Episode Summary:
In this powerful episode of Urban Grief Shamans, host John Moir sits down with Betti Rooted Lionheart, a compassionate shamanic healer and spiritual empowerment advocate, to explore the profound connection between grief, ritual, and healing. Betti shares her journey of reclaiming lost parts of herself, overcoming deep despair, and discovering the transformative power of shamanic healing and community rituals. Through personal stories, Betti reveals how grief manifests not only in the loss of loved ones but also in the loss of ecosystems, species, and cultural traditions.

Betti describes her own initiation into shamanic practices and how communal grief rituals, such as the Wailing Circle, help people release trauma and reconnect with their authentic selves. She shares the deeply moving story of her mother’s death and the spiritual realizations that emerged from walking with death. Betti also highlights the role of ritual in healing the soul and the body, illustrating how the power of voice, movement, and communal energy can lead to profound emotional and spiritual transformation. Betti's webpage can be found here.

What's a dismemberment journey? In this episode, Betti Rooted Lionheart mentioned having a dismemberment. Here is a brief description for our listeners who wish to know more. In shamanic practice, dismemberment is a form of initiation that can happen voluntarily or spontaneously. For example, a crisis or illness may initiate someone, while others might experience this through a course that reveals their shamanic potential. Dismemberment involves a symbolic tearing apart of the self, often in spirit journeys, where animals or other forces dismantle the body. This process strips away the ego, leading to a rebirth of identity. Those who undergo dismemberment often have a more profound sense of self, greater alignment of body and soul, improved health, and a more explicit connection to their soul’s purpose.

Foundation for Shamanic Studies: Explore here
“The Way of the Shaman” book by Michael Harner
Society for Shamanic Practice: Explore here

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