The journey to the Otherworld in the Way of the Coyote is a quest for knowledge and wisdom within your unconscious mind. On your journey to the Otherworld, first, find a place where you will be undisturbed for the duration of your journey. The journey itself may be as long or as short as you like. If you’re participating in an Ecospirituality group, your instructor may have a specified time for the journey. If doing it on your own, you may do it for whatever length of time seems appropriate.
Such a journey is best undertaken outdoors. I’ve had some powerful visions while camping alone in the woods, for example. But you may also engage in spirit journeys from the privacy of your bedroom if you’re not able to be in a natural space. If you have to be indoors to do this, it may help to have recordings of nature sounds to play during the meditation. You may also bring in some plants and place them in the area where you plan to engage in the meditation.
It may also help to make the journey more authentic to what our ancestors may have practiced if you are able to create some sort of representation of the womb of the Earth Mother. This could be a tent, or a blanket over your head, or even a sweat lodge if one is available. A word of caution first: Don’t attempt to build a sweat lodge of your own without instruction from an expert! People have died in improperly constructed sweat lodges!
Journey to the Otherworld Meditation
When you’ve selected your space and determined the length of time for your journey, follow the steps below.
- Begin by grounding and centering. Do not go any further until you are fully relaxed and clear of purpose, with a firm and fixed intention.
- When you are grounded and centered, meditate on what parts of you are “dying” and what parts of you are being “reborn.” What of your old life do you wish to leave behind? What areas of your new life as a shaman do you wish to grow in? What does this symbolic rebirth mean to you?
- To access the Otherworld, you must first cross the waters. Water symbolizes the mind, and the depths of the sea represent the vast depths of the unconscious mind. When crossing the waters, I find it helpful to visualize myself in a boat upon a calm sea. Gradually the boat moves into a fog that becomes thicker and thicker. I then will the mists to part, granting me access to the Otherworld that lies within my unconscious mind.
- The way to enter the Otherworld is to begin by knowing you are already there. Picture every life consciousness in the Universe as a silver thread. See the silver threads stretching out to infinity, forming a web of infinite probability. This Silver Web represents all possibilities in all worlds and all universes. Consider the purpose of your journey here, and ask your own Supernatural Aid to guide you to the proper thread to find the answers you seek. Take the thread that stands out to you and follow it until it leads you to the purpose of your journey.
- When you have arrived at the knowledge you seek, follow the silver thread back to your body. As you return, allow yourself to gradually become aware of re-entering your body. As your body comes back to you, breathe deeply and slowly become aware of your surroundings. When you are ready, open your eyes, remembering the knowledge you have gained.
After you have completed your own death and rebirth rite and meditation answer these reflection questions:
- What were you dying to or leaving behind of your old life when taking this rebirthing journey to the Otherworld?
- What was being born in you in your new ecospiritual life when taking this rebirthing journey to the Otherworld?
- Assuming you conducted this rebirthing rite in an outdoor space, what elements of nature assisted you in completing the journey to the Otherworld? Were there any signs or omens in the natural space in which you conducted your meditation? Examples of such “omens” might include animals behaving in ways that attracted your attention, or any other sights, sounds, aromas, textures, or unusual experiences that seemed to call to you?
- Did you use any sort of music while undertaking this journey? If so, what did the music add to the meditation? If not, what did the absence of music add to the meditation?
- In what ways are you a new person now that you have been reborn to your new ecospiritual life?
Now that you have completed your time in the ashes, you are able to be reborn with new spiritual eyes. You are no longer seeing the world through your old assumptions and perceptions. You’ve learned a new way of seeing and a new way of being in the world.
This newfound vision will help you as you continue on the Road of Trials that leads you to your new, ecospiritual self.
Share Your Thoughts on the Journey to the Otherworld!
What was this experience like for you? Let us know in the comments below!