Shamanic Soul Guide: Be Your Own Shaman
By Sarah Norwood
1. Welcome
2. Sarah’s
First Shamanic Journey
3. The Journey
Finds You
5. Finding Your
Own Way
6. My Way Will
Not Be Your Way
7. What Is
Shamanism Anyway?
8. Shamanic
Soul Guidance Session Description
9. I'm Ready!
10. SEE YOU IN SPIRIT!
Welcome to “Shamanic Soul Guide: Be Your Own Shaman”
mentoring program! Your Spirit lead you here at the perfect time in your
life! There is no coincidence that you are here. Now. Something inside of you
must have been searching for someone, or something, to help you get in touch
with the gifts that you may, or may not, know are already inside of you.
These Shamanic Soul Guidance sessions will help you to embrace them and explore
ways in which you can safely practice Shamanism in your daily life. You may
have already read about the powerful techniques of Shamanism or are current
clients of mine. You may even understand how Shamanic journeying works, but
can’t imagine yourself being able to do it! Well, I’m here to say that YOU have
the innate ability to travel to alternate realms, connect to your Spirit guides
and ancestors, and receive sacred messages that can literally transform your
entire life. My job is to help you discover ‘how’ you best communicate and work
with the Spirit world. You may be a ‘seer’, or a ‘feeler’, or you may even be
able to ‘hear’ Spirits as clear as day! The question is...What is your Way?
Instead of
overwhelming you with definitions of the history and workings of Shamanism, or
a strict ‘how to’ journey guide, I’d rather take you on a ride with me. A mini
Shamanic Journey that allows you to be YOU and me to be me! I will share
from my heart and allow Spirit to do the rest. However you interpret this
information is exactly how you are supposed to! Utilize what
feels good to your Soul and let go of what doesn’t. The one thing my Shamanic
Soul mentoring program will offer you is the support you seek in taking your
first steps at building your very own Shamanic practice and becoming your very
own Shaman!
I will share
my own bumpy, but destined, journey to becoming a Shamanic healer. It wasn’t
pretty. It wasn’t easy. In fact, there were days where practicing Shamanic
healing felt more like surviving a hell inside of me.
This journey is going to get real. Not only will I speak my own
truth, I will help you develop your own Way to travel to alternate realms and
dance with the energies and Souls in the Spirit world. And, of course, I will
throw in some jazzy definitions and descriptions of Shamanism along the way!
I want our Shamanic Soul Guidance sessions together to be relaxing, safe,
fun, and stress free. This is because when you start working with Shamanic
energy, you never know quite what to expect and this can feel scary. Shamanic
healing peels away the layers of your Soul to unveil what needs to be healed.
This can bring to the surface a lot of very uncomfortable emotions and
memories. We need to proceed gently and at a pace that feels good to you.
Shamanic healing is not an easy fix method. In fact, Shamanic healing becomes
a way of life. Every day that you practice, there will be something new
offered to you even if it seems like you aren’t getting anywhere! That may be
what your Spirit needs to learn…patience. Eventually, you will start to
understand the symbols presented to you during your journeys and your
connection to Spirit will flow effortlessly.
Letting go of the ‘outcome’ will be essential as well. A journey
ebbs and flows and so does the Shamanic energy of your practice. We must allow
it to unfold organically and address ‘whatever comes up’ along the way.
And, I want to be
here for YOU to try and make sense of it all. Experimenting with Shamanic
techniques can feel quite lonely as it is not always accepted by the masses. In
fact, if it wasn’t for my own Shamanic teacher and friend, John Myerson, I
would have felt utterly alone and sadly misunderstood.
What I have learned
from practicing Shamanic healing for the last 28 years, is that it can feel
like a terribly isolating experience. It’s not every day that you meet someone
at a corporate luncheon that says, “Hey, guess what? I met one of my Spirit
guides last night during a Shamanic meditation and he told me something that I
feel has altered the course of my life. Oh, and the fox is one of my power
animals!” Most people will politely smile at you, and then, think that you’re
certifiably insane! Believe me, I used to be an Executive Assistant for several
CEO’s and VP’s in large corporations. I was called a ‘witch’ during a weekly
planning meeting just because I had shared with a colleague that I meditated.
Imagine if I had added the word ‘Shaman’ or ‘Shamanic’ to the description of my
meditation practice? I have learned that what people don’t understand scares
them, and fear can bring out the absolute worst in some people. It took me years
to step into who I REALLY am and what I came here to do in this life.
