Marcia Beachy, MS, LPC, CCHT

Posts Tagged ‘conscious living’

Despite what appears in the daily news, tenderness is unfurling itself upon the landscape.

On my answering machine is a sweet message that I have saved since Thanksgiving, 2010. The message goes something like this.

“Hi Gwamah…” It’s the soft drawl of Elias, my then two and a-half-year-old grandson.

“Hi Grandma,” repeats Elizabeth, my daughter, in her beautiful, clear voice. “We hope you’ve had a very happy Thanksgiving. We miss you.”

Long pause… “I wuv you!” His newfound small voice bursts through the phone lines right into my heart. I’m surprised and delighted that he knows this magic phrase.

“We love you…” Elizabeth’s voice is filled with gentleness and the joy of her small fry finding some mastery with the language.

Another pause.

“We wuv you!”

“Bye-bye, Grandma.”

“Bye-bye, Gwamah-h-h,” his soft, sing-songy little-boy voice drifts off. Click.

Why have I saved this message for all these months? Love is contagious, and I do adore that little one and his mother. But it’s more specific for me. Each time I hear that gentle, innocent voice, my eyes well-up with tears. My chest hurts. Tenderness. Its soothing balm chases all pessimism out the door in a 15 second message. I’ve noticed that our inner cynic and skeptic bow before the power of tenderness. Our faces crinkle up, our eyes moisten while we look away or reach for tissues. We put our hands on our hearts. We might be stoic for a bit, but then the flood of emotion renders us helpless in its wake, or at the very least, softened.

My son-in-law, Jim, cries at weddings. Big cries. He’s a legend in his own time. He can’t explain it. He simply is overcome with tenderness at the remarkable nature of love and the wedding ritual. We smile. Sometimes we join him. We appreciate the greatness of his heart shining through.

Years ago I had the privilege of counseling a young minister. One day he mentioned that he hardly ever cried and he wondered about that. “Whatdoes make you cry,” I asked. He thought for a moment and then told me there were two things, the first I’ve since forgotten. The other was tenderness. “Tenderness makes me cry,” he sighed. It didn’t matter if it was a happy event or a sad one; the important thing was the aliveness, the realness he experienced with tenderheartedness.

It’s the way I choose lasting friendships—the tenderness odometer. It’s the way my smart inner child judges the terrain. It’s the way soulfulness shines through at unexpected times and everyone drops their walls.  I am awed by the way our innate vulnerability and tenderness sneak up on us and crash through our veneers. Tenderness is the place we all share. I like that shared region. I champion it.

When a client enters this delicate area of their psyche, I’m there holding open the door for deeper viewing. When bravado falls to the floor and the tears come, this lovely room in the heart sparkles. Social masks fall away. A more authentic self finds room to grow. And if folks are receptive to the gift, a soft compassion welcomes them home again.

We are in tender times. Sensitivities are heightened. Despair and uncertainty can cloud—or ignite—our vulnerable places. So remember, when tears threaten your composure, you aren’t alone. You might be just about to offer your tears to the great heart we share. You might be just about to melt into the cosmic bosom that not only comforts, but sends you forth again as a more whole and courageous explorer. Or perhaps, somewhere or somehow, if you are very quiet, you will hear a soft little voice reminding you that you are loved. You can’t beat that.

My friend Jim sits like still water, soft, unmoving in his assigned seat. No leaving without permission. Rise only if the wheels are locked and the bed rail is nearby, or a nurse. Them’s the rules, partner. These feet don’t go nowhere without a steel friend. He sits half to the window, half to the wall, bearing witness to this extraordinary corner of real, whether-you-like-it-or-not life. The Mystery abides here, both foe and companion.  Dare I enter this quietness with my outside bustle and cold January hands?

Hey Mr. Jim….

Ah-h the face of Jesus. Come in my Dear. So good to see you….

Is this a good time?

Of course, of course!

There is a monastic, painful wonder in which his days are held. The loudspeaker in the hall clamors for nursing staff to come immediately to the dining room. Someone moans across the hall. But this, the farthermost room from the nurse’s station, is a bastion of morphine-driven, slowed-down life, flavored with a precious, fierce love.

