Deep Lower-World journeys are mostly beyond words: human language is largely a middle-worldMiddle-world. Ordinary physical reality together with its energetic layers: the realm of individuality, separation and mixed intentions, and the only realm where harm is possible. “If there is a hell, then it is the middle-world.” Read the full answer thing. This is not an absolute ban on every word or on meaningful imagery. Paul Francis’s Lower-World GuidesGuides. The Lower-World and Upper-World beings a practitioner works with and learns from, of whom the Power Animal is the first and foremost. True Guides are ethical to their core; the shaman’s power comes from the depth of these bonds, not from the shaman. More about this rarely speak, and then usually only single words or simple sentences, and journeys are full of symbolism, imagery and metaphor.
Does this mean there is no symbolism in a journey? #
No. Lower-World journeys are “more metaphorical, and full of symbolism and imagery rather than words”. Journeys are mythosMythos. Metaphorical, symbolic, felt truth: the truth of art, poetry and shamanic journeys. Shamanic reality is mythologically true, not literally true, which is why journeys are interpreted, never taken at face value. More about this, metaphorically true, rather than logosLogos. Literal, factual, analytical truth: the truth of facts you can check. One of the two modes of truth, alongside mythos. More about this, literally true, and their symbolic meanings belong to a realm of meanings, relationships and insights.
A journey can communicate through an image, a sensation or what a Guide does. In the published account, the Guides communicate by showing things, and the journeyer learns to notice what is being shown and explore it afterwards.1
Why is human language associated with the middle-world? #
Journeying deeply in the Lower-World takes you mostly beyond words, because human language is largely a middle-world thing.
Everyday communication is so dominated by words that people may miss other ways communication happens in journeys. Guides can bring something to the journeyer’s attention through what they do. Learning involves paying attention to what the Guides do, and learning to try and understand its significance and the deeper layers of meaning and teaching.
The aim is to go beyond language into a deeper reality that can only be experienced through sensations, imagery and metaphor. Paul’s own Guides rarely speak, and when they do, it is usually in single words or simple sentences.2
Can a Guide ever say a word or a short sentence? #
Yes, sometimes. Paul’s Lower-World Guides rarely speak to him in journeys, and if they do, it is usually only single words or simple sentences. They may say things like “Pay close attention”, “Do this” and “Be this”.
The Guides are trying to bring something to Paul’s attention, either for his healing or for his learning as a practitioner. It is then his work to pay attention, recognise what they mean and explore further. The short phrases belong within this showing and experiencing, rather than an extended verbal lesson.
In one journey a Human Guide said “Be Kelp” again and again, and Paul spent the whole journey being Kelp. See What is “being not doing”, and what is wide-focus journeying?3
How does an extended verbal teaching differ? #
Take the example of looking up a crystal’s healing properties. A written description may run to several pages and hundreds of words. If Guides were to describe the properties in that level of detail, using words, that would be channelling rather than Lower-World journeying.
This is not to say that channelling has no uses. It has, and there is nothing wrong with it. But it is much more of a middle-world practice, requiring a different approach and a more critical eye.
As with most middle-world things, there is usually some erroneous thinking mixed with whatever useful information may be present, and a certain amount of discernment is needed to separate them. The focus here is on Lower-World work.4
How can showing teach something new? #
The same section gives two examples. We may learn that Ivy is useful for binding recently returned soul partsSoul-part. A small-s, middle-world part of the self that can be lost (sent away) and can be retrieved. Not the capital-S Soul. Read the full answer back into the body. Wren may teach that someone does not have to be big to find their voice. Sometimes the healing gift is obvious from what happens in the journey; often the experience needs unpacking afterwards.
Often something appears because the journeyer needs it for their own healing. This is especially true if the journey was for them, rather than someone else. Sometimes it appears because the Guides are teaching something new as part of the person’s shamanic development. It is a kind of apprenticeship to the Guides.
The purpose may not be obvious during the journey, precisely because the communication is showing rather than words. Research afterwards can help the practitioner learn about what appeared and build their Medicine Bundle, the knowledge of the beings’ healing properties.5
What does a wordless experience look like? #
The Dandelion account gives a detailed example. In it, Paul becomes Dandelion, first experiencing its long taproot and deep connection with the Earth, then its yellow flowers facing the Sun. The account moves through sensing the plant’s qualities and feeling changes in his body.
“I also sensed its strong groundingGrounding. Returning fully into the body and physical reality; the bedrock of safe practice, and how every journey ends. More about this energy and the way that connects us to Mother EarthMother Earth. The sacred Feminine pole: pure potential, from whom all the Peoples arise. The Lower-World is her realm, and she is all the realms: “The Earth is indeed our Mother.” More about this.” He also describes cheerfulness, vitality, optimism and the ability to thrive in any environment. Research into the plant came afterwards.
In the journey itself, he senses a strong downward and outward motion, and feels his body relax. His shoulders and jaw relax, and he describes the motion through his abdomen as a releasing downwards. The account also includes sensing the plant drawing sustenance and strength from the Earth, and its connection with Father Sky. Its sunny disposition and ease are experienced alongside the grounding and vitality.6
How should symbolic meaning be understood afterwards? #
Journeys have healing power in themselves, and skilful unpacking can potentially add to it. A spoken or written account conveys meanings through imagery, figures, actions and events. The meanings of most value and healing are those which ring true to the person for whom the journey was done.
So the experience is one thing, and its later verbal description another. The description can help bring meaning into conscious awareness. For fuller discussion, see How do I unpack and interpret a shamanic journey?7
