I have been talking about it a lot lately. Mostly because of the Stone Medicine.
I realized over the weekend that I have done a lot of soul work in the past 10 years or so and it has morphed for me. It started out with some basic meditation and then as I met more people with different skills and knowledge I tried different things. Like studying with a shaman for a good part of that 10 years. I’ve recently reconnected with her and I’m loving that just her presence is bringing out the shamanic healer in me that most people aren’t receptive to. She liked the Stone Medicine I did on her.🥰 I feel like essential oils are a type of soul work, especially when used in raindrop therapy. Because they have the ability to penetrate deep into your body and make changes. Acupuncture is another type of healing that has become a major part of my regular health routine. Not only does it help my body deal with daily health challenges but, it has also affected me on a soul level. I think acupuncture is a big reason why the Stone Medicine resonates with me so well. I can’t always pinpoint exactly how it is helping me but, I know deep down that it affects me in ways I can’t imagine. And when I skip it for a few weeks my body lets me know that I need to get back in to see my acupuncturist asap. And there is Reiki. It became a part of my life when I was in massage school. I immediately knew that this was something natural for me and once I learned it there was no turning it off. I became a Master Teacher (Sensei) in 2006 but, chose to not teach until almost 10 years later. I felt I did not have the experience required of a good Sensei until then. Reiki was the first big soul work I undertook and it is still a huge part of my life today. Reiki is a lot like acupuncture, if I go too long without receiving it, my body lets me know. Most recently, attending plant ceremonies has become a part of the journey of healing my soul. The herbalist in me loves this soul work. But, Stone Medicine … I can’t express how profound and deep the changes are in my life. No, they aren’t the type of changes that you notice immediately. They are the type that, one day you are sitting drinking your morning coffee and reflecting on your life and you realize that certain things don’t trigger you anymore, that you are happier with who you are, that you are more comfortable in your body, and that what you truly want out of this life is to help others reach this level of peace you have found in yourself. So, why is soul work so important and why should you incorporate it into your life? Because you are sick. Because you are tired. Because you are done with hurting and the pain. Because it is time to break the cycle and reboot your life. Because you want something more out of life than the same old 9 to 5 routine. Because you want your life to have meaning. Because you feel like something is missing from your life. Because you are beginning to realize that there is something deep down that is the real reason for your sadness, your depression, your anxiety, your mental illness and you are ready to face your demons and do something about it. Because… It. Is. Time. Because the stones are calling to you too.
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My spiritual journey started over 15 years ago. At the time I really didn’t understand that there was a difference between religion (which I was brought up in) and spirituality (which life taught me about).
I have learned a lot in my 55+ years. The majority of which I learned before I was even 45 years old. I have always known I was an “old soul” even before I knew what that was. I always fit in better with people who were older than me. It is hard for me to relate to people are younger and not as experienced in life. My life lessons that I learned early on led me to experience a “dark night of the soul”, an existential crisis, loss after loss, things never working out as I thought they should (ie. it worked for everyone else, why not me?), etc. and many of these I still experience from time to time today as a reminder that life is circular and not linear. All of these life lessons brought me to learn about alternative methods of healing. Things that the Western culture didn’t address. At least not in my experiences. I have lived through a “dark night of the soul”. Although it was a long time before I figured out that is what I was going through. Once I did, I was able to retrieve the lost part of my soul, very awkwardly since I really had no direction on how to do that at the time. It was trial and error. There was no one that I could find at the time who could say “this is what you are experiencing and this is how you can fix it”. I really wish I had known about the 8 Extraordinary Meridians at that time. But, everything comes to us when it is time. So, fast forward several years… I discovered stones and crystals so innocently. They were pretty and sparkly. Who doesn’t like pretty and sparkly?! I wanted to have some in my house to decorate at first. Later, it was because I learned that they all carry a vibration that influences their environment. So, I started carrying them around in my purse or pocket, took them to work, put them in my car and garden. Now, they are everywhere! LOL I have learned and experienced first hand how they can change your mood, help make an ache or pain feel better, take you to a deeper level when meditating, help with sleep, clear negative energy from a room and more. But, it wasn’t until I opened my mind and heart to the possibility that they could do these things that I realized they were really doing them. Even western medicine has proven that what you believe influences how healing takes place in your body and