We all drop in, self-proclaimed members of the “Barnes and Noble Temple of Heretics.”

Hey Rabbi, we miss you! We need you back at B&N.

He smiles, great effort at strength and conviction.

I’ll be back. I’ll be out in two months, they say. Back home. Goodbye University Park Care Center. And, by the way, today I walked with the walker to the nurse’s station!

All that training in the healing power of mind and spirit. Focus the mind only on what you want. Ask Jesus, your guides, your inner healer, the Holy Spirit. See it. Feel it. Know it. And it IS!

I flip over the coin, peeking underneath. Ah-h…lonely. Years of lonely days piled one on the other. Heaped out back and covered with a tarpaulin. Now adding another layer of goddamn nursing home and medical trauma loneliness. We mostly do not see or name this. We don’t name heartache or longing or grief. But they are alive and well, thank you, orphaned by the “right” way to heal and the need to entertain visitors. I wonder about the orphaning of such deep feelings. I want to say, wait, let’s name and hold them…..

And if it’s not on the no-no list, we might even wander together into the land of sacred dying. You know–that universal back-up plan….

When I see your face, my friend, I wonder about this inner struggle. When I hear what you don’t say, I step softly in among the lily pads. I don’t mind. Loneliness is my familiar, a nemesis and teacher. It’s okay with me, whatever you want. Just so you know, the non-words are talking, I’m listening, and you aren’t alone. The non-word sounds and the great stillness of your Rabbi soul are all a beauty to me.

By Marcia Beachy, January 7, 2009

Depression is an all too common experience for us, even though we are loathe to admit it. When the blues set in (darker mood, low energy, hopelessness, sleep irregularity, changes in appetite, impatience, angry outbursts, emotional numbness, wanting release from all the pain, etc.), we know we’ve “got it.” For those suffering with more severe episodes, medical intervention may be necessary. For most of us, muddling through with support from family and friends is our choice–or for those determined independent types, muddling through alone.

Continuous depression creates a kind of brain-freeze, a mental blindness to the whole picture of things. The “joy factor” of life eludes us and our perspective becomes increasingly narrow. Since we seem to be created with a high joy and love requisite, ongoing grief, sorrow and depression can feel like the weight of the world. Furthermore, the world we see “out there” seems bleak beyond measure, reflecting our own lack of hope.

Many have found simple, effective tools for coping with depression, or releasing it altogether, which I want to share with you. So whether you are an old warrior or newbie in the dance with depression, here are some natural supports to experiment with on your journey of better mental and emotional health. We will divide them up into what to do and what not to do in order to truly lift life-sapping, depressive patterning.

What NOT to do:

1. Do NOT stay behind closed doors and in darkened rooms. This feeds depression, which you don’t need more of.

2. Do NOT watch violent, angry, hopeless TV programs and movies. Minimize exposure to negative media of all kinds, including video games and music–and the nightly news.

3. Do NOT believe anyone who conveys to you that your situation or diagnosis is irreversible or hopeless. Perhaps they don’t see a way through but that is simply a perspective offered. It is NOT the ultimate truth of you.

4. Do NOT limit your amazing possibilities to heal by believing your symptoms are “only” chemical imbalances or “only” mental/emotional inadequacies on your part. Why not experiment with a gamut of interesting, positive options, some of which may be just the ticket for you?

5. Do NOT get into the guilt/blame/shame game with yourself because you feel depressed. Talk about draining your own energies–guilt will do it!

6. Do NOT continue to be in negative vibe situations, wherever they may occur.

Things you can DO:

1. Check out your thyroid function. Imbalances in the thyroid gland create havoc with mood.

2. Jumpstart the “Joy Factor.” Yes! Give yourself full permission to feel that elusive thing called joy again. What does it for you? Can you recall? How about looking at the blue sky, walking along the river, holding a pet or your favorite baby? Maybe the smell of roses or fresh-baked bread gives you that “Ah-h-h….” Milk it for all it’s worth. This can change your brain chemistry! Even if it’s hard to get started, do it.

