PREFACE  

I decided to revisit each of my blog posts many years after I originally posted them to update and revise as needed. I’m finding two things, I wish I had an editor and I want to soften the tone of the information I’m sharing. To be honest, the last thing I want to sound is preachy or righteous because I am forever learning the depths of my soul. I think when I first wrote the posts, I was excited to share a practice that worked for me so it may have come across that way. I want to revise a few things so it’s more about sharing my personal experience and what I’ve learned on my journey.     

I’m a firm believer in experiencing all aspects of self, even the darkness, and the darkest part of self. I’m learning that experiencing this darkness, which I like to refer to as the ebb in the soul’s current, does take strength and lots of compassion as you care for your soul wounds. The soul healing practices are skills and practices I’ve developed during my journey that helped in navigating through the darkness, and assisted in shifting from ebb to flow with rest and integration in between. 

The practices are psychospiritual in nature, and are a mix of my personal experience and prior professional mental health background (as a licensed clinical social worker). All of my practices involve connecting with the elevated mind and sacred heart through awareness, imagination, visualization, and meditation. These soul healing practices continue to evolve and change just as my soul is growing and expanding.

There is of course no guarantee that the practices will work for you, but if you do try any of the practices, I encourage you to experiment in order to make it your own. Listen to your inner wisdom and change or refine the practice as needed so it completely resonates with your soul. Also, all of my practices need to be at your pace, so again listen to your inner knowing and honor it.

My sacred journey is not less or more significant than anyone else’s, my only motivation for sharing is to inspire self-transformation and to offer support for your unique and sacred journey. Please forgive any editorial mistakes for this is as good as it will get without an editor ;). This is what I’ve learned along the way.

SOUL HEALING PRACTICE BACKGROUND

In my experience, some suffering can offer opportunities for growth and expansion, but I’ve also found chronic suffering to be quite difficult, taxing, painful, and even debilitating. I define suffering as any energy that makes you feel limited, disempowered, held back, stuck, confined, persistently depressed, angry, or anxious, and/or a feeling of chronic malaise. For the most part, the persistence of suffering primarily comes from within which then perpetuates more external experiences of suffering. The seeds of suffering, however, are typically planted as a result of a challenging, painful, or traumatic external event, circumstance, and/or relationship, and often overgrow as invasive weeds in our mind and heart. These seeds are usually in the form of limiting, self-defeating, and/or disempowering thoughts that are watered by matched burdensome feelings and eventually grow into beliefs that distort our current perception with a veil of suffering.

We often feel fear, anxiety, deep sadness, anger, resentment, guilt, shame, and so on before we are aware of the thought or belief that these feelings tend to feed. These type of feelings can be challenging to experience and difficult to manage. In fact, we tend to hastily rid of them by either avoiding or suppressing them and/or projecting them onto others and behaving in ways we regret. However, making space for the feelings is just as important as experiencing their opposite. I’ve found when internal space is allowed for these type of feelings to be fully seen and acknowledged that their intent is to be reintegrated into the sacred whole or the soul’s vibration, but in a transcendental form. Their presence will either naturally dissipate on their own or provide a cue an internal shift is needed to restore balance and empowerment. Regardless they are providing an opportunity to heal unresolved soul wounds and past experiences, and are offering further soul growth and expansion towards your soul’s harmony and highest potential.     

If these types of feelings begin to feel daunting and relentless, and you feel like you are stuck in a loop of limiting, disempowering, and/or self-defeating thoughts/beliefs, feelings, and body discomfort, then the attachment to suffering may have overstayed its visit. An effective way to clear and transcend this energy is to energetically cut the cord (attachment) to the suffering that is binding you to another person, place, situation, circumstance, or even to your own mind. Energetically cutting cords is not an act of spite or revenge, but rather an act of love and compassion for both you and the attachment. It transmutes and transcends the energy and restores balance and harmony to your energetic presence, thus providing a clearer realignment with your sacred divine self.

