Ever since she was a little child, Denise Damijo always had a desire to help others, even animals. It was natural for her to find herself in the midst of providing wisdom, advice, and actionable steps that could really help people. But she resisted making a business out of it for many years because she didn’t see the value that others saw in herself.
After many years of only going so far and only being able to do so much, she realized that she was getting in her own way of being impactful and helping others. Her business truly started when she understood and honoured the law of energy exchange and also understood that resisting her assignment out of fear was only hurting the very ones that she so desired to help.
What is ‘Shamanism’?
In order to understand Shamanism, one needs to understand what a Shaman is. There are different kinds of Shamans around the world that practice and have different kinds of giftings. But if you look at Shamans across the world, they are known as the ones who can travel in between this world and the spiritual world/other realms (for the most part.)
They are usually the voice for a collective of people but can also guide individuals as well. They can see and foretell things in the past, present, or future. By pulling from the elements, plants, animals, etc. they can gain wisdom and understanding, including assistance with healing. Shamanism is the ability to know and understand that everything and everyone is interconnected and utilize that to assist in healing. There is no “good” or “bad” it just is. Shamans do what is necessary to bring healing.
How would you explain ‘spirituality’ to someone who may be a skeptic or is new to exploring the concept?
Spirituality is the one thing that doesn’t need anyone to exist; it exists all by itself. Most (if not all) religions need the people in order to give it power and exist.
Spirituality is knowing that if there was not one more single human left on this earth, spirituality would still exist because spirituality is the connection to Mother Earth, the moon, plants, animals, wind, water, the sun, the universe, God, and the spiritual world. When you practice spirituality, you are practicing the connection and honouring what was and what always will be.
What are some of the most profound things you have experienced that assist you with your view on life?
Knowing and understanding the law of Karmic debt. Once a person thinks and talks about karma, they are usually talking about the “negative”. But karma works in the “positive” as well. I usually associate it with what seeds have been planted and in which energy you have planted them. Because my focus, desire, and intention is, 99.9% of the time, planting what would be known as “positive” karma, I have been able to see things happen in my life that possibly may not have been available to me or my family.
I say 99.9% of the time, I plant in the positive, because I’m only human and sometimes I may not show up at my very best and when I do, I feel so out of place. But because of the number of seeds that I have planted over the many years of intentionally and unintentionally planting seeds, I have enough positive karma to combat what may have otherwise led me to my demise.
Another thing that I have learned that goes hand in hand with karma is that not everything that happens in your life that may look bad or ugly, is. Some of the ugliest scars have some of the most beautiful lessons and outcomes.
Why do you think it’s important for one to re-connect with our higher selves?
Connecting with your higher self can help your present and past self to heal faster. As a Shaman, I know and understand that all three of a person’s selves exist. And actually, there is a fourth, that is your spirit-without-flesh-self. Each of these parts of yourself are equally important; neither one is more important than the other at all times in all spaces.
Usually, people chase the higher self and do not take the time to honour and acknowledge the past, present, and spirit self. Once one realizes and does this as a consistent ritual, they can learn to reconcile what once broke them and stand in their divine power as a complete being.
What are some tools that you would recommend for someone who’s open and new to embracing their spirituality?
Tool #1. Embrace every part of who you were when you were that version.
2. You will increase your being when you know how to safely and respectfully connect with the other non-human beings in this existence.
3. In life, you always have a choice about what part you will play in your story, so choose wisely.
If you met a stranger who came to you for a single piece of advice to take away with them, what would that be?
A puzzle would not be complete if even one piece were missing. In other words, no one is more or less important than anyone else, we all help to make up the bigger picture.
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