What Happened When I Tried Energy Healing For Burnout
I stepped out of my car and took my first few steps toward the large, brown, and unassuming commercial building off the expressway. As I walked to the building, I said a little prayer. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I was desperate to find a tool to help me feel better and more like myself.
Before starting my journey towards healing, I dealt with quite a bit: low energy, lack of clarity, resentment, and I couldn't seem to tap into my intuition. There were many culprits at that point: the current state of the States, the life comparisons none of us want to admit we make on social media, and the overall exhaustion of trying to balance work, passion projects, and volunteering.
I was burnt out.
I was moody, forgetting things, and had an overall pessimistic view of my future. The pressures were mounting and I couldn't seem to get any relief. I started to research different healing modalities like EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique also known as tapping), grounding exercises, and meditation. I also researched energy healing and ultimately decided to try it.
Energy healing was used in ancient cultures throughout the world to stimulate the body's natural ability to heal. It's not specifically tied to a religion or any spiritual practice. Of course, energy is in everything, so it can be beneficial to anyone.
Walking up the stairs to the suite, I noticed a shift. The once-sterile building entrance turned into a bright and buzzing office space. There was a welcoming staff, yogis preparing for class, and mindfulness flyers on the wall. I tiptoed to my seat in the waiting area. (In my mind, if I tiptoed and kept quiet, I wouldn't throw off the positive energy that was oozing through the walls, carpet, and the people all around me.) Not too long after, my practitioner came out to greet me. Have you ever met someone and in an instant you knew they were good people? Yeah, that was my immediate reaction to her. Her vibe was compassionate and earnest.
Before the session began, I chatted for about ten minutes with my practitioner. We talked about how I was referred to her (by a friend), some of the things I was struggling with, what I wanted to work on, and what would actually happen during the session. This mini therapy-like conversation really helped ease my apprehension. First off, it's always nice to talk to a caring individual about what you are going through. Their objectiveness and active listening are healing in itself. Secondly, she described to me exactly what was going to happen, which helped a scary-ish person like me to relax even more.
It's safe to assume no one energy healer is the same. But, generally, you can expect to have a conversation about some of your challenges and your intentions. My facilitator had a very well-lit room that was filled with the aroma of essential oils. Meditation music was playing and I laid face up on a massage table. I just took off my shoes. From my research, this is what typically happens with any healer.
As she started the work, I thought about my intention, which was to receive clarity. Listen, I have to be honest, I kept my eyes closed the entire session because it was so relaxing. The best way to describe it is when someone is washing or styling your hair. You know that feeling when you start nodding off in the salon chair? You're so relaxed, it's almost impossible to keep your eyes open. That is how I felt at times, but I never went to sleep, and I was totally aware of my surroundings.
My energy healer started at my feet and she held them lightly. It seemed like she worked on my feet for a while. There were times that I saw bright colors like orange and yellow, giant redwood trees, and felt tingly sensations throughout my body. But, I can't stress enough how peaceful and relaxing the process was.
Seeing the colors or feeling the sensations weren't scary at all.
From there, she touched my knee area. Then, she continued up my body (my stomach area, my neck, and the center of my forehead). This may sound a bit woo-woo, but as she worked each energy center, I sensed affirmative phrases like, "You are safe," "It's working out."
When it was done, she had to nudge me. I wasn't sleep, but more in a meditative state. When I sat up, I felt so much lighter. I was shocked at the immediate difference I felt. We talked about my experience and I told her about the huge trees I saw when she worked on my feet. She said that she was grounding and rooting me, and it was amazing that I saw the trees. I also told her the words that came to me. She shared some insights to help me continue to work on my healing and gave me ideas for affirmations to use and some self-care tips.
Here are some of the self-care tips my practitioner suggested:
- Start the day with intention. I was so busy and exhausted that I would rush out of bed, get dressed, and go straight to work. My energy healer suggested that I think of a word, phrase, or feeling that I wanted to commit to for that day. Intentions help you become more mindful of how you move through your day. Some of my past intentions are:
- I intend to be gentle with myself today.
- I intend to find beauty all around me today.
- I intended to laugh a lot today.
- Say "no". This is a pretty simple tip, but always a good reminder. She encouraged me to begin to decline invites, opportunities, or anything that didn't excite me.
- Tell the story you want to live. Often we think and talk about the things we don't want to happen and of course, those things tend to happen. My practitioner reminded me the power of my words and that I should make a habit to think about what I really wanted. Not only does it put me in a better mood, but it often manifests.
A few of the affirmations she gave me were:
- Everything is working out for my highest good.
- I am Divinely guided.
- I let go and flow with life.
Needless to say, after that session, I felt clearer and was more confident in the decisions I made. I've had a few more sessions since then where I focused more on forgiveness, and I've found them to be just as beneficial. Energy healing can be a powerful tool to use if you are feeling stuck.
After all, energy doesn't lie.
Featured image by Shutterstock
Originally published June 12, 2019
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Ebony English is a writer based on the East Coast. She loves art, cooking, all things health and wellness, and creating playlists. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @sheis3bony.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
Courtesy
Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy