Embracing The Dragon Within

Dragons have been a huge part of my life and over the past few years, their energy and connection to me has grown stronger. I wrote this a few weeks ago and posted it on social media and felt I needed to share with you here as well.

Step into the embodiment of dragon, and step into your power.

Dragon … protect me, guide me, give me strength.

Let your scales protect and shield me as I travel into the shadows of death to face myself.

Let your claws break through the toughest of resistance for which is mostly likely buried in the depths of my own ego.

Let your #strength lift me out of the depths of darkness and into the light.

Let your wings be the hurricane to carry me, act as the winds of change needed for my highest and best and guide me on this journey.

Let your breath mix with mine and become one churning away in my pit of my belly and burn away my fears as I release its fire.

Let your #courage allow me to easily and effortlessly step forward trusting in my path.

Let your spirit energy raise my frequency and vibration.

Let your fierceness give me courage to do all that is needed for my soul’s growth

Written by: Laura Joseph, Healing with Spirit
Copyright 2018

 

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 © 2015-2019 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

Why Ashwagandha Root Could Be The Cure For The Western Epidemic of Stress Related Illness

I have decided to post about this important herb as a resource for our growing community searching for healthy alternatives.  Over recent years, I have seen how well it works for so many especially those with diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, addictions, and sleep issues that have astounded me.

I began talking to others and exploring success ratios to my astonishment, which led me to begin working with many practitioners in the traditional broken American healthcare system educating them regarding my experiences personally and professionally. I am pleased to see some doctors, nurse practitioners and psychiatrists/licensed mental health prescribers beginning to consider this herb as a viable alternative to barbiturates, tranquilizers, anti-depressants, or other drugs such as the gabapentin.

As a matter of fact, I was recently diagnosed with chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, and I had stopped taking the Ashwagandha root personally too. As a result, I have decided as part of my own personal treatment plan to start taking this again (including my daily meditation, thyroid anti-inflammatory diet, jikiden reiki practice, and mindfulness as well as increasing my daily Vitamin D3 to attain a more optimum level).

So, here is more information compiled from some trusted sources (listed below) for you regarding this amazing herb.

Disclaimer: Always consult with your healthcare practitioner before using supplements if you have any health conditions.

 

What is it?

Ashwagandha, one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurvedic healing, has been used in India for nearly 5,000 years for a wide variety of conditions.  One of the best known is its use as an adaptogen, meaning that it helps you manage emotional and physical stress.

The name Ashwagandha is from the Sanskrit language and is a combination of the word ashva, meaning horse, and gandha, meaning smell. The root has a strong aroma that is described as “horse-like.”

In Ayurvedic, Indian, and Unani medicine, ashwagandha is described as “Indian ginseng.” Ashwagandha is also used in traditional African medicine for a variety of ailments.  Don’t confuse ashwagandha with Physalis alkekengi. Both are known as winter cherry.

A member of the Solanaceae family, or nightshade family, ashwagandha is related botanically to potatoes, pepper, and tomatoes.

Why Use Ashwagandha?

Do any of these common symptoms sound familiar?

  • Stress
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Poor memory
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Low libido
  • Frequent illness
  • Anxiety
  • Low endurance (mentally or physically)
  • Joint pain
  • Neurological condition

The use of ashwagandha can help alleviate these symptoms and support an energetic and rejuvenating sense of well-being.

Ashwagandha as an Adaptogenic Herb

In Ayurveda, there are specific herbs with adaptogenic benefits—ashwagandha is one of them.

Adaptogens are substances (a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and herbs) that modulate your response to stress or a changing environment. Adaptogens help the body cope with external stresses such as toxins in the environment and internal stresses such as anxiety and insomnia.

One of the attributes of ashwagandha is its ability to induce calmness and clarity by regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin and the stress hormone cortisol.

One of the attributes of ashwagandha is its ability to induce calmness and clarity by regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin and the stress hormone cortisol.

Research has shown that consuming ashwagandha may not only reduce cortisol levels but also, as an adaptagen, can “substantially” reduce chronic stress to help your body adapt to and alleviate the stomach-churning anxiety stress can cause. (Mercola)

Research indicates there’s a likelihood that ashwagandha may be useful for helping patients in opioid withdrawal as well as reducing or eliminating dependence on benzodiazapene drugs such as Xanax and Valium.

 

Benefits of Ashwangdha

Ashwagandha contains many useful medicinal chemicals, including withanolides (steroidal lactones), glutathione (powerful antioxidant), alkaloids, choline, fatty acids, amino acids, and a variety of sugars.

While the leaves and fruit have valuable therapeutic properties, the root of the ashwagandha plant is the part most commonly used in Western herbal remedies.

Medical researchers have been studying ashwagandha for years with great interest and have completed more than 200 studies on the healing benefits of this botanical.

Animal studies have found constituents of the herb, including alkaloids, steroidal lactones, and saponins, to reduce inflammation and calm the nervous system.

