40 /In the Shadow of the Shaman

preservatives. You may add other herbs, such as sage, to the mixture
if you choose, but I don't advise the use of strongly scented perfumes
or oils. Ground cinnamon and cloves are somewhat expensive in
quantity, so make your primary ingredient salt. The salt acts as a dry­
ing agent, as well as a preserving one.
It's best to place the totem on a layer of salt, cinnamon, and
cloves; then cover it with more of the mixture. This is particularly
necessary for totems with lots of organic residue. For totems such as
single feathers, I find it sufficient to place them quill end down in a
bowl or glass of the mixture. The totems that require being buried in
the mixture should be placed in a warm dry place. A high shelf above
the clothes dryer is most effective. Incidentally, it is also a wonderful
place to dry flowers or herbs on a tray.
Expect the drying time for a totem to take anywhere from six
weeks to several months, depending on your climate. After a month
or so, you may begin checking to see how it's progressing. Try not to
be too anxious. If it doesn't dry sufficiently, you will only have to do It
all over again later. The container you use depends on the totem's
size. One very large wing I had required the bottom drawer of a
dresser, lined with a plastic sack. You may want to cover the container
for a few weeks to help the salt work effectively. Again, this has more
to do with your climate than anything else. You will have to experiment a
bit.
Not all of the Animal World totems that show up in our environment
are meant to be preserved. Sometimes it's best just to place them
deeper in Nature with a few thoughts about the natural balance of
life. Sometimes they seem to require more ceremony. Did you ever
bury a baby bird that had fallen from its nest? That same tenderness is
quite good with animal totems and can often deepen a shamanic
connection between you and the totem itself. Sometimes, animal
totems present themselves in our environment for very complicated
reasons. Then we must follow our hearts to know what to do.

Notes on the Journey

My husband and I were visiting the Mayan ruins in the Y ucatan.

We had stopped for the night at a small hotel in the heart of the jungle.
When we got to our room, I caught the scent of something strange
and disturbing. It passed quickly, so I thought it could have been