If you feel hesitant or resistant to cutting a cord between you and an external energy because you feel obligated in helping them, then it is useful to remember that you may be hindering their healing, growth, and soul expansion. It is also important to remember that they have their own sacred journey which requires them to learn how to heal and resolve their own suffering from within. Of course still provide support and love, but you do not need to do it for them. Staying attached may promote codependency of relying on people or situations for feeling “good” or needed and/or blaming people or situations for feeling “bad”. It just creates an overdependence on the external to make you feel a certain way. This also holds true for any lower vibrational or negative cords you have attached to yourself due to your own distorted, disempowering thoughts. You can become codependent on your own way of thinking and feeling. Visit my post, “What is Codependency?” (30 Sep 2016), to learn more about  codependent relationships.  

SOUL HEALING PRACTICE

The soul healing practice involves three steps to energetically cut the cords that are attached to suffering. It is most beneficial and effective to apply this soul healing practice when you have a quiet space, patience, and willingness to explore your internal experience with curiosity and compassion. I also recommend making this practice your own by experimenting with it where you may change and/or refine the practice as needed so it truly resonates with you and with your sacred journey.

As mentioned in all my posts, before I begin any soul healing practice I like to start with breathing techniques in order to calm my nervous system and to open my heart to healing and expansion. I like to do a four-count breath technique, where I count to four as I inhale expanding the lower belly (1, 2, 3, 4) and count four backwards as I exhale slowly (4, 3, 2, 1), repeating as needed. I then follow with intentional breathing: as I slowly inhale I say to myself I am and on the exhale I say calm, continuing the practice on the inhale saying I am and on the exhale saying safe, breathing in I am and breathing out empowered, breathing in I am and breathing out love, breathing in I am and breathing out light, and finally breathing in I am and breathing out free. You can end this practice with the following statement or intention: I trust myself, I believe in myself. Remember with this practice to bring the breath all the way down to your lower belly and not just to your chest. The breath not only gives life to the intention, but also helps to anchor it into your soul’s vibration. If you like this technique, I also suggest experimenting with the intentions so it totally resonates with you and gives you a sense of calm, and a feeling of being centered, nurtured, and empowered.  

1) TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

The presence of suffering and distressing feelings are a sign our soul is in ebb. Sometimes accepting its presence as just an alert of the soul’s status helps to provide a bit more detachment from the suffering in order to give additional altitude and compassion for our experience. The soul’s ebb is asking to be acknowledged as a soul wound that needs to be healed so peace and harmony can be restored, similar to a child wanting our attention because they’ve hurt themselves, specifically our inner child. Suffering involves a cyclical exchange of energies from our soul to our external experience, or even within our mind and heart. Taking responsibility starts with self-awareness and reflection followed by addressing our part in the exchange.   

One way to begin this process is to ask ourself, when have I felt this before? Oftentimes, but not always, feelings of suffering can be traced to childhood when distorted, self-limiting, and/or disempowering thoughts were seeded and grew into beliefs. These beliefs tend to be the filter we use to perceive our internal and external experiences which are often not readily known until an external circumstance activates it to be seen in the adult years. Sometimes these beliefs do not originate during childhood, but may occur later in life due to challenging or traumatic experiences, however the process of soul distortion is similar.

An external event, circumstance, or relationship causes internal distress which then promotes the seeding of a self-defeating, limiting, or disempowering thought that usually grows into a belief. The energy of the belief tends to disrupt our present perception. This interference can be thought of like static on a radio signal or a connection that causes distortion in the present experience. The distortion includes the fragmentation of mental, emotional, and behavioral clarity creating the internal static where confusion and suffering tend to vibrate. I’ve found these lower vibrational beliefs tend to operate below the conscious radar creating a negative subconscious feedback loop that is entwined with the external experience which perpetuates more suffering. 

This dynamic can be further illustrated by providing an example of how to strengthen awareness of the internal process through self-reflection. The example is meant to provide a framework and may or may not relate to you, but its purpose is for you to extrapolate it into your own life experience so it can relate to you or for the example to demonstrate how to begin the exploration into your internal experience. Let’s say you are feeling quite a bit of anger and resentment towards another person’s behavior which may be, but not always, because the person is reflecting a distorted, self-defeating thought or belief you hold of yourself. Let’s explore this idea a little further and say you are interacting with a “know-it-all” or someone acting superior and find yourself getting overly irritated or even destructively angry. This reaction may be because there is an aspect of yourself you believe is a “know-it-all”, has the potential to be a “know-it-all”, or the “know-it-all” has woken a darker aspect of self that you have not fully accepted, but actually rejected.    

