Holistic Bodywork

The Cinnamon Ritual: How to Prepare Yourself for the Energy You Invite

I’m sure you’ve seen this popular ritual on the first of every month – Blow cinnamon into your doorway. When you do this, it invites prosperity, abundance, and good energy into the home. This is done on the first of the month because it invites new beginnings and sets the energy for the rest of the month.

As A Shaman and root woman, I am a firm believer in the energy around us, rituals, spells, spirit, and the works of the universe. With that being said, I am also a firm believer in our energy mirroring and attracting like energy. Or, being introduced to energy that will encourage change in patterns and behaviors.

I always recommend that, when casting a spell or partaking in a ritual, you be sure this is the energy you want to invite. I know – who wouldn’t want to invite prosperity and abundance, right? Spell and ritual work invite energy into your life, presenting you with the work you need to obtain what you need.

What kind of energy does Spellwork invite, and what does this mean?

When you ask for money, love, freedom, or even peace, you are presented with ways YOU can bring that into your life. Unfortunately, or fortunately, it is not just given to us. We have to work for it, and I don’t mean the kind of work like “Be a good person and get into heaven”, but I mean looking at ourselves and our patterns to figure out why this energy we crave feels blocked from us.

If you ask for Love, the universe will not just give it to you; it will show you all the ways you keep it from yourself, so you know where to make changes. If you are asking for happiness, your spirit will show you all the ways you are unhappy, so you understand what changes need to be made to your patterns. If you ask for more money and better finances, the universe will show you all the ways you are either poorly managing your finances or may need to change your career.

Taking action to break patterns and create change in those areas of your life will then invite the energy you need. So, as I always say, be sure this is the energy you are ready to invite into your life; it is like opening a door to parts of yourself.

Partnership with the Universe

Another good point is that tunnel vision about what you want and how you want it to look will lead to a continuous lack of energy. Your energy attracts like energy. If you are constantly stuck in the energy of wanting and needing it handed to you, perhaps that is the mirrored energy. But, if we change our view and vibration, perhaps to “I’m ready to make changes, what do I need to do?”, then that vibration will meet us.

Of course, speaking all of this is not meant to discourage you from partaking in the cinnamon ritual or any other rituals and spellwork. It’s to let you know how real and important doing the work is. When you begin spellwork, or any other work with the universe, you are agreeing to a partnership – meaning you also have to work and be open to what will be presented to you.

Did you stick around, and are you still interested in the cinnamon ritual? Perfect!!

Cinnamon Ritual

When – First Day of every month.

What you Need – Powdered Cinnamon or a cinnamon stick and Intention.

What to Do – stand outside your door and envision prosperity and abundance as you blow the cinnamon into the doorway. If you have a stick, place it above the doorway.

What to Say – I welcome prosperity and abundance into my home and stay for the entire month.

Leave powder on the floor for 24 hours.

This ritual will encourage abundance and prosperity. Remember to welcome the energy that will allow abundance to enter your life.

Happy Spellwork!

Spring’s Green Fire: Why Spring Feels Like Anger and How to Help

Winter encouraged us to hibernate and hold our energy and emotions close.

Spring is now encouraging us to allow, not force, our energy and emotions to blossom. If the energy of spring is not allowed to move through your body, then you may feel chaotic instead of rejuvenated during this season.

The energy that hibernated in winter is now budding and will surface in some way. Either gracefully or uncomfortably, it finds its way to the surface. If there is a block in its way, it will work around it.

Take a rock in the path of a growing plant. Does the rock stop the growth? No, it finds its way around the rock and continues its growth. So will the hibernated energy within you. Our job is to make sure this energy flows as openly as it can, so we do not experience much discomfort as it makes its way out.

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), spring corresponds to the Liver system.

The liver ensures a healthy flow of Qi (energy) and blood in your body. It also supports digestion, vision, and life direction. When the liver qi flow is smooth, digestion is healthy, emotions are clearer, sleep improves, and motivation returns.

