently. The first step is a moment of truth and the realization: “What I’m doing isn’t working.”

Someone may arrive at this truth on their own or with the “assistance” of outside intervention. Either way, in that moment, the insanity ends. That moment is magic. That moment is Medicine.

Because now one is ready to ask, “Well, if my way doesn’t work…what will?”

Then, the Universe opens up before us. Then, the Universe responds.

So, what does it take to reach this place of:

• What I’m doing isn’t working.
• Now what? What’s the alternative?

One Word: Awareness.

And by “awareness,” I don’t mean: “Hey Randy, you know what? It’d be a good idea if you stopped drinking and doing drugs.”

Gee thanks, I hadn’t thought of that.

No.

The kind of awareness I’m referring to is a perspective that shines into and illuminates our lives through spirit. It springs from somewhere deep in the Earth and resonates in harmony with our heart, soul, and bones. It does so because it’s an old-as-time kind of true.

This is the Medicine of Awareness. And this is how shamanism can help.

Getting There

When we undertake a Medicine Journey or a Shamanic wRites exercise, we:

1. Have a clear intention.
2. Are open to receiving help.
3. Are open to the infinite possibilities that could be an answer.

One of the greatest gifts of these experiences is seeing our problems from a different perspective. A few examples of what this might look and feel like:

• You are carried by Eagle and can see your entire problem from above. You are offered an overview and expansive perspective that you couldn’t imagine while in the midst of it, pounding away.
• You are brought to and welcomed inside Raccoon’s dark den. From this place, you approach your problem from a pitch-black, clean slate—one where anything is new and possible.
• Merging with and becoming a drop of Water, you flow through your situation. You touch, feel, become part of, and experience a natural, healthy alternative. Manifesting a much different, more healing cycle becomes possible.
• You encounter a family Ancestor, who brings you to the place where you store unexpressed grief. You see the mechanisms behind this inability to express, as well as details about the grief you are carrying.

These are but a few examples of how shamanic work can offer a new lens on experience. It answers both of our questions, because:

• We no longer feel the need to keep pounding.
• We are shown a new path forward—one leading to something different.

Beyond Awareness

In this work, there is not only new awareness but also the feeling of knowing and the experience of being supported by our helping spirits.

• Eagle will provide an expansive, bird’s eye view.
• Raccoon will hold you in the safety of his den.
• Nature will provide the path of flow.
• Ancestors will answer your call for help.

Always a Practice

There are layers to healing and levels when it comes to applying awareness to daily practice.

I can still recall being the boy in this tale during my active using days—desperate to see that chugging train get a rollin’ and doing whatever it took to make that happen. Some part of me was hooked on the hope: “Maybe this round of pounding will snap it into place. Then I can get…” Pound, pound, pound…

Nowadays, I may not be pounding pieces into toy tracks or riding the train of alcohol and other drugs.

And yet, what about…

• When the trash bag gets caught on the handle of the metal bin as I’m trying to remove it? Yanking harder on the thin plastic only rips the bag. Who do you think wins this one?
• When I’m on the phone with an automated system and repeating myself with increasing intensity? “Representative!!” I’m pounding in rage against the machine; AI could care less about my anger.
• When my partner, against her wise knowing, enters into a comment war on a design blog? One where the bloggers are lovely, and she feels called to defend them against anonymous haters? Who do you think wins that debate? Do you really think wisdom gets through?

And so, we bring awareness and begin again. And so, that’s why it’s called a practice.

Now You

Where have you tried to pound train tracks or square pegs into ill-fitting places?

Please share in the comments, and feel free to email me at Randy@AlchemistRecovery.com.

And if you’d like to go on a guided Medicine Journey or do a Medicine wRites exercise, you’ll find them in the The Sober Shaman’s Pat of Recovery Free Preview here. See you inside.

With All Good Medicine,
Randal

Copywriting and editing by my wife and partner, Dr. , who shares raw, unfiltered writing about sobriety and soulful living at .