Ashwagandha, today, is used for arthritis, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), balance, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trouble sleeping (insomnia), tumors, tuberculosis, asthma, a skin condition marked by white patchiness (leukoderma), bronchitis, backache, fibromyalgia, menstrual problems, hiccups, Parkinson’s disease, and chronic liver disease. It is also used to reduce side effects of medications used to treat cancer and schizophrenia. Ashwagandha is used to reduce levels of fat and sugar in the blood.

Ashwagandha is known to help people strengthen their immune system after illness, chemotherapy, or surgery. It is a highly effective, evidence-based remedy for anxiety and stress—by lowering cortisol levels and mimicking the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.

Some people also use ashwagandha for improving thinking ability, decreasing pain and swelling (inflammation), fertility problems in men and women and also to increase sexual desire.

Ashwagandha is applied to the skin for treating wounds, backache, and one-sided paralysis (hemiplegia).

Some key examples of the healing effects of Ashwagandha are:

  • Protects the immune system
  • Helps combat the effects of stress
  • Improves learning, memory, and reaction time
  • Reduces anxiety and depression without causing drowsiness
  • Helps reduce brain-cell degeneration
  • Stabilizes blood sugar
  • Helps lower cholesterol
  • Offers anti-inflammatory and analgesic benefits
  • Contains anti-malarial properties
  • Enhances sexual potency for both men and women
  • May be an effective anti-tumor agent
  • Promotes new nerve growth

 

How does it work?

(Per WebMD)

Ashwagandha contains chemicals that might help calm the brain, reduce swelling (inflammation), lower blood pressure, and alter the immune system.

Stress.Taking a specific ashwagandha root extract (KSM66, Ixoreal Biomed) 300 mg twice daily after food for 60 days appears to improve symptoms of stress.

Reducing side effects associated with medications called antipsychotics. Antipsychotics are used to treat schizophrenia but they can cause levels of fat and sugar in the blood to increase. Taking a specific ashwagandha extract (Cap Strelaxin, M/s Pharmanza Herbal Pvt. Ltd., Gujarat, India) 400 mg three times daily for one month might reduce levels of fat and sugar in the blood in people using these medications.

Anxiety. Some clinical research shows that taking ashwagandha can reduce some symptoms of anxiety.

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Some clinical research shows that a combination herbal product containing ashwagandha may improve attention and impulse control in children with ADHD. The effect of ashwagandha alone is unclear.

Bipolar disorder.Taking a specific ashwagandha extract (Sensoril, Natreon, Inc., New Bruswick, New Jersey) for 8 weeks might improve brain function in people being treated for bipolar disorder.

A brain condition called cerebellar ataxia.Preliminary research shows that ashwagandha in combination with an alternative form of medicine known as Ayurvedic therapy might improve balance in people with cerebellar ataxia.

Fatigue in people treated for cancer (chemotherapy).Early research suggests taking a specific ashwagandha extract 2,000 mg (Himalaya Drug Co, New Delhi, India) during chemotherapy treatment might reduce tiredness.

Diabetes. There is some evidence that ashwagandha might reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

High cholesterol.There is some evidence that ashwagandha might reduce cholesterol levels in patients with high cholesterol.

Male infertility.Some preliminary clinical evidence suggests that ashwagandha might improve sperm quality, but not sperm count, in infertile men. It is not known if taking ashwagandha can actually improve fertility.

Osteoarthritis.Early research shows that ashwagandha taken along with a zinc complex, guggul, and turmeric might improve arthritis symptoms. The impact of ashwagandha alone is unclear.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Early research shows that ashwagandha root extract might reduce symptoms of OCD when taken with prescribed medications for 6 weeks better than taking the prescribed medication alone.

Parkinson’s disease.Preliminary research suggests that a combination of herbs including ashwagandha improves Parkinson’s symptoms. The effect of ashwagandha alone in Parkinson’s is unknown.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Early research shows that ashwagandha powder taken for 3 weeks followed by 4 weeks of sidh makardhwaj (a mixture of gold, mercury, and sulfur) slightly improves symptoms in some people with RA. The impact of ashwagandha alone in RA is unclear.

Increasing interest in sex.Early research shows that taking ashwagandha extract daily for 8 weeks along with receiving counseling increases interest in sex and sexual satisfaction in adult women with sexual dysfunction better than counseling alone.

Also, ashwagandha has shown to be beneficial for:

  • Altering immune system function.
  • Inducing vomiting.
  • Liver problems.
  • Preventing the signs of aging.
  • Swelling (inflammation).
  • Other conditions.

 

How to Add Ashwagandha to Your Diet

angelorosa / Pixabay

According to Ayurveda, our bodies are woven from food. The nutrients we ingest are metabolized into the energy and information that form our cells, tissues, and organs. Every day our bodies need essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to maintain our body’s delicate balance.

