Member Spotlight: Michele Meehan

Michele Meehan

Integrating
​Body, Mind, Heart and Spirit

 Fave food – Chocolate : )
Fave book – Healing through the Dark Emotions, by Miriam Greenspan
Fave flower - Peony
Fave tree - Willow
Teacher/elder you give special thanks to – Sandra Ingerman

Connect with Michele

1. How would you describe your work, to somebody that doesn't know anything about what you do?
As a registered psychotherapist and shamanic practitioner, I work with individuals to help them integrate all aspects of their being, body, mind, heart and spirit. This involves helping them to deepen their awareness, appreciation for, and care of all parts of themselves. That might mean healing from traumatic experiences; reclaiming disowned, or unloved parts of themselves; deepening their relationships with others; re-imagining their place in the world; or, reconnecting with the natural world.

2. What kinds of issues do you have a particular gift with supporting people through?
I am able to help people to bridge the connections between different aspects of themselves. I do this using body centred awareness, breath, and shamanic journeying.

3. What is the most fulfilling part about working with this specific healing modality?
I love being in the presence of people reclaiming their authenticity, whether that means given honest expression to previously unexpressed feelings such as anger, or grief, or seeing the light in their eyes when they receive a soul retrieval and feel reconnected with a missing part of themselves.

4. What are some of your go to pieces of advice to help someone cultivate more peace and joy?
I work with the breath a lot and it has been my biggest teacher. Our breath mirrors our mental and emotional state, and, it can influence these states. When we feel scared or anxious, we typically breath faster and more shallowly. By slowing and deepening the breath we can calm the nervous system. By noticing the quality of our breath with curiosity, we can begin to deepen our understanding of ourselves. And, the breath connects every living, breathing being on the planet. We all share the air with the other humans, animals, and plants. Our breath can teach us not only about the interrelatedness of our own body, mind, heart, and spirit, but our connection with all beings. 

5. How does somebody find out if you are a good fit for psychotherapy or shamanic work, or not? 
I love working with people who have started a journey of personal growth, and who want to deepen their work. I particularly like working with helping professionals –such as counsellors, nurses, doctors, massage therapists – because I have first-hand understanding of how work as a helper can be challenging. 

6. Do you have a daily self-care practice or ritual that is helpful for you?
I regularly attend to my breath, and practice slowing and deepening it throughout the day. I also do a simple grounding practice throughout the day, allowing my feet and my sitting bones to settle into gravity. These practices help me to stay grounded in my body, and remind me that I am part of the earth. 

7. What do you think are the key ingredients to living a happy life?
I think it is fairly simple, we all need someone(s) to love, and something to do. And, I think we need to know that we are connected with both the earth, and with the divine, grounded and lifted.

8. What is a quote that you resonate with, which reflects what you believe in & what you practice?
I have a quote by Hafiz hanging in my workspace at home that captures what I hope for people to understand through my work “I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being”.