"How Spiritual Emergency Becomes Awakening" with Kevin Sachs on August 18 "Why Shamanism Now?"

JERSEY CITY, NJ, August 12, 2011 (Press-News.org) Streaming live on the Co-Creator Radio Network on Tuesday, August 16, at 11 a.m. Pacific time/2 p.m. Eastern time, on her show "Why Shamanism Now?: A Practical Path to Authenticity," shaman and founder of the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing Christina Pratt talks to guest Kevin Sachs, Ph.D., of Safe Journeys Home, who tells listeners: "In spiritual emergency, our process of awakening becomes difficult and destabilizing. These states can be confusing and frightening and can be misdiagnosed as mental illness, but they are truly healing states of consciousness."

In this episode of "Why Shamanism Now?" titled "How Spiritual Emergency Becomes Awakening", Pratt and Sachs explore what Spiritual Emergency is, how to recognize it, and how to work with it as a deeply transformational process. According to Pratt and Sachs, many people are introduced to non-ordinary states of consciousness through practices like shamanic journeying, trance dancing, vision quests, sweat lodges, breathwork, kundalini practices, meditation and yogic work without being taught how to safely and productively use these states. However, if recognized and worked with skillfully and compassionately, these challenging alternate states can become a spiritual practice, a personal healing form, or an initiation into one's true self.

Sachs talks to Pratt as part of a series of "Why Shamanism Now?" episodes sponsored by the Society of Shamanic Practitioners (SSP). Throughout this series, Pratt explores how contemporary shamans are meeting the challenge of their world where the relations of things—the living and the dead, the humans and nature, and the technological world and the spirit world—are profoundly out of balance. It is the ancient role of the shaman in all cultures to tend the balance of things, and the question is asked: how are these shamans meeting this extraordinary need today?

Christina Pratt is an authentic, non-traditional contemporary shaman. In practice since 1990, she specializes in mending the soul and transforming the parts of life that feel impossible. A teacher of exceptional clarity, humor, and inspiration, Pratt brings the power of shamanism into the practical grasp of anyone willing to take responsibility for improving the quality of their life. Her well-received book, An Encyclopedia of Shamanism (Rosen), is an 800-page, two-volume set with over 750 in-depth entries that clearly discuss the basic concepts of shamanism, methods, and traditions of over 50 different shamanic peoples. Pratt is the founder of the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing in Portland, OR, and New York, NY, creator of the original Foundations of Shamanism and Shamanic Healing course at the University of Minnesota, and a frequent and honored speaker for the American Holistic Medical Association.

Kevin Sachs, Ph.D., is the director of Safe Journeys Home, LLC, which specializes in the facilitation of, support for, and education about transformational processes, events, and crises. Sachs offers ongoing personal and emotional support to clients on their journeys of awakening; in preparing for and integrating deep, transformative inner experiences; and during psycho-spiritual crises, kundalini crises, shamanic initiatory illnesses, and other spiritual emergencies. Sachs designs and facilitates rites of passage for people going through difficult transitions, as well as shamanic healing and workshops. Sachs is an advanced student in Grof Transpersonal Training and offers Holotropic Breathwork with certified facilitators. He is working toward becoming a certified Focusing Professional with Ann Weiser Cornell and Jane Bell through the Focusing Institute, and currently studies shamanism with Jan Edl Stein and Kenn Day. Previous shamanism training includes work with with Parashakti and Carla Meeske. Sachs also spent many years practicing Siddha Yoga Meditation with Swami Muktananda and Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. He has been on a spiritual path for 38 years. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Safe-Journeys-Home/130573810295655

"Why Shamanism Now? A Practical Path to Authenticity", a live internet talk radio with host Christina Pratt, airs Tuesdays at 11 a.m. Pacific time/2 p.m. Eastern time http://www.co-creatornetwork.com/hosts/shamanism/host_bio.htm. Each week host Christina Pratt and guests explore the practical application of shamanic skills in our contemporary lives to create robust well-being, strong and clear community connections, and life enriching spiritual maturity. Listeners can ask questions by calling 512-772-1938 or via Skype. Prior episodes from "Why Shamanism Now" can be downloaded for free from the iTunes library. Pratt also talks about Shamanic Healing on YouTube.

For more information on Christina Pratt, the Last Mask Center for Shamanic Healing, and workshops and classes with Pratt, or to order An Encyclopedia of Shamanism at a special discounted rate, visit http://www.lastmaskcenter.org. Upcoming classes with Pratt include "Finding the Gift in Life Challenges" on August 19-20; Shamanic Journey Circles the third Tuesday of every month; Wisdom of the Shaman talks every third Friday; and Qigong classes every Wednesday, all in Portland, Oregon. For additional information or to arrange an interview with Pratt, please contact Linda Woznicki, 845-417-8811, Woznicki.linda@gmail.com.