Ditch Confidence for Inner Strength​

People tend to think of confidence as a state where you’re without fear or hesitation. You want something, you go for it. Getting to a state where you have no fear is not only boring, it’s dangerous. Fear helps with discernment. It’s the voice of warning when a person or situation feels off. It also tells you when you’ve come to the edge of your comfort zone, and that is where the magic happens.

“This is the area of big potential growth. You want to recognize it when you’re there.”

Fostering Resilience, Not Perfectionism

Inner strength is about resilience. It’s a confidence in the self, not in the end result. You may screw it up. You may not get it right. Heck, you may fail big time. Confidence says, “I’ll get it right” but inner strength says, ”whether I get it right or not, I’ll be okay.” When you know you’ll be okay either way, that is when you feel strong. You’re able to take risks. The way you feel isn’t dependent on the outcome.

The Magic Starts with Fear

Inner strength starts with recognizing the fear, allowing yourself to feel it, and then continue to take small, incremental steps forward. The more you practice this, the better you become.

“It starts with noticing. Pause and notice the fear. Don’t let your autopilot run away from it.”

Pause and Notice

How do you sit with fear? One way is to notice your automatic reactions. Commit to pausing before making decisions. You get a request to speak at a meeting? Your friend invited you to a large social gathering where you don’t know anyone? You’re thinking about committing time to a creative endeavor? - Pause. Before you say no, ask yourself why you want to move away from it. What are you afraid of?

Ask Fear What It Wants

One of my favorite writers, Elizabeth Gilbert, often talks about her method of personifying fear. She invites it to the table for a conversation. After all, this is a part of you and all parts should be welcome. When they’re not, they get relegated to the shadow and nothing good comes of that. So, have that conversation. “Hi, old friend. Thanks for coming. What is it you’re afraid of?”

Negotiate. Tell fear it can ride along, but it doesn’t get to drive the bus. Give it a job you both can agree on.

Fear is a protective instinct. How can you allow fear to protect you, but in a way that fits your goals?

The Practice of Self-Trust

Rather than blind self-confidence or allowing fear to shut you down, you can pause, consider the reason for the fear, and consciously move in the direction you want. Doing this builds confidence through trusting yourself to make positive decisions and know you’ll be okay with whatever outcome comes your way.

Try my meditation for self-acceptance. Invite fear into your heart space for a conversation.​

Difficult People: A Surefire Way to Get Along

Do you have any difficult family or acquaintances your obligated to gather with for holidays and events?

I have family who not only have very different political, spiritual, and even nutritional beliefs than I do, some of them love to provoke people who are “stupid enough to believe __” [fill in the blank with everything I hold true].

I used to stress out at these gatherings and eventually stopped going, until one teacher changed all of that.

​I’m sure some of you are familiar with Wayne Dyer. He was a positive light who shined a way for so many people. I feel thankful to have been one of them.

Dr. Dyer talked about how he stopped bracing against encounters like the one I described above, and started leaning into them. He stopped making things about how he felt and decided to see what he could offer. Instead of judging the person with differing beliefs or allowing himself to become provoked, he asked questions.

Dr. Dyer asked things like, “That’s interesting, what brought you to the idea?” These kinds of inquiries showed a genuine interest in the other person - not their opposing beliefs. He wasn’t going to be converted to the person’s opinion but he could look for similarities rather than differences.

He would ask questions until there was something he agreed with in the answer. When there was none, he’d find something interesting about the person. If the person mentioned something in their past he didn’t know, he’d focus there. “I didn’t know you were born in New Jersey. How old were you when you left?” - And, that easily, the conversation is in a new direction.

He wasn’t trying to manipulate the conversation, but genuinely wanting to know more about the person, as a person, not a set of ideals.

I’ve tried this technique, though I was skeptical. Sure, that might work for Dr. Dyer and his in-laws, but my family and I have a long history. Nevertheless, I committed to asking questions and not getting sucked into debates. I was shocked at how easily the style of conversation changed.

People love being asked about themselves. It changes the nature of the relationship, not just the conversation.

If you have difficult people to hang out with this holiday season, see if you can get them on board by showing sincere interest in the individual. Make a game of it to help keep you from getting frustrated. Try not to start sentences with “But… “ (as in, “But the evidence shows…”). Instead, try starting sentences with “That’s interesting.”

You don’t have to agree. Remember, you’re not conceding an argument, you’re expressing curiosity about the human behind the beliefs.

Have you ever tried something like this? How has it worked?

If you give it a shot over the next gathering, inspire others by sharing your story! Let us know how it worked - connect with me on Instagram or Facebook.

3 Tips to Stop Food Cravings

Are any of you worried about your waistline, going into the holiday season? I’ve been on a healthy eating kick lately and I don’t want to backslide because of the scrumptious temptations that surround us this time of year. Does anyone else melt for chocolate?​

I have a few well-used tips that I use to avoid cravings. They’ve helped me make good, conscious decisions about food:

1. Change your posture - I know what you’re thinking, what does posture have to do with eating, right? The next time you’re craving something you’ve sworn off of, stand up straight, look up, and smile. Shifting your physical body has been shown to shift your state of mind. I promise, I’ve done this at the grocery store standing in front of Ben & Jerry’s Netflix and Chill ice cream and been able to walk away without buying. It works!

2. Change the feeling - Whatever your guilty pleasure food is, see it coming flooding at you. Really get into the image in your imagination. So much chocolate, pie, chips, or whatever your weakness is, see a ton of that item rushing toward your face - so much, so fast that you’re drowning in it. Give that image a minute and then see how you feel about the item. You’ll be surprised how effective this can be in stopping a craving.

3. Change your thoughts - Cravings are based in the mind not in the stomach. In order to stop the obsessive thoughts over eating something, tell yourself you can have it at the end of 30 minutes if you still want it. Then, go do something engaging. Don’t watch TV or surf the Internet. Do something that you enjoy and that is active, like exercise, a creative project, or playing a game with your kids/dog/self. Once you get your mind off it, you’re likely to go on doing the new activity and forget about the craving.

​Try these out and see how they work for you. If you have success, share it with me on Facebook or Instagram I’d love to hear your thoughts!

What Are Your Dreams Telling You?

Dreams Change as We Change

I had a conversation with a friend the other day where we talked about changes to the repeating themes in our dreams. We’ve both come to notice our dreams change after a concerted effort to release old emotional patterns.

What Dream Themes Have Followed You Through the Years?

See if you recognize this one: you’re in a school, you're running late, and you’re lost. You can’t find the right door or remember your locker combination or something similar is holding you back. Sound familiar? Many people have some version of this dream. Only, I’ve managed to change mine.​

Confirmation of Self-growth

After doing some powerful forgiveness and self-acceptance processes, my powerless dreams have become full of power. No more am I chasing after (or occasionally running from) a predicament. At first, I still had those same dreams but I did something to help myself. It might be as simple as asking someone for directions. The emotional template was completely different. I didn’t feel scared or frustrated. I felt calm and neutral.

Eventually, I stopped having those kinds of dreams altogether and began a new pattern of dream themes (usually where someone is teaching me something).

Dreams as Guides

Dreams are a great way to dip into the deep work we need to do. Those repeating themes point to where to start.

What Is Your Dream Telling You?

