| "body"> | | | | book, checking in with me from time to time with |
| I believe one of the most amazing gifts of this life of | | | | questions and concerns. Every so often, she would |
| the challenges, and inner and outer, that we're given | | | | e-mail me that she was moving forward. Then on |
| to propel us into growing as human beings. While | | | | day I received an e-mail that stated 'I'm Ready' in the |
| we're spiritual beings, to try to evade the fact that | | | | subject line and I smiled. |
| we're also human is to ignore why we're here to | | | | Together we began a journey through her life. We |
| begin with and also to lose the possibility of truly | | | | learned what had brought her to where she was |
| enjoying the gift of being totally and completely | | | | now and how she'd created her path thus far. She |
| human and spiritual at the same time. | | | | realized that a part of her had always known that |
| As a healer, I've often found it's a deep seated need | | | | her course would change when she got older and her |
| to heal the calls people to their path. Illness - physical, | | | | kids were out on their own. She new deeply that it |
| mental and spiritual - and human pain are often the | | | | was time to go into herself, really for the first time, |
| impetuses for finding that which you are truly called | | | | and find out who she was without all of the roles |
| to do, and when soul calls your human part to | | | | she'd been playing. It was such an honor for me to |
| change, it's hard not to listen. Sure, you can draw it | | | | be present as she dove into herself and connected |
| out for while but ultimately it comes back to your | | | | deeply with her soul. |
| needing to step up to your life and heal the past to | | | | At times, it took weeks for her to be able to face |
| fully step into your future. | | | | the truth without running from it, but her |
| Once you step into the fire, taking on the challenges | | | | commitment to seeing this through pushed her to |
| of your humanity, then you can truly begin to | | | | stand in the fire and let it burn away the debris of |
| understand compassion. I recall speaking with a 54 | | | | illusion and judgment. We both knew this was her |
| year old woman several years ago. She was angry | | | | path and her heart began to explode, it was like a |
| and bitter because she was sick for the first time in | | | | light came on deep in her heart and for the first time, |
| her life, and it made no sense to her. She had never | | | | I felt like I was truly seeing her in all of her beauty. |
| been sick, never experienced a truly deep loss, and | | | | Her journey ultimately led her to move to the other |
| never been thrown into what she termed 'a heart | | | | side of the U.S. and she decided that it was time to |
| wrenching experience'. She realized this was such a | | | | release her partner and walk her path alone for a |
| time and didn't feel she had the tools to go through | | | | while. She chose a new career that allowed her to |
| it. She kept trying to evade it and it wasn't working. | | | | live her life as well and shifted to a more modest |
| She didn't know what to do. When we went deeper | | | | home and lifestyle. She's happy now, a term that she |
| into her current situation, we found her illness wasn't | | | | hadn't used for herself for years and for the first |
| the only change she was experiencing. She was also | | | | time, she told me she's 'home' within herself. |
| considering leaving her husband, was deeply ready to | | | | She touches base from time to time with questions |
| change her career, and felt like she wanted to move | | | | and offerings. I've learned a lot from her and am |
| somewhere where she felt more at home. Overall, | | | | always honored to be present for her next |
| she wanted a new life and this illness was telling her | | | | transformation. |
| the time was now. | | | | Wishing you beauty and power in each moment. May |
| I told her I was excited for her and she looked at | | | | we all walk through our fire and listen to our |
| me like I was speaking a foreign language. I guess on | | | | yearnings. |
| some level for her in this lifetime, I was. Yet it was | | | | Blessings, |
| clearly a language she deeply wanted to learn | | | | Jenifer |
| remember. I told her from my point of view, she | | | | Note: Many ask if I follow the Michael Harner |
| was ready to walk through her 'Fire' for the first time | | | | (Foundation for Shamanic Studies) methods or Sandra |
| and what a powerful journey this was going to be | | | | Ingerman's work. While I have studied with western |
| for her. Her body, heart, soul and mind were all calling | | | | shamans, including Alberto Villoldo (The Four Winds |
| for the changes to happen and if she chose to take | | | | Society) and others, my work is an integration of my |
| responsibility for her life, she was going to step into a | | | | personal shamanic journeys since childhood and my |
| new journey that would change her on many levels. | | | | work with western, European and indigenous |
| In that first meeting, my excitement was a bit | | | | shamans. Rather than focusing on the work of a |
| overwhelming for her. She new it was right and she | | | | specific teacher, I work with my personal spirit guides |
| said she felt this was the language for what she had | | | | and the intuitive of my heart and soul to offer the |
| been feeling, she needed some time to process this. | | | | ability for the experience to unfold exactly as it |
| I gave her some books to read specific to her needs | | | | should and always does, using ritual and the love for |
| and offered her the opportunity to contact me when | | | | truth beyond judgment that I believe is the core of |
| she was ready. She took the time she needed to | | | | this work. |
| experience her current state and went through each | | | | |