This episode originally aired on the "Wellness + Wisdom" podcast. We'll be back with a brand new season of fresh Ceremony Circle episodes this fall!

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Animals are present to us all of the time trying to get our attention; even when we're dreaming. You'll just hear of one or see one over and over again; take note of that when it happens. They are trying to work with you. Go into Animal Power, do the practice, and find out why they're here in your life now. They are the kind of spiritual allies who really do appreciate a good invitation into your life. Animals are such great teachers of not taking for granted the information and healing capabilities and medicines that are always around us but we have to return back to that presence and that honoring reverence of them. - Alyson Charles

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Wellness Force Radio Episode 425

Internationally renowned Shaman, Best-Selling Author, and Host of Ceremony Circle Podcast, Alyson Charles, shares how you can unleash your Animal Power with her upcoming book, unpacks her journey to becoming the Rock-Star Shaman, explains what shamanism actually is - the truths and the myths, and explores the meditative practice of candle gazing to connect with your heart center.

What if I told you that every person on this planet has a direct connection to the power of animals?

Discover how to use the wisdom and guidance of power animals over time to help you navigate your journey towards wellness, wholeness, and behavior change.

Discover Your Animal PowerClick HERE to pre-order your copy of Animal Power today

Brimming with 100 different vibrant animal illustrations, transformative practices, and captivating stories from around the world, Animal Power is an enlightening guide to the power of the animal realm and how they bring peace, healing and empowerment to your life.

In this luxe compendium, get ready to discover rituals, meditations, and visualizations to connect with 100 remarkable animals and their specific messages to share with you. Learn how to connect with the animal power of the bear for comfort and protection, the leopard for confidence, the seal for healthy relationships, and the peacock for creative inspiration, and many others.

The practices are paired with illuminating stories from spiritual teachers around the world, plus sidebars with fascinating details on ancient traditions, global mythology, and scientific trivia. Delivered in an enchanting package overflowing with insight and magic, Animal Power is a celebration of the natural world and an inspiring companion for modern mystics, nature and animal lovers, and the spiritually curious.

Listen To Episode 425 As Alyson Charles Uncovers: [1:30] Alyson's Rock-Star Shaman Origins

Alyson Charles
Animal Power by Alyson Charles
Ceremony Circle Podcast
Alyson's life journey and how it has shifted along the way.
What the "Rock-Star Shaman" name means and why Alyson took it on after a lot of deliberation.
285 Luke Storey | Plants & Breathwork: Welcome To The Jungle
361 Luke Storey: Relationships, Consciousness, & Coming Home To Yourself
Why Alyson believes integrity checks are important to make sure we are in alignment with ourselves.
The reality that there is spiritual bypassing happening in our world and the different challenges Josh has been faced because of this.
Josh's poor experience with Ayahuasca that led him on a path of intense healing.
Alyson's advice for finding a trusted spiritual mentor and how she maintains integrity as a shaman and spiritual teacher.
How to lean into your intuition and what you feel like you're called to do.
The vertical line that Alyson lives from: Mother Earth (Rock), Great Spirit (Star), and from her Heart (Shaman).
Power that comes from being open and willing for the Divine to guide you.
Why it's easier to trust in the Divine as it takes time for us to build great trust within ourselves.
The fact that you don't necessarily need plant medicine to go inwards and heal yourself.
How to decide which type of medicine is going to be the most beneficial for where you're at on your wellness journey.

[21:00] How to Follow Your Internal Guiding System

Abraham Hicks
What the internal guiding system is and how we can stop thought loops to really tune into it.
Simple practices including a hand to heart morning ritual you can do every day to check-in and focus on yourself.
How you can build a better relationship with yourself to build greater trust within.
What Alyson did to help connect the dots and understand the truth of her traumas: being willing to do the work.
Why doing the work, no matter how hard it is, is always worth it because you learn how to navigate the full spectrum of your emotions and feelings.
Her Seer abilities and mentality that would turn on while she trained for long-distance running when she was young but she didn't know what to do with it with pressure from her dad.
The ability she has to see people's blind spots, shadows, limitations, and how they're holding themselves back.

