You know, this is a really good question! I don't think I've ever seen a healer heal his/her own body, with the exception of herbalists. Instead they seem to rely on other trusted peers in the healing profession to do their healing for them. This seems to apply throughout from shamanic healers to faith healers to medical doctors. I would personally think that a healer could heal his/her own body if need be, but the use of another, equally or more potent, helaer is always beneficial!

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Rev. Ray
http://www.unitedinterfaith.org/

Well, I'm not so much drawn to the Native beliefs of Central and South America as I am curanderismo. However, I did come across a great resource, besides the books used in the Institute's religious studies program of course ;), that gives some excellent information on the beliefs of the Olmecs (considered to be the "Mother Culture of later Middle American civilizations."

http://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.html

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Rev. Ray
http://www.unitedinterfaith.org/

Very interesting article. Thank you.

Why did the Shaman use animal spirits to heal?

Many religions have the Trickster. What is the significance of the Trickster?

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This is from a question on the forum right now. Why do you think we have so many religiions?

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I believe that shamans used, and in some cases still use, animal spirits for healing because certain cultures have the belief that animals, and nature in general, are on equal footing with us, and so it was important to respect and honor animals, plants, etc., just like a human would be honored. Animal spirits were used for different healing techniques because animals each have a unique stength that's perceived by human beings. Cats are known for their independent nature as well as hunting instincts, dogs are known for their loyalty, birds of prey are a site to behold with their wings outstretched as they glide, etc. By using the spirits of these animals for healing purposes, a shaman can focus on these strengths of the particular animal in order to help with the healing process.

The Trickster, also known as Kokopelli in some Native cultures, is actually one of my favorite "characters." In some cases, the reason Kokopelli is known as the Trickster is because he would supposedly go from village to village, playing his flute and sowing seeds to make the crops abundant, and then sow his own seed and make the women pregnant! Hence, the Trickster!

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Rev. Ray
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I personally believe that we have so many different religions because spiritual beliefs change as cultures change. The beliefs that were appropriate at a given time and location, may not be right for another time and location, and thus new religions spring up. It DOES seem, however, that some religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, etc., are able to keep evolving with the times, to some degree, and thus their continued popularity!

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Rev. Ray
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It's not difficult to see why you like the trickster. What is the significance of the Trickster? Why is there a Trickster?

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Well, I mostly like the Trickster because the Kokopelli version walks around playing a flute and dances around! ;) I think that the Trickster's significance is along the lines of a fertility god... bringing new life to crops, animals, humans... but being a Trickster in that he just as easily can cause a bad harvest and infertility. That would be my interpretation anyways.

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Rev. Ray
http://www.unitedinterfaith.org/

Tell us about United Interfaith Ministries and what it does. What started you on this path?

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Ahh, finally a question I can answer! *grin* United Interfaith Ministries first started off as the United Interfaith Seminary. The distance learning seminary program was primarily created for those that were ordained through non-traditional churches such as the ULC, Universal Ministries, Church of the Seven Planes, etc. An obscure Texas law (which is where the program was based at the time) forced a name change to the United Interfaith Institute. After moving to Kansas from Texas, I decided to expand the mission of the Institute and filed the incorporation papers for United Interfaith Ministries in January of 2004. The organization is now setup as a non-profit religious organization with the State of Kansas and also has an EID with the IRS. By organizing as a religious organization, we were then able to offer ordinations to those that completed our ministry training program and met other guidelines established in the by-laws of the organization. The mission of United Interfaith Ministries, as stated in the by-laws, is this: "United Interfaith Ministries, Inc. is dedicated to promoting interfaith awareness and harmony, throughout the world, through the use of service, ministry, and education." So far the mission has been primarily achieved through the ministry and educational aspects of the organization and its associate ministers, but I am greatly looking forward to expanding the service aspects of the ministry with an interfaith food pantry idea I am working on. The food pantry will be a coordinated effort with ministry members from all over the world to provide basic food necessities to those in need. While this idea is still in its infancy stages, I do hope that it will come to fruition soon! The ministry has also taken up financial donations for tornado victims in Davies County, Missouri, and donations are currently being taken to help a toddler with a congenital heart defect.

I started on the interfaith path many years ago when I was introduced to Wicca by a childhood sweetheart of mine. Having attended Catholic school for many years, and being prepped for the Catholic priesthood, I already had a thirst for religious knowledge. Being introduced to Wicca gave me an overwhelming thirst to discover the other religions that were out there and that's what eventually lead me to where I am now. My introduction to the ULC when I was an undergraduate inspired me to re-focus on pastoral work, only this time it was from a much different perspective than it would have been as a Catholic priest!

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Rev. Ray
http://www.unitedinterfaith.org/