July/August 2002 Alternative Health
Interview with a Sunflower Shaman

by Alaina Zipp

As Allison Bradley opened her door, I was almost blinded by the large, brilliant sunflowers splashed over the dress draping her 8 months pregnant body. In plant medicine, a sunflower’s special gifts to humanity are in helping people to harness their energy and become further aware of their True Selves. While Allison’s journeys to attain spiritual wisdom for clients makes her, by definition, a shaman, after meeting with her I would call her a spiritual sunflower, thoroughly enjoying being a conduit for information that helps her clients move along their path.

Shamans, by definition, are those who "walk between the worlds." The bridged worlds most often referred to are the human or "concrete" world and the spirit world. However, like many shamans, Allison had practice bridging diverse worlds all her life. Growing up in the mid-west, Allison lived in both the Caucasian and Native American worlds, not completely belonging in either. She reports feeling more comfortable in the "red" world, particularly due to the particular spirituality of that culture. Additionally, being naturally "open," as children often are, Allison had many psychic experiences and contacts with the spirit world. Unfortunately, like so many people in American mainstream culture, Allison was taught to avoid giving the spirit world the same attention one gives to the world of humans.

As she grew to adulthood, Allison attained a PhD in psychology, developing an innovative program to assist women leaving domestic violence. While Allison’s energies went into the human world’s activities, the messages from the spirit world grew increasingly persistent. Allison next experienced what she describes as a "spiritual crisis," in which her "body broke down, failing to function." At this point, Allison knew that she couldn’t ignore the importance of the spirit world and needed to change her life’s focus. This realization led Allison to the work she does with people today. After allowing greater space in her life to honor the Spirit world, Allison describes her life as "unsticking," and "flowing" in new directions.

It was at this point that Allison began working with a cornerstone of Peruvian shamanism called a "mesa."

A mesa utilizes specific sanctified objects to create a physical map of the universe, "a living Cosmo vision," linking the human and spirit worlds in part of the great web or chain of life. This physical layout is used as a portal (a focusing point of energies) to connect with other realms for meditation and guidance. A mesa marks the four cardinal directions (south, west, north and east) and center. The layout’s North-South lines represent the line of Heaven to Earth, while the West-East lines represent linear reality. This layout is then divided into 3 sections. The Center, space of Spirit, is the connector point to Divine Energy. Each mesa developed reflects its individual maker’s background, training and personality, much the way that a drum, mask or other shamanic tool reflects its owner. Having used the mesa system for six years, Allison continues to practice it regularly.

Describing her role as a conduit, Allison does not consider herself a psychic, emphasizing that guidance from the spiritual world doesn’t come through her because of her special intuitive gifts, but because she does the work to open herself to this information. Allison continues to study with a master teacher and consults them on current issues or dilemmas. The mesa system is not widely known in the US, with only a handful of master teachers here. Its importance to Peruvian culture is reflected in that fact that the city of Quosqo (thought to be the center of the universe) is designed in the layout of a mesa, in which, with the city as center, the earth, ocean, mountains and jungle provide the concrete and spiritual directions to link the visible and nonvisible worlds.

Allison uses the mesa to connect to the Divine and seeks helpful information for people, the majority of whom are facing either life transitions or are seeking higher levels of creativity and connection to Source. Whether people consult her ongoing or only once, Allison works to convey her main message of empowerment in all facets of life, affirming "it is ok to be powerful." Sunflower’s meditation is "I release my limitations and feel the warmth of the sun rise in Me." The intent of Allison Bradley, a sunflower spirit, is just this-helping people learn to tap into their soul’s resources and release the vast amounts of energy available when one lives in harmony with their true self.

Allison’s approach to payment reflects her commitment to the world web of sacred connection. With only a "suggested" monetary fee, she practices "ayni" or sacred reciprocity, in which people may pay her in money, goods, art or by working to help the world, most specifically by volunteering with teenagers or recycling, then letting Allison know what was done.

Allison can be contacted @ (503) 827-4201 or mesanorthwest@yahoo.com.