Looking for insight on my first journey experience
Hello -
Several years ago, I attempted my first shamanic journey. And I had a bizarre, somewhat frightening experience that made me not do it again. (Until now. I'm finally feeling ready to try again) But I'd like to see if anyone more experienced can maybe explain what might have happened.
I used some audio of drumming, and started by meditating. After awhile of meditating, I didn't really feel like anything was happening, so I tried to visualize a place that I wanted to be. I come from a Norse Pagan background, so I went with a big tree. That's when I felt like it was working. I had only intentionally imagined the big tree, but then more scenery started to come about on its own - fog was clearing and revealed that my tree was in a small clearing in a forest, and beyond the forest were massive snow covered mountains, and I could faintly hear various animals. And I kind of just explored the small area around this tree, when suddenly I could hear talking - two male human voices. I couldn't see anyone or tell where exactly it was coming from. And the more I tried to focus on it, the more quiet the forest got until no sounds of animals or wind were left. It got very silent. And then out of no where it started to rain and thunder, and I finally decided to venture a little bit farther away from my tree and into the forest - and I found the two men that had been talking. I got a gut wrenching feeling that I had interrupted something, thought their faces were expressionless. The storm become more violent, the two man disappeared like puffs of smoke.. and I felt scared. And I turned around and went back to my tree. When I got there the leaves had all turned blood red (before they were a beautiful green) and we're starting to fall off the tree as if it was dying. One of the men was standing near the tree and turned and looked straight at me when I came into the clearing and he looked not angry, but like he was having fun. I think I remember trying to call out to it and talk to it, but it did not respond. It was at this point I felt extremely uncomfortable and afraid and I didn't really know how to leave so I just opened my eyes.