Recorded Interview with Podcast Host Alicia Meeks of The Wild Spirit with Alicia. She is based out of Vancouver Island, Canada and is a Spiritual Guide, Teacher & Facilitator as well. www.aliciameek.com

Have you ever wondered what happens when everything you've built crumbles away? For Naomi, founder of A Joyful Shaman, this devastating experience became the doorway to her authentic calling as a vibrational therapist and modern shamanic healer.

In this transformative conversation, Naomi shares her remarkable journey from suppressing her intuitive gifts while growing up in an evangelical Christian household to embracing her Mayan indigenous heritage of herbal medicine women. The turning point? A complete loss of her first business that led to bankruptcy, depression, and ultimately—a spiritual awakening through a visitation from her grandmother's spirit.

"You're a healer," her grandmother told her during this profound experience. "You come from a long line of powerful women that have special gifts." This reconnection to her ancestral wisdom set Naomi on a path of deep healing work combining breath, sound, and spirit to help others return to wholeness.

The highlight of this episode is a guided breath and sound journey that gives you a taste of shamanic breathwork—a powerful technique that Naomi describes as similar to "a mild ayahuasca journey but with greater control." Through rhythmic breathing, drumming, and visualization, this mini-ceremony helps release what no longer serves you while awakening your connection to your true self.

Whether you're curious about indigenous healing practices, seeking to reconnect with your own ancestral wisdom, or simply looking for powerful tools to regulate your nervous system and release trauma, this episode offers a gentle introduction to the transformative power of shamanic practices adapted for modern times.

Ready to remember your power, your joy, your wholeness? Listen now and experience a taste of coming home to yourself through the ancient wisdom of breath and sound.

I'd Love To Connect With You..Send Me A Message!

To Connect With Me, Visit Me At: www.joyfulshaman.com

Follow Me On Instagram: @joyfulshaman


Have Questions Or Episode Ideas?? Email Me!
Naomi@joyfulshaman.com

Thank You So Much For Supporting Me & Energetically…The Collective

From the heart of an indigenous Mexican village accessible only by boat, I'm sharing my raw, unfiltered experience facilitating shamanic healing ceremonies at the Journey Back to You retreat in Yelapa. What began as an exciting opportunity quickly became a profound test of my own medicine when I found myself facing unexpected physical limitations—130 uneven stone steps that my damaged knee protested with each climb—and primal fears in my open-air jungle room where spiders, geckos, and the unknown lurked beyond my mosquito netting.

Throughout the week, I guided participants through chakra healing, shamanic breathwork, and ocean cord-cutting ceremonies while simultaneously navigating my own journey of surrender. The universe delivered humbling lessons when I fell into the Pacific Ocean—twice!—during boat transfers, reminding me that sometimes laughter is the best medicine when ego takes a hit. The most profound healing came unexpectedly through a gifted Watsu water massage, where a local healer intuitively connected my knee pain to unresolved forgiveness issues with my grandmother and maternal lineage, triggering deep emotional release.

Participating in the Temazcal (Toltec sweat lodge) as a medicine woman in the inner circle reinforced what I've always known about healing—it happens at the edge of comfort, where surrender becomes necessary. As I prepare to lead final ceremonies focusing on throat and third-eye chakras, I'm filled with gratitude for this sacred space where women from different backgrounds came together to do the difficult, beautiful work of spiritual growth and self-discovery.

The medicine has been everywhere—in the challenging terrain, the beautiful connections formed, and the moments of vulnerability that reminded me that even shamans need healing. If you're feeling called to step into your own transformative journey but fear what might be revealed, remember that wholeness often begins where comfort ends. The path to our most authentic selves rarely follows even steps, but the view from each new elevation makes every difficult climb worthwhile.

I'd Love To Connect With You..Send Me A Message!

To Connect With Me, Visit Me At: www.joyfulshaman.com

Follow Me On Instagram: @joyfulshaman

TikTok: @thejoyfulshaman

Have Questions Or Episode Ideas?? Email Me!
Naomi@joyfulshaman.com

Thank You So Much For Supporting Me & Energetically…The Collective

What does it mean to be spiritual but not religious? Drawing from personal experience healing from religious trauma, this raw exploration delves into the profound differences between organized religion and authentic spirituality.

Growing up in an intensely religious household—complete with 5 AM devotionals, multiple weekly church services, and constant fear of eternal damnation—created deep wounds that took years of therapy to heal. That journey from fearful religious conditioning to authentic spiritual freedom forms the foundation of this heartfelt conversation about finding your true spiritual identity.

Shamanism offers a different approach to spirituality—not as another religion demanding adherence, but as practices supporting personal truth and healing. The key distinction lies in autonomy: religion often positions external authorities as arbiters of truth, while genuine spirituality emerges from personal introspection and self-discovery. While most religions contain beautiful core teachings about love and connection, problems arise when these teachings become twisted to instill fear, control, or manipulation.

True spirituality begins with the profound question: "Who am I?" This goes beyond external identifiers like family connections, career achievements, or relationship status. It requires facing yourself in the mirror and understanding your authentic nature independent of childhood conditioning or societal expectations. If you believe you have a soul—that you're more than just your physical body—you're already a spiritual person. The journey involves rediscovering who you truly are without using religion as your sole identity.

Whether you're questioning your religious upbringing, healing from religious trauma, or simply curious about different spiritual perspectives, this episode offers a compassionate framework for finding your authentic spiritual path. Can you answer who you are beyond what you've been told to believe? Your spiritual journey begins with that question.

I'd Love To Connect With You..Send Me A Message!

To Connect With Me, Visit Me At: www.joyfulshaman.com

Follow Me On Instagram: @joyfulshaman

TikTok: @thejoyfulshaman

Have Questions Or Episode Ideas?? Email Me!
Naomi@joyfulshaman.com

Thank You So Much For Supporting Me & Energetically…The Collective