WITNESSING PHIL MORGAN IN MEMORIAM

Antonella Vicini

I cannot remember the first time I met Phil Morgan; I think it was at a Reiki Alliance Meeting. He was running a Reiki volunteer program in Oregon, I still have the tshirt he had put for sale at the Conference. I imagine we were all on good terms, back then it was a small community, it was easy to contact many Masters during our stay even for me, a newly initiated Reiki Master*!

The first time we really met and connected was a few years later, when I went to Padova for my first session with him. By that time (I believe it was 1995) I had already read Sandra Ingerman’s book on Soul Retrieval**, I had also received a soul retrieval in Holland.

Yet nothing had prepared me for the magnificent and tactile, as well as powerful experience of meeting the spirits who came to my aid, and the lost parts of my soul who returned through the dedicated and totally committed offer that Phil made of his energy and body, as an apparently tireless traveler across time and space.

With this article I want to honor my dear friend and beloved “big brother” Phil Morgan, who has gone to the other side to rest, until the time comes for him to return and grace the Earth with his great wisdom and knowledge.

I have been a Reiki practitioner since 1986 and Master since 1991, simultaneously (since 1989) I have had the great gift of having a Native American Teacher as a guide into the discovery of the shamanic path.

Phil followed a similar path: Reiki as a foundation for life, the practice of shamanism as a way to honor life and support people in their growth and development.

The effect of that session with Phil were tangible in my daily life: I felt free for the first time in my life and treasured all the information received. I continued my path of sacred dances, but I never lost touch with Phil.

One day, I was asked to organize his sessions of soul retrieval, so I did with great joy, both in my little town and in Rome, later in Caserta as well.

We enjoyed each other’s company: I became aware of the enormous amount of energy needed for every session, because I was in the room with him to translate his words into Italian. I could feel the depth and distance he travelled on behalf of the people who had come to see him. The entire room was dizzyingly full of the energy required for such a compassionate task.

The best part was chatting and laughing at the end of the day, as a release after many hours of incredibly intense expanded awareness.

For those who don’t know soul retrieval: it is an ancient and widespread technique used by shamanic practitioners the world over, it is used to bring back to the person’s awareness the parts that might have been forgotten, frozen, lost or stolen during our lifetime. It is a sacred ceremony that requires a high level of energy, humility, compassion and a sincere desire to serve.

Phil had all these traits and a great sense of humor as well!

I learnt a lot from him just by listening to him and observing his work. I was very respectful because, by then, I recognized he was masterful at soul retrieval and the spirit world loved him. I treated him in the same way I did with my Native Teacher.

In 2007, after almost 20 years of dances and ceremonies in America, Europe and Australia, I was ready to fulfill the role assigned to me by my teacher: I organized and chiefed the Sun Moon Dance in Italy. I asked Phil to come and drum with us for this ceremony, I was sure he would fit in perfectly with all the other drummers. I was deeply honored that he accepted my invitation and brought his knowledge, his power, and his deep wisdom: the drumming was powerful indeed!

That was one more piece of the mosaic of experiences I kept having over the years. He was for me the older brother I have never had, a solid shoulder to lean on when I was tired, a firm friend to spend time with and being as silly as could be. He was the Reiki Colleague, the Master Shaman practitioner I asked permission and received blessings from when it became clear that my path also included soul retrieval. He was most supportive and he offered to give me feedback whenever I needed it.

The last time I saw him in person was in 2017, when I went to visit him in Oregon. I was fascinated by the beautiful land, the tall trees and the grass surrounding the log cabin where he lived with his loving daughter and his son in law.

We visited places, had great meals together, but the best part was driving down to the beach, listening to Phil’s drumming to the Pacific Ocean waves and chanting with him to honor the wilderness within and without.

Those were moments of great shared joy in the silent contemplation of the universe.

Then we went back home, where I cooked him some traditional Italian meals to his constant wonder and delight! He often said: “ It’s like having an Italian restaurant at home every day”, what a compliment!

I was supposed to stay for 3 days, but instead I left after over 2 weeks of warmth and real friendship. I was sorry to leave, yet I was filled with the magic of the time spent together.

I wanted to return soon, but both work and Covid later on made it impossible to visit.

So I was happy to participate in Phil’s 80th surprise party online, it was a touching moment organized by his daughter Jeanne. And he surprised me in March 2022 with an unexpected phone call for my birthday! What a gift that was.

I deeply admired Phil’s commitment to doing sacred work, the complete selflessness in giving all he had in order to be a bridge between realities. I often wondered how he could find all the energy needed for such a task, I think one answer could be his passion and compassion for our human plight.

Every session he gave lasted 2 hours, he devoted all his attention and care to each person, with unconditional love and grace. Some days he used to do up to 4 sessions in such a deep trance state. By the end of the day he only needed food, silence and rest.

We can do spiritual work only with the support and permission from the spirit world, sometimes we must stop and listen, otherwise the messages can become very loud and clear. At a certain point Phil was stopped and could not continue his work with people, but the spirit world never left his side, as I witnessed when I visited him.

Phil was/is a beautiful knight in shining armor looking for truth and the light of knowledge, wherever that may be. I am sure he is continuing his search on the other side, accompanied by the love and blessings of the many people whose lives he touched.

Buon viaggio amico mio!

