Exploring the Invisible: Understanding Your Etheric Energy Body

In the vast expanse of personal development and spiritual growth, a subtle yet profoundly influential aspect of ourselves is often left unexplored—the etheric or energy body. As we journey through the landscapes of mindfulness and wellness, understanding this invisible counterpart becomes crucial for those seeking more profound transformation and healing.

Understanding the Etheric Body

What is the Etheric Body?

The etheric body, also known as the energy body, is a vital energy layer alongside our physical body. This invisible yet essential field is believed to be the blueprint for our physical existence, influencing our health and emotional and spiritual well-being.

If you know about the aura or chakras - these are components of the etheric body.

The Etheric Body and Your Health

Our etheric body is more than just a passive field of energy; it's actively involved in maintaining our overall health. Imbalances or blockages within this energy layer can manifest as physical ailments or emotional disturbances, highlighting the interconnectedness of our etheric and physical selves.

The Layers of the Aura

Surrounding our body is the aura, a multilayered sheath of energy reflecting our mental, emotional, and spiritual states. The aura and the etheric body are intimately connected, with the aura acting as a mirror for the vibrational frequencies of our inner energy.

Those who can see or feel auras know that they can be used to diagnose physical, spiritual and emotional issues.

The Importance of Energy Work

Basics of Energy Work

Energy work encompasses various practices to balance and harmonize the body's energy fields. Techniques such as meditation, Reiki, and qigong can significantly enhance the vitality of the etheric body, fostering better health and well-being.

Techniques to Strengthen Your Etheric Body

Simple daily practices can strengthen your etheric body, including mindfulness meditation, grounding exercises, and energy-cleansing routines. By regularly engaging in energy work, you can enhance your aura's brightness and promote a deeper sense of spiritual connection.

Etheric Double: The Link Between the Physical and Spiritual

The concept of the etheric double suggests that we possess an energetic duplicate of our physical body, serving as a bridge to the spiritual realm. This double is vital for energy transfer and spiritual communication, acting as a conduit for the life force that sustains us.

Transforming Through the Etheric Body

Spiritual Energy for Personal Development

Harnessing the spiritual energy flowing through our etheric body can unlock new avenues for personal growth and self-discovery. By tuning into this vibrant energy, we can embark on a transformation journey, shedding limiting beliefs and embracing our true potential.

Transformation Through the Etheric Body

Understanding and working with our etheric body opens the door to profound transformation. It allows us to cleanse negative energies, elevate our vibrational frequency, and step into a more empowered and enlightened version of ourselves.

Energy Body Alchemy: A Path to Mastery

I'm excited to introduce "Energy Body Alchemy," a 28-day course starting on February 26th, 2024, designed to guide you through mastering and transforming your energy body using principles of spiritual alchemy.

The Alchemy of Transformation

This course will teach you how to harness your spiritual energy for healing, growth, and transformation. Through a blend of ancient wisdom and modern practices, you'll learn to transmute lower vibrations into higher energies, leading to profound changes in your life and well-being.

What You Will Learn

Participants will explore the nature of the etheric body, learn techniques for energy cleansing and balancing, and discover how to use their energy for healing and manifestation. By the end of the course, you'll have the tools and knowledge to maintain a vibrant and healthy energy body.

Course Details and How to Enroll

Spaces are limited for this transformative journey, so I encourage you to sign up soon. For more details on how to enroll and what to expect, please click here. Embark on this exciting path to mastering your etheric energy body and unlock a new level of spiritual empowerment.

Conclusion

Exploring the etheric or energy body offers a fascinating glimpse into the unseen forces that shape our existence. Understanding and working with this vital aspect of ourselves opens the door to deeper healing, spiritual growth, and personal transformation.

Sign up

Are you ready to delve deeper into your spiritual journey and transform your energy body? Click here to register.

Understanding the Energy Body: Exploring the Spiritual Essence Within

In this post, we will delve into the concept of the energy body, also known as the etheric body, and its importance in spiritual practices. We will explore different perspectives on the energy body and its connection to the aura and other terms used to describe it, such as the Norse hamr. The energy body is a vital component of our spiritual selves, closely intertwined with our physical bodies. From a shamanic point of view, it is seen as a middle-world element that is active during our lifetime. Throughout this post, we will also provide pointers for those interested in energy bodywork, offering insights and techniques to enhance their understanding and connection to this profound aspect of our being. Get ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery as we navigate the depths of the energy body and unlock the spiritual essence that lies within.