Today, I can’t imagine hiding my gifts from anyone- anywhere. The process of
accepting ourselves is a Shamanic journey in itself. It can take a while before
we feel secure with the Shamanic work that we do, especially because it is ever
changing. Please gift yourself patience and tenderness as you explore these new
worlds. And, understand that not everyone will like or be OK with you-- no
matter what you do. That’s why it is so important that we do the “work” on
ourselves first. Long before we even think about offering our healing gifts to
others, we have to develop a consistent, daily practice. Loving ourselves is a
full time job if we choose Shamanic- or any kind- of healing work. Self-love is
also the key to growing our healing businesses if that is our desire. You can
only help to heal others if you are relentless in healing
yourself. This means looking at our own darkness. It means healing what we
really don’t want to heal. It can be incredibly painful, and even terrifying,
to heal ourselves.
So, I want you to KNOW that I am here for you as you attempt to
cultivate your individual Shamanic healing practice. I had one person that was
always there for me- and still is- decades later. If I didn’t have him
to check in with, and to share my personal experiences with Spirit, I may
have given up. I know how important it is to just ‘be there’ and
listen. Nobody’s experiences are wrong and what you feel IS REAL if it ‘feels’
real. I will validate and support you even if you are confused as to what you
are doing or feeling at the time. Every portion of your Shamanic story is
important. I.AM.HERE.
My First Shamanic Journey
Considering the
fact that Shamanism can be traced all the way back to the Stone Age era, and is
known as the first human ‘spiritual practice’, you would have thought that I
would have (at least) heard the word ‘Shaman’ throughout my young life.
That would be a ‘no’! The only spiritual discussions I ever had with my
family was how I didn’t want to go to church on Sunday! I was raised Catholic.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like the idea of praying to God in a church, it was
that I couldn’t ‘feel’ anything there. I would follow along the bible, saying
all the right words and listen to the pretty choir and feel nothing. For me, it
was a place to go to repent our sins, look nice and be kind to a bunch of
strangers. Afterwards, I couldn’t wait to tear off my tights and dress and go
find my cat. I felt God in different ways. I would feel Him in the wind, the
trees and the rain. I felt what I thought to be ‘God’s love’ in the people I
hugged or the animals I pet. It felt forced when I went to church. I was
seeking something different. I alway felt a void in my chest no matter how hard
I tried to adopt the ‘beliefs’ I was taught. I wanted to feel what everyone
else felt. I wanted to be normal and just be a good little girl and pray like
the others. Something was missing in church, but as I often slept in my
backyard under the stars...there He was. I felt my God in the ‘energy’ of
nature. Still, though, I felt all alone in a big scary world full of shadows
and spirits. I didn’t understand ‘why’. Why do I have to see these things?! Everything
felt dark. To make matters worse, I was being sexually molested from ages 5 to
11 years old by multiple people. I stopped feeling God, or anything at all. At
19, my life took a fork in the road and everything changed.
This is when my awakening began.
In 1993, I abruptly left my abusive boyfriend and fled South. I
grew up in Massachusetts and chose a college 14 hours away down in Radford, VA.
I knew I would die if I stayed with with my ex-boyfriend. This was my third
attempt at college life. Just like in Goldilocks, the first college was too
big, the second was too small, and the third one was just right! I chose to
major in English and minored in Psychology. Coming from the Boston area, I
never thought in a million years that I would meet a ‘Shaman’ in Virgina AND
that he would be my favorite English teacher…ever. This tall, energetic
man was one that you might call ‘in touch’ with his spirit. He cut his own hair without looking in a
mirror, slept in his office, or a tent near the college campus. Often, he just
went with it in class--always igniting contagious excitement with his totally
random discussions. And, I LOVED it! He
encouraged me to write about my pain and pushed me to be a writer without
boundaries.
One day, he invited me to a Shamanic drumming out of the blue.
Shamanic, Shamanism, Shama, what? What in dear God was that all about??
But, there was no question; I was going to find out. Thanks to my father,
I was a seeker from birth, always curious, always questioning EVERYTHING. I ended
up going to this intriguing ‘drumming’ with a friend of mine at a small house
on campus that evening. Once everyone arrived, I remember my English
teacher (and some of the other students) thanked the Spirits in the house for
allowing us to be there, and then the manic drumming began. I felt right at home once the ‘Spirit’ talk
began. After all, finally, someone was
acknowledging the ghosts that I had seen (and heard) most of my life.
My English teacher spoke as the drumming reached a high-pitched
rhythm. He told us to imagine a place in the earth to go through to the
‘underworld’. It could be a tree, body of water, or even a hole in the
ground. I was nervous, unsure of what
was happening, but I closed my eyes and let the drumming take me.
Instantly, I saw myself in another realm.
