Andrea Silver Bear

I like to go outside, just after waking up, to refill the bird bath in the garden, check out the frog pond, say hello to the birds, watch the golfers behind the gate, possibly remove a piece of poo the fox has left behind.
Being outside and pottering around in nature makes me feel connected.

Connected to the two and the four-legged and all the little critters in the garden. Connected to the water, the wind and the trees. Connected to my spirit. Connected to Reiki - the universal life energy -  and to creation, the creator.
Being connected is the most important driver of good shamanic and energy work. Connections provide wisdom and positive power.
​Whether I do my work or just go about my life, feeling balanced and connected brings me into my joy. In connection, I remind myself to always think about my impact on the world around me. Based on Native American tradition, we sometimes say: "Mitakuye Oyasin", which means "to all our relations".

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Waterfall in the South of Switzerland.

My Journey

I was born and raised in Switzerland. Spending time in the mountains and hiking close to the wild waters has been important to me all my life. Even as a kid, when exhausted from a hike, I noticed that I could put my hand on a warm rock and refill my energy levels. I also seemed to 'know' much more when I was close to the rocks; were they whispering to me about their ancient knowledge?

Only much later in life could I make sense of all this, but first... I became an organisational development consultant, facilitator and executive coach.

While living in the USA, my Native American friends offered me some initial teachings about Earth Medicine and the healing powers of the sweat lodge. This felt like going 'home'. And this is where I was given my name - SilverBear - which I now use for my work in the Fireside Lodge.
Later, back in Europe, I intensified my training in the areas of Reiki, Shamanism and Soul Midwifery - as well as Martial Arts. I then integrated many of these tools into the "Path of the Medicine Wheel". 

Some people are confused when I tell them about the different aspects of my life, but for me it is rather 'normal' to do energy and spiritual work and still coach people in organisations. Many years ago, I 'journeyed' to find out about my purpose. My purpose is being a bridge. I am glad to be of service.

My teachers and my inspiration

I am a fully insured and registered practitioner
with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies and the UK Reiki Federation.

Core Shamanism and Earth Medicine

I studied 'Core shamanism' with Simon Buxton and the Foundation for Shamanic Studies (founded by Michael Harner), which covered many of the classic shamanic healing techniques such as soul retrieval, extraction, ancestral work. The highlight was attending the 'Three-year Program of Advanced Initiations for shamanic Practitioners', after which I created the Fireside Lodge. 
Further classic shamanic skills, and the gifts of the Medicine Wheel, came through a variety of teachers.  Leo Rutherford from the Eagle's Wing Centre of Contemporary Shamanism was a core influence. 

Martial Arts - Tai Chi Chuan

My inspiration to work with physical and mental principles and with breathing work comes from Tai Chi Chuan and Kung Fu, which I teach in West London and per Zoom. Read more on the dedicated website: http://www.vitalityleap.com/shaolin.html

Sweat Lodge, Sacred Pipe and Tuvan Shamanism

The transformation and healing power of the Sweat Lodge and the Sacred Pipe was initially shown to me by Cherokee and Navajo (Diné) Medicine people when I lived in the USA. For the last 15 years, I have been attending sweat lodges in Switzerland and Oxfordshire. 
On a journey to Mongolia and in workshops in Europe, I got to know the Tuvan way of working with song and the drum as healing tools.

Reiki

Reiki is an ancient spiritual and energy healing technique that got rediscovered and popularised by Dr Usui. I am a practitioner and teacher of Usui and Karuna Reiki, with a lineage of Japanese and Western Reiki going back to Dr Usui.

Celtic Shamanism / House & Land Healing

The English/Irish Shamans Cait Branigan and Caitlin Matthews introduced me to the Celtic ways of soul midwifery, spirit release and ancestral work. Individual healing is often strengthened by the clearing, healing and blessing of a client's home or land.

Soul Midwifery / End-of-Life Support

Felicity Warner has revived and integrated the ancient art of doula work - helping people achieve a peaceful death and leading souls over the sacred threshold. I have attended Felicity's basic and advanced level courses and trained with exponents of the Home Funeral movement.

Coaching / Leadership Development

Leadership coaching in organisations has been part of my life for the last 25 years. Modern coaching methods taught me how to ask the right questions, to listen instead of talking, and to know when it is time to step back and allow clients find their own answers. 

Nature and my Spirit Team

Again and again and again: If I stop and listen and stand and stare, Nature will teach me. If I beat my drum or load the pipe, the Universe will talk to me. If I surrender to the ancient wisdom of the Earth: I will walk in beauty and in joy.

Working Principles - Ethics

The goal of my work is leading clients to joy, balance, and empowerment. The following principles guide my work.

• I am not a 'healer'. I am creating space for your self-healing and I facilitate your access to 'spirit' (your essence,  inner knowledge and transformation power).
• I would never call myself a "shaman". This is a term reserved for people who come out of tribal traditions. They have undergone rigorous training and dedicated their whole lives to serving their communities as 'medicine people' and spiritual leaders. In a humble way, I am just using some similar techniques to gain access to the spirit world and to the wisdom of nature.
• Shamanic work is spirit-driven. Before a shamanic treatment, I go on diagnostic journey, which will tell us what needs to be done. I won't do anything that goes against the guidance I gain on this journey.

Created by the artist Kaca Thomasini to represent my medicine name.

• I only work with the explicit permission of everybody involved. If a client feels their situation is negatively influenced by a third person, and would like help with this, I reframe the client's question to explore what they need to do to deal with the situation. I will not do any work on a third person without their explicit agreement.
  
• When working with small children, people in a coma or pets, their guardian/next of kin can request healing work. However, I will first journey to the 'true self' of the client to ask for their permission directly.
• Similarly, I will not use shamanic or Reiki tools to influence situational outcomes; as a simple example, if somebody comes to me because they would like to win the lottery - I will not try to influence the outcome of the lottery (I would not be able to do this anyway). What I can do is work with the client on what hinders them in terms of having money in the first place, and how they can move to abundance (with or without winning the lottery).

How we work together

When we work together in the Fireside Lodge, we are partners: Together, we explore the best course of action for you. The final decision about how to proceed will always be yours.

The healing, coaching and ceremonial work described on this website will support you on your path to reconnect with your essence, strengthen your Self, and bring your gifts to the world. This journey can bring intense experiences and new ways of thinking about 'reality'.  Some personal issues and challenges may come up that have to be acknowledged, reconciled and integrated before positive change can occur. This may take some time and patience, but at the end, it will enable you to fully engage with life. The work in the Fireside Lodge will always be safe - you will be treated with care and respect.

Working in shamanic ways or receiving Reiki does not replace seeing a doctor and using the gifts of Western medicine. These systems can work in a complementary way. For example, if you are undergoing cancer treatment in a hospital, shamanic sessions and/or Reiki can strengthen your mind, body and spirit so that you can make the best of the treatment. The shamanic/Reiki work will also stimulate your self-healing ability.