I first learned about Shamanism when I read the book, Shaman, Healer, Sage by Alberto Villoldo.  Villoldo is an anthropologist who has studied shamanic healing techniques with the descendants of the Incas for more than 25 years.  Now a master shaman, he teaches energy medicine to thousands every year.

The basic principle of shamanism encompasses the belief that shamans are intermediaries or messengers between the human world and the spirit worlds. Shamans are said to treat illness by mending the soul. Alleviating traumas affecting the spirit restores the physical body of the individual to balance and wholeness. The shaman also enters supernatural realms or dimensions to obtain solutions to problems afflicting the community.

The book takes you into the world of the Incas with its fascinating stores of miracles and healing.  You really realize how far we, as westerners, have gotten from paying attention to our bodies, spirit, and our interconnectedness.  I was so intrigued with the idea of energy healing after reading this, that I have since delved into various forms of energy healing, sich as reiki, jin shin jyutsu, chakra work, and shamanism.

A year and a half ago I got the opportunity to work with the shaman healer, Debra Grace.  Debra Grace has been a colleague of Sonia Choquette for over 20 years. Sonia is a famous intuitive and speaker who travels all over the world, but has family ties to Kansas City.  That connection has led to Debra coming to Kansas city about once a year to lead seminars and workshops.

Debra is a master psychic, shamanic practitioner, healer and teacher.  She is truly gifted and I AGAIN had the amazing gift of spending time with her last night.

Debra lead a few of us on a “journey” to discover what the spirit wanted for us.  This may sound corny, but a “journey” is just a group meditation with a specific intention.  Shamans use bells, drums, or rattles to produce rhythmic noise (are you totally uncomfortable yet?).  This distracts the mind from thoughts and helps you get into a peaceful, quiet meditative state.   During this time, each person will have thoughts, feelings, or images that come to them.

Interestingly, I had a vivid flashback of a place I went to in California when I was about 8 years old.  I was looking at a stream and saw a turtle.  I went to tell my family and in the minute I was gone, the turtle disappeared.  I was so disappointed that I didn’t pick the turtle up when I had a chance.

So, spirit was giving me the symbol of a turtle…very interesting.  Debra explained that the turtle has many meanings, but one is a symbol of Mother Earth.  Her message for me was that I needed to get out and explore Mother Earth.  I was feeling like a caged bird and needed to travel and discover new places. “Go and rent a house in France for a week!”  Debra recommended.

What she didn’t know was that I’ve been working with my travel agent on a France trip in May.  She couldn’t have been more right:  I feel like I am suffocating in my familiar, safe surroundings.  I’ve been telling my husband that I have to get out of here!  And not just a trip to Vegas or a couple of days in NYC.  I need to go FAR AWAY to a place I have never been.  Something about Debra confirming that need helped me realize I was on the right track.  So, France here we come!

Thailand was my first choice, but baby steps, right?  Maybe that will be our next trip!

Has anyone worked with energy healers and have any good recommendations?