I went through a tree to the underground and landed in soft grass next
to a stream/lake. To this day, this is
still my ‘underground’, alternate realm that I go to on my Shamanic journeys.
I met one of my power animals during this first Shamanic journey, the
raccoon. I also met Sasha. She is an
angel Spirit guide of mine. She led me deeper into this mysterious, but
beautiful underworld. While exploring this wondrous, alternate realm I could
still hear the drumming faintly in the background. I was enjoying this
‘journey’. How cool was this?
Suddenly, my Soul impulsively jumped into the current of a large,
raging lake and sunk rapidly to the bottom. Black snakes began to choke
me as I fought furiously to get back to the surface of the water. I couldn’t
breathe. I was drowning. I fought for my life in that black water.
In that lake, I experienced the symbolic violence that was my
abusive life at the time.
After what felt like hours, I somehow managed to jump out of the
cold lake just as the drumming came to a climax. Then, we were all
instructed to go back through the hole we came from and back into our human,
physical bodies. Instantly, I felt my Spirit returning to the over-crowded room
full of college kids.
Wiping sweat from my upper lip, I was ‘back’. But, back from what?
What WAS that? What the hell just happened?! What was this Shamanic drumming
supposed to teach us? That life can be heaven AND hell? I had so many questions
racing through my mind. It was like the force of a hurricane wind. But, this
wind was good. I was amped up. High from my first journey. It was scary, but
fucking awesome too. It almost felt like I had gone back ‘home’ for a while. I had
felt so alone and different my whole life, but in the spirit world I could be
myself. Exactly myself...without judgement. Oh, how cool. I was hooked.
Then, I took one
look at my friend and my heart broke. My friend did not have a miraculous,
healing and insightful journey like me. She was pale, wide-eyed, and
having trouble breathing. She yanked on
my arm and said we had to get out of there ASAP. Just as I was about to stand up and leave, my
free-spirited English teacher started to ask all of us about our Shamanic
journeys. I sat back down. I was fascinated by what others had to say even
though I knew my friend was struggling beside me. I grabbed her hand and
squeezed, whispering that we could go. She quickly shook her head and told me
that we could stay a bit longer. I think she wanted to see if anyone else had
experienced her frightening symptoms.
People began saying a few words about their individual journeys.
Everyone sounded casual and unbothered by what they had seen and heard on their
journeys. They gave brief, 2 to 3 minute descriptions. And, then it was my
turn. For fifteen minutes, I described in vivid detail my first Shamanic
journey. All eyes were on me just
staring and silent. Normally, I was terrified to speak in front of large groups
of my peers. But, it was not just “I” that spoke about my journey. I realized
that my explanation of what had just transpired was not a small deal. Something
was speaking through me. I was ‘channeling’ Spirit, but completely unaware of
what, or who, or even why this was happening. And, my ability to just ‘go’ on
this meditative journey was like second nature to me. It was easy. Too
easy. I didn’t even try, I just went.
Finally, I turned to my friend and she was staring at me with large,
blank eyes. She started to tell the group about her troubling journey, but
could barely speak. Something scared her
and she was frozen in fear. With shaky
hands she described a feeling that felt like somebody was pressing down on her
solar plexus. She said that she felt a large hand choking her while crushing
her chest the entire time. And, I felt horrible. How could I have put my friend
through this?
At that time, I did not know that energy work could enhance
what was already going on inside of a person. Energy healing tends to go to
the core and can bring our deepest fears to the forefront. This is why it is SO
IMPORTANT NOT to work on someone if they are in an ‘acute’ state of mental or
physical distress. Keeping a client safe is the number one rule when we
offer Shamanic healing. If I ‘look’ at someone’s energy and it is too dark, or
too sick, I back off. I wait patiently for my client to feel well enough to
have a session.
In this circumstance, my friend was not doing well prior to
attending the Shamanic drumming. She didn’t really want to go. We should
have honored this feeling and listened to our intuition. Instead, we had no
idea what we were getting into because this was our first time. I had no idea
that a Shamanic journey could actually make people feel worse if there is
serious unhealed trauma or negative spirits/energies attached to that person.
Today, decades later, I can look back and know that my friend had
a spirit possessing her in that moment. It’s as if she was familiar with this
toxic energy and it triggered her into a state of shock. Back then, though, I
was so inexperienced and unprepared. I had no idea how to help my friend with
the horrific pain and discomfort that was evoked during her journey to the
underworld. I didn’t know how to keep her safe. Or even that Shamanic
journeying could be dangerous. So, I just grabbed her hand and we left the
house. We didn’t speak of that night again. In fact, it was one of the
last times I ever saw her.
