Muse

Shakti is a powerful force. Energy healing, meditation, yoga and many other practices are an invitation for Shakti to begin its work of transformation. As Shakti is unleashed, she moves into the energetic blockages and constrictions in the body and electromagnetic field.

Her energy can feel enlivening, empowering, and joyful--but it can also push up the muck that holds the energies of our past, and this can feel downright terrible. The healing process reveals and magnifies the negative patterns that we have created, and this can be pretty hard to look at.

When I started on my spiritual journey, I didn't just put a toe in the water—I jumped into the deep end of the pool. It was way too much. I ended up feeling drained and lousy because of too much healing. It is good to have time to integrate the energy into consciousness, and being grounded and energetically contained allows for this.

People who have core issues of self-hatred, shame, and a belief that there is something inherently wrong with them can have a tendency to attempt to do too much healing too soon. Overcompensating for feeling permanently flawed by doing even more healing never works. People who overheal will often end up feeling strung-out, exhausted, and on an emotional roller coaster. 

So how do you dance with Shakti in a way that works for you?

1. Make yourself your first priority. So many of us (and I include myself here) give ourselves over to service (and our spiritual paths) in a way that disregards personal needs and desires. If you believe that you have to put your own needs aside in order to heal the planet, you may get into trouble. 

   By healing yourself in a grounded way that allows you to experience joy and love in your life, you are healing the planet. It isn't selfish to be happy (even though it feels this way, especially with what is happening all over the world right now). Joy is a very high vibration that has a powerful healing effect on those around you. So go for joy! Make room for pleasure and fun. Be frivolous, do nothing, do what you love. 

2. Learn how to contain your energy—your energy, not everyone else's. This begins with learning how to have energetic boundaries and using proper energy hygiene. For a great book on energy hygiene see John Friedlander and Gloria Hemsher's book Basic Psychic Development.

   Yes, you are a part of and are completely connected to the Universe, but you are also your own divine spark of energy that is just you. When we run lots of Shakti without being properly grounded and embodied, we open ourselves up for all sorts of energies to enter our space.

   And, if you are a natural healer, there's a good chance you are giving away lots of energetic juice unknowingly. This is exhausting. Learn how to clear and ground your energy and own your energetic space.

3. If you are an "overhealer," back off the healing and find different practices that are calming and grounding. Learn how to calm your stress response and engage in activities that soothe and create love and joy. I highly recommend  Dr. Eva Selhub's book The Love Response.
    
4. And last but not least: get out of isolation. Find like-minded people to talk to and have fun with. Play games, be silly, be unproductive, and laugh.

Remember, the healing journey is ongoing and there is no there to get to... be gentle with yourself, be patient with the process, and do your best to enjoy what's happening right now.

Be well,

Rebecca