Perhaps in your youth, you were rewarded for being more mature than your age or for saying the right things, and were ignored or even punished when you were not so you felt as though you were always expected to be this way. Or perhaps your emotional needs weren’t taken care of so you felt inferior or that you didn’t matter which could have created an internal block in expressing your true, authentic self and a “know it all” may make you feel inadequate, wrong, or in the wrong. You may have internalized this exchange that in order to be loved and accepted you need to be a “know-it-all” so that you feel you matter or for your voice or truth to be heard or seen. Or if being a “know-it-all” doesn’t resonate, then they may be triggering disempowering thoughts or beliefs you have of yourself related to superiority.  

Regardless of the scenario suffering makes its home in your heart and mind if the irritation (which is a common response in this example) evolves into overwhelming anger and resentment that consumes your experience, it takes over your day or days to come, and you feel you need to retell the story over and over again to justify or validate your experience. Rejection of any aspect of self invites suffering by cultivating self-defeating and disempowering thoughts and beliefs that lead to harsh and even punishing self-talk. The cycle can actually manifest adverse external circumstances, creating negative or lower vibrational feedback loops until you come across another “know-it-all” who helps to shine the light into the darker corners of your mind and heart. Acceptance of all aspects of self provides an opportunity to heal and resolve soul wounds and suffering. It also brings more clarity to your behavior and influence on your external world.

Hence, self-awareness and reflection paves the path to self-accountability and responsibility which then opens the door to acceptance. As presented in the previous example, we begin this internal work by exploring our thinking and becoming our own personal soul investigators or detectives by asking ourselves questions. I’ve found two specific types of questioning to be quite beneficial in uncovering distorted thinking of self-defeating and disempowering thoughts/beliefs. I’ll provide a brief outline of how to do this work by referencing the “know it all” example and more specifically if the energetic exchange makes you feel you are wrong or in the wrong, but this can be applied to any scenario.

You begin by asking yourself, what does it mean to be in the wrong or what does it say about me to be wrong? The answers may be something like: I don’t like to feel stupid or it makes me feel unaccepted, respectively. You can then go further by continuing the questioning, what does it mean to feel stupid or what does it say about me to be unaccepted, which may lead to uncovering thoughts (or more probable core beliefs) such as: I’m stupid for the first thought and I don’t matter or I’m unworthy for the second thought. Again, ask yourself, when was the first time I felt this way, which may lead you back to a time in your upbringing or to a distressing or traumatic event which may be cathartic in itself because you understand where it is coming from. Identifying this type of thinking or core beliefs is an absolute critical part of self-awareness and reflection so that it can be healed, transmuted, and transcended.

To learn more on how to to identify and challenge distorted thinking, visit my post “The Art of Empowering Your Mind” (15 March 2016) for a comprehensive guide. For more on inner child and past-self healing visit my two posts, “The Woes of Perfection” (15 Aug 2016) and “Regret, Guilt, Shame: The Burdensome Trio” (21 Aug 2017), primarily Experience 2 (when I share my experience with the soul healing practice), 

This type of soul work of taking responsibility for your part in the exchange does not excuse or condone another person’s or situation’s poor, toxic, manipulative, or hurtful behavior because they are absolutely responsible for their behavior and their part in the exchange, but rather it promotes more self-empowerment and compassion within you. This self-reflection is a way to clear up the static of distortion, to begin releasing the burden of suffering from your internal experience, to forgive yourself as needed, to begin healing soul wounds, and to offer more clarity and self-empowerment on how best to respond in order to obtain justice or accountability. A shift in perspective elevates the energy within you and allows your soul’s current to flow again which then ultimately affects your external world and experience, thus interrupting and resolving lower vibrational feedback loops of suffering.  

2) FORGIVE AND CUT THE CORDS

From my experience, forgiveness and cutting cords go hand in hand. Cutting cords is a way to begin the process of forgiveness, but I found first it is important to set the stage. For me it begins by having an understanding for the reason of suffering which opens the door to forgiveness because understanding often leads to compassion. The more compassion and empathy you can offer to the suffering, the wider the door to healing and growth is opened for peace and harmony to be restored. When I or my clients granted more space to explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors it led to more self-empowerment due to an increased level of understanding of the soul’s experience.  Self-awareness, introspection, and reflection provides choices rather than feeling like life is happening to you or against you.

This understanding of self also leads to an understanding of someone else’s behaviors. It seems most suffering and hurtful behavior is rooted in fear and/or soul wounds which for me helped to cultivate more compassion for myself and others. For example, some self-reflective thoughts, which also can be applied to another person’s behavior, may include: I made you feel small because I’m afraid or because I feel small, I shut you out because I was hurt, (I or they) reacted from anger out of fear or hurt. Again to further build upon self-awareness, introspection, and reflection, visit my post, “The Art of Empowering Your Mind” (15 March 2016). 

This internal work of building more compassion also shows that our response to suffering matters. Harsh and punishing self talk only perpetuates the cycle of suffering and keeps it fueled for relentless rotations, while the juxtaposition of more compassion and understanding for your soul’s experience slows and eventually stops the cycle. Compassion starts by relating to yourself in a different way. Try comforting yourself as you would a child, loved one, or pet who is scared or hurt by speaking to yourself with warmth, understanding, and support. For example, some internal thoughts may include, I understand why I (or you) reacted in that way because I was afraid or I understand why I (or you) gave my power away because it’s a pattern from childhood. Again, this compassion and understanding is not excusing or condoning poor and hurtful behavior, but a way to begin releasing the heavy burden that you carry.

Setting the stage with compassion and understanding helps the cord cutting process to unfold cleaner and with unconditional love and forgiveness, mainly for yourself. However, sometimes we need to clear intense emotion before we continue with the soul healing practice in order to gain more emotional and mental altitude. It just means your intense emotion wants to be seen and acknowledged in its raw form before it is transformed and transcended. A way to move the energy up and out is by energetically standing up for yourself so you can return to the practice with more compassion, understanding, and altitude. I provide a way to do just that, see my post “How to Transform Anger into Empowerment” (3 Mar 2017), specifically Practice 2, where you can refine the practice to match the intense emotion or situation. In addition to this practice, a good ole vent session is also helpful in releasing intense energy. I recommend that you vent to a trusted confidant who can actively listen and hold the space for you without adding more negative energy. They may also be able to offer some insights that you’ve overlooked.

Energetically cutting cords often involves visualization and intentions. The energetic cords are representations of burdensome attachments to another person, situation, circumstance, or even to aspects of self that feel stifling, heavy, limiting, self-defeating, and/or disempowering. Before I describe the practice, as a reminder the soul healing practice will be even more effective when you make it your own. It is important for you to experiment with the imagery and intentions so it truly resonates with your sacred self.  

Find a quiet and safe space where you will not be interrupted. Begin by preparing for the meditation with the breathing practices as described above (4-count breath and intentional breathing) or with your favorite breathing or grounding practice. Once you feel more calm and centered, close your eyes and visualize a sphere of light in your heart space of any color of your choosing that feels pleasant, loving, and nurturing. Now breathe into this sphere of light and see the sphere expanding larger until it completely surrounds you. Within this sphere of light you feel safe, protected, and nurtured.

Sometimes I use a different visualization if I need to feel more protected and empowered than is provided by the sphere of light. I describe this visualization in the setting boundary section below, specifically the internal boundary of using fire in addition to the sphere of light. Once I feel more safe and empowered, I proceed with the cord cutting. 

Next visualize the person, situation, circumstance, or even aspects of self (thoughts, feelings, behaviors) that is causing distress and suffering, and then imagine the cord(s) that are connecting you to each other. The cord(s) can be a single cord or multiple cords that are in any form that resonates with you such as a cable, rope, laser beam, and so on.

Now visualize yourself as strong and confident holding a sword of absolute purifying white light. I like to imagine myself as a great and powerful warrior or knight to help me feel more empowered which may or may not resonate with you so please do experiment with the imagery. You then yield the sword high past your head and swing it down to sever the cord(s) with ample muscle. I’ve found there are times though I may have to swing the sword several times if the cords are stubborn and resistant to the blows. I’ve also found it helpful to call upon other powerful divine deities, passed loved ones, energetic beings, or guides to help me cut the cords which for me is often Archangel Michael. 

If you do not resonate with a sword, then use any tool or weapon that has the ability to cut the cord(s). What you use will be special to you, but the idea is for the tool to be infused with higher vibrational energy and purifying light. As a side note, if your tool or weapon is infused with destructive anger, revenge, or resentment, then cutting the cord will only perpetuate more suffering because you are adding to this energy. This just means you first need to acknowledge and move some intense energy, again see my post, “How to Transform Anger into Empowerment” (3 Mar 2017), specifically Practice 2 (refine and change as needed).

