Monthly Archives: January 2012

Jan 22 2012

“Shaman, Healer, Sage”–Learning from ancient traditions

Shaman, Healer, Sage: How to Heal Yourself and Others with the Energy Medicine of the AmericasI resisted reading Shaman, Healer, Sage: How to Heal Yourself and Other With Energy Medicine of the Americas by Alberto Villoldo, Ph.d. It was that “shaman” word, which conjured up images of voodoo witch doctors to my Bible-Belt sensibilities. However, I’ve met a few women via the web over the last couple of years who are embracing shamanism and they appear to be lovely healers. So with mild trepidation, I downloaded a sample and soon found myself hitting the “buy” button.

Shaman, Healer, Sage is a fascinating exploration of an ancient healing system written by a Western doctor and explorer. For myself, the greatest value of the book came from the detailed explantion of the energy fields and chakras. My personal experience sensing and working with the “Ever-Flowing Streams,” as I dubbed them in my spiritual memoir, has made them a great mystery. Villoldo’s book contains the most enlightening information I’ve read about what he calls the Luminous Energy Field.

Giving up his mainstream Western medical research, Villoldo traveled to Inka and Amazon shamans to learn an entirely different world view and method of medicine. Shamans see and work with the energy fields that Western culture is only beginning to recognize. Villoldo keeps references to an earth-based religion to a minimum and mostly makes sense of the various properties of the human energy fields and how practitioners might help their patients.

Personally, I had a huge “ah-ha” moment about three-quarters into the book when he talked about entities attaching themselves to people. If you’ve read Ever-Flowing Streams of Healing Energy, you’ll know that was ultimately the best explanation I had for a range of life-long difficulties. Until Shaman, Healer, Sage, I’d never come across a book that seemed to pin-point my situation. In Villoldo’s world, it’s very common!

The last section of the book deals with the passage into death that every soul makes. People need to be helped out of the world as much as they need to be helped into the world. Once the spirit leaves the body, it goes through transitions into the spirit realm. Western culture has largely disconnected with the sacred, especially death rituals. Villoldo paints a compelling picture of what may be part of the journey and why it’s important to assist loved-ones, even after the body has ceased breathing.

While I don’t feel the call to leap into shamanism, there is much to be learned from ancient traditions. Villoldo has written a range of books from his South American experiences. Perhaps we’re living in age when the imbalances of Western thinking will move toward more harmonious blend of other cultures and save the earth from destruction in the process.

 

Jan 14 2012

Fond Farewell to L.C. Evans

One of the more difficult aspects of living a Supernal Life, is walking the last miles with someone on their earthly journey. This past week, the writing world and her family said goodbye to Linda (L.C.) Evans.Image of L. C. Evans

Linda came into my life last April. She was the first person to post an unsolicited  review of Ever-Flowing Streams.  She said in the review “This book reached out to me,” and we soon reached out to each other. We had a lot in common, from our age group, our interest in holistic living,  to our experiences slugging it out in the world of publishing. She told me she had some sort of growth in her stomach area and was afraid to go to a doctor. I encouraged her to seek medical care. That led to a surgery and the discovery of a rare and virulent cancer.

As the months unfolded, we traded emails and talked several times. She became a daily recipient of healing energy from the Supernal Friends team. Despite the fact we had a sense that Linda was approaching her final exit point, we knew she needed constant energy for the journey. She fought the good fight. She didn’t want to leave her family, especially the grandson she was raising. Her writing was finally being recognized. We Interrupt The Date was a breakout bestseller.We Interrupt This Date There was so much more she wanted to say and do.

The last time I spoke to Linda, there were a lot of tears. Part of Supernal Living is being there to support people through the hard times, allowing them to express pain, frustration and grief. We ended the conversation with a prayer. At least I could offer that much. I hope that our prayerful vigilance helped her and the family.   

Linda will be missed, which is the way it should be. Someone who gave and loved leaves a hole behind. But, they also leave a legacy. I’m sure the  encouragement Linda gave her grandson will be the gift that keeps giving. If there’s one thing I’ve discovered after saying final goodbyes to several loved ones is that a part of them remains. They not only live on in the spiritual realm, they also come back in memories time and again. Truly, love never dies.

So, farewell Linda. It was an honor to know you. Thanks for inviting me on your journey. You’ll always be a part of me.

Dana Taylor

You’ll find all of Linda’s books at  L.C. Evans Author Page. Proceeds from her books will go towards paying the many expenses that have stacked up over the past few months. You’ll enjoy her work. Books live on!

Jan 10 2012

Spread the “Supernal Effect”

One of the highlights of my week is Sunday evening when I snuggle onto my cozy California King and read the LA Times. This week one of the headlines that caught my eye was “L.A. crime dip belies bad economy.” The article says that despite the predictions of pundits that the recession would result in increased crime, a downward trend of murder, rape and robbery has continued over the past several years. Experts are puzzled. The police department likes to take a lot of credit, but admit there must be more to the story. Perhaps people within the communities are simply setting new standards of behavior.

I’m sure all of those elements have played a part. However, I smiled because I think  there has also been a “Supernal Effect” taking place. What’s that, you ask? Have you ever heard of the Maharishi Effect? It goes back to the 1970’s and the whole TM movement. The idea is that if as little as 1% of a population sends positive energy to reduce crime, the rate of violence will go down. Now, there are conflicting research reports as to the validity to the hypothesis.  But, it seems like an excellent idea, doesn’t it?

Not being of the Transcendental Meditation persuasion, I like the ring of “Supernal Effect” better. This is when people individually pray for their cities and states. The collective positive energy raises the vibrations of the population. Just as illness disappears within a body when the energetic value is elevated, the lower vibrations of violence can perhaps be lifted and diffused. Of course, this is only a theory, but I believe there are many like-minded people understanding the power of the collective conscious.

I begin my mornings with prayer and meditation. I ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and pray for the people in my bundle. Then I pray for Los Angeles, because I live here. I visualize angels and a calming energy permeating the community. I attempt to send out a high vibration of love. I also send calming thoughts to the many fault lines that lie under the city and tell them to move gently. I mean, what can it hurt? If there are  other people (and I know of at least two) who are doing the same thing, then perhaps the Supernal Effect is coming into play to bring the crime rate down.

Can’t prove it, but wouldn’t it be a wonderful experiment if more people consciously prayed for their communities on a daily basis? Let’s spread the Supernal Effect! 

Have a lovely day–

Dana Taylor

Jan 5 2012

The Healing Light–Still the One

Books become classics for a reason–they stand the test of time. The words of an author long gone from the planet still resonate with new generations. Such a book is The Healing Light by Agnes Sanford.  I first read the book in 1983–the year Agnes passed. It began a life-long exploration for me of healing prayer and learning principles of health.

The Healing LightThe book sat on my keeper shelf for decades, making one house move after another with my family. But I hadn’t read in its entirety in years. I’d moved onto the modern gurus, few of which reside on the keeper shelf. Last month I felt the urge to read it again. Interestingly, in a prayer session with Helen (see Supernal Friends) she said, “There’s a book you haven’t read in a long time. You’re supposed to read it again.” I knew she was talking about The Healing Light.

Published originally in 1947, the book touches on concepts touted by Hay House bestsellers. But before there was Dyer, Deepak or Abraham/Hicks–there was Agnes Sanford. Agnes brings elements of faith to her understanding of energy healing that is often missing in today’s literature. Agnes knew beyond a doubt from whence her power came.

Raised in China by missionary parents and then married for decades to a Protestant minister, Agnes Sanford was a pioneer in the healing ministry of the twentieth century. She taught that prayer is an act of co-creation between God and man. Her references to light, vibration, and scientific discoveries of her day show a mind that captured the whole picture of mind, body, and spirit.

Beneath all her teaching is a connection with the Christ Spirit. Agnes Sanford became the conduit of a healing source far beyond her human capabilities. She taught that anyone can also become such a conduit, given the practice and motivation.

Being an intercessor can be overwhelming. Increasingly, the Supernal Friends get calls to send healing energy to many people dealing with critical situations. One principle in the book that has helped me stay in the healing game is the idea of “bundles.” Nobody can pray for everybody. But, each of us can have certain prayer assignments in our “bundles.” If everyone prays for the people and situations in their individual bundles, the needs will be met.

In my meditation time, I ask for the bundle assignments to be made clear and I send healing energy to the best of my ability. Admittedly, my bundle feels fairly meager compared to the ocean of need in the world. But, I do my part and don’t allow guilt to drag me down for everything I don’t pray about.

The Bundle Concept is a good survival tool to the active healer/mediator.

One of the gals in my bundle who is struggling with cancer told me she has read The Healing Light three times this year. It has been source of spiritual and emotional strength. She’s even dreamed that Agnes Sanford has ministered to her as she sleeps.

When a book offers hope and enlightenment for over sixty years, it’s a classic.