Many people go to dream dictionaries to analyze their dreams. I always advise against this because those are based on cultural archetypes. They are a guidepost for the collective unconscious but they are not personal enough. An image of a snake may be frightening to one person, but a person who had beloved pet snakes as a child would have a different emotional connection to that image. Find out what the dream images mean to you.

Figuring out your dreams

1. Start with the emotions - How did you feel in the dream? In my earlier dream themes I felt lost and frustrated. Ask yourself where you feel that way in your current life. Where have you felt that way much of your life?

2. Explain it like I’m an alien - Imagine you're explaining your dream to a person from Mars. They know nothing about Earthly life. In my early dreams, I would start with “I was in high school. A high school is a place where kids have to change from class to class on their own. I was lost. Lost is when you want to be somewhere, but you can’t find your way. I was frustrated. Frustration is a feeling of not getting what you want or expect.” This practice of oversimplifying the dream helps you get at the heart of the meaning.

3. Journaling - Keep a journal to see what dreams come up and when. Certain dreams would come up when I was feeling wrongfully accused. Others, when fear was holding me back or I was procrastinating. Seeing what types of dreams come up when certain events are happening helps me narrow down what to work on.

Dreams are a doorway to our subconscious mind. Each night we get hints on what we’re still processing. There is really nothing that can point us to our growth potential like our dreams.

What are your dreams telling you about yourself?

Dreams are a gateway to Spirit. They are a simulator where you can get answers, practice anything, and manifest. Learn more about lucid dreaming, connecting dreams to waking life, and understanding what your dreams are telling you.

Self-Acceptance: Holding Heart Space

If I could teach you a practice that can help you eat better, become consistent with desired routines, and feel more motivation all around, would you be interested?

Before I discovered this practice, I used to beat myself up all the time for the things I just couldn’t do (or stop doing). I wanted to eat healthier.

I wanted to exercise more. I wanted to make more headway growing my business. Something always seemed to be stopping me. I was making a very common mistake.

Most of us have a concept of self-acceptance that is contingency based. By this, I mean “I’ll accept myself when I ___ [lose weight, stop overspending, achieve consistent self-motivation, etc.]” We have this backward.

Self-acceptance is a required element for the success of those things.

Imagine those parts of you, the ones driving you toward unwanted habits, beliefs, and behaviors, are trying to help. They want to protect you, stop you from getting too big for your britches. They don’t want you to be vulnerable or get hurt. They actually have your (although misguided) best interest at heart. And, what have you done to repay those good intentions? Silenced them. Scolded them. Maybe even hated them.

From an energetic perspective, you’re using a lot of energy to hold this part down in the shadows.

Imagine that, not only can you save yourself that energy, but you can also gain the energy of the part you’re upset with. What could you accomplish with that combined energy? Are you interested in a practice that helps you get there?

This week I’ve posted a guided meditation on YouTube and Insight Timer to hold those unwanted parts of yourself in your powerful heartspace. Once I started using this practice, I was able to stop fighting these unwanted impulses and use that energy to love and accept all the parts of myself. I felt better! The harsh self-talk eased up and eventually melted away (mostly). I felt more positive and energetic. Then, it became easier to make those changes I’d previously found so difficult.

If you enjoy the recording, like and subscribe to my YouTube Channel or follow me on Insight Timer. If you know someone who would benefit from this technique, pass this email along to them.

Let's connect on social media! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the know.

Using the Medicine Wheel to Appreciate Winter

Fall and winter are my favorite seasons, but I know it can be a difficult time for some people.

The colder weather, the lack of sun, and shorter, darker days can feel depressing. One thing that's helped me find such enjoyment in the cooler seasons is being a good observer.

What you resist persists

When we push against things, especially things we can’t control, like the changing of the seasons, we become the cause of our difficulty. Buddhist teachings suggest shifting our perspective to becoming a witness. Allow space for what is, and simply notice. This helps us find things to appreciate.

The fall and winter feel slower. The tree sap sinks lower into the trunk; animals stockpile food and get ready for hibernation. Insects go to ground.

Work with the season by allowing yourself that same time to slow down. Think of it as a time to go within.

Sleep more if you can and if feels right. Find slower activities. Enjoy taking time to notice what’s going on around you. It’s a lovely time for reflection. What have you been up to this year? What is working and what doesn’t serve your best intentions?

Find a winter activity

I have a huge blanket I crochet each winter. I may or may not finish it in any given year. If I don’t, it gets stored until next winter, when I can let it flow over my lap as I add row after row. The repeating rhythm of my hands gives my mind time to wander, to reflect.

It’s not about judging or beating myself up. It’s more like taking inventory.

It’s not a time to do heavy list-making. It’s simply a time to notice. Gather the proverbial nuts you’ve been storing throughout the year and look them over.

What might happen if you give yourself permission to relax from perpetual planning for a bit?

activities to honor winter

• Journaling

• Meditation

• Shamanic journeys

• Reading

• Writing letters (even if you don’t send them)

• Breathwork

• Slow-moving hobbies, like drawing, painting, or sewing

Winter is the North on the wheel

Using the wisdom of the medicine wheel, winter is the North. It’s where projects are coming to completion. It is a time of rest and refelction.

This time is necessary to deeply take in the lessons of our year, our projects, our healing journeys, and our self-growth. It is laying the fertile ground for the spring (the East) when new ideas begin to bubble to the surface.

But, first, we need rest and reflection so we go into new projects and journeys with all those nuts of wisdom we’ve gathered through the last trip around the wheel of the seasons.

Reflections for year’s end

• Where has your focus been this year?

• What have you been fighting against?

• What has served you well, and what has not?

• What wisdom have you gained; what have you learned?

• What is important for you to continue and what has waisted time?

Finding balance

Each season has its own gifts. Each one keeps nature in balance. We are meant to have rhythms of balance in our lives. Taking a cue from nature’s wisdom, we can acknowledge that the masculine “go, go, go” needs to be balanced with rest and planning. Planning starts in the spring when our juices are flowing again.

Let winter teach you to let your sap settle deeper within as you consider the gifts of the year.

Use this recording to connect deeply with Mother Earth. Release those things that no longer serve you. She is happy to recycle them!

What you Think About as you Fall Asleep Impacts Your Health

I used to take an hour or more to fall asleep after I went to bed.

Even on pleasant days when I had been in a positive mood, I would find myself stewing on old wounds and ways I felt wronged. I would have imaginary conversations where I’d tell the perpetrator what I thought of him. I would replay events and mentally write a checklist of everything wrong about the person’s actions or the situation.

Even when I’d try to pull my thoughts away from these negative ruminations, I found them to be too juicy to let go.

I’ve come to understand the ruts a mental habit creates in our mind. I had created a deep mental habit of ruminating before falling asleep. I’ve also come to understand that rumination has been linked to depression and even Alzheimer’s disease.​

To make things worse, this hypnagogic state, before we drift off to sleep, is a bridge between our conscious and subconscious mind. It’s when the subconscious mind is most vulnerable to soaking up thoughts and changing them into beliefs; creating an underlying template for emotional reactions.

When we use this time before we fall asleep to ruminate on negative situations, we support our confirmation and negativity biases.

We ensure that we continue to confirm our negative beliefs in what we see around us. We expect it, we perceive it, and then we confirm it for ourselves. Yep, this always happens to me!

