A Path to Inner Peace

My clients often begin working with me when they are experiencing some form of distress and something about their lives is not working. Perhaps they are navigating anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, confusion about what they want to do, a feeling of being stuck, unhappiness of some form, or stress and overwhelm. Equally common, everything in their lives looks good on paper and they have achieved many of their longings, yet they are not feeling the happiness, peace, and fulfillment they thought they would.

Both types of distress are disheartening and can create a lot of confusion and suffering. I incorporate a wide variety of healing and coaching techniques to help my clients gain relief from the distress and tune into deeper insights about the root causes of their suffering. One set of techniques that I often employ are guided journeys. I may guide someone to journey into the past or the future or deep within.

These journeys are very powerful and enlightening, and one of the most common things they reveal is a deep yearning for inner peace. I believe this is a universal longing we all have, yet it can feel so challenging to experience in a lasting way. Worries, stresses, hurts, and longings abound and seem to resurface time and again, so how do we experience lasting inner peace?

This is an important question that I have contemplated many times in my life. Earlier this year, as I was preparing for my annual pilgrimage to the sacred land of the Wixarika people, I had one of those epiphany-like moments of insight that reveals one answer to this age-old inquiry. (If you’d like to learn more about this pilgrimage journey, see the blog posts linked at the bottom of this post.)

As I was standing in my living room, staring out the window, an inner voice of wisdom said, “You have traveled to the ends of the Earth seeking healing wisdom and spiritual truths. You have learned about and practiced many traditions, and you are getting ready for another wonderful journey. But what if all there is is to be with what is?”

To Be With What Is

I laughed at the simplicity and the irony of the realization. It wasn’t exactly a joyous laugh; more a rueful one. How could it be that after all my quests this was the guidance I was receiving? It seemed so simple and all of my previous striving so unnecessary.

Of course, I needed to have all those experiences to get to this insight, and a sudden moment of insight does not automatically lead to living that truth in daily life. Embodying such insights often takes continual practice, but it was a big shift from a seeking orientation to one that focuses on being with what is within and right in front of me.

The wisdom that this insight held, of course, is timeless and has been passed down in many spiritual and secular traditions. The teachings of the Buddha come to mind, for example, and recently I heard the following poem by Dorothy Hunt, which so eloquently speaks to this:

Peace Is This Moment Without Judgment

Do you think peace requires an end to war?
Or tigers eating only vegetables?
Does peace require an absence from
your boss, your spouse, yourself?...
Do you think peace will come some other place than here?
Some other time than Now?
In some other heart than yours? 

Peace is this moment without judgment.
That is all. This moment in the Heart-space
where everything that is is welcome.
Peace is this moment without thinking
that it should be some other way,
that you should feel some other thing,
that your life should unfold according to your plans. 

Peace is this moment without judgment,
this moment in the Heart-space where
everything that is is welcome.

Friends, perhaps our very concept of peace is the thing that sometimes makes it so impossible to experience. Perhaps peace is not some mythical state of endless bliss in which we are not touched by the normal challenges and sorrows of life.

Perhaps it’s a state of acceptance and allowance of the totality of the human experience. Perhaps embracing change, sorrow, hardship, boredom, grief along with joy, victory, success, excitement, beauty allow for a kind of inner strength and resilience that becomes a foundation for lasting sense of inner security and peace.

This Moment Without Judgement

In a world that continually conditions us to judge and find fault with ourselves, others, and to see our life circumstances as lacking in some way, it can be challenging to embrace this moment without judgement. Thus, it becomes very important to make this a practice, so we can cultivate this skill over time.

One simple technique you might try is to print out Dorothy Hunt’s poem and read it regularly as a kind of personal prayer, meditation, intention, or reminder. This is what I intend to do myself.

If you have any thoughts, questions, or ideas you’d like to share with me, please email me at heal@shamanicsoulcenter.com. Many blessings to you.

*****My Previous Pilgrimage Blog Posts*****

Shamanic Pilgrimage Journey - May 2018

No Salt, No Sex - Preparation for Sacred Pilgrimage - March 2019

My Shamanic Pilgrimage to Sacred Huichol Sites - May 2019

Autumn Healing Guide & Meditation

Dear Friends,

Autumn Blessings to you!

This beautiful (but at times challenging season) is associated with the direction of the West on the medicine wheel I work with. This is the season of shedding and letting go of what no longer serves us. It’s a time of completion, endings, gratitude, and honoring the energies of the harvest and abundance.

It’s also the time associated with the setting sun, of saying goodbye to the old and and making room for new visions and dreams.

Sometimes, it can be difficult for us to release and let go, even of painful patterns and energies. Consciously or subconsciously, we sometimes fear the unknown and find comfort in the familiar, even if the familiar no longer serves us.

I hope the guided visualization below will help you to release energies that don’t serve you and assist you in grounding yourself to the healing energies of the Earth and of your own essence and spirit.

In addition to listening to the guided meditation/visualization recording, I invite you to CLICK HERE to check out this Autumn Healing Guide to assist you in enhancing your whole mind, body, spirit well-being this season. The guide has 10 tips for how to stay grounded, healthy, and centered during the dry and airy energies of the Fall months. I hope you enjoy exploring it, and please let me know if you have any questions. Big hugs and blessings to you for a beautiful Autumn.

Summer Healing Guide & Meditation

Summertime is the season of light and joy, abundance and expansion. In terms of energy, summer is when we are most present to our inner radiance and who we know ourselves to be – when we can shine our light brightly just as the sun shines so abundantly during this season.

As we live in cities and are surrounded by our technological comforts, it is easy to forget that we are an interconnected part of this vast world of nature. Our bodies, minds, and hearts crave living in harmony with the natural rhythms and cycles of the world we are a part of. 

This guide is an invitation to tune into the energies of summer. It draws on the wisdom from a few different traditions: Shamanism, Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda. These traditions speak on the energies of a season, and how we can adjust our routines and invite our hearts and bodies to be in tune with the seasonal energies.

In Shamanic tradition, summertime is represented by the South direction on the Medicine Wheel – a place of expansion, coming into full bloom, opening the heart, and enjoying life’s beauty. We are invited to focus on the love and light within us and all around us. With the abundance of sunlight and day hours, we have an opportunity to leave behind darkness, shed negativity, and embrace positivity. 

As you read through this guide, take the time to listen to your heart, mind, body, and spirit. Explore the ideas that resonate the most with you. Tap into your own inner wisdom. And most importantly, regardless of what season it is, remember to be gentle with yourself, to love yourself, and to regard yourself with compassion. Some of our greatest tools on this healing journey is our own inner wisdom paired with gentleness, love, and compassion.

#1 MORNING SUNBATHING

Morning sunbathing is a healthy Ayurvedic practice that stimulates sadhaka pitta – an energetic principle in Ayurveda that is extremely mood lifting, similar to serotonin. The summertime is a season of sunlight, joy, and expansion; a 10-15 minute early morning walk can not only set the tone for our day, but help us to safely nurture a relationship with the sun and our inner sense of expansion during these brighter months.