When your system is blocked, stagnant, or depleted, spring doesn’t feel like flow but heavy pressure pushing its way to the surface. You probably notice tension rises and emotions flare easily, broken sleep patterns, you’re emotionally and mentally stuck, experience bloating, tension in the ribs, chest, and jaw, and you’re prone to headaches.

Shamanic Healing & Craniosacral Therapy for Energy Healing and Movement

Did you know my Shamanic Healing and Craniosacral sessions help with energy and blood flow? These sessions allow for constricted physical and emotional energy to return to a calmer, healthier flow.

Because of the stagnation experienced with liver qi/blood stagnation, you feel pain that feels sharp or “stabby”, heat appears – burning in the stomach and/or thirst at night – this is why some people experience breakouts.

Spring doesn’t create problems; instead, it shows where stagnation is in your body and asks where you’re resisting change.

So, how can you allow spring energy to take place?

Express Yourself
- Journal
- The liver governs emotions. So, be honest with yourself.
- Partake in creative activity expression
- Cry
- Embody the energy that calls to your spirit and empowers you.
- Release what no longer serves you.

Movement
- More isn’t better. Do not overdo.
- Light and opening movements
- TaiChi
- Craniosacral
- Energy healing, like shamanic healing sessions.
- Yoga
- Massage
- Walking

Sleep
- Sleep early and wake up with the sun.
- No phone activity in bed.
- No phone activity right before bed.

Eat
- Eat for your liver and nourish your kidneys.
- Light Foods like dark greens and sour foods
- No need to detox.
- Avoid heavy fried and oily food.
- Steamed and stir-fried vegetables (like bok choy) with ginger.
- Avoid ice-cold drinks and hot food.

You’re not alone in experiencing the pressure of spring. After hibernating all winter, sometimes it’s difficult to wake to spring energy and encourage our bodies to move. While you’re making these changes to help your energy blossom, remember this is not a quick-fix situation. These changes require patience and consistency.

Here are some Energy Healing services to help you transition into spring.

The sessions mentioned above will help move stagnant energy within your body. As said above, stagnation can look like many things – anger, frustration, irritability, physical pain, stabbing pain, stuck emotions, broken sleep, bloating, and more.

Shamanic, Craniosacral, and readings with me or Pelvic Floor, Craniosacral, and extensive Tarot readings with Spenser Barnes help balance your energy physically, emotionally, and spiritually – something that is dire during this transition into spring.

You Can’t Self-Empower Yourself out of Needing Love – Healing in Relationship

“We are wounded in relationship. We heal in relationship.”

Whenever I’m speaking with clients or reading comments under Instagram posts, I always hear and see people express why it is so important for them not to be in any kind of relationship right now. It’s always, “I have to do my healing before getting into a relationship.” – this is from platonic to romantic – any relationship that requires deep connection and intention.

I honestly believe this is a huge protective avoidant wall – this is coming from someone who used to believe I needed to completely heal before diving into another relationship.

Now, don’t get me wrong, if you’re a narcissist or someone with deep wounds who constantly harms your partner, then please, please, do your healing. However, even when someone needs to heal themselves to be ready for connection, it can be used as an excuse to avoid deep, meaningful relationships – we’ll come back to that.

**Online Mental & Spiritual Healing Classes**
**COMING SOON**

When I left my relationship in 2016, I realized how much healing I needed to do before I could have a healthy relationship. I saw so much in myself, from the fear of abandonment to fear of attachment – Listen, I know – shit was wild to experience.

It wasn’t until 2026, a whole 10 years later, that I felt confident enough to be in a relationship again. The realization was partly because of the solo healing I’d done, but mostly because, thanks to my therapist, I realized the healing I didn’t NEED to complete before getting into a relationship.

For so long, I would run from people I was dating because the connection made me feel things in myself that reminded me of my past relationships. So, I thought if I’m feeling those things, then it simply means I am not ready. I guaranteed this tiring pattern to continue until I realized these were wounds left by past relationships. So, how can I heal a relationship wound on my own?