3. The Attitude of Gratitude. This goes hand in hand with the Joy Factor. What are you grateful for? The roof over your head? The fresh air in the morning? That you are, in fact, loved, whether you feel it or not? How about those moments of peace, the money you have, or your pet who never forsakes you? Say it. “I am so grateful for_____.” Gratitude opens our hearts. As the heart opens, love begins to flow and love is a wonderful brain-chemical stimulant! Be grateful to yourself as well. What are some of your own qualities that you appreciate?

4. Light & Color Therapy. This is fun and easy. Let the sun shine on your face every day. Tilt your face upward and drink in that light! The pineal gland lies deep in the brain and it is sensitive to light. Some sources say that it is the pituitary gland most affected by light. For our purposes, the following information is what counts. When this gland gets its requirement of light, it puts out “mood upper” hormones like serotonin and melatonin, which keep us light-hearted and in lighter moods. People who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) do better when they give themselves full-spectrum light treatments through the winter months of less sunlight. If you work inside all day, simply make certain that you go outside in the sun at lunchtime or sit in a sunny window regularly.

Color therapy can be simple and effective. What are colors that you enjoy, that you like to wear or be around? If you could breathe in a color that would make your nervous system feel particularly calm and relaxed, what would it be? What about a color that would give you jest and pep? Have fun imagining that color flowing through your body every day. Wear colors that appeal to your senses in a healing way.

5. Nature. We have all had the experience of being uplifted by the fresh air and beauty of nature. We are awed by our Colorado snowcapped peaks in winter, the vastness of the Pacific Ocean at sunset, the marvel of spring wildflowers after the thaw. Through these we somehow sense our “place in the family of things.” (from the poem Wild Geese by Mary Oliver) On a simpler note, your patio garden or backyard flowerbed can gift you with the same sense of connection to the whole–a bigger grace than shopping lists and errands. Scientists tell us that the frequency of the natural world and of our bodies is the same. To return to our innate healthy vibration, we would do well to spend time in undisturbed natural settings. Our innate nature is, well, like nature–beautiful, harmonious, creative and alive.
6. Movement. Depression can leave us feeling immobilized, trapped, helpless, uncreative. To counter these feelings, we can begin to move. Move the body. Get things moving inside and out with your exercise of choice. If you enjoy going to the gym, great. Just remember to also get your feet on the Earth and breathe fresh air. Your body and mood will improve.

Years ago one of my clients told me she had discovered something about movement and mood. She learned that if you move your legs you move depression; if you move your arms, you move anger. Try it and let me know how it works for you.

7. Nutritional Therapy. The brain and the body need high nutrition for optimum functioning. Sugar, caffeine and refined carbs aren’t high nutrition and if that’s your diet, your brain is probably starving! Sugar, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine can be real mood downers in the end. Even though we may use them for relaxation or to increase our energy, the overall effect can be major mood swings. Then we need more and the cycle goes on. So cut back or cease and see how you feel.

When possible choose locally grown, organic, fresh foods. The closer food is to its original form, the better. Nutritional supplements are necessary due to the depletion of our soils and the stress levels we are experiencing. At a basic level, a powerful daily vitamin/mineral is essential, with plenty of calcium and other minerals, plus B Complex. For more refinement of your diet and naturally re-balancing of your brain chemistry, you might want to consult a nutritionist or naturopath. Please refer to the resource people listed at the close of this article for some of my favorite experts.

Becoming a “waterholic” is a simple habit to add to your toolbox. Sometimes all our other cravings are simply the body’s cry for pure water. What feels like hunger may actually be dehydration trying to get your attention. More water, more hydration, more release of toxins. It’s a simple but powerful tool for health.

8. Environmental Factors. Our environment may be such that it negatively affects our sense of well-being and mood. Here are some things to check out:

(a) Electromagnetic/radar/microwave/fluorescent light influences. Our bodies are impacted by the radiation from computers, cell phones, cell towers and other electronics and technology. If you aren’t balancing all that computer time with time outside on the Earth and looking at distant vistas, your body/brain isn’t happy. It’s a good idea to minimize cell phone and iPod use. Putting all that radiation directly into your brain for hours isn’t smart. Fluorescent lighting is not full spectrum lighting and the imbalance can drain our energy. Remember the pineal/pituitary glands we mentioned earlier. You need the sun!

