<![CDATA[Dr. Angela Faith, Shamanic Practitioner & Mentor

<![CDATA[Dr. Angela Faith, Shamanic Practitioner & Mentor - Blog]]>Fri, 02 Oct 2026 01:08:08 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Maybe it Isn't Their Energy...]]>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 15:59:38 GMThttps://www.angelafaith.love/blog/maybe-it-isnt-their-energyI hear things like this all the time...and I'm sure I've said them myself at some point.
“She had really negative energy.”
“Something about him was off.”
“I could tell she was low-vibrational.”

And sometimes, yes, we feel something around another person. I pay attention to those feelings too. Our bodies are constantly receiving information that our conscious minds may not have caught up with yet.

But there is something I think we need to be careful about.
Feeling something and knowing what it means are two very different things.

We are really quick to assign meaning to other people's behavior.
Someone talks too much, so we decide they're insecure.
Someone is quiet, so we think they're unfriendly or don't like us.
Someone makes jokes all the time, so there must be something they're hiding.
Someone doesn't make eye contact, and we decide they aren't trustworthy.
Someone walks into a room and we immediately think, “I don't like their energy.”

But what do we actually know?
Not much.

The person talking too much may be anxious. They may be nervous. They may be excited to be there. They may come from a family where everybody talks at the same time. They may simply process out loud.

The quiet person may be shy. They may be taking everything in. They may be overwhelmed. They may have learned a long time ago that it was safer to observe before participating.

The person making everyone laugh may use humor to keep people from getting too close.
Or they may just be funny.

The person who seems distant may be carrying something you know absolutely nothing about.

Human behavior has context.
And I think we lose sight of that sometimes, especially when we begin putting spiritual language around our judgments.

I've found myself wondering lately whether some of the language we use in spiritual circles has simply given us a new way to judge one another.
Instead of saying, “I don't like her,” we say, “I don't like her energy.”
Instead of saying, “Something about him makes me uncomfortable,” we say, “He's low-vibrational.”

And once we call it energy or intuition, we may stop questioning our own interpretation of what we're feeling.
That's where I think this gets really important.

Intuition is real. Projection is also real.
And sometimes they can feel very similar.

If I feel uncomfortable around someone, that feeling matters. I don't need to dismiss it or talk myself out of it. If my body is telling me to create some distance, I can honor that.
But I don't have to turn that feeling into a declaration about who that person is.

There's a difference between saying:
“I don't feel comfortable around this person.”
and
“There is something wrong with this person's energy.”

One is me acknowledging my experience.
The other is me assigning meaning to someone else.
And I may be completely wrong.

Our bodies remember.
A tone of voice can remind us of someone from our past. A personality can activate an old wound. Someone's confidence can make us uncomfortable. Someone's silence can feel like rejection. Someone who asks a lot of questions might feel intrusive to one person and deeply interested to another.

We are not experiencing other people from some completely neutral place.
We are experiencing them through everything we have lived.

That doesn't mean we can't trust ourselves.
It means we become curious.
Instead of immediately asking, “What am I picking up from this person?” maybe sometimes the question is:
“What is happening in me in the presence of this person?”
That question can change a lot.

And this doesn't mean ignoring behavior either.
Behavior gives us information.

I pay attention to how someone treats people when there's nothing to gain from being kind to them. I notice how someone responds to being told no. I notice whether they can listen or whether every conversation eventually comes back to them. I notice how they talk about people who aren't in the room. And over time, I notice whether their words and their actions match.
But I'm looking for patterns.
One interaction is one interaction.
One bad day is one bad day.
A repeated pattern is different.

And when I see a pattern, I don't necessarily have to decide whether that person is good or bad, high-vibrational or low-vibrational, healed or unhealed.
Maybe I simply have enough information to decide how close I want to stand.

That, to me, is discernment.
Discernment doesn't require judgment.

And I think this is where love comes in.
When we don't understand someone, fear is often very quick to fill in the blanks.
We decide what their silence means.
We decide what their tone means.
We decide why they said what they said.
We decide who they are.

But love can leave room for what we don't know.

And even when we do know someone's story, we still don't really know what it was to live that story as them.

We may know what happened.
We may know the circumstances.
We may even have heard them tell the story many times.
But we have not lived it in their body.
We have not carried their nervous system.
We have not experienced every moment that shaped the way they learned to protect themselves, speak, withdraw, reach, defend, trust, distrust, love, or survive.

We can know someone's story and still not know what it was like to be them inside of it.
That matters.
Because once we remember that, certainty softens.

We may still recognize behavior that isn't healthy for us.
We may still say no.
We may still create distance.
We may still decide that someone cannot have close access to us.
Love does not require us to abandon discernment.
But love also doesn't require us to make someone wrong in order to choose what is right for us.

Sometimes extending love is simply refusing to create a story about another human being when we don't actually know.
And sometimes it is recognizing that even when we know the story, there are parts of it we can never fully know because we did not live it as them.