mind. For example: the placebo effect and power of positive thinking are just a couple. Now, fast forward a little more, cause this is getting kinda long. I met a woman named Sarah Thomas at an herbal conference I went to in North Carolina. She is an Acupuncturist. She didn’t talk about herbs or acupuncture, she talked about crystals and stones. Crazy right?! It was an herbal conference after all. She talked about Chinese Medicine and how they were some of the oldest herbalists. Their books and records proved it. But, she also talked about how in the Daoist traditions they were also ancient stone healers. Meaning they used stones and crystals to heal people. They would grind up stones for various ailments, make elixirs, place them on the body, meditate with them, etc.. And that’s when it started clicking with me. How these stone and crystals that I thought were so pretty and sparkly and that I was compelled to buy even though I didn’t know why, were coming to me. So I could work with them. Over the years, I have taken many of Sarah’s classes as well as classes from others about crystals and stones. During the pandemic when everyone was shifting to online classes, gatherings and what not, Sarah put out a class about Stone Medicine - The 8 Extraordinary Meridians and I KNEW then that I had to learn about it so I could help others heal in a way that was needed even though people may not realize it. So, yeah, this is not massage but, I can and I do use Cranio Sacral therapy with it, which is considered a massage modality. If you got this newsletter, it is because you have gotten bodywork from me at some point in your life. And, if you have gotten bodywork from me, then you know that many times you may have experienced something a little “extra”. A subtle energy shift, a deep drop into a meditative state, seeing colors or spirit guides, or something else to this affect, like feeling “out of your body” at the end of your session. This Stone Medicine compliments that “extra” part of my healing/massage or whatever you want to call it, so well. So, if you like the “extra” part of my work. Then you will probably really benefit from the Stone Medicine. To be honest, if you are still coming to me for bodywork then that is exactly why you come to me, because of the “extra”. It is not for everyone, because not everyone is ready to work on that part of their being. It can make you uncomfortable or bring up stuff and you don’t really know why or what to do with it but, in the end, you feel better and feel like you are at a new level in your life. The stones and crystals can make that part of the healing process smoother/easier and can even “speed it up”. Curious? Have questions? Want to more about how it could help you? Then reach out! I don’t bite. I’d love to talk to you about my new work and how it can help you. I am finding it hard to believe that I started this journey in October 2005 and here I am still going. I have done thousands of massages over the years. All of that practice has made me the amazing healer I am today. (Yes, I am bragging.)
I started out with just a basic Swedish massage. It wasn’t long before I noticed that I was also manipulating people’s energy. Helping them to release things they were holding onto in their body. (Not everyone notices this.) Which led me to becoming a Reiki Master and several years later a Reiki Master Teacher. Over the years, I have studied many things to help me grow my practice. I’ve studied nutrition and herbs, aromatherapy, shamanism, Rain Drop Therapy, massage for depression and anxiety and so many others. (Check out my About page to learn more about my education.) But, my practice is about more than what I’ve learned in a classroom or from a book. My intuition and my ability to read a person’s body is my proudest accomplishment. That is not something you can learn in a classroom. It is a natural ability that has been nurtured and honed over the years. I cannot begin to count the number of times someone has said to me “Wow, you always go straight to the source of the problem.” And I do. But, it’s more than that and if you’ve gotten work from me in the past couple of years you know what I’m talking about. My practice has changed significantly just over the past year and a half. I no longer do chair massages, mostly thanks to the COVID quarantine. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise as my body just couldn’t handle doing 40+ massages a week anymore. I really miss seeing all of those clients though. Now days, I am focusing on making myself the healthiest and happiest person I can be. That means focusing on what is best for me and my clients. I have always been about healing my clients mind, body and soul but, now days it’s even more about that. I have the skills and experience I need to make each session a truly unique and customized experience. No two sessions are alike. Whether you’re a client who comes weekly or a client who only comes a couple times a year, I want you to know how truly grateful I am that you have chosen me to assist you in your self care journey. I am honored! I have been and done many things in my life. I’m a college graduate (BS), had a career in corporate America, been a wife, worked in Emergency Medical Services, changed careers to become a massage therapist, co-owned and managed a holistic education center, I’m a Sensei in the art of energy healing (Reiki Master & Teacher), I am an empath and a tree hugging nature lover, I am a holistic healer and intuitive, I’m also a nutritional guru as well as an herbalist and essential oil geek. All of these things are just a glimpse into who I am and what I do. To truly understand my gift of healing you must first experience it.
