Plastic Shaman On All Deaf.

[deafskeptic]

I am a member of a site named All Deaf which serves the Deaf community. I will explain as briefly as I can the difference between deaf and Deaf because the plastic shaman on alldeaf is clearly somewhat familiar with the Deaf Culture. Deaf with little d describes someone who doesn't know American Sign Language (ASL for short) or isn't part of the Deaf culture. Deaf denotes members of this culture who knows ASL and are quite familiar with the customs of the community. ASL is not the same as English; it's syntax can be said to be "topic" + "comment" arrangement and time + topic + comment syntax is quite common in ASL. Spoken language is only partially accessible at best to those who became deaf before age 3; they are often language delayed as a result. You will notice that many at all deaf have trouble with written communication skills as a result. It is not advised to make fun of their grammar. I don't think most of you guys would do that though.

Anyway now let's get to the meat of this post: I was skimming the threads when I came across this post and it has all the hallmarks of a plastic shaman and here's the link: www.infinitelightperu.com  and here's the alldeaf link: http://www.alldeaf.com/travel-leisure/54729-deaf-shamanic-retreat-peru-november.html.

Right now, I'm wondering how to educate those at all deaf so they don't fall for this.

[deafskeptic]

This is being taken care of now. A deaf NDN has backed me up so we shall see what happens from here.

[educatedindian]

A problem is that they go back and forth claiming the leader of this group is a curandero or a shaman, two very different traditions. Curanderismo is a mix of traditions.

What they claim.
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The programs are run at the home of Eloy Navarro and Meghan Shannon, a unique combination of the native Peruvian world and western hearing and Deaf culture. Together, they bridge the gap, allowing an abundance of healing, teaching, and training of various people's life purposes to occur.

Eloy ("Luco") Navarro-Havaj (shaman)

Eloy is a native of Jenaro Herrera, the small Amazon jungle town off the river where the programs are held. It is a simple life there, where many of the stressors of western culture simply do not exist. He began his apprenticeship with the Ayahuasca medicine in 1982 under the renowned and powerful Julio Pineda (passed 2007) when he was just fifteen years old, and it has been his life path ever since....He was also trained by the Peruvian army, so on top of being a very wise shaman and master plant identifier, he is an expert on jungle survival in the Amazon.

-----------------------

What? Being in the army makes him an expert?

More.
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Meghan Shannon (shamanic apprentice, program coordinator, interpreter)

Meghan began her spiritual path with full force after she graduated college from Gallaudet University in 2003. As a hearing person, she was one of the first HUGS (Hearing Undergraduate) students to graduate..... In 2005, she embarked in a program called Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development (also Deaf-friendly by the way!) under the world-renowned Iyanla Vanzant. From there, she knew her calling and fell into Inca Shamanism at a program called Shamanic Healing Institute, where she was first introduced to the Inca lineage.....Now she lives in Peru helping Eloy run this program while apprenticing in Ayahuasca.

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The Shamanic Healing Institute is a spiritual tourism outfit run by a Frenchman or French-American, located in that center of South American Indian cultures, Laurel Maryland.

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http://www.shamanic-healing.org/
We'll be celebrating the Summer Solstice at SHI with the traditional Despacho and Fire Ceremony. There are many spirit totems connected to the summer season, here is a list of a few to connect with during your mediations and journey work. For the plants spirits; roses, hibiscus and flowering plants, animals; peacock,
jaguar and doves, minerals; emerald, lapis, and silver. Please visit our calendar events and join us at a workshop or event this summer.

The Mission of the Shamanic Healing Institute is to heal and teach people through individual and group spiritual healing sessions, workshops, retreats, practitioner educational programs and products. The Healing Center and Store are conveniently located in Historic Savage Mill nears Laurel; Maryland minutes form Interstate 95 and Route 32. If you can’t come in for an appointment we can schedule a distance healing session I have been providing distance healing ceremonies for years, I have many clients throughout the United States and several in Europe some I have never seen but they have received wonderful healings.

In this greeting I wanted to introduce you to one of the most powerful and life changing Healing Ceremonies I provide: The Soul Retrieval Ceremony. The intention of this ceremony is to return lost aspects of your soul. Everyone has a certain amount for Soul Loss. The Ceremony removes the energy of a soul wound and returns the soul’s essence of life. A key aspect of the ceremony is for the Shaman to travel on several shamanic journeys to bring back the energy that has been lost thus the person can feel whole or complete again, sometimes for the first time in a very long time. To learn more about Soul Retrieval please visit the Spiritual Healing Services page by clicking on the banner above, please send me an email with any questions.

The SHI training programs will begin in September with the Essentials of Shamanism scheduled on Saturdays; beginning on September 20, 2008, please make plans to join this class. This class is designed for the individual
who is interested in energy medicine, spirituality and would like to practice the shamanic traditions please visit the Training/Workshop page for more details. The Kawsay Journey and Munay Way programs will also be offered.

I’m also providing Mentoring which is training to shamanic practitioners on an individual or small group basis. Mentoring is available to people with any level of proficiency or tradition. The goals of Mentoring are to develop our capabilities for providing healing ceremonies to others.

If you want to receive our e-mail newsletter The Shaman Times and Calendar of Events please, email me your email address paul@shamanic-healing.org. Also, remember to check this web site for updates.

Munay
(Love and Beauty),
Paul Sivert
paul@shamanic-healing.org

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I feel safe in saying the ones who trained M Shannon are themselves very questionable, teaching a very confused jumble.

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Paul M. Sivert, L.C.P.C., is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and shamanic practitioner. He holds a Masters Degree in Psychology and a Degree of Ministry of Spiritual Counseling. After completing a thirteen year apprenticeship of study and practice, Paul has been initiated to practice energy medicine and create healing ceremonies of the highest good.  He has received the initiations of the Pampamesayoq (steward of the earth), Altomesayoq (practitioner of people's medicine), the Hatun Karpay (Grand Initiation), and the Fourth Level Karpay, the highest possible level of the Q'ero of Peru.
His life work is dedicated to...the energy medicine traditions of the descendants of the Inca, the Q'ero in South America. Paul is the founder of the Shamanic Healing Institute. He holds certificates in Reiki, Integrated Awareness Technique, Soul Retrieval, and Past Life Therapy, and is also an ordained interfaith minister.

Paul began his career in counseling in 1971, and is the Founder and President of Chakana, Inc., the Shamanic Healing Institute and Peruvian Market.
 
 Don Martin Pinedo is a native of Peru, born in Paruro, near Cusco. In 1972 he began studying with the famous shaman, Benito Qorihuman and soon became his healing assistant practicing the energy medicine procedures of his teacher. Don Benito died in 1982 and Martin inherited his mesa. Don Martin has been providing healing ceremonies for over twenty years. Don Martin visits the United States to teach healing practices, and, each Spring, he teaches in residence at the Shamanic Healing Institute.
 
 Helen Resop, R.Y.T, is a certified Sivananda Yoga Instructor and Shamanic Practitioner. Ms. Resop has studied Yoga Therapy with Mukunda Stiles; Chakra Balancing with Arlyn Kline, Zen meditation and Buddhism. Ms. Resop has been trained by Ecuadorian shamans from the rainforest and Yakchak shamans from the Andes. Ms. Resop has worked as a teacher, principal and facilitator. Her talents combine to produce an awesome and unique experience for all. 
 
Tracy Sampogna, CMT, NCBMTB, ATRIC, is a nationally certified massage therapist and Shamanic Practitioner. Tracy has been initiated by the most renowned medicine people to practice the energy medicine of the Q'ero Indians of Peru. She is also a Reiki Master, a Watsu and Waterdance Aquatic Therapist, and conducts international training workshops. Combining her passion for water, massage, and energy medicine, she provides a wide array of unique healing services.
 
--------------------------

Here's Iyanla Vanzant who also trained Shannon. Her real name is Rhonda Evans Harris.

Mostly vague feel good stuff for people with lots of money, aimed at Blacks esp.

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http://www.innervisionsworldwide.com/
Founded by Iyanla Vanzant in 1998, Inner Visions is a network of spiritual and holistic practitioners.....

Rev. Dr. Iyanla (pronounced E¯-Yan-La)

"...I call that skin, spirit, our Highest Most Powerful self. Spirit is the key to everything we desire. It is our weather-proofing, our Teflon, our line of credit that assures if we just keep putting one foot in front of the other, one day; there will be a miraculous payoff."

In 1990 with seemingly little notice, her path to working with man’s law transformed and suddenly made way to a divine appointment with Spiritual Law.  This union gave birth to her work of service to the Universe and manifested in the form of workshops, lectures, television appearance, and best-selling books wherein Iyanla shared Spiritual Law and Principles.

....Inner Visions has blossomed into a multi-faceted training program that offers certification in Mastery of Life Skills, Life Coaching and Ministerial Ordination.