Once the cords are cut, it is my hope that you feel a sensation of relief or lightness as the tension is released. You can offer an intention of, you are free and I am free. Visualize a warm, golden light from your heart space and from your power center (solar plexus) that extends rays of purifying and healing light as luminous and powerful as a star or the sun. Now see the same from whomever or whatever the cord was attached. The space between the two of you is now flooded with warm, radiant light and unconditional love. You can also use or add the Violet Flame. Then see them freely and peacefully move away from you until they completely disappear into their own light. For me, this part of the visualization  represents the other being transmuted and transcended into the sacred whole which includes their sacred oneness.

Sometimes before they disappear, I see myself waving goodbye as they do the same, as if stating you played your part and I played my part, and now it’s done. The kind or loving gesture of your choosing as you release each other is a form of forgiveness for yourself and the other. It also acknowledges the roles each played in the experience of soul growth and expansion, and helps to keep the cords from re-attaching as the cord was released with love and compassion. The prior imagery of the healing and purifying light also helps to release the cord with unconditional love and forgiveness, as well as to further clear and purify the energy and space within and outside of you.  

I like to close this visualization by imagining a bright white column of light above me that descends down so that I am completely encased in the light like a spiritual shower. I stay in this light until I feel restored, absolved, elevated,  and/or energized, sometimes adding an intention to further claim the energy. 

As a final note, you may have to do this practice several times over a number of days to fully release the attachment and suffering. Try to offer yourself patience and compassion if this is occurs. Each time you do the practice, the attachment and suffering should lessen until it is released.  As suggested earlier, the soul healing practice will be less effective if you release the cords with anger, resentment, or guilt. If you are still holding space for these feelings, then attempt this soul healing practice another time when these feelings are less intense.

Cutting cords is also beneficial to use any time you’ve been surrounded by negativity or lower vibrational energy, whether it’s your own or from the external. This can include envy and jealousy and/or circumstances or places that carry energy of hate, toxicity, and/or excessive anger, anxiety, or depression. I cut cords when I feel depleted or drained after interacting with people, a situation, or place. I also use it when someone comes to me for guidance. I typically do it after our interaction as a cleansing in order to release any limiting or negative energetic attachments either one of us made so we once again are working with our own energy and not confused by the other’s energy.

3) SET BOUNDARIES

Once the above soul healing practices have been completed, it makes setting appropriate boundaries a bit easier in order to nurture our empowerment, and to feel safe, protected, and supported. This is also an act of love for self and for the external experience because as we protect and take care of ourselves, then we are able to give more authentically in emotional, mental, and/or physical ways. Boundaries can be in many forms both internal and external, and will be unique to the circumstance, but I’ll offer a few examples.   

INTERNAL BOUNDARIES

Internal boundaries, as it implies, typically involve a shift in the internal experience, especially in perspective, and may include empowering intentions, affirmations, and feelings such as: I don’t like feeling restricted so I am free; I invite those who encourage and support my expansiveness, and release those who do not; or I matter and do not deserve this treatment. These are only examples to help you explore thoughts and affirmations that make you feel more empowered. This type of empowered thinking when practiced enough will plant the seeds so it eventually grows into a belief that you truly believe to be true, and your brain will adjust to the new way of functioning. To nurture and grow the seed is to generate the feeling that matches the empowering thought so that you feel it in your entire being. 

Another type of internal boundary is establishing personal vows that promote self-empowerment. For example, it could be a vow that you will make the time and space to replenish and recharge yourself or you will place your emotional, mental, and physical needs and desires before others. Or perhaps a vow you will reduce or eliminate time spent in a space or circumstance that depletes you. Or a vow that it is safe for you to speak your truth and that your voice is powerful and healing. Again, putting yourself first reinforces that you matter so that you can authentically give which establishes a reciprocal exchange of giving and receiving. As always, it is for you to experiment with whatever vows resonate with your soul and pertain to your experience, and provides a sense of confidence, strength, and empowerment. 

