Just off Aurora Avenue near the Woodland Park Zoo, Mary Ann Stansell has created an oasis of calm on the third floor of the ActivSpace building. In the comfort of this compact silence (Think white and beige tones, dream catchers, flickering candles, both real and fake.), we were lucky enough to enjoy a session with Ignited Soul, a business that Stansell describes as “a modern approach to energy healing.”
What happens in each session is a sacred and personal experience, and we can only speak about our own personal impressions, but we will leave you feeling relaxed, satisfied, and floating for the rest of the afternoon. You can share how you felt when you returned home. We recently spoke with Stansell about her passion for creating spaces that “help people heal themselves and live in their truth.”
Currently, she provides energy healing through techniques such as Reiki, Light Language Oracle Cards, Earth Energy, guided meditation, breathing techniques, crystals, sound bowls, and mindfulness.
Ms. Stansell has worked her way up from working in Western medicine as a nurse to her current position. She appreciates blending both worlds. (She is still a part-time nurse.)
“Finding myself into energy healing was a natural, gradual process,” she says. “Ever since I was little, I have always been drawn to and attuned to energy. It took several turns in my own personal journey for things to unfold this way. Personal Growth, breakthroughs, breakups, and life changes all played a part in this.” One thing she always knew was that she had a deep desire to help people.
“Another way to treat the mind, body and soul was nothing new to me coming from a Korean heritage,” she added.
Stansell started by reading self-help books, which led to New Age “spiritual” books. Something changed when she completed her 200-hour yoga training in 2016. She found herself looking for more ways to calm not only her body but also her mind and spirit.
“The more I found ways to connect with myself and find moments of stillness and create morning rituals, the more my anxiety became much less. The pain in my heart was no more. It started arriving at my house, and cleaning out my space started happening more.”
Around 2019, a friend shared her experience of receiving a Reiki attunement. Stansell immediately knew he wanted to try it himself.
“Everything has become more relevant to me in terms of connecting to energy,” she says. “I slowly started practicing Reiki on others, became a Reiki Master, and continued to find continuing education in things like energy healing and subconscious work. My mission is to help you reclaim your heart and learn how to listen to your own voice.” Soul and Intuition came from my own personal experience. ”
But before she could offer this service to others, Stansell first needed to work on releasing her fear of judgment from others.
When the pandemic hit and rocked Stansell’s world, she spent time recovering from heartbreak and digging deep within herself.
“Like many others, I wanted to do more with my life, and that’s when I realized what I was really doing,” she says. “So I asked myself, ‘Why am I suppressing this part of myself?’ That’s when I started to break free a little bit. I was offering oracle card readings. , then meditation, and then officially opened Ignited Soul and met clients. I started by primarily focusing on offering Reiki sessions. And I evolved more and more.”
For those who have never experienced energy healing of any kind before, Stansell advises going in with no expectations.
“This allows you to let go of the ego part of you and truly experience what your heart desires at that moment,” she says. Some people come with specific needs. Others don’t. “Either way, the energy flows to heal, so it doesn’t matter,” she says. “You will feel relaxed as I channel universal healing energy.”
During the session, the client lies on a heated massage table, preferably in loose clothing. Stansell also recommends showing up without drugs or alcohol so that your energy is at its clearest.
Stansell then leads the client into a deep, hypnotic meditation.
“Throughout this time, I am sending universal energy healing (most people are familiar with Reiki),” she explains. “But it also includes quite a few other energy healing companions and flows. “When crystals are invoked, we primarily place crystals on specific chakra points. We also place hands on them to send healing energy. Please, can I have one? The entire session is non-invasive.”
Stantel does not script anything. Intuitive messages are spoken (or unspoken) and woven into the meditation.
“I hold this space while using my voice to create a healing vessel,” she says. “I am a space holder channeling information and healing, and my clients are doing healing work as well, so this time it is a co-creation.”
She also brings bowls, chimes, and ocean drums to sessions, which you may be asked to play with your body, usually around chakra points or energy centers. Finally, she opens up time for the necessary dialogue and perhaps even draws a card.
After your session, you are encouraged to drink water, relax, and eat grounding foods such as nuts and things grown in the ground. You can also hug a tree or touch the grass before getting in the car.
She goes on to say, “You might have more trips to the bathroom, you might feel tired, you might feel like you need to let go, you might have something coming up, but it’s all at a higher level. This shows that the body is in the process of readjusting its balance after completing these activities.” The vibration state has changed since I came in. Relaxing can help. ”
“The most rewarding part of my job is supporting individuals and groups and holding space,” Stansell says. “It’s a privilege to witness the shifts in energy, vibration, and frequency that occur during a session. It’s a privilege to witness the changes in energy, vibration, and frequency that occur during a session. What is a privilege is the way a client opens up to me during a session. Because it can be a place of learning and vulnerability.” At the end of a session or group session, I invite my spirit guides, Mother Earth, the Creator, the angels, the loving energies I work with, and the client. I would also like to express my gratitude to you. I am the one physically working here, but everyone is working and providing non-physical support, including the clients. ”
What is the most difficult part of this role? Stansell loves his job and wants to spend more time with each person. She feels this work is very important because an individual’s energetic health is the key to survival.
“Our cells move energy, positive and negative electrons, and certain vibrational frequencies influence our entire being, to name a few,” she explains. “For too long, many people have ignored their own energetic footprints, and especially now, when many people are facing more mental health issues and other illnesses, , are making a big life transition, or are starting to get more interested in things like meditation and energy. “It’s great to see the different ways people can receive healing. Energy healing supports the whole self. So it’s great.”
“I believe that what’s happening inside our bodies correlates with what’s happening in our lives,” she comments. “And people won’t be able to explore the feelings and emotions underneath what’s going on.”
Holistic health has been around for a long time, Stansell reminds us. It wasn’t until the pandemic that people realized this was an avenue to explore.
“This has given people a lot of opportunities to explore beyond what they normally rely on,” she says. “And it opens the door for people to expand their understanding of self, energy, and life.”
Ms. Stansell’s greatest hope is that she can help others heal their wounds from the past and present, find connection within their soul space, ease the noise in their head, and help them find inner peace. .
“And most importantly, when people realize that they matter, they can reclaim their heart, their voice, their power and heal themselves energetically,” she says. Masu.
Stansell, who has had situations in the past where she felt lost, now wants to help others understand that they matter and that they are strong people too.
Stansell’s favorite way to spend a day in Seattle is to spend time near the water if possible.
“As I grew up, I gained so much from spending time in nature with Mother Earth, and I was able to give so much back to Mother Earth,” she says. “There are so many things you can experience outside: sitting, reading, listening, singing, dancing, running, laughing, hugging a tree. Being non-judgmental, open and brings me a lot of peace and quiet time in life. And my dog loves it too!”
Learn more about Mary Ann Stansell’s “Ignited Soul” here.
Colin Whiting is a freelance writer for Seattle Refined. Follow her work and her adventures here.