#2 FIND SHADE & ENJOY A SIESTA

While there are moments during the day we can safely experience the sun’s physical and energetic benefits, there are moments of the day we must protect ourselves from overheating and exhaustion. Balance is a very important part of keeping our summertime energies from being depleted.

During the hottest hours of the day, seek out shade by wearing a hat and sunglasses, or move indoors. Staying in the sun for too long or when it’s too strong can be extremely aggravating and even dangerous. Ayurvedic principles encourage spending the afternoon indoors, in a cool location, and outside of direct sunlight. Afternoon siestas are encouraged; napping for 10-30 minutes is ideal. Allowing your body to rest and replenish is a beautiful gift to yourself.

#3 HYDRATE WITH NIMBU PANI

Because of the extension of sunlight hours and higher temperatures, it’s extremely important we stay hydrated during the summer months. The daily water intake recommendation is to take the number of your body weight, half it, and drink that amount of water in ounces. Adding a pinch of salt in your food or water will help you better retain hydration.

Along with water, experiment with drinking other cooling beverages such as fruit juice or cucumber infused water. In India where the summers can be extremely hot, nimbu pani (limeade) is a favorite drink. To make it, add lime juice, a pinch of sugar and salt to a glass of water. Stir and enjoy. Other ingredients you can add to enhance flavor are a tiny bit of cumin, a tiny bit of black pepper, some mint, or cucumber slices. Have fun and experiment with it!

#4 ENJOY COOLING WATER ENERGIES

Fiery yang energies must be balanced with cooling yin energies. In ancient Chinese philosophy and medicine, yin and yang explore the concept of duality, of opposing forces being complementary and interconnected. Yin is associated with femininity, shadows, and rest; yang represents masculinity, light, and activity. Yin and yang are in constant flux. If one is deficient or in excess, there will be an imbalance.

During the summertime, yang can be excessive, thus making yin deficient. Spending time near local bodies of water is very helpful to balancing these energies. Walks on the beach, picnics on a lakefront, and dunking your feet in creeks and rivers are all ways of connecting with the replenishing energy of water. For those moments where we are too far from natural bodies of water, there are other ways to tap into this energy. Spraying your face with rose water or listening to a cooling waters meditation are ways to tap in while not leaving the house. Here’s a healing meditation that helps cleanse negative feeling energies and welcome in higher frequencies.

#5 BALANCE PITTA

According to Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Pitta energies can easily get aggravated during the summer months. Pitta is the element associated with fire and heat. When Pitta gets out of balance, we are prone to feeling emotionally irritable, impatient, and angry. Physically, we may feel overheated, experience indigestion, and be prone to eye and skin conditions.

To keep Pitta in balance, it is important to adopt “cooling” practices to our summertime routines. This includes eating seasonal fruits & veggies, using a cooling face mist during the daytime, and exercising in the morning before the hottest part of the day. A small, great tip for balancing Pitta energy is washing the bottoms of the feet with cold water during moments of overheating.

#6 EAT SEASONAL, COOLING FOODS

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As the temperatures shift with the seasons, it’s important that our diets reflect the shift. Eating more sweet, bitter, and astringent flavors helps us to balance Pitta energies in our bodies. This includes cucumbers, celery, summer squashes, leafy greens, watermelon, cantaloupe, stone fruits (such as peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, etc.), and herbs such as cilantro and mint. Avoid hot drinks, spicy foods, alcohol (which has a dehydrating effect), and fermented foods – these all further aggravate Pitta energies. Eating according to the season is a beautiful way to sync our bodies to nature’s abundance and celebrate the season accordingly.

#7 PLAY. LAUGH. ENJOY.

In Shamanic traditions, summer is associated with the Spirit of the South – supportive and abundant, beautiful and warm, playful and passionate. During the summer months, invite these principles into your life. Bring laughter into your daily doings. Find time for celebration and joyfulness. Recall the fabled summertime associated with youth and invite play into your life. The expression and sensation of joy can be very uplifting and healing. Open your heart to the potentials of joy, love, and other uplifting emotions. Seek out healthy company, wholesome activities, and connections that make your heart shine. Think kayaking playdates, beach picnics, or moonlit walks with loved ones.

#8 BALANCE BUSYNESS WITH PRESENCE

As we add more play to our schedules, summertime can get busy. Between the outdoor outings and keeping up with work, it is extremely important to remember to take the time for ourselves to rest and reconnect. Remember to make time for meditation, for morning prayers, for moments of stillness amidst the summer frenzy. Remember to honor yourself and say “no” to busyness if it means saying “yes” to your self-care. Stress further aggravates Pitta.

In line with resting our bodies, the eyes are ruled by Pitta in Ayurveda. Be extra mindful of screen-time and computer overuse. Rest your eyes; rest your mind. Rebalance by close-eyed meditations or taking a walk in nature where you mindfully tap into your other senses (listening to bird calls or children playing, smelling flowers, watching sunlight dance through tree leaves, etc).

#9 COOLING EXERCISE

All exercise during the summertime months should be cooling. Swimming is an excellent way of connecting with the energy of water during Pitta months. Biking is also a beautiful summertime exercise because of the cooling element of wind. Moonwalks are another beautiful way of soaking up lunar energy during a season of solar energy, while moving your body in a cooler environment. Exercise should take place in the morning before 10am or in the evening after 7pm. When outside during hot hours, wear a hat to protect the top of your head from the sun. In keeping with the playful energy of summertime, try replacing your exercise with fun activities such as kayaking, dancing, or barefoot walks in the park.

#10 LIVE IN GRATITUDE AND ABUNDANCE

One of the simplest and most powerful practices in optimizing wellbeing is living in a state of gratitude and abundance. As summertime shows off its abundance and full expression, showing gratitude is a beautiful way of reciprocating grace and being mindful of the blessings we receive during this season. Keeping a gratitude practice, where we count our blessings, can be a very powerful way of replenishing ourselves and our souls. A gratitude practice includes taking a couple minutes everyday to give thanks. This can be done by writing in a journal, or simply in reflection and meditation. Another powerful practice is setting a daily intention to notice the abundance around you throughout the day. With this practice, our awareness builds and we are given even more moments to be thankful for.

We hope you enjoy this summer healing tips and guided meditation. Reconnecting with nature’s rhythms and cycles offers us a rich opportunity to honor every transition with grace, gratitude, and ease. 

Please email us with any questions or comments, and please share this post with any friends and family who may enjoy these tips and guided meditation.

Winter Healing Guide & Meditation

Wintertime is the season of contemplation, solitude, and hibernation. In terms of energy, the winter season is an invitation to redirect our energies inwards. As the days grow shorter and the weather grows colder, we are invited to spend more time intentionally resting and nourishing ourselves. 

As many of us live in cities and are surrounded by our technological comforts, it is easy to forget that we are an interconnected part of this vast world of nature. Our bodies, minds, and hearts crave living in harmony with the natural rhythms and cycles of the world we are a part of. 

Seasons are vital to the health and growth of this planet; living in harmony with the seasons is just one way to connect to the wisdom of nature, our immediate surroundings, and ultimately, our inner selves. 