How can you heal wounds that need to be triggered by similar energy that created them to heal?

Forcing yourself to be so comfortable alone that you never feel the need for someone else (impossible by the way) is not healing the fear of abandonment you have. Self-love and knowing your worth will not help you overcome the fear of being misunderstood or ignored by your partner if that fear stems from a past relationship.

I guarantee you, you may feel extremely confident in the work you’ve done (not that the work has not helped you solo, I’m confident it has), but once you come face to face with a familiar energy with your partner, or future partner, it feels like you’ve done no work at all. A perfect example is the wound healing we do away from our family, but when we return home, it is challenged, and we ask ourselves, “Why does it feel like I’ve done zero work?” And we go right back to telling ourselves we need more work and isolation.

But are you healing, or are you simply avoiding people and relationships that challenge you?

What will help you heal these things created in relationships? A caring and intimate partner, person, family, or friend who wants to walk these scary healing roads WITH you – not for you. Someone who is also brave enough to face their fears and heal their wounds with you. Wounds in relationships won’t heal on their own. I know, very often, we cannot heal with the person who created the wound – you do not have to. Unfortunately, as you’ve probably experienced, this wound will be triggered in other relationships in your life.

Having a hard time understanding how to work through your fears? You would benefit from Craniosacral or Shamanic Healing sessions.

The goal? Don’t run. Do not isolate. While you do your healing solo, let people in and work on your relationship wounds. As I said before, sometimes we really need to be alone and work on ourselves so we do not harm others. But this can also become a way to avoid a connection we crave deep down but are terrified of. Humans are masters at self-sabotaging. Often, we hurt our favorite people because we are afraid of being hurt. When we do this, we have successfully convinced ourselves that we are simply not ready for a relationship. The sabotage allows us to return to isolation (“safety”) without being triggered or challenged to work on our wounds.

So, questions for you to think on: The isolation brings you safety and the wondrous feeling of healing, but how do you feel really without connection? What are you really healing without these challenges that will encourage you to have healthy relationships? Whether we like it or not, we’re human, and we all crave connection and love. We cannot self-love ourselves out of needing connection and love.

Gaslighting or Letting Go: Navigate the Relationship with Self Now

n I work to release emotions, pain, and stress from my body, I often experience a physical reaction. This reaction surprised me because it feels similar to when I believe someone is gaslighting me or trying to silence me. I asked myself, “Am I gaslighting myself by saying I have no right to feel this way and should just get over it?”

Releasing emotions can be challenging

As I just mentioned we feel gaslit and resistant to letting go. But why is that? I’ve realized that by agreeing to let go of my pain, trauma, and stress, I am choosing not to dwell in those wounds anymore. This also means I can no longer use those wounds to stay in my current situation. Essentially, I will be awakened to what I need to do to move forward and feel the need to take action. I cannot continue to wear my pain as a badge and remind others of what has happened to me.

So, why do we hold on to such things? Honestly, most people are not aware they do this – I think it is part of a protective pattern. I decided to explore this idea more deeply. If the fear of gaslighting ourselves leads to silencing our voices, we end up triggering the same feelings we experienced while our trauma, pain, or stress was taking place. That is not something we want to feel again. We feel compelled to speak about it because it was painful, and we desperately want others to understand what we’ve gone through.

Essentially, we begin to feel we are telling ourselves that we are not important, that what we experienced is not valid. If you are working yourself through any pain or trauma, give yourself space and time to do so. There is no set time for healing.

Challenge Yourself

While you are working to heal, I challenge you to check in with yourself often – it is what I do with myself and it keeps me from stagnation. Periods of stillness are healthy, but stagnation can lead to illness. Whenever I feel I am gaslighting myself, I check in by asking these questions:

What am I feeling here?
Is there something more I need to understand?
Is there something more I need to learn?
So, why do I sit and hold on to this emotional trigger?

If there is a No to all of my questions, then I know it’s time to be in a space where I let myself feel the emotion that comes with the trigger, understand it, and release it. The important word is release. We are human, we are going to feel. Feel the emotion, understand it, then work to release it.

Many of us get stuck in a feeling. Then when we experience that trigger again, we find ourselves in a not-so-fun cycle. Our triggers will pop up constantly, but you may find that, with work and healing, your reaction is shorter and not as strong.

Before I began doing this exercise with myself, I would hold on to the emotion from the trigger and I would dwell on it for days. I would relive the event that created the pain and then I would be upset and depressed all over again. It didn’t stop there – I would even begin to look for it in other people’s actions and words. As you can see, it ruled my life.

This is why I ask myself those questions above. Ultimately, I thought I was telling myself I could no longer feel this way, be upset over it, or be triggered. Thus, gaslighting. But, that is false.

Speak Affirmations

So, what are you telling yourself when it’s time to let go? Speak these affirmations:

I am not silencing you, self. I love you.
I have the right to be free from a continuous cycle of pain.
I have a right to experience this emotion and let it go.
I have a right to understand that nothing is personal.
I have a right to become empowered.
I am valid without the validation of others.
I have a right to be Free.

Empowering ourselves is no easy feat because it means facing and challenging everything we’ve learned in our tribe – I’ve lived this life for a while and I can tell you it is worth it.

Need help releasing from your cycles? Try Shamanic Healing Sessions and/or Psychic Art Readings.

Walk the Path to Achieve Clarity

AS YOU START TO WALK ON THE WAY, THE WAY APPEARS – RUMI

When walking a new path, words to yourself may sound like, “I’m not sure what this road entails, but I feel I need it.” or “I feel lost, and I’m not sure where to go or what to do next.” Take a breath. I speak from personal experience and working with others when I say that most people have these thoughts of fear, uncertainty, and need when taking steps on the paths less traveled.

It takes a lot of courage to begin on a route you know will encourage deep healing and awakening your true self. This healing thing can feel confusing and terrifying when you overthink it. I’ve learned from my healing work and seeing my clients that things begin to make sense once you start walking on the path. How funny is that? Our very first step is trusting and listening to ourselves.

Most of our lives consist of planning and preparedness so we understand what we’re getting into. However, the Universe, yourself, the Gods, or whatever belief you have tells you the opposite. It is time to trust your current gut feeling telling you, “It is time.” You may not know what that is, but you know that it means action – any kind of action. You know you need to move and take one step in front of the other.

My friend, I know it is scary thinking about your first step. That step is not only the beginning of change but also the beginning of growth, truth, and understanding. Trust that as you continue to move, things will come to fruition. Keep walking even when there is darkness. You must do the very thing you are afraid of – therein lies the growth.

Erica Ware – Owner of Holistic Bodywork

The Raw Experience of Healing

Healing – the loneliness and the heartbreak of healing are often overlooked.

When we look at the definition of “heal,” it says, “To become sound or healthy again. Alleviate a person’s distress or anguish”.

Now, looking at that definition, healing sounds beautiful. To heal means we will begin to experience our tailored version of happiness, introduce ourselves to the real us, and see the world in a new beautiful light. The pain that hurt us before no longer hurts us, or we have found healthy coping strategies. The triggers that, once triggered, are no longer effective. The anger we once had no longer exists. Healing is a beautiful thing.

It is also important to remember that once you step on the self-healing path, it is an authentic and raw experience. It can also be full of loneliness and heartbreak. When these aching feelings and thoughts pop up, most believe they’re not doing this healing thing correctly. But, as I tell most of my clients, it is a hint that you’re moving in the right direction. This is not to say that if you do not feel pain continuously, you are not healing. To feel some pain and loneliness on the healing path is expected.

Let’s look at Heal’s definition: “To become sound or healthy again. Alleviate a person’s distress or anguish.”. To become something means you are of something other than what your eyes or soul set on becoming. To want to become sound or healthy means, we are currently in a place where we are unhealthy and troubled. Solving a person’s distress or anguish means healing the areas that cause pain.

Where does the heartache come from? Healing patterns that have become destructive can look like changing routines, responses, and how we engage with people. We can only truly make changes by understanding the root of our patterns. Most of the time, this is done by digging up painful history, events, and trauma. Healing relationships with people in your life – This healing can change the relationship where there are more inclusions in each other’s lives. You may realize you must reduce interactions because the relationship adds unhappiness.

Once you begin healing mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, you agree to a soulful detox. Though it is impossible to take our past and our patterns with us into this new chapter we crave, it does not stop us from trying. The heartache comes from understanding we cannot become who we’re meant to be until we let go of the things that keep us from Being our complete selves. Loneliness comes when we realize most of those patterns and distress also come with most of the people we surround ourselves with. So, as we let patterns and pain go, we also allow those people to go.

There will be beautiful moments, and there will be raw painful moments. This post is not to deter you from healing but to encourage more understanding and, therefore, better preparation.

The beauty in the healing path? This change allows us to introduce ourselves to the raw versions of ourselves and the rest of the world. As we continue to live as ourselves, others on the same energy wave will begin to gravitate toward us and us to them. Change is raw and painful, but the benefits are healing and beautiful.

When you begin to experience the rawness of healing, know that if you continue, you will experience and notice healing moments. You will see a trigger no longer triggers. You will notice healed reactions instead of wounded reactions. When you need support, contact your team: Therapist, Craniosacral Therapist, Shamanic Healer, Life Coach, Family, Friends, Mentors, and coping strategies.

Spring Has Arrived, But Why Do I Feel So Angry?

Spring is beautiful due to the plants in bloom, the sun showing more, and the warming temperature. However, with such a gorgeous season, you probably wonder, “Why do I feel so much anger and frustration, and why am I quick to tears?”

The season change is always an interesting time for me and my work because, with massage, craniosacral, and shamanic healing, I always see a pattern in us all. During spring, I witness its beauty, energy, and the mental, emotional, and mental changes it encourages in us. While I experience frustration and pain in the hip, ribs, and jaws, I notice many clients also have this experience. If you feel what I just mentioned regularly, then you are probably seeing you feel them even more so now.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s believed when you live your life based on the ways of nature, you will live a healthier life. So, what exactly happens in spring? The tree’s leaves begin to press past its buds, the flowers do the same, the sun warms the earth, and the grass rises through the dirt. All these things use their ascending energy to rise to the surface. During winter, everything receded to protect its energy and inner core from being depleted by the cold. When the sun warms everything in winter, it is also generous with its energy – that energy needs to be let out or rise.

Now, let’s look at ourselves during winter while having nature in mind (because we are also nature). We have this energy rising inside us that has hibernated throughout the winter. As the season changes and the energy shifts, our bodies are screaming to release this energy we’ve protected during the cold. The issue we run into? We do not allow this energy to come forward. When this release does not happen, we may experience judging others harshly, angry outbursts, muscle tension, headaches, digestive disturbances, menstrual irregularities, sciatica, and rib pain or stuffiness.

So, how can we help this yang energy to gently release?

Move – exercise or go on hikes and enjoy the coming of spring.

Look at your nutrition – In traditional Chinese medicine, spring is linked to the liver; spring is the perfect time to detox and rid the body of toxins you’ve collected from stress and the foods you’ve consumed. The best way to begin is by eliminating fried foods, sugar, and dairy.
Spring Cleaning – eliminate the things in your home that create or add to any chaos.
Drink water to help flush the body of toxins and add lemon to help the liver.

I also mentioned how the season change causes spiritual, mental, and emotional changes. Spring is a perfect time to ask yourself what new patterns and energy you want to create and let go of the old that keeps you stagnant. During spring, we can feel more anger, be more judgemental, and be on the edge of tears. These emotions form from an established base – it is an excellent time for contemplation to understand the root of these emotions. Anger is a healthy emotion to experience; it is when we dwell in it or suppress it that it becomes destructive.

How can we help ourselves Spiritually, Mentally, and Emotionally during this Spring equinox?