Maybe that is where compassion begins.
Not in excusing everything.
Not in ignoring our own knowing.
But in releasing the need to reduce another person to the behavior we happened to witness.
In allowing them to be more complicated than the conclusion we reached about them.
In remembering that everyone we encounter has been shaped by experiences we cannot completely see.
And perhaps when we are faced with something we don't understand, we can notice how quickly fear wants to interpret it and consciously leave a little more room for love.

Sometimes all we really know is:
I noticed something.
I felt something.
I'm going to pay attention.
I don't have to decide what it means yet.

Maybe understanding people isn't about learning how to read someone in two minutes.
Maybe the real practice is learning not to decide who someone is in two minutes.]]><![CDATA[The Relationship We Couldn’t Have, Until We Could...What Didn’t End When My Mother Died]]>Mon, 04 May 2026 13:54:35 GMThttps://www.angelafaith.love/blog/the-relationship-we-couldnt-have-until-we-couldwhat-didnt-end-when-my-mother-died

There are dates that arrive quietly and still carry a lifetime within them.

May 4 is one of those days for me.

It is the anniversary of my mother’s passing into the afterlife.

For a long time, I did not know how to hold this day. Not because I did not love her, but because our relationship was complicated in ways that did not fit into simple words.

My mother struggled.

What I understand now, but did not then, is that she was carrying more than I could see as a child. Pain that had been with her long before I was born.
Also, postpartum depression was not something people spoke about in the late '60s and early '70s. It was not named, not supported, and often hidden beneath a quiet but heavy sense of shame.

She lived with that, and I grew up inside of it.

There were other struggles too. Emotional instability. Bipolar patterns. Ways of coping that brought both relief and harm. She was raising me on her own, doing the best she could with what she had.

And at the same time, I was a child trying to make sense of a world that often did not feel steady or safe.

Both of those truths exist.

For many years, I carried anger. Not just surface frustration, but deeper questions that did not seem to have answers.
Why was it like this?
Why could she not be what I needed?
Why did it have to feel this way?
Those questions stayed with me long after she passed.

For a time after my mother passed, I did not know how to be with the grief. I had never experienced anything so profound, and I did not have the tools to navigate it in a way that supported me.

I tried to outrun it. I numbed it. I lost myself for a while in ways that only created more distance from what I was actually feeling.

There came a moment, several years later, when I found myself at a breaking point. Sitting alone, I could no longer avoid what I had been carrying. I've come to call this "the edge of despair."
And in that moment, something within me responded. Not loudly, but clearly enough that I could feel a shift.

It was the beginning of a different direction. Not only in my life, but in my relationship with my mother.
Through my own willingness to face what I had experienced, and to feel what I had been holding, I began to meet her in a different way.

Not as the mother I needed her to be.
But as the woman she was.
And eventually, as the soul she is.

This did not happen by dismissing anything. It happened because I allowed myself to stay with the truth of what I had lived.
The anger.
The grief.
The unmet needs.

As I stayed with that, something began to soften.
Over time, my experience of her changed.

Today, my mother shows up in a way I never could have imagined when she was alive. There is wisdom. There is love. There is a sense of lightness and even joy that was not always accessible to her here.

And perhaps most meaningful of all, there is relationship.
Not perfect.
Not rewritten.
But real in a new way.

I share this today not to redefine what was, but to honor what has become possible.
Change does not always require the other person to be different. Sometimes it asks us to be willing to meet the truth of what we experienced and allow something new to emerge from there.
Even across the threshold of life and death.

If you carry a complicated relationship with someone who is no longer here, I want you to know this.
There are still ways to tend that connection.
There are still ways to find peace.
There are still ways for something meaningful to unfold.

Today, I honor my mother. Her life, her struggles, and the path that continues between us.
And I honor the work and the willingness it has taken to meet her there.