Antonella Vicini

This video was shot mostly in Oregon on the beaches I visited with Phil Morgan and among the trees there, with some elements from my own country. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj002E-co9I

NOTES:

*Reiki If you are not familiar with Reiki and its structure, I would like to give you some information. Reiki Usui Shiki Ryoko is the lineage I follow and the teachings I receive and pass on. In this “school” there are three levels: First, Second degree and Master level. A Master, besides giving treatments to people, teaches Reiki whenever and wherever is asked to do so. For more information you can check the REIKI ALLIANCE website https://reikialliance.com/ for information about mastery and masters around the world; and the REIKI HOME website https://reikihome.org/ where you can find information about Reiki, workshops and lessons open to people from all levels of Reiki from different schools. I became a Master in 1991, so our first meeting must have been in 1992 or 1993.

** Soul Retrieval

I can suggest Sandra Ingerman’s book: Soul Retrieval, Mending the fragmented Self, Harper Collins 1993.

The soul retrieval ceremony is a traditional ancient shamanic practice of re uniting all the fragments “lost” along the way in our daily path on Earth. If you are interested in knowing more about it, you can also check: https://www.sandraingerman.com/ Sandra’s website, her books have been translated in many languages and she teaches online courses.

Authors

Antonella Vicini

Writer and editor of THE BADGER, author of Talking with Gods, Sages, Fairies.... (a novel published in 2014). Steeped in classical and indological studies, I have spent all my life learning from people as well as from the ancient texts that keep revealing their immortal, thus contemporary teachings. I am happy when I can share new visions and face new challenges. I am a professional rebirther and trainer (since 1987), Reiki master since 1991, stress management and leadership trainer, writer and visionary. I also lead workshops on shamanic journeying and soul healing. I am deeply grateful to all my teachers and elders. Badger Medicine Spirit

Fredric Lehrman http://www.nomaduniversity.com/ is one of the original “Wealth Psychologists” who looked deeply into the subconscious habit patterns that may either support or thwart personal financial success. He began teaching these insights in the early 1970’s, and his seminars, articles, and coaching have been the launch point for many of today’s best known experts and authors ever since. Fredric’s personal career has included intensive study with master teachers in many disciplines, and professional success in music, psychology, martial arts, photography, and global entrepreneurship, networking and innovation. He founded Nomad University in 1974 as a way to expand the concept of education as a life-long individual path of self-directed learning. The ideas he articulated then are now starting to appear in new schools all around the internet-connected world of the 21st century.

Laura Bottagisio www.laurabottagisio.com is an astrologer and seeker. She started studying astrology at the beginnings of the 80's with Lisa Morpurgo, she later worked with the Cosmos Institute of Milan, where she learnt about the theory and practice of Vibrational Waters. She has attended seminars with gerard Athias and Jp Brebion on new medicine and bio analogy. She shares her discoveries in her blog. She also creates tableaux with recycled materials, in this way she creates images out of emotions and inner worlds.

Lida Lodi Perry https://www.facebook.com/lidaperry?ref=profile

Lida was born in the North East of Italy (Vicenza) after graduating from a teacher Institute she came to the USA, where she continued her education at the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Psychology and later a Master in Social Work. She worked for many years at a drug clinic in the local hospital. In 1984 she went back to Italy to work with abused children as a director of a residential facility. She moved on to work as a supervisor and Psychologist at Milan Cancer Institute where she is still consulting, while having a successful private practice as psychotherapist. She was also cofounder of the Rebirthing Institute with Antonella Vicini, she became a Reiki Master in 1992, she is still active with the local and international Reiki community.

Francis Rico www.shaman.zone.com

Musician, feral shaman, and author Francis Rico combines ancient and modern wisdom assisting clients, students and fellow adventurers in awakening to the gift of their lives.
 His book, A Shaman's Guide To Deep Beauty, a lifetime treasure of dedication to the shamanic pathways and teachers of indigenous wisdom traditions. Francis brings insight, humor, and music along on every journey. He lives in Northern California, sharing the beauty of the wild coastal mesas, cliffs, and ocean.

Claudiu Murgan started writing Science Fiction when he was 11-years old. Since then he met remarkable writers that helped him improved his own trade. Claudiu's experience in various industries such as IT, renewable energy, real estate and finance, helped him create complex but real characters that brought forward meaningful messages. Claudiu is one of the co-founders of the Immigrant Writers Association in Toronto, and the Vice President of Authorpedia.org, the world's only encyclopedia for authors. You can hear the radio and TV interview Claudiu gave in the last 12 months on his website www.claudiumurgan.com

Chiara Corte is a Reiki Master of Usui Shiki Ryoko system and a Reiki pratictioner since 2005. Yoga teacher of Yoga Ratna school since 2003 and yoga student since 1990. Naturopath of Jean Monnet high school in Bruxells since 2012. In 2006 she published “Yoga and Dance” Editoriale il delfino, Milano. She is the author of several specialized articles in different magazines. Currently she teaches yoga in Italy and in France (since 2001). She also teaches Italian language, literature and History in Italian high school (since 1998). In 1994 she obtained the license for teaching disabled people. She completed her MA in Precolombian American Ethnology in 1991.

Pohaikalani

My name chant is Pohaikalani. Poe-high-kah-lah-knee Means: “The gatherer in heaven”. I am a proud Tūtū (grandmother) of a beautiful, strong 12 year old Keʻahi. I have been a Kumu (teacher) of Hawaiian studies, language, culture for 30 years. I was born on the island of Oʻahu in the district called Kapahulu. I was lucky to look up and be able to see Kaimana Hila (Diamond Head) each day. I am honored to be able to write and share with you a part of Hāwaiʻi you may not know.

Robert

Born in Munich in a family of craftsmen, I now live in Vienna. I am a self-employed artistic carpenter. Photography is also an important part of my life as another avenue of creative expression.

Moved by spiritual longing, I have been Thorwald Dethlefsen’s student for many years. "Ora et labora“,the Benedectine motto, is mine as well.