Shamanistic healing can help you deal with emotional trauma, obstacles, and burdens. … [+]
Shamanistic healing is not magic. Rather, it is a powerful, transformational method that helps us clear emotional trauma, blocks, baggage, old beliefs and burdens that hold us back from becoming our best selves. At first, the concept can seem overwhelming to grasp. How does it help with trauma? What can I expect from the experience? Before my first encounter with this practice, I asked: “Do I have to invoke spirits or ghosts?”
Even in the age of Google, where information is easily accessible and consumed, mysticism and occultism are common misconceptions surrounding shamanism. This has to do with ancient and deep roots that go beyond the birth of religion. In reality, shamanism is no different from yoga. Shamanism advocates a way of living rather than adhering to dogmas or doctrines. Shamanism can cross religious and cultural boundaries just as a devout Catholic may choose to practice vinyasa or meditate regularly. It is also similar in that its various forms and philosophies date back to ancient times. In fact, several studies published by the University of Minnesota state that “many formalized religions, from Buddhism to Christianity, grew out of ancient shamanic roots and still carry the shamanic thread of a deep connection to the divine in all things.”
Introduction to Shamanic Energy Healing
Sabrina Villard is a shamanic energy healer with experience in Reiki and acupuncture. Bedouin Shaman … [+]
Sabrina Villard, who practices energy healing rooted in her shamanic lineage, says, “I always call my sessions ‘therapy for lazy people.’ You don’t have to do anything. Just relax and let me guide you. You just have to be ready to face yourself and evolve.” A session with Sabrina is, Healthy Balance Or through her platform, V HealingIt can be done in person or over Zoom. Sabrina explains that even from a distance, she can access a person’s energy field to clear, balance and remove blockages. “My shamanic healing practice focuses on shedding light on the root or cause of emotional trauma or blockages and helping you move forward in your life,” she elaborates.
The Three Stages of Energy Healing
Shamanic energy healing involves working through your energy field to remove and heal blocks. … [+]
The 45-minute session puts your mind and body into a meditative state. Deep drumming, Brazilian, African, Arabic and Peruvian music take your senses on a journey. When you join an energy healing session, all you have to do is lie back, relax and welcome the recovery. “We will connect and work with your energy field, this way we can locate and remove any blockages. The goal is to clear your energy and bring it back into balance,” Sabrina continues. The first phase is like entering a technicolor dream, while remaining fully aware of the present. When Sabrina finishes the first phase, you will feel an indescribable sense of lightness.
The cleansing and balancing is followed by a dialogue and ultimately an agreement to embark on a healing journey. This holistic approach in energy healing allows you to utilize both the tangible and intangible for optimal results. Sabrina asserts, “To reach your highest potential, every part of yourself must be addressed and attended to. This is a lot like traditional therapy, except I do all the talking.”
During the interaction, Sabrina identifies blockages and links them to various concerns, such as childhood and trauma. She further explains how and why the body’s joints act as emotional stores. For example, when we feel stressed or anxious, it usually manifests as pain in the upper back or neck. She further explains, “We work on the energetic, emotional, physical and mental levels. All of this is wrapped up in open-hearted communication. Speaking out loud is very important to make your thoughts more concrete.”
Energy healing combining Reiki, acupuncture and shamanism
During our conversation, Sabrina reveals details about her Bedouin shamanic lineage. “My grandmother was a shaman,” she hints. “Discovering my shamanic roots gave me a new perspective on life and happiness. This is also why I try to convey my message in the simplest way possible, always aiming for the roots and stripping away all the superficial layers.”
Sabrina has been working as an energy healer since 2015 and practices Reiki Level 3. She is also a qualified clinical acupuncturist and has expertise in the body and energy reserves. “There is no magic, you just have to be willing. You have to believe that the magic is within you. The shaman just guides,” she says.
Breathe Healthy
Walid Abulnaga of NAFAS JOURNEYS is a certified shamanic breathwork facilitator and shamanic teacher. … [+]
It’s been almost a year since my first experience with shamanic breathwork. NAFAS journey. Led by Walid Abunaga, a certified shamanic breathwork facilitator and shamanic priest, this program was one of the most intense and powerful healing experiences I have ever had. This was at the invitation of a dear friend, the founder of Wellness Platform. resonanceThanks to Marou Araneta, a recently ordained shamanic priest, I was introduced to breathwork, and truth be told, the first session was a beautiful medley of terror turning into pure elation.
