Deathwalk at Table Rock

Throughout history and across the globe societies have called upon their shamans to assist the dying, the dead, and loved ones remaining in physical life. The shaman, as deathwalker, is responsible for guiding us through our journeys to the next world. In Shamanic Guide to Death and-Dying, author Kristin Madden presents this account from her friend and fellow deathwalker Wolf Carnahan.

At Wolf's initial visit to Table Rock the spirits of about 300 Native Americans appeared to him. After some research and preparatory work, he returned to the site with four others to perform a deathwalk The ceremony was to last two days, from dawn until dusk The following is excerpted from Wolf's account of the experience.

Saturday, we awake in an altered state. Few words were spoken as we parked food, water, and sacred necessities for the journey. We had decided that Saturday would be a prep day and we would do the major work on Sunday. After arriving at Table Rock, we settled in for a little "light" journey work.. HA! As soon as we entered the deep place, a spirit approached, a tall woman dressed in fringed white leather.

She was a messenger sent by the others to see if we were the ones, and to prepare the way for the rest. She became confused by our brightness and wanted to enter my daughter-in-law's body. Fortunately she wasn't insistent and we were able to point her to the gateway. She was gone instantly.

After we came out of the deep, we talked for awhile, shared food and water around the fire, left a plate of food for the spirits, and went home for the night.

When Sunday arrived, we again woke in an altered state, deeper than before. Quietly and quickly, we grabbed our packs and drums, and were off.

We started drumming just a short way up the trail, going deeper into trance as we walked. Spirits came to follow us from all around---old ones, young ones, and same that came to heckle us and stop what we were doing. The hecklers sang songs to us-old songs of the people that pulled at our emotions. They danced and sang. We walked and kept drumming.

More and more spirits came. They seemed to come from everywhere, and from out of the ground.

The hecklers would not give up. We made our circle and made an offering of tobacco and crushed angelica. But when we tried to light the offering to smudge the circle, it wouldn't light. The matches would burn all the way down without suc- cess. Finally eve called the Fire spirit, lit the fire, and pit tie angelica directly in it. After some Prayers; it finally ignited and we were able to complete the circle. We all either felt or saw the heckler spirits leave.

After blessing and banishing the circle, we cleansed ourselves and went into the depths. The wind picked up and, swirled around us, first one way and then another. We started calling the spirits into the circle with our drums. With great force they came-many spirits, and from all sides.

They rushed into the circle and into the waiting open door the way a moth rushes a candle. Nothing was going to stop them. As they went through the doorway, they turned transparent and thin, like paper. They flew up and were gone.

The volcanic rock that the fire was built upon began exploding as the fire and stone accepted the energy of what was happening. After a long time, the rock gave one great explosion and the wind stopped.

We took a short break then, connecting with each other, discussing what we had seen and felt. We rebuilt the fire, smudged ourselves again, and went back down. The winds came again, swirling as before but different. It was more peaceful.

The spirits came from all around again,more than before and for a longer time.

The doorway blazed brightly.

Finally, the spirits of a young mother and her daughter came. The woman stopped at the door. I could sense her fear that she and her daughter would be separated. Time and time again, I pointed her told the door and told her it was aft right for hey o go. I finally called the Creator to help; I could-do no more.

The doorway opened wider and the light came through, enveloping us in a sight of pure love. It encircled the woman and her daughter. She turned and went into it. As she started to diffuse, she turned around and looked at me-and was gone. The doorway closed. The wind stopped.

We were done.

We cried far a long time. Some of us cried from grief, some from the recognition of the awesomeness of the love that was in the-light. I knew that my life had been changed forever.

The work is not done, it never is. There are other Table Rocks and other kinds of journeys to be taken-other kinds of work to be done.

Kristin Madden adds, "Not only is the work never done, but each working forever affects those involved. Once the jump to deathwalker is made, we are never the same. We are empowered, expanded, and very humbled all at the same time."