]]><![CDATA[From Perfection to Presence: A January Reflection]]>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:53:32 GMThttps://www.angelafaith.love/blog/from-perfection-to-presence-a-january-reflectionJanuary carries a particular kind of energy.
There is often an unspoken sense that we should be clearer, better, more disciplined than we were just weeks ago. New habits. New intentions. A new version of ourselves. Even within spiritual spaces, this time of year can quietly invite us to perform our healing, to perfect our practices, to prove that we are growing.
I notice this not only around me, but within me. Even after years on a spiritual path, there are moments when I catch myself subtly assessing my own rhythm. Am I doing enough? Am I staying disciplined enough? Am I embodying what I teach in the way I think I should?
For many sensitive, open-hearted people, this energy does not feel inspiring. It feels heavy.
For a lot of us, perfection was never really about getting things right. It was about staying safe. Somewhere along the way, often very early, we learned that being good, capable, helpful, or spiritually aware helped us belong or avoid harm. Performance became a way to navigate the world. Perfection became a way to protect ourselves.
I can see how this pattern has shown up in my own life, even in my devotion to spiritual practice and service. What began as a sincere love for the sacred has, at times, carried an edge of pressure. A quiet belief that I should be further along by now. That I should have figured something out already.
These patterns can easily make their way into our spiritual lives. We try to meditate the right way. We want to heal completely. We measure our growth and judge ourselves when we feel like we have slipped backward. And while all of this is happening, the body tightens. The breath becomes shallow. Something essential begins to tire.
Living this way has a cost.
I feel it when I am holding myself to an internal standard instead of listening. There is a particular kind of fatigue that comes from always being on, even when the performance is subtle and internal. It pulls us out of the present moment and into constant evaluation. Am I aligned? Am I healed? Am I doing enough?
Presence does not thrive there.
Presence does not come from effort or pressure. It cannot be perfected. It arrives when the striving softens.
One of the reminders I return to again and again is that presence is not something to achieve. It is a return. A return to the body. A return to the breath. A return to what is actually here, rather than what I think should be here.
I notice this most clearly in the quiet moments, when I stop trying to guide myself somewhere better and simply allow myself to arrive where I already am. Often what I find there is not peace or clarity, but honesty. And that honesty feels alive. It feels real.
Presence does not require improvement. It asks only for willingness. A willingness to meet ourselves without performance or judgment. Nothing needs to be fixed before it is allowed to exist.
I have been wondering what it would be like if January did not need to be a proving ground. What if it could be a threshold instead. A gentle turning rather than a hard reset.
Instead of asking who I need to become this year, I have been practicing asking where I am being invited to come back to myself. Instead of perfecting the practice, I notice what happens when I listen for what my body actually needs. Instead of performing spirituality, I let it become quieter, simpler, and more lived in.
Presence has a way of revealing what is true without urgency. It shows us what matters without force. It unfolds in its own timing.
As you move through this month, I invite you to notice, gently and without judgment, where you may be striving for perfection when presence would be enough. Where you may be performing, spiritually or emotionally, out of habit rather than truth. And what shifts when you allow yourself to arrive in this moment just as you are.
There is nothing you need to prove in January. There is nothing you need to catch up to.
This month does not ask for reinvention. It asks for remembrance.
You are already here.
And presence, quiet, honest, and compassionate, is more than enough to begin again.
I love You.
Dr. Angela Faith

]]><![CDATA[Tis the Season for...]]>Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:10:11 GMThttps://www.angelafaith.love/blog/tis-the-season-for

December arrives with its soft glow, the twinkle lights, the cozy evenings, and the quiet whisper that we’re supposed to somehow feel merry on command. There’s a subtle pressure — or sometimes a very loud one — to be cheerful, available, generous, and endlessly accommodating. Yet this season often stirs something much deeper: old wounds that resurface, heightened emotions, complicated family dynamics, spiritual disconnection, financial pressure, and the simple truth that our nervous systems are tired by the time the holidays arrive.

In my work with clients and students, I see this theme every year: December amplifies unreasonable expectations. We expect ourselves to do it all with grace. We expect others to suddenly be on their best behavior. We expect old conflicts to magically dissolve because the calendar says it’s a season of joy.
And perhaps the most gentle truth of all is that winter doesn’t support any of that.
Not energetically. Not spiritually. Not emotionally.

In the natural world, December is a time of descent — of quiet, of darkness, of stillness. It is when the Earth rests, when the animals burrow, when everything moves inward. But humans have created a holiday season that demands the opposite. More gatherings, more spending, more stimulation, more everything. No wonder so many people feel frayed by mid-December. We’re simply moving out of rhythm with the wisdom of winter.

This is a season that actually invites rest, intuition, and reflection. A season to slow down. A season to listen to your inner world. When your energy feels stretched thin, it isn’t a failure — it’s your body reminding you of the truth of winter.

And it isn’t just the expectations we put on ourselves that create strain — it’s the ones we place on others. Every year, someone hopes that a family member will be softer, kinder, less reactive, more healed, or magically transformed by the holiday spirit. But expecting a person to become someone different for the sake of a date on the calendar is a setup for disappointment. As the old saying goes, a snake doesn’t stop being a snake just because it’s Christmas.

People don’t shed their patterns because a tree is lit. They don’t evolve instantly because it’s December. Their behavior belongs to their journey, not to your seasonal hope. When we release people from our expectations — when we let them be who they are without trying to manage or anticipate their behavior — we reclaim our peace. There is such freedom in saying, “I allow you to be who you are, and I allow myself to be at peace even if you never change.”
This is not cynicism. This is spiritual sovereignty.

When you take the pressure off yourself to perform a perfect holiday, and you take the pressure off others to become the version of themselves you wish they were, the entire season shifts. Your system settles. Your breath deepens. You become more present, more grounded, and more able to experience the moments that matter.

Simple practices can help you stay aligned with the season rather than the cultural frenzy. Light a candle and honor your ancestors. Step outside for a few breaths of cold air. Hold a stone or pine cone in your hand and let nature steady you. Make space for one “soul celebration day” where you honor winter in your own way — with silence, journaling, cooking, a warm bath, a walk, or a moment of reflection.

And remember, your December does not have to be Christian or commercial to be meaningful. Many people celebrate the turning of the year through Winter Solstice rituals, moon cycles, candlelight traditions from many cultures, ancestral gratitude, or simply honoring nature. Meaning doesn’t come from the calendar — it comes from intention.