What I learned, and why I am sharing this, is that Shamanic Healing
needs to be practiced safely. It needs to be practiced with a heightened
awareness that sometimes it can bring painful physical, spiritual, and
emotional energy to the surface. Helping our clients understand that this type
of healing work is not always about light, love, and sugar plum fairies is very
important! It encourages the individual to look at things that they may never
have addressed in the entire life. That is why, in addition to offering
a warning, I always refer out to therapists, doctors, or other healers if more
additional support is needed. Shamanism can really stir things up. I know it
has for me! Continuous support for our clients, and for one another, is
absolutely essential to ensure health and happiness.
The Journey Finds You: Three Times A Charm
Every few years, no matter where I was in my life, light or
darkness, I would encounter another powerful Shaman. It was as if my Soul was
randomly steered towards Shamans wherever I went. The second Shaman I met, the
SAME year as my English Teacher/Shaman, was Dr. John Myerson. I had contracted
a severe case of mono-hepatitis my freshman year of college. And, when I say
‘severe’, it was so bad that my parents flew me home from VA to Massachusetts
in order to be in their care. A doctor actually made a house call because he
thought I had AIDS. It was the sickest I had ever been in my life. This is when
my Father suggested that I go see a friend of his. He described his friend as a
‘healer’ that was also an Acupuncturist, Herbalist, and Psychologist from
Harvard University. I had no idea that this man was one of the most powerful
Shamans in the world. All I knew is that I was sick emotionally/physically and
spiritually. I had suffered years of childhood sexual abuse and then entered into
5 years of teen-dating violence. I was broken. Little did I know that I would
end up working with John for the next 27 years of my life. He confirmed that
‘Sasha’ the angel that I had met in the ‘underworld’ during my first journey,
“would be with me for the duration of my life.”
How did he know this? But,
he did. The course of my entire life changed when I was 19 years old with these
two Shamans in the midst of a mental and physical health crisis. This is when
my healing began, but it would take me another decade before meeting a third
Shaman that solidified my Shamanic life path.
Some people say, “Three times a charm!” In my case, they would be
correct! The third, influential Shaman that I met lived across the country in
Manitou Springs, Colorado. I was visiting my Aunts that lived in Colorado
Springs on a summer vacation in 2002. I went without my children. I was always
‘called’ to the mountains. On a warm, summer morning my Aunts took me to
explore the magical town of Manitou Springs. I wandered into a metaphysical
store called, “Whispering Winds”. As I browsed the candle and tarot card aisle,
a beautiful, dark haired woman approached me. She asked, “Would you like a
reading?” I immediately told her “Thank you, but I have no money.” She smiled
and with more force said, “I will read you for free.” I felt as if there was no
choice in the matter and I didn’t want to be rude, so I followed her into a
tiny room in the back of the store. It was filled with crystals, angels,
Goddess statues, and all sorts of “new age” items. I felt like I had walked
into another realm or time in space. Gone was the casual tourist exploration of
my morning. I didn’t even know where my Aunts were anymore for I had no time to
tell them about getting this ‘reading’. Also, I did not know who this woman
was, that she owned the store, or was a descendant of a long line of Shamanic
Healers. All I knew was that I was ‘feeling’ an intense energy, one that told
me that I was not alone. She stared at me as she expertly flipped her tarot cards
over. The first thing she said was, “You are a Master, like me. Do you know
that?” I nervously laughed and asked, “What does that mean?” She said that I
would be doing what she was doing one day. She told me that I would be a ‘Great
Healer’, but I had to move from where I was living now to meet my soulmate and
begin my Spirit Journey. At the time, I was a single Mom living outside of
Boston with my two children. The Shaman woman continued my reading, sharing
about how I would meet a younger man that would be my equal, my team-mate and
that I would write a book by the age of 45yrs old.
Miraculously, within three years of this reading, I picked up and
moved to the state of Colorado, met my soulmate on my first day of work, and
began a career a few years later as a Shamanic Reiki Practitioner. And, I
started thinking seriously about writing a book.
Three Shamans later, here I am! My wild English teacher,
Psychotherapist Dr. John Myerson, and Shaman and famous psychic, Ruth Perez,
all manifested at three very crucial turning points in my life. There are no
mistakes or coincidences. If you are destined to be or do something, I truly
believe that if you ask for Guidance, the teachers and Way will manifest!
Finding YOUR Way
I live in a place where connecting with Spirits from alternate
realms is looked upon by some as workings with Evil. It is the energetic
wave I go up against on a daily basis in the tiny, mountain town I call home.
Today, I truly believe that the energetic balance I bring to this small town is
necessary. Years ago, though? I thought I had made a huge mistake in moving to
this part of the country, let alone a place like Monument, Colorado.
I believe in Love. It doesn’t matter if someone believes in God, the Archangels, nature, the Universe, the Divine, or praying to a tree in their backyard. If you work with compassion, forgiveness, and love...you are all right in my book. At first, I thought, how am I--a bead wearing, wild child, Shamanic practicing, tattooed woman going to fit in with the really conservative, Christians in this town? I worried about my children being judged for a Mommy that talks to more Spirits in a day than actual people. I worried that my young children would be persecuted for MY beliefs. How do you explain to your friends that your Mom is an ‘energy healer’? My son used to say I was in ‘Sales’ just to avoid the questioning stares. LOL! Gotta love kids! I wondered if we should move to a larger, more diverse city. I worried about how I would EVER build up a clientele in this small, strict, and conservative town. How did I even end up here?
I believe in Love. It doesn’t matter if someone believes in God, the Archangels, nature, the Universe, the Divine, or praying to a tree in their backyard. If you work with compassion, forgiveness, and love...you are all right in my book. At first, I thought, how am I--a bead wearing, wild child, Shamanic practicing, tattooed woman going to fit in with the really conservative, Christians in this town? I worried about my children being judged for a Mommy that talks to more Spirits in a day than actual people. I worried that my young children would be persecuted for MY beliefs. How do you explain to your friends that your Mom is an ‘energy healer’? My son used to say I was in ‘Sales’ just to avoid the questioning stares. LOL! Gotta love kids! I wondered if we should move to a larger, more diverse city. I worried about how I would EVER build up a clientele in this small, strict, and conservative town. How did I even end up here?
Doubting my gift of
sight and ability to offer pure, loving energy to others, I couldn’t even
charge people a quarter of my worth in those first few years of practice.
Hesitantly, I moved into an official office setting in downtown Monument.
Originally, I was attracted to the building because of its’ ornate tiles and
Southwestern decor. Native American Indian designs and their culture speaks to
me. I felt ‘home’ in this place. More importantly, I could immediately hear and
feel the Spirits the second I walked into the building. Whenever I need to
explore new spaces, I tend to judge them on how I ‘feel’. Which is ironic
because I spent the majority of my youth NOT wanting to feel! After years of
working with Shamanic Reiki healing energy though, I developed heightened
senses and started to feel again. This manifested in my ability to feel Spirits
physically pushing and pulling my body. I was pulled by the Spirits when I went
in to check out the 200 sq. ft. space with the 80’s colored green rug and large
cracked walls. I loved it. I signed the lease on the spot!
Settling in fast, I decorated my new office with chakra colored
candles, essential oils, medicine wheel hangings, Kuan Yin and Buddha statues,
colorful chakra and aura flags, a massage table, multiple gemstones and the old
glider rocking chair that I nursed both my children in back in college. My
smile quickly vanished, as I looked around satisfied with the interior. I was
terrified that now I actually had to do what I advertised I could do. Holy
shit! Am I really doing this?
And, so it began.
My Shamanic healing practice in a town that rarely, if ever, used the word
‘Shaman’ in its vocabulary. The Shaman from Manitou Springs (third Shaman
I met on my journey) told me to ‘get clear’ on who I was, and what I could
offer people, and then...they would come. She said that people would find me.
The only thing I had to do was set my intention and advertise my gifts. I
didn’t even know what the heck ‘my gifts’ were back then so I spent another two
years becoming a Board Certified Massage Therapist. I was already Board
Certified in Reflexology and a Reiki Master, but still had
no confidence in my ability to see, feel, and hear clearly for my clients. I
struggled with offering ‘Shamanic Reiki’. After all, it was ‘out there’ wasn’t
it?
Even with my lack
of confidence, I never gave up. Every day, I meditated for a long, long time. I
sat with my pain, loved my anger, and walked through my fears. I had to do my
own ‘work’ in order to offer my clients the highest vibrational, most loving
Reiki energy. I journeyed to alternate, Shamanic realms on a daily basis-just
as I had since I was 19 years old. I found comfort in my natural ability
of just sitting and ‘going there’ like I had done on my first journey at 19. I
didn’t need music, candles, drumming or crystals in order to do this. I simply
shut my eyes, called on my Spirit guides, and my Spirit flies. The alternate
realms in the Spirit world became my second home.
Shamanic Reiki
energy healing is my niche. It took years for me to discover that my gift was
not in massaging people’s physical bodies, but in dancing with their energy.