Rumination is an important process to interrupt, but it is especially important to let it go at bedtime. It took me a while to create new habits of mind as I fell asleep. To be honest, I still catch myself playing out scenes that I thought I had put behind me, from time to time. When I find myself ruminating as I'm trying to fall asleep, here are some ways to interrupt that thinking:

Give yourself a mental high-five for noticing! Don’t pile on the negativity by scolding yourself.

• Sing a song that makes you feel good.

• Recite a mantra or prayer.

• Repeat a positive affirmation.

• Replay a pleasant memory. Bonus points for vividly imagining the sights, sounds, smells, and flavors associated with the memory.

• Imagine you’re sending positive energy to the person/organization/situation you’ve been ruminating on. Say to yourself “I send you light, love, and let it go.”

• Replay a scene from an uplifting book or movie you enjoy.

• Reframe the memory. You do this by creating a fun and uplifting way the memory could have gone. Have fun with it. Be creative. Change the scene into one where you’re laughing and feeling good.

Since I started catching myself when I dip into rumination mode, I have noticed my overall mood has improved tremendously. I used to be prone to bouts of depression where I would have to work hard to maintain good self-care to avoid sinking deeper. Now, I rarely feel bad for no reason and even when I do have a legitimate reason to feel bad, I handle it with less catastrophizing and (hopefully) a lot more grace.

I hope this gives you an idea of ways to improve your night time thoughts. Even if you’re not a chronic ruminator like I used to be, you can still use positive affirmations to reinforce a constructive view of yourself and your life.

Bonus: Reframing a memory

Click below to listen to a guided reframing practice. While it won’t change the memory of what actually happened, it will change the emotional charge. Think about how you get scared while watching a horror movie, cry while watching a heartbreaking scene, or get angry thinking about something that happened many years ago. Consciously you know none of that is happening, however, your body and emotions react as if it’s real, right now. Reframing a memory uses this same concept. When you imagine the memory playing out in a fun way, your body and subconscious mind take it literally. Give it a try and see what you think.

Try It for Yourself

Click below to listen to a guided reframing practice. While it won’t change the memory of what actually happened, it will change the emotional charge. Think about how you get scared while watching a horror movie, cry while watching a heartbreaking scene, or get angry thinking about something that happened many years ago. Consciously you know none of that is happening, however, your body and emotions react as if it’s real, right now. Reframing a memory uses this same concept. When you imagine the memory playing out in a fun way, your body and subconscious mind take it literally. Give it a try and see what you think.

Share your experience

If you try any of these suggestions, let me know about it on Facebook. Which one did you try? What did you notice about the practice? How has it impacted you?

2 Simple Phrases that Create Change

There are two phases I often ask my clients to adjust in our sessions and beyond. One is a subtraction and the other a replacement. By adjusting my use of these phrases, I have seen great change in my own life and watched the phrases make a difference for my clients.

Yeah, but

This is a phrase to remove from your life. Whenever you catch yourself about to use it, take a pause. Realize that you’re about to negate something. That something is often a compliment, positive feedback, or encouragement. “Yeah but” is often used to confirm our negativity bias. We are hardwired to remember the negative things that keep us from making a mistake. This helped when we were hunter-gatherers and it was more important to remember the snake pit at the end of a path versus that full-belly satisfaction after a meal. It’s not so helpful today.

Your friend: “You lost 10 pounds? That’s great, congratulations!”

You: “Yeah, but I have so much more to go.”

You’re mom: “You're so good at remembering people’s names.”

You: “Yeah, but I forget where I left my keys.”

You’re spouse: “I bet you’ll get a raise this year.”

You: “Yeah, but if I do it won’t be much.”

You get the picture.

“Yeah, but” also gets used when we’re taking in good advice we think we already know. A common trend I catch myself in as well as my clients is understanding things intellectually, but not putting them into action. I’ll go over a breathing and grounding exercise with a client, and hear “Yeah, I already know that, but it doesn’t work.” When I dig a little deeper, asking when and where they use it, it turns out they don’t. The client is familiar with the concept but somehow thinks that is enough to garner results.

Resolve to catch yourself when you say or think a “yeah, but.” Ask yourself what idea you’re shooing away. If it’s a compliment someone is giving you, take it! You’re already good at noticing the negatives (Pop quiz: how many negative life events can you list versus positive ones?), try letting the positive information in as well. If it’s solid advice or information you already know, ask yourself if you’re putting it to good use.

What if it’s possible?

The other phrase I have implemented for myself and suggested to many of my clients is: what if it’s possible? I love this one because it’s easier to swallow than many positive affirmations. It allows space for your doubt while still keeping an eye on a potential desired outcome.

Many people have tried to use daily affirmations to change their beliefs or improve their self-talk. Affirmations can be a wonderful tool for replacing our self-scolding with self-compassion and confidence. The problem I’ve found is that it’s so hard to say something over and over when you don’t believe it’s true. If you already believe the affirmation and are just trying to remember that you believe it, great. However, if you tell yourself “I’m a confident person” and it brings up feelings of disbelief and even a reactive “yeah, but...” then you’re piling on feelings of doubt, and now feeling bad about that, too.

Change it to “what if it’s possible I am becoming confident?” Or, “what if it’s possible I’m more confident than I realize?” That feels better, yes?

“What if it’s possible” statements are not only great for self-talk, but also for future projections. People spent a lot of time considering anxiety-driven future outcomes. What if I lose my job? What if my partner leaves me? What if I fail the test? What if my boss thinks I’m an idiot? Our negativity bias makes negative possibilities easier to buy than the alternative. We might get 50 compliments on a project we’ve completed, but we’ll focus for days on the one critical comment. “What if it’s possible” can, again, assuage the negative for a more palatable potential. What if it’s possible my boss appreciates me? What if it’s possible that I do great on my test? What if it’s possible that people love and care about me? What if it’s possible that things go well?

Whether you’re in an anxiety-driven view of future events or you’re trying to adjust your self-talk to something compassionate that doesn’t feel so fabricated, try using “what if it's possible” statements.

Healing the Wounded Healer: The Power of Forgiving

A majority of my clients are healers of some type, therapists, addiction counselors, energy workers, intuitives, yoga teachers, massage therapists, et cetera. These individuals often have a high level of self-awareness and a sense of how to clear their own emotional and energetic baggage. A recurring theme that I've found, however, is the need for forgiveness. Most individuals I work with want to go straight to self-forgiveness, recognizing that we’re hardest on ourselves. Self-forgiveness works best, however,when we release onto resentment of others.

Why forgiving others precedes self-forgiveness

Many healers arrive at their passion for helping others after healing from their own trauma. I count myself among those who have used their own grief and suffering to build a compassionate foundation from which they can help others. Having come far in the process of working through traumatic events, we often feel it’s time to focus on self-love and self-compassion. I applaud this instinct. My caveat is that having moved past those difficult events, we often skip over the individuals who caused or were involved with them.

Until you have forgiven the offenders and abusers in your life, small and large, you hold onto a part of the negative energy of the traumatic event. You can heal only so far without this last piece. Think of the pain and resentment you feel for the individuals who have hurt you as rocks. Each rock gets carried around in a big sack. That sack gets heavier and heavier each time you don’t fully release the emotions and bitterness you feel from the hurtful incident and the person you blame (even when the blame is well deserved).

What you bring to the table for your clients is made much more powerful once you have released the emotional residue attached to the people and events of your past. After that heavy bag has been released, healers report feeling stronger, more positive, and lighter. Forgiveness clears out the energy of resentment, hurt, and anger. I’ve seen this happen time and again and it’s a beautiful things to witness!

Until you forgive, you’ll be impacted by the offender

Our culture is steeped in punitive thinking. Those who harm are inseparable from their crimes. They do not deserve forgiveness. It is difficult to see the human inside the child mosleter or the spouse abuser, but when we aren’t able to muster compassion and release of the individuals responsible for our trauma, we hold on to resentment. We hold on to suffering. Those stuck emotions cause more self-recrimination. Here’s how I have seen it work for myself and in my clients:

• You’re still holding emotions - There is residual anger, pain, resentment, or fear toward the offender.

• Held emotions get triggered - You encounter someone or something that reminds you of the offender and you feel the old, stuck feelings. This could be a situation that feels similar or even a physical characteristic that resembles the offender.

• You react - Either, you react to the old trigger or you realize you’re having feelings that don’t fit the situations and you stop the reaction. Either way, you’re not sure why you’re so irritable with your new boss, but you know it’s not about her. The offender is still impacting you.

• Self-recrimination - You feel bad about the overactive feelings and frustration at being triggered, again, after having done some much work on the traumatic event.You wonder why you haven’t been able to let it go.

This cycle plays out not because you haven’t done your healing work on the traumatic event and post-traumatic growth (though those are, of course, important components), but because, emotionally and energetically, you’re holding on to emotions related to the individual(s) involved.

Forgiving is not condoning

Forgiving the individual does not let them off the hook. It does not mean you’re okay with what they did. It means that you’re releasing yourself from the cycle by removing the emotions you’ve held onto on their behalf. It lets you off the hook, not the offender.

How do you know if you have forgiveness work to do?

Think back to your more difficult events, the things that shaped you as a person through challenge. Those times when someone else brought about hard times with their bad behavior. Have that image in mind? Good. Now, focus on the person. Take a few deep breaths, close your eyes, and imagine them. What emotions come up? What reactions do you feel in your body? Do you tense up? Breathe faster? Does your heart rate increase? Face heat up? Do you feel angry? Sad? Resentful? Shame? If you feel anything other than neutrality or compassion, you have forgiveness work to do.

Other hints that you’ve got forgiving to do:

• If you find yourself thinking about or talking about the offender with some regularity, you’re probably holding on to residual emotions.

• When you start to feel bad about yourself or your circumstances, the offender comes to mind and you mentally attack them.

• You have fantasy conversations in your mind, where you express your feelings on what happened or you list the offenders faults for them. (Some people have this fantasy conversation with a supportive person, telling the confidante about the faults or offenses of the offender).

• You have emotional or physical sensation when you hear the person’s name (even when the context is about a person with the same name, not the actual offender) or you see someone who resembles the offender.

Tools for forgiving

Start small

Practice this with someone you don’t have a particularly traumatic past or long history with. Is there someone you still think about who cut you off in traffic or yelled at you on the street? Maybe they come to mind in similar situations. You don’t have to know their name or have any expectation of seeing them again. If you have stuck feelings of anger, hurt, or resentment and they still come to mind from time to time, it counts.

Try out one or two of the tools below on this less impactful individual and notice how it shifts your energy when you think of the person. Work with a tool or two and then move on to another, using another minimally impactful person, until you’ve familiarized yourself with each of the tools. Then, pick a person who you feel more strongly about - still not the most impactful person/people. Notice how you feel in the days and weeks after you gain neutral or compassionate feelings for the person. Do you feel lighter? Laugh easier? Notice any positive synchronicities? Does it change the ease with which you feel good about yourself?

Set an intention

This practice is simply an intentional statement to the Universe. It is a commitment, and like all commitments, it only works if you really meant it. Do some deep breathing, ground, and focus yourself. State out loud that you are forgiving the person. State outloud your intention to discontinue thinking negative things about the person, then stick to it!

Something like this:

“I am forgiving Nicole. Here and now, I am letting go of my anger at her for eating all the chocolate ice cream. I will no longer linger on judgemental thoughts about what she did and will, now and moving forward, let go of negative thoughts that come up about her. I forgive you, Nicole!”

This may sound ridiculous, but for some of my “easier” subjects of forgiveness, it has made a big difference. I have seen coworkers and acquaintances suddenly shift how they treat me after doing nothing more than this one intentional practice. I said it, I meant it, and it changed my interactions.

Metta Meditation

Metta is a Pali word that means loving kindness. It’s a common Buddhist practice. Traditionally, the meditation starts with sending loving wishes to yourself, then your inner circle (family and friends), then aquantenaces (the person who served your coffee this morning or a neighbor you see but don’t really know), then to difficult relations, and on to all sentient beings (aka, the world).

When working on forgiveness, I alter this meditation to focus solely on the person you’re forgiving. Start by thinking about someone you love, such as a child, your dog, or your best friend. Bring them to mind and really gather a felt sense of love. Then, transfer that feeling to the person you’re forgiving. Feel love, compassion, and well wishes pouring to that person and say to them in your mind, “May you be happy.” If you’re not able to do this with the more impactful abusers in your life, that’s okay. Start with less impactful people or use a different tool.

Ho'oponopono

This is a practice that comes from a Hawaiian tradition. It is a prayer that acknowledges the karmic role we all play in what happens to us as well as a conscious intention to change it. While holding the person you want to forgiven in mind, recite: “I’m sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you.”

I’m sorry - I’m sorry that this happened. It doesn’t mean you accept blame for abuses done to you. A child is not to blame for being abused by a child moslester. Don’t get caught up in this statement as accepting responsibility. Think of it as the way you would tell a friend you’re sorry when you hear a parent has died. You didn’t cause the death, but your feel for the grief it has caused as part of the connected human experience.

Please forgive me - Again, here, try not to get caught up in thinking of this statement as assigning blame to yourself. As inseparably connected spiritual beings having a collective experience, we are all contributing to the whole; so much of that is beautiful, and some of it sucks. This is saying sorry to Spirit for the part that sucks as well as the negativity we’ve understandably added to it. If you’ve ever snapped at a friend because you were in a bad mood after being triggered by something related to a hurtful event, then you’ve added just a little bit of negativity (again, understandably!) to the collective. We’ve all done it. Don’t dwell on it. Just ask to be let off the hook for the role you’ve played in the karmic drama that is life by asking to be forgiven.

Thank you - Many studies are showing that post-traumatic growth is powerful stuff. As stated in the beginning of this article, most of the people I work with are healers and most of them do what they do because they’ve been through the same kind of difficulties they now help others with. You’re not thanking the abuser for what they did. You’re acknowledging an opportunity to give back to the greater good because you’ve been such a strong survivor. You’ve made your challenges into a gift and you’re thanking the Universe for that.

I love you - This is to the Universe, the greater good, the collective human experience. Recognize that, spiritually, we’re all connected. We’re all one. If you feel more comfortable aiming this statement at the Whole or the Universe, do that. If you feel ready to include the offender in this level of compassion, then you’re at the PhD level of compassionate forgiveness! Go you!