[26:00] The Most Powerful Teachers In Life

Alyson's process for really honing in and listening to her divine intuition.
Why facing challenges and knowing who you are will help build your intuitive skills.
How to know if past projections or experiences are clouding your judgment.
Why pain isn't the only teacher that can help us; joy can also provide us with many life lessons.
The Hero's Journey we all face and why we're always students for life while on this planet.
How Alyson helps people tune in and find their purpose.
The practice of candle gazing meditation and how she uses it to connect with her heart center and connect with Sacred Grand Fire.
How Alyson's experience as a competitive runner, athletics trainer, and talk show co-host were all part of her journey to where she is today.
The moment she willingly opened herself up to the path The Universe wanted her to go on to serve her purpose.

[49:30] What is Shamanism?

The fact that no one knows what they're doing and that's completely okay; it's all about doing your best.
What steps you can take when you get trapped in a pain body or several at once.
How you can view difficult situations as a teaching moment for yourself and those involved.
Different definitions of shamanism including a direct translation of "I don't know" in a foreign language.
How to make sense of shamanism and what it means to Alyson.
Why she believes shamanism is a planetary practice that connects us with Gaia and one another.
Soul Callings & Earthly Initiations: The Path of the Woman Shaman with Marie Mbouni
Different forms of shamanism and why each shaman is completely unique.
The importance of each shaman to go into that place of allness and totality with themselves in order to hold a sacred, pure safe space for others.
What Alyson does before performing a shaman journey with people.
The powerful transcendence and clearing that happens during a journey including one specific event she recently experienced.
What people should know about the beautiful wisdom of shamanism if they truly feel called to work with someone like Alyson.

[1:11:00] Animal Power: 100 Animals to Energize Your Life and Awaken Your Soul

Honoring the artist, Willian Santiago, who created the artwork for her book, Animal Power, and why finding the right person was so important for her.
Why they decided to put the black panther on the cover of Animal Power and the fact that it is actually Alyson's core power animal.
The training that Alyson has done with her aunt and how her power animals revealed themselves during that time: the black panther, frog, bear, and deer.
Specific examples of how her power animals help guide Alyson.
The moment the black panther revealed itself to Alyson and what it symbolizes in one's life.
Why Alyson chose 100 power animals to feature in her book when there are more.
How her personal clothing style has evolved with the upcoming release of Animal Power.
Her thoughts on someday putting out a second volume of Animal Power.

[1:28:00] What's Your Animal Power?

How we can decipher what our power animals are and how they specifically help.
Alyson's gift to you when you pre-order her book: A guided shamanic journey she facilitates to help you find out your animal animal.
Other ways to speak to your core power animal: sit in meditation and call to the animal that wants to speak to you now in your life.
How Animal Power works as a reference guidebook to help you learn more about your animal including power practices and energy medicine messages.
The importance of being present to the animals that come into your life frequently while you're both awake and asleep.
Why these spiritual allies do appreciate an invitation into your life on Earth.
The fact that the power animals that are present in our lives will shift over the course of our lifetime.
How this book can be used to help you check in with your alignment.
Alyson's invitation to shamans and spiritual teachers from all over the world to share a story in the book of how an animal has changed their life.
Boyd Varty
The powerful lesson that the snake taught Alyson one day when she found herself struggling.

[1:34:30] How to Transcend Your Personal Limitations

What guidance Alyson and these animals can give you if you're holding yourself back from something like a career change or just stepping into your personal power.
How we can become victimized by our own intellect at times.
Solocast | A Victim of Intellectualization & The Wisdom of The Heart
How we can sometimes become addicted to the process.
Why we are our own teachers and people like Alyson are just there to guide us and bring us back to ourselves.
How we can get easily hooked into cycles of seeking programs of personal development one after the next without really sitting and integrating with what we're taking in.
Why it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about our journeys; we are following them and listening to Great Spirit for ourselves.
The importance of actually taking the time to do the real inner work instead of looking for a quick answer.

[1:43:00] What Trauma and Obstacles Can Teach Us

How Alyson navigates difficult situations in her own life.
Unexpected challenging conversations and relationship dynamics that recently came into her life.
The space and support Luke and her friends gave her during this difficult moment.
What Alyson had to let go of and allow to die off during a shamanic transition process.
Difficult moments and feelings of sadness both Alyson and Josh sometimes face because of what is happening in the collective in this moment.
Why Alyson sometimes feels alone with the unique gifts that she has been given.
The power of facing our traumas, teachings, and initiations so that we can hold a stronger, all-encompassing space.
Why she believes that willingness and vulnerability play an

Faith That Works: Faith and Works