Hello there

[Cantesutawin]

Hi, I'm new to the forum but not new to the world of esoteric thought. I'm interested in many different paths, but my personal path is the red road, what many refer to as shamanism. My husband is a buddhist, and we're both looking for a place where we can get together with other like minded people and trade ideas.

[Celtaur]

I am looking forward to learning from your path. There is a post on the forum of the Native Code of Ethics which shares much wisdom.

This weekend I was away and saw on tv a Native program, and the deep appreciation and connection to nature is inspiring. I have a great love of the wild and see the path as shamanism as a great path of inner wisdom connected to the awe of nature.

It would be great to learn from both you and your partner who is Buddhist. I love how there are so many paths that we can learn from. There is so much wisdom we can learn from one another's paths.

Talk to you soon.

[Cantesutawin]

I also believe that we can learn many things from each other. One thing that I have found is that although we may use many different labels to describe ourselves there are many commonalities that we can celebrate. Even within the differences, there are commonalities to be found, we just need to be open to new ideas. I've been raised with the idea that every person we come in contact with in our lives come into our lives for a purpose. Each person has a piece of wisdom that can help us understand this path called life. We just need to be open to listening.

[Haruth]

...every person we come in contact with in our lives come into our lives for a purpose.

This is a profound truth indeed. I would go further, and suggest that there exists a deep spiritual connection that brings people into our lives and they into ours.

I personally believe that this connection extends even to those who we may not necessarily think of as being a part of our lives: the neighbour we don't really know but may occassionally see across the street, the girl that bagged our groceries today, the stranger we sat beside on the train.

What counts at this 'limited' (and yet, I believe significant) level of interaction is how we connect to these random people who are not a 'meaningful' part of our lives. There is something intensely satisfying about empowering these strangers for the brief moments in which the connection is made.

How is this achieved? It is the simplest act in anyone's arsenal - just say 'Hi', and show a genuine interest in how their day is going. (Reactions vary - but giving a stressed check-out girl something to laugh at will lift her mood for the rest of the day... well, at least until the next awkward, grumpy, negativity-laden customer comes along and drains all that energy out again...)

And the best part of all? It is more often than not a two way exchange. Go on - give yourself a lift, talk to a stranger today!

Namaste.

[Cantesutawin]

I agree one hundred percent. I've been taught that every person who we come in contact with comes into our lives for a reason. Sometimes it is to teach us something, sometimes this role is reversed....in other cases it is just to be a listener, or to offer a friendly smile. Besides, it costs nothing to smile and sometimes it can change the day for another person.

[Drachemond]

I also agree with that! Everytime I go out for errands, even if I am not feeling in the best of moods, I always give people something to laugh about.

Especially when doing groceries, it is so awesome to talk to the people at the cash and make them smile, it is a great feeling to show a complete stranger how they matter even though they are not part of your lives directly.

Welcome to the forum canteskuya!!

Looking forward to learning more about your path!

Drachemond

[Cantesutawin]

As I look forward to learning from yours........I like it here.