Lately I've been drawn to shamanism in a very deep way. When I say lately, I mean -- the last two to three years.

It's an ancient way of life practiced by many cultures all over the world. It goes back thousands of years.

​To me, shamanism means: connecting and being in communion with our source (which includes nature, animals etc.); basically encompassing the unseen aspect of what drives life.

I remember being about 14 - 16 years of age and being a "New Born-Again Christian" and being somewhat drawn to shamanism, even though I looked down upon it with judgment.

You see, as a Christian - shamanism didn't coincide with biblical teachings. So, I shunned it -- even though it beguiled me.

My journey as a Christian is part of my story. I embrace and I am proud to share it. 

Christianity for me, was my hiding place. It was my place to go for protection and belonging. It brought about healing in different ways ... However, it had many contradictions that came along with its biblical background/teachings. 

From the age of fourteen to 36 (ish), I studied the bible as intricately as possible. As I got older, the paradoxes in the Bible began to make me question it's infallibility.

Some things just didn't match up! I will write another post some day about that.

Once again, shamanism reappeared into my life. I was becoming more and more drawn to it because it didn't have any conditions attached to it.

I started to see the parts of me that I had shunned and put away, or had neglected to care for. I started embracing my shadows.

What I once saw as deep flaws, I started to actually pay attention to and allow that "hurt part" of me to tell its story.

I also started seeing people who really pissed me off in a different light. In the past as a Christian, it would be "Oh, I love that person because they are a creation of God".

​This time, it was more like "that person is just another version of me". There was no separation except two different bodies.

If you want to know more, check out my shamanic journey post. I talked about my first journey with my beautiful friend Jaes Seiss. By the way, I am reading her book "Awakening Darkness" and it is just riveting!

Jaes then invited me to join her and a few other women to a Sacred Sisterhood Rites of Passage circle. Here we honored the directions of the medicine wheel:

North - represented by the hummingbird. This was a time to create healing for ancestors and your connection or lack of connection with them.

West - represented by the jaguar. We went through our own death rites and shed/released what was holding us back; preparing a place for the new.

South - represented by the serpent. Here, we re-kindled our passion, purpose and joy in life.

East - represented by the condor. We renewed our innocence and awakened the creative spark in us by going on a birth star journey, re-visited our visions and activated our prayer arrows (mission/desires for this life journey).

WOO! Don't get me started!

I realized that there is a lot of pain passed down from generation to generation. I also have been learning that pain is only a messenger that comes to show us where we are not aligned (in the wise words of my friend Kevin Walton).

There is A LOT of pain in every family. I won't go through the stories of the pain that has been passed down through my own family.

Pain gets trapped in our cells. Seriously. 

Science supports this theory that emotional trauma is passed down our blood lines. You can read this article here.

I will share however, that one of the ways I've been healing is through honoring my ancestors. In our medicine wheel of the north - where we honored our ancestors, I took the time to honor all the women in my ancestral line - even a few generations back). I did also honor my dad. 

I made a decision to bring any pain/trauma that has not been dealt with to the forefront. I became a voice for my ancestors. There was a lot of crying and emotional release.

This is still happening today. I am aware of it when someone or something triggers me. Instead of ignoring it, I will pay attention to it. 

There are different ways of healing emotional trauma passed down through lineage:

• Myofascial release therapy
• Hypnosis and past life regression
• Therapy 
• etc...

Then there is DANCING! Which is basically "artistic expression". 

Psychology Today has a cool article on healing trauma through dance: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/make-your-life-blessing/201610/the-power-dance-work-trauma -- and I quote: 

Before I start dancing, I am not always in the mood for dancing. I may be exhausted or just dealing with emotional baggage collected throughout my day.

Something really magical happens though when I put on some music. Especially music that is African influenced. Being from Africa and all...

So today, my friend Jeni-Lee told me that I need to listen to this song and dance to it.
​
I was already in a dancing mood today, so without hesitation I pumped the volume and started to move.

Friends like Jeni are awesome fire kindlers! Thank you, my dear!

Here I am below releasing trauma in my cells! Oh what a joyous and sweaty time! 

My message to you... dance! Even if you can't move your legs, dance where you are... your body loves movement!

So, if you're going through something similar - be encouraged because help is out there.  I'm glad I had to go through different doctors to finally meet the right one. 

Healing from an ovarian cystectomy which eventually ended up being a Salpingo Oophorectomy because the cyst had taken over my ovary is a process. You might get emotionally drained, but it brings so many other blessings as well.

• You get lots of rest.
• Opportunities to be more in the moment (power of "now")
• More time to focus on your work (if you work on your computer) because you're not taking care of household duties.
• More time to do things such as "blogging".

So, I'm finding out from my last post that this condition is so much more common than I thought. 

I want to shed light on this because so many women suffer from unnecessary discomfort and pain and have no clue what is going on in their wombs. 

