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written by: Nicki Scully
The first time I encountered the work of Nicki Scully was through the first edition of this book, entitled "The Golden Cauldron". I was impressed with her work then, and continue to be so now.
It is not an easy task to function in the world of journeying - it is an even more difficult one to present this as a working tool for others. Nicki Scully has gifted us with this tool in a dedicated, respectful manner.
Journeying is a tool that opens doors to our inner selves and allows us - through the use of archetypal images - to access the knowledge of the unconscious realm. It allows us to ground and center ourselves within mother earth, and to connect with All Of Our Relations. This book deals strictly with animal relations - through journeying with them, we come to understand their power and are able to access their knowledge. Through attentive journeying, we can heal and grow as individuals. We can be all that we are meant to be.
Nicki Scully bases her journeying on her relationship with her personal mentor, the Egyptian God Thoth. Thoth is our connection between the physical world and the spiritual world, he opens the door and is there to guide us. For those like myself that feel no great pull towards Egyptian culture, Scully acknowledges that the figure that we see will be the one that is within our personal comfort zone, that the energy is the same, but how we see it may be different.
If you choose to play fast and loose with this book and the journeys that it presents, at least have the courtesy and respect to follow the rules set down in Part I. Here Scully describes the Golden Cauldron, it's function as the primordial womb, and how it is through the symbolism inherent int he cauldron that we interface with the spiritual world. Scully explains the concept of the deities, totems and archetypes that she journeys with in this book, and the part they play in our understanding of where we are now, of our past and of our future.
Scully recommends beginning with the first journey in the book, where the Seeker introduces themselves to Thoth and expresses their intentions for the work that they are about to do. The first journey is important in several other ways. It teaches the "process" of journeying, of placing intent, of being aware and showing respect, and it presents what Scully calls the "alchemy" portion of the journey - where an etheric egg, the egg of creation, is taken into the abdomin of the Seeker.
The journeys presented in this book are the result of work done by Scully and her students. She has them arranged in a specific order, for specific purposes. Foundation journey's deal with grounding and centering, with opening one's heart, with protecting ones self and with manifesting one's goals.
Journeys for awakening speak of rebirthing, of awakening the latent energies within ourselves, of working with ley lines and sonic vibrations, and with learning to love ourselves.
Journeys for transformation deals with issues like self esteem, grief and fear. They address our relationship with money, with the manner in which we deal with evil and with the concept of giving back to mother earth.
Healing journeys introduce us to working with crystals, to meditation, to the ideals of healing and compassion, to family relationships and co-dependency, and to cleansing.
Journeys for exploration take us into the areas of illumination, the elemental kingdom, the akashic records and working with the shadow side of ourselves.
Journeys for celebration and honoring speak of service and responsibility, of childhood issues, of living a humble life, of the worlds of magic and generosity and of holding reverence for our ancestors.
Journeys for liberation introduce us to our intuitive selves, to understanding the child within, to seeing from our heart and living a conscious life. It is here that we learn how to weave our lives, and what freedom is.
Scully places no boundaries on the use of this book. She strongly recommends reading the first chapter and understanding the alchemical process that each journey is, but she never says that the Egyptian connection "must" be there, or that the journeys need to be taken in any specific order. She acknowledges that the journey's may be seen as oracular work, and that it is perfectly OK to move to an area of interest, or an area where one needs work or help with personal work as a starting place.
She recommends that the journeys be taped, to make them easier to embark on. I intend to do just that - to tape the journeys and to take them in the order given. I have other animals that I intend to journey with - so that I will be adding my own personal chapters to this book - as will anyone who undertakes this path.
For anyone on the shamanic path, or anyone doing personal pathwork, I highly recommend this book. It is a tool - a starting place for many wonderful life experiences.
Bonnie Cehovet
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