The Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies

The Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies or FíOS is dedicated to the re-enchantment of the soul through the restoration of the sacred arts: the creative, artistic and mystical experiences which are the gifting vision of all human beings. Discovering and sharing the ways by which inspiration comes is an oracular rather than transcribed skill. Oral traditions in the modern world are about how we share with our peers the techniques, researches and inspirational pathways of our common life.

We aim to help restore pathways into the landscape of the soul by means of lively, oral exposition of the sacred arts. Courses include: art of the soul, sacred performance, poetry and storytelling, divining from the natural world, sounding the unheard landscape, sacred dreaming, embodiment of spirit through dance, shamanic healing and ancestral honouring. Additionally we invite inspiring teachers and practitioners of the living sacred arts to present MASTERCLASS courses for FíOS, believing that those who drink from the sources of inspiration and who keep open the thresholds of experience are the best qualified exemplars to teach us.

By respecting and practising the sacred arts that unify our understanding of the apparent and unseen world in one reality, one universe, we remember how to hear and trust the oracles from the heart of All That Is. FíOS also supports the training and work of shamanic practitioners in conjunction with the Walkers Between the Worlds progressive training programme. The acronym, FíOS, forms the old Irish word for Vision, Memory and Dream, the knowledge which is available by oracular and inspired means, rather than by written or theoretical sources. Fíos is also the modern Irish word for Knowledge and is pronounced FEE'us.

FíOS was founded in 1992 by Caitlín Matthews, Felicity Wombwell and John Matthews to enable students to rediscover the vital role of the sacred arts and oracular traditions in our everyday world, so that the ancient sources of inspiration might not be lost.

Annual membership of FíOS is £35 (£45 outside U.K).
Cheques payable to Caitlín Matthews, BCM Hallowquest, London WC1N 3XX, U.K.
Membership includes advanced booking, course discounts as well as 2 issues of the Hallowquest Newsletter.

THE LINDA MACFARLANE BURSARY
Many were shocked to hear of the death of Linda MacFarlane, a founder member of FíOS, who died earlier this year. Linda was an extraordinary, generous-spirited woman for whom song, dance and shamanic work were her play.  In order to honour her memory, we are establishing a bursary in order to help those students who may be unable to complete their shamanic training due to financial difficulties.  At present this bursary is applicable to the shamanic training courses only and is available for those who have completed the Foundation Course or who have come via Caitlín’s shamanic practice.  We hope to extend the bursary to cover other FíOS courses and masterclasses in future, as funds permit.  Anyone who would like to help make a living memorial to Linda and to enable a student who is less well off to continue training, please send your contribution, payable to Caitlín Matthews, in an envelope marked Linda MacFarlane Bursary and this will be invested in the bursary fund.

WALKERS BETWEEN THE WORLDS TRAINING PROGRAMME

FíOS offers a progressive training programme for students who wish to live in harmony with the universe and for those called to work as shamanic consultants. Training is based on course modules. Each student is required to fulfill the Foundation Course and work through the intermediate and advanced courses. We recognize that the true shamanic teachers are the spirits and allies of each student. We are committed to offering training that supports student’s personal shamanic vocation with ethical compassion and common sense

COURSES OPEN TO ALL

FOUNDATION COURSE: WALKERS BETWEEN THE WORLDS

This course runs two weekends over six months with additional practice given to maintain proficiency between weekends. Students consolidate foundation skills and are not expected to work with clients. Their knowledge is extended by practical, personal and experiential journeying. The following skills are taught:

the nature of both the seen and unseen sides of reality
how to make a shamanic journey or soul-flight into the otherworlds
gaining, recognizing and working with spiritual allies
mapping, recognition and familiarity with otherworldly locations
listening and understanding the variety of personal experience of other students
working in pairs to understand how shamanic work affects reality
working in a group to understand ritual group dynamics
simple diagnosis of spiritually-caused problems
simple healing techniques for shamanic first-aid
respect for the universe and its inhabitants as ensouled beings

OTHER OPEN COURSES

These beginners courses include LANDSCAPES OF THE SOUL, exploring the nature of the soul through art and shamanism, THE HOUSE OF TRUE ABIDING which teaches basic psychic protection, THE SONG THAT SAVES THE WORLD on the power of song and AUGURY & INSPIRATION, teaching Celtic methods of divination from nature, and THE MIRROR POOL, keeping a sacred journal.

INTERMEDIATE COURSES

Intermediate courses teach the basic components of shamanic healing as well as consolidating journeying skills.
Students may join either of the Intermediate courses after having successfully completed the Foundation Course, however, suitably experienced students who have trained elsewhere with ethical shamanic practitioners are accepted with a letter of recommendation from their teacher or institute, as are individual students whom the principals of FíOS have trained personally in their practices. Any exterior student who so applies may be required to answer a short questionnaire about their experience and to send in a report of their practical shamanic journeying work. Intermediate and Advanced courses carry a DISCOUNT of up to £20 for FíOS members.

THRESHOLDS OF POWER & HEALING

This four day course covers the wider field of shamanic healing. Students learn advanced diagnostic skills, power-retrieval, advanced spirit-intrusion extraction, plant-spirit healing, embodiment of personal allies and the creation of simple customized shamanic rituals for the benefit of clients. Special healing allies are discovered and their wisdom implemented individually, in pair-work and within a group healing ritual. A major componant of this course is a deeper consideration of ethical issues surrounding shamanic practice in the community. Students are expected to recognize and begin to clarify any personal ego-problems as well as to make a deeper commitment towards their personal spiritual allies, since these are the student's supreme arbiters. We discuss the personal style and gifts of each student and how these will affect the range of their shamanic work. Peer-support is encouraged. Runs annually.

MIDWIFING THE SOUL

This four day course teaches the principles of diagnozing, finding and restoring soul-fragments ejected through past traumas which physical and psychological therapies have been unable to heal. Teaches practical ways of guarding the soul in crisis and confusion. Students work extensively in pairs. Full background to soul-fragmentation is given and variety of case-histories are provided for illustration. Practical work involves students in advanced diagnosis methods and culminates in students receiving or performing actual shamanic soul-retrieval. A group soul-retrieval ritual is also enacted by all. Simple forms of spiritual-intrusion extraction, as well as how to receive, treat and care for clients is taught; guidelines for suitability of clients are given; aftercare of clients and their reintegration to improved healthy living are fully discussed. Peer-support is encouraged. Runs every one-two years.

ADVANCED COURSES FOR EXPERIENCED PRACTITIONERS
Advanced courses are intended for the more experienced practitioner who has been actively maintaining shamanic practice for more than two-three years. Journeying skills should be second-nature and applicants have understood and been practicing shamanic healing. Advanced courses may be taken in any order. Students should have attended both intermediate courses and at least one advanced course before applying for a place on the graduate courses.

MIDWIFING THE DYING

This four day course explores the nature of death, how we die and the use of shamanic help at or around the time of death. Students consider the implications of their own death. They learn how to assist the passage of the soul by finding special spiritual allies who can guide this process. Instruction on working with the dying and preparing them for death is given. Emphasis is given to the sensitive nature of this work and the need for scrupulous ethical practice. We also explore the nature of the ancestral bequests which tangle the soul-path of all individuals and how these may be shamanically clarified and healed. Includes the Soul-Friends Moon Boat Ceremony that initiates students as soul-midwives. Students are encouraged to utilize the teachings of this course as and when appropriate in the context of the death of friends and family. Runs every two years.

BLESSING ANCESTRAL HEARTHS - Healing Our Bloodlines

This NEW four day course is an opportunity to heal and reconnect with our ancestors. The ancestral fragmentations and family dishonours that are reflected down our bloodlines, are the root cause of individual pain and national conflict worldwide. By welcoming ancestors home we can begin to feel less lonely and abandoned, we lift the burden and rekindle hearth-fires so that we can gladden the whole circle of life. This course teaches how to identify ancestral blockages and discover how to clear these on behalf of both forebears and descendants. It concludes with an ancestral celebration of all our bloodlines . Runs occasionally.