Close your eyes – Breathe and do a body scan. How are you feeling? What are you feeling? Why are you feeling this? Where are you feeling this?
Journal – Write your answers into a journal or piece of paper. Journaling increases self-awareness and helps us create new patterns.
Cry – Are there emotions you are burying? Do you tell yourself you never have time to explore them? It is time to make time. Releasing buried emotions helps release stagnant energy in the liver.
Take a hike – Go for a hike and look at nature blooming – grab some inspiration on releasing this energy.
Have a fire – Write down things you wish to leave in the past and burn them.

Becoming more in tune with ourselves will help us understand our feelings and how to release or live with them. Use these tips to take care of yourself and your liver.

Slow down and enjoy the Spring Equinox (Monday, March 20, 2023)

Erica Ware LMT CST Owner of Holistic Bodywork

The Importance of Consistency on The Holistic Path

“While many focus on healing the symptoms, if not addressed, the root cause will continue to harm us in other ways.” – Erica Ware

How many of us not only wait until we feel pain in our bodies to see our practitioners for bodywork, but we go in with all the hope in the world that it will “fix” the pain in one session? Don’t be shy; most of us do it, so go ahead and raise that hand if you do.

I remind my clients that bodywork is more of a holistic approach to healing and not one of big pharma where you take a pill for a quick or temporary fix. Understandably, we think this because, for so long, we’ve been taught that a prescription can quickly fix all of our ailments. We’re starting to understand that’s not very true, and we are experiencing the side effects of “quick fixes.”

What is the holistic approach? The holistic approach involves healing the whole body, mind, and spirit or healing you mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Taking the holistic healing path means your symptoms are not the main focus. Instead, the goal is to understand and heal the root of the problem, thus healing the symptoms. The holistic approach can take time; depending on the person and conditions, it can take longer.

Think about the condition you currently have, how long you’ve been experiencing it, and how long it may have taken to develop. You may have been dealing with your condition for weeks, months, or years, so expecting to heal after one session becomes an unrealistic outlook. Consistent bodywork will open channels, or pathways, in our bodies and remind the body of how to function healthily.

Think of it this way, here are the benefits of massage and craniosacral therapy:

Pain Relief
P.T.S.D
Anxiety
Chronic Pain
Headaches/Migraines
Scoliosis
Ease MS
Improve Immune Function

T.M.J. Pain
Helps Insomnia
Mental & Emotions Stress Relief
Spiritual Clarity
Helps Spinal Cord Injuries
Increases Blood Circulation
Lowers Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
& More

That is a list of great benefits. Now, think about how your mind, body, and soul would feel if you received those benefits consistently. We’ll notice things improving like our energy, alertness, immune system, mental health, muscle energy, etc.

So, what is a consistent schedule for bodywork? You want to be sure the practitioner and bodywork you’re receiving are working for you. If you do not feel a connection with your practitioner, take notice of this – this may not be a good fit, and it can create problems on your healing path. I always recommend trying four sessions, at least three, so your body has real-time to respond to your sessions. This is why I offer a four-session package with an additional fifteen minutes to your session. Depending on your condition, you’ll want to have one session every week, two weeks, or every month.

A huge goal of my practice is self-empowering. Get in tune with your body – you know what you need and when. You know what’s working for you and what’s not. If you feel better even a little bit, but the pain returns, your body is telling you, “Hey, this is working for me, but we also need to do this more consistently because the pain returns in five days.” If you know the pain returns in five days or a week, when should you have your next session scheduled?

Again, most wait until they feel the pain, but if you know, it returns in a week, set your appointment for five days from your last one.

The goal is not for you to come in every week for the rest of your life; this is where you are right now. The goal is to remind the body of a healthier way to function so it can perform these actions without weekly help.

When we are patient and understanding of this route, and ourselves, we will begin to see and feel healing in ways we didn’t know were possible.

Interested in scheduling a session with me? Check out my services and four session packages to get started!

