“WAKING UP” by Shaman Isabella Stoloff
— As seen in GlitterLodge Magazine —

For years I slept and allowed mainstream media to feed my soul. It told me what to wear and what to eat and what toys to buy my children. Television gave me a sense of security when my mom was at work and allowed me to zone out as I grew into an adult. The magazines shouted from their stands about movie stars lives and the latest weight loss fad. I worried about what other people thought of me, was afraid to dance in public and felt less than my peers.

I was a giver. I would bend over backwards to help you and focus my attention on the one person who didn’t like me. I was self conscious, unaware and lost. The funny thing is I had no idea that all of these things were a distraction from myself. It never occurred to me that I was escaping from looking within.

As an empath I had no emotional boundaries and spent much of my time worried about how others felt. My mind was constantly full, bouncing from one thought to another. I had no idea where I ended and you began. In relationships I was the pleaser, molding myself to be what you wanted. But in my late 30’s I found myself exhausted and spent. I had hit an emotional wall.

I wasn’t raised with any foundation in religion. My mother felt it best to raise me with knowledge of all the religions, not focusing on any one specific type. At the time this was confusing but now I am grateful for I see the common threads and have a strong spiritual connection.

Feeling the world and what others are going through is a blessing and a curse. The curse is being unsure of whether or not the feeling is yours, and the blessing is being able to see things from many different points of view. But in order to get to this point you must wake up and see who you really are.

When I fully woke up and began to see how I work in the world, I was able to put my life into perspective. I began with journaling. I would write out all that had happened in my life and at times I would burn the writings. This was way before Shamanism came into my life and I learned the power of writing and releasing. I forgave myself and others for the pain caused and learned to turn guilt into gratitude. I worked with my mind, finding ways to reprogram my thinking. And I began to love myself.

Learning a new way to walk in the world can be challenging but it is worth it. You are the most important person. You matter. And what you think of yourself is by far more important than what society says.  Wake up to yourself and release judgments.  Watch your words and thoughts. Become the observer of your life and shift what no longer serves you. All of these techniques will bring you closer to yourself and your spirituality.

If you are a giver, learn to become open to receive. Know that when you receive you are still giving and this is the law of the Universe, to be in the flow.

When I stepped into my calling as a Shaman I had no idea it would evolve in the way it has. But I was open to receive, I was open to myself and I was ready to do the inner work.

If you are just waking up or consider yourself awake and don’t feel fully connected yet, begin empowering yourself. Use positive, loving self-talk along with releasing techniques to clear your energy body. Make peace with your past and see things from a birds eye view. You have power over your life, your truly do.  Find what makes you happy and pay attention to the moment. By learning to stay present you will find an awakened sense of being.

Remember your uniqueness in the world and wake up to your divine sense of self. See your inner light as a beautiful energy and attach that light firmly to the front of your spine. Ground this light into the Earth and know you are loved

~Shaman Isabella

Isabella founded the Orange County Healing Center in 2009, is a graduate of the Four Winds Society and has a Masters degree. She and her daughter created the Good Vibes positive affirmation deck for people to deeply connect with themselves and the world around. Shaman Isabella also leads people on spiritual journeys, provides one-on-one spiritual healing, travels to give talks and do workshops and has training programs. More details on this at www.orangecountyhealingcenter.com.

 Transforming my life has been a passion of mine for over 20 years.
Assisting others in doing the same is my mission.

 To book an appointment with Isabella today, call 714-603-8624.

Glitter Lodge Magazine is a progressive online monthly periodical 
promoting a more gender fluid sustainable culture and offer education 
on kundalini yoga, healthy eating and recipes to activate your inner 
activist leader.