Change Your Story, Change Your Life: Using Shamanic and Jungian Tools to Achieve Personal Transformation

by Carl Greer

To achieve any of the goals of shamanic work, we must first come into ayni (EYE-nee) a word in the indigenous Quechua language mainly spoken in the Andes. Ayni means reciprocity, right relationship, and harmony with the universe and all aspects of our being. In the process of healing ourselves and changing our stories, we need to bring the many parts of our being into harmonious balance, or ayni. These parts include our body systems, minds, emotions, intents, and spiritual selves. Ayni involves the right thing at the right time in the right amount. The external mirrors the internal, so when we find balance within ourselves, we experience balance outside of ourselves. When we have enthusiasm and passion, we begin to see it reflected outside of us.