Entering an abnormal state
Shamanic breathwork combines deep drum beats and binaural tunes with circular breathing techniques. … [+]
“This technique fascinated me more than any other technique. For the first time, I was able to connect with spirit, travel to different realms, and enter different dimensions beyond the 3D world we live in,” begins Walid. Continuous circular breathing accompanied by binaural or chakra-tuned beats opens the door to expanded states of consciousness. Before every breathwork session, Walid explains, “The ego exists in the small window between the inhale and exhale. Through circular breathing, you let go of your ego.” This breathwork saturates the mind, allowing you to enter a safe, naturally induced state of transcendence.
A few minutes into the session, I felt an electrical current flowing from my feet, then throughout my limbs. I also started to feel dizzy and cold. To be honest, as a beginner with a type-A personality, I panicked and felt scared for a moment. But then, this journey taught me a profound lesson about trust and the courage to explore the unknown. Overcoming that initial fear was a breakthrough in itself.
A journey unlike any other
As soon as I let go of the fear and panic, I began a sensory journey unlike any I had ever experienced before. There were similar colored lights to how I imagined the Northern Lights would look, but amplified. My journey led me deeper into the forest with figures I identified as my spirit and animal guides. This later progressed to sensations and visions that influenced my experiences flying over the ocean and mountains. In between, I cried happy tears and sighed sadness.
Ironically, entering an altered state grounds us in our true essence, completely stripped of our ego and experiences. And it is during altered states that healing occurs, allowing blocks, trauma and pain hidden deep within the subconscious to be unearthed, acknowledged and ultimately released. Walid explains, “There are various shamanic practices used to enter altered states, including drumming, chanting, twirling and of course breathing. Those who participate with conscious intention will benefit. Believe in the practice with all your heart. Trust the shaman. Participate with an open mind and an open heart.”
Mallow adds, “This is a powerful healing technique. Through this process, breath-takers are able to release trapped emotions and trauma, and gain greater access to love, bliss, healing and transformation. This technique leads to an overall improvement in physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health.”
Return to Earth
Marou Araneta, founder of Resonance and shamanic priest
Shamanic breathing can be intense, and it may take some time to absorb and process it before re-adapting to real life. For others, open discussion and creative expression aid the healing process. In my previous sessions, the breathing was followed by a realignment activity prompted by Mallow. “You can draw an image like a mandala or write down words that describe your experience,” she would say before every breathwork session. Participants are also encouraged to share, but this is not required. I only spoke once during the integration, and it only amplified the feeling of recovery.
We All Need Healing, We Are All Shamans
Cacao Ceremony at Soul Retreat, Peru, hosted by Nafas Journeys.
“We are all shamans. We are all healers with healing abilities. By empowering ourselves to overcome the tough challenges of life, we can learn how to handle the critical situations we face in life,” says Walid. Through NAFAS Journeys, he has also organized several transformative travel experiences that allow others to immerse themselves in healing and self-discovery. The trips organized by NAFAS, also called “soul adventure” trips, take place in various destinations such as Peru, Bali and Sri Lanka. These curated experiences, guided by Walid, allow participants to reconnect with nature, their body, their mind, their breath and themselves.
For Mallow, the impact of shamanic breathwork has been profound. She discovered the technique through NAFAS JOURNEYS during the peak of lockdown. Soon after, she dove deep into the practice. Mallow is now a certified shamanic minister and will be hosting her first shamanic breathwork session through RESONANCE on August 8th. This coincides with the Lionsgate Portal, which is said to channel powerful energies that support change and manifestation.
Having helped countless corporate executives and busy urbanites with her sessions, Sabrina concludes that “Anyone can benefit from shamanic healing. You don’t have to be religious, spiritual, a yoga guru, or even practice meditation to benefit from it.” Whether you’re at a crossroads in your life, suffering from trauma, struggling with obstacles, feeling lost in life, or simply curious and looking to improve your health, shamanic healing can provide long-term health benefits.
