Bringers of Ancestral Wisdom Project

Executive Summary

Galina Vladi, a leader of the expedition is a healer from Siberia. Through her shamanic work she received a vision that the time had come for the shamans of North America and Siberia to come together to perform a ceremony, which will create a powerful healing wave throughout the whole planet.

Gathering of Shamans will take place at the Southern region of Siberia in the Alhanai Mountains. It will include 33 shamans and healers, a scientist, a photographer, and a filmmaker. The purpose of the gathering is to exchange traditional rituals and ceremonies, share teachings, and to perform a joined ceremony at the ancient shamanic ceremonial site Podkova. The proposed time for the 33-shamans' ceremony is July 2009.

Background

Galina Vladi, a healer and a clairvoyant, in the early spring of 2001, went through a powerful experience with a 160-year-old shamanic staff – a powerful shamanic tool that used to belong to a few generations of Native-American shamans. The staff's spirit, Great Eagle, brought Galina back to her homeland Siberia where she saw her Native American healer-friends joining hands with Siberian shamans.

The vision inspired Galina to go back to Siberia. By that time, she had been away from her homeland for thirteen years, since her emigration to the United States in 1989. Her travel to the southern part of Siberia brought her to the Alhanai Mountains, where in an encounter with a local healer, she learned of the ancient, shamanic ceremonial site Podkova (Horseshoe). The sacred site had been kept in secret and closed to the public since the beginning of the century. After arriving to Podkova, Galina entered a state of meditation and experienced the sacred shamanic site as a gate to the parallel reality. Her personal finding was confirmed by her guide: Podkova had been recognized by ancient shamans as The Gate.

Galina's next discovery was a legend of 33 shamans that she learned from her healer-guide. The legend said that "when 33 white shamans (healers) come to Podkova and join their hands in the ceremony of peace, The Gate will be open again." Galina's personal experience at Podkova in conjunction with the legend's message coincided with her previous vision. This convinced Galina that the spirits put her in charge of making a joined-hand ceremony a reality.

After her return to the US, Galina wrote a story "A Siberian Summer with Shamans and the Mountain Spirits" (www.parallelreality.org) and developed a project "Bringers of Ancestral Wisdom." Since that time, Galina has been pursuing her vision of bringing together 33 shaman-healers at the Gate to the Parallel Reality in the Alhanai Mountains in Siberia.

In 2003, "Bringers of Ancestral Wisdom Project" initiated a traditional gathering of shamans at Lake Baikal in Siberia. It was the first such effort since the beginning of the century. In August 2003, thirteen Siberian and Native American shamans gathered on the traditional shamanic ground Ol'khon Island at Lake Baikal to praise thirteen gods of the "sacred sea". This event is described in Galina's story "Thirteen Gods and Thirteen Shamans."

From the ancient time, Ol'khon Island of Lake Baikal and Podkova of Alhanai Mountains had a direct energy link. According to oral shamanic records, thirteen gods and goddesses of Lake Baikal were frequent visitors at the shamanic ceremonies conducted at the Gate to the Parallel Reality.

Every summer since 2003, Siberian shamans have gathered a traditional shamanic gathering at Lake Baikal. Every year, more shamans arrive and in the last three years, shamans from Mongolia and China joined Siberian shamans.

Statement of Need

As of recently, with a snowballing effect of a rapid climate change, humanity at large began searching for answers on how to reduce the impact of humans on Earth: how to protect environment, preserve land, and water, unique species of the planet, and the life in general. However, neither modern technology nor has politics of the leading countries been able to provide answers to these questions. Instead, they bring more destruction to the land, pollution to the earth, waters, air, and unrest to the world. All these factors are considered to be the biggest threat to human existence today. The problem only becomes more severe unless all of us would agree to take a different course in the evolution of our planet. To help our civilization to survive, we have to come up with simple and effective solutions. By studying certain beliefs and traditions of the indigenous cultures, as well as their ways of living in harmony with Mother Nature, we can bring an ancient knowledge and wisdom to the benefits of all people.

Indigenous people have understood the importance for every individual to have a personal awareness and responsibility of keeping the world in balance. For millenniums indigenous cultures were able to live in harmony with nature; honoring the air, water, and land. Rather than seeing the world as inanimate, indigenous people believed that the world is alive with spirits and souls in every thing and in every place and that all animals and plants have souls much like our own. Respect for the spirits of nature and living things had shaped a religion, named shamanism, and the life ethic that minimizes negative impact on the Earth.

Shamanism is considered one of the oldest religious and cultural traditions in the world. Shamanism exposes a view of the world that is vital to man's future survival. Historically, shamans played the role of protectors and healers to the land and their people. They were the carriers of a wisdom and knowledge which had accumulated through thousands of years since the beginning of civilization. The shamans were recognized as medicine men, priests, and prophets. As medicine-men, shamans performed certain ceremonies to expel the evil spirit from their patients, and to bring healing to families, communities, and the land. As priests, they knew the will of the gods and declared to man what sacrifices and ceremonies would be held. And as prophets, they foretold the future.

The tradition of shamanism is commonly associated with the Buryat Mongolian culture. According to Mongolian shamanism, the ideal way to live is best described by the word tegsh, which means "being in balance", and which implies acting in moderation but also with consideration for the effects of one's actions upon others. Siberian and Mongolian people have traditionally believed that if resources are taken without thanking the spirits for what the spirits have given, they will not return again. Presently, our challenge is to use renewable resources and alternative energy sources, to recycle and to use appropriate technology. We can also apply technology that we have developed to create a sustainable lifestyle and to keep a balanced relationship with the environment. This approach has been typical of Siberian and Mongolian cultures since the earliest recorded history.

The practice of Siberian and Mongolian shamans was suppressed for nearly eighty years. Shamanic practices were prohibited, and hundreds of shamans were persecuted and killed. Despite a tremendous loss, Siberian and Mongolian shamans survived and in the early 1990s, they began to work again, reviving their ancient traditions and ceremonies, serving communities, and providing healing to the land and its people.

By studying and supporting Siberian and Mongolian shamanism we will be able to offer our small part in helping to preserve and promote unique traditions of native people of Siberia for the future and for the sake of all people. It is in our power to make the voices of indigenous cultures to be heard, and the land and waters to be protected. In our belief, we can change the destructive tendencies of the world. The shamans and indigenous peoples always believed that through paying respect to each other and to the world around us we will be able to become a harmonious part of nature - if we learn to listen from our hearts, we will be able to hear the voices of the land, water, and the sky.  They believed that our gods and goddesses could give us wisdom and power, and an understanding of our journey. Through given visions they could guide us to our next destination, and if we listen carefully, we would be able to hear the answers to our questions – we will be able to preserve life on the planet Earth.

Proposal

Galina Vladi proposes a two-and-a-half-week long expedition to the southern part of Siberia, which includes Ol'khon Island at Lake Baikal, the capital of Buryatia Ulan-Ude, and the ancient sacred ceremonial site Podkova in the region of Alhanai Mountains. This area is the land of Buryats who are descendants of the greater Mongolian nationality. The proposed time for the expedition is July-August 2008. The group will include Native American healers and elders, a scientist, a professional photographer, a filmmaker, and their assistants.

During the first part of the expedition, Native American healers will join gathering of shamans on the Ol'khon Island at Lake Baikal. The shamans will share their traditional healing practices and ceremonies. One of the ancient prophecies says that "when thousands will gather by the lake of pure, blue waters and perform healing ceremonies, peace will come to the Earth." 

During the second part of the expedition, the group will travel to Ulan-Ude to participate in an international conference on global warming. American and Russian scientists, Native leaders, and elders will discuss the impact of climate change on the lifestyle of Native communities and the world at large. The goal of the conference is to seek possible healing solutions for this world crisis.

The last part of the expedition will take place at the Alhanai National Park where the group will visit ancient sacred sites including the ceremonial site Podkova. From the ancient times Podkova empowered shamans with mystical power and wisdom of the Higher Consciousness. However, since the conflict that took place 250 years ago between 33 shamans of the Alhanai Mountains and a Buddhist llama, the gate remained closed.

The group will pay their respect to the local Buddhist community and deliver an invitation letter to the Buddist llamas to participate in the ceremony of 33 shamans in the summer of 2009. A preparation for the ceremony of 33 shamans at Podkova will be documented on film as well as other events of 2008 and 2009 expeditions.

A Siberian legend says that "if 33 white shamans (those who engaged in healing) will come to the Gate to the Parallel Reality, join their hands and create a circle with Podkova, the love of their hearts will pacify the spirits; the gate will be open again, and the shamans will receive power and wisdom on how to protect the world and help humanity in the time of crisis."  

Purpose of Mission

1. To exchange rituals and ceremonies, and share teachings between indigenous cultures of Siberia and North America.
2. To learn about needs of the local Native people of Siberia and environmental issues of the land.
3. To document discoveries on unique shamanic practices, as well as cultural traditions via filmmaking, photography and tape recording.
4. To establish a bridge between Native American and Siberian indigenous communities by starting communication between their elders, spiritual leaders, and healers.
5. To participate in the international conference in Ulan-Ude on climate change and enter into discussion of the healing solutions.
6. To begin a preparation for a joined ceremony of 33 shamans at the Gate to the Parallel Reality in the Alhanai Mountains.
   

Long-term Goals

1. To support Siberian shamanism as a form of a free religion by establishing Buryat's Institute for Shamanistic Studies on the base of the Ulan-Ude State University.
2. To initiate and run a research on the connection between native cultures of Siberia and North America. To establish programs on cultural exchange, as well as healing/spiritual centers and social programs based on the needs of local communities.
   

Funding

Galina Vladi will have eight members in her expedition. The estimated cost of the expedition is $45,000. The cost includes airfare to Russia and travel inside the country, lodging, food, renting of equipment, administrative expenses and local services, expenses for the ceremonies, filming and documentation.

Contact Information

Galina's phone: (907) 727-1723
Galina's e-mail: galina@parallelreality.com

Basic Packing List for the Expedition

In August the temperature varies from 30 to 10C at night, no rains or rarely a storm comes with a strong but short rain.

Layers of Clothes:
Long sleeve shirts
Long hiking pants
Warm sweater
Wind proof jacket
Rain jacket
Sun hat and wool hat
Light clothes for hot days (include swim suit)
Hiking or walking shoes

For Women:
Sweat-lodge dress or wrap
Skirt or dress to wear during ceremonies

Other:
Sunscreen lotion
Repellent
Personal and hygiene items

Optional:
Drum
Mosquito net
Water filter (Baikal's water is relatively clean; it is safe for everyone to drink boiled water)

Tents and sleeping bags will be provided.

Please explore any available sites on Lake Baikal. The information you find there might answer some of your questions.