We are born from Spirit and to Spirit we return.  In the journey of life, we are all born into the material world.  Growing up, we are conditioned to function in this material world and we are encouraged to thrive.  With the grace of a multitude of teachers - from the initial caregivers and teachers to those who help us settle into a job/life situation - there is gradual growth as a person and the emergence of a very individual soul.  Each and everyone has something unique to offer.    

Often at some point during this life journey a dissatisfaction starts sneaking in.  It is difficult to describe what one feels or even why one feels that discontent.  There is a longing for something else, something more, something undefinable.   Often this is the start of a call back Home, towards our Spiritual Root.  

This emerging 'dissatisfaction' might be felt as 'disruptive'.  If one doesn't have a spiritual practice, it may be baffling and we may not understand this call.

Life may no longer be enjoyed in the same way as before, one may no longer feel emotionally fulfilled despite the material world of plenty.  There may be a sense of a void that cannot be filled, no matter how much one tries in the tried and tested, conventional ways.

This is an invitation to allow oneself to be drawn within one's own Being, to drop into self-enquiry and slowly and gradually allow oneself a journey of discovery back towards the Divine Source within, towards this part of you that is calling you back and where deep inner peace and happiness can be found.

What is healing and who heals?

For most people, doctors and scientists are currently the only healers that are 'scientific' and 'proven'.  For most, it is difficult to imagine something outside this 'consensual' reality. 

It may not be considered 'healing' to have someone present in the exploration of the inner landscape.  Nobody can walk this inner landscape but yourself and how far someone ventures is a very personal choice.   Some people start walking the path of the 'softer sciences' and sit with a therapist to try to make sense of what's happening to them.  

The journey I describe is beyond a journey of psychology/therapy, it's deeper.  Mind is not the end of the journey, it's only the start.  Mind ultimately creates our deepest rooted issues and then locks us into those patterns.  Solely using a 'mind' approach does not get us 'beyond' those issues.  It keeps us in a mind loop. The call Home comes from beyond mind.  This deep place within you is where true healing takes place. Your Soul is my director in our work together and I am happy to walk with your in your journey for as long as you choose me to.

Ancient knowledge and a current setting

The oldest spiritual practice known to date is shamanism.  It is the original Earth-based spirituality still prevalent throughout the world, despite attempts at eradicating its practices over centuries.  

The Vedic scriptures are the oldest to date and were written in Sanskrit.  At some point about 3000 years ago,  Matriarchal society shifted into a Patriarchal form and this resulted in shamanism being gradually replaced by religions.

If one considers the yin and yang concept from China, shamanism in my view is the yin aspect to the religions, which are more yang.  The Indian scriptures are exquisitely intricate in the description of advanced spiritual process in humans.  Shamanism gives a more practical, working methodology of living on this Earth as human beings in harmony with Mother Earth.  Shamanism was crucial in the survival of humanity, in rites of passage and in healing.  Due to the attempted eradication of the Shamanic (yin) tradition by the (yang) religions, some of the profound healing aspects of shamanism are no longer considered important or relevant in 'modern' times.  If I compare the two approaches, shamanism can be described as the flow to the religious rigidity/structure.  In a way, they belong together as Shakti/the Divine Feminine and Shiva/the Divine Masculine do.  They were however split apart, like we are from our divine source.

The 'ultimate' healing is Self Realisation in which Shiva and Shakti merge again and all sorrows stop.  Bliss states are attained as the Truth of one's Being is Realised.  Most people are not willing or capable of those lofty ideals and yet are acutely aware of something that seems impossible to heal/resolve.  Shamanic journeying/healing is ideal to get into the flow of exploring the inner landscape, be this in conjunction of a spiritual practice (for example when experiencing a block) or without it.