Understanding Your Energy Body

Why is the Energy Body Important?

The concept of the energy body is foundational in many spiritual traditions. It's considered the blueprint for our physical form, a layer of existence that holds vital life force or qi. This subtle energy field interacts with our physical body, influencing our health, emotions, and spiritual well-being. Understanding and working with the energy body can promote healing, balance, and personal growth.

The importance of the energy body lies in its role as a communicator between our inner and outer worlds. It is a bridge that connects our conscious and subconscious minds, impacting how we perceive and respond to reality. Energy body work, therefore, can be a powerful tool for transformation, providing pathways to deeper self-awareness and an enhanced sense of connection with the universe. By nurturing our energy body, we lay the groundwork for a harmonious physical and spiritual life.

Different Names for the Energy Body

The energy body is known by various names across different cultures and spiritual practices, each reflecting a unique understanding of this subtle entity. In yoga, it is often called the "pranamaya kosha," which translates to the sheath made of life force energy. In traditional Chinese medicine, it's associated with "qi" or "chi," the vital force that flows through the meridians.

Amongst those who follow shamanism, the energy body might be called the "luminous energy field," signifying its radiant quality. In Norse tradition, it is known as "harm," a concept that signifies an individual's overall health and spiritual aura. These diverse terms highlight the universal recognition of the energy body's significance and the common belief in its influence on our health and spiritual journey. Understanding the various names and concepts deepens our appreciation for the energy body's role in our holistic well-being.

Exploring the Spiritual Side

The Energy Body and Our Physical Connection

The energy body is more than a spiritual concept; it has a tangible connection to our physical presence. It is the intermediary between our material form and our spiritual essence. The health of our energy body directly influences our physical condition, as blockages or imbalances can manifest as illness or discomfort.

By aligning and harmonizing our energy body through meditation, breathwork, or energy body work, we can often see a positive effect on our physical health. This connection is recognized in the holistic approach to healing, where the goal is to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. Understanding this connection can empower individuals to take an active role in their wellness journey, fostering a sense of agency over their physical and spiritual well-being. It is a symbiotic relationship, where nurturing one aspect benefits the other.

Different Views on the Energy Body and Aura

Although closely related, the energy body and the aura are viewed differently across spiritual traditions. Some see the aura as a colorful emanation of the energy body, a visual representation of one's spiritual and emotional states. Others regard the aura as a separate yet interrelated field that surrounds and protects the energy body.

In modern metaphysical thought, the aura is often understood as a multi-layered sphere of energy that reflects the complexity of human consciousness. It contains colors and patterns that can be interpreted to reveal insights about an individual's personality, health, and spiritual development. Energy body work is believed to affect the aura, potentially cleaning, strengthening, and harmonizing its appearance. These varying perspectives underscore the multifaceted nature of our spiritual anatomy and encourage an open-minded approach to understanding the subtle realms of our existence.

Shamanic Interpretation of the Energy Body

The Middle-World Component: Shamanic Insights

In shamanism, the energy body is often viewed as a critical component of the middle world, the realm that bridges the upper and lower spiritual worlds with our earthly existence. This differs from the soul body, which carries our consciousness across different planes of existence. It is both a receiver and transmitter of spiritual energy, playing a key role in rituals and healing practices.

Shamans work with the energy body to facilitate healing, restore balance, and remove energetic blockages. They gain insights into an individual's energy body through journeying, drumming, and other shamanic practices. This knowledge allows them to guide healing energy where it's needed most. For shamans, the health of the energy body is pivotal for maintaining a harmonious connection between the physical world and the spiritual realms, ensuring overall well-being.

Bringing Spirituality Closer to Home

Shamanic practices regarding the energy body are not just ancient traditions but are also relevant to our modern lives. They bring spirituality into the personal realm, making it accessible and practical. By acknowledging the energy body, individuals can experience life more fully, with a deeper sense of connection to both the physical and spiritual worlds.