Erica Ware – Owner of Holistic Bodywork

Sometimes We Keep Ourselves from Peace

We convince ourselves that, for some reason, we do not deserve happiness and we need to stay where we are a little, or long, while longer.

What keeps you stagnant?

Sometimes what keeps us from healing or experiencing happiness is ourselves – many don’t want to hear that. We convince ourselves that, for some reason, we do not deserve happiness and we need to stay where we are a little, or long, while longer.

Some people, like myself, at one point, may realize they even understand what it takes to heal and create change, but they just will not do it. In those moments, I sit with myself and ask, “what keeps me where I am? What is the reason I refuse to move forward? How do I feel about doing the work to move forward and be happy?” I’ve discovered that we will give the answers when we are courageous enough to ask ourselves questions.

The answers? Well, I cannot give your answers to you; only you can do that. I can share some answers I’ve experienced and heard.

Reasons we may not permit ourselves to be happy and live:

Guilt because of something you’ve done or didn’t do.
Accustomed to living in chaos.
We’ve been taught to sacrifice our wants and needs for others.
Fear of your light and power.
Fear of adversity.
Fear of facing ourselves.

So, what can help us out of stagnation? As I said above, sit with yourself and ask tough questions. Some people may feel frozen and numb and, because of that, find it difficult to speak with themselves and find answers. This is where I come in with craniosacral therapy and shamanic healing – these two therapies will help restore you and dissipate energetic, emotional, and physical blocks. When those blocks are released, it helps bring things to the surface or bring the shadows to the light. This may look like a release from pain, emotional release through crying or laughter, realizations, clarity, mental liberation, etc.

For some, this may take time, depending on the person and their situation. If you feel these therapies are for you, I recommend arriving with little to no expectations. Just grant yourself the ability to receive what you are to experience.

Your tired body, soul, and mind are waiting for your permission to rest, especially if there is no danger around every corner. There is no reason to live in fight or flight if you do not have to. Permit yourself to be happy and at peace – you deserve it, and now is the time to help yourself believe that.

Interested in a session with me? Book Here and ask me about Shamanic Healing .

Erica Ware LMT and Owner of Holistic Bodywork

Shadow Work During Winter Solstice

Grief, pain, and your shadows are inevitable, but during Winter the energy grows. Winter is the perfect time to use this energy as a helping hand to heal and understand our shadows.

The winter solstice was December 21st, and its energy lasts three days after and is often celebrated until the first of January.

Many of us have a hard time with winter because of its long nights and short days, its frigid cold temperatures, and its symbolism of death and letting go. If you think about it, these are things we tend to ignore and avoid.

Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year and forces us to be in the dark and within our shadows. It encourages us to figure out how to create our light or understand that we are the light within the shadows – many times, burning yule logs enforce this.

This time is vital because, without the shadows, we wouldn’t appreciate the light and wouldn’t have transformation. Do you have a hard time with winter?

Winter solstice is a perfect time to transform your shadows into gold – an ideal time to be your light in the shadows. Ask yourself, “What does winter represent for me?” Some may say death, coldness, pain, or dormant. Ask yourself what your representation is and encourage yourself to go deep within yourself.

Winter represents death. When we hear “death,” we probably think of fear and danger mainly because we only think of the end of the physical body. After understanding where my hate of death came from (fear of change, the unknown, and trusting myself), I saw that death brings new beginnings, and avoiding it only keeps me stagnant and in pain.

To me, death is the end of cycles that no longer fit in my life; death means making room for new energy, and it means new beginnings.

What does winter represent to you, and how can you explore yourself to turn these shadows into gold and light?

Traditions of the Winter Solstice:

Have a fire to create a symbol of light
Journal and list the things you’d like to let go of – burn the list.
List things you’d like to heal within yourself – burn the list.
After the solstice, the days get longer. Invite in the light by creating a list of energy you’d like to bring in or build on. Keep this list and place it somewhere safe.
Have a feast.
Light candles and incense, sit and meditate, or just Be.

EricaChinise – Owner & Healer of Holistic Bodywork