When did holistic healing enter your life?
In a way, holistic healing and wellness have always been a part of my life, even as a child… I recently found a “mind control” workbook in my Nana’s bookcase, which turned out to be from a meditation course she had taken in the late 60’s – I guess you could say it has just always been in my blood. In 2013 I was faced with the actualization that I was I was suffering from severe PTSD stemming from childhood abuse, both my parents passing away from cancer and all of the other hardships in between… Cue break down. I could no longer bear the unexplainable numbness from the anxiolytics and other interventional prescriptions. I realized how the toxic relationship patterns and repeated poor decisions had actually stemmed from all these traumatic experiences. It was like a big aha moment, a shift of perception. I picked myself up off the floor, and immediately took the steps to necessary to have myself admitted to a private mental health hospital that specialized in inpatient PTSD recovery.
Experiencing such a Western approach to mental health made me realize that there are so many ways to heal. I just kept thinking “there must be a more natural way”. Then I reconnected with yoga in a way that I had never before – I found mindfulness. I realized how much of a difference breath work and meditation made in my life.
Fast-forward a year. I’m sitting at my desk at my PR Job everyday, miserable. My intuition kept telling me that I needed to retreat, and restore. Somewhere around this time I knew I had to go to Thailand. It wasn’t even a decision, it was just something I HAD to do. What I found, or what found me rather, was so much more. Having traveled to the other side of the world for a yoga teacher-training course I found myself submersed into a culture that was somewhat new to me. A beautiful bay full of healers, lovers, and high vibrational beings. This place became home in the moments I was there because I felt safe and loved. I was supported. Upon return to Canada I longed for this feeling of home, and I realized that HOME, was spirituality and holistic well being. I had found my Personal Legend, my life path, my place in the Universe – my purpose to serve.
Have you come across any obstacles in your path towards becoming a healer?
Without question! I believe that the only things worth really fighting for are the ones that cause you to push past heavy obstacles. Being a healer, you are essentially starting your own business – that is YOU. It is up to you to feel comfortable enough to share your gifts as your true authentic self. The key to success is empathy and authenticity. There are many skeptics out there, and they will find you. They will project onto you, they will question you. It is a challenge at times to stay in the knowing that this is a good thing. Let them question, let them become enlightened, let them grow. As a healer, it is important to surround yourself with a white light of protection, all the while keeping your heart open to feel compassion and empathy for people in order to help them heal. It’s a bit of a catch-22. Moments of an imbalanced solar plexus chakra seem to be an obstacle I face more than anything else.
Reasons like this are there reason that self care and self awareness play an integral role in being a healer – not to say we should be incapable of being imbalanced, we are human, we need to experience blocks and imbalances so we are able to grow.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking for ways to start establishing a deeper connection and communication with her inner self?
SELF CARE AND SELF LOVE! What I mean by this is journaling, mirror work, spiritual psychotherapy, meditation, Reiki, chakra balancing, connecting with nature… It’s easy to want something without wanting to put in the work. DO THE WORK! Just because we want to wake up and enlightened does not mean we’re going to. It takes a lot of work! To connect with your Higher Self you must have the courage to go to the places you’ve been avoiding – dig deep into the corners of your soul where you’ve been hiding all the shit. Dealing with trauma and hurt you thought or told yourself you were over but never properly processed. We give ourselves permission to feel and open our hearts to healing. I have to be honest and say that it’s going to hurt, you’re going to cry, and you’re going to feel pain. As much as it hurts it’s going to feel that much better having worked through it. Accept all humility with grace, and that is what you will embody.
It is also important to be part of a supportive community of other healers. Go to their events. Support them. Their success is your success, and your success is theirs. We are all working together towards one beautiful goal, LOVE! Book sessions with them, try new things, dance, and be free.. Eventually, it becomes a lifestyle. Ecstatic dance on Thursdays and restorative yoga with Reiki on Fridays just becomes your thing! .. My thing, anyways.
Tell us a bit about the kind of work you do as an intuitive.
As my practice and skill sets develop, as do my healing sessions. No two healing sessions will ever be the same because no two people are the same, and change is the only constant in life. When I meet with clients, we have what I call a “dialogue”. We sit and connect and chat about what it is going on in their life, or what it is that brought them to me. Then we go into a session that begins with a mindful meditation and breathing exercise to bring them to a point of relaxation and openness. I am more clairsentient and claircognizient than anything – and it is very strong. What I mean is that I have a clear feeling and a clear knowing. I physically feeling in my body (tension, energy, pressure, pain) and I have clear thoughts, ideas, or solutions flood my mind. It is just knowing. I let these messages guide me though a healing session. This is how I know which chakras to work on. I use a number of tools and skills I’ve learned in training. These different tools include, Reiki touch and symbols, colour therapy, vibrational therapy (instruments and voice), guided meditation, gentle aromatherapy, crystal healing, yoga therapy (movement to open the body and energies), aura cleansing, chakra cleansing, chakra balancing, dousing and card readings…
Organically, that has begun to take shape of something more along the lines of spiritual life coaching. Together, my client and I work on a self-healing plan. I like to stay connected and keep the lines of communication open. I take the time to follow up after every appointment with notes, as well we homework that includes things like journaling, mirror work, listening to meditations… I am always available to my clients for support and guidance. We heal together.
What are some of the most cherished aspects of your work?
More than anything I am grateful that there are people who come to me with trust that I can help them. What matters most to me is helping someone opening their heart and having that initial shift of perception – you know which one I’m talking about. The one where you realize all the shit you went through actually affects you and the way you live your life everyday. This is the realization that everything is connected. There is nothing that makes me happier than experiencing the moment someone decides to take control of their life and give themselves permission to feel. This definitely isn’t the prettiest thing in the world – seeing someone breakdown, but what looks like pain to someone else looks like courage to me. It is the beginning of another’s healing journey that I cherish most. I feel so much pride and joy for this person because even though they might not realize it yet they are about to embark on a wild ride of self-discovery. The Light in me see’s the Light in them.. Nothing compares.
Do you have a mantra we can use in our meditative practice this winter?
INHALE LOVE, EXHALE FEAR
I know this one is a common mantra, but these 4 words significantly changed my life, and take on new meaning every single day.
What's your favourite way to give good energy?
It really depends on the person, and the connection we have. Everyone is different, and everyone absorbs information and energy differently. There are some people I connect with metaphysically and I send them energy through visualization of energetic chords, some people I send relative imagery to, EMOJI’S.. Imagery, sound, music, word, vibrations, healing stones. It really comes down to intention and thought. The power of the mind is fuckin’ wild.
Thank you Alexandra-Jo!
Anyone or anything you want to give thanks for today on our blog?
For personal reasons, this interview took me much longer to write than I anticipated. My sincere thanks go to Palo Santo Supply Co. Thank you for understanding the process of The Universe. Thank you for giving me the space and time I needed. Thank you for not passing judgment. Thank you for your love and support. Thank you for all that you do, for being. I appreciate you.
Thank you to the readers.. May you find peace and joy through spirituality and your practice. The light in me honors the light in you.
Infinite Love,
Alexandra-Jo Hastings
instagram.com/alexandrajohastings
[website coming soon!]
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