This guide is an invitation to tune into the energies of the seasons, drawing on the wisdom of a few traditions: Shamanism, Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda. These traditions take into consideration the energetic climate of a season, and how we can live in harmony and optimal balance with those energies. In learning more about each season, we can align with the healing opportunities the season presents us and choose actions that support and fulfill us as we move through the year.

During winter, this means slowing down. Nourishing our bodies. Keeping warm and rested. Prioritizing contemplation, introspection, and meditation. Redirecting our energies inwards. All for the purpose of getting rest before the regeneration and growth opportunities of spring. With winter season symbolizing the closing of a cycle, and spring being about renewal and rebirth, take this time to do some contemplation about what has been and what is to come. 

 Tips for Winter Healing

#1 ALLOW YOURSELF TO REST AND HIBERNATE

In observing nature, we see that most living beings rest and hibernate during winter. If you find yourself feeling more tired and lethargic during this time, know that your body is simply responding to seasonal energies. Allow yourself to get more rest in winter. Your body is storing up energy for the more active and creative energies of springtime. Don’t overexert yourself if your body is wanting you to take it easy. You will end up depleting your qi and putting too much stress on your body if you push yourself too much. Instead, enjoy the quiet evenings and early bedtimes. Allow yourself to be introspective and use this time for reflection.

#2 EAT COOKED, SEASONAL FOODS

The Ayurvedic advice on foods to eat during winter is a nice transition from the fall, including the fall favorites of squashes, root vegetables, apples, and pears and the theme of eating warm foods, like soups and stews. During the winter months, our digestive fire is quite strong, and we need to be eating nourishing meals in order to maintain warmth and health. More foods to incorporate include: corn, carrots, brussel sprouts, kidney & black beans, walnuts, spinach & greens, mushrooms, grains (such as oats, quinoa, rice), and eggs. Ayurveda recommends cooking foods on low heat for longer periods of time and using less water than usual. Maintaining a regular routine for meal periods is important. Eating your largest meal for lunch is a helpful tip for digesting, because the sun is at its highest point in the sky which mirrors when our internal digestive fire is at its strongest.

#3

BALANCE

KAPHA

In Ayurveda, winter is recognized as a kapha season – cold weather, increased moisture (rain/snow), cloud covered days, and a sense of heaviness are all characteristic of kapha energy. Kapha is associated with the earth element and can lead to heaviness, lethargy, and sluggishness when out of balance. In the effort to balance the energies of winter, Ayurveda recommends inviting as much warmth into our life as possible. This can be physical or physiological, such as drinking hot tea and dressing warmly with scarves and socks. But this can also be emotional and mental, such as cultivating a light heart and inviting opportunities for fun and laughter. Further suggestions for keeping kapha in balance are to try and wake up at a later time than usual, when possible, and to shake off any sluggishness with some gentle stretches.

#4 KIDNEY CARE

In Chinese medicine, the organs include not only their physiological function, but also a mental, emotional, and spiritual function. The winter season is associated with the kidneys; the emotion associated with the kidneys is fear. Be kind to your kidneys during this winter season by keeping warm, especially your lower back area and your feet. Another way to take care of them is to eat certain foods which are beneficial to the kidneys, such as: black beans, walnuts, miso soup, seaweed, sesame seeds, ginger, and spices such as cinnamon. 

#5 MIND

YOUR EMOTIONS

Slowness, cold, lack of sun, and isolation can lead to the emergence of lower frequency energies, such as fear or depression. In Western Medicine, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder characterized by depression/anxiety that occurs during the darker months due to lack of sunlight exposure. Adding a Vitamin D-3 supplement into your diet is a way to lighten low moods. Opening your curtains during sunlight hours or taking intentional, brisk walks at midday can also ease the sadness that tends to characterize winter.

#6 GET MODERATE, GENTLE EXERCISE

Our exercise and movement routines can also mirror the slowness of winter; workouts should be gentle in nature, so we are careful in not overdoing or overexerting ourselves. Moving our bodies is helpful for circulation, increasing the body’s warmth, and keeping a workout routine so that come spring it’s not as difficult to begin working out again. Walking is a great way to exercise and the intensity is something you can easily modify from intense to more gentle. Also since the weather is colder, your body has to work overtime to get warm, so you may burn 50% more calories than in summer, but it’s important to go a little slower until you get warm. Try doing an indoor sport, such as swimming at an indoor pool for a great cardio workout, instead of jogging outdoors. Doing light exercises such as tai qi or gentle yoga are also beneficial. If doing yoga, try doing poses that will help open the chest, throat, and sinuses, which will help remove congestion.

#7 BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY

 With the change in temperatures, winter is a time when many people find themselves getting sick with a cold or flu. Boosting your immune system during the winter can keep you from catching seasonal sicknesses and increase your immune system’s fortitude year round. Getting regular sleep is always important, but even more so to help our bodies keep our immune system at their strongest. Make sure to wash your hands regularly, as this is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of infections. Try gargling with warm salt water – while this method is commonly used to soothe sore throats, it can also help in discouraging upper respiratory infections. You can even try drinking some warm green tea.

#8 KEEP HYDRATED

Staying hydrated is an important part of every season; during the wintertime, we can sometimes forget to reach for a glass of water if we don’t feel parched, as we tend to do in the summer months. Making sure you drink your daily 8 glasses of water a day will help to keep you appropriately hydrated. When drinking hot tea, opt for teas that are warming such as cinnamon tea or ginger tea. Cold and dry weather paired with indoor heaters can easily dry out skin – using a daily moisturizer is important to keep our largest organ (the skin!) soft and hydrated. If you notice your skin is still dry while using your regular moisturizer, you might want to look for a moisturizer specific to the cold weather seasons or for extra dry skin. Another option to keep moisture in the air is to get some green indoor plants. They soften the dry atmosphere by giving off moisture and oxygen, plus the colors will brighten up a dull day outside.

#9 NURTURE HEART CONNECTIONS

Winter is associated with slowing down and taking time to be at peace and still – a time for deep contemplation and looking inward to get clarity. Alone time is a healthy and important part of our self-growth and quest for self-knowledge. And while the season may call for times of solitude and reflection, there is also an invitation to balance alone time with quality time with loved ones. The sluggish, gloomy winter days may create feelings of sadness and loneliness that can be eased by spending time with heart-nurturing relationships. Sharing, listening, and supporting our friends and family can be a beautiful reminder of the reciprocity and balance found in relationships, the warmth that comes through sharing time with loved ones, and the importance of community during the hibernating, winter months.

#10 PRACTICE GRATITUDE AND MEDIATION

One of the simplest and most powerful practices in optimizing well-being is living in a state of gratitude. When we get sluggish, sad, or lonely, it’s important to open our minds and hearts to the abundance of blessings present in our lives. A great way of keeping this awareness is having a gratitude practice by taking a couple minutes each day to give thanks, either by writing or through reflection. Because winter is the season of rest and solitude, it is an especially rich time to spend in meditation. This can be through journaling exercises, guided meditations, or quiet time spent in contemplation. The stillness of winter is an invitation for us to redirect our energies inwards and introspect, in preparation for the blooming of springtime.

Below is a Wintertime Healing Energies Meditation to support you during this season. I hope the guided visualization will help you connect to the healing energies of the this beautiful season. May you experience deep relaxation and rejuvenation. If you have any friends or family who would enjoy these tips and this meditation, please spread the blessings and share it with them.

