Transforming Grief and Loss Through Shamanic Work & PSYCH-K
In March of 2020, I had a dream that is still vivid as I write this. I saw before me, an expansive landscape - a brilliant sunlit mountain valley that ran for miles. The valley appeared to be in shades of red and I realized it was carpeted with red poppies. I was told to walk across this valley and when I reached the end, I followed a winding road to its end.
An elder, who called himself Grandfather, was there waiting for me and he told me to bury myself under the road and go on a Vision Quest.I’ve come to understand through Shamanic studies, that dreams are wise teachers, rich with information that reveal new understandings about oneself and one’s purpose in the context of their reality. Dream time is sacred time to indigenous peoples, a place for learning beyond our concrete physical world. I explored the symbolism of the poppy and learned that it is a symbol of remembrance, death and rebirth in several cultural contexts. I began to understand that for me, I must traverse this valley and go on an inner quest in order step more fully into my “medicine” and gifts that I bring to humanity.
Two weeks after this dream, the world came to a standstill and I began to realize that the dream was a sign for me to explore my own losses and grief. I have come to believe that our global community is undergoing a great awakening and for many, this is a call to own and share one’s spiritual gifts as we create a new paradigm. Months later, I understand that I am being called to serve others as they traverse the valley of their losses in this time of a radical shift in our collective consciousness.In much of Western society, gone are our “villages” to usher us through loss, grief and other emotions that surface in these circumstances.
In my personal experience, by staying fully present with loss and grief, I have learned to embrace the beauty of life on a much deeper level, even in times of doubt and pain. Kahlil Gibran said, ‘The deeper the sorrow that carves into your being, the more joy you can contain”. My friend’s suicide two years ago led me into a profound dark night of the soul. Staying present in my loss and grief allowed me to discover within the deepest depths of my own sorrow and desolation, my personal gold and shine. Leaning into my grief has given me wings. It was a frightening and dark passage that at times I thought would consume me and literally make my heart stop. I felt death and wondered if it may be the answer for me. I came to realize only a part of me needed to die - old stories I had told myself. Old beliefs that kept me small and isolated. I had to let go of those old ways of living and loving to allow the tiny light in my heart burn away the darkness. As those old ways dissolved through the power of mindfulness and gratitude, I felt my light grow stronger.
Grief and loss are topics we skirt in our modern culture. As we face personal and collective global chaos and crisis, we are experiencing tremendous loss and the emotional tidal wave that accompanies these losses. I am fortunate that I have worked with Shamanic practices and PSYCH-K for many years and am able to call upon these processes to heal. Both PSYCH-K and Shamanic healing have provided me and my clients with incredible and accessible tools for transforming these losses into peace and hope. When we embrace the depths of our personal darkness, we discover what David Whyte calls the “bright and indescribable wedge of freedom in your own heart”.
The beauty of PSYCH-K is that I did not have to re-live the painful situations or traumatic experience by re-creating the story of the event. The creation of new beliefs at the subconscious level rewrites the traumatic imprints of the situation. PSYCH-K is the most powerful tool for me personally to navigate the losses I’ve experienced in my life and has provided a platform for me to understand the messages and lessons in those experiences as peace and non-attachment replaces the previous uncomfortable emotions. Through the PSYCH-K® Balance processes, I have a template for easily navigating difficult experiences with grace and ease.
Through my Shamanic work, I found that personal ceremonies of release and gratitude have given me conscious action I can take to honor myself and step into more freedom and peace. In a PSYCH-K session, the Facilitator and the client partner together in the process making this a unique transformational tool. The Partner is empowered throughout a session and taps into his or her inner wisdom to discover what new beliefs they want to have. And, belief is everything! Bruce Lipton, in the Biology of Belief, explains in depth how our beliefs literally impact and create our life at the cellular level. With PSYCH-K, we shift the perception of events from the past and present and create a new foundation for the future that feels safe, supportive and congruent.Shamanism offers an avenue for addressing any challenge someone may be experiencing.
In a session, the Shamanic Practitioner may take a client on a journey into “non-ordinary” reality by way of a drumbeat. In this non-ordinary reality, the client will explore the natural landscape and meet animal or angelic allies. There may be conversation about a question or perhaps a healing process takes place. The client is in a relaxed state and when the drumming is complete, they then recount the story of the journey to gain personal insight and messages. Sometimes the spirit allies will give them instruction on actions to take in the real world such as create journal entries for healing, begin working in the garden or create art that feels significant. Another piece of shamanic work is the creation of ceremonies and rituals that honor transitions in someone’s life such as a divorce, a job change, healing from an illness or a stepping into a new freedom.
Community support, music, movement, storytelling, ritual, vision questing are all components of the Shamanic healing process. Working with the subconscious mind in non-ordinary reality is not new. Shamans and healers have been guides for their community dating back 70,000 years. Shamanism is soul work based in sacred relationship with the natural world. We have an opportunity now to re-connect with community and explore new levels of connection within ourselves and with others. This deep soul and spirit exploration is crucial during this time of global transformation as the world we knew collectively, is no longer.
Look around you and sit with the realization that the world we are living in now is vastly different from anything we have known before and this transformation happened almost overnight. Everyone has experienced some form of loss or radical change, whether it be children now learning at home, a job loss or change, and even more extreme, losing family members unexpectedly and not being permitted to be with them as they transition, or not being able to afford food and rent. Our collective loss is echoed in the loss we are witnessing in our natural world as ecosystems are destroyed and species join the extinct list. We have lost touch with the natural world, with one another, and with ourselves.
Shamanic Healing and PSYCH-K offer platforms for healing the losses and provide a new foundation for hope and freedom to root. Our global consciousness has been heading for an evolution and revolution and now is humanity’s time to wake up and usher in clear vision. Is it a coincidence that the apparent chaos and lifting of the veil is happening in 2020? 20/20 vision is perfect vision. Collectively, we are in the dark night of the soul and we each have a choice of how to respond. Can we see this time as an opportunity to invite in clarity and clear vision for ourselves? Can we entertain the concept of how we are a part of a whole and that our contribution matters? Can we each step into personal responsibility for our own personal work of healing the shadows and step into the Light and shine for others?
Our human family and planet need each of us to step forth and boldly remember our inherent talents and gifts. Each of us was born with a unique gift to bring to the world and if we can tap into it, move beyond our fear and limitations and fully step in to the light of who we are, together we can create a new and beautiful reality.
There is only one YOU. YOU are worth your investment. YOU are worth committing to. YOU have "medicine" and gifts that are uniquely yours that no one can deliver to the world. The world needs your medicine and gifts now more than ever.As Rumi shares, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” Are you ready to let your Light shine, remember your Divine Blueprint and let go the old ways of loving and living that no longer serve you? I would be honored to support your transformation in any area of your life as you embrace the magic of you.
Please visit my Schedule A Session page to schedule a complimentary discovery call so that we can explore how this work can support your journey.