In the alternate realms, I am able to call on someone’s Spirit and see,
feel, and hear energetically what is going on inside of them and around them. I
see chakra energy, auras, past lives, ancestors that have crossed over,
darkness, and areas of pain or blockages inside the individual. Then, I just
open up to the Universal Life force energy and send them love and healing.
Essentially, I tap into what I like to call ‘love energy’. It is not religious
or even spiritual. I bring loving energy into me and then I offer it to you.
During my distance Shamanic Reiki sessions, I can also see what part of ME
needs the most healing in that moment.
By loving me, I can love you.
My Shamanic healing
meditations are largely focused on loving the wounded parts of me EVERY DAY so
that I can connect with the pain in others. By loving myself, I can help assist
in healing the anger and grief in another soul. If I am not comfortable with my
own pain, how can I help with another’s pain and truly be there for them?
But STILL, even
with all of my daily practice, I did not fully BELIEVE in my abilities. How
many more board certifications would it take before I saw value in my work?
It didn’t matter what a psychic told me in the past. Until I believed
that I WAS a powerful channel/medium of love and light, I would continue to
veil my innate abilities and offer others more widely sought after forms of bodywork.
Fortunately,
though, as I offered massage and reflexology to my eager clients on the table,
my body had other plans. Isn’t it funny how everything that we try to keep so
deeply hidden within our Soul has a way of crawling to the surface one way or
another? As I generously massaged people’s feet and shoulders, the familiar
warmth of Reiki energy would flow through my palms and I would hear all sorts
of voices. I could not block these voices out no matter how loud I played my
Enya Pandora station on my laptop computer. No matter how much I disagreed with
the Spirit’s in my head, shouting at them to ‘shush!’ they continued their
conversations. Spirit was not rattled at all with all my ‘shushing’! They
would just get louder, repeating the same message or question until I found
myself speaking before I even knew I opened my mouth.
It got to the point
where I would literally ask my client; did I just say that out loud? The answer
would be a surprising YES! Slowly, and with lots of hesitation and caution, I
would start to ask my clients the questions that were whispered in my ears. They
would stare at me blankly, caught off guard at first, then their eyes would
widen. The first words out of their mouths would be, “It’s interesting you say
that or it’s funny you say that…” My way of getting people in my office door
was by offering massage and reflexology healing services, but they would end up
leaving with an additional 60 minutes of Shamanic Reiki!
Some clients never came back. I would say something unfiltered
from Spirit and scare the shit out of them! Astonishingly, years later, an old
familiar face would return for another session because something in them
shifted and was now ready to heal. I believe when a Soul is ready to hear
the truth, they are open to learning what Spirit has to say. If they are
not ready, they will run in anger, pain or fear. Or all three! And, that was
OK. I respected everyone’s readiness to heal on his or her own time, and in
their own Way.
Soon though, even the most conservative Catholic or Christian
clients started becoming repeat clients in my tiny office with the funky green
rug. Eventually, I learned when to push and when to stay silent with new
clients. Not everyone wanted ‘energy’ or messages from Spirit and I honored
each client’s boundaries.
Then, my practice shifted again. I was attracting more and more
clients that were not interested in getting massages or, even, being touched.
This was especially true for trauma survivors. It felt safer for them not to be
physically touched, so I held my hands a foot above their physical bodies and
trusted the energy. These clients were only desiring the Reiki energy and
discovering what the Spirits wanted them to know. So, I began offering Reiki
energy healing sessions in addition to massage and Reflexology- still leaving
out the ‘Shaman’ part. Why scare people? As long as the energy was pure
love, did it matter that I journeyed to Spirit realms in order to give them
their ‘Reiki’ energy? Reiki seemed acceptable in a way that ‘Shamanic Reiki’
did not back then. I learned that I did not need to ‘prove’ that I was a Shamanic
Practitioner as much as a channel for love and healing. I, also, learned that
energy healing could make people feel great- even better than a deep tissue
massage. It was the energy they craved. So, in this little, ultra-conservative
town, I thought I had finally found a place for myself and my energy business.
What I didn’t realize at the time is that it had NOTHING to do
with the town’s people and earning their respect. The lesson from the Universe
was designed solely for me!
I had to accept myself without judgment before others could.
It was in my head that people in town were against my
practice. This was about my own insecurity and lack of self-worth, things that
I had struggled with since childhood. I had grown up feeling ‘crazy’ and this
old dialogue was the record still on rewind and repeat in my conflicted mind.
It was I that had to overcome my own fears and accept and love myself fully.
Once I did this, that is when my business exploded online and ‘Sarah Norwood
Health Services’ transformed into ‘Shamanic Mountain Healing’.
I had FINALLY welcomed the Shaman into my life.
