FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE: Ancient Healing Workhop Both Feet On the Ground Inspirational Thoughts Interesting Links Healing

In this enjoyable and practical workshop you will learn a variety of ancient self-healing techniques that will bring you into conscious connection with the sacred: the Earth under your feet, the stones on the beach, your heart that beats within.  Shamanic experience and healing knowledge are for everyone regardless of ethnic background, gender or age.  When we learn to see in the shamanic way, we remember who we truly are; we remember that we are interconnected and related, and we see the love and beauty around and within us. 

Sunday, April 3rd 
10:00 - 4:00, Kits House, 2325 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC 
$89 Early Bird / $109 after March 22nd

Click here for more information 

LIVING WITH BOTH FEET ON THE GROUND - by Iris Michael

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." - Lao Tzu

In nature everything flows in its own time and rhythm.  Plants and animals live according to the cycling of the seasons.  Only we humans in our artificially constructed world go against nature by maintaining high levels of activity and stress.  This brings us out of balance and can cause us to feel "ungrounded": disconnected from our selves, other people and our surroundings. 

Some symptoms of being ungrounded are: feeling "spaced out", emotional numbness, spending too much time "in one's head", or being accident-prone.  (These symptoms may indicate other concerns, however, this is not the focus of this article.)

Human beings are a complex of energies: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.  In a sense, we are a blend of earth and heaven, the physical and the metaphysical.  When our energies are well integrated, we get a sense of having both feet firmly planted on the earth.  We feel calm and centred.  However, in the rush of our modern society, we have to make a conscious effort to reconnect to our selves and the earth in order to get grounded.

"Getting grounded" helps us to:

- improve balance and stability
- expand our ability to be and act in the moment
- improve mental clarity
- increase our ability to heal our selves
- feel more joy and fulfillment.

Anything that helps us to connect with our bodies and the earth, like spending time in nature, working with our hands, exercising, breathing fully, meditation, enjoying a balanced diet and good water can help us to be more grounded.

Below is a short meditation that takes approximately 10 minutes.  It can be profoundly calming and energizing and helps to integrate the energies of heaven and earth (mind/spirit and body).

GROUNDING MEDITATION - THE TREE

1. Find a place to sit comfortably and undisturbed with your back straight and your feet flat on the floor.

2. Close your eyes and take several deep breaths to relax areas of tension.

3. Visualize yourself as a tree.  Imagine your head as the crown of branches reaching out to the sun and your feet as the roots.

4. See your roots slowly sinking deep into the earth until they reach the centre.  Ask the Earth to send you healing energy and allow yourself to draw this energy up through your feet and up your legs. 

5. Let earth energy fill you from the base of your spine, to your belly, solar plexus, heart, into your shoulders and arms and out your hands, up to your throat, brow and then out the top of your head. 

6. Now focus on the branches of the tree (the top of your head) reaching out to the sun. Ask the sun to send you its healing light. 

7. Draw the light down through your crown, then to your brow, throat, shoulders to hands, heart, solar plexus, belly, base of the spine and down your legs to your feet and into the earth.

8. Allow the energies of heaven and earth continue to flow and blend in your body. When you feel complete, thank the sun and earth for their energy.

INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn." - John Muir

"What most people need to learn in life is how to love people and use things instead of using people and loving things."  - Unknown

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit" - Nelson Henderson 

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein
 

INTERESTING LINKS

Included below are some web links I found that I thought might be of interest to you:

We are One - a photo essay in response to the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in East Africa and Southeast Asia.

Dr. Masuru Emoto - site of the researcher and author of several books about the effects of vibration (sound, prayer, images, words) on water

What the Bleep Do We Know? - site of the film of the same name: re quantum physics and spirituality 

Many more sites can be found on my Links page.

Over the years, I have found that no matter what issue clients bring for healing, pain is often held in their hearts.  Clearing the heart centre of grief, anger or heaviness frees up our ability to feel love, joy and compassion.  I believe we all can benefit from healing our hearts.

One of the joys in my life is assisting people with their healing processes. I work intuitively and integrate Inka shamanic healing techniques with energy healing (Healing Touch), Archangel healing, crystals, sound and counselling.  My approach is gentle, respectful and client-centred. Sessions take place in loving, sacred space and last about 1 1/2 hours.

Click here for more information about sessions.

What Some of My Clients Have Said:

* "This healing session was excellent!"
* "I can feel that something really deep and powerful has taken place."
* "Thank you! I feel like myself again."