EFT/Tapping

If you’re unfamiliar with how to use Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT, also called tapping), you’ll want to watch the video for instructions. Using pressure points, this process helps dissolve old feelings and beliefs. You tap while thinking of the person and all the emotions that come up when you think about them, dissolving them one at a time.

I’m linking to a video about this as it’s better watched then read.

Hypnosis for forgiveness

Of course, as a hypnotherapist, I often use a powerful forgiveness process in my work with clients. By the end of the process my clients are able to fill the gaps where the anger, resentment, pain, and suffering have been with a sense of compassion. Unfortunately, it’s not something I can describe how to do for yourself. If you’re interested, please reach out and schedule a free consultation with me to talk about the process.

Forgiveness, I have found, is as much an energetic act than a mental/emotional one. It is an intentional statement to the Universe that you’re letting go. You’re ready to replace destructive emotions with compassion or, barring that, at least neutrality. Feeling no more for the person than you do for a stranger you pass on the street is a sign of forgiveness. You may not be able to wish them well, but you don’t wish them harm and they no longer hold sway over your emotions.

Hypnosis to Build Intuition

Did you know that intuition is a skill that can be fostered and improved? So many of us have been closed off to our intuitive channels as children, being told it’s not real or even that it’s scary. Intuition is a communication with your Higher Self, Christ Consciousness, Source Energy. However you experience the divine, intuition is simply a way of hearing the answers when you pray for help and guidance.

Hypnosis is a great way of rewriting the subconscious beliefs you were given a child. You can learn to invite in answers from your Higher Source by reinforcing new beliefs that it is safe, real, and available to you.

I’ve created a short, 10-minute recording on YouTube to listen to each morning and before you go to bed. Listen to it as often as you like, and then take quiet time to check in throughout your day to see what information is coming through. With this practice, you can rebuild a strong, clear channel to receive intuitive messages from Source.

Listen to my recorded hypnosis to build intuition here.

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https://youtu.be/XvtuJ9CSVts

3 Traits Creative People Have That You Can Learn

Creativity does more that create pretty music and pretty pictures, it enhances brain function and feelings of satisfaction with life. It opens novel ways of thinking, increases a sense of joy and purpose, and can act as an outlet for thoughts and feelings.

Anyone and everyone has some level of creativity and that level can be increased. The hard part, for most of us, is that we’ve shut down our desire to play with creativity when we were young. We were told we didn’t have talent or that only creative geniuses should bother - and that’s not you. The good news is, you don’t have to be a genius at a creative activity, you only need to have fun while giving it a shot.

Certain personality traits have been linked to creative people. Anyone can foster these traits to improve the flow of creativity in their life. Here is a look at these traits.

Growth Mindset
Do you think people are born with an aptitude for certain creative abilities? Or, do you think anyone can learn to paint, play guitar, or write poetry? Whichever believe you subscribe to, this is your mindset.

A person who thinks creativity is something people are born with (or without) that can’t be changed has a fixed mindset. Alternately, a person who sees creativity as something anyone can learn to improve has a growth mindset. A growth mindset is vital to improving creativity. The idea here is to shift your thinking from “I can’t, I have no innate talent” to “sure, why not see what I can accomplish with practice.” This shift in belief opens the doors to learning a creative activity without the need to feel gifted by genetics or some divine spark to get started.

Learning Goals

Similar to having a growth mindset, having your focus on practice, not product allows you to start badly. If you’ve never drawn more than a stick figure, you can’t expect to be an expert at your first serious attempt at something more complicated. Western culture tends to focus on performance goals, or what you might think of as the outcome - the final product. If your focus is on drawing a perfect rendition of your dog and you can’t come close, you give up.

Having a learning goal means that your intention is to improve, not create something perfect (or even good). You plan to learn some basic skills, have fun trying, and watch your progress over time, with practice. The expectation is on improving, not the finished product. Doesn’t that sound like a lot less pressure on yourself?

Intrinsic Motivation

Intrinsic motivation means you’re motivating yourself. You’re doing the creative task because you want to do it, for the pure enjoyment of it. The opposite is an extrinsic motivation, or doing something because you have to do it for work or the like. If you stick to intrinsic motivators, your focus is on the enjoyment of doing something because you want to.

Of course, it is possible to build intrinsic motivation into your work day. Sure, you need to produce whatever is being asked of you, but you can still decide to do enjoy it for yourself. Find a way to impress yourself and it turns into an intrinsic motivation, even if it’s also an extrinsic one as well.

Use these creative traits when approaching a new creative pursuit. Call to start those guitar lessons, knowing you may not show great aptitude at first, but who cares? You’re there to have fun, watch your progress, and love every minute of it.

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Managing Fear and Anxiety for the Greater Good

To say there is a lot of stress out there right now would be the understatement of the year. The COVID-19 virus, the economy, shifts in culture, and the all around uncertainty of the future is enough to send our stress hormones off the charts. There have been plenty of studies demonstrating the correlation between stress and its impact on the immune system, so there is every reason to reduce stress levels for our individual good and also for the good of one another.

On an energetic level, there have been similar studies demonstrating a correlation between a peaceful mindstate and social behavior. The Maharishi Effect proved that practiced meditators meditating together can bring down the crime rate in a major metropolitan city. Again, the best thing we can do for ourselves, emotionally, may also be the best thing we can do for one another.

Set an intention for the greater good

There are plenty of articles out there that tell you to take a break from the constant stream of media, eat right, get exercise, and find alternative ways of socializing with people. Those are all important ways to keep your physical and mental health in good shape. It is also important to have tools to manage feelings of anxiety and fear. Let’s bring our own stress levels down so we can reduce the stress that we’re all energetically picking up on. If we set an intention of bringing down our level of stress for the greater good, that intention alone makes a positive impact.

Tools for managing stress

Mindfulness - The first step in managing anxiety is to notice it. Pushing it down or putting on a brave face to try and stay positive is a noble impulse but not an effective one. Set a reminder on your phone every few hours or set time aside before or after meals to take stock of how you’re feeling. Close your eyes, take three deep belly-breaths, and notice your body. Notice if you’ve been breathing shallowly or you’re holding tension in your muscles. Are your shoulders getting closer to your ears? Are you fidgety? Jaw tight? Don’t worry about changing anything. Just take a moment to notice. Put a name to it. “I’m feeling tense” or “I’m feeling worried.” Just being mindful of how you’re feeling goes a long way toward managing your emotions. Remember, no judgement. Notice it and give it a name, but don’t shame yourself for any of it. Your emotions are perfectly natural, no matter what they are.

EFT Tapping - EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or Tapping utilizes acupressure points to reduce the intensity of an emotion. There are many free videos that demonstrate how to use this technique to reduce difficult emotions.

Diaphragmatic Breathing - This simple breathing technique has proven to decrease cortisol levels. When you take deep breaths, filling your lower belly first, it triggers a natural stress reduction in the body’s parasympathetic nervous system.

Place your hand an inch above your belly button and expand that area first, on an inhalation, before filling the upper part of the chest. When we’re stressed, we tend to take shallow breaths, only filling the upper chest. This style of breathing triggers fight/flight/freeze hormones.

Meditate - If you’re new to meditation or have a hard time doing it, pick a guided meditation to follow. There are many free meditation apps and videos out there to help you get started. There is plenty of research to prove that meditation eases anxiety, depression, and even pain so add it to your daily routine to lower stress. Even 5 minutes a day makes a difference and can be the start of a positive habit that you can build on.

Gratitude Journal - While this may seem counterintuitive amidst so much difficulty, there are always things to be grateful for. Start a gratitude journal and list 5 to 10 things you enjoyed today. Studies show this helps your overall state of mind. Gratitude journals train the mind to watch for those little moments of joy that otherwise might slip right by. Did your car start? Do you have running water? Are there people around you that you know and love? It doesn’t have to be earthmoving, there is so much that goes right everyday.

Maybe these ideas aren’t new to you. Maybe you already practice some of them. Most of us are aware, in general, of how we can improve our health and wellbeing -- mentally, emotionally, and physically -- but we don’t always take the initiative to do it. Set an intention to do it for your neighbors, friends, and family and see if that helps your resolve to keep up these beneficial habits.

Hypnosis to Stop Touching your Face

As the importance of reducing the risk of contracting CVID-19 (a form of Coronavirus) is stressed by public health officials, memes are popping up showing these same officials touching their face while warning people not to. This irony demonstrates just how hard it is to be conscious of this habit we all have. Hypnosis can help you become more aware of when you’re about to touch your face, so you can make a decision to stop if your hands aren’t clean.

Face touching is as much a habit as the rest of our body language. It can be a telltale sign of how you’re feeling. A person might touch their ear or eye when experiencing information they don’t want to think about, or touch their mouth when they’re avoiding saying something or are uncomfortable with what they are saying. Even a slight, subconscious feeling of insecurity about what others think about what you’re saying can cause your to touch your mouth. It’s one of those things that help NLP practitioners know what’s going on with your inner self, even when you’re unaware yourself.

Face touching is something we do without thinking about it. In fact, thinking about it usually makes it worse, hence the reason so many people talking about it on TV touch their own face multiple times in a short segment. It’s like someone telling you not to think of a pink elephant. Suddenly, all you can do is think of that pink elephant. This is where hypnosis can come in.

Rather than telling people to stop, which may make them do it even more, hypnosis interrupts those subconscious impulses without trying to consciously force you to stop. I utilize a sensation-based process that includes seeing your fingers getting huge as they near your face while also triggering a feeling of vibration in your hand. This is just enough to trigger a conscious noticing of when your hand is nearing your face. That way, you can pause a moment and stop yourself without obsessively thinking about not doing it.

Don’t worry, listening to hypnosis to stop touching your face will not make it so that you can never touch your face; it simply increases your conscious awareness. That way you have a moment of pause when you can make a decision to stop if you’re in public and may not have clean hands. If you have an itch and you’re home with clean hands, scratch away. You’ll have not trouble doing so.

Listen to my free YouTube hypnosis session each morning to reinforce your awareness and break the habit of touching your face.

How to Cut Negative Energy Cording

What is cording?

Close relationships build energetic ties. Ever have a feeling you should check on someone only to find they’re having a truly terrible day? You’re thinking about someone, and they call.

Emotionally charged relationships, good or bad, create an energetic cord. This connection helps you feel into the people you’re closest with. It’s the way you can tell, with the quickest of passing glances, that your manager, coworker, partner, or sibling is in a foul mood and it’s best to stay out of the way.

Think of cording as an energetic string that allows emotions to pass in both directions.

Since energy is directed through thought and emotion, you usually get a “hit” through the cord when the person is thinking or “feeling” about you. Maybe they’re about to call you, wondering if you’d like to do something this weekend, or they’re dreading working on a project with you. This is beneficial as it helps us have a sense of what’s going on with the people around us.

The stronger the connection, the more sensitive the link.

With a strong connection, you can pick up on someone’s hard day, even if they’re not thinking about you. You just have a stronger sense of that person through the energetic connection.

The connection can become a negative thing when you’ve severed ties with someone, and they’re still emotionally connected. Emotionally charged thoughts can have a strong impact on our lives and the lives of the people we don’t want around us.

What are the impacts of negative cording?

If you’ve had a falling out with someone who you’ve been close to or maybe you’ve never liked, but you’ve had an emotionally fraught confrontation with, you’re likely corded to that individual.

This is one of the reasons spiritual teachings are so keen on forgiveness.

True forgiveness releases those energetic cords. The problem is, that forgiveness needs to happen on both sides.

If the person is still having hateful thoughts about you, they’re throwing energy your way. If those thoughts are repeated with frequency or are highly emotionally charged, they can recreate an energy connection between you. This means you’re getting smacked with negative energy every time you enter that person’s mind.

You know all those times you’ve had a fantasy conversation with an ex where you’re saying all the things you wish you’d gotten to say while you were together?

That’s all negative energy moving through the energetic cord right into that person. Now, maybe that makes you put on a secret smile, knowing your ex is getting hit with negative energy, but it moves in both directions. And, the truth is, it’s difficult to heal and move on when invisible insults are still flying back and forth. Besides, your negative thoughts impact your own reality as well - but, that’s an issue for a different blog.

Receiving these negative energetic slams can have many, varied results. One person may feel it as a sense of especially low self-esteem while another might get a headache or even trip and fall. How you receive the energy is as individual as your personality. Nevertheless, it’s never positive.

How do you break a connection you don’t want?

Clean your own thoughts - There are a few steps to take to break energetic cording. The first is to clean house on your own thoughts. You can cut a cord over and over, but if your own thoughts continue to creep back to the person - especially if they’re emotionally charged - you’re just rebuilding that connection all over again.

If the person comes to mind, don’t beat yourself up over it. No good comes from switching the negative thoughts from them to yourself.

Simply, catch yourself as soon as you can and release it. You can practice Ho’onoponopono, say a prayer of forgiveness, send the person light and love, and let it go, whatever works for you. Find some way to let it go without denying or stifling the emotion.

Steps for de-cording

1. Get into a relaxed meditative state by focusing on your breathing and relaxing your body. Really take a moment to do this. The calmer and more focused you are, the more successful this practice will be.

2. (Optional) Call in any spiritual helpers you work with (power animals, ancestors, angels, or religious figures) and ask for their assistance.

3. Set your intention (either in your mind or out loud); “I am cutting the energetic cord between me and_____.”

4. Bring the person to mind, as neutrally as possible. See or sense the person in your imagination. Visualize the cord running between you. Notice where it enters your body and where it connects to the other person.

5. See yourself or your helper holding anything that cuts (scissors, a sword, a knife, whatever comes to mind). Say “I release you” and visualize the cord being cut.

6. Take a moment to see and sense being free of the energetic connection (be careful not to start thinking about the other person here, and attaching a new cord).

7. Now, see a thin but impermeable layer of energy surrounding yourself. This energy layer is protection from that person recreating a future cord between you. That is the only intention of this layer, to keep out the energy of this one person. As neutrally as you can, sense this energy around you and fill it with gratitude for protecting you. If you’ve been working with a helper, ask them to assist in keeping this protection strong and in place. When you’re ready, open your eyes.

