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

Positive affirmations are a way to raise our energetic vibration and to declare to our sacred divine self, to the infinite potential and power within and without, we are ready for abundance, peace, and harmony to include all we deserve and more. Typically, positive affirmations are statements to restore an internal balance, a way to recalibrate the mind to be in alignment with the sacred heart, especially if our internal state lingered too long in a lower vibration. 

This lower vibration often consists of entangled thoughts and beliefs that are self-defeating, disempowering, and/or distorted with the burdensome feelings that usually accompany them. The entanglement often forms lower vibrational thought patterns that can cause havoc within and outside of us, with suffering not far behind. Visit my post, “The Energy of the Thought Loop – You are the Creator” (3 Dec 2016), to learn more about thought patterns and loops. 

Although, in my opinion, all experiences are valid and necessary (the dark and the light, contraction and expansion) for absolute soul growth and ascension. Especially when after a period of growth, we allow ourselves the time and space to rest and integrate the expanded energy into our soul’s harmony and the oneness within, which includes the collective sacred whole. Sometimes these lower energies naturally take their course and return to the sacred whole with ease and grace, like falling leaves from a tree that reintegrate into the earth’s soil as vital nutrients. However, for some of us there’s a tendency to attach to the suffering longer than is needed for our soul’s growth, leaving little to no room for its opposite to be present, thus not allowing our leaves to fall. Affirmations whether general or specific are a way to release the leaves from our branches and to restore our soul’s harmony, to tip the internal scales back to balance, and to move past a stagnated soul’s ebb in order to flow again with our natural and sacred current.

SOUL HEALING PRACTICE

In my own internal work, I’ve found it is important for the affirmation to be in the present tense as if it is already happening. It is also important to choose affirmations that uniquely resonate with your soul so you genuinely feel the energetic shift. Affirmations may be specific, but broad enough so you don’t unintentionally attach too tightly to the specifics of an outcome, which can easily tip the internal scales to a lower vibration.

For example, affirmations may sound something like: I am safe and protected; I am stable and rooted in my greatness; it is safe to create; I am free to create; I create my best life; I am fully empowered and protected; I trust my power; it is safe to love and to be loved; I am free to love without fear; it is safe to receive without fear; it is safe to speak my truth; I am free to speak my truth; my voice in all its forms is powerful, magical, healing, and protected; I know and understand my intuition; I trust my sacred knowing and wisdom; I’m fully aligned with all that is (or whatever source or creator energy resonates with your beliefs); I trust my connection; and finally I deserve or I am worthy of (you fill in the blank), my life flows with ease and grace, my needs and desires are met, and so on.

I use these type of affirmations in my daily meditation as I clear and align all my energies centers (chakras) from my root to crown. As you may have noticed some of the affirmations relate to each energy center. Sometimes I use multiple affirmations at once and add a little more detail to the affirmation such as: it is safe to create, I am free to create, I create (something you are creating ). For me, it would be, I create an inspiring blog or I create inspiring poetry. 

Another tip to energizing these affirmations with more power and magic is to open your heart as you practice the affirmation. I personally found practicing affirmations without fully opening my heart had little to no effect. Opening your heart means truly feeling the energy of the affirmation as if it is already true. The energy may consist of feeling safe, stable, nurtured, empowered, loved, supported, and free as it vibrates through your entire being. The energy also may be felt as pleasant body sensations and/or perhaps you see a specific image or visualization in your mind’s eye that generates an elevated state. Your experience will be sacred and unique to you.

I found an effective way to open the heart is by breathing techniques such as the four-count breath or intentional breathing. I mention these breathing techniques often in my posts because for me they are very powerful as stand alone interventions, especially if you need something quick to calm your energy. I also do these breathing exercises prior to implementing a soul healing practice.

The four-count breath is simply counting to four as you inhale expanding the lower belly (1, 2, 3, 4) and slowly exhale as you count four backwards (4, 3, 2, 1), repeating as needed. Intentional breathing is also bringing the breath down to the lower belly, but including intentions. It goes like this: 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. The breath not only gives life to the intention, but also helps to anchor it into your soul’s vibration. Feel free to experiment and change the intentions as needed so it totally resonates with you and gives you a sense of calm, and a feeling of being centered, nurtured, and empowered.   

Other ways to open your heart may include other type of breathing techniques such as deep breathing into your heart center (imagine the breath is massaging and caressing the sacred heart), positive imagery, gratitude, prayer, meditation, or uplifting memories (when you felt alive, empowered, or full of joy). Sometimes I incorporate a visualization with the affirmations. I visualize a warm and healing golden light above my head that descends down through my crown, cascading through every cell of my body and energetic field, and exits through my feet and is anchored in the earth’s core. I visualize the light is carrying the affirmation while it is being integrated and absorbed into my entire being. I imagine this process feels warm, peaceful, nurturing, and empowering. Sometimes I follow the golden light with a column of purifying white light, especially if I need a little more power and purification to accompany the affirmation. Again, the idea is to not only think the affirmation, but to authentically feel the affirmation in every part of you.

It is also effective to add an end statement to the affirmation such as: so it is done, so it is, or even I demand it so and then release it to your higher source, to the sacred whole, or whatever resonates with your beliefs. The statement provides an extra exclamation point at the end of the affirmation as a declaration. The end statement can be anything of your choosing just as long as it provides a sense of empowerment and self-love. I found if I experience any mental resistance to the affirmation, the declaration reminds my mind to stand down so my heart may fully expand, and to assert I am worthy and deserving of receiving the affirmation and all its magic. I also found if you ruminate or worry about the outcome of the affirmation to where you become overly attached to it, then you may hinder the flow of manifestation by slowing or detouring its progress.    

If you feel overly attached to an affirmation, it’s helpful to release or surrender it. I use another visualization to aid with the surrender. After I feel and declare the affirmation as described earlier, I then visualize cutting an energetic cord that is attached to the affirmation, and I may say an intention such as the following: I set free the outcome so it may flow with ease and grace, I surrender how this affirmation may unfold, I am free and clear of worry, or you may surrender the affirmation to whatever resonates with your beliefs. When the cord is cut, I feel a sense of relief and freedom. If the energetic cord doesn’t resonate, then you can use any imagery where the affirmation is set free and symbolized by an object or action such as: blowing the puffs from a dandelion, releasing a balloon, and so on.  Also, you may not need the addition of the intention, just seeing the affirmation being set free may be enough. I may do this whole process multiple times throughout the day for days to come until it feels like I don’t need to anymore. Listen to your inner knowing and wisdom. 

Last note, if you need additional assistance in identifying other types of affirmations that are related to a distorted or disempowering core belief, then it may be helpful to explore your thinking further. Visit my post, “The Art of Empowering Your Mind” (15 March 2016), where I guide you in identifying distorted, self-defeating, or disempowering thoughts/beliefs, challenging the validity of the thought/belief, and identifying more empowering thoughts.

As I tend to say in all my posts, it is also most important to experiment with the soul healing practice so it truly resonates with you. Don’t hesitate to change or refine the visualization, imagery, intentions, and/or affirmations, sometimes numerous times, until it feels right for your experience. 

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’ll share two affirmations that I’ve been practicing: I am worthy of abundance in every form because I AM love and I deserve a life of ease and grace. I did notice, however, when I practiced these affirmations there was a part of me blocking the energy from expanding. Most likely as you may have learned from my other blog posts, the block is due to a core belief of unworthiness. I decided to add the declaration end statements, so it is done or I demand it so.

I began the soul healing practice with the four-count breath and then the intentional breathing technique. With the aid of the golden light visualization, I felt the affirmations cascading through my entire being with warmth and power as it integrated into every part of me. If for any reason, I didn’t feel the affirmations integrating, I would try the column of purifying white light. I noticed by adding the declaration end statements, I immediately felt a sense of empowerment and self-respect, which helped to release the clutches of the old core belief (I’m unworthy). It felt as though I restored my power and was actively nurturing my soul with the affirmations. I then released attachment to the affirmations by doing the energetic cord cutting visualization. 

I know with continual practice of the affirmations that I will genuinely believe them to be true, which will in turn send a clear message to creator or source energy, to my sacred divine self, that I’m truly ready for all I deserve and more. The affirmations will in turn provide unconditional love not only for me, but for others as well. Because I truly believe we are energetic beings and when our vibration elevates, it emanates outward to others and to our environments.  

POEM

THE QUEEN IS IN

I am ready
to receive my beloved.
A sacred, internal rebirth
to fill my cups with divine light
of total rejuvenation,
of ascension proportions.

Much has been purged, cleansed,
all for your arrival.
The door is unlocked,
please come in
and take me.
My heart is wide open
for you, for me.

The way is clear now
and I receive what is mine,
by divine birthright.

It comes in
way bigger, grander,
than I could ever imagine
or hoped.

Bold, deliberate, expansive,
so tender, intimate
yet driven, energized
with a deep cosmic knowing,
infused with the sweet aroma
of fresh acceptance.

I reclaim my domain,
alert my court
with a pound of my staff
to send a clear message,
exuding an etheric shock wave—
the queen is in. 

— 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 poetry book, Alchemy of the Soul.   

 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 2017. 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)