I spent the weekend recently with Tzen Tzatzoehetzin, a Mexihka (Aztec) physician and instructor of the traditional health system (Wewepahtli). He “softens with tenderness, generates from the heart of the people with hands that heal.”
Plus he’s adorable.
Am I allowed to say that about a venerable shaman?
He gave our small group a glimpse into Nawi Ollin Teotl (Movement of the Four Energies)
and his tradition stretching back centuries. I found myself imaging what it is like to be part of a family that has held these healing traditions for centuries and centuries.
They even have a special way to greet each other, using their whole bodies.
Makes a handshake look so lame.
He opened our energy centers, we moved our energy, learned about why we need to eat insect eggs and he gave us the very best four questions.
These are golden! Life changing. Happy shaman dance making!
Drum roll please, the four questions:
What am I doing?
What am I thinking?
What am I feeling?
What am I perceiving?
Imagine you are driving down the road.
You’re thinking about your kid / blog / business / novel / lover.
You’re feeling grateful / frustrated / overwhelmed / frustrated /horny (had to throw that last one in).
You’re perceiving… whatever story you are spinning.
Here’s what you want to be doing:
Driving.
Thinking about driving.
Feeling whatever you are feeling while driving.
Perceiving the landscape, other cars, in other words… driving.
You have to try this!
I can’t do justice to the power of these questions.
It’s the more direct way I have found – besides the practice of delight found in Rick’s new book – to arrive here.
When I do it? I have so much more energy! Compassion! Goodness!
I’m all there, as in here, as in right now. All my senses. All my selves. (Hey, good title for a soap opera.)
One Caveat
Sometimes, I want to think about my ideas and projects when I drive because I get sweet and groovy insights.
I don’t always want to think about driving.
So I declare, “I give myself permission to use these questions when I want to be all here. If I don’t, that’s okay, too!”
Because being all present all the time is not always my intention.
My intention is to be aware and to choose.
Try it and tell me what happens!
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8 responses so far ↓
1 Amethyst Wyldfyre Oct 29, 2009
Delightful Jennifer – So delightful that you are connecting with the Shamanic work! Thank you for being a voice and an advocate for bringing this great work out of hiding and into the light – Many blessings, Amethyst Wyldfyre, Shaman, Sound Therapist, Soul Path Illuminator
2 Fabeku Oct 29, 2009
I love this Jen!
I love the questions, and where they lead. I love the way you talked about your experience.
And insect eggs? I figure it’s not a party until the insect eggs make an appearance, right? (grin)
Here’s to arriving here.
3 Nut Tmu-Ankh Butterfly Oct 29, 2009
“My intention is to be aware and to choose.”
…and this iz where the magik lives!
Thank You for co-creating & sharing such a meaningful experience.
~Nut Tmu-Ankh
4 Eleri Hamilton Oct 29, 2009
Yay for adorible shamans! Who said wisdom meant grizzled and old?
5 Bridget Oct 30, 2009
Simple and powerful. I love it.
And I love the “out” for when we want to not be present.
Like, I don’t want to be doing this in a dentist chair, maybe.
6 Laney Nov 3, 2009
hey jen, i did try this while driving & i noticed that my car was not operating properly. so i brought it in for service & sure enough there were some problems, which have been corrected.
so thank you for the suggestion.
7 Gina Nov 17, 2009
Mmmm, I, too, have tried these mindfulness practices. Sometimes it works more easily than others. Driving is hard for me too, because I get so many good ideas in the car. Also inspired during sessions with clients.
Where I would really like to be more proficient: while around my 9 yr old.
8 Miktlan Jun 16, 2010
Thank you for sharing this, I would like to clarify than Tzen is not a “shaman”, he is a medicine man, a Pahtemaxtianitl.