As an entrepreneur, I find myself once again shifting the focus of my business in order to keep up with the demands of my clients, the changing times and my own personal development. So, what does that mean for you? That means you’re going to get more. I’m moving beyond my role as a massage therapist. In the past 12 years, it has served as a wonderful educational tool for me. It has helped me to learn the human body in ways that many modern doctors would be envious. Add that personal experience to my empathic skills, my ability to read the human body, my intuitive nature and overwhelming desire to help others learn how to live a healthy, stress free life that can assist them in healing themselves. What do you get? Your go to source for holistic health. Whether you are wanting to learn how to lead a healthier lifestyle, eat in a way that supports you and your health issues, discover ways to reduce stress in your life, grow spiritually, discover yourself or other things of this nature then I can help. Services and things available to you are as follows:
I hope you will come experience one or more of my new services. Not sure what is right for you? Contact me, I'd be glad to discuss your needs and how I may be of service to you. How many of you second guess yourself? I’d be willing to bet that it’s just about everyone of us. I have found myself second guessing my actions a lot lately. Wondering, would life be different if I had made a different choice during particular events in my life? Of course they would. But, would life be a better quality? Yes, there’s always the chance that the different life could be worse too. I have decided that I’m better off not second guessing myself. Ha! I’m sure I’ll find myself still doing it from time to time.
Those times when life isn’t going the way I want it to. Presenting me with situations that make me uncomfortable and forcing me to grow, to become someone new. I’m not saying I’m not happy with my life, I am. However, there are those one or two things that if they weren’t around, my life would be so much more comfortable. So, how do we deal with these things? These challenges we deal with in our day to day life. I began thinking about that today. How do I deal with it? I guess one of the first things I do is to meditate. I don’t always meditate in the traditional sense of sitting crossed legged on the floor, hands resting in your lap, eyes closed. Basically anything I do where I slip into the “void”, that quiet space between thinking and sleeping when you are truly listening, I consider a type of meditation. It's that time when you kind of lose yourself. For me, it’s kayaking on the lake or down a creek, taking a walk in the woods or at the park, hugging a tree, taking a hot bath and sometimes it’s when I drive. Odds are you meditate more than you think you do. Especially, if you follow along my line of thinking. Another thing I do is stretch (aka exercise). As a bodyworker and healer, I witness daily the effects of stress and tension on the human body. I am a victim of these effects just like you. My job as a massage therapist is a very physical one. I feel the tightness and pain in my body too. On those days, I get out my foam roller and get busy stretching. I was skeptical when I first bought it but, I swear by it now! Best $35 I have spent in a while. Essential Oils (EO) are another way I deal with life. I cannot begin to tell you how much using EO has changed my life. It’s ridiculous how many I have but, I can honestly say “I have an oil for that!” LOL Seriously, I use EO for tight and painful muscles, to lift my mood when I’m having a bad day, to calm me down when I’m feeling anxious. I can go on and on. Want to learn more about EO? Let me know, I’m considering teaching an EO 101 class. You might help me make the decision to do that. Share with your friend(s). This is something I don’t do often enough. We all need someone to share our challenges with. Friends give us the support and sometimes guidance we need during such times. I hope we all have at least one person in our lives that we trust and know will not judge us. Venting and sharing ideas can be so freeing and liberating. It’s been a while since I’ve written. I have been in transition. Trying to figure out what to do next because life has put one of those challenges on me that I really didn’t want. I haven’t written because I didn’t have anything new or positive to say. Today, I decided to just share a little about what I’ve been dealing with and how I get through it. I’m not saying I have answers to my questions and challenges but, I do have a little more peace of mind and a better sense of security. All I can do, and anyone else for that matter, is to take it one day at a time. Sometimes, one day at a time is too much. On those days, maybe one hour at a time or one minute at a time is more manageable. Where ever you are in life, I hope that you can use some of my coping techniques to make your challenges a little more bearable. |
Missy Travis
These are my thoughts on any number of things that maybe running through my head on any given day. Archives
August 2022
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