If you have any of the following symptoms, you could be experiencing the effects of a cyst:

• Painful periods.
• Feeling faint or weak.
• Pain in your legs, shooting down from pelvic area.
• Vomiting from pain in your belly area.

Go see a doctor immediately if you have the above symptoms.

There are generally three types of cysts that a woman can develop. They are not all the same and have different functionings. 

1. Follicular cysts are more temporary. They can appear and then disappear in a few months. They usually occur during ovulation, when your ovary releases an egg from a small, tiny sac called a  follicle. A cyst may form if the follicle grows an egg but it is not released for ovulation. If this cyst ruptures, you may experience severe pain on the side of your ovary.
2. Corpus Luteum Cysts occur after your ovulation when the the egg is released from the follicle and instead of shrinking in size, fills up with fluid. Sometimes the cyst will bleed, causing pain or discomfort.
3. Nonfunctional Cysts are cysts that don't necessarily develop during ovulation. They can be:

 

• Endometriomas - they grow from your uterus usually and can take over your ovary.
• Dermoid Cysts - this what I had on my right ovary. They are also known as teranomas.  They might contain skin, teeth, nails or hair. Mine had skin, fat and hair.
• Cystadenomas are cysts that grow on the surface of the ovary and can be filled with fluid.
• Polycystic Ovaries are when the ovary is occupied by many small cysts - this condition is called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). If you want to know more about this check this post: Dr. Fiona McCulloch is an expert.

 
Thank you for taking the time to read! Take care of yourself!

She began her healing journey by switching to a raw vegetable and fruit diet and juicing. Juicing is amazing. Her day would begin with freshly cold pressed celery, green apples, ginger, lemon and dandelions.

I truly believe this is what prepared her body for her chemotherapy treatments and then bone marrow transplant. 

By 2008 my mother no longer had cancer in her bone marrow. Being a new mother, I was naturally inspired and began my journey in healthier, wholesome eating!

Okay, let me list my favorite top five IG Doctors:

1. Dr. Jessica Peatross, MD - known as Dr. Jess MD
2. Dr. Christian Gonzalez N.D - known as doctor.g_
3. Dr. Carrie Jones, ND, MPH - known as dr.carriejones
4. Dr. Jolene Brighten - known as drjolenebrighten
5. Dr. Fiona McCulloch ND - known as drfionand

You can find her at www.drjess.com. 

One of the things that really drew Dr. Jess to me was her authenticity and humility. I first came across her IG profile through an awesome Naturopathic Med Student on instagram by the name of natural_natosha. I'm going to write a post about her soon!

Dr. Jess is big on eating a healthy balanced diet, allowing food to be our medicine, and she is an awesome advocate on women's health.

What I love about Dr. Jess MD:

• She's big on hormonal balance (she even has her own line of products).
• She is a Gerson Therapy practitioner.
• She is well versed in cannabis therapy.
• She believes in preventative and functional treatment.
• She is into ayurvedic treatments and holistic healing.
• She is an advocate of eating a more plant based diet.
• She helped me in my struggles with an ovarian cyst (she doesn't know this yet)

​She really is a bright shining light! I could go on, but there some other doctors I want to acknowledge.

I came across Dr. G's instagram profile via Dr. Jess. I was hooked from the get-go! One of the things that draw's one seeking to improve their health to Dr. G is his very personable and interactive persona. 

He has a lot of followers, but will answer your questions as soon as he can. I really like this about him. Another thing is that he really explains how things work in a simple manner (if you don't have a degree in science or medicine).

Here are some of the reasons you should follow Dr. G:

• He explains how certain foods can contribute to your health or "dis-ease".
• He shares what kind of products to use or stay away and explains why.
• He advocates for a more plant-based diet.
• He is thorough in explaining how your body works.
• He cares for his patients.

Check his page out - you will be glad you did!

Dr. Carrie Jones has certainly made an impression on me. Thanks to Dr. Jess, MD - once again - I was introduced to this dynamic woman who not only knows what she is talking about but speaks to the heart of everyone, especially women!

She shares from her heart and explains explicitly how the human body works. She doesn't give medical advice, but instead points you back to the basics - healthy diets and taking care of your body with what nature provides.

Her "expertise lies in the areas of hormonal, adrenal and thyroid health" (See the thedutchtest.com).

Dr. Jones has made an impact on me due a number of reasons:

• She is a leading Functional Medicine Doctor.
• Her expertise in hormones speaks to a women all over the world.
• She is down to earth and open, so her followers feel a sense of connection.
• She is clear and concise in her explanations on how the body works!
• She is into how the moon affects a woman's cycle.

I would love to interact with her more, so that is one of my goals!

Dr. Jolene Brighten is a leading Naturopathic medical doctor who specializes in helping women balance their hormones.

She is amazing in explaining how the woman's reproductive system works. 