Ashwagandha is classically taken as a fine powder mixed in honey or ghee. In western countries, it typically ingested in capsule form.

The typical recommended dose is 500 to 1,000 mg. For people who suffer from insomnia and anxiety, having a cup of hot milk that contains a teaspoon of powdered ashwagandha or an ashwagandha capsule before bedtime is beneficial.

 

Special Precautions:

(discuss with your physician before taking Ashwagandha)

Prescription Medications – American Pharmaceutical DRUGS

qimono / Pixabay

Before I go to precautions with Ashwagandha, let’s look at the side effects of some commonly prescribed medications before we judge the side effects of this powerful herb.

Let’s compare. Then you decide which is safer.

What I see as the alternatives being prescribed daily in our traditional healthcare system carry MORE serious concerns.

Many traditional medicinal prescriptions carry side effects ranging from leading to addiction to causing dementia or increase risk for suicide. Yet the medical community is concerned about recommending Ashwagandha because why????

Commonly prescribed medications that carry serious side effects include:

  • Gabapentin (Seizures, Nerve Pain, Fibromyalgia, Anxiety, Depression, Pain): dementia, addiction (which is rarely listed but increasing problem),  suicidal thoughts, life threatening rash, organ failure, blurred vision, kidney problems, could make moods worse, aggressive behavior, chest pain, bloody stools, and more.
  • Lamictal (Seizures, Bipolar, Depression, Anxiety) :carries a black box label that can cause life threatening rashes to meningitis to suicidal thoughts. Irritable bowel type symptoms which is NOT listed.  – – – My story: I was given this drug for PTSD and Anxiety. My IBS symptoms went from 7 days a week to 1-2x a mo instantly when I stopped this drug several years ago.  This drug is also listed on Psycom as “The side effects of Lamotrigine are relatively harmless as compared to other options” REALLY?  “Lamotrigine induced mania is usually treated with Topiramate or lithium” (Pscycom) REALLY? Another DRUG to treat a side effect of this drug?
  • Paxil (Depression, PMS, PTSD, Anxiety): decreased interest in sex, changes in sexual ability, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, numbness/tingling, easy bruising/bleeding, fast/irregular heartbeat, seizures.
  • Xanax (Anxiety, PTSD): hallucinations, thoughts of suicide, slurred speech or difficulty talking, loss of coordination, trouble walking, memory problems, and can lead to addiction.
  • Adderall (ADD/ADHD):  Psychosis Caused By A Drug, hallucinations, thoughts of suicide, high blood pressure, seizures, anger outbursts, and can lead to addiction.
  • Synthroid (thyroid): hair loss, nervousness, mood swings, tiredness, diarrhea, shaking (tremor), headache, shortness of breath, bone pain, easily broken bones, chest pain, fast/irregular heartbeat, swellingseizures.

Ashwagandha Precautions:

Pregnancyand breast-feeding: Do NOT use ashwagandha if you are pregnant. There is some evidence that ashwagandha might cause miscarriages.

Diabetes: Ashwagandha might lower blood sugar levels.  If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar closely.

High or low blood pressure: Ashwagandha might decrease blood pressure. Ashwagandha should be used cautiously if you have low blood pressure or take medications for your blood pressure.

Stomach ulcers: Ashwagandha can irritate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. 

“Auto-immune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Ashwagandha might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using ashwagandha.

Surgery: Ashwagandha may slow down the central nervous system. Healthcare providers worry that anesthesia and other medications during and after surgery might increase this effect. Stop taking ashwagandha at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Thyroid disorders: Ashwagandha might increase thyroid hormone levels.

Moderate Interactions

(discuss with your physician before taking Ashwagandha):

Ashwagandha may increase the sedative effects of benzodiazepines such as Valium, Ativan, Xanax, and other depressants. It may also interact immunosuppressant medications. Talk with your doctor before beginning a supplement regimen that includes ashwagandha.

In animal studies, high dosages have been linked to toxicity, including impacts on thyroid function; however, human studies are limited.

Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants) interacts with ASHWAGANDHA – Ashwagandha seems to increase the immune system. Taking ashwagandha along with medications that decrease the immune system might decrease the effectiveness of medications that decrease the immune system. Some medications that decrease the immune system include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.

Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) interacts with ASHWAGANDHA – Ashwagandha might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Drugs that cause sleepiness and drowsiness are called sedatives. Taking ashwagandha along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness. Some of these sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and others.

Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with ASHWAGANDHA – Ashwagandha might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking ashwagandha along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness. Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others. 

Minor Interactions:

Thyroid hormone interacts with ASHWAGANDHA – The body naturally produces thyroid hormones. Ashwagandha might increase how much thyroid hormone the body produces. Taking ashwagandha with thyroid hormone pills might cause too much thyroid hormone in the body, and increase the effects and side effects of thyroid hormone.

Medical Caution:  Always consult with your healthcare practitioner before using supplements if you have any health conditions. Laura Joseph and Healing With Spirit are not licensed medical physicians. Ashwagandha is not recommended for women who are pregnant.

 

Need More?

Need some guidance or direction?

Want a holistic health consult?

 

Laura has been providing spiritually based integrative holistic health enrichment services, classes, and programs since 2006. She has experience as a domestic violence advocate, college educator, and over 15 years working in the healthcare industry with multiple certifications in  areas in holistic health, spiritually based practices, healing, and more.

Her primary office is located inside Cohasset Medical in seaside Hingham, MA.

To book a consult, contact us here today.

Recommended Resources:

WebMD: Ashwagandha Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and Warning

The Chopra Center: What is Ashwagandha

Dr. Weil: Ashwagandha

Dr. Mark Hyman:  Are You Suffering From Adrenal Dysfunction?

Dr. Mercola, DO.:  The Healing Wonders of Ashwagandha


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Please subscribe to our channel and scroll for complete playlists on spiritual vlogs, spirit messages, energy updates, nature meditations, mindfulness in nature, reiki and more.

Click here to view my channel and to subscribe.

To schedule a private session, to book a corporate wellness event, or speaking engagement, please private message me

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 © 2015-2019 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

Where the American Healthcare System Meets Jikiden Reiki®


So this just happened, and I am still in awe …

I just left my endocrinologist’s office for a follow-up visit and was pleasantly surprised that THIS happened.

During the visit he opened my chart and my eyes could not believe what I saw. I had to take a double take. What was it? It was the word Reiki written in kanji.

My doctor began to tell me that after my last visit with him, he was so taken back by my last visit that he decided to do some research on Jikiden Reiki® in his own. He even went on to show me his written notes from my last visit where he wrote the word Reiki in kanji. I was pleasantly surprised as this was unexpected.

So TODAY he inquired more about Jikiden Reiki® and how it has helped me overcome some of these “issues” where the American healthcare system was unsuccessful.

He was very curious and inquisitive which was refreshing to see from someone in the medical field. He said as a physician, he is limited in scope of care and there are many things that in the healthcare system, people just have to live with and listed many examples on why that is – eluding to how broken the system is.

My reply was “But it does not have to be so and this is why”. He said he’s never met a patient like me before in all the years he has practiced medicine.

I thought wow. I made this much of an impression on this western doctor so much so that after my last visit, he took it upon himself to research how reiki works medically.

Granted what I have overcome throughout the years shocks many. I explained to him that I am not a doctor, and looking to solicit his assistance to help working together to find out what this last issue that is hindering me to back to myself fully 100%. It is my belief that he can help me do that with appropriate tests and a diagnosis so I know how to treat possibly myself either via Jikiden Reiki®, nutrition, supplements, etc.

To give you a little back story about me and how I landed here…

Some of you know my story, but most of you don’t. To summarize, I left an abusive relationship in 2005 only to have my abuser use the system to continue patterns of abuse until 2014. As a result, I was officially diagnosed with complex PTSD.

In search of “healing the broken me” as I would like to call it, I originally delved into the traditional American Healthcare System in hopes I can quickly return to my unbroken self. Like many others, I have felt that I was not getting better and band-aids were being applied to my mental, emotional, and physical symptoms that were not getting better and began to spiral out of control.

This affected everything with many bizarre symptoms that I felt or manifesting physically as a result of the trauma and abuse I endured.

Some of these symptoms include:

  • From my ability to swallow
  • Choking on water and own saliva
  • Enlarged thyroid
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Intestinal issues
  • Bladder issues
  • Hemorrhagic uterine bleeding
  • Low stress tolerance
  • Heart flutters and palpitations while in a calm state
  • Avoidance issues and fear
  • Nightmares and flashbacks
  • Anxiety and panic attacks
  • Chronic physical pain
  • Memory issues
  • Vision disturbances
  • Left sided weakness
  • Fluctuating weight
  • Circulatory issues

So I increasingly became very frustrated with our system and their ability to help me put myself back together with each new physical symptom that popped up. No one seem to be able to connect the dots to whole picture.

I am more than my uterus or brain or thyroid etc. My body is a miraculous being that is interconnected and multi-functional.  There is NO one shoe fits all as the system attempts to do. Just look at how separated our system is designed by specialists in areas of body parts. Where is the physician who can tie into the link between what is going on in my inner ear with my gut for instance? That what might be going on in one area of my body my actually be caused in another area of my body?

I realized there had to be more to all this and began looking into the spiritual aspects of my issues that the healthcare system couldn’t figure out.

I started reconnecting to my spiritual path. I began meditating. I eliminated inflammatory foods. I sought out reputable teachers and healers. I started connecting with the divine within me and my divine team. I learned and studied multiple holistic health modalities and spiritually based practices.

It wasn’t until I learned Jikiden Reiki®, my entire life drastically changed. I had already been practicing and teaching the more westernized cousin of reiki for 6yrs. But this was different, and in a league of its own.

