Question 1

Who may benefit from this Journey?

Accepted Answer

This Journey is for individuals, couples, triads of all genders, sexual orientations and relationship statuses.

• You have a desire for more understanding of and connection to your deeper inner wisdom.
 • You are keen to be part of a group process. 
 • You are comfortable with - or open to exploring - spaces where there may be loud music, voices and expressions, sensitive and powerful emotional shares, possible nudity and sexual expression in a group space.
 • You are comfortable with - or are open to - exploring a group space that is sex-positive, body positive, welcomes vulnerable shares and gives permission for the expression of emotions.
 • You want to learn and experience a new practice, deepen your breathwork practice to express, release energies and emotions from your past.
 • You have a desire to Retrieve, Reclaim & Integrate precious parts of yourself and your soul  that you have forgotten or have become disconnected from.
 • You are a curious adventurer.
 • Your physical, mental and emotional health are ready for this experience at this time. (Please read our Extended note on Health & Trauma)(www.ElaineYonge.com/extended-health-trauma-note).

Question 2

Who may not be suitable at this time to join this journey?

Accepted Answer

• You have significant unresolved trauma in your physical, mental or emotional body:

The retreat is not designed as an alternative to therapy or medical treatment. This journey can be challenging as well as rewarding.  Please read our Extended note on Health & Trauma (https://www.elaineyonge.com/extended-health-trauma-note)if any of above are true for you. This should support you to make an informed choice. If you doubt this journey is suitable for you and would like a reflection, please send us an email.

• Some health conditions could be a contra-indication to participate. Some health conditions ask extra attention and care when you would participate. Please check with us via Contact@ElaineYonge.com (Contact@ElaineYonge.com)if you have or have had a condition of 
- cardio-vascular problems, heart conditions or arrhythmia
- high blood preasure or low blood pressure with fainting
- epilepsy or seizures
- recent surgery or hospitalizations
- recent or current (possible-) pregnancy, history of delicate pregnancy
- lung disease
- glaucoma / detached retina
- severe osteoporosis

• You believe you may need one-to-one breathwork support at this time.
 •  You do not enjoy being part of a group process and are not open to seeing this as a gift.
 • You are not comfortable with the possibility of nudity in the group space.
 • You are not comfortable, familiar with- or open to- exploring spaces with optional loud music and/or emotional expression.
 • Your primary motivation for attending this retreat is to create connections and have experiences with others, rather than focusing on your own experience.

Question 3

Is this experience for individuals or couples?

Accepted Answer

This Journey is suitable for you, whether single or in a relationship, including those of all genders and all sexual orientations. Most people take this Journey as individuals and each group usually has a few couples who join.

A Note for Couples: 
If both of you wish to attend, you can decide to work with your partner only, or choose to work with others for all or some of the practices. The Energy Journey can be a powerful container for couples to regain their relationship with Energy as individuals and as part of their relationship. 
Please note if you are attending as a couple, it can be of benefit if you have both undertaken this type of experience or retreat before, separately or together. The reason for this is that when you join as a couple you are not only taking your individual journey; you are taking your relationship on a journey of its own.

While being on the journey with your partner brings additional gifts to attending as an individual, it does give you another dimension of experience to hold alongside your own experience.  Experience has shown that it can be challenging for both if one member of the couple is attending to please the other. It is essential that you both want to be part of this experience. It is important that you have good communication skills to navigate challenges that may arise.

Please be clear this is not a couples retreat or couples therapy journey. If you attend as a couple, we will support you as much as possible, given the group setting, to move through the process with care for your relationship. Extra caution is advised if one member of the couple has a significant history of trauma; the other may feel obliged to focus on supporting their partner rather than focusing on their own Journey.

Question 4

What is Shamanism?

Accepted Answer

https://youtu.be/EKdAW9ugApA

Question 5

What is Shamanic Breathwork?

Accepted Answer

• Shamanic Breathwork involves cyclical breathing, chakra-attuned music, focused energy-work, bodywork, artistic expression and community sharing.

• Shamanic Breathwork is a potent modality for clearing, reclamation, healing and letting go of whatever is no longer working in your life. Awakening access to more of your authentic self and your inner wisdom beyond and beneath the ego.

• Shamanic Breathwork provides individuals with a lovingly held container where they can experience the healing transformations that unfold during altered states of consciousness.

• Shamanic Breathwork  is a powerful transformational journey that inspires individuals to Awaken the Shaman within and reconnect with their own inner shaman.

• Shamanic Breathwork honours and blends the timeless wisdom of ancient traditions, with the emerging new paradigm methods of healing. It functions as the rainbow bridge between these two worlds, honouring the best of both worlds.

• Shamanic Breathwork is highly experiential. The wisdom and healing gained comes from each individual’s inner experience.

• Shamanic Breathwork was created by the founder Linda Star Wolf in 1996. 
To read more about Star Wolf and the evolution of Shamanic Breathwork see the FAQ below or visit www.shamanicbreathwork.org (www.shamanicbreathwork.org)

Question 6

Why Shamanic Breathwork?

Accepted Answer

• Shamanic Breathwork allows you to travel deep into your own psyche, witness and heal deep inner wounds, release past trauma, let go of that which no longer serves you and gain inspiration, vision, clarity and guidance as to your true path.