Yet another type of internal energetic boundary involves visualization. Like the cord cutting visualization, I like to imagine a sphere of light (any color that makes me feel safe, nurtured, and empowered) that is radiating from my power center (solar plexus area). I then visualize this sphere of light growing larger until it completely surrounds me. Within this sphere of light, I visualize I am now my warrior-self, standing tall, confident, and strong. I then add a ring of fire or flames that completely surround the sphere for extra protection, and I say the following intention: no one can manipulate or guilt me, control or have power over me, hurt me, or take from me including myself, or you will be burned, you no longer have access, I am fully empowered and protected. The use of fire and the intention “you will be burned” is for purification purposes and is not to inflict substantial energetic pain or hurt, but just a minor ouch to give a clear message you are fully protected and safe. The boundary can also reflect negative or lower vibrational energy back to its source to be taken care of and to be transmuted and transcended into the sacred whole (as you see the energy burning into golden ash). 

For another and more in depth variation of this energetic fire boundary, see my post, “How to Transform Anger into Empowerment” (3 Mar 2017), specifically Practice 1. As always, experiment with this visualization and the intentions in order to make it your own, especially if the element of fire or the intentions do not quite resonate with you.

EXTERNAL BOUNDARIES

Once internal boundaries have been set, it makes it easier to set external boundaries because you feel more empowered and safe from within. Examples of external boundaries which may coincide with personal vows and/or other internal boundaries may include: pulling back your energy or focus, not being readily available, or being selective in who or what you spend your time and energy. Sometimes it is necessary to let go of aspects or the entire relationship or circumstance that limits you, disempowers you, holds you back, or depletes you. In doing so, it is helpful to remind yourself it served its purpose and is not meant to go further if it doesn’t provide reciprocal support, growth, and expansion. This can also apply to how you relate to yourself if it no longer supports your highest potential and sacred divine self.

Authentically expressing your emotional, mental, and physical needs and desires are another way to set external boundaries. Examples of expressing your needs may include something like: I hear what you’re saying and that you feel a certain way, but it doesn’t mean you can project your feelings onto me I don’t deserve that; do not project your anger onto me because I don’t deserve it; I matter and don’t deserve this type of treatment; I need to speak my truth because my voice matters; I need time and space alone to nurture my soul; or I need time to focus on my passion so I am more present for you. Again, these are only examples to help you explore your own soul’s needs and desires so that you begin to get to know what your truth sounds like. For more examples of setting boundaries, visit my my post, “What is Codependency” (30 Sep 2016).

It is natural to feel some discomfort when setting boundaries such as guilt or fear. We all fear rejection, even the rejection from those or things causing suffering or holding us back from our soul’s freedom. I suggest reminding yourself that if you are feeling burdened with suffering, anger, resentment, and/or toxic obligation that this is your sacred divine self telling you something has to change and needs to override any guilt or fear. Another motivation for change is to remind yourself that if you don’t establish firmer boundaries, then you may be holding back the person or situation from their own soul growth and expansion. They have their own sacred journey of learning how to take care of themselves just as you are learning to do. The former is fertile soil for growing codependency which hinders both of you. Even as a caregiver, it is still vital to set boundaries in order to support your emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing so that you are able to care for your loved one to the best of your ability (i.e. making time for respite and rest, exercise, hobbies, passions, and so on).

As a reminder, I’ve learned it to be essential to set soul boundaries with a sense of worthiness, empowerment, and unconditional love, and not from extreme hate, resentment, disempowerment, and/or unworthiness. The energy of the boundary matters. To set it with the latter you may notice others will continue to cross or even completely disregard your boundaries. To set with love and empowerment they will learn to respect and honor your boundaries or just let you go because they are not able to adjust to your elevated energy.

One last important note on setting boundaries, if you are setting boundaries within a codependent relationship there is a potential the other party may cling even tighter or lash out for a period of time as they are adjusting to the shift in your energy. If you are currently in an unsafe or an abusive relationship or environment, your physical and emotional wellbeing are always first before implementing a firm external boundary. It is the utmost priority for you to seek safety first and implement a safety plan prior to externally or physically ending a relationship. Seek the support of people and professional services you trust. Please research professional services and agencies available to you in your area to develop a safety plan. 

SOUL HEALING PRACTICE CLOSING

I like to close each soul healing practice with another visualization, especially if the practice doesn’t include an energetic shield/boundary. If the practice does include a protective sphere of light, then adjust this closing visualization to complement the practice. The closing visualization may also be a stand alone practice. The intent is to further cleanse any residual blocks or burdens, calm the soul, restore optimal functioning, and realign the soul as above, so below.  