I’ve learned over the last several years that we have become a culture that will take something that is pure in its roots and traditions … that is connected somehow deep to some ancient wisdoms and healing … and “Americanize” it or westernize it. This is when we have lost the magic aka medicine for the soul to fully heal those deep wounds that escape our awareness.

While practicing all these other westernized forms of healing and spiritually based practices, I didn’t quite understand this until recent years. As time goes on and I work on my craft and my own personal healing, the clearer that gets.

Needless to say, today I see my health almost fully restored thanks to these alternative treatments.

I avoided a hysterectomy, a root canal, 3 rounds of antibiotics for infections due to these therapies and saved my body from additional physical traumas and toxins that would stifle the work I am doing to restore wholeness in my life.

So sometimes, there is more to what’s going on with you than meets the eye.

My question for you is this … when the healthcare system is unable to help you restore “wholeness ” in your life, do you or would you consider alternative therapies to help you?

Do you believe there is more to illness and disease than what’s presented in the way the healthcare system categorizes it?

I come away with a few thoughts:

  1. Don’t give up on you docs who are AT LEAST open to learning, supporting, and aligning with the concept of mind-body medicine or proven alternative therapies
  2. Be a good patient. Walk the walk. Do the work to improve your life physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually without spiritually bypassing, and watch everyone around you ask you how you did that. Best testimonial is your own story.
  3. When you take responsibility for your life and health – eat right. remove toxicity – foods, thoughts, poisons, environment, etc. not only employ therapies such as yoga, reiki, meditation, thai chi, etc, but embody them… your health care team will want to learn more on how you do that without the need to “sell” them.
  4. A pill and/or a procedure will fix very few things so called, wrong. When we understand this and understand how to support our body’s ability to heal itself, and actually choose to live a better healthier life, toxic pills and harmful procedures will be lessened and the burden on our health care system financially will be significantly reduced. This is not to mention the side effect of a lessened burden on our ecosystem and environment due to reduction of medical waste.
  5. Trust your instincts and listen to the wisdoms of the body.
  6. I can keep going on, but won’t. This is a long enough post. The rest may just be added into a chapter in the book I am writing. So stay tuned …

Have you had a good experience like this bridging western medicine with holistic therapies? Please share.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me and supporting my life’s work

With love and appreciation,
Laura

To learn more about Jikiden Reiki, click here.

To learn more about Trauma, click here.

To read more about my reiki stories, click here.


Follow me:

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Did you know we now have a YouTube channel?

Please subscribe to our channel and scroll for complete playlists on spiritual vlogs, spirit messages, energy updates, nature meditations, mindfulness in nature, reiki and more.

Click here to view my channel and to subscribe.

To schedule a private session, to book a corporate wellness event, or speaking engagement, please private message me

SIGN UP FOR MONTHLY E-NEWS


 © 2015-2018 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

Current Energies, Wisdom of the Body, and a Guided Meditation in Nature

Good morning from Webb Memorial State Park in Weymouth, MA.

Please join us as we will be talking about the current cosmic energies, what is happening, how it is affecting all of us individually and collectively and why the wisdom of the body holds the key to the answers you seek.

We will also talk about trauma, the health links, healing trauma, and what is happening now.

We will end with some mindful breathing and meditation in nature. Please stay til the end. There is some magic to be seen.

I hope you will join me and together let’s raise the vibration.

( Recorded on Facebook Live August 9, 2019)

Please

✔ Join in the conversation
✔ invite others to join
✔ Share on your wall or group

Did you know we now have a YouTube channel?

Please subscribe to my channel and scroll for complete playlists on spiritual vlogs, spirit messages, energy updates, nature meditations, mindfulness in nature, reiki and more.

Click here to view my channel and to subscribe. 

With love and appreciation,

Laura


Follow me:

Twitter 
Facebook
Instagram

Did you know we now have a YouTube channel?

Please subscribe to our channel and scroll for complete playlists on spiritual vlogs, spirit messages, energy updates, nature meditations, mindfulness in nature, reiki and more.

Click here to view my channel and to subscribe.

To schedule a private session, to book a corporate wellness event, or speaking engagement, please private message me

SIGN UP FOR MONTHLY E-NEWS


 © 2015-2018 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

When The Unexpected Happens

Feeling these energies?

So the energies have been a little wackadoodle doo per say with the current planetary alignment, shifts, and shadows that continue to rise up. So I thought instead of a social media post, I would share my experience today with you all.

As I said the energies are a little nutty to say the least.  What many of you do not know is that I am not immune to these shifts. I am however, grateful to the tools and skill sets I have to help me through the process.  I have had a very difficult emotional roller coaster of a week working on my own shadows and blocks so I can free myself up from a horrific past on top of a crazy busy week speaking at 3 venues on 3 separate yet related topics in 5 days.

I was told I need to start asking for more help, which I have begun to do. I even sent our a social media request for a “little extra good mojo sent my way with all these crazy energies to help keep my energies balanced and grounded while flowing through all that is on my plate this week easily and effortlessly.”

An Unexpected Surprise Today

Today it is raining. A good day to cleanse the soul and flush away to old junk. I was driving down to my meeting today where I gave a presentation to approximately 25 business professionals on the topic of holistic health, spirituality, the physiology of being a vibrational being made of energy, the standard American medical treatments and why the system is broken, and how to take back your life and health.

I was not sure how well I would communicate my message due to the ever changing intense energies that can affect this empath. However, I will just say this. Here is best feedback from today’s presentation: 

“There wasn’t a single person not engaged with your presentation. That never happens. You had them all”

Probably the second best feedback was being told that I had a Shinto priest in full traditional white attire as a guide helping me today. I was surprised, but for that amazing message, I am humbled and honored.

I took my time driving back to my office to reflect on the day and all the incredibly amazing feedback I received as it was quite overwhelming.

My heart was filled with gratitude.

What Happened Next Stunned Me

So I arrived back at my office, ruminating over thoughts I know that should not be there. You know – those “lack” thoughts and as I settled in, I noticed a very pretty purple envelope on my desk. I first wondered, “A belated birthday card I wondered, but who would know?”

I opened it to find THIS. I immediately sat down … well maybe sank in my chair as I began to read. The name of the person is withheld for privacy reasons until I get permission to publish the beautifully hand written note.

Here it is …

“Dear Laura,

Such an old-fashioned notion, letter-writing. An art form we all used to have to do back in the Dark Ages, before computers. I always enjoyed it, and thought it would be easier than leaving a comment online for you, especially since I’m not on Facebook or Twitter.

I am really enjoying your blogs and videos and everything you have available for the masses! Thank you so much for taking all the time and effort to reach out to us. As a result of watching you & reading what you have put up, I feel renewed – in fact, I am no longer watching late-night TV – I am spending that hour before bed with your words, and I feel as though I have found a long lost friend – you have reminded me of many truths I already knew, but which have been slipping from consciousness from a lack of attention. Every topic – it’s all interesting to me – delivered with great courage and love on your part. I’m a believer in naps, too! Just got up from one, and it’s like starting a brand new day.

There is so much more room here to write. Have you heard this?  “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” Maya Angelou

Sending love and blessings backatcha -(letter signature)

P.S. I was (how they met me). A great honor for me. Thank you for saying hello. You were fantastic!”

In Conclusion

Can I just say WOW. Some of you know my story. Many of you do not. I never profess to anyone that I do not have my own struggles or battles or that my life is perfect.

As I said today at the presentation, I am about being real. I am about being raw and authentic.  Some may appreciate that. Others may not. That is OK.

When I thought over this past weekend I was failing, failing to find a way through this block that is restricting my growth …literally … I receive such kindness and warmth that I am not used to receiving and I will admit, at times I struggle with accepting. I know that is one of my residual PTSD triggers and self preservation mechanisms. However, I will say, I did not experience that today. I allowed and I received.

Funny to come back to my office to THIS letter. Talk about being in vibrational alignment. Not to mention the numerological factors involved.

Meaning:

  • Letter mailed on 3/31/18 = 9
  • Letter received on 4/4/18 = 1

That chapter I have been struggling with is ending and the one I am trying to birth is growing and launching. Trust in the signs the Universe gives you.  It has never failed me.

So … I am here to tell you, don’t let your head play (excuse my language) … mind fuck games … with you and steal your inner joy and peace.

To everyone I came in contact with today or even the beautiful woman who sent me the amazing hand written letter, I honor you. Thank you all for being a part of my journey.

You made my day today … miraculous! You restored some faith in myself I questioned. Because of you, I feel I will find the resolution I seek sooner rather than later to moving through my own last BIG block. I look forward to that day.

With love and appreciation,
Laura

PS Be sure to check out my YouTube Channel for more about my journey and story.

For more writings regarding healing trauma, click here.


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 © 2015-2018 Laura Joseph. All Rights Reserved. This information is for general educational uses only. It may not apply to you and your specific medical needs. This information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation with or the advice of your physician or health care professional. Communicate promptly with your physician or other health care professional with any health-related questions or concerns. This article does not share the opinions of Healing With Spirit or its affiliates.  Be sure to follow specific instructions given to you by your physician or health care professional.

Are You Planting Seeds This Spring Equinox?

A good morning start with the medicine of mourning dove and crow as my natural morning alarm system.  What a magical way to begin my day.  Both birds have been very strong personal totems for me communicating messages to me in the areas of love, divinity, and magic for many years.

I saw this fallen tree pictured in the graphic on a hike I went on a while ago and was amazed at the resiliency and survival instincts. We can learn so much about ourselves cradled in the arms of nature.

March has sure come charging in a lion and has no slowing down in sight to exit as a lamb. You feeling this? If you live in New England, you may have certainly been feeling this.

Today marks the vernal equinox or otherwise known as the spring equinox. For some this day may seem insignificant, but for others, it marks the return to light as well as for rebirth, new beginnings, and fresh starts and has been celebrated by almost every native culture across the globe.

So TODAY, I am reminded with this message that came to me during my morning meditation.

“As I release the dead of winter, I plant heirloom seeds for the future I envision.  Today, I nurture my soul.”

So I am curious, how are you using the energies of today to nurture your soul?

Feeling the need for more guidance or direction?  You may also want to check out the Card For The Day to help guide you further today and days to come.

Happy Spring Equinox. Be sure to nurture you and the soul you ARE.

With lots of love and appreciation,

Laura
Healing With Spirit 
Spiritual Medium, Speaker, Healer

 

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Spring Equinox Tarot Card For The Day 3/20/18

#CardForTheDay: THE HIEROPHANT

Well howdy doozy time with these energies.  Holy cow. How are you doing over the last few weeks?  Please share your experiences. I am sure you are not alone.  By sharing your experience, you may can actually bring some relief to another.

Have you ever heard the saying, “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear”? Today’s card is reminding us of this sentiment.

Today’s card is asking us to pay attention to the “unseen”, the divine that is all around us. We are divinely supported and loved unconditionally whether we realize this/believe this or not.  Just because we can not see what lies in the unknown yet, does not mean it does not exist.

Remember we know the air we breathe that keeps us alive exists. However, the air is not tangible to the touch or visible sight.

 The number five in today’s card is reminding us that we are in the midst of some great change ahead. This is compounded with the energies of today’s  vernal equinox aka spring equinox.

If you are feeling these changes, and/or struggling with them, this card is reminding us to seek a spiritual advisor, teacher, or counselor to help guide us. This spiritual teacher could be our soul, a group, or someone else who can help us make sense of what is happening in the spiritual realms while integrating this knowledge into the physical plane during these challenging times.

We are much more that what we see in this physical world. We are SOUL with unlimited potential.

Remember all teachers were at one point a student. So, this may also mean that while you seek support, others may also seek you out as well. OR … it is time for the teacher to become the student once again.

Either way, as the energies continue to intensify ahead, it is important to stay true to you (in the sense of what your soul came here to learn not what our egos perceive as truth)

There is something greater that lies ahead than what is seen. Remember, we are all one consciousness at the end of the day … star dust.

As always I am here to help. I have a few openings this week for private sessions. Please reach out and schedule a time if you feel I can be of assistance to you and your path.

With lots of love and appreciation,

Laura
Healing With Spirit 
Spiritual Medium, Speaker, Healer

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Some New Moon Intentions and Affirmations To Guide You

 

Are you ready to manifest? Create something magnificent?

The new moon is a perfect time to hit that reset button and open yourself up to new beginnings.

 

Here are some tips to guide you:

 

New Moon Affirmations:

  • I AM divinely filled and supported.
  • I shine my light and confidently in the night shattering all darkness that arises.
  • I AM manifesting all the good that aligns with my soul purpose.
  • I invite abundance and prosperity into my life.
  • My soul steps forward guiding me through this journey.
  • And so it is …

New Moon Intentions:

Watch your thoughts for like a genie in a bottle would say, your wish is my command. It’s manifestation time and don’t forget to write your prosperity checks too.

The New Moon is the perfect time to manifest new things into your life. This is also a perfect time to write yourself a New Moon Prosperity Check, which serve as a tool we can use to create more abundance in our lives.

You don’t necessarily have to believe the check itself will work when you write it. What do you have to lose? Just try it, and be open. You just might be surprised at the results with the increased prosperity and abundance in some area of your life.  Remember, abundance in itself is not always financial.
However, by writing your new moon prosperity check, you become more attune to all the possibilities that can happen.

New Moon Prosperity Check Instructions:

There are many ways to write your New Moon Prosperity Check. You can use a check from your check book, or use the check below.

Key: Write your Prosperity Check within 24 hours after each New Moon.

From your checkbook:

  1. Feel throughtout your whole body and in your heart with the intention for something of great prosperity and abundance to happen.
  2. In the ‘Date’ area, write ‘Now’.
  3. In ‘Pay to the Order of’, write your name.
  4. In the dollar amount, write ‘Paid in Full’. You may also write a specific dollar amount that you have in mind if you choose instead that you feel is attainable in 30 days.
  5. Sign the Check ‘The Universe’. You can also sign it ‘God’, ‘Your Angel’, ‘The Law of Abundance’, or whatever you are comfortable with.
  6. In the ‘Memo’ area, write ‘Thank You’

Place the check in a safe place with intention to bring more prosperity and financial balance into your life. Then, forget about it as you just turned over your intention to the Universe. Don’t worry or think about the ‘how’.  The Universe will take it from there.

It is important to reflect as much positive energy as possible.  Please be mindful  that if you are currently in a dire distressed state, this process will work, but more time will be needed. So it is important to visualize the end result. Visualize how you will feel … Feel the sensations of happiness and gratitude flow through your veins when you receive such a generous amount of money. Believe it to be possible.

Remember that abundance is so much more than money, and comes in many forms. Here are some examples:

  • Perhaps a coworker invites you out to lunch and unexpectedly pays.
  • Perhaps something came to you “out of the blue”.
  • Perhaps you are talking with a friend and he/she offers you some valuable pearls of wisdom regarding some area of your life.
  • Perhaps a neighbor stops by to offer assistance with some home maintenance or project that you’ve been struggling with.
  • Perhaps something you have been wanting is suddenly  gifted to you.

Above all, be GRATEFUL for ALL that comes into your life. Just try it, and see what abundance awaits you.

You can burn the check from the previous month as you thank The Universe for all the miracles, prosperity, and abundance you received.  The best time to burn your prosperity checks in on one of the upcoming full moons. Make sure you always express your gratitude for receiving prosperity and abundance in your life while the check is burning.

Remember, everything is energy and energy is abundant and unlimited! So enjoy it, be thankful, and stay positive! 

Have a blessed day.

Namaste,
Laura

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Breaking Free From The Chains Of The Past


Trauma …

Trauma … We have all been affected by trauma one way or another in our lifetime. However, we may not realize how a traumatic event may have affected our life or impacted our soul.

The challenge is trauma doesn’t affect us the way we perceive it. It affects us on a cellular and soul level and may not even be in our own awareness leading to chronic illness, cancer, pain, poor relationships, etc.

So, when I read the following quote, it struck me and gave me lots to ponder on and contemplate ultimately leading to this post:

“If your mind carries a heavy burden of past, you will experience more of the same. The past perpetuates itself through lack of presence.” – Eckhart Tolle

I am going on my 13th year when I made a crucial decision to leave an abusive relationship and begin my healing path for first time in my life.

One of the things that I have learned in my 13 years, is that the more I connected to the divine within, soul, inner child, it also reveals the root cause that wounded my core. I began to discover the roots to my fears, insecurities, and my own self sabotaging behaviors … to the place it all began … the seed that began decades before I married an abuser.

I began my healing journey broken wondering how to put all the pieces of me back together.

I began to employ traditional therapies (which didn’t help me much), support groups, spiritually based practices such as developing my sequestered intuition, meditation, reiki, acupuncture, journaling, dance, connecting to nature and more.

We have technology which is supposed to make us more connected than ever. However, we are actually more disconnected than ever. We are not connected to the very life that breathes underneath our feet, Mother Earth. We are not connected to our own BE-ing or essence.  We live in a society of wanting everything now, instant gratification, and a “plugged in” to that technology 24/7.

Unfortunately, healing doesn’t work like that. Employing a one day at a time mindset goes a long way as well as a lot of self-compassion. Learning new ways “to be” takes time. Discovering you again takes time. Developing new skill sets to heal takes time. Finding someone to help you who has the skill sets is huge if you can find that coach/healer.

Employing a mindset of presence helped me with my trauma, PTSD, anxiety and the physical illness that resulted from my trauma. There’s many ways to learn the art of presence whether through meditation or mindfulness-based practices, but from me, learning Jikiden Reiki changed everything for me. This is where I have seen the most growth in my life since I began this journey in 2005.

Want to learn more?

Please join me at one of these 4 events this spring:

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Copy right 2018. Laura Joseph, Healing With Spirit.  All Rights Reserved. May not be copied or reproduced without expressed written consent

A Message From A Tree During A Storm

I love trees. They have so much to say if we quiet the mind and listen to their wisdom.

The weather here in New England has been less than kind over the past week. Mother Earth is quite unhappy.

However, there is also such beauty in the storm. We just have to shift our perspective a bit and open our eyes to see.  She is helping us cleanse our shadows and reveal ancient wisdoms for us to see and feel what she is showing us.

Today’s message from the tree:

“I reach to the sky 
with my extended branches.
Catching each snowflake and
Letting it melt into my bark.

My roots are nourished as
I drink up and quench my thirst.
I extend my reach underground
To brace myself in these winds.

My trunk holds me steady
As I ride out this storm
Balancing my branches above
And my roots below.

I provide you nourishment too
And provide you with the air you breathe.
Why have you forsaken me?
Do not see my intrinsic value?

We are connected
You and I
Don’t you see?
Don’t you see?

Respect me
Love me
Nourish me
And I will provide for you”

For more on wisdoms of the trees, please check out “A Mindfulness Journey Into The I AM … the Tree”.

Posted with love and appreciation,

Laura

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Copy right 2018. Laura Joseph, Healing With Spirit.  All Rights Reserved. May not be copied or reproduced without expressed written consent