My Way Will Not Be Your Way.
The above story of
my encounters with Shamans is what lead me on my own Shamanic Path. I
encourage you to think about how YOU were lead here today- to being interested
in becoming a Shaman or practicing Shamanic Healing. As we work together over
Skype or FaceTime developing your practice, I invite you to think about your
own life journey:
-What signs and
symbols do you remember as a child, and as an adult, that has contributed to
your interest in Shamanism?
-Have you met
healers along the way that guided you here? -Have you had supernatural
experiences?
-Are you aware of
any of your own gifts yet?
-What is it that
you would like to expand upon during your Shamanic Soul Guidance sessions?
Those are just a few questions to ponder as we delve more and more
into your healing path. You may even want to journal any thoughts or ideas that
pop into your head as you explore what truly brought you here today.
What The Heck IS Shamanism Anyway?
Let’s get down to
the knitty-gritty! I told you that I would weave in some snazzy definitions
along the way of this awesome healing system, so, here we go!
The practice of Shamanism involves a process where the healer
often lives with one foot in both the human and the spiritual worlds. Shamanic
healers act as intermediaries, standing as the connection between a person’s
physical earthbound body and their Soul’s energy in the spirit world. Shamanic
healers work primarily in alternate realms treating various physical, spiritual
and emotional ailments and illnesses.
Shamanic healing is powerful and transformational for the
individual on so many levels. While operating mainly in the Spirit world, the
Shamanic healer can illicit deep healing simultaneously in the human world. So,
when the Shaman works to restore a person’s Soul in the spiritual realm, this
can result in the elimination of various illnesses for the person in the
human/physical realms. Going to a Shamanic healer is like going to a cyber
Doctor who does not reside in the same time and space that we do. He/She is a
‘virtual’ healer that brings their patients to
Shamans gain knowledge and the power to heal by entering into the
spiritual world or other alternate states of mind. Most shamans have dreams or
visions that tell them certain things. These powerful messengers, heal in
alternate realms and journey to non-ordinary states in order to heal a person
at a Soul level
While in the
spiritual world, Shamans can often channel guidance directly from Spirits and
are often lead by spirit guides, power animals, ancestors and other enlightened
beings and energies. While in a trancelike state, Shamans gain intuitive
knowledge about how to help heal individuals. They pass this information and
wisdom along to the person they are healing at the time.
In a Shaman’s travels, the Shaman is often able to see, feel or
hear if a person’s Soul is lost, possessed, shut down, in need of cleansing
toxic energies, or even karmic healing. The Shaman communicates simultaneously
with a person’s spiritual body in a higher realm and physical body on earth,
becoming a conduit for profound healing.
Shamanic ancient
healing techniques are utilized across this vast Universe in countless
cultures, tribes and regions around world. It doesn’t matter if it is a big
city or on a farm, the healing benefits of Shamanism cross all borders. On the
other hand, some people still have an idea that a Shaman is someone that dances
around with feathers and smoke, half dressed with their eyes going back into
their heads as they scream and chant demons out of someone’s body. Now, in some
cultures, this may be true. But, Shamanism is practiced by more people than you
may think. Your postman may journey every night after work, or the teenage girl
that just served your customized Starbucks drink may talk to her angel guides
on her lunch break. Your boss may even be a Shaman, but chooses to keep it on
the ‘down low’ as to not upset anybody in a professional office environment. At
one time, I wore Ann Taylor clothing from head to toe and always maintained
freshly manicured nails and a polished look while working in the corporate
world. Once I walked through the door of my apartment, though, I would light
some incense and resume the conversations with the ghosts I felt (and heard) in
my morning meditation. This is why we can never judge a book by its cover! Why
would a practice that dates back to before the Stone Age be so popular, but
still not as widely accepted in Western cultures? Something is obviously
working, but there is a consistent lack of understanding of Shamanism. Some
people fear it because they have varying religious beliefs that deem ‘calling
on spirits’ as the devil’s work. I’ve had new clients that are very interested
in Shamanic healing, but because they were raised to believe anything other
than worshiping God was ‘bad’ or ‘evil’, their overwhelming fears stop them
from further exploration. Once I share the true intentions behind Shamanic
healing, people understand that Shamanism is only about love. I work with love,
call on love, protect my clients with love and help to heal them with love.
Nothing more, nothing less. The only difference is that I do this healing work
in another realm called the Spirit world.
In some places, though,
Shamanic practice is welcomed. I have found that it all depends on where you
live and how diverse and open-minded the people are in that area. Education and
awareness are key. I think that if the miraculous results from Shamanic
healings were shared more, like God’s healing light, this may elicit a wider
acceptance. That’s why I have made it my mission to modernize Shamanism and
bring it’s profound healing benefits to the forefront!