Big hugs and blessings to you,

Parminder

Spring Healing Guide & Meditation

There are few things more exciting and invigorating than the feeling of the earth reawakening in the springtime from her winter slumber. Feeling warmth return to the winds, seeing baby buds sprout on once bare branches, hearing the birds sing their daily songs… spring is the season known for renewal, growth, and regeneration. 

As many of us live our more sedentary lives in cities, spending time indoors surrounded by our technological comforts, we can easily forget how interconnected we are with the natural world around us. However, our bodies, minds, and hearts crave to live in harmony with the rhythms and cycles of nature. Aligning with nature is a beautiful way to restore balance and feel our best.

Each season has wisdom to share with us. This guide is an invitation to tune into the energies of spring, drawing on the wisdom of a few different traditions – Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and Shamanism. These traditions speak to the energetics of a season and give insight on how to adjust our routines and invite our hearts to be in tune. 

Rebirth and renewal are happening all around us in nature during the springtime; the natural world is going through a rebirth. In Shamanic traditions, spring is represented by the cardinal direction of East on the Medicine Wheel. The East is a place of renewal, rebirth, new beginnings, creativity, momentum. After the passing of winter, we are invited to open and unfurl our inward energy to once again shine outwards. We take inspiration from budding blossoms which garner the strength and movement necessary to burst anew – we too are invited to usher in a new experience of life, health, mental clarity, emotional wellbeing, and spiritual connection.

As you read through the guide below, take the time to listen to your heart, mind, and body. Explore the ideas that resonate with you most. Tap into your own inner wisdom. And most importantly, regardless of the season, remember to love yourself and regard yourself with compassion. Some of our greatest tools on this healing journey are our own inner wisdom paired with gentleness, love, and compassion. 

To provide you with additional support, we offer you this lovely Spring Healing Meditation. We hope it helps to renew your energy, uplift your spirits, and deepen your connection to Self and Spirit. Make yourself comfortable and click on the link below to enjoy the healing goodness.

#1 EATING SEASONALLY

Optimal health and proper digesting aren’t just about digesting food, but also about digesting life’s experiences. Study after study has shown the importance of caring for our gut, nicknamed the “second brain.” As we slide away from winter, we also want to move away from heavy, sweet, and grounding meals (such as stews, soups, etc.). 

Instead, focus on integrating lighter, warmer foods that are easier to digest. Steamed veggies, lightly sautéed greens, and fresh fruit are small ways to shift your diet to be appropriate for spring. TCM suggests focusing on eating green – leafy greens such as dandelion, baby greens, chard, lettuce, sprouts, and arugula. Ayurveda suggests focusing on pungent, bitter, and astringent flavors – cooking with garlic, onion, and black peppers help incorporate these flavors into your meals. Some other foods to add to your springtime grocery list include leeks, asparagus, artichoke, ginger, celery, pomegranates, cranberries, blueberries, and apricots.  

#2 TENDING TO OUR LIVERS & GALLBLADDERS

Traditional Chinese Medicine is an ancient system of health and wellness, which aims for whole body harmony to restore wellbeing. In using the seasons as guideposts to optimize certain organs, we can nurture our body’s balance. In TCM, the season of spring is associated with the liver and the gall bladder. The liver is responsible for smooth flow of blood and emotions in the body; the gall bladder is responsible for storing and excreting bile, which governs courage and assertiveness. 

 A few ways of caring for the health of the liver and gallbladder are by eating sour foods, taking care of our eye health, and stretching our bodies for circulation. The liver governs both our eye health and our tendons; stretching and taking breaks from screens are two simple ways to care for our liver. 

#3 RISING WITH THE SUN

Keeping in tune with the energies of reawakening spring brings, Ayurveda recommends beginning to rise earlier in the morning. Waking up with the sunrise or right before sunrise is best; it relieves the sluggishness that could be present in waking later, the same sluggishness that we are leaving behind with winter. 

Rising at dawn brings clarity, vision, and closeness – the very energies of rebirth and renewal that spring is known for. Taking the time to step outside and experience fresh morning air is an invigorating practice that helps us to metaphorically awaken from our winter slumber. Enjoying the morning as it flourishes is a beautiful way to connect to spring. 

#4 RE-VAMPING YOUR MORNING ROUTINE

What better way to embrace the energies of reawakening than by revamping your morning routine? Our subconscious mind is most active right after waking up. It’s important to create a practice of mindfully stepping into the day by taking the time to connect with our inner selves, and springtime can be an extra sweet season to reinvigorate your morning routine. 

One practice to consider is doing gentle movement like a morning walk or yoga. Spending a few moments outside and breathing in fresh air is another way to ground down the energy of newness. Here are some other practices to consider when reinvigorating your morning routine: lighting a candle to symbolize the returning of light that is spring, reading positive affirmations, dancing, pulling a tarot or oracle card, or drinking lemon water which promotes cleansing.

#5 SPRING CLEANING AND ENERGY CLEARING

Spring cleaning is a fairly famous phrase that almost always gets brought up during the first few weeks of warmth. Clearing out items that no longer serve you is a beautiful physical practice that creates a positive energetic effect for our homes, offices, cars, etc. Along with going through our belongings and donating that which no longer serves us, spending time cleaning computers and other appliances, dusting the corners of rooms, and opening all the windows of your home to allow fresh air to blow through. And to really harness the creative and fresh energy of spring, take the time to beautify your home – bring spring indoors by way of flowers in a vase, or refreshing your altar with totems that symbolize spring. Check out our previous blog posts on spring cleaning and energetic clearing.

#6 SPRING DETOX

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Speaking of cleansing, the common phrase “spring cleaning” not only applies to clearing out physical spaces but also to detoxing the body and mind. During times of transition, we have the opportunity to release and make space for new growth. Ayurveda sees spring as an ideal time to cleanse or fast. 

Cleanses have amazing benefits for the mind, body, and soul – seeing as the gut has been labeled our “second brain,” caring for its health is a matter of both mental and physical wellness. A cleanse can be as intensive as a juice fast or mono diet, or it can be as simple as cutting our excess sugars and processed foods for a few days. Please use caution when attempting a detox and work with your medical provider to consult on any health concerns. 

Some other methods of releasing are spending time in saunas, hot baths, or steam rooms. Other methods of stimulating the body’s life force energy that may have become sluggish during winter is body work, such as acupuncture, dry brushing, massages and Reiki! 

Reiki is a powerful, but subtle energy healing that when paired with an aura clearing offers deep relief, healing and energetic clearing. Until March 30th, Shamanic Soul Center’s Reiki Master Healer Mary is offering an amazing special: get a 45-minute reiki session with an aura clearing for the price of a 30-minute session! Book now and save. Use code: SPRINGAURA. To learn more about the beautiful healing power of Reiki, check out our recent blog post All About Reiki Healing. 

#7 MINDFUL MOVEMENT

Exercise during the spring months should pick up some intensity that was softened during the wintertime. The sluggish, cozy energies of winter can be countered by recommitting to a daily or weekly personal movement practice. Moving your body improves circulation, generates heat, and results in a feeling of lightness – all benefits that assist your body and spirit as we move through this transition season. 