Shamanic teachings offer tools and rituals that anyone can integrate into their daily routine to maintain the wellness of their energy body. Simple practices such as grounding, setting intentions, and using visualization techniques can help strengthen one's spiritual connection. This makes the profound benefits of shamanism more attainable for those who may not have the time or resources to engage in more intensive study or retreats. Ultimately, shamanism invites us to recognize that the sacred is all around us, and by nurturing our energy body, we bring a sense of the divine into our everyday lives.

Energy Bodywork For Beginners

The Basics of Energy Body work

Energy body work is a practice that involves engaging with the body’s subtle energy systems to promote healing and balance. For beginners, understanding the basics is essential. It starts with recognizing the presence of the energy body and its points of interaction with the physical body, often aligned with chakra or meridian systems.

An introductory practice might include learning to sense or visualize the energy body. This can be done through meditation, focusing on energy flow within and around the physical form. Another basic technique is grounding, which helps to stabilize your energy by connecting with the earth's energy.

Breathwork is also fundamental to energy body work, as conscious breathing can help control energy flow and clear blockages. These practices lay the foundation for more advanced techniques, as a starting point for anyone looking to explore the benefits of energy body work.

Practical Pointers for Energy Body work

When embarking on the path of energy body work, there are practical pointers that can ease the journey for beginners. First, consistency is key. Daily practices, even if brief, can significantly impact the energy body's health and your overall sense of well-being. Allocate a few minutes daily to meditation or breathwork to maintain and balance your energy levels.

Secondly, cultivate an environment that supports relaxation and focus. This could be a special corner in your home with items that promote peace, such as candles, incense, or calming images. Thirdly, hydration is crucial; water is a conductor of energy, and staying hydrated helps facilitate energy flow through the body.

Finally, keep a journal to note any sensations, emotions, or experiences during your energy work. This helps track progress and patterns, providing insights into your energy body's language. Remember, patience and gentleness with yourself are important as you learn and grow in your practice.

From Roots to Wings: Balancing Your Root Chakra for a Sacred, Stable, and Soaring Life

Balanced chakras are essential in maintaining our overall well-being in the journey of personal and spiritual growth. Chakras are energy centers within our bodies that regulate various aspects of our physical, emotional, and spiritual selves. When these energy centers are in harmony, we experience a sense of equilibrium and vitality, enabling us to thrive in every area of life. Conversely, when our chakras are imbalanced, we may encounter various challenges and difficulties that hinder our progress and prevent us from reaching our full potential.

The root chakra holds a unique and foundational position among these energy centers. The root chakra, located at the base of the spine, is associated with the color red. It symbolizes our connection to the Earth, sense of security, and basic human needs. A well-balanced root chakra serves as a solid base from which we can grow and develop, much like the roots of a tree, providing strength and nourishment to its branches and leaves. When our root chakra is out of balance, we may feel ungrounded and fearful and struggle to establish a sense of stability in our lives.

This blog post will explore balancing the root chakra to create a stable and soaring life. By nurturing and strengthening this foundational energy center, we can foster a sense of security and groundedness that empowers us to navigate life's challenges and embrace new growth opportunities confidently. As we delve into various techniques and practices to bring harmony to the root chakra, you will discover how these tools can transform your relationship with yourself and provide a strong foundation for your spiritual journey, enabling you to spread your wings and soar to new heights.

Understanding the Root Chakra

Location and Associated Color

The root chakra, also known as Muladhara in Sanskrit, is located at the base of the spine, in the area of the perineum - the space between the anus and genitals. It is the first of the seven primary chakras. It serves as the starting point for energy flow throughout the body. The root chakra is associated with red, representing strength, courage, and vitality. This vibrant color symbolizes the life force energy that pulsates through this chakra, connecting us to the Earth and anchoring us in the present moment.

Connection to Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Aspects

As the foundation of our energetic system, the root chakra plays a crucial role in governing our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Physically, it is connected to the adrenal glands, spine, kidneys, and the lower parts of the body, such as the legs and feet. On an emotional level, the root chakra is linked to our sense of security, survival, and ability to meet our basic needs, including food, shelter, and financial stability. Spiritually, a balanced root chakra provides a strong base for personal and spiritual growth, enabling us to explore higher states of consciousness with confidence and grace.

