Y Trefn Seren Ariannaid Gan Awenyddiad

Shamanic Bardism

“ I am Bard, teller of lies…”

For many people, when they think of someone as being a Bard, they think of flowery poetry and songs, perhaps epic ballads and tales told around a campfire. While all those things can be true, that does not even begin to scratch the surface of the Bardic experience, or what all being a Bard is truly about. Likewise, when they consider a Shaman, oftentimes images of feathers and fur, and someone sitting on a hillside in deep meditation come to mind. But as with the Bard, understanding what the Shamanic Path is truly about is often something elusive, and this can especially be the case when considering Shamanic Bardism.

Being a Bard is not all about music – although many, if not most, Bards have some musical talents, or at the very least a appreciation for music in it’s myriad forms. Nor does it have simply to do with poetic expression – although again, many are quite gifted in this regard. Rather, the Bard is one who finds a way to say something and nothing at the same time, to weave together threads in such a way that in a few words volumes can be said. This comes through years of understanding and experiencing this peculiar and mysterious thing we call “life”, and more often than not requires a bit of madness to truly get its message across. The Bard uses metaphor and imagery to paint a picture – be it an actual painting or work of physical art, or a more abstract art-form such as poetry, song, or even prose. And much like still photographs, these pictures are captured moments in time, which are not just bits and pieces of things seen, heard, and smelt, but also – and perhaps most importantly – things that are felt. The Bard is typically a person of extremes – delving into the depths of human emotion and bringing things forth which many barely know exist, and in some cases – particularly regarding those darker emotions – don’t want to see. But it is the task of the Bard nonetheless to bring these things to light, and to do so in such a manner that it can be read or looked at many times over, and each time reveal another layer of existence.

These varying layers of existence are of even greater import when one considers the work of the Shaman, particularly the Shaman who is also working as a Bard. The Shaman is traditionally a walker between the worlds, one who stands in-between, never truly a part of this world or the Spirit World, with which he or she has regular, if not continuous, contact. The Shaman is at the same time a reader of the Weave and a manipulator of the Weave, pulling threads together or apart and re-braiding things as they need to be done. They do so not only through their own strength of Spirit, but also through the assistance of many others, Spirit Allies as well as physical allies (ie., friends and family). And of course, the Shaman does not do these things simply for fun, but rather for the betterment of their “people”, whomever they should be. Typically, one thinks of a Shaman serving a particular tribe or clan, but in our post-modern, Information Age, this can just as easily be an extended “clan” of persons located the world over, bound together not be geography, but rather through the Spider’s Web of Spirit which now blankets the Earth.

Shamanic Bardism brings these two very similar worlds together; that is, the world which sees things through eyes which are not necessarily focused upon our physical world, and that world which finds its fulfillment in expression of an artistic sort. The Shamanic Bard goes beyond the work of the Bard, and adds an extra weft and warp to the weaving together of poems or songs which arise as a result. Their work goes deeper than exploring the depths of human emotion; it taps into forces even deeper, down to the very psyche of the human soul. In this manner, the practitioner plucks out chords which resonate on levels which transcend the understanding of the mere words or tunes, and stirs up something which oftentimes cannot even be explained or expressed in words. Likewise, things which might not otherwise be accessible to others can be brought forth in a manner which makes it accessible to anyone. A good example of this would be chants or songs which are given during a Journey, whose language need not even be of this existential plane, yet whose “meaning” and resonance allows us to touch or contact things which are not always easily seen. Similarly, the Shamanic Bard can also oftentimes impart a vision of other realms which they have seen through the medium of song, picture, or poetry which allows others to – on some level, at least – experience things which they may not have had access to before. In essence, the Shamanic Bard finds his or her expression not only in walking between the worlds or acting as intermediary, but also in bringing the worlds together, where anyone – even generations apart – can benefit from their Journeys.

Brightest of Blessings be with one and All,

D. Shadowviper (aka. SV)