Lenore Norrgard

Circle of the Living Earth

Lenore Norrgard was called to the shamanic path in 1987, when she received a spontaneous visitation from an animal spirit who blessed her with full healing from more than 20 years of clinical depression. She underwent intensive training in core shamanism through the Foundation for Shamanic Studies and was certified as a Harner Method Shamanic Counselor in 1993. She specializes in bringing healing to survivors of severe trauma, teaching others how to achieve direct revelation, and in training those called to the shamanic healing arts.

Lenore has been an activist for 35 years, and following her 1987 spiritual awaking she shifted to a paradigm of social transformation through spiritual healing. She has developed Shamanism for Activists trainings, has worked intensively to bring healing to gentrifying inner Northeast Portland, and has been a leader in interfaith activist efforts on the local and national levels. She is known for creating new rituals for social healing, such as the interfaith peacemaking ritual across from the White House in 2005 for the Network of Spiritual Progressives, and peacemaking rituals in Alberta Park for the Northeast Portland Interfaith Peace Group.

Lenore was ordained by the Association for the Integration of the Whole Person in 1993, and founded Circle of the Living Earth in 1999. She is a member of the Network of Spiritual Progressives, the Institute of Noetic Sciences, the Society of Shamanic Practitioners, and the Circle of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. She has a passion for ending racism, and is active with Uniting to Understand Racism as a trained interracial dialogue facilitator. She has published in Reclaiming Quarterly, The Sacred Hoop, and Alternatives Magazine. Her article, "Ritual and Activism: The Alchemy of Social Transformation," can be downloaded at http://www.CircleLivingEarth.org/ritual-and-activism.pdf