Symptoms of an Imbalanced Root Chakra

Many factors can lead to an imbalance in the root chakra. I see these symptoms frequently in clients who come to me with a history of trauma. Trauma, especially, seems to affect the root chakra - particularly concerning the sense of safety, boundaries, and connection to the self.

Basic Human Needs and Sense of Security

An imbalanced root chakra can manifest as an inability to meet basic human needs, such as food, shelter, and financial security. This can result in instability, anxiety, and fear, affecting our relationships, work, and overall well-being. A lack of balance in the root chakra can also lead to overemphasizing material possessions or needing external validation to feel secure. By working to heal and balance the root chakra, we can cultivate a sense of security and stability that comes from within, allowing us to navigate life's challenges and uncertainties better.

Connection to the Earth and Grounding

When the root chakra is out of balance, we may feel disconnected from the Earth and our physical bodies, making us feel ungrounded or dissociated. This can manifest as difficulty focusing, feeling spaced out, or needing more presence in the present moment. It may also result in a disconnection from our environment and an inability to appreciate the beauty and abundance of the natural world. By bringing balance and harmony to the root chakra, we can strengthen our connection to the Earth, grounding ourselves and enhancing our ability to live fully and mindfully in the here and now.

Importance of Self-Care and Mindfulness

An imbalanced root chakra can also affect our ability to care for ourselves and our bodies, leading to neglect of our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This may manifest as poor eating habits, lack of exercise, or a disregard for the importance of self-care practices, such as meditation and mindfulness. By nurturing and healing the root chakra, we can recognize the importance of self-care and mindfulness as essential components of a balanced and fulfilling life. As we cultivate a strong foundation within ourselves, we are better equipped to handle life's challenges and embrace opportunities for growth and transformation.

Techniques to Balance the Root Chakra

Grounding Exercises

One of the most effective ways to bring balance to the root chakra is through grounding exercises that help to connect us to the Earth's energy. Here are three simple yet powerful techniques to help you feel more rooted and centered:

1. Walking barefoot in nature: Spending time in nature can be incredibly healing, especially when you allow your bare feet to directly contact the Earth. As you walk, visualize your feet rooted into the ground, drawing up the Earth's energy to nourish and stabilize your root chakra. This practice can release any negative energy that may be causing an imbalance in this energy center.

2. Visualization techniques: Find a quiet space to sit or lie down comfortably. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to center yourself. Visualize a grounding cord extending from the base of your spine, connecting you to the Earth's core. Imagine this cord anchoring you firmly, allowing you to draw up the Earth's nurturing energy. With each breath, feel your root chakra becoming more balanced and secure.

3. Hugging a tree or sitting on the ground: Connecting with trees or simply sitting on the ground can help to ground your energy and bring balance to your root chakra. As you make physical contact with the Earth or a tree, imagine any negative energy being released and replaced with a sense of stability, security, and connection to the Earth.

Meditation and Breathing

1. Guided root chakra meditation: Many guided meditations are available online explicitly designed to help balance the root chakra. These meditations often use visualization techniques, affirmations, and focused breathing to help you connect with and heal this energy center. Set aside time each day to practice a guided root chakra meditation. Notice the changes in your sense of stability and groundedness over time.

2. Breathing exercises to connect with the Earth: Find a comfortable sitting or lying position. Close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath. As you inhale, imagine drawing up the Earth's energy through the soles of your feet, up your legs, and into your root chakra. As you exhale, release any tension, fear, or negativity stored in this energy center. Continue this focused breathing for several minutes, allowing yourself to become more deeply connected to the Earth and your own sense of security and stability.

Overcoming Challenges with Root Chakra Work

Working with the root chakra can provide valuable insights into the fears and obstacles that may hold us back in various aspects of our lives. We can cultivate resilience, self-worth, and a greater sense of stability by addressing these challenges through root chakra healing.

One of the challenges with root and sacral chakra work is that these energy centers are located adjacent to erogenous zones. While shame is more associated with the second chakra, there can be conditioned shame or blockages from trauma or cultural conditioning related to these body parts. Gradually, there can be healing by working with these chakras and opening up to the energy flow.

Identifying and Releasing Fears

Many of our fears and anxieties stem from an imbalanced root chakra, which often relates to our sense of security and basic needs. Through meditation and self-reflection, we can begin to identify the fears that may be blocking our progress and release them. As we work on healing our root chakra, we can develop a greater sense of trust in ourselves and the universe, allowing us to let go of unnecessary fears and embrace a more confident, courageous approach to life.

Building Resilience through Grounding Practices

Life is full of challenges and unexpected events that can shake our sense of stability. We can strengthen our root chakra and build resilience to better navigate these challenges by engaging in regular grounding practices, such as those mentioned earlier. A robust and balanced root chakra allows us to remain centered and grounded, even in the face of adversity, helping us to bounce back more quickly and effectively from setbacks and obstacles.

Cultivating a Strong Sense of Self-Worth

A balanced root chakra can also help us to cultivate a strong sense of self-worth and self-esteem. As we work on healing and strengthening our energetic foundation, we develop a deeper connection to ourselves and a greater appreciation for our unique gifts and abilities. By fostering this sense of self-worth, we become more confident and empowered in our personal and professional lives, allowing us to pursue our goals and dreams with incredible determination and enthusiasm.

Conclusion

Embarking on the journey of root chakra work can be a transformative and empowering experience. As you explore various techniques and practices for healing and balancing this foundational energy center, you will begin to notice its profound impact on your overall well-being, sense of security, and personal growth.

By investing time and effort in nurturing your root chakra, you are laying a solid foundation for your spiritual journey and creating the conditions necessary for a stable and soaring life. A balanced root chakra helps you face life's challenges with resilience and courage and allows you to cultivate a strong sense of self-worth, fostering greater confidence in your abilities and aspirations.

I encourage you to dive into the world of root chakra work and embrace its many benefits. As you progress on this path, remember that healing and personal growth are ongoing processes that require patience, dedication, and self-compassion. May your journey towards a balanced root chakra bring you the stability, strength, and inner peace needed to spread your wings and soar to new heights in your spiritual and personal life.

Shamanic Healing For Chronic Illness

Many people turn to shamanic healing in the face of acute and chronic illnesses. As a tool to address the underlying spiritual causes of disease, shamanism is great. I have seen people with chronic health challenges such as Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia use shamanic healing with great results.

No form of spiritual healing should replace modern medicine and most shamanic healers are not licensed, health professionals. Having trained in shamanism does not legally qualify someone to claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Does a Shaman See and Work with Sickness?

Shamanism is the oldest known form of human spirituality. it goes back tens of thousands of years. Shamans were the healers, advisors, and spiritual functionaries in many tribal cultures all over the world.

Shamanic healing addresses the spiritual component of dis-ease. I like to tell my clients that their bodies, minds, and spirits are not individual things by overlapping things that interact. A shaman helps to create the spiritual conditions under which a person can heal. If you were to break your arm, you would go to the hospital to have the bone set and to get a cast. The cast doesn't heal your arm, it creates the conditions for the bone to mend.

A shaman might see illness as excess energy stuck to the client's energy system. Or, there may be a loss of power or soul essence. A shaman may see issues that stem from past lives or one's own ancestors.

Every shamanic practitioner works a little differently, so I'll speak for my own experience. When I journey on behalf of a client, I ask to be shown things about them that need healing, and exactly which ceremonies would be most beneficial on that day. I will see the client's subtle body, aura, and chakras which will give me a sense of what might be wrong. Sometimes I'm able to draw a client's attention to problems they weren't aware of.

What Does a Shamanic Healer Do?

First, many people use the terms shamanic healer, shamanic practitioner, and shaman interchangeably. In my own practice, I refer to myself as a shamanic practitioner. This is because one does not give oneself the label of "shaman" in my tradition.

Shamans are very concerned with restoring power to their clients. Chronic illness, depression, fatigue, low self-esteem, poor boundaries, suicidal feelings, and other common symptoms of power loss include chronic illness, depressed fatigue, low self-esteem, poor luck, and hard-to-diagnose health conditions.

A shaman is a type of healer who uses an alternate state of consciousness to enter the unseen world, which is made up of all unseen beings.

Shamanic healing consists of three things:

1. Entering an altered state of consciousness

2. Traveling in the spirit world

3. Working with helping spirits.

Beyond that, there are many ceremonies a shaman might perform. Here is just a small list:

Soul Retrieval

Shamans in many cultures perform soul retrieval ceremonies in response to something called soul loss. Soul loss is one of the effects of trauma and can lead to depression, anxiety, and dissociation. It's basically a fracturing of the soul body where some essential component gets lost.

