Let me tell you a little of my own story. In 2001, I found myself flat on my back in bed for several months after two major operations. I was at the end of my rope and extremely depressed with my life. Just a year after having gotten my ph.d. in educational psychology, I had recently quit my new 'dream' job as a college professor, completely disillusioned with the politics and backbiting. In a month I would no longer have health insurance, and the last of my incremental salary had gone into my bank account. I had spent years pursuing spiritual paths to heal myself, apparently to no avail.
Nothing had seemed to work, regardless of the extraordinary lengths I pursued. I had very little hope, no avenues of support left, and a life that seemed meaningless. It was then that I hit rock bottom...the pain of my wasted life was overwhelming to me. At this point, however, I finally turned within and asked for a Higher opinion. For me, it took over 40 years of pain to finally stop trying to control my life/do it my way, and instead ask for help from a smarter Source.
I was immediately guided to start a new career. This career involved actualizing my dream of using my healing abilities to start a business as a transformational healer for people suffering with issues of grief and loss, and other concerns. My friends and family told me I was crazy to take my remaining credit card balances and invest in advertising and an office. But I could feel how right this decision was for me, and my inner being began to balance itself as I trusted my own intuition. As I began this new career, I found I was very effective at helping others--I knew what they were going through from my own hardships. And my years of training as a spiritual student as well as an educational psychologist were finally coming in handy! Within three months I doubled my (meager) monthly salary from teaching; within six months I had quadrupled it and so on.
Since then, I have had the privilege of being a healing catalyst for hundreds of clients, enjoying a success I could not have imagined before. And that's because helpng to create healing of grief and loss is my passion and my life mission; abundance is inevitable when we find our way with Higher Help, however you think of the One.
A spiritual principle I have always lived by involves tithing and service work--I believe the more I give back, the more I receive, in so many ways. So last summer I began volunteering in U.S. prisons as a grief and loss group leader. I can relate to those in prison, because I spent so much time 'imprisoned' in my own pain. The women prisoners transformed my life just as much as my clients have from my healing practice. Each week I would leave our sessions in a state of ecstasy and amazement, closer to the Divine One than I had ever been in my life, despite all my 'belly button watching' and mystical meanderings. These women's truly extraordinary stories of lifelong hardship and dogged faith despite being in prison touched me deeply. I learned a great deal about Spirit's mercy and grace.
Most of all, I was deeply humbled by their willingness to surrender and be honest with themselves in their neediness for help. It is from that place of sincere seeking that many of us receive miraculous gifts. Sometimes hitting rock bottom may be the biggest gift we can be given.
My book, Sacred Gateways of Grief and Loss: Stories of Healing and Transformation, is a distillation of the spiritual journeys of such souls, each one an immense beacon and privilege to witness and walk with. In my book, you'll learn about the innate ability that each of us is given to vault into Divine Love and literally transform our lives in a flash. And if prisoners can change their lives, if they can manage -- from within the total hopelessness of a prison cell -- to find freedom and peace, I believe anyone can.
In working as a healer, I utilize several creative techniques for healing grief and loss. I offer these for you through my workbook, Art for Healing the Heart: Sacred Gateways of Grief and Loss Creative Workbook. I am also a sacred song practitioner, and have recorded a CD of sacred chants from various spiritual traditions, Sacred Gateways of Song. I am now offering my techniques and healing through group settings as well: two-day in-person workshops around the world, as well as virtual workshops you can participate in from the comfort of your own home. To find out more about any of my services, please click on the buttons to the left.
Thank you for reading, and deep thanks to the One for all we are given, seen and unseen, seemingly free or imprisoned. May we each strive to know Its beauty every moment of our brief time on earth.
Love, Dr. Jen 'good grief guru'