(b) Environmental chemicals and toxins. Are you using chemicals in your work, gardening, farming? These pesticides and herbicides are toxic and over time do affect your health. Also check out the toxic cleaners in your home.

(c) Stressful environments. Is your work and home environment such that it is relatively free of conflict and negative stress? Constant stress without replenishing ourselves can lead to a breakdown of our mental and physical health. Consider these factors as you gauge your environment’s impact on your mood.

9. Mental Disciplines. Our thinking habits water our moods and we grow what we water. Double check yourself. Have you adopted a victim mentality? Have you taken on negative patterns of thinking such as “life sucks” or “you can’t win for losing” or “the world is going down the tubes” or “I’m no good and never will be” or “It hurts too much”, etc.? Negative thinking spirals us into whirlpools of hopelessness. We must honor and learn from those deep feelings of sorrow. However, if complaining or despair has become a habit, then it’s important to re-evaluate.

Before we proceed further, it is important to acknowledge the effect of a world in flux on our psyches. Our sense of well-being is influenced by change, difficulty, and negativity on the interpersonal and planetary levels. We hurt when we see that others are hurting. We hurt when our planet hurts. Depression can be a signal that we are overloaded with undifferentiated pain. It may not all be our own personal “stuff”. We get to step up to another level of discernment and choice. We can pray for the world and its people; we can meditate on peace within and without; but we may need to step back and create some boundaries so that our mental environment supports a better sense of personal well-being.
If we are grieving, we can know that grief is time-limited and is a reminder that we have experienced the gift of love. We can honor those deep feelings of sorrow, loss, and even hopelessness.

Whether grieving or in a deep funk, we eventually can graciously begin shifting our thinking into what it is we truly want and begin to speak as if we have it, even if we don’t, even if we don’t really believe it. We do it anyway. We choose to believe it’s possible to feel better, to feel hope, love and incentive. We can learn to speak with joy about what lightens our hearts. We change our thinking to “It’s all working out”, “I’m learning from this.”

Gregg Braden (Walking Between the Worlds: The Science of Compassion, preface, p. v) speaks eloquently of our powerful mental capacities when he says, “Shifting your body chemistry by shifting your viewpoint is perhaps the single most powerful tool that you have available to you for the remainder of this lifetime……New data now supports the idea that human emotion determines the actual patterning of DNA within the body.” In other words, shifting your viewpoint from hopelessness to believing that–under it all–you and I and this amazing planet are worthy of giving and receiving compassion, is a great mood enhancer.

10. Meaning within Suffering. When we address the idea of meaning, we move into the spiritual aspect of ourselves. This part of us longs to be integrated into daily life and contribute inspiration and deeper understanding to our experiences. You don’t have to be religious to embrace this wise inner self–just be open.

Some of the wisest sages speak of the place of suffering in our development as human beings. Once we have experienced the dark night of the soul, we are permanently changed. We have a choice as to how we integrate that; we can be bitter and resentful, or we can realize we now understand others in similar circumstances. Compassion, grace and fortitude are attributes we discover within ourselves. Our minds and hearts are open to the suffering in the world and we can choose to do our part in relieving suffering. Often this is when we touch the bones of who we are, finding our soul, our true nature rising from the shattered remains of our ego and social persona. In this way, depression can bring us home to a more compassionate self.

Whether you wish to work on your body, your thinking, your environment or spirit, these guidelines can be a starting point in your holistic treatment of depression. All that we do counts. It all matters in the journey of self-healing.

