holistic healing

I’ve learned a lot from Philadelphia traffic. Sure, there are official laws, assigned by the state, but they’re not really enforced here. I imagine the police have their hands full of other business.

Slowly but surely I’ve come to learn the street rules.

You can run a red light if you long-honk while you’re going through it as a warning.

You can cross the double yellow line if there’s an obstacle (delivery truck, open car door, bus, kids running for the bus, massive pothole, etc) in your lane and there’s no one else there. It matters not if you hold up traffic going the other way.

If you’re first in line at a red light, you can make a left turn in front of oncoming traffic if you go fast, preferably a beat before the light turns green.

There’s more of these, but you get the idea. You can basically do whatever you want if you occupy a space before anyone else gets there. It helps to have an SUV and good insurance, but it isn’t necessary.

I call it finders keepers. If you see a space that would benefit you and nobody else is currently holding it, you can nab it.

This rule-breaking used to make me nuts. I’d get very judgey about drivers who didn’t obey the traffic laws. Of course, they were immune to my thought-daggers and I’m the one who suffered the cortisol surges.

Over time I just began to expect people to find and claim the spaces on the road that suited them. I’ve even begun to participate myself, growing bolder with practice.

It’s the opposite of people pleasing and for that, I commend all these rule-breakers! How much freer many of us would be if we gave less energy to making others happy.

What’s really got me thinking is how limiting the rules imposed by external “authorities” can be and how I’ve internalized rules from all sorts of “authorities” that aren’t actually authorities or are no longer valid.

No running.

Single file.

Be quiet.

Well, I’ve had enough of that! I’m going to start taking up more space. My space. I don’t need to infringe on your space to do that. There’s plenty for everyone in the energetic realm.

I’m not suggesting that you go on a crime spree, drive recklessly, or pursue your needs at the expense of those around you.

I AM suggesting that you make your needs at least as important as strangers you pass on the street and examine the beliefs that you picked up in third grade.

What I’ve Learned from Philly Drivers

I’ve learned a lot from Philadelphia traffic. Sure, there are official laws, assigned by the state,…
This is a question often asked by a first-time client at the end of our session. This week it was a man wondering how I knew that his right foot had been troubling him when he hadn’t mentioned it during the intake.

He came for help with chronic back pain after having already been through all the tests and scans and been told by numerous doctors that he was “fine”.

But he didn’t feel fine. He was in constant pain. Clearly there was something out of whack, even if it couldn’t be seen on an MRI.

I know from experience that foot, knee, and hip alignment impacts the lower back. Put a rock in your shoe for a day and then notice how the pain ricochets up the legs and into the spine. It’s simple body mechanics that when we favor a sore spot, muscles compensate and protect and can easily throw the entire musculoskeletal system off balance.

I could tell this by looking at the position of his feet while he was lying on the table. I could clearly see that the right and left feet were very different from one another. I could especially tell when I touched his feet.

What he noticed is that I used a different technique on his right foot. I explained that because his feet were different from one another that they called for different strategies. My intuition and sense of touch informed me in the moment of how to proceed. Not some procedural manual or protocol.

A skilled and attuned bodyworker approaches each session with curiosity and compassion rather than an agenda. We’re not afraid to use gentle touch to explore painful areas to try and provide some relief.

I remember a time in college when my back was hurting. My friends and I were at a terrible sports bar. It was loud and crowded and I’d been standing too long. My roommate knew I was uncomfortable and laid her hand on my low back and made a few circular movements. I froze in place. Not because it was weird to be getting massage in that atmosphere, but because no one had even done that before and I’d been suffering from chronic pain for six years. I sensed then that the power of touch was some potent medicine even if I didn’t consciously understand what was happening.

It was many years after that aha moment that I found myself in training to become a massage therapist and Reiki practitioner and ever so eager to help others with chronic pain. An astrologer once told me that I was fated to work in the healing arts based on my natal chart. That may be true; it does seem like my entire life set me up to understand that there is more to healing than X-rays and prescriptions.

I soon developed a knack for finding the knots, the anomalies, the inconsistencies and exploring how to address them. It didn’t take me long to realize that pushing hard on a painful area did not produce lasting results. After doing thousands of sessions, it became easy to pinpoint the areas that needed attention. I can’t always explain it, but I soon become aware of an X that marks the spot during many sessions.

That’s how I know. That body doesn’t keep secrets, and I know how to listen.

I expect I’ll be seeing that man again soon. What’s really cool is that each session will be different because I’ll connect with him, his foot, and all his parts exactly as they are, discerning where the tension and constrictions lie.

My answer will be the same if he again asks, “How did you know?” I knew because I was tuned in to what the body was telling me and responded accordingly.

How Did You Know?

This is a question often asked by a first-time client at the end of our session.…
The wheel of the year keeps turning. Today, those of us in the northern hemisphere pass through a gateway into autumn.