Biking, jogging, hiking, and swimming are all beautiful ways to move your body without excess strain. Exercising in nature is a beautiful way to welcome in the increasing warmth, witness spring in the nature around us, and feel even more deeply connected to our bodies. For those who are just beginning a practice of movement, mindful walking in nature is a sweet and effective way of getting exercise and spending time soaking up the beautiful spring energies.  

#8 RE-EMERGING FROM HIBERNATION

Spring is often seen as one of the sweetest seasons – the birds are chirping, the flower buds are bursting, the Earth feels like it’s beginning to wake up from her long and cold slumber. One of the most important and simple ways of reharmonizing to the Earth’s cycles is to spend time outside in nature: taking a neighborhood stroll, going shopping at a local farmers market, making a weekly ritual of visiting a hiking or walking path. 

Make it a practice to witness mother nature waking up; watch the growth on a neighborhood tree, as it moves from a small, tightly wound bud into a beautiful blossom, ready for pollination. If possible, walk barefoot on grass to deeply connect with Earth as it awakens. Approach spring from the eyes of a child – full of wonder, amazement, and awe. Act as if every chirping bird is the first song you’ve ever heard, as if every blooming blossom is the first you’ve laid eyes on, as if every warm breeze is the first you’ve danced with.  

#9 INVITING LIGHT-HEARTEDNESS

Keeping in tune with the invigorating energies of spring, find ways to invite the energies of play and spontaneity into your life. Spring, as the symbol for new beginnings and carrying the energy of lighthearted softness, supports new experiences. Our wild sides need outlets for expression. Try exploring new and spontaneous activities – maybe joining a local meetup or new club, hosting an event, trying a new craft or movement class, or visiting a museum or botanical garden you’ve been wanting to see. Socializing is another beautiful way of welcoming the season, by rekindling or initiating meaningful relationships. Inviting a healthy sense of play to our lives is a healing way to invigorate ourselves as we move into the new season. 

#10 DREAMING UP OUR LIVES

In Shamanic traditions, spring is associated with the Spirit of the East on the Medicine Wheel. The East governs dreaming and visualizing, new beginnings and creative ideas. During the springtime, invite these energies and practices into your life. Welcome new beginnings; make space for your creativity to flourish. 

As with all transition periods, we are gifted the opportunity to move forward more mindfully. Ask yourself: what kind of life do I dream for myself? What did the past season, or year, teach me? How would I like to move forward into this season? Working with creative visualization exercises is a beautiful way for us to gain clarity, invoke our creativity, and be active agents of change for our life. During the spring, we are reborn. We are renewed. We are given an opportunity to approach life with a new lens. 

We hope you enjoy this spring healing guide as we welcome in a new season. Reconnecting with natures rhythms and cycles offers us a rich opportunity to honor every transition with grace, gratitude and ease. 

May the spring sun shower its golden rays of light down upon you blessing all your endeavors.

May the spring rain nurture your connection to the swelling of the Earth. 

May the sweet spring flowers remind you of your beauty and effortless blossoming. 

And may your heart find ease and grace with the changing of the season.

Please email us with any questions or comments, and please feel share this post to any friends and family who may enjoy these tips.

All About Reiki Healing

Many people are curious about Reiki and often ask me a variety of questions: What is Reiki? How does it work? What does it feel like? Do distance Reiki sessions really work? This post will serve as a brief guide to answer these questions and share testimonials from graduates of our Reiki classes to give you a sense of how Reiki can impact individual’s lives for the better. 

What better place to begin than the fundamental question, 

What is Reiki? 

Reiki is a form of energy healing that promotes healing, relaxation, balance, and overall wellbeing. Reiki practitioners use their hands to deliver a gentle, beautiful energy flow that supports the body, heart, mind and spirit. Reiki originated in Japan and has become increasingly popular in the West. 

In fact, it is used as a complimentary healing modality in hospitals and hospice facilities. It is sought by more and more individuals seeking Reiki sessions to facilitate body, mind, heart, spirit healing and optimize wellbeing. It is also done in group settings through Reiki shares and circles. 

Reiki is used to reduce stress, enhance relaxation, and promote healing. It can be done in person or by distance. It is the use of universal life force energy to promote the highest and best good for self and others.

Where does Reiki come from? 

Usui Sensei

Founder of the Reiki Healing System

Mikao Usui, also known as Usui Sensei, founded the Reiki healing system in Japan in the early 1920’s. There are different versions of Reiki origin story, but they generally agree that Usui Sensei was dedicated to a spiritual path and was seeking spiritual enlightenment when he had a profoundly healing and awakening experience at Kurama yama, a sacred mountain near Kyoto.

A powerful jolt of light entered his body causing him to fall unconscious. He awoke the next day full of vitality and energy, experiencing himself as part of the universal consciousness. In excitement, he ran down the mountain, but stubbed his toe against a rock. He placed his hands over his toe and felt the healing energy of light flow from his hands into his toe. Thus, the healing gift of Reiki was discovered. Usui Sensei went on to become a renowned teacher and healer, spreading the powerful gift of Reiki.

What are the benefits of Reiki?

Here are just some of the benefits of Reiki:

1.      Deep relaxation, restoration and rejuvenation. Reiki brings about a sense of inner peace and harmony and optimizes one’s overall health and well-being.

2.      Reiki helps to bring balance to the mind and emotions. Provides relief from emotional distress and helps to clear stuck emotions.

3.     Promotes physical and energetic healing, reduces stress and dis-ease, strengthens the immune system, relieves physical pain and speeds up recovery after surgery or illness.

4.     Clears emotional blockages. Reiki helps open and heal the heart, allowing one to strengthen and heal personal relationships with self and others.

Do distance Reiki sessions really work? 

The amazing thing about Reiki is that it does not have to be done in-person. Because energetic or spiritual healing has no time and space limitations, we can send Reiki across vast distances and into the past or future. When we learn Reiki, we get a distance symbol that we use specifically to do distance or remote healing. Because I have extensive experience in both giving and receiving distance Reiki, I can confidently say that it’s very powerful and equally effective as when received in person.  Click here to learn more about distance healing. 

While I had done distance healing sessions for my clients for years, at the start of the pandemic was the first time I taught a remote Reiki session. In preparation, I took a special class in which I was trained to do distance attunements. I was stunned to find that I actually found the distance attunement I received to be even more powerful than the ones I had received in person.

This gave me the confidence to offer Reiki classes via Zoom, and much to my delight, the feedback from my students was very positive, and some even said that they preferred the Zoom class because they loved being in their own space and enjoyed being able to relax into the experience on an even deeper level. So, whether Reiki sessions or classes are done in-person or via distance, they are beautiful and powerful.

What do graduates of our Reiki program say about their experience? 

Over the years, I have had the honor of guiding many students through Reiki classes. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a Reiki Master Teacher is seeing what a profound impact Reiki has on my students’ lives and how they use Reiki to benefit themselves, their families, their communities, and the world. I want to share some of their inspiring stories below. 