• Offers alternatives to the pill; she is a post birth control symptom expert.
• Educates women in making the best decisions for their bodies.
• She openly shares her health journey.
• She has a deep background in nutritional biochemistry. She is part of the MindBodyGreen collective.

I am continuing to learn more from her on a daily basis and I am planning on getting her book, "Beyond the Pill".

I first came across Dr. Fiona's IG handle via Dr. Jolene Brighton. Since then, I am always checking out what she has to say about women's health!

She has treated thousands of patients (both men and women) who have suffered with fertility issues. 

Reasons why you should follow her:

• She's an expert on inflammatory disorders.
• She is an expert in the endocrine and immune systems (immuno-endocrinology).
• She is well versed in plant and tree medicine.
• She is humble and committed to health education.

Well, that's it for now. I am still learning more about these awesome doctors and through them, I have greatly improved my health. 

I will be checking out other doctors (some referred by the above mentioned) and will write my thoughts about them! 

Thank you for reading. Love yourself by taking care of your beautiful vessel!

Blessed be!

Sounds really funny, right? 

I thought so too. 

It's basically the removal of an ovary and fallopian tube.

This post is specifically written for women. Men can read it too! 

Imagine for a moment you have something growing in you that just doesn't feel like it should be there.

It's not a parasite. Or is it?

No! It is is not. It's your body telling you that you've not taken good care of it. You've held on to stress energy for too long. Now it's growing fast.

Imagine it is the size of a lemon, no - an orange ... or wait, a grapefruit. 

Said grapefruit-sized object was not a growing baby either. My days of having babies are long gone - phew! I've had three already and been pregnant four times - first was an ectopic pregnancy. That was my first experience with laparoscopic surgery.

The thing growing inside of me that I jokingly called my "hairy toothed ovary" or "gremlin" was actually a dermoid ovarian cyst. Read about my story then you can come back here.

GOING INTO SURGERY

The most scary thing was "fear of the unknown". Then there was also:
​

• Not knowing how my body would react to the general anesthesia.
• Not being comfortable with the fact that my body would have all sorts of drugs in it.
• Not having control over my body as I was about to go under.
• The emotions of having a possible ovary removal, along with the cyst.

Even though I was putting on my brave face, inside I knew I had to face this fear like one facing a dark night.

​Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

DAY 1 - FRIDAY, JAN 18th 2019

This was the actual day of surgery. Got to the hospital at 5:30 am. It was an outpatient surgery so I was discharged around 3 or 4 pm.

Surgery took about 2 and a half hours. 

Last thing I remember before surgery was telling Vinny I love him, as the nurses wheeled me towards the O.R.

DAY 1 Continued

I was dreaming when I heard the nurses saying "Lulu, wake up! Surgery is over!" 

As I looked at the clock in front of me with my blurry vision, the time was 11:11 a.m. (magick moment)

I began weeping with joy. Apart from the pain in my belly button, which the nurses immediately took care of, I was so grateful to have made it back. They asked me why I was crying? I told them how grateful I was of how well they had cared for me - and to be alive.

Vinny joined me shortly after. I was so happy to see him. Let me tell, you - it really is nice to have people who truly love and support you by your side.

WHAT TO PREPARE FOR AFTER OVARIAN CYSTECTOMY

There is going to be a lot of bloating. Especially on Day 1 -3. 

You might also become constipated. Yup, I said it!

Here are some things you can get before surgery:

• Gas X (helps relieve some of the gas that gets pumped into your abdominal cavity).
• Smooth Move Tea (trust me you will need this)
• Essential oils for calming and healing.
• Fruits, veggies and soup/broth.
• CBD oil for pain management.

WHAT NOT TO EAT OR DRINK ON DAY 1, AFTER SURGERY:

• Alcohol. Remember, there are a bunch of drugs inside of you and general anesthesia is wearing off.
• Greasy food. Man, I really wanted to eat truffle french fries, but that would not have helped.
• Avoid beans, broccoli or any other gas producing foods.

OTHER HELPFUL TIPS FOR AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY

• Going to bed was not very comfortable. Thanks to the prescribed pain killers, I was able to feel a bit more relaxed and I had to prop up pillows and sleep in a "sitting-up" position.
• Make sure you really support your lower back.
• Have someone around to help you get up from the bed or couch.
• Try not to bend at the waist.
• Walk around as much as you CAN. This helps the gas come out of your body.
• Grounding or Earthing. Walk barefoot on real grass. This was a real amazing way to speed up recovery.
• For bathing, use a washcloth and try not to get your wounds wet.

DAY 2 - SATURDAY, JAN 19TH 2019

Still in pain, but more manageable. The painkiller was fabulous. It helped me conk out on the couch.

There was still a lot of gas trapped in my body. Not only in my belly, but also in my shoulders and back.

Still hadn't gone # 2. Uncomfortable!

TIPS FOR POST SURