Personal Stories
(Of A Few of Our Book's Contributors)
Kathy Absolon shares how an Anishinaabe wholistic approach has guided her through her journey with attention to: spirit through ceremony as well as cultural and language revitalization; the heart through healing relationships with self and others; intellectual growth through understanding colonization and working on decolonizing her mind; and the body through physical wellness strategies and staying connected to Mother Earth and all her healing elements.
Jo-Anne Absolon explains that when she began attending sacred ceremonies it was the first time that she really felt like her spirit belonged somewhere and that she was happy to be Anishnaabe. This led her to work as an Indigenous practitioner, receiving an MSW in the Indigenous Field of Study program from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Lana Brasher describes how she wandered aimlessly throughout life until she was introduced to cultural teachings and practices by Indigenous knowledge keepers. She became an Anishinaabe practitioner and also received her MSW in the Indigenous Field of Study program too.
Tim Gordon explains that yoga helped him recover from a major physical injury and gain a sense of equanimity and peace in life. He altered his career by integrating yoga and meditation into his counselling practice and teachings. I am the founder of Mindful Yoga-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (MYACT), blending yoga and meditation for people dealing with mental health issues. Besides having his own counselling practice he is a consultant to non profit agencies and government organizations.
Roxana Roshon explains that after having extreme allergic reactions for over 20 years and using an EpiPen and steroid puffers, she became allergy-free by turning to energy medicine, acupuncture, and herbal support. As a result, she changed her career from working as a private consultant (and with the government) with a PhD in toxicology to becoming an energy-medicine healer herself. Now she helps people heal from physical and emotional issues. She feels that she is doing more to change humanity’s path by facilitating the healing of those who walk through her door than working in a safe job with the government.
Neelam Toprani After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and finding that mainstream medicine did not help, Neelam Toprani describes how she healed herself completely with an Ayurvedic lifestyle including Qi Gong practice, meditation, and yoga. She changed her life in order to study and teach Ayurvedic medicine. She is also a Research Associate with the World Institute for Scientific Exploration (WISE) Harvard Branch and on the Executive Council of the Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America