Iyanla has received numerous awards and accolades for the power and impact of her work.  She is hailed as one of Halle Berry's five "Sheros" (Glamour Magazine 2006); one of the country's most influential African Americans (Ebony Magazine 2004); among the country's most 100 Influential Women (Women's Day Magazine 2003).....

Conscious Connected Breathing (aka rebirthing).....

Energy (Work) KINESIOLOGY, also known as MUSCLE-TESTING (formerly called Specialized Kinesiology), is a method of accessing direct feedback from the body.

Soul Food is a collection of spiritual exercises, daily devotions, and prayers....

Spiritual Life Coaching....

....Our workshops and exercises are designed to facilitate and evoke a deeper connection to Spirit....

Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development is a wonderful educational program for life long students.  Certifications and Ordinations are awarded to those who are in pursuit of spiritual mastery and desire to serve God's people.

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The problem with Vanzant's vauge claims is that she also claims to be a Yoruba priestess, a master of both eastern and western philosophies, etc.

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http://aalbc.com/authors/iyanla.htm
Iyanla Vanzant is a Yoruba priestess, a talk show host, a doctoral candidate, a spiritual life counselor, and the author of the 1994 Blackboard Book of the Year, Acts of Faith, and the best-selling Value in the Valley....an empowerment specialist.

[deafskeptic]

Thanks for the info. So these people are questionable at best? That's what I'm afraid of. As for Meghan Shannon, she could be a victim of fraud at best and if her intentions are to defraud deaf, well we don't need someone like this in the deaf community or any community for that matter.

I'm having a headache trying to find a record of Meghan Shannon on the Galludet website; I keep getting Model Secondary School alumni instead. Both Galludet and Model Secondary School for the Deaf are on the same campus so there's some overlap on the Gally website as a result. I think I'm going about it the wrong way cuz  I entered the name of someone I know who has gone to Gally and gotten a degree there and got a mention of her husband but no record of her.

[deafskeptic]

Took me a while but I found a mention of Meghan Shannon on the Gally website. The records there doesn't mention that she's class of 2003. I'm not too familiar with the HUGS program so I don't know if they allow hearing students to come during the  freshman year or only during the senior year. The Galludet site is vague on this. The records do indicate that she  was in the post grad program circa 2005-2006.


Here's what i found on her:
 
Film production and editing: Patrick Harris (Gallaudet Television Department) and Darrell Johnson (Arlington Public Educational TV Studios); Gallaudet ASL Performers:Deven Creech (student), Jodi Witt (student), and Jose Aquilera (student); Gallaudet ASL Coaches: Leticia Arellano (Center for ASL Literacy) and Dirksen Bauman (ASL and Deaf Studies); Sound Recording: Jeremy Koller (Arlington Public Educational TV Studios); Vocal Narrators: Mark Luncher (Gallaudet staff), Regina Weddington (Gallaudet staff), Megan Shannon (Gallaudet graduate student), and Jerry Cleveland; and External Collaborators: Karen DeSandies (assistant acting coach)

It's dated aug 2006.
 
I also notice  that she hasn't posted since the day I posted there saying if you have to pay to pray...

 As for the rest, I've been checking out Rev. Dr. Iyanla to see if some of her claims can be supported. She claims to have received numerous awards and accolades for the power and impact of her work.  She is hailed as one of Halle Berry's five "Sheros" (Glamour Magazine 2006); one of the country's most influential African Americans (Ebony Magazine 2004); among the country's most 100 Influential Women (Women's Day Magazine 2003).....

I couldn't find any mention of "sheros" in Glamour but I'm thinking I'll have to go the library tomorrow to see if I can find old copies of Glamour. I did find several mentions of her in Ebony and I haven't yet checked Women's day Mag. I will need to go the library because I need to know the proper context in which she was mentioned. She does appear to be well known in the African American community.

As for the bit about being a Yoruban priestess and a master of eastern and western philosophies, well ... that's not good. If it werent for that, I'd be inclinced to dismiss her as a feel good type.


Would you mind if I post some of your comments and findings about these people? I'll post any revelant findings that I find on my own.  I'm not feeling good today but I'll do further research on these people later today.

[educatedindian]

Certainly, anything I say on this site can be posted anywhere anyone would find it useful.

The problem I see in common with all of these "teachers" is that what they claim as their accomplishments are likely exagerrated, ludicrous, or not very impressive to begin with. All of the Shamanic Healing Inc people, except for Pinedo, are basically saying they've taken so many courses with other dubious groups or operators claiming to teach them to heal.

Sivert, for example, is claiming to be a licensed counselor. Well, virtually no states have any licensing of counselors. Basically anyone can claim to be a counselor, and many do. Interfaith minister? What is that, and for who? No faith that I know of would sanction that. It sounds like an online ordination that anyone can do if they send in a check and a vague declaration.

Yesop is claiming training from multiple traditions, Hindu, Buddhist, and several South American tribes (conveniently not saying by who for the tribes). Claiming to master a number of traditions is about as credible as claiming to be both a brain surgeon and  a heart surgeon. It's my guess she just went to several spiritual tourism people for a few weeks each.

Some of what they sell as healing is downright dangerous, such as soul retrieval.

And for both Pinedo and Navarro, the claims about them online are coming only from spiritual tourism sites saying "trust us, they really are great healers."

As for Evans/Vanzant, I don't know nearly enough about Yoruba. But is it ethical for her to be doing nothing but selling vague feel good workshops instead of serving the needs of Yoruba believers?

[deafskeptic]

I'm going to have to put this off till tomorrow cuz an old illness that I've had from time to time decided to hit me with a vengeance and I had go to back home as a result and I never made it to the library and I forsee a lot of in the bathroom tonight. It's nothing serious but it can be painful, annoying and even embarrassing if it hits at the worst possible time.

[Defend the Sacred]

As for Evans/Vanzant, I don't know nearly enough about Yoruba. But is it ethical for her to be doing nothing but selling vague feel good workshops instead of serving the needs of Yoruba believers?

I saw her on Oprah. While I recognized from her style of dress that she might be involved in the Religion, she didn't talk about any of the Yoruba beliefs. She did the general Nuage feelgood schtick that Oprah's become so fond of. I haven't asked around to find out if she's really an initiate, but I had never heard of her in that community before. The thing is, the Afro-Diasporic communities are rather huge and diverse. And there are both ethical and unethical folks. Even if she is an initiate, that doesn't really say much unless we know who initiated her and what their reputation is. *shrugs*

[educatedindian]

Got sent this. It's confirmed by her own words that Evans/Vanzant is a ceremony seller, does sweatlodges for her followers. The message came from the Binay "Tribe" yahoo group.

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blackIndiansopenforum] Summer Solstice Sweat Lodge My Space 9/21/08F
Friday, July 18, 2008 8:22 AM
From: "shaimesh@grouply.com" <shaimesh@grouply.com
To: smaitawi@yahoogroups.com, blackIndiansopenforum@yahoogroups.com, HealerSociety@yahoogroups.com
From:  Robin St.Clair theritestep@ msn.com
Greetings Family
 
Below is an email sent out by Iyanla Vanzant regarding the turnout of her recent Community Prayer Circle and Sweat Lodge for the Summer Solstice.  I pray that you will be able to attend the next Community Prayer Circle and Sweat Lodge for the Winter Solstice on September 21, 2008.  Iyanla has created a myspace page to share the success of the circle. 
 
I am organizing a group that will attend the Winter Solstice.  If you are interested in attending, please inform me of your intention asap.  Thank you.
 
Robin St.Clair

Beloved Ones:    I am still in humble reverence of your presence at the sweat.  Thank you for lending yourselves to the healing of the world.  Thank you for honoring the land and the ancestors.  I pray your healing is total and complete.  I pray the answers to your prayers manifest effortlessly and under grace.      I have created a My Space page in order to share the pictures.  The vision of the sea of bodies was breathtaking.  The drummers were awesome, I thank you.  The children were divine, bless you!      Please share the site with your family and others you may know were there as I don't have every e-mail address.   The address is www.myspace. com/croomstation farm 

Our next lodge will be for the Fall Equinox, Sunday, September 21st.  In the meantime,
Be Blessed! iyanla
Remember . . . You are your own best thing!

[InfiniteLight]

Hi there, this is Meghan Shannon (the person in question.) I saw this thread and wanted to clear up a few things (hopefully since this is the 'research needed' category, you will give me the benefit of the doubt and stay open to what I have to say.)

As far as my background, I am not claiming to be the shaman, healer, etc. I am an apprentice, and the interpreter, and that's it. I simply state by background so people know of my personal commitment to my own spiritual development. Where I trained doesn't really matter, since I'm really just the interpreter (and I'm not going to go off on the defense of Iyanla Vanzant or Shamanic Healing Institute, but if you ask the people who have trained there they will tell you something very different than you are insinuating.) And by the way - I DID graduate from the HUGS program in 2003, BA in psychology - they only accept 2% hearing into that program per year - would be a tough thing to lie about! I have several Deaf friends and professors who would gladly back me up on this.