CRUTHNEACHT: WAY OF THE SHAPERS

On this NEW four day course we learn how to take the cruths or shapes of our spirits upon us as we learn the principles of Spirit Embodiment. Our animal and otherworldly spirits are the prime guides and teachers who direct our shamanic work. We are never closer to them than when they become embodied in us. Cruthneacht (pronounced KRU-nyokt) is part of the ancestral European embodiment traditions that are our natural heritage, where customs of embodying territorial spirits, seasonal guardians, radiant ancestors and tribal gods kept the world in order. In our own literal-minded and desacralized times we need the enchanted reminder of the spirits who walk among us once again so that we may rededicate and reconsecrate our world. Working closely with our own spirits in journey and ritual, we also explore the shapeshifters’ art of Fith Fath, the druidic way of invisibility, when the shapes are hidden from sight for vital protection. Participants will have the opportunity to experience Cruthneacht themselves, discovering how the Way of the Shapers can become part of our shamanic practice as a way of enabling powerful change, dynamic healing and ecstatic unity. Runs occasionally

HEARKENING TO THE HORSE'S MOUTH

This intensive five day GRADUATE course is for those who have completed the Foundation Course, the Intermediate Courses and at least one of the Advanced courses. This course instructs students how to teach clients shamanic spirit-consultation, by which clients learn how to make shamanic journeys for themselves and gain answers, healing or clarification to personal issues. Students work in pairs, taking turns to be client and shamanic consultant, and are taught how to help clients come to a personal understanding of the shamanic journeys that they take. Each pair-session is supervised and monitored and then all pair-sessions are discussed in the group. Full instruction on setting up a practice is given. Client suitability, support and aftercare are fully discussed. Students who successfully complete this module may wish to work towards setting up a shamanic practice, seeing clients professionally. The Co-Walkers Review Scheme is offered by the principals of FíOS to graduates of this final module of the training programme, for which a joining fee of £25 is required & a further £10 per case study. The work of those who register for this scheme is monitored via regular reporting; at least five case-histories of five-plus sessions' length are supervised, with periodic follow-up meetings with the principals of FíOS, to ensure that graduates are proceeding satisfactorily. Graduate-practitioners who maintain their annual membership of FíOS and check in with the principals at least twice a year as to the integrity of their work are considered to be responsible shamanic consultants whose services are recommended by The Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies. They can be covered by the practice insurance of Caitlín Matthews, by arrangement, while they are under supervision. In the event of any complaint being upheld against a FíOS member, their membership will be terminated and their name stricken off any referal list. Runs every two years.

OTHER ADVANCED COURSES

Occasional courses include GLADDENING THE CIRCLE which explores how shamanic ceremony can regenerate the community, and SPEAKING GOLD which teaches oracular methods.

FíOS MASTERCLASSES

Masterclasses feature teachers, exemplars and practitioners of the living sacred arts. Masterclass teachers have included Meinrad Craighead on Sacred Art, Alessandra Belloni on Dances of Purification, Nigel Pennick on Runes, Rachel Pollack on Tarot amongst other exponents of the living sacred arts. R.J.Stewart gives 2005 Fios Masterclass on Earth Healing in the light of Faery Traditions, while our Masterclass exemplar for 2006 will be Robert Moss on Shamanic Dreaming.

Image by Danuta Meyer from The Celtic Book of the Dead by Caitlín Matthews

NOTE TO INTENDING STUDENTS OF INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED COURSES FROM CAITLíN MATTHEWS & JANE DAGGER Many people ask us how they attend our shamanic courses. Yes, we do accept students who have learned to journey elsewhere on our Intermediate Courses, but we do expect that you have good journey skills, have a trusting relationship with your spirit allies and can get yourself out of the way of any shamanic healing that your allies bring. If you’ve only done a single shamanic lesson but no actual training, or you learned some other thing or dreamed since an infant: these are not substitutes so please try the Foundation Course first, then you will save everyone’s time and effort. You will need allies, not your own brain. Really! Our courses are very practically based and give value for money: that means you will work hard during the time we’re together. However we don’t do drugs or ask you to do dangerous activities. Your practical experience before you come on any course is precious to us, so keep up your journeying. Bring your courage, wisdom, compassion, humour and your voice – we sing a lot! Thresholds of Power & Midwifing the Soul are the left and right hands of all healing work – do these first please. For the Advanced Courses, be aware that these will plunge you in the deep end: those who’ve been consistently journeying for 2-3 years will find these of benefit. These explore different areas of shamanic work and are for people who have mastered the healing skills of the Intermediate level. Not sure of which courses to do or your qualifications for them? Contact Caitlín via BCM Hallowquest, London WC1N 3XX, U.K.

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