Childhood trauma, in particular, is strongly linked to negative health outcomes such as chronic disease.

Untreated Trauma is so common, that nearly 100% of my clients come to me with either emotional or physical symptoms stemming from the trauma. Shamans use powerful spirit connections in order to find and return lost soul essences

Ancestral and Past Life Healing

Many shamanic healers also perform ancestral and past life healing ceremonies. This includes helping the client to connect with their ancestors and Guides, as well as resolving any karmic issues from past lives.

Current scientific research has shown a detectible transgenerational inheritance of trauma in humans and other animals. Epigenetics is an exciting branch of research that shows how our genes might express themselves differently. For example, we can detect epigenetic traces in the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors.

Shamans have long understood the importance of working with and healing our ancestors. Our own wellness is linked to our family history on a physical, mental, and spiritual level.

Shamanic Extraction

A shamanic extraction is a form of energy healing performed by a shaman to remove energetic intrusions. Energetic intrusions are just unwanted energy and thought-forms that get stuck in people's energy bodies. This energy isn't intelligent, like with a possession. It's like getting mud on your shoes.

As we move around through the world, sometimes unwanted energy sticks in our etheric field. This can be especially troublesome when we spend time in crowds or around people with strong negative feelings. People can also send out bad thoughts about us without intending to cause harm, but the energy of that sticks with us.

Spiritual intrusions can cause all kinds of problems because they block up the energy body. I have had a client with a frozen shoulder find relief and a better range of motion after an extraction. People with chronic illnesses can often benefit from extraction ceremonies as well.

It serves as a cleaning and tune-up of the energy body and the chakras. Thiis allows the subtle energy in your body to flow more freely and supports your health.

Power Animal Retrieval

One method that shamans use to restore power to clients is called power animal retrieval. Shamans have a connection to their spirit animals. These spirit animals, who they call power animals (PAs), transmit emotions and energies that impact the spirits of others through shamanistic rituals.

Frequently connecting clients with their own power animals can bring healing. Power animals can provide spiritual protection, guidance, and help keep the energy body intact. One of the major effects of receiving a power animal is just a greater sense of well-being. This alone can help create a healing state.

Spiritual Wound Healing and Curse Unraveling

Events in our lives have the ability to affect our soul bodies. Sometimes these soul bodies can receive wounds as the result of psychic attacks, or merely harsh words. If you've ever felt wounded by someone's words you know what this is like.

One form of magical or psychic attack is a curse. A curse is a spiritual act meant to harm another. There are lots of different ways curses can work, but they can cause illness, create calamity in your life, and reduce your power.

A famous type of psychic attack is the "evil eye" which actually uses the gaze and emotional energy to damage the energy body. This is like punching a hole in your skin. It causes damage but also leaves you open to infection and blood loss if you aren't careful. Curses and attacks such as these can turn spiritual issues into illnesses.

Shamans can work on behalf of their clients to unravel curses. They can also heal spiritual wounds.

How does Shamanic Healing Differ From Other Modalities Like Reiki?

Reiki is a form of energy healing. Reiki practitioners are primarily healers who have been trained in the art of maintaining good health and treating injuries, illnesses, and other physical ailments by establishing close personal relationships with various diagnostic energy centers within each human being which comprise chi (energy force) or ki(the vital breath).

The practitioner channels this universal energy through their own hands into the person.

Reiki, acupuncture, tai chi, and qigong work at the level of the energy body. They all work by manipulating or enhancing the subtle energies of the body. This is also called the etheric body. Shamans sometimes work on the energy body, usually to remove blockages, called intrusions.

However, most shamanic healers work at a different level of the spirit. The shaman specializes in health the soul body, also known as the astral body. The soul body can be damaged or wounded. You can lose essence from it during an illness, surgery, or as a result of trauma. Practitioners tend to take a holistic approach and are focused on restoring power to clients.

Besides working on multiple spiritual bodies, shamans also differ from other modalities in their work with helping spirits. A practitioner goes through training and initiations to"become the hollow bone." This is becoming a clear channel for the spirit to pass through and work. II do not take credit for any healing that takes place, I'm just a conduit.

