When the Heart Opens – Gratitude as a Life Path

Some life experiences don’t just settle in our minds, but in our hearts. My journey with the Yggdrasil shamanic school has been exactly such an experience – a profound transformation that has opened new perspectives, ignited a lasting sense of gratitude, and provided me with tools to live more authentically and wholly. Logic and intuition found each other, and the beauty in everyday life became visible anew.

If I had to choose one word to summarize my journey with the Yggdrasil shamanic school, it would be gratitude. A gratitude that extends not only to the good and beautiful but also to the challenges, setbacks, and everything life has thrown my way – for all of this has shaped me, strengthened me, and opened doors to a life I could never have imagined.

It has been – and continues to be – a journey of insight, community, and deep personal growth. A journey that both challenges and transforms.

When the Heart Opens to Simplicity

The motto – “I love beauty, pleasure, and gratitude” – struck me in the heart. It opened a space within me that had been dormant. I began to feel a gratitude that went far beyond polite “thank yous.” It was a deep, heartfelt sense of presence – for nature, for life’s little things, for community, and for all I’ve been privileged to experience.

It’s as if the world has become more alive, more colorful, more real.

A Learning Path that Balances Peace and Growth

I must say that the combination of online teaching and practical assignments has worked incredibly well for me. The flexible structure allows for reflection and deep exploration at my own pace. I can venture into nature, be alone with what I need to experience, while still feeling part of a vibrant community.

Yes, sometimes I miss more direct group interactions, but this is compensated by the support and accessibility we have in the student environment – and especially in the seminars. There’s a beautiful balance between individual practice and collective support.

Content that Continuously Opens New Doors

I have never before experienced teaching with such depth and dimension. Each lesson feels like a key to something new – and there’s always another layer that reveals itself if you’re willing to meet it. Theory and practice go hand in hand. Everything builds upon each other. It’s holistic, rich, and yet intimate.

I’m not just learning with my mind – I’m learning with my body, heart, and soul.

A Teacher who Conveys Wisdom and Warmth

Pål-Esben is a truly extraordinary teacher. He has a unique ability to make complex concepts understandable while never diluting their depth. He teaches with playful ease, without losing the gravity. And most importantly – he gives of himself, generously and authentically.

He has a natural ability to create acceptance for the whole person – both the material and the spiritual aspects. This balance has been life-changing for me. For the first time, I feel I can integrate all that I am, instead of being split between logic and intuition.

From Skepticism to Trust

I am fundamentally a logician. Someone who needs to understand, analyze, and evaluate. That’s why it was quite surprising that it was precisely a lecture at an alternative fair that opened the door. I didn’t even know who Pål-Esben was when I sat down in the hall – but something within me knew I needed to be there.

And that became the beginning of something entirely new.

My skepticism wasn’t dismissed – it was addressed. With well-thought-out knowledge, experience, and a teaching style that speaks to both the mind and heart. It has been a gift to utilize both the analytical and intuitive aspects – and discover that these two aren’t opposites, but siblings.

The Community – a Gift I Didn’t Know I Needed

Finally, I want to highlight the community. Being part of a group where you’re accepted exactly as you are – without masks, without facades – has been one of the most healing experiences of my life. I’ve felt genuine love, unconditional support, and a sense of unity that sustains.

Being in a space where your entire self is allowed to exist, through good times and bad – that’s a rare gift. And it makes all the difference.

I now understand that gratitude isn’t just an emotion – it’s a state of being, a way to exist in life. And that’s exactly what this journey has given me: A new way of being in life. A deeper way of seeing. And a certainty that I’m on the right path – my path.