Upcoming Faerie Shamanism Course:
Learn Shamanic Counseling
Pastoral Counseling—Pagan Style
Lessons on Witchy Counseling Techniques
Though I use the word client below for simplicity’s sake, the course is equally useful to professionals and non-professionals. Examples of the latter: someone who wants to increase the solid, down-to earth advice they give, co-counsels in their coven, and/or receives intuitive guidance for friends and family.
What is Shamanic Counseling?
Valid definitions vary widely. Some gifted practitioners supplement a psychologically-based treatment mode with shamanic techniques, while I prefer a shamanically-based treatment mode. Here’s what that consists of, for me:
Shamanic culture and techniques, well-rooted in the shamanic training of the counselor, are the core of my counseling (as opposed to shamanism being an adjunct to other approaches). The upcoming course will reveal the details of my process. But for now:
A client is guided into an experientially mystic session (as opposed to being led solely toward a left-brain understanding of their issues). Mysteries come alive in the sessions. In this experience, the client is blessed by the cosmos’s otherworldly healing powers, and connectivity to Divine love and guidance infuses the moment.
The client’s experience of wholeness, connectivity, and peace re-patterns their cells, nervous system, and DNA, creating miraculous shifts in themselves and their lives. The counselor, as a channel of these benefits, also receives them, including:
* ecstatic wholeness
* a sense of empowerment
* increase of magical, spiritual, and worldly strengths
* worldly success in many areas of life
* respite from life’s sorrows
* immersion in Divine Love
* trust in one’s deep self.
The counselor’s Fey Witch mysticism combines with a down-to-earth, practical wisdom, the combination of which addresses and solves real-life problems and otherwise helps clients create amazing lives on the spiritual and material planes. Head in the sky, feet on the ground.
Inherent is a worldview and system that supports a Pagan ecstatic spirituality, instead of intentionally or accidentally suppressing it. However, a traditional shamanic counselor forgoes Pagan sensibilities, if the client’s beliefs are otherwise.
While this definition skims the surface, it suits our purposes in this post.
Alternative Definitions of Shamanic Counseling
Some psychologists treat clients through a psychologically-based modality supplemented by shamanic rites, as opposed to a modality that is shamanically-based. The psychological focus is legitimate and effective, though I cannot speak to its specific results since it is not my approach.
Other guides base their work on Christian pastoral counseling, supplementing it with witch rites. These folks may not recognize their approach as Christian because Christianity is such a dominant paradigm that many of its aspects are society’s default spiritual positions. Even if you strip the dominant pastoral counseling model of overt Christian beliefs and practices, they’re so ingrained in the model that they inevitably convey Christian beliefs and influence a session’s outcome. There’s nothing wrong with that unless the counselor or client dislike it.
There are yet more definitions. Some guides prefer shamanism that works on an intellectual, instead of experiential, level. Someone else told me she saw shamanic counseling as synonymous with the peer-counseling that happens in 12 step groups. And there are other definitions, but the important thing is:
Whatever shamanic counseling means to you, this course supports and strengthens your approach.
This is not training in psychic-reading. It is far beyond. You learn universal principles that anyone can use to counsel.
This course suits a variety of seekers who want to strengthen what they already know and do:
* People confide in you and, without any training, you know exactly what to say to help. You have no desire to become a professional, but everyone turns to you with their problems, and you want to do your best to support them.
* Or you’re trained in psychology and want to involve spirit more in your work.
* Or you read tarot—with or without training in it—professionally or for free.
* Or you priest(ess) a coven.
* Or you’re a healer of body and/or spirit, using physical, psychic, and/or spiritual means.
* Or you have other reasons this class is relevant.
Come join me. As a professional spiritual counselor, raised by a Sicilian witch who trained me in shamanism from birth, I’ll share what I’ve learned, including techniques only spoken of among pros.
Learn the techniques, strengths, and limits of the witch as spiritual advisor, as well as rituals and meditations to heal friends and clients, and help them follow their star.
We’ll discuss shamanic counseling methods to guide people through life’s everyday challenges, as well as secrets witches use to heal alcoholism, heartbreak, and trauma.
* Practice traditional shamanic counseling.
* Gain confidence in your innate wisdom and ability to counsel, comfort, and inspire.
* Be the high caliber spiritual guide that people seek out.
* Express your inner Goddess or God.
* Better apply your existing tools to help friends/clients.
* Reap self-fulfillment, joy, spiritual growth, and self-healing by serving others.
* Use shamanic counseling modalities to augment your own counseling approach, whether you work in a shamanically-, psychologically-, or Christian-based mode, or another modality.
Suited to all levels of experience: accessible to newbies, yet adepts experience depth.
This course serves as one of the electives needed before advanced Third Road training.
The class meets by phone. Just dial your phone to attend.
You receive spiritual transmissions in every meeting, which increases the lesson’s power and your ability as a counselor.
Enrollment is limited to 16 participants so we can perform ceremonies that can only happen in a small group, allowing old-style oral tradition in which immense headway happens quickly. A small group also allows each participant to receive individualized attention, should they want that support. This tailors a lesson to you.
I commit to my students. You can phone me, should you have a concern that’d take too long to address during class or that you prefer to discuss privately.
Starting October 19, we meet Tuesdays 6:00 to 7:00 pm EST, for seven consecutive Tuesday, with the exception of Tuesday Nov 23 (Thanksgiving week), which we’ll skip over. Reserve Tuesday Dec 14, same time, for a makeup session in case I’m unavailable for one of the planned dates.
Full cost—for seven classes, direct spiritual transmissions, and one-on-one private support should you desire—is $200 a month for two months. Your carrier might charge you for the phone calls into the meetings.
Pay securely with PayPal. Choose one of two options:
1) Use the Pay Now button below to pay tuition all at once one, and you’re taken care of! Half price if you’ve attended this class before. The drop-down menu has a half-price option.
2) Or use the Subscribe button to make two payments of $200, one now and a second one automatically a month later. Easy!
If you do not receive an email confirming your payment within a few days, please check your spam filter and spam mailbox. If the email isn’t there, or you want to discuss a payment plan, trade, or scholarship, or you need additional info about the course, please call me. Upon payment, your place is reserved. Refunds unavailable. A few days before the first meeting, you receive event phone number and other details by email.
Francesca De Grandis is the best-selling author of “Be a Goddess!” Her work couples Goddess mysticism with practical magic and a down-to-earth philosophy. Raised in a traditional Strega family tradition that has Celtic shamanism in its heritage—the family is originally from France—she practices an ancient European witchcraft that is a form of Fairy shamanism. She has worked professionally as a community shaman for four decades.
Lynn Andrews, author of Medicine Woman: “Francesca De Grandis has given us an inspirational bridge between ancient wisdom and our current life.”
Patricia Sullivan, Director of Clinical Services for U.C.S.F. AIDS Health Project: “Training with Francesca has had a significant impact on my work as a therapist, teacher, and administrator working within the HIV epidemic.”
Cathy: “Francesca, Thanks for the spiritual counseling and support. I’ve gone to many different “spiritual advisors” and gotten lots of junk. Everything I got from you was pure quality and I truly appreciate it. Looking forward to another session, Cathy”
It’s been six years since I’ve taught this, and it may be that long before I teach it again. Take advantage of this opportunity.