Visualize a disk of purifying, white light that is above you and is large enough to fit both your body and energetic field. The purpose of the disk is to scan your body and energetic field while it simultaneously moves any residual mental, emotional, physical, and energetic blocks or burdens. The energy will be moved out and drained like an energetic faucet as it disappears into the void. The intention of the energy as it disappears is to be transmuted and transcended into the sacred whole which includes your soul’s oneness or harmony. 

As you continue the visualization, imagine the purifying disk of light descending down towards you and begins to scan your upper energetic field and extends outward to capture your entire energetic field as it moves down your body, starting with your head, down your shoulders, down each arm, and out each hand. Visualize any blocks or burdens draining out of your hands (like a faucet). You can imagine the energy as darker energy flowing out. Once you feel it is complete or see the energy begin to trickle stop the flow from your hands. Bring your attention back to your shoulders and continue the scan down your chest, your abdomen to the pelvic area, down each leg, and out each foot. Again visualize any blocks or burdens draining out from your feet, once you feel it is complete or see the energy begin to trickle then stop the flow. Now take a moment to visualize your entire body and energetic field are now cleansed and cleaned.  

Next say to yourself, CALM, and visualize and feel every cell of your body and particle of your energetic field is calming like a pristine, quiet mountain lake with no movement. Just calm and quiet. Take a few deep belly breaths to savor this feeling of calmness. Next, say to yourself, HEAL, followed by optimal health and functioning, and golden light are restored, visualize every cell of your body and particle of your energetic field is now filled with sparkling golden light as you are glowing and vibrating with this golden energy. Visualize the golden energy extends outward to form a sphere of light that now surrounds you. The sphere of light may change colors, any color of your choosing. Again, take a few deep belly breaths to savor this energy of renewal, strength, and empowerment. 

Lastly, visualize a column of golden threads above you descending down through you and exiting out your feet, continuing down into the earth to be deeply anchored into the earth’s core so you feel secured, stable, and grounded (you can add imagery of golden roots or similar extending from your feet to be anchored into the earth’s core). Next see a violet light doing the same, and finally a pure white light doing the same. The intent of the columns are to align you above and below, so you feel both grounded and elevated. You may close the visualization by saying to yourself three intentions, for example I say: I am powerful, I am magical, I am healing, and as I say each intention I visualize myself growing taller, stronger, and feeling more empowered.

As a last note and most likely suggested in the description of the soul healing practice, do experiment with, change, refine the practice as needed so it truly resonates with your soul, becomes your personal practice, and evolves and changes with you. By making the practice your own, you are listening to your inner guidance, are connecting with your sacred divine self, and aligning with your unique wisdom and soul’s vibration.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE SOUL HEALING PRACTICE

I sought guidance from a spiritual teacher and during our session I immediately was feeling irritated and angry in her presence. I noticed a power struggle forming between us. She was direct and offering teachings that I’ve already learned. I felt she was condescending and I felt belittled and small. I was aware that I wasn’t receiving her teachings because one thought was cycling in my mind, I already know this and you don’t know how much internal work I’ve already done. I listened to her with anger and resentment, and left feeling empty rather than feeling empowered and uplifted. I proceeded to punish myself with harsh self-talk and ruminating thoughts for not standing in my worth and using my voice. 

After our session, I explored the thoughts and feelings deeper. I realized her “condescending” approach is something I often worry about when I offer guidance. I would “hate” to think I was condescending in any way. I worry if others perceive me as a “know-it-all” or that I’m teaching from a superior or righteous place. I realized my irritation towards her was a potential aspect of myself I would or do already hate. Notice the use of the word “hate”, which is an example of harsh internal self-talk.

My internal alert system was going off like mad, sounding the alarm that my sense of empowerment was in a state of imbalance. I asked myself, when have I felt this before, and I realized the interaction was triggering an old childhood wound and pattern. As a child, my emotional needs weren’t always taken care of and my voice was suppressed. This planted an early seed of unworthiness which grew into a belief that my voice and emotional needs and desires aren’t as important as others so in response I dimmed my light. I also became an “over-giver” and a “people-pleaser”, thinking this was the way to fill my internal voids which led to many codependent relationships in all aspects of my life including with myself. 