Some things to keep in mind

Again, keep your thoughts away from the person until you can feel neutrally about them. If you start to notice you’re having thoughts about the person out of the blue, not provoked by some reminder of the person or other stream of consciousness that logically leads you there, the person may have reconnected to you. It is possible for someone to be persistent enough to rebuild a new connection. If that happens, repeat the de-cord exercise.

When we stay corded to an individual with whom we’re locked in a negative pattern, both sides are usually perpetuating the connection. This cord-cutting practice allows you to own up to what you’re contributing to the problem and release it.

If either person does this, it often helps the other person defuse their negativity as well. Work to keep your thoughts on forgiveness, light, and love, or simply surrender them and let go. You’ll let both sides off the hook and be happier for it.

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Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique FAQ

What is Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique (QHHT)?

Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique (QHHT) is a process refined over decades by Dolores Cannon. The process uses hypnosis to visit the "most appropriate" time(s) in your past that has had an impact on your current life. This might be part of your past in this lifetime, but people often see past lives. The process then goes on to call in your "Higher Self." Some people prefer to use terms like God, Oversoul, Christ Consciousness, etc. I will use the term that works best for you.

You'll come to the appointment with a list of questions that we'll go over before the hypnosis begins, so I understand exactly what you're looking to have answered in the session.

My QHHT Process

My process, based on QHHT, differs in some ways from the original QHHT. While I follow the same structure (past life regression, body scan, and Q&A with your Higher Self), I do not read off the exact script.

As an experienced hypnotherapist, I vary my induction and deepener process according to the client’s needs. I also utilize virtual sessions.

The QHHT Session Process:

• Visit scene(s) from a past

• Call in the Higher Self

• Ask the Higher Self about the scenes we just saw and how they’re relevant to your current life

• Body scan to review any physical conditions (this may involve learning why they exist and may even include spontaneous healing)

• Ask the questions you brought to the session and get detailed responses

* You will receive a recording of the hypnosis part of your session, so you can continue to review and learn from the information that was revealed.

If you want to review more about the history or creator of QHHT, visit this QHHT site.

How long does a QHHT session take?

A full QHHT session is 3 parts: pre-hypnosis interview, hypnosis, and post-hypnosis review. The hypnosis section takes around 2.5 hours, so it’s the length of the interview and review that determines how long the session lasts. A session commonly runs for 3 to 5 hours.

Some people don’t remember anything while under hypnosis, so the post-hypnosis review will run a little longer in those cases. See the Services page for a list of shorter, more targeted sessions also available.

How much does a session cost?

$500 USD

What kind of questions should I ask?

You can ask anything at all questions. Because there is a lot to get through in the hypnosis part of the session), it’s best to prioritize your questions from the most important to the least. That way if time runs out you will have gotten the answers in which you’re most interested.

Sample QHHT questions people might ask:

- What is my life's purpose?

- Am I in the right relationship for me?

- Will I find a long-term partner in the future?

- Have I lived a past life with my partner/friend/child?

- What is the right job for me?

- What can I do to manifest more income/health/love in my life?

- Is there something blocking abundance for me?

- I want to be a writer/artist/musician but can’t get myself to do it, why is that and what can I do to break through my blocks?

- Why am I experiencing ____ (illness or pain)?

- What is the best diet for me?

- Why do I have an addiction to ___?

- I had an intense dream or experience, what did that mean?

- Why did I experience abuse in my childhood?

How many questions can I ask?

Only time limits the number of questions you can ask. The average number of people bring to a full session is between 20 and 30. Feel free to add your lower-priority questions to the end of your list, and we’ll get to them if time allows.

What if I can’t get deep enough for QHHT to work?

It’s common for folks to worry that they can’t be hypnotized or won’t get deep enough to experience a QHHT session. While it’s true that people have different aptitudes for experiencing a trance state, we all experience hypnosis.

Have you ever been on a long drive or commute you know well and arrived at your destination without noticing half the landmarks you passed? Maybe you know the drive took half an hour, but it only felt like 20 minutes. These are signs of light hypnosis.

Hypnosis is a state of focus. It doesn’t mean you will necessarily be so deep that you wouldn’t notice an earthquake if one happened. Most people feel relaxed and have less mental chatter while under hypnosis, but the way it feels for each person will vary.

You should work with guided shamanic journeys or past life regression recordings to get a sense of how well you respond. If you are not able to experience anything or are unable to accept visions or information you experience, this may not be a good process to start with.

Helpful hints for your QHHT session:

• Have a curious mind.

• Allow yourself to play a game of trusting the first image, thought, or impression that comes to mind. If you can do that before you know it, the flow of intuitive information will open wide, and you’ll be on your way!

• Practice with the hypnosis recordings I send my clients before a session. The more you practice, the deeper you’ll go. If you’re having trouble, reach out, and let’s talk before your session.

• People’s intuition is often more integrated than they realize. That means that intuitive information can feel like your own thoughts. Allowing yourself to go with your first thought will eliminate time for your conscious mind to second guess the flow of info and intuition to come through more and more clearly.

What do I need to do to prepare for my session?

• Please, please, please practice with the recording I send you. This will allow your mind to become accustomed to going into hypnosis to the sound of my voice. The practice helps!

• Email me your questions the night before (or earlier) so I can bring a printed copy.

• You’ll want to have eaten the morning before our session and avoid eating a large/heavy meal within a few hours of the session (this is to avoid feeling overly tired and becoming more prone to falling asleep during hypnosis).

• Avoid being caffeinated close to the session. A small morning coffee is fine; I just don't want you to feel jittery and less able to relax into hypnosis.

Spread the love

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• Share them with your friends on social media.

• Click the heart and “share” buttons below.

What is HypnoShamanism?

What is HypnoShamanic Healing?

Shamans have been using the trance state for millennia to connect with healing, spirit helpers, and creative solutions. Trance is something we have all utilized. If you’ve gotten lost in a daydream only to realize people have been talking to you and you didn't notice, you have been in a trance state.

If you have experienced the loss of time during the flow state, you have been in an altered state of consciousness.

“Hypnosis, meditation, daydreaming, and flow are all ways of accessing our intuitive, creative state. ”

This altered state of consciousness is a place where the subconscious answers bubble to the surface and intuitive guidance whispers a little more loudly. This is the state where powerful healing occurs!

What is Shamanic Hypnosis?

Welcome to HypnoShamanic Healing. I use hypnosis to access the power of altered consciousness. It is a combination of a shamanic journey and clinical hypnosis protocols, which result in releasing old patterns and wounds.

In this process, you will meet your spirit helpers and learn to communicate with them. Once this connection is established, you can go for healing, guidance, protection, and support all on your own. 

This powerful healing process focuses on releasing old wounds, returns you to your full, energetic self, and creates a sense of ongoing peace in yourself and the moment.  Feel confident in yourself and your connection to intuition.

How does Shamanic Hypnosis work?

HypnoShamanic Healing utilizes ancient wisdom and a modern understanding of subconscious states to create powerful, lasting healing. It’s a combination of the deep emotional healing of clinical hypnosis with shamanic journeying and connection with spirit helpers.

The process includes soul retrieval and other shamanic healing practices along with hypnosis protocols, which alleviate triggers and old patterns.

This is a complete healing process. Depending on the client’s needs, it may include energy extractions, ancestral healing, and/or other shamanic healing, in addition to healing the inner child wounds and resulting patterns.