“I was initially drawn to Reiki following a Healing Touch session during a shift at the hospital where I work with the NICU population. After some research online, I was lucky to find Parminder and to experience Reiki first hand. As a healing practitioner in traditional western medicine, I was very curious about learning to use Reiki as a complementary method. Through the Reiki classes and community created by Parminder, I found myself opening to new ways of looking at healing and connection. Reiki feels like a calming, peaceful balance in situations where it is welcome. I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to learn from Parminder and the beautiful group of students learning by my side!” - Jennifer

“Reiki is like having a medicine cabinet in the palm of your own hands. Instead of reaching for Tylenol or Vicks, you start turning towards the energy radiating through your fingers. Tapping into Reiki energy is subtle yet so profound. I initially became interested in Reiki to help calm my very active dog and then continued with the journey to help my mother cope with her ALS diagnoses. Reiki has helped me and continues to benefit my family and friends. Parminder is a wonderful master teacher who radiates SPIRIT in a very grounded digestible way. I have so much gratitude for her attuning me and so many others with Reiki’s healing energy. Thank you Parminder for this life enhancing experience.” - Michelle

“Taking Reiki classes at Shamanic Soul Center has been life changing. Parminder is a true guru, loving, kind and supportive during and even after the classes. I feel so empowered using the beautiful healing and magic of Reiki to face life’s challenges, or just for some self-love and relaxation!” - Sherri

“I LOVED taking the Reiki program with Parminder at Shamanic Soul Center. I first discovered Reiki working with her in private sessions where I experienced the powerful, profound healing for myself. I had to learn more! I’ll never forget the Level 1 class where I received my first attunement - it was the most beautiful experience, like magic! I now share the gift of Reiki with others and use it almost every day as part of my personal practice.” - Sarah

I feel so blessed to share this beautiful, natural healing way with others. I would love to answer any and all of your questions.

Thank you and blessings for a beautiful day.

The Magic of the Maiden Sunrise

Friends, do you believe in magic and miracles? If you are on this website, reading this post, I suspect that there is at least a little part of you that does. 

I feel fortunate to have witnessed and experienced thousands of everyday miracles and am continually enchanted by the magic all around us. As we open our hearts to a new beginning at this time of the New Year, I would like to share a tiny instance of magical synchronicity that I hope will touch your heart and uplift your spirits.

For years, I have had a New Year’s tradition of going to the Laguna Mountains to watch the first sunrise of the year. I have no idea when exactly I started doing this or why, but it  seemed to me like the perfect way to begin a new year. This annual ritual was always a very sacred and solitary experience for me…I usually went alone and would only see a few other people.

A few years ago, I was not able to go to the Laguna Mountains because the roads were closed due to heavy snow. So instead, I drove up to Mount Soledad and was surprised to find a crowd! I was further surprised to find that many of those gathered were of Japanese ancestry. I thought then that perhaps going to watch the sunrise on the new year was a Japanese tradition, but did not think to research it. 

A few days before ringing in 2022, I found myself going through old photos. I found images from that Mount Soledad excursion, and thought to myself, “I should find out if there’s a Japanese tradition connected to the first sunrise of the year.”

That very night, I woke up before dawn and could not go back to sleep, so I thought I’d work on a new vision board for the coming year. I pulled out a stack of old magazines I saved from the local post office a few months back and started looking through them to cut out images and words.

Imagine how stunned I was to find an article about Mount Fuji that began by talking about how throngs of people gather there the first of the year to: 

“watch the rising light of hatsuhinode—the maiden sunrise…. The Ainu, mainland Japan’s ancient indigenous people, believed that the sun was among hundreds of gods, and one of the most important. To witness hatsuhnode is considered a sacred act."

The magical synchronicity of reminiscing about a moment, wanting to learn of a tradition that resonates deeply in my heart, and coming across the explanation so unexpectedly reminds me how the world is brimming with surprising beauty, magic, and miracles.

One of my favorite questions, which I say as a sort of affirmation/prayer is, “What more beautiful magic and miracles are possible?” It has a way of opening my eyes, consciousness, and heart to both tiny and big delightful everyday surprises.

As we stand with a brand new year ahead of us, I hope you are showered with an abundance of beauty and blessings, magic and miracles that delight your heart and uplift your spirits.

In closing, I share with you some photos of this year’s hatsuhinode or maiden sunrise and a blessing that came to me at the start of 2016 and still feels full of promise and hope: 

May you walk in Beauty each moment of every day.

May you know Love so pure it takes your breath away.

May you delight in the Joy that’s ever ready to burst forth.

May you awaken to the Power that rests deep within your soul. 

My 27-Year Journey to Freedom

Written January 3rd 2021:

Yesterday may have been one of the most important days of my life. It’s the day I did something I had feared doing for 27 years. To the outside world, it may not seem like a big deal. But to me, it is everything.

One of my greatest longings in life has been a desire for freedom. 

Freedom from the sometimes excruciating pain I felt inside. A pain that drove me to an eating disorder in my teens, sank me into serious bouts of depression, drove me to an almost ever-present state of anxious worry for much of my life, and had me engage in years of overwork and various forms of what I have come to realize was self abuse. 

This pain began when I was very, very young. 

It began with child sexual abuse that started early and lasted until I was 8 years old. It continued through a punitive education that included harsh discipline and physical punishment. It escalated with the trauma of leaving my home in India and moving to the United States, a country where I did not know the language or culture and felt like an outsider. It calcified in my psyche and body with seeing the bruises on my mother’s body after being hit by my father.

Trauma does crazy things to one’s body, mind, heart, spirit, and soul.

It has us in constant states of high alert and hyper vigilance, which just feel normal. It has us feeling somehow bad, damaged, broken, dirty. It shatters any sense of self-worth and has us question our right to even exist. It fills us with unconscious fear and dread, so even when things are going great, a part of us is always waiting for the other shoe to drop. It manifests as physical ailments, such as digestive disorders and cardiovascular problems.

I, of course, did not have an intellectual understanding of the impacts of trauma when I was young, but as far back as I can remember, I longed for freedom and escape from my felt experiences of it. 

As a teen, I fantasized about running away from home. I escaped into daytime soap operas and soap opera style romance novels. I contemplated suicide. At times, I ate to the point of feeling sick to my stomach. At others, in an attempt to gain some sense of control, I overexercised and deprived myself of food to the point of anorexia. 

I went away to college and began being exposed to new ideas, a diversity of people, and a sense of boldness and possibility I had not experienced in my small, sheltered life. There was a girl in my freshman class who had a shaved head, and she seemed to carry herself with so much confidence and power.

I wanted that confidence and power…and I longed to do something wild and brave and freeing. 

Some part of me became fascinated with the idea of cutting off my hair and shaving my head. I took a class on Buddhism and started noticing Buddhist monks and nuns on campus. I felt drawn to their Zen vibe of peace and simplicity. That life of wearing simple robes and spending time in quiet contemplation seemed like such a welcome solace from the craziness of my internal and external worlds.

I seriously longed to shave my head. I longed for the freedom, escape, simplicity, boldness, and personal power it represented.

But I was too afraid. I fantasized about it…had visions of a happy, healthy, free, peaceful being with a shaved head looking towards me from a beautiful meadow…but it stayed in the realm of fantasy.

I ignored my longing for a number of reasons: 1) I knew it would upset my parents who are very conservative and see long hair as a symbol of their religious faith. 2) I was terrified that I would feel ugly and exposed with no hair. 3) I wasn’t ready to make such a bold statement to the world or myself. 

Over the 27 years that have passed, the thought has come to mind multiple times, but I continued to shy from any serious consideration of it for some combination of the original reasons.

But, yesterday, after 27 years of nursing that longing, I did it! The idea came to me as I was looking at myself in the mirror late Saturday afternoon. I had been needing a haircut for a while and had missed the opportunity to go to a salon when things opened during the pandemic.

Because hair salons were once again closed, I contemplated cutting off several inches myself but thought that was crazy and it would be better to wait a while or find a stylist who might see me outdoors. 

As I was considering my options, the long-buried idea of chopping off my hair popped into my head again. This time, I didn’t push it aside. It was a time of transition for me and the world. We had just said goodbye to 2020, and I, like many others, felt ready for a big reset.

I reached out to a couple of soul sisters who had offered to come to the sanctuary to help and support me during this time of transition. I shared the idea with them, and everything fell into place.

The next morning, we were gathered in the new, ceremonial yurt and we had a ceremonial shaving of my head. It included music, prayer, a beautiful altar of sacred items, a labyrinth walk. And it was followed by a sacred release and cleansing in the ocean.

This beautiful, sacred, impromptu personal ceremony proved to be more healing and powerful than I could possibly have imagined. It created an opportunity for me to do a big release of an old pattern of shame and fear and allowed me to experience a sort of rebirth and to come home to my self. 

I was always afraid of how I would feel about my appearance if I did shave off my hair. And I did have a bit of a shock for a few minutes as judgements about my appearance came up. I felt very naked, exposed, vulnerable, and almost raw. But those feelings were overshadowed by the sense of freedom, joy, and rightness I felt.

I don’t know how to explain it in words, but I feel more like myself than I ever have before. And as the reality sets in, it feels amazing at all levels of my being. My heart is happy, my spirit feels lighter and brighter, and I keep caressing my almost bald head in awe.

A few times, I’ve wondered, “Why did I wait 27 years to do something that feels so damn good?!” But I know it feels so good because I am ready for it now. The freedom, confidence, and sense of personal power I was seeking as a freshman in college could not have come from shaving my head.

It had to come through deep inner work; through healing of the pain and trauma I experienced; through coming to love myself and see my inherent beauty and worth. 

Over the years, I have come to know that the healing journey is a continuously unfolding process and that I will be healing and growing for the rest of my life. The healing path is certainly not for the faint of heart. There are ever-deeper layers to be explored and excavated.

But some tipping point had been reached after 27 years of a seed first being planted in my heart and mind. I had done enough healing and gained enough courage to carry out the longing from a space of inner peace and calm.

Fascinatingly enough, this act of shaving my head leaves me with a sense of celebration for having come to a place I had been seeking for so long, and, at the same time, it opens me to deeper layers of healing of what held me back all those years. 

I am so very grateful that life gives us many opportunities to follow our hearts, to learn, grow, and heal. I am excited to see where this journey of both celebration and deeper healing will take me. 

I hope the sense of freedom and joy I have gotten from this small act will inspire me to be more bold and brave as I face future possibilities. 

I also hope this act of sharing my personal journey will somehow resonate with others…that it will provide them with comfort and solace…that it will let them know they are not alone and that we all can heal what hurts inside…and that we can take our time, allowing ourselves to move forward and make progress at our own pace.

Blessings and gratitude to you for allowing me to share this journey with you,

Parminder

Two Healing Mantras

It may sound like a cliche, but in all my years of being on this healing path, I have come to see very clearly that LOVE is the most powerful healing force and the best medicine.

In my younger years, I worked hard to “fix” the parts of myself I did not like. This ranged from trying to whip my body into shape to disowning parts of myself that I was ashamed of…the part that got angry for example because I was so scared of the fiery energy of anger.

Over the years, I learned that rejecting any part of myself was a form of violence and a kind of abuse. We can bully or ignore parts of ourselves and feel fine for a time, but the hurt and pain of treating oneself so harshly lingers beneath the surface.

All beings need love, understanding, and appreciation to heal, grow, and thrive. One of the most powerful ways we can heal the hurt/wounded parts of ourselves is to love them. We can do this by accepting and caring for those parts instead of trying to push them aside.

Another very powerful way we can heal is to understand that we are created from love and are loved eternally. There is absolutely nothing we need to do to prove our worth or earn love. Spirit loves us unconditionally and is constantly showering love on us.

Our job is to open our hearts, know we are worthy, and let the love of the divine fill us up. Here are two mantras that I find very helpful in reconnecting to our hearts and healing with love:

1) This first mantra came to me during a ceremony. It can serve as a beautiful affirmation/reminder that we can repeat daily to help us remember to open our hearts and let the love shining on us in.

I recommend placing both hands on your heart and saying this mantra after any form of meditation or prayer. Visualize the love and light of the divine shining on you and pouring into your body as you repeat the following:

I am loved. I am so deeply loved.

I am loved unconditionally.

I am loved eternally.

I am loved just as I am.

I am loved. I am so deeply loved.

2) This second mantra is from the end of a body mind appreciation meditation from Deb Shapiro’s Your Body Speaks Your Mind book. It’s a wonderful one to repeat after doing any form of self-healing, meditation, or any practice that connects you with your body and being. I recommend placing one hand on your heart and one on your belly as your repeat the following:

May I be well. May all of me be well.

May the healing power of love be with me always.

I hope you enjoy these healing mantras. If you have any questions or would like to share your experience in working with them, please don’t hesitate to email me at heal@shamanicsoulcenter.com.

Big hugs and blessings to you on your journey to welcoming in more love and light.

Does Distance/Remote Healing Really Work?

Friends, I have been getting a lot of questions about remote/distance healing sessions since the start of the pandemic. While this type of experience is new to many, I have been both receiving and providing remote sessions for years, so I thought I would share a bit about remote sessions with you.

Does Remote/Distance Healing Really Work?

This is definitely the most frequently asked question I get. And that’s very understandable. For those who are new to spiritual/energy healing, it may take a leap of faith to try something new…and doing so by phone makes some individuals nervous because they wonder how it could be effective.

My experience in both giving and receiving distance sessions is that it’s VERY powerful. Because with energy and spirit, there are no time and space limitations, we can send energy/spiritual healing across vast distances and into the past or future. There are various techniques by which we are able to heal past traumas and childhood wounds, for example. 

As part of my Reiki and Shamanic studies programs, we received training (and even a special Reiki symbol) to perform healings remotely. So, when I wanted to continue working with my teachers (who all live out of state), I was excited I would get to experience distance healings and intuitive guidance sessions firsthand. 

Since those early days, I can’t even count how many phone sessions I have had. Definitely way more than the amount of in-person sessions. Sometimes, for me, distance sessions have been even more powerful than an in-person session. Why might this be? Because there are fewer distractions and less stress involved. 