Shamanism is not a new age practice. Some people will mix shamanic healing with other modalities, but the practices of shamanism have been around for tens of thousands of years.

Long Term Benefits of Shamanic Healing

With chronic health conditions, you want to make sure that whatever you're doing works for a long time.

You may wonder, "Is there any scientific evidence that supports the effectiveness of shamanic healing for chronic illness?" Mainstream science has really just begun to look at shamanic healing, but there are a few interesting bits of research.

There is contemporary research showing that shamanic healing causes physical, mental, and emotional changes in some chronic illnesses and that the changes last a long time. For example, a couple of studies were conducted with women with Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). received shamanic healing. There was a reduction in the pain that did not decrease when the women were re-contacted 9 months later.

Scientific research into shamanic states and healing is pretty new, but there are some amazing things coming out. In a recent study of 500 shamanic practitioners using drumming to journey, their brain-state, measured by an EEG, was unique but close to that of someone on psilocybin.

Much research in the medical community focuses on plant medicine like ayahuasca, peyote, and psilocybin. This makes sense from a medical perspective - looking for patentable drugs and therapies.

Personally, I started studying shamanism to help with a chronic health condition. I have been able to live symptom-free for years. This is my personal anecdote, but I can speak to the effectiveness of shamanic healing over time.

Finding a Shamanic Healer to Work With

Finding a good fit with a healer is important. When people contact me for a session, I will refer them to a trusted colleague if the fit isn't good. the practitioner must always place the safety and wellbeing of the client first.

Shamanic practitioners are individuals and there is no governing body or anything, so they will each work in different ways. Here are a few things I would look for when you're trying to find a healer:

• Shows Compassion - A practitioner should be an empathetic listener, and come from a place of kindness and wanting the best for their clients.

• Honors Confidentiality - While most spiritual healers are not acting in the capacity of medical professionals, they need to take your confidentiality seriously. It's important to me that my clients feel free to share whatever they need to with me. If I were to post about clients on social media or blab about them to others, that would be a huge violation.

• Has Great Integrity - Your shamanic practitioner must have impeccable ethics. This can be hard to determine up front. A practitioner should be open about as much as possible, without crossing personal boundaries. I allow my clients to ask me practically anything - so they can be comfortable with who I am.

• Is Highly Trained - One can take a weekend class, or read a book about shamanism. That does not prepare that person for taking on clients. I didn't see a single client until I had more than 3 years of training with specialized training in soul retrieval, deposession, wound healing, curse unraveling, and teaching. A practitioner should be able to tell you about who they've trained with and for how long.

• Maintains Good Boundaries - Good boundaries are as important for a shamanic practitioner as they are for a therapist. I've had clients ask to meet me for coffee which I politely declined. I have had people reach out who were in close relationships with someone I was close to. I told them I was happy to refer, but I don't want to cross that boundary. While people can share incredibly personal information with me in session, the relationship is always professional.

Beyond these qualities, understand that there should be an exchange for healing services. For the most part, this means money. Modern shamans live in a world where their physical needs are not taken care of by a tribe. In indigenous cultures, you might be expected to bring a valuable gift to a shaman to receive healing. The energy exchange is extremely important.

Some practitioners ask clients to fill out personal assessment questionnaires. Others require payment at the time of book. These small differences in business practices are normal and nothing to worry about by themselves.

A Balanced and Aligned Approach to Healing Chronic Illness.

One should maintain a balanced and aligned approach to healing chronic illness. See your doctor and follow through on treatments while supporting your healing journey with traditional medicine, integrative practices, energy work, and nutrition. Know what's working (and that some things take time to show full effect).

I highly recommend having a spiritual practice on a daily basis. This could be meditation, yoga, prayer - anything that nurtures your spirit.

If you are interested in talking to me about your own healing journey just click here.

Feeling disconnected? How can shamanic healing help?

My clients come to me for many reasons but one of the things I hear most often is, “I feel disconnected.” For many years, before I began to study and practice shamanism, I felt the same way, so I get it. It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe. The best way I can put it is that you feel cut off from your self, the world, even your loved ones.

Often this feeling comes with a flattening of the emotions. I have had clients describe feeling “dead inside.”