Seeing the wounds of my inner child provided me with more understanding for how I was feeling and behaving in the present. This understanding opened the door for compassion and healing so that I may wrap my arms around little Stacy and reassure her that she matters, all of her matters. It also opened the door to self-forgiveness where I was able to calm the harsh internal self-talk to include hating certain aspects of myself. 

The experience was also reaffirming that my voice and my power were no longer okay with being suppressed and acting so small. In fact, I always felt my sacred power pushing against the belief of unworthiness and it wanted to be heard and set free, most likely another reason that this experience showed up so I can do just that. I realized when someone acts superior, sometimes I submit to their dominance and I dim my light so they feel more powerful. Again, I learned my emotional needs and my voice didn’t matter as much as others. This reaction only buried my own self-empowerment and self-worth deeper making it more difficult to remember my sacred truth and power.

I knew I needed to do some energetic cord cutting to release the internal suffering from this experience and to restore my empowerment. I began with the four-count breath and intentional breathing to settle the residual anger and fear I was still feeling. I then set an internal boundary by using the sphere of light with the ring of fire and the protection intentions visualization to restore my empowerment.

I vowed from this point forward I would speak my truth with respect, even if “I feel” I may offend someone. I don’t need to take care of other people’s feelings above my own. I also replayed the events in my mind and told her, I’ve learned what you are presenting and I am actively implementing it, so lets focus on a different aspect that I need to strengthen. Then I proceeded to tell her where we need to focus because I already knew from listening to my inner wisdom.

I continued the visualization by imagining myself as a great spartan warrior adorned in golden armor. I stood tall and confident, and extremely powerful. I raised my golden sword of healing and purifying light high above my head and swung the sword down to sever the cords between us. I had to swing it again because I didn’t quite sever all of cords due to the cords having deep roots from my childhood. I felt a deep sense of relief with each severing motion as the cords fell between us. I then offered the intention, you are free, as I am free, and saw a golden, white light and the Violet Flame within me extending towards her and she did the same for me, filling the space between us with warm, healing, and purifying radiance. I actually waved goodbye as she was fading away and she did the same until she completely disappeared into her own light. It was done. I knew I had released her from my energy so that she and I may both be free. I then closed the visualization by standing in a white column of purifying light until I felt further absolved, cleansed, and energized.

POEM

CORDS

Cut the cords that hold me back.
I am ready to sever the need to please you,
to seek your approval.

For the true goddess and priestess is bursting
with rays of gleaming light
and my star self
radiates with vigor and strength,
brightly shines without veils to subdue it.

I seek only my approval
of which I am already worthy,
ascending higher and higher with angelic wings,
hovering like the grace of a hummingbird.

Deeply connected to source and to the whole —
I stand in my power,
I have arrived!
 — Stacy L. Pintor ©

Thank you for visiting my blog, I truly hope some or all of the soul healing practices do help you along your sacred journey and provide you some relief and ease. 

Visit my website if you want to learn more about me and to check out my poetry, especially if you liked the poem above which is included in my first poetry collection, Into the Darkness, Become the Light. 

https://www.baresoulworks.com

Thanks again for visiting and for your support. Stacy 💚

PLEASE BE ADVISED

The soul healing practices provided in this blog are meant as a tool to aid in healing, for improving mental and emotional health, and for inspiring self-transformation. The practices are not meant to be a form of psychotherapy or social work practice requiring a contractual, professional relationship. If you need consistent therapeutic care and/or crisis intervention due to being at risk of harming yourself or others, then seek professional and/or emergency services immediately.

The purpose of this blog is to share with you how I integrate my personal experience, spiritual growth and expansion, and past professional mental health experience in the form of soul healing practices. By sharing my experience, it is my hope it will provide a practical example of how to interrupt and lessen the cyclical energy of suffering and to elevate your soul.   

These practices work best when you are ready to heal and expand. It is okay if you are not quite ready. Please be gentle and patient with yourself, seek outside help both professionally and personally as needed. You will heal and expand when you are ready. Sending you so much love, warmth, and compassion. Stacy 💚

© Stacy L. Pintor 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Revised and updated in 2025 by Stacy L. Pintor ©.

(No part of this blog may be reproduced without written permission from the author)