RESOURCES:

Nutritional Support for Depression
1. R. Wayne Davis, Naturopathic Doctor, 1401 N. Elizabeth, Suite C, Pueblo CO 719-248-4873 bewellnaturally@hotmail.com
2. Katherine Duboue’, Licensed Certified Nutritionist, Muscle Testing
4218 Astrozon Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 719-574-7066 kduboue@msn.com

Trauma/Anxiety Release
1. William Settle, LCSW, LMT, Emotional Release Therapy, 6 Pineridge Ct., Pueblo, CO 719-544-4109 wmjsettle@msn.com
2. John Harder, LCSW, Emotional Release Therapy, 720 N. Main, Suite 335, Pueblo. CO 719-583-1462
3. Jo Ann Wiedman, Peace-Restoring Energy Work, Pueblo, CO 719-647-1443 joawiedman @ yahoo.com

We already know. We comment on the “school of hard knocks”. We sing, “when will we ever learn.…”. We muse as a friend did recently, about her “higher education in love.” We discover, create, are tested, fail and succeed.

Sounds like school and, of course, it is. Life is a demanding teacher. Earth is a tough classroom. And to what end? Could it be that we are spiritual travelers arriving from distant parts of the Cosmos to attend one of the most challenging curriculums in three-dimensional creation? Does this tough classroom serve to mature us and hone our spirits? Key alchemical processes are occurring now. Various immensely valuable teachings are enveloping us like waves, some of which we ride with grace. Others propel us gasping and sputtering to the depths. Yet at some core level, we know all of life is about learning.

Like the wave on the ever varying sea, change is key to Earth School’s curriculum. Big change shakes and rattles our collective cage. That’s happening now. Immense waves of change are washing through every strata of life. This upheaval cracks us open. We may try to keep the shell of familiarity around us but fractures still show through. Sometimes our reality shatters. We feel adrift and without purpose. We may try to act “normal” but inside we feel like war victims or earthquake survivors. And we are. The human race is under tremendous pressure.

You need no alerting to this. Your relationships are undergoing major changes. You finances feel unstable. You see ineptitude gripping our financial leaders. The challenges of medical care and the mercurial nature of the world arena are difficult to ignore. You may be watching your children cope with unprecedented assaults on their innocence. We long to create stability within this moving wave of change. Stability is a natural desire. Having stability within these changes requires great flexibility and opening the floodgates of clarity and creativity. It requires letting go of much of what we think we must have. It requires we dance with our fears.

Change rides on the waves of opposites. This classroom exists within the embrace of opposing forces. Instead of the oneness and harmony of our spiritual origins, we have the experience of light and dark, of happiness and sadness, of inclusion and rejection. We experience calm and security in the morning and by evening are filled with anxiety. The sun shines and then the clouds oppress us. A friend becomes an “enemy” and we are thrown into anger. The friend apologizes and we love again. Back and forth we go until, with experience, we develop a “middle path”. We discover more acceptance of our anger and a deepening of our love, thereby creating some reconciliation of duality.

In addition to the hard learning tools of change and duality, we have the added challenge of “the veil of forgetfulness.” An enormous dilemma in this spiritual training school, this divine classroom, if you will, is that most of the students don’t know they are enrolled! In fact some traditional religions have taught the negation of Earth and the human body, that they are evil or at the very least, not worthy of honor and certainly not divine. How silly and sad this seems. What a waste we say! But wait. There may be a way in which our unknowing, whatever its origin, serves a greater purpose. Perhaps the enticement of discovery and coming to KNOW is a part of the lesson plan, like the lure of a treasure hunt or the solving of a puzzle. Perhaps we are meant to unravel the mystery of who we are and in the process gain soul wisdom, a gift to ourselves and to our Creator. To remember our true nature and feel it in our bodies and daily life is our quest.

Breaking through this veil is a necessary task in Earth School homework. Suffering is a great way to break through, though not often sought! When we suffer, we question, we probe, we protest, we cry. We go deeper than our present identity. We may touch the soul. In addition to suffering, other veil-breakers are deep meditation and prayer, deep compassion, various altered states and intense relationships. In this work, an altered state of consciousness is our particular avenue through the veil. Uncovering previous existences of the soul and wisdom from the “heavenly realms,” via hypnosis, is the passage we will explore together. Here we will discover how the learning tools of change and duality work as aids for soul growth over time. We will learn to perceive through the eyes of the soul, developing a sense of soul psychology. We will explore the divine classroom curriculum at the present time and the divine human archetype that is returning.