If this season feels heavy or complicated, trust that nothing is wrong with you. You are not failing the holidays; the holidays are simply out of sync with the natural rhythm of winter. This is a time for gentleness, for truth, for rest, for releasing what doesn’t belong to you — including the expectations of others.

And perhaps this December can be a softer one. A quieter one. A more honest one. A season not of pressure, but of presence. Not of performance, but of peace. Not of unreasonable expectations, but of a return to yourself.
Much Love,
Dr. Angela Faith

]]><![CDATA[When the World Grew Louder - A Reflection on Sensitivity and Self-Responsibility]]>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:58:46 GMThttps://www.angelafaith.love/blog/when-the-world-grew-louder-a-reflection-on-sensitivity-and-self-responsibility

When I was a little girl, my mother used to stand outside my bedroom door and listen to me talking to my “friends.” She never seemed alarmed—just quietly curious. I would come to learn later in life that my mother was a mystic too, one who spoke with spirits and listened to the unseen. But at that time, I don’t know if she had yet remembered that part of herself. Still, there were clues. Our bookshelves held titles on witchcraft and the old ways, things most people didn’t talk about in the 1970s. When a neighborhood visitor caught sight of them, whispers began—rumors and labels that only deepened my sense of being different. What I didn’t realize then was how deeply those perceptions would shape my understanding of belonging, and of what it meant to walk between worlds.

My mother also spent a lot of time with her grandmother, my great-grandmother, whom she described as a “medicine woman.” I’m grateful for the memories I have of her—the quiet wisdom in her eyes and the calm presence she carried. Though I didn’t understand it then, those early moments with her planted seeds that would later grow into my own path of remembering and healing.

I was an only child, but I was never lonely. My room was alive with music, light, and conversation no one else could hear. I had a record player that filled the space with sound, spinning the same albums over and over as I sang and played. I would sit cross-legged on the floor, lost in those worlds of melody and imagination, surrounded by the gentle hum of energy I knew as companionship. That space was my first sacred sanctuary.

When we moved, and I was around school age, my playroom was in the basement. It became my secret world of safety and wonder. I decorated it with my toy box, my books, and my beloved family of stuffed animals. A giant circle-weave rug warmed the floor, and one side of the room had a couch and coffee table—perfect for playing grown-up. The other half was bare concrete, my little roller rink where I could skate in circles for hours. In the winter, the wood-burning stove glowed nearby, filling the room with that unmistakable scent of comfort and home.

Yet, I also sensed energies in that home that frightened me. I would wake in the night and see someone standing in my room, watching silently. My parents assured me it was just a dream, but I knew what I felt was real. Sometimes, late at night, I’d hear voices and laughter rising from the basement—a festive gathering of people when everyone in the house was asleep. Those moments left me both curious and uneasy, aware of a world beyond the one my parents could see.

After my parents divorced when I was eight, that sensitivity only intensified. Without understanding my own energetic vulnerability, I absorbed every emotion around me—my father’s grief, my mother’s absence, the unspoken tension that hung in the air. I didn’t yet know how to shield myself, how to separate what was mine from what was not. Those years were filled with both wonder and confusion.

School was bright and loud and crowded. I loved learning, but I didn’t understand how to be around so many others. The emotions of the children swirled like colors I couldn’t filter out—anxieties, insecurities, sadness, excitement—I felt them all as if they were my own.

The word empath wasn’t used in the 1970s, or at least not in my world. There was no language for what I experienced, no internet to offer explanations. I just knew I was different.

In my effort to be “normal,” I began to dim parts of myself. I tried to laugh when others laughed, hide my tears when I felt too much, and say the right things to be liked and accepted. But no matter how hard I tried, I never quite fit. The teachers loved me—gentle, respectful, quiet—but with the other students, I always felt like I was standing just outside a window, watching life happen on the other side.

As I grew older, that sensitivity became both a gift and a challenge. I could sense the unspoken emotions in every room, often trying to ease others’ discomfort without realizing I was depleting my own energy. I didn’t yet understand that empathy without boundaries can become self-abandonment.

In the absence of language or guidance, I sought ways to numb the noise—to quiet the ache of feeling so much. My parents’ divorce brought two very different worlds, one stable and one chaotic, and my young heart tried to navigate both. Those early years taught me that sensitivity without safety can turn inward, but they also planted the seeds of the healer I would one day become.

It took me many years—and many awakenings—to reclaim those hidden parts of myself. To understand that sensitivity isn’t a weakness or an illness; it’s an invitation to awareness. Sensitive souls are not only attuned to the emotions and energies of this world, but also to the subtler dimensions—the unseen realms where Spirit moves, where ancestors whisper, and where intuition takes form. We feel the spaces between words, the energy beneath interactions, and the presence of what others may not yet perceive.

Now, I teach what I had to learn the long way: that being sensitive means carrying a deeper responsibility for our energy, our words, and our presence. It means learning the sacred art of boundaries—not as rigid walls that keep others out, but as sacred containers that hold and protect what is most essential within us.

Boundaries allow energy to flow without depletion. They create a space where compassion can breathe, intuition can flourish, and our spirit can remain centered even in a noisy world. For the sensitive soul, boundaries aren’t barriers—they are medicine.

For the sensitive soul, the veil between worlds is thin. We are the bridges between the seen and unseen, called to bring understanding, compassion, and light into both.

If you’ve ever been told you’re “too sensitive,” “too emotional,” or “too much,” know that you’re not broken. You’re simply attuned to the subtle, where the rest of the world is still learning to listen.

For the Sensitive Soul
If you resonate with my story, you may already know the beauty and challenge of feeling deeply. Here are a few gentle practices that have supported me along the way:

Create daily moments of quiet. Sensitives need silence like others need air. Even five minutes of stillness can reset your energy.
Ground in the body. Touch the earth, move gently, breathe deeply — let the physical world remind you that you belong here.
Discern what is yours. When emotions arise, ask: Is this mine to carry? If not, offer it to Spirit and release it with gratitude.
Set sacred boundaries. Protect your energy not through walls, but through intention — visualizing yourself held in light, open yet safe.
Stay connected. Sensitive souls thrive in community with others who understand.

If you’d like to explore more ways to honor your sensitivity, I invite you to reach out or join me for one of my gatherings or mentorship offerings. Together, we can transform sensitivity into strength — and create a life that feels both peaceful and powerful.

Closing Reflection:
What would change if you saw your sensitivity as a superpower instead of a flaw?
Take a few quiet moments this week to sit with that question, hand on heart, and simply listen.
You are safe.
You are supported.
You are love.
I love you.
Dr. Angela Faith

]]><![CDATA[The Day I Died — and What It Taught Me About Living]]>Mon, 29 Sep 2025 21:07:55 GMThttps://www.angelafaith.love/blog/the-day-i-died-and-what-it-taught-me-about-living

When I was about six years old, my parents enrolled me in swimming lessons. From what I understand, it was mostly my mother’s idea. She had a deep fear of water, and she didn’t want me to inherit that fear or carry it as a limitation in my life. At the time, of course, I didn’t fully understand all of that — I just knew that swimming lessons were something I was going to, and I loved the water!
The pool was loud with children’s voices and splashing water. Our young instructor — looking back, I realize she was probably just a teenager herself — was taking each of us across the pool one at a time using a kickboard. The rest of us were lined up along the wall, holding on, laughing, and chattering the way kids do.
But I was never the loudest one in the group. Even then, I tended to hang back, more of an observer than a joiner. I remember watching everyone else — the giggles, the water flying everywhere, the energy of it all. And then, for reasons I still can’t explain, I pushed away from the wall.
I wasn’t ready. The moment I let go, I sank straight down.
I remember coming up, trying to scream for help, but every time I opened my mouth I swallowed water instead. My small arms flailed, my chest burned, my throat felt raw. The panic was sharp at first, but then it dulled into something heavier, almost dreamlike.
And then I let go.
The struggle stopped, and with it, the fear dissolved. I sank slowly, almost weightless, to the bottom of the pool. I remember how silent everything became. The chaos of splashing and shouting above was muted, replaced by a stillness so complete it felt sacred. The water wrapped around me like a soft blanket.
Looking up, I saw the sunlight bending through the water, golden streams rippling and dancing as if they were alive. The world glowed in slow motion. It was breathtakingly beautiful, otherworldly — and in that moment, I felt utterly at peace. Time disappeared. I wasn’t afraid anymore. I was just… suspended in light and water, embraced by something far greater than myself. And I don't really have the words, other than to say, I was not alone. I felt so surrounded by love, and beings of love.
And then, just as suddenly, I was pulled back. The instructor had noticed me, swam across the pool, and dragged me to the surface. She resuscitated me there on the side of the pool while the other children looked on, wide-eyed and silent.
The next class I attended, our lesson was something I’ll never forget: how to float on our backs. The instructor told us, “If you ever get into trouble in the water, lean back, kick your feet up, lay your head back, and float. The water will hold you.”
That simple lesson has stayed with me my whole life. When I’m in trouble — when I feel overwhelmed, when I’ve lost my footing, when life feels like too much — I remember to lean back. To float. To stop thrashing and struggling. To trust that something greater will hold me, just as the water did.
In shamanic traditions, experiences like this are often seen as thresholds — moments when the soul brushes against the otherworld. Near-death experiences are initiatory by nature. They remind us that death is not only an ending but also a doorway. My six-year-old self didn’t have words for that at the time, but the memory imprinted something deep within me: that surrender can open us to peace, that beauty can be found even in moments of transition, and that life itself is a rhythm of letting go and being carried.
And then came graduation day. Parents filled the pool deck to watch us demonstrate what we had learned. At the far end of the pool stood the high dive — a ten-foot platform we had never been asked to jump from before. One by one, the children lined up. Naturally, I let everyone go ahead of me.
Then I heard the instructor’s voice: “Angela, I want you to go first.”
My heart pounded. The ladder felt impossibly tall beneath my small hands and feet. The water below looked so shallow from up high, like the bottom of the pool was just inches under the surface. I could have cried. I could have refused. But I didn’t.
I pinched my little nose, took a breath, and stepped off into the unknown.
I never jumped from that high dive again — but that one leap became something I would draw on many times in my life. Days before, I had surrendered. That day, I jumped into the unknown, trusting, feeling, knowing I was supported. Both became teachers.
It wasn’t just a swimming lesson. It was a life lesson. And, perhaps, an initiation into the path I walk to this day.

]]><![CDATA[3 Practices for Honoring the Ancestors]]>Fri, 15 Jul 2022 14:25:42 GMThttps://www.angelafaith.love/blog/3-practices-for-honoring-the-ancestors

Honoring the Ancestors is a primary principle of Shamanism.
When we honor our Ancestors, they help us.
If we blame them, they haunt us.

What do you think of when you think of your ancestors?
Maybe you think of your grandparents and beyond. Often when I mention ancestors, people will explain to me that they didn’t know their grandparents.
My response: “Oh, but they know you.”

Consider that your ancestors are all that have walked before you. You could even include the trees and plants, the birds and animals, even dinosaurs, as your ancestors. Your Higher Self is an Ancestor, having lived many lives before this current one.

As a Shamanic Practitioner, I can support individuals in ancestral healing, but practicing honoring the Ancestors is part of the individual work that heals generations forwards and backwards. No one else can do that part for you.

Saying you honor the Ancestors is a start, but words can fall short without a practice of action. This is not a time to seek perfection. It is creating and implementing a practice that energetically supports you and the collective.
I will help you get started.

3 Ways to Honor the Ancestors

1. Create an Ancestral Altar
Choose a place in your home - on a shelf, a wall, a table - to display pictures or items of your familial ancestors, even if you didn’t personally know them. If you don’t have access to actual photographs, with a little research you may be able to find some pictures on the internet. If you know your great-great grandmother was a nurse, you could include an item to represent the nursing field in place of a photograph. Adding a battery-operated candle with a timer to be lit during the day is a nice touch to remind you to give thanks to those that contributed to your existence, simply be their own existence.

2. Practice Forgiveness
Forgiveness is releasing another from the expectations placed on them.
Not forgiving is like drinking poison, hoping another will get sick. It creates illness and dis-ease in the physical and emotional, and it can leave one feeling blocked spiritually. This is especially true for justified resentments.
Practicing forgiveness is just that, a practice. It is not a one-time event.
Maybe you have a family history of addiction or abuse, abandonment. Staying angry only keeps the cycle alive and strong, like gasoline to a fire. It can affect every aspect of your life.
Actively practicing forgiveness is something covered in my mentoring programs, where I share a process to deal with resentments cyclically, rather than waiting until they have accumulated so much energy they are running your life.

3. Give Offerings
Many indiginous cultures had practices of giving offerings to the Ancestors. There is a Hindu custom of feeding the crows as an act of sharing with the Ancestors. On an altar you could create a mandala or a crystal grid, or keep fresh flowers. Outside, bird feeders, birdbaths, planting flowers or a tree can all be intended as offerings for the Ancestors. Get creative. It really is all about intention.

Start with these three simple approaches, and observe what shifts you experience. You may feel more supported, guided, empowered. You may find that you intuitively know the answer to something, as if someone else suggested it to you.

If this approach resonates with you and you would like to learn more, let’s get you enrolled in my signature program, A Shamanic Approach to Modern Living! Click here to schedule a Complimentary Clarity Call, your chance to ask questions and be certain I am the one to guide you.

I look forward to connecting with you!

You are Safe.
You are Supported.
You are so Loved.

I love you!
Dr. Angela Faith

]]><![CDATA[D.I.C.E.]]>Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:08:23 GMThttps://www.angelafaith.love/blog/dice

One thing I have observed as a Sensitive Soul and working with other Sensitive Souls is that we tend to get to points in our lives where staying in what is familiar has become too uncomfortable. There becomes a deep feeling that something must change. Resisting this feeling creates inner conflict. I would often wonder what was wrong with me, and why I couldn't stay in one place or in relationships and just “be happy”.

I spent much of my life feeling different, and often feeling a victim of circumstances. I seemed to attract hard times, and quite frankly, life felt hard. I knew I needed to love myself, but I didn’t know what that looked like. I knew I needed guidance, but I didn’t know where to turn. I had lost my way. I was physically, emotionally and spiritually bankrupt.

Once I understood that transformation begins within, and isn’t about arranging the outer world in a specific way, I was on the right track.
So how does one begin to lead an authentic life, rather than living a life by default of circumstances?
Here is a place to start….
D.I.C.E.
Deliberate - done consciously and intentionally
Inspired - of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse
Consistent - acting or done in the same way over time
Effort - conscious exertion of power

March of 2020 I heard many people say they were trying to find a new normal, or waiting for things to get back to normal. Normal is a setting on a washing machine. Your life is Your Life! Every day is a new opportunity, full of possibilities to create something new, even if it’s as simple as listening to a new song or taking a new route to a familiar location.

Be DELIBERATE in creating your life. What are you watching? What are you saying? Become aware and take accountability for the small things you are allowing to affect your whole being. This may require being deliberate about paying attention to your thoughts and words, without judgement, and always with just a curiosity. Who is this person you have become? Observe. With compassion.
Be Deliberate with your time in nature, regardless of the temperature. Step out with a curiosity, no judgement. Feel how you respond to temperature. Notice what rain smells like. Hear your surroundings. Observe the natural elements around you, the sky, the earth.

INSPIRED thoughts are found in the moments of not resisting the stream of inspiration that we all have access to. In school we are taught to problem solve and think logically. This can sometimes get in the way of inspired thoughts that guide us to Divinely Orchestrated Experiences that break the barriers of logical thinking.
We are often “busy”, but not taking inspired action. There is a common fear of being “lazy”, and in those moments of stillness and quiet is where the inspired thoughts can be accessed.
Be deliberate about setting aside time for inspiration by meditating, journaling, creating. Don’t wait for the time or opportunity. Deliberately create the time and opportunity for inspired thoughts.

Being CONSISTENT doesn’t have to be hard. The best place to start with this is first thing in the morning, when your eyes open. Become consistent with an Awakening Ritual that supports making yourself a priority this day. Take 3 deep breaths. Stretch. Say out loud affirmations such as “I am a priority.” “I am enough.” “I am safe, supported and loved.” This can be done in 30 seconds, before your feet hit the floor.
Be deliberate about nullifying worries and fears.
It takes practice, but with consistency the struggle becomes less and less, because you will feel the natural flow! Your soul will take notice and come to attention, and ask for more of that love of Self!

Waiting until I’m spiraling out of control to do these things is much more challenging than creating a consistent practice of doing them.

By being Deliberate, Inspired and Consistent, my Effort will have the positive results that I am seeking as a Sensitive Soul. All of my thoughts and actions are affecting me, and if my efforts are automatic I may forget my life-creating potential. Conscious exertion of power is a true gift, a super power!

Think of it like this.....if you leave your house today with a desire to get to California, you must take deliberate, inspired and consistent effort, and you will eventually get to California. If you aren't deliberate, you may get halfway and get distracted. If you aren't inspired, you may hit more hazards and challenges along the way. If you aren't consistent, you again may get side-tracked from your desired destiny.
But with conscious exertion of power your efforts will get you to your destination, and what a fabulous journey it can be!

If you are truly ready to explore and discover the tools within yourself that allow you to show up to life in an empowered way, creating new ways of thinking and acting that support leading an authentic life, I invite you to schedule a Complimentary Clarity Call with me. I would be delighted to offer you insight and direction on next possible steps to creating a natural way of being that brings you comfort.
You are Safe. You are Supported. You are so Loved.
I love you!
Angela

]]><![CDATA[Are You There?]]>Sun, 14 Feb 2021 17:15:06 GMThttps://www.angelafaith.love/blog/are-you-there

The answer is yes, we all have allies in the non-physical, in the spirit realm, in the Otherworlds, in the Unseen. This is true whether or not I believe or understand it, just as gravity is true whether or not I believe or understand it.
I’ve found it is best to accept that there are many things that I as human do not have the capacity to understand. I trust what resonates with my soul - the feeling part, rather than the thinking part. That innate knowing. This applies to all things, including my concept of God, Creator, Great Mystery.

It takes practice, but it is possible to gain a deeper concept and remembering of who I am and what this Big Beautiful Life is about!
I also have come to understand that I am not alone, nor have I ever been, even in my loneliest and darkest times.

Often others share with me their recollection of a childhood encounter with something not human, whether they felt something, saw an apparition in their room, or had a visit in a dream that seemed real. Many times they were told by their adults it wasn’t real, because their adults were maybe told the same thing as a child.
Sometimes the stories are shared as pleasant encounters with angels or visits from a beloved, and other times it is a fearful encounter that nightmares are made of.

We are many generations removed from teachings on how to connect with our Spirit Allies, and how to ground, shield and protect from that which we do not see. We are actually discouraged from believing, or maybe punished for entertaining such ideas.
We may also have forgotten that we have access to Compassionate Helping Spirits that will guide us and support us through this Living Journey, always! We have our Ancestors, Angels, Spirit Guides and Power Animals, oh my, to offer comfort and guidance.

My awareness of my Spirit Allies may get disconnected, but the connection cannot be broken. This loving guidance is not conditional. It is always there. It does, however, take deliberate intention and a surrender of resistance to have the awareness of this support and guidance.

Here is an exercise to allow you to experience, even just for a moment, your connection to Spirit Allies. It is easy and simple, as this is not something new for you to learn. It is something for you to remember.
It does not matter what your beliefs are.

If you are in a seated position, place both feet on the floor, relaxed. If you're lying down, uncross your limbs. Allow your arms to relax, either by your side or palms up on your thighs. Allow your eyelids to relax, beginning with small slits that eventually relax to closed.
Take a deep breath in through your nose, and exhale out through the mouth. Do this 3 times, and then allow your breath to find its natural rhythm.
Imagine your body filling with white light until you feel yourself glowing like a light bulb. You may even feel yourself vibrating. You have raised your vibration.
Now repeat out loud 3 times, “Angels and Guides draw near.”
Be aware of the sensations in your body, the feeling of your surroundings, any images or symbols that may appear in your mind’s eye, or maybe a scent or sound.
Sit in this for a moment.
Now repeat 3 times, “Thank you.”
Take a deep breath, and when you’re ready open your eyes.

It is great to journal about your experience, and practice this as often as you like. You will get better at remembering and experiencing what it feels like to be aware of your connection to a loving and compassionate energy. I would love to hear about your experience!

If you are interested in delving more into unlocking your memories and learning to live an authentic Spirit-Led Life with purpose and Divine Guidance, schedule a free call with me. I would be delighted to discuss ways to support you in this exploration.

Remember, you are safe. You are Supported. You are so Loved.
I love you!
Angela Faith

]]><![CDATA[3 Ways to Apply Shamanic Principles that will Enhance your Life Experience]]>Mon, 08 Feb 2021 15:44:04 GMThttps://www.angelafaith.love/blog/3-ways-to-apply-shamanic-principles-to-enhance-your-life-experience

The spiritual practice of Shamanism is an ancient and beautiful practice that will enhance any life, regardless of the outer circumstances. Shamanism is practiced worldwide, and has withstood the test of time, being the oldest spiritual practice known to humankind.

There are basic Shamanic principles that apply across the globe, and understanding how to apply them in a modern-day life can empower one to create positive change.
We are all intricate parts of a whole, the Web of Life. By improving my own life experience, I improve the experience of All of Life. I am being the change!

Think of the inside of a watch. There are gears and springs of different sizes and shapes, but all are required for the watch to function as designed.

You, too, are essential to the whole.

When you are in alignment with your natural design, happy and joyful, it affects all of creation.

Often one can feel blocked, disconnected, or wanting to create change and not know how to do so. This makes creating positive impacts seem daunting and impossible. I am happy to share with you that it can be quite simple!

Understanding these 3 principles and implementing these simple practices in your day can spark your innate spiritual guidance and direction, allowing you to feel empowered and supported in creating a life filled with joy, thereby projecting joy into the whole Web of Life!

1. Maintaining your Personal Power
Once I have done the work to restore my Personal Power, it becomes my responsibility to maintain this power. This means making my Self and Self care a priority.

One place to start is a morning ritual immediately upon awakening, before the feet hit the floor.  Our sleep time is our restoration time. It is a time that the body and mind are reset and restored. It is as important as food and water.

However, if upon awakening I pick up yesterday's stories with the same thoughts and to-do lists, or I immediately pick up the phone and check notifications, it can feel as if the sleep time was not effective.

This sets the tone for the whole day, and affects how I show up for the day.
By deliberately and intentionally calling on my Personal Power upon awakening, I am taking a moment to bring awareness to the new day and the new possibilities it holds. I am separating the segments of the previous day, sleep time, and this new beginning.

By using your focus in this way, you are interrupting the loop of thought patterns that you may be accustomed to waking up to, changing the whole tone of your day. Most importantly, you are supporting your connection with Universal Intelligence that supports all things, guiding you and supporting you in all your affairs.

2. Connecting with Nature
There is a difference between being in nature and being WITH nature. If I pay attention, Mother Nature is always offering me teachings and guidance on any issues I may be facing.

Make a commitment to going outdoors at least once a day, even if it’s only on the porch, or taking a moment before getting in your automobile. Take 3 deep breaths, being mindful of the exchange between you and any trees nearby. Notice any Winged Ones that visit, and focus on their characteristics. Take a moment to be aware of what you hear, what you smell, what you feel, and what you see.

This doesn't have to be a long visit, but I invite you to take as much time as you can! Walk around the perimeter of your home, and notice things you’ve never noticed before, or notice how they change with each passing day.

Do this multiple times a day to restore creativity, energy, and connection, as well as support healing in your physical well-being.  For maximum results, remove your shoes, or place the palms of your hands on the earth.

3. End the Day with Thanks
Turning off all devices and writing down events of the day that you are thankful for is a nice way to set the tone for a restful and restorative night’s sleep. It again shifts the focus from the day’s worries or challenges, and restores an awareness of the magic that is all around you, and that you are a part of, not apart from! Just being aware of the beauty in your life will amplify more beautiful things around you and within you!

Even if you don’t go to sleep immediately after, this is a powerful practice to create momentum of gratitude. Everything changes with gratitude.

Applying these simple practices allows you to experience the principle of all things being connected, rather than it just being a concept that you’ve heard or read.
When you begin feeling a part of all that is, loving yourself becomes as easy as loving the smell of rain.

If you would like to learn more about Shamanism and how it can empower you in creating the life experience you desire, set up a free call with me. I would be delighted to share with you how you can develop a relationship with your Self and Compassionate Spirits, offering you guidance and support in your life journey.

And remember, you are safe. You are Supported. You are so Loved.
I love you.
Angela Faith

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