Using a scarf for containment
Social engagement is a powerful tool in working through trauma. We might schedule an appointment with a therapist and ask them to witness. We might reach out to a trusted friend and share. We might ask a loved one to hold us. Being around another human who is steady and solid helps our central nervous system return to regulation. When we are triggered, having a sense of containment can lead to feeling safe. Containment helps provide a boundary, and it gives us a sense of being held, similar to swaddling a fussy baby. It can be deeply...
Holding space for adult children to heal
My heart opens in compassion whenever a parent reaches out to make a shamanic healing appointment for their adult child. It almost always indicates the child is struggling – often with addiction, an abusive relationship, or mental illness. One of the hardest things a parent will ever have to do is to stand by and watch their child in pain when they know that assistance is available. I empathize with the parent’s concern for their son or daughter. With an adult child, it’s very helpful to the process if the child reaches out to me directly to...
Animism
This morning as I slowly awoke, I became aware of my cat Mollie pressed against my hip, gently purring. Her tail was draped across my arm, and I felt the pulse of her heartbeat on my skin. Everything else faded away. For those minutes, we were just lying together in each other’s presence. I allowed myself to enjoy this moment of perfect connection and contentment. One of the hallmarks of shamanism is the belief that everything has spirit and energy – not just people but also animals, trees, land, and sky. Shamanic cultures acknowledge and...
My hair journey
As I look back over the last year and a half, there were several things I’m proud of having accomplished while I stayed at home – doing anti-racism work, focusing on health and self-care, releasing old trauma, and learning to use Zoom to teach classes for example. The achievement at the top of the list is growing out my hair. This might sound humorous because letting hair grow doesn’t require much effort, but it represents so much more than it might appear to. Several months before the pandemic, I felt a nudge to let my hair grow. I’ve had...
The Question Method – a tool for empaths
Early on in my shamanic journey, I sat in many different spiritual circles and classes. Often the gatherings would open with a talking circle for everyone to share their recent experiences. As people spoke their truth, their pain and suffering would emerge. With each person who shared, my energy would get more and more depleted. My mood would plummet, and I would end up crying as each group member took their turn to speak. Even if I had come to class in a good space, before we were halfway around the circle, I would be the energetic...
Connecting to the joy of purpose
Shortly after I consciously stepped out onto my spiritual path, I was told in a shamanic journey that my purpose in this lifetime was fourfold - healing, writing, teaching, and speaking. This resonated with me. For much of my life, I’ve enjoyed writing. As a teen, I kept a diary. For a while after I left the corporate world, I did freelance writing. When I opened my shamanic healing and teaching practice, I wrote handouts and for several years blog posts about spiritual matters. Along the way, I recognized that my writing seemed intellectual...