In both northern and southern hemispheres, we have a tipping point, a brief moment of equilibrium, balanced parts light and dark.

I find that these quarterly days of transition are a great time to recalibrate my efforts. Periodically reviewing my degree of integrity, clarity of vision, efforts and outcome can provide great insight.

I like do an internal inquiry and inventory, reflecting on my larger story arc.

Here are some of the questions I ask myself:

Where am I starting from?

Where do I wish to go?

What is holding me back?

What do I need to prepare?

What do I need to let go of?

What guidance have I requested?

What guidance have I received?

How can I be more receptive to all forms of support?

How can I harmonize with the energies of nature?

I spend some time allowing the insights and lessons to bubble up. I keep my antenna up for the following days, noting anything that trips my Spidey senses.

This is an exercise in patience and trust and familiarity through repetition. It’s more of an undoing than a doing, a sort of getting out of my own way.

If you’d like to take it a step further- celebrate with a meal, perhaps including some local fare. Bring home a pumpkin or some kooky gourds for your doorstep. Uncover the sweaters and sweatshirts from storage. Stand outside for three consecutive minutes breathing in the aliveness of autumn.

Honor the turn of the seasons with your attention and appreciation in any way that makes sense for you. And watch as your alignment with nature’s rhythms eases the way.

Approaching landing while enjoying the expanse of Michigan forests and the edge of Lake Superior

Happy Equinox!

The wheel of the year keeps turning. Today, those of us in the northern hemisphere pass…
Last week I was in a neighborhood park. A few unruly dogs herded me away from my usual bench and I found a quiet spot by the little pond.

From there, I could see some shapes moving under the water. Upon closer inspection, I realized that there were several turtles swimming towards me. They were coming from all directions towards what I later learned was called the turtle bridge.

Locals had used slices of fallen trees to create a turtle- friendly habitat.

It was a joy to watch this mini-migration and I got to thinking about the spiritual message turtles share.

Slow and steady wins the race was the first thing that came to mind. This is an adage that suits me well and it’s always nice to be reminded that my natural rhythms are productive.

Then, after seeing a dozen comrades come together, climb up on the bridge and extend their necks, another thought began to brew.

Wait till you’re amongst friends before sticking your neck out. This was the behavior I witnessed and I wondered if there was something more to it.

Yes, I know it was probably a desire to soak up some warmth from the sun, but I’m wondering if there’s some metaphorical wisdom to be harvested here.

What do you think?

Look to the Turtles

Last week I was in a neighborhood park. A few unruly dogs herded me away from…
It’s no secret that health and happiness levels are influenced by self-care practices.

The often-overlooked element, however, is that self-care is an individual experience. Not a protocol that can be assigned by an outsider.

This is an inside process of learning to recognize what is needed in this moment, by this unique being. Which means it’s always in flux.

Sure, I have a foundation of self-care practices that are non-negotiable- rest, compassion, self-reflection, nourishment, movement, breath. But the strategies for addressing them is different all the time.

For me, there’s a lot of experimentation involved. I feel a need to strengthen my body, but how? There’s tons of advice online, but non of these people know my specific needs.

It’s been ages since I went to a gym, so I gave that a try. I don’t much care for the atmosphere (so many TV screens! WHY?) but it’s an affordable, easy way to access tons of fitness equipment.

After giving it a solid try for a month, I realize my original assessment was correct: not for me. But I didn’t really know until I tried.

Now I’m revisiting Foundation Training. I appreciate that it has a strong focus on anatomy, physiology and alignment. At one time it was very helpful to me but when a knee injury reappeared, I wasn’t able to do most of the exercises. That’s no longer an issue, so I’m giving it a go.

But here’s the takeaway: I’m not saying you should quit the gym and get an FT membership. I’m just sharing a real life example to make the point that we all need to get in touch with our own bodies and listen.

Look to the interweb for ideas, but do your own research.

Get the help you need if you’re suffering with a malady. AND then take that doctor/coach/therapist/counselor’s advise with a grain of salt and go with what feels right to you.

So many times I’ve worked with clients who followed the physical therapist’s or MD’s orders that caused more pain or delayed healing.

If you know something isn’t working, contemplate what you could do instead with this new data.

Be your own expert. Learn how to inhabit your body and hear your own truth. Take charge of your health and happiness and become a full participant in living your life fully.

Be willing to make mistakes and try things that dead end. Be willing to pivot when that happens and try something new.

Healing is not a linear path. Your zigs and zags, tangents and reroutes will be uniquely yours. Just pick one small thing and give it a try.

If you’re at a loss for where to begin, consider Reiki. This ancient healing modality can do no harm, can be received from anywhere in the world and feels incredibly relaxing.

Book a Session

Unique-ify Your Self-Care

It’s no secret that health and happiness levels are influenced by self-care practices. The often-overlooked element,…
I just love what Louise Fletcher has to say about making art. Spoiler alert: she says it needs to be fun.

You heard me- FUN! She doesn’t use the term life-force, but that’s all I could hear during this sweet video.

She has a free 8 day course starting on Thursday that I’m very much looking forward to attending (online). I did it last year and it was incredible.

I picked up some limiting beliefs about my artistic abilities as a child that really caused me to shut down when it came to facing a blank page.

Give me a math problem or a reading assignment and I’m good. But an easel would trigger anxiety and a freeze response.

Now I’m happy to play with paints and experiment. I’m mostly cured of my conditioning about making a mess (oh the horror!), making a mistake (anything but that!) and wasting paper (it’s not wasted if it was used to create!).

If you’re not into art, I think this idea of doing what you love and making it fun is applicable to most of life, so if you have 7 minutes, why not have a look?

Make Your Best Art

I just love what Louise Fletcher has to say about making art. Spoiler alert: she says…
Interested in giving yourself daily infusions of spiritually-guided life-force energy?

It’s so easy to learn!

Anyone can gain full-time, forever access to Reiki healing energy with minimum investment of time and money.

It’s the most affordable way I know to get consistent treatment for physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and energetic issues.

Chronic pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, digestive issues, fertility issues, sleep challenges, focus, creativity, peace, joy and freedom are some of the myriad goals it can be used for.

I know because I’ve done exactly that every day for 21 years. And IT’S WORKING!!

Reiki is an ancient healing technique that uses universal life-force energy to cultivate body-mind-spirit balance, stimulate the relaxation response, and relieve stress and tension.

It’s a seemingly magical reset that helps all systems come back online and integrate for maximum wellness.

I’m offering a Reiki 1 certification training, the starting point for those who want to learn how to treat themselves and their loved ones.

We begin on Thursday, October 17th at 6pm in my Mt. Airy (neighborhood of Philadelphia) studio.

This can be the beginning of a new phase in your life if you commit to blending Reiki into your life.

More info here

Contact Pamela to apply

Get Your Lifetime Pass to Healing Vibes

Interested in giving yourself daily infusions of spiritually-guided life-force energy? It’s so easy to learn! Anyone…
Clients often ask me if I felt any bad energy during their session. As if there was something inherently wrong with the energy in their system.

I don’t see it that way.

I often sense energy that is diminished from over-giving/under-receiving or coping mechanisms that have a draining effect. Sometimes it feels sluggish from sedentary lifestyles or blocked from suppressed emotions or unprocessed trauma.

Occasionally it’s clogged in one area, causing a build up upstream and depletion downstream.

Mostly I sense an imbalance in the flow or a general lack of energy. I don’t ever feel energy that is “bad”. I’m not sure there is such a thing.

There are definitely emotions that are uncomfortable; those that we dislike and would prefer not to experience. Our efforts at avoiding them disrupt the flow of energy, but still, I wouldn’t call any emotion “bad”. Unwanted, perhaps, but to label it as bad makes it wrong somehow, and I don’t think that’s helpful.

Many of us have beliefs we absorbed as children about which emotions are acceptable. However, those beliefs are not based on Universal Truths- just some authority figure attempting to make us easier to manage. Just because your third-grade teacher was not equipped to witness grief or anger doesn’t make those feelings bad. Yet we often integrated those messages and began judging our very natural responses to difficult situations as problematic.

I have yet to meet someone with bad energy. I’ve met lots of people who weren’t skilled at expressing themselves or their feelings and were maybe carrying around a lot of unpleasant baggage. I’ve met folks whose energy was not compatible with my preferences and those who didn’t know how to regulate themselves. People with erratic energy, big energy, chaotic energy, or overwhelming energy.

But not bad energy. If you’ve been wanting to get some Reiki healing sessions but worry about the practitioner picking up some bad energy, you needn’t. Reiki transforms and heals whatever isn’t in balance. It doesn’t push it out into the room. That’s something that only happens in sci-if movies.

Let’s stop thinking about our emotions, our experiences, our wounds or our energy as bad. They just are. That makes it a whole lot easier to welcome them, which is the first step in the healing process.

Bad Energy?

Clients often ask me if I felt any bad energy during their session. As if there…
I’m cross- posting an article I wrote on my Substack blog. I created another community over there to share about my spiritual journey, things that don’t really fit over here.

As you might imagine, there’s a lot of overlap with spirituality and holistic health and wellness. The boundaries often blur. This is one such case.

Without further ado, I present, “What’s in your tank?”. It’s about expanding our capacity to receive. If you’re interested in musings and stories from a soul-full perspective, please join us over there!

What’s in Your Energy Tank?

I’m cross- posting an article I wrote on my Substack blog. I created another community over…