In this 5-session journey, we work in tandem. You’ll learn to journey and connect with your guides while being held in a powerful energetic healing space.

What’s included in HypnoShamanic Healing

• Soul Retrieval

• Wounded child healing and integration

• Releasing old triggers and patterns

• Connecting with your Spirit Guide

• Powerful self-acceptance protocol

• Clearing shadow thoughts and feelings

• Energy clearing

• Future manifestation protocol

• Energy expansion

• Meditations homework to strengthen your healing

• Open/stregthen intuition

Shamanism

Having practiced Core Shamanism for over a decade, I’ve used the altered state of consciousness in shamanic journeys to find guidance and healing. Shamanism makes use of drumming, rattling, singing, and dance to create an altered state. From there, the practitioner calls on helping spirits and ancestors to facilitate healing.

Through the lens of shamanism, trauma is seen as an emotionally damaging event that causes a part of the soul to separate and hide out, no longer feeling safe after a traumatic event. In psychological terms, this split off soul part is similar to the wounded child. The splitting off of the soul part drains a person’s life force energy, potentially leading to feelings of anxiety, fatigue, apathy, and possibly physical disease. Shamanic practitioners use a soul retrieval process to find and integrate the lost soul part.

Hypnotherapy

When I began training as a hypnotherapist, it was obvious from the start how similar the state of hypnosis is to the altered state of consciousness used in shamanic journeys. In fact, in my opinion, it is the same thing. The main difference is in how the effect is achieved. Hypnosis uses guided imagery and body relaxation to go deeply into a theta brainwave, while shamanism uses the pulsating sounds of drums or rattles to get there.

There are further similarities between shamanic soul retrieval and using hypnosis to reframe the memory and impact of a traumatic event. Through hypnosis, a practitioner explores the origins of the feeling, habit, or behavior a client wants to repair, just as a shaman looks for the time when the soul part slit off.

The hypnotherapist uses hypnotic protocols to release and reframe the event, which compares to a shaman freeing the soul part from where it’s stuck somewhere, hiding from the trauma. Both processes use a meditative state of altered consciousness to seek out the source of a traumatic wound with the intention of healing integration.

Additionally, a hypnotherapist uses posthypnotic suggestion, which reinforces the desired ongoing behavior or feeling.

Bringing it all together

By combining the ancient healing tradition with modern evidence-based practices, my clients experience profound healing, insights, and inner confidence like never before!

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6 Benefits of Past Life Regression

Other than a general curiosity about who you may have been in a past life, what’s the point of a past life regression? I used to have this same question. Knowing that the chances of having been someone famous enough to still be known today is pretty low, what’s the point? The life I’m living now is the one that matters, afterall. Getting caught up in what I did in the past is tantamount to being stuck in who you were in high school. My opinion has changed after studying, experiencing, and now offering past life regression.

1. Learn from previously incomplete lessons

Believers in reincarnation see it as the way a soul gains learning experiences here in this school we call Earth. With that in mind, learning the focus of a person’s past lives can inform what she focuses on today. For example, if one of the main lessons for a person in her past life was to build vulnerable connections, yet she chose to avoid them, then it’s reasonable to think that lesson was not learned, and, therefore, will likely repeat.

That individual might take a look at her current life and see many acquaintances, but few close bonds. Or, perhaps, she has gone the other way and is a bit too needy with people, thereby pushing them away. Whatever her current behavior, it would benefit her to take a look at her current relationships and be honest with herself about whether she is doing her best to develop deep, healthy connections.

2. Improve repeating relationships

In addition to discovering incomplete lessons as a way of informing your current life, past life regression can shed light on current relationships. Maybe you’ve never gotten along well with a parent or sibling, though you’ve both tried. Learning how a relationship has played out in past lives can help. I’ve seen long-held resentment melt away in a single session.

One client learned that he had died holding on to heavy guilt. In his past life, he was an angry man and that anger kept him from showing love and affection toward his son. He had been mistreated, himself, and lived a difficult life, causing him to be filled with deep-seated anger. He didn’t intend to take that out on his family but he was unable to stop. This man recognized that his son, in that past life, was now his older brother, for whom he’d always felt unexplained resentment. He’d chalked it up to jealousy, having always been told this by his parents, but that didn’t really explain it. The brothers were very different from one another and my client didn’t want the life his brother lead. Their parents had treated them equally and they each had their own accomplishments, so he didn’t feel there was a reason for jealousy.

During the past life regression, my client was able to feel and release the guilt over the way he’d treated his son. Seeing the difficulties of that life from a distance, he was able to forgive himself. When he came out of hypnosis, he felt a rush of love for his brother. He understood that the resentment was really pent up guilt that had morphed and followed him into his current relationship with his brother. He recognized that he could now give his brother all the love and affection he wasn’t able to give in their past relationship.

3. Release physical symptoms

One of the more commonly known benefits of past life regression is the release of unexplainable or recurring physical symptoms. In some cases, a traumatic or violent event from a past life can reverberate in a person’s current body. Visiting the past life to witness the event from an emotionally safe vantage point can relieve the symptoms.

Brian Weiss, author of Many Lives, Many Masters, was unintentionally introduced to past life regression when he regressed a client to the earliest source of her symptoms. He expected her to find something traumatic in her current childhood, but she went back much further. Even while facilitating the hypnosis session, Weiss didn’t believe what was happening. However, after having treated the woman for weeks with no improvement, the regression to her past life alleviate her symptoms for good.

4. Release emotional symptoms

Emotional symptoms can sometimes be released as well as the physical. Of course, there are plenty of cases when emotional issues originate from a person’s current life. Other times, however, a current-life trauma has not been discovered or it’s been thoroughly treated with no resolve. It is possible to discover past life trauma as an earlier reason for a person’s current discomfort. Many times, a person encounters the same type of trauma over several lives, so witnessing the earliest instance can help the individual access and heal from it.

It’s also possible for a person to gain relief from emotional stressors by seeing lives where they haven’t had the issue. If a person is prone to feeling hopeless and catastrophizing difficult events, seeing himself living a past life where he felt happy can shift him into a place of hope. He can see that his own happiness is possible. The same can be applied to feelings of being unlovable. Finding a past life where there was love and support can open a client to a perspective that being loved is not only possible, it has happened.

5. Learn your life’s purpose

One of the most important ways a past life regression can have a major impact on a person’s current life is by visiting the place between lives. After a client is regressed through the major points of a past life, she continues on to a between life regression. This is where she can call on guides to help her understand that life, what the lessons were, how she did with them, and which will need to be continued. After regressing to the most current past life, a person can find out exactly where things stand for her soul’s path, coming into this life. These are the lessons she can most directly apply to where she is now. It brings clarity to her purpose, what she needs to learn and experience, what direction she should go, and what she should focus on. This can act as a blueprint for where to go from here.

6. Reduce the fear of death

When a person sees the progress of his soul, from life to life, and experiences the love and support that occurs between lives, it can relieve the worry that nothing comes after death. He experiences a larger plan, a connection to loving support from the other side, and a reunion with those he’s loved in this lifetime. It encourages him to see that he will go on to develop and grow as part of a connected spiritual community. This goes a long way in reducing the anxiety most people feel around death.

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