The term for the heavenly realms we use is “interlife.” Interlife refers to the dimensions and experiences encountered after the death of the body (often called the afterlife). From the interlife we will explore what lies beyond death including:

-   Spiritual guides and support staff available to assist us

-   Rehabilitation and retreat centers for recovery after difficult lives

-   Interference or heaviness that can waylay the heaven-bound soul

-   The healing of pain that the soul perspective brings, and

-   The dawning realization that maturation of soul is the effect gained from all of Earth School experience.

The past life stories in the three case studies that follow, are taken from my private practice and represent the story of humanity’s journey and our arrival at this present juncture, this choice point. These stories intertwine with all of our individual stories into a larger human chronicle that weaves into the epic of universal creation. As this grand chronicle unfolds, we are privileged to catch glimpses. Hints of the greater story most often come through from the interlife.

Critical soul choices are being made in the present chapter of our human story. Soul choices might involve following a prompting to move to a new location, or placing ourselves in situations where we experience powerful lessons, or growing the courage to speak our truth. If, for example, we can recommit to expressing love in the face of fear, our soul is being heard. Listening to the soul is a primary challenge as the proponents of fear become noisier.

Our death can also be a pivotal choice. My mother died in July of 2001. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, my father remarked, “Well, your mother decided to go at a good time. This would have been too hard for her.”  Besides mirroring his own overwhelming sadness, he acknowledged the soul choice my mother made.

My desire is that the material in this book be of help in these soul decisions. And, if by chance, you are in the process of leaving this divine classroom, may you find comfort and guidance for your departure. If you are choosing to stay, flourish, and learn all you can, may you find deepening joy, courage and commitment. If you feel like you are camping out on the planet just watching the human drama unfold, may your curiosity guide you to the passages of interest.

The term “God” is seldom used in this material because it has become a conflicted term for many, implying anything form the greatest love to the greatest judgement and condemnation. It connotes a singular masculine deity, devoid of the divine feminine. This concept gathers no support from consciousness studies, regression work, spiritual research or personal experience. Therefore, I generally utilize more neutral terms, the Divine, Spirit, Source, etc.

This material was inspired by courageous past life regression clients who chose to understand themselves from the perspective of their souls. They discovered lives of service and growth as well as difficult lives that have haunted them for centuries. The healing power of soul understanding and bringing what has been hidden to light, released many ties to the distant past. Their generosity in releasing their stories, with the hope that others might benefit, is most commendable. I am deeply grateful to each one and honored that I have had the chance to work and learn with them.

As you read, may your heart drink in what nourishes you. May you remember what you already know. May your soul open more fully to your own unique expression of divinity so needed in this time of great change.

To order a copy of the book “This Divine Classroom:  Earth School and Psychology of the Soul” click here.

Angela arrived for her past life regression (PLR) session saying that her life was so crazy and confused that she must have done something really terrible in a past existence and therefore was now reaping the results. She had read an interview with me on past life therapy in the Pueblo Chieftain newspaper (see article) and decided to gather up her courage and give it a go. In this life, Angela has fought for her schooling, her employment, her safety, and at times, even her sanity. She described her family as non-supportive. Life seemed to challenge her every effort. Nonetheless, she was well-employed, loved her children, and was ready to dig into the roots of her suffering.

Angela’s soul had other plans. She found herself in a simple country setting as a small girl of another race. This child, Sarah, loved to go barefoot, loved the feel of the grass under her feet and the blue sky overhead. She felt cherished by her parents. Life was tender and good. But at 18 years of age, Sarah died suddenly, leaving a grieving mother behind.

As we explored the reasons this life was shown to her, Angela felt the profound delight of that life, the joy and happiness, the simplicity, the connection to Earth and Sky. Most of all she absorbed the feeling of being truly loved and cherished. She experienced being accepted just as she was. This was a new freedom. This was a healing contrast to her present life experiences. She now has memory of unconditional love, and a complete complement to the complexities and challenges of her daily life. Rather than the troubled past she expected to find, her unconscious said, enough already! More important to her present state were deemed the gentle gifts of innocence, simplicity and wholesomeness. In seeking the roots of her suffering, Angela was given instead sweet passage into her joy.

Conscious living means you  fill up the moment you are in. You aren’t lost in the past and the “what ifs.” You aren’t stressed out by future unknowns. You fill up your life with a heart that’s real and a mind that is expanding. You are fully present for yourself, and have more clarity about how you can be available and effective in our world. You are no longer a victim of circumstances but a full participant in the mystery of life. You become deepened.

As my clients and students become more conscious, they say things like, “I just didn’t see that behavior/belief system before. It was right in front of my eyes!” “My unconscious mind was taking over my life. Now I’m more aware of how I helped create that trouble.”

The ways in which conscious living unfolds for us are many. However, we always start with self– I am the place I start. By realizing that life is full of conscious living opportunities, we start to turn our ship around, choosing, intending, seeing, and being alive within our present experience.

I am an advocate for conscious living, a cheerleader. I see many in our human family struggling to become more aware. Therefore the classes and workshops I offer always have the conscious living undercurrent. Whatever the classes, the theme is “let’s wake up!”  The mind that sees the problem is not the mind that can solve it. We have to go bigger. Then we can see a new solution (or that there really isn’t anything to solve after all!)

My work with promoting conscious living started in DeKalb, Illinois, with the creation of Sunburst Holistic Life Center in 1986; a gathering of like-minded individuals who longed to explore the many facets of consciousness and healing. Sunburst evolved to a bricks-and-mortar center offering classes and workshops for the greater north-central Illinois area. Since then I have taught everything from massage therapy to “Jungian psychology and the Shadow Self”; from stress management and yoga to community college psychology classes.   Always present has been the desire to activate a more expanded consciousness, both in myself and others.

Please visit my calendar of events on the home page of this site to learn about current or upcoming classes, workshops, book signings, or other special events.

Woven through all these years of teaching has been the love of one-on-one work with private practice clients. Here is where I have the honor of championing amazing individuals into their own truth and more conscious living.

This work in psychotherapy and hypnotherapy is for support of your self-healing and soul connection.

What enlivens our work together is the sense of a treasure hunt within the dilemmas of life. We are remarkable individuals. Within the troubles of the moment are often clues to the answers we are seeking. These troubles may show up as relationship difficulties, grief, anxiety, depression, co-dependency, health conditions or stress. I believe that the treasure hidden within our pain longs to be uncovered.

I’m here to support you in finding your own treasure. I’m here to help you sleuth out answers and to feel better about yourself and your life. The inner world holds all our neurosis as well as all our joy and creativity. Sometimes it’s simple to get to the joy. Sometimes it’s more hard won. Nonetheless, the joy calls us through our longing. I am committed to being an astute guide for you in finding your own authentic self.

Marcia Beachy, MS, LPC, CCHT, is a licensed psychotherapist, specializing in holistic, heart-centered therapies. Since 1984 she has committed herself to deepening consciousness and helping clients uncover their true nature. She works with adult clients both in individual and couple counseling and resides in Pueblo, Colorado.

Marcia’s experience and training:

• 25 years in clinical and private practice
• Master of Science in Counseling from Northern Illinois University, 1984
• Licensed Professional Counselor, State of Colorado
• Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist with Wellness Institute, Issaquah, WA
• Training in Guided Imagery, Yoga, Bodywork and Energy Work
• Specialist in Past Life Regression
• Specialist in Conscious Living and Dying
• Community College Instructor (Psychology, Self-Hypnosis, Stress management, Meditation, etc.)
• Author: This Divine Classroom: Earth School and the Psychology of the Soul
• Author: Going Out in Style: A Guide to Planetary Departure
• Member of IARRT (International Association for Research and Regression Therapies)
• Member Heart-Centered Therapies Association
• Past President of the Board, Center for Grief and Loss, Pueblo, Colorado
• Past President of the Board of The Healing Alliance, Maui, Hawaii
• Past Program Director, Sunburst Holistic Life Center, DeKalb, Illinois