The quiet time of winter
I look out my window and see the dried up husks of plants. Stripped of their blooms and their leaves, they decay over winter. Their seeds lie dormant in the earth covered by a blanket of snow, while the trees with their bare branches watch over them. This is a time of rest, being held by Mother Earth. The seeds wait for the warmth and light of spring to grow again. Nature brings this message for humanity as well. Winter is the time to pause and be quiet in your life. And then with the change of seasons in spring, we move forward again. This...
Grounding cords
From health classes in elementary and high school, most of us have a basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the physical body. We also have an energy body with its own anatomy and physiology. Near the base of our tailbone, lies an energy center called the root chakra connecting us with the physicality of living on planet earth. Its purpose is to help us be grounded and home in our body. Grounding cords, which may look like tree roots or a large taproot, extend from our root chakra and run down to the core of Mother Earth. They...
Discernment and intuition
No conversation about trusting our intuition would be complete without also talking about discernment. In any situation where we receive messages, we need to use discernment – no matter the source of the insight, whether it be a spontaneous vision or dream, in a shamanic journey, or while channeling or meditating. We want to embrace messages from our soul, our higher self, and our compassionate spirit helpers. This kind of guidance feels loving, compassionate, and expansive. It may touch our heart and our soul. It leads toward greater growth,...
Trusting our intuition
When I first began taking shamanic classes, I wanted so badly to develop my intuition. I had a hunch I might have abilities, though they weren’t in evidence yet. During the first year of learning to journey, I doubted the messages that came through. Years later, I realized at that time my main form of intuition was claircognizance. Claircognizance is intuitive knowing. The insights are just suddenly there. Because I was receiving through my mind, I questioned whether I was imagining it or creating the story in my head. I eventually understood...
My personal healing intentions for 2022
During the time between Christmas and New Years, I engage in reflection about the year and gain perspective. I sit with the biggest challenges and the biggest growth. Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, these are often tied together. I also take stock on where I want to focus my energies in the twelve months ahead. Once the clarity comes, I form healing intentions to guide me. These intentions are spiritual in nature. They differ from goals in that they are open-ended with no specific outcome in mind. When we state a sincere healing...
Our own direct connection to Mother Earth
Back in my 30s, I had a session with an energy healer. She noticed something unusual about my grounding cord. It came out of my body and went down several inches, but then diverted. It did not go to Mother Earth. When she tracked further, she found it went to my father. I was attempting to ground through my dad. What she described made sense. My father was a farmer, deeply connected to the physical world. He knew how to grow things and repair things and provide stability. As his daughter, I was sensitive to energy and often had messy...