So, are you READY? Do you want to learn HOW TO BECOME YOUR VERY
OWN SHAMAN? I can’t promise that it will be easy. I can’t promise that it will
always be fun. I can’t promise that your journey won’t be messy and hard some
days. I CAN promise that it will change you. Forever. I can promise that
Shamanic Healing will help you heal YOURSELF. I can promise that I will be by
your side through thick and thin. I can promise that your energy will shift and
your life will transform into something really beautiful--if you allow it. I
can promise you that if you want to heal...you will. And, I’m all in. I will be
your ride or die partner in the spirit realms.
Being your own Shaman literally means learning ‘how to heal
yourself’ so that you can support another’s healing process. Becoming your own
Shaman is learning what works for You. How do you travel to the Spirit realms?
What tools do you need? What is YOUR WAY? Let’s jump in and find out.
Sound good? I’m here. Let’s go!
See below for a description of Sarah Norwood’s 75 Minute Shamanic
Soul Guidance sessions:
Shamanic Soul Guide: BE Your Own Shaman Sessions:
No matter where you are in the world, experience
one-on-one (intensive) Shamanic Soul Guidance LIVE with Sarah via Skype or
FaceTime! These ‘close up and personal’ sessions are for people that desire
to take their healing practice to the next level! Create your very own
Shamanic healing practice or learn how to heal yourself with Shamanic Reiki techniques. These transformative 75 minute
sessions are offered in a Skype OR FaceTime format so that you are
working face-to-face with Sarah as she lovingly guides you to finding YOUR WAY
of healing.
These sessions are for the beginner level all
the way up to advanced. If you have always wanted to learn how to
meditate, journey to alternate realms in the Spirit world, meet your Spirit
Guides, or even learn how to become a certified Shamanic Practitioner…these Skype
or FaceTime Sessions are for YOU! Sarah was once a 19 year old woman that
walked into an office for what she thought would be an acupuncture session. It
turned out that the doctor was, in fact, a very powerful Shaman from the East
Coast. Little did she know that he would teach me how to go safely on a
Shamanic journey through meditation and heal herself for the next 27 years!
So, she’s been there. She knows how lonely it can feel at first. Sarah will
take your hand and walk WITH you through all your fears. She
will guide you through the darkness AND the light.
Shamanic Soul Guide: BE Your Own Shaman
Sessions may include: Live Energy
Healings, Usui Reiki Training, Shamanic Meditation Techniques, The History of
Shamanism and Reiki, Shamanic Practitioner Level Training, Intuitive Mentoring,
Psychic Energy Readings, Unlimited Email Support, and More! These intensive 75
minute sessions will offer you an incredible opportunity (and a safe space) to
explore your inner gifts at a much deeper level. Sarah, also, gives you a free
Shamanic Soul Guide journal to help you express your deepest desires!
With 27 years of Shamanic practice under her belt, Sarah is so happy to finally be able to share
ALL of her own wisdom, tips, stories, heart and Soul with you! Sarah Norwood will lovingly mentor and teach you how to
discover YOUR special Way to becoming your very own Shaman! Anyone can learn
how to practice Shamanic healing! You don’t have to be ‘spiritual’ or ‘psychic’
to do this. You only have to be open to exploring the depths of your Soul- even
if it hurts, even if it makes you furious, sad or scared. We will get down to
business together! We will embrace what works for you, what you love, what
relaxes you, what calls your Soul’s name and ignites your passions.
Sarah Norwood will mentor you on how to safely go on exciting Shamanic journeys to the Spirit
world, help you enter alternate realms in the Spirit world, meet your Spirit
Guides, learn how to open your own chakras, fly beside you into a past lives,
cut karmic cords, clear negative energy from your life and so much MORE!
Becoming your own Shaman will open you up to a whole new world of love,
forgiveness, empowerment, abundance and a peace you may never have known
before. Shamanic Healing can be profound and life-altering, offering a life
beyond your wildest dreams!
Sarah will meet you where YOU are in your healing
practice, helping you discover YOUR unique gifts. There is no right or wrong
way to heal yourself. Sarah will help you identify, and expand upon, the gifts
you already have inside of you! Sarah will gently assist you on your unique
healing path–leading you directly to your life purpose! Sarah will mentor you,
listen to you, support you and help you expand upon your own intuitive gifts!
These sessions are offered by DISTANCE through
Skype OR FaceTime to allow Sarah to work with people all over the world!
SEE YOU IN SPIRIT!
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