As far as the shaman, you won't find much on him because he lives in a remote village without internet. That being said, your research would have to be done in person, by working with him. I'm sorry that there's no more on him, but he is not a part of the Western world. And I can understand the perspective that maybe I am being played as well, but I know what I know. I don't have a documented piece of paper proving this, but we are functioning under spiritual laws here, not western ones. Again, I'm sure I'll be torn apart for saying that too, but it doesn't seem like there is much openness to the possibility that some people really are just trying to create a place to serve and heal.

I ask you to please take a moment, before launching into something to scare the Deaf community away from this, to be very clear whether you really believe we are fraudulent. There are hardly any programs that are tailored to the Deaf Community, and I am clear that it is one of my life purposes to serve as a bridge for Deaf who want to train with this powerful medicine. Without knowing me or the shaman personally, to assume we are fraudulent would be doing a disservice to many Deaf spiritual seekers. I know that you probably don't believe anything I say, but I at least wanted to say it.

By the way, I simply put the link up on AllDeaf so people could see the page if they wanted to...I am not a regular user there and haven't seen the responses. It had nothing to do with ignoring your post.

With peace and light,
Meghan

[educatedindian]

I received a new account of exploitation by this group which targets the deaf specifically. The account describes a new "shaman" named Paul Sivert who took their money and did little in return and refuses to return it or even respond.

Sivert is an exploiter claiming to be trained by the phonies in Qero. Elsewhere on the site they list their prices, up to $1600 for a few hours "training" which supposedly will even qualify you to do the ceremony yourself.

Hasn't anyone learned from the James Ray tragedy?

And yes, in very late response to the previous post, I do believe you (the group behind this site) are fraudulent. The sad thing is you may be fooling yourselves as well.

-----------
http://www.shamanic-healing.org/about.htm
Paul M. Sivert, L.C.P.C., is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and shamanic practitioner. He holds a Masters Degree in Psychology and a Degree of Ministry of Spiritual Counseling. After completing a thirteen year apprenticeship of study and practice, Paul has been initiated to practice energy medicine and create healing ceremonies of the highest good.  He has received the initiations of the Pampamesayoq (steward of the earth), Altomesayoq (practitioner of people's medicine), the Hatun Karpay (Grand Initiation), and the Fourth Level Karpay, the highest possible level of the Q'ero of Peru.
His life work is dedicated to healing others and the planet, and teaching utilizing the knowledge and practices of Shamanism, especially the energy medicine traditions of the descendants of the Inca, the Q'ero in South America. Paul is the founder of the Shamanic Healing Institute. He holds certificates in Reiki, Integrated Awareness Technique, Soul Retrieval, and Past Life Therapy, and is also an ordained interfaith minister.

Paul began his career in counseling in 1971, and is the Founder and President of Chakana, Inc., the Shamanic Healing Institute and Peruvian Market.

[Unegv Waya]

Meghan,

As you have requested, I'm giving you personally the benefit of any doubt but you must understand that some in that group are acting fraudulently based upon their claims.  

Whenever anyone claims to be a shaman or that they have been trained in shamanic medicine you can be sure that they are not who they claim to be.  Granted, there are some who mean no fraud but were themselves duped into thinking that they were trained by someone genuine.

None of our medicine people EVER go about saying who and what they are.  They are trained for years and years and do not go out and teach others.  If you were in the midst of real native medicine people you'd likely not even know it.  They do not put on any sort of show and they do not travel around the world as part of their "practice."

Just bear this in mind - no real native medicine person would do what some in your group have done.  That is why the moment you hear the claims you can rest assured they are false.  The term "shaman" is not really used by native people as each tribe has its own term for such persons.  For example, one of the words in the Overhill dialect (Cherokee) I was taught is ganagati and it simply means doctor.  The word will vary a bit from dialect to dialect but is essentially the same.  If a real Cherokee healer was to ever say who he/she is they would use the term ganagati and not shaman.

So, a word to the wise is that the moment anyone makes claims of being a real native medicine person or uses the term "shaman" or "shamanic", red flags should start waving boldly in your mind.

nvwatohiyadv (peace)

[dabosijigwokush]

major warning on the use of the tea ayahuasca

http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/dll/ayahuasca_canada.html

http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ayahuasca/ayahuasca.shtml