When I schedule my regular sessions with my teachers (who all live out of state), I do my very best to make them at a time that I can be completely free of disturbances with a few minutes free before to get myself mentally ready and ample time after to enjoy the benefits of the healing.

During the majority of the sessions I receive, I’m resting in my bed with my journal handy to share what I want to focus on (which may be something very specific or a more general well-being tune-up/relaxation) at the start of the session and to take notes on anything that came up during. I haven’t had the stress of driving anywhere and I can stay in my bed resting after the session. This makes a huge difference in my ability to relax and let go.

Of course, there have been times I have not been able to be in my bed. Sometimes, I’ve taken a break during my work day and received sessions while I’m in my office. And at times, I have even been parked in my car or resting in a quite place outdoors. 

The important thing has been to not be disturbed and be fully present for the session just as if I were seeing the practitioner in person. During these remote/distance sessions, I have experienced some amazing sensations in my body, some powerful releases, and wonderful insights…just as I would if I were receiving it in person.

Sometimes the sessions have been less dramatic and other times they have been more so. This is also the case with in-person work. We need different things at different times, and we are more sensitive sometimes and less at other times. So, it’s normal and understandable that our experiences would vary from very subtle/gentle to very powerful/dramatic.

In addition to receiving sessions by phone, I have also provided phone sessions for many years. I’ve had the blessing of working with individuals thousands of miles away…as far as Puerto Rico and France, not to mention other states in the US. 

Rather than tell you about others’ experiences, I thought I would share their words with you. Here are reviews from 4 beautiful souls (Amir, Anna-Maja, Stephanie, and Genny) that talk of their experience with distance healing:

Google Reviews:

1. Parminder has brought about so much positive change in my life in such a short period of time that at times I’m still awestruck. After just a few sessions with her I experienced larger shifts than I ever could have imagined. Issues that I had been (unsuccessfully) tackling for over a decade were suddenly resolved and I felt happier and freer than ever before. Notably, our sessions were all over the phone as I live about 2,000 miles away and the results were/are still indescribably great. I can’t imagine there is anyone out there who wouldn’t benefit from sessions with Parminder. ~ Amir
   

2. UPDATE! I recently moved out of the area in February 2020 and started doing weekly REMOTE healing sessions with Parminder, and it has been awesome. It has been uniquely beneficial during these unprecedented times with the pandemic and social injustice to have my teacher available remotely to support my journey toward love and light in all things. To my joyful surprise, remote sessions are just as effective, healing and restorative as in person sessions.
   
   Parminder has my highest recommendation. She is a relatable spiritual teacher right in our backyard who breathes new life into the great teachings of our ancestors. Her refreshing, genuine and compassionate approach was exactly what I needed to get myself out of a feeling of hopelessness and back to connecting with my spiritual life. Whether you are facing a major life challenge, a minor set back or simply want to live a more peaceful and fulfilling life, call Parminder. You'll be happy you did. I know I am. ~ Anna-Maja

Yelp Reviews:

1. Thank goodness for virtual healing sessions! If you don't live in San Diego and can't make it to Shamanic Soul Center, I HIGHLY recommend Parminder's virtual sessions. I moved away from San Diego at the start of 2017 and was really missing my regular healing sessions with Parminder. When I got pregnant later in the year, I realized how much I needed energy healing and Parminder's support on my journey to motherhood. When Parminder told me about virtual sessions (over the phone), I thought I'd give it a try.
   
   I was blown away by our session - it was just like being in person in her office! Although I anticipated that it would be beneficial, it far exceeded my expectations. Our coaching session at the beginning really helped me to shift my perceptions around some things that I am working on as I prepare for motherhood. They are subtle shifts, but with really huge impacts, and really helped me to see some of the challenges I am struggling with in new ways - and as blessings and gifts on my path. As soon as she started guiding me in the visualization for the energy healing part of the session, I immediately felt an energetic shift in my body. I laid on my couch at home, and it felt just like I was on her reiki table at her office. At the end of the session I felt so peaceful, calm, nourished and lighter - just what I was looking for. I am so grateful that virtual sessions are possible! I can't recommend it enough :). ~ Stephanie
   

2. I've been working with Parminder for a couple months now and it's been truly amazing and transformational, it's hard to even put into words!  I originally went to see her for energy healing  - not knowing exactly what it was or how it worked but knowing that I needed something to help me experience less stress, anxiety, better sleep and overall help me regain a sense of self again and confidence.  I've experienced so many amazing things since I've begun working with Parminder, it's completely renewed me and allowed me to experience true joy in my life. I feel like the world has opened up to me since I've begun this journey.and feel truly blessed that life led me to her.  She's amazingly talented and intuitive with the ability to zero in on your issues upon first meeting.  In the span of just a couple months, I can honestly say the issues I was having prior to seeing Parminder have virtually disappeared. 
   
   I do believe there is "undiscovered" science behind energy work that the general public does not fully understand - it is very real and very powerful.  In a recent Reiki session Parminder did with me, she performed reiki in her office in San Diego while I was in my home in Los Angeles.  Within 5 minutes, I actually felt a very specific sensation occur that I've only ever felt in certain acupuncture sessions and I immediately recognized it.  The only way to describe it is a pleasant whirling feeling and my energy moving throughout my body, slightly out of body sensation.  This lasted the entire session and just amazed me, literally validating everything for me!  The fact I felt this energy work with her in a different location is proof of how powerful this all is.
   
   Overall, this work has been life changing.  In just a short amount of time, I've felt such a tremendous impact on my life - more than any other work I've ever done.  So grateful for Parminder and her talent, devotion and passion for helping others! ~ Genny

I have been feeling so incredibly grateful and fortunate to be able to continue my work during the pandemic. I shifted all of my sessions to phone sessions in March, and now that I am living in Julian, there is an extra sweetness to working from home where I am surrounded by the incredible healing power of nature.

I’ve also had the blessing of teaching a remote Reiki Level II class via Zoom in early June. The students and I were equally amazed at how powerful their attunements were in spite of the distance. Some students commented on how wonderful it was to be in their homes for the experience and said they enjoyed it even more than the in-person class they had done in January.

Also, the Monthly Healing Circle I have been facilitating with several Reiki practitioners who have taken Reiki classes with me has been so well-received with individuals reporting such beautiful benefits. It also happens via Zoom with all of us sitting in different places (as far as Australia!). 

So not only is distance/remote healing powerful and effective, so are remote attunements for Reiki students and distance healing with large groups of people scattered all over. This makes me so very happy because it will make it possible for so many more individuals to experience the beauty, magic, and power of this healing way, especially during times where social distancing is important. 

Soon, I hope to write another post on what you can do to optimize your experience with remote sessions. The most critical aspect of one’s experience are one’s openness/mindset and the environment, so I look forward to sharing some tips with you about mindset and setting. 

In the meantime, please enjoy browsing the Shamanic Soul Center website if you would like to learn more about Healing Sessions, Reiki Classes, or the Healing Circles. I have not yet had the opportunity to revise the site to reflect that all services are being done remotely but will be doing so soon.

As always, I love hearing from you, so feel most welcome to email me with any questions, comments, or suggestions. Big hugs and lots of love to you all. May all beings be happy, healthy, and free.