Shaman Journey to the Underworld

I took my first shamanic journey to the Underworld to meet my power animal(s). This particular practice was based on what I've read in Michael Harner's "The Way of the Shaman". I started my visualization by imagining myself in Balboa Park, San Diego. I walked into the butterfly garden, down the stone steps into the sunken circle, and over to my favorite tree under which I sometimes like to read and relax. From there I sank into the earth beside the tree's roots. I’m in an underground tunnel, and I get into a canoe and begin drifting downward in the darkness.

After a time, I emerge from the tunnel and find myself still floating downward, without the canoe, in a thick fog....a gentle freefall. Eventually I land softly in a thick jungle. The fog is still present, but lifting. I look around and wait for my power animal(s) to appear. A butterfly floats by. Then another...and another. I watch them.

The butterflys stack themselves up like a tower----ten or twenty of them all in a connected vertical line. Because they are acting so strangely, it occurs to me that they are my power animals for today. I must admit I was hoping for a tiger! Anyway, The butterflys abandoned their self-made tower and flew over to me landing on my forearms and neck and face. I feel all their sticky legs clinging to my skin. Then my journey is over, and I return the way I came, but quickly.

Upon my return, my first thoughts include the words “support” and “sticking together”. I feel that my power animals on this trip wanted to convey the value of community and how we need to support each other and stick together, because we are all related in love and light.