HUNA HAPPENINGS
Around the World
updated on the first of January, March, May, July, September and November
Huna Happenings is a forum in which you can share your Huna-related activities. Please let us know what you've been up to! Email huna@huna.org
Serge Kahili King taught courses on Creative Meditation and Changing Reality to enthusiastic students in Basel, Switzerland, Vienna, Austria, and Warsaw, Poland; and Energizing Exercises and Shamanic Dreaming to equally enthusiastic students in Starnberg, Germany.
Alakai Susan Pa'iniu Floyd taught hula classes in Vienna and Warsaw, and Kino Mana massage in Suprasl, Poland.
Alakais Lois and Earl Stokes, assisted by Alakai Stewart Blackburn, did the Huna Talks for Serge at Volcano in October and November. Lois also guided the Global Healing sessions for Serge at Huna Village in Second Life, while Alakai Graeme Kapono Urlich took over the virtual Huna Talks for Serge in Second Life using Maori legends for his themes.
In response to a question about what constitutes a shaman, Serge had this to say:
"Ask any practicing shaman and you may get different answers, so please understand that these answers are coming from me, based on my direct experience with several forms of shamanism, and my study of many others.
The word "shaman" is a word used for a special type of healer of mind, body, and circumstances in the Tungus tribe of the Mongolian people. The word has been generalized to include people with similar roles in other cultures around the world.
Based on the Tungus model, we find the following common factors in all forms of shamanism:
- a healer of mind, body, and circumstances
- communication with plants, animals, and spirits.
- an ability to travel in spirit to other worlds for healing, learning, and gaining power.
Depending on the culture, different abilities and roles may be added, but these are the fundamental commonalities.
How one becomes a shaman depends entirely on the culture. In some cultures you may find one or more of the following:
- apprenticeship with an experienced shaman (most common).
- direct inspiration from spirit.
- independent study and practice.
- appointment by village elders.
One does not become a shaman by initiation or ritual, although a ritual may accompany an acknowledgment of the shaman's "official" taking on of that role. One becomes a shaman by doing what a shaman does and by living with the worldview of a shaman, both of these being modified by the cultural form of shamanism being practiced, of course.
Hawaiian shamanism is actually called "kalakupua," and the shamanic figure is called a "kupua." We train people to use shamanic ideas and techniques in their daily lives, but we do not certify, initiate, or declare anyone to be a shaman. That becomes evident when one lives a shamanic life, and any declaration must come from the shaman him- or herself."