So what’s going on here, from a shamanic perspective? Also, is there anything that can help?

As I remind my clients, shamanism is a wonderful tool for addressing the spiritual components of illness or dis-ease. It does not take the place of medical help or psychological counseling.

With that in mind, it bears getting symptoms of any kind checked out by your provider. A shamanic healer can certainly help the healing process. And sometimes there may be no apparent physical or psychological cause a provider can find.

What’s the diagnosis?

In any healing session, I always begin with what’s called a diagnostic journey. This will tell me what work is in my client’s highest interest on that particular day. Many clients come to me asking for specific ceremonies. Sometimes they’re right about what they need, and sometimes they need some preliminary work before that can take place.

This complaint about the feeling of disconnection, more often than not, indicates to me what we call soul loss. Soul loss usually happens as a result of trauma in our lives, although there are a few other causes.

With soul loss, part of the soul breaks away to remain safe from what’s going on. That part can get lost and not come back. If you have ever had a shocking experience where time seemed to slow down, or you felt outside your body, or you felt like things weren’t real - this is what you’re experiencing.

How can shamanic healing help

Since soul loss is something that has occurred throughout human history, shamans all over the world have developed a technique for healing it. That technique is called soul retrieval.

Soul retrieval reunites the parts of the fractured self so that the client can re-integrate them. With re-integration, there can be a much greater sense of connection, joy, and completeness.

Many clients come to me specifically asking for soul retrieval. I still always do a diagnostic journey for them first. It’s quite possible that other work needs to happen for the soul-essence to feel safe enough to return.

I like to think of these soul parts as a fraction of ourselves that is stuck in the time it got lost. If you had soul part lost when you were 8 years old, that part is still 8 years old. It can’t grow and mature on its own, disconnected from the whole.

So we have to make that part feel safe to reintegrate. It might take a few weeks after a session for the part to completely settle in.

Once a part has been returned, however, it can bring significant power back. Imagine if you had lost your sense of smell when you were 12, and then it was suddenly returned. The world would seem richer, food would taste better. A similar thing happens when a soul essence returns.

I’ll never forget a client who, at the end of a session, excitedly told me, “I actually feel joy! I forgot what that was like.”

Shamanic Energy Healing

As a shamanism teacher, one of the questions I get asked a lot is, “how is shamanism different that energy work like Reiki or IET?” It’s a good question as, from the outside, all healing modalities work with mind, body, and spirit.

I cannot speak for the many healing modalities out there, but I can talk about shamanism.

I find it useful to think about humans as an intersection of many dimensions, like a stack of clear overhead projector sheets overlaid to create a single picture. On the gross level, we have a physical body. The physical body alone consists of a very complex arrangement of systems. You have cells, organs, muscles, and bones, a nervous and digestive system. Each of these systems can be broken down into different parts - ad infinitum.

You also have other bodies - energetic, spiritual, and soul bodies, energetic bodies, etc. Each of these is just as complex.

In general, shamans are not purely energy healing. Shamanic healing generally works on the level of the spirit and soul - not strictly the energetic body. The healing work that shamans do works at subtle yet powerful human levels that can affect many bodies at once. So there may, in fact, be energetic healing - but not always.

An example of a shamanic healing ceremony that works with the energy body is extraction. A shaman, with a helping spirit, removes energetic intrusions in the energy body in an extraction ceremony.

Other types of shamanic healing methods may work with soul essences, ancestral healings, curse removal, etc. These ceremonies tend to work on multiple levels.

For example, spirit might direct me to perform a soul retrieval ceremony on someone—the soul essence returning works at a profound level. The person might feel emotional changes immediately followed by physical changes. The healing has rippled through the overlapping systems.

In general, those who consider themselves strictly energy healers work primarily with different “levels” of the human system than shamans do. This does not make one modality any better than another. They’re like different specialties in medicine.

If you went to a doctor for chronic pain, for example, they might refer you to a neurologist or a physical therapist, depending on the source of the issue.

Some shamanic practitioners mix modalities. An individual healer might have also training in reiki or other energy healing modalities. A healer might perform a healing ceremony in trance, then perform some other energy healing work. This is, of course, OK as long as it’s in the interest of the client. My personal preference is to separate any shamanic work from anything else I might do.