• As old wounds and dysfunctional patterns are released and transformed, you begin to regain lost soul parts and remember the magic of who you truly are. Empowerment brings wholeness and healing back into your live, to the lives of those you love and to the world at large.

• The gifts of Shamanic Breathwork can manifest and benefit you in general life, in business and relationships, by allowing you to harness a greater connection to your intuition and to ground self-belief and self-confidence.

• You may be simply curious about the process, or you may want to expand your awareness and consciousness.

• Shamanic breathwork aids transformation in those of us feeling held back in life by anxiety, feeling stuck, depressed, addicted or in overwhelm. It also provides an opportunity to deeply connect with your creative self and to make lasting shifts in the energetic patterns that you became trapped within throughout your live from childhood, working life or relationships.

On the question 'Why Shamanic Breathwork?' Elaine has spoke on an online summit. Here's the video about it:

https://youtu.be/27Hvn7JhX18

Question 7

What Health Benefits does Breathwork offer?

Accepted Answer

• Re-oxygenates your body
 • Massages your organs through increased diaphragm movement
 • Stimulates blood flow to all parts of the body
 • Improves digestion
 • Detoxifies your body
 • Boosts your immune system
 • Activates your parasympathetic nervous system
 • Can help manage pain
 • Reduces anxiety and stress
 • Supports positive mental health
 • May help with depression
 • Releases past trauma
 • Balances your nervous system
 • Aides your relaxation and restful sleep
 • Improves your clarity and focus
 • Releases you from the past
 • Helps you feel more connected to yourself and others
 • Connects you to your higher self, wise elder and inner healer

Question 8

What does Shamanic Breathwork as a Journeyer / Co-Journeyer involve?

Accepted Answer

A Shamanic Breathwork ceremony begins by establishing safe and sacred space through various rituals such as smudging with sage, cedar and sweet grass, while offering prayerful invocations. 
You lie down and focus on surrendering to your Shaman Within, calling upon that which is most sacred and holy to you, such as spirit guides, power animals, and higher powers. 
As drumming begins, journeyers are invited to connect with rhythmic breathing and a chakra-attuned music. A journey varying in length typically from one to two hours. As you use the power of deep connected breathing to create a natural altered dreamlike state, the Ego defences are released and the journey unfolds in a variety of magical ways.

As a co-journeyer you will have an opportunity to be a grounding support and witness for another person in their journey. This will always be optional.

The co-journeying experience is at times as powerful as taking your own journey. All individuals in the group will be held in the journey by Certified Shamanic Breathwork Facilitators. You will be in no way responsible for the journey of your co-journeyer. It can be a deep gift to support, witness and hold space for another human in their power and vulnerability.

Question 9

What may I experience during a shamanic breathwork session?

Accepted Answer

Each person’s Shamanic Breathwork session is a highly individualised process and no two are ever the same.

Some of the states of consciousness reported range from divine, otherworldly bliss states to the struggle to be released from negative forces in the psyche. Rebirthing is a common occurrence, as is the life review where one relives or observes their lifetime experiences. Old patterns of dysfunction may be brought to the surface. Addictions are sometimes transformed during this process, as feelings such as grief, fear, rage and anxiety are released.

Question 10

What practices and rituals will be there in this week-long Journey?

Accepted Answer

• Shamanic Breathwork Journeying
 • Intention Rituals
 • Kundalini Shaking 
 • Co Journey Experience 
 • Art Mandala Creation
 • Journey Processing Pods
 • Movement Sessions
 • Sharing Circles
 • Energy-work
 • Bodywork
 • Artistic expression

Question 11

Who created the Shamanic Breathwork method?

Accepted Answer

Venus Rising and the Shamanic Breathwork Process was created by Linda Star Wolf in 1996.

For more than 30 years Star Wolf has continued to study the lineages of:
Integrative Breathwork, created by Jacquelyn Small
Holotropic Breathwork, created by Stanislav Grof
Rebirthing Breathwork, created by Leonard Orr
along with many other forms of altered states breathing/healing techniques.

Star Wolf also received  a variety of teachings and transmissions of Wolf Clan Wisdom Teachings directly from Yeh-Weh-Node, Twylah Nitsch, her adopted Wolf Clan Grandmother. The Shamanic Breathwork Process draws upon each of these lineages, as well as other Ancient Shamanic Mystery School teachings.

Star Wolf 's personal and professional experience in the fields of psychological counselling and addictions for more than 30 years, created a solid foundation and safe container for the integration of Shamanic Breathwork and Shamanic Psycho-Spiritual principles.

To read more about Starwolf, Shamanic Breathwork and Venus Rising: https://www.shamanicbreathwork.org (https://www.shamanicbreathwork.org)

Venus Rising’s Shamanic Breathwork Facilitators have undergone this process many times in the course of their training and are loving guides for the participant’s journey. The process may require the Shamanic Breathwork Facilitator’s skills and attention; a variety of Shamanic-Psycho-Spiritual tools may be employed to assist the participant. Some of the most commonly used methods are Bodywork, Shamanic Reiki (energy work), Soul Return, and Extractions.

The most powerful healing tool our SBW Facilitators bring to the person breathing is their open, loving hearts and minds, with a willingness to support and travel with the journeyer wherever they may need to go. This is the essence of what Shamanic Breathwork is all about. Describing the process really does not do it justice. One must experience this powerful shamanic journey and its transformation directly.

FAQ's about The Journeys in General

FAQ's about Master Your Pleasure