I have studied intensively the ancient art of Shamanism for eighteen years, yet my healing journey began nearly thirty years ago when as a teenager, through illness, I found myself in an altered state of consciousness that knocked me into a reality far more powerful, yet intrinsically linked to the one that surrounded me.
It took a long time to integrate that experience and find healing for the physical and mental disturbances it initated into me which included convulsive fits, extreme anxiety, pyschological breakdowns and psychotic episodes.
This journey, I now understand as a 'Shamanic Illness', took me through various healing and spiritual traditions and all across the earth, until I first I discovered astrology as a map, then finally came home to shamanism and found practical methods to cure myself.
I have studied in Britain with a teacher from this land and in the desert in Mexico with human and plant teachers. I have also travelled widely visiting and undertaking many ceremonies with indigenous elders. This training is ongoing and for the past five years I have worked closely with senior Marakames (shamans) from the Wixarika (Huichol) tribe in northern Mexico. This has involved hosting them as they have shared their ceremonies and medicine with Europeans for the first time in their history. I have also travelled to Mexico and received the enormous privilege of staying in the communities and undergoing ceremony in their sacred sites, some that have never hosted westerners before. The Wixarika have remained very pure in the traditions and the friendship and teaching from this alliance has influenced and moved my work forward in many profound ways.
All these teachings have led me to understand the importance of listening to and honouring the land as we re-introduce these ancient arts and practices into our modern world. This involves stepping out of the 'classroom' or 'workshop' room and the security of our minds, and into the wildnerness of nature, and the mystery and wisdom of our bodies and hearts. Through listening and connecting to the land we then naturally connect with our ancestors and the spirits, for this is where their presence is strongest. This also helps us to re-balance and connect to the true essence of ourselves, bringing personal and collective healing.
I have worked full time as a Shamanic healer and teacher for over a decade and in Astrology, Tarot and other forms of divination, cultivating and grounding the skills I have learnt into my own practice, whilst learning so much more along the way.
I am fortunate to have had my work documented in the national press, including magazines: Sacred Hoop, The Journal of the Astrological Association of Great Britain, Natural Health, Spirit & Destiny, Soul & Spirit and local and BBC radio. I'm a member of the Society for Shamanic Practitioners and the Astrological Association of Great Britain. My first book- 'The Heart of Life- Shamanic Initiation & Healing in the Modern World- was published in November 2015 by Moon Books.
Leah is a practising Shamanic healer. She completed her intensive training with Second Sight Healing and now assists on Initiation and Practitioner Training workshops which she has done for the past 7 years. She has been priviledged to sit in sacred ceremony and learn from indigenous shamans from the Shuar and Wixarika tribes. She has also travelled to Mexico to work closely with the Wixarika in their communities and sacred sites/
Leah brings a passion for integrating the spirit with the body and assisting people to ground their visions. She is a certified yoga teacher. She has released 2 bestselling DVDs 'Yoga and You' and 'Yoga for Life', has presented workshops at The Yoga Show and the Mind Body Spirit Festival and has written for Yoga Magazine and OM Magazine. Her work has been featured widely in the media: BBC, This Morning, Spirit and Destiny, Natural Health and Living, Woman and Home, Yoga Magazine, OM Magazine, TV Times and in the national press.
Leah runs workshops and retreats around the country. She is one of the few teachers in the UK pioneering the teaching of shamanic yoga.
She brings a a great holding and nurturing energy to the courses. Leah is also an actress and has worked in theatre and television for over 30 years. She is a mother of two grown up girls. More details at www.arbourhealing.co.uk and leahbracknellyoga.com
Beverley holds the hearth and heart of the camp together, cooking delicious food and insuring that everyone's needs are met. She does this with warmth, humour and great energy. She is also there to support initiates on any part of their journey, bringing her down to earth wisdom and vast experience, both life and spriritual, to any situation.
Exploring religious beliefs, and how they relate to other cultures has always interested Beverley, leading her to extensive travel, from Africa, Mexico to India. She was a practising Buddhist for over 8 years until coming across Shamanism 5yrs ago. She was initiated into Shamanic practices with Second Sight Healing and has helped support the workshops in the woods for the past two years.
Beverley is both an mother and grandmother and holds the energy of a true elder, bringing love, compassion and a sense of playfullness to the camp.
Donna deals with the administration and bookings for Second Sight Healing. She has been through everything Second Sight Healing offers and can, therefore, speak with knowledge, experience and empathy when dealing with enquiries. Having completed the practitioner course in 2014, she now practises as a Shamanic Healer.
Donna became interested in Shamanism after being given a pack of medicine cards while going through an extremely difficult period in her life. These gave her the insight and focus to start thinking differently and make changes in her life. She then attended Shamanic workshops at Gaunts House, Dorset, and established a very strong connection with an animal spirit guide. This had a profound effect on her. She then travelled to the Amazon Rainforest in Peru where she worked with one of the Teacher Plants and sat in ceremony with the healers (Onanya) from the Shipibo Tribe. This was life changing. On her return, she met Jez through the monthly dreaming circles run by Second Sight Healing, and started her training with him.
Donna feels extremely privileged to have recently travelled around Mexico with Marakames of the Huicholes Tribe, visiting their sacred land Wirikuta, learning about their plant medicine and sitting in ceremony with them.
Over the last ten years, Donna has also worked as a play and youth worker in a variety of settings in Brighton and Eastbourne, as well as on the Kidz field at Glastonbury and Shambala Festival. The young people she works with have special needs, with many also from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Donna loves feathers and runs her own business, Florid Fox, creating feather jewellery, accessories and wall hangings.
Donna now helps on the first year of the shamanic training, the Four Seeds
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