It's a good article. It's something U would read, and say to yourself... Yeah, so true. Explains why people, don't change and get so pre occupied with protecting 'self esteem' rather than just finding solutions.

I'm going to have to get onto my husband's computer to read it, unsupported browser due to the fact I'm using an antique

Here is that article I was referring to in the PM.
On some level, you espouse this, but it's knda kewl to see it Dweck pronounce this 'capacity, not content mindset in mainstream psychology. Not esoteric, but is the main theme behind the arts.
Google Docs

I never go that deep. My husband has ... he once went so deep I thought he was dead (a story too long to tell in writing) I've actually thought something was wrong with me because I ALWAYS maintain contact with this reality when I journey. Granted, I've corked off during a few journeys but they were benign journeys, not trying to seek information. You can just sort of wander around the astral realm. Although, I do suspect the fact that I've got some very, very powerful spiritual guides has gone a lot further to take care of me than I know I used to be sort of trusting over there, but I also was limiting myself to journeying on the astral level (the higher world). The lower world is a little different. Not a good place to go if you're not comfortable with shadow work.

Wow, can you imagine half of these peeps, myself included getting lost in that 'sea'. I'm moving from a school of transpersonal thought, to analytical social psych. If one is London, the other is Tokyo. If I stated half of my beliefs in the divination practices, I would be an outcast. You have been reading Michael Harner? Heard of him, never read him. I think you would like Mircea Eliade, I'm familiar with his excellent book the Sacred and the Profane, which discusses the role, and evolution of spiritual ritual, and religion. However, his analysis.... of the esoteric, west and east, IMO, is unparalleled. Academically, he is unmatched. I've read 4 of his books, not this one, however... his scholarship on Shamanism spans over 20 years.
Amazon.com: Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy (Bollingen Series (General))…

You know the old saying, when the student is ready the teacher appears

If nothing else, you can learn a lot from the spiritual guides you encounter on journeys and just trusting your instinct. My HP is a sharp witch, too, and now she's being mentored by one of the most potent, for lack of a better word, spiritual teachers who is currently alive. Interesting times. As a coven we're currently doing Egyptian alchemical stuff following the solar cycle for a year. I'm not entirely comfortable with it, but the ancient Egyptians were shamans, too. The magic is real and potent and a really viable way to connect with higher self/personal/universal energy but the formality and bowing and adulation is hard to deal with when you consider yourself more a "roll in the dirt pagan," which I do (qabala and tantra aside LOL).

2 people directly come to mind, One in the Philippines who 'cleaned' up a relatives house. He wouldn't even waste his time trying to understand me. He didnt' speak english. You are right, this period of 'historical time' why would anyone waste their time? Tibet was right in keeping their country technologically un corrupted. The second was a taoist/taichi guru from NYC, I didn't meet him, just read an article based on him. He said the exact same thing. The merited ones who have worked and earned the 'teachings' are more concerned with living in harmony, and staying away from trouble, and well living to be 200+ years old, than passing on to students.
Spiritual teachers have special needs, and in this day and age, since they have transcended common sense, not sure it would make sense to take on students.
Yeah... you got the background, and narrative patterns, and it appears are primed for a transition of 'this type'. Something will appear.

I'm glad to hear she's recoverying.

Oh, I think I understood where you were coming from. What's chewing my ass is I'd like to move ahead with some proper training, there's just some stuff you really need to see done and walked through, and honestly, most true shamans are trying to make a living at it and they're not necessarily looking for proteges, they have too many people volunteering already There are teachers out there who offer classes but it adds up.

You'll discover that the whole "ordeal out of left field" in terms of health is a common thread in most "mystery" traditions.

I'll tell her bout your compliments... She's making her way back from elbow ligament surgery. However, she's at double speed recovery, and the orthopedic is impressed.

Okay, I was thinking 'shamanic' in 'general/metaphorical/metaphysical terms', -patterns, not specifics- Your personal narrative/background, seems like rebirth is a theme that has more merit in your life than most. I'm not talking about the details of practice here. Your capacity, and spirit, rather than the 'content divination, or ritual'. This you have down.

Astrological. Google "Grand Cardinal Cross 2010" and just read until things start to make sense.

gets wonky from June 26 until mid August. Stay near to home. It's a political thing but no one knows what's going to happen.

It's all a part of the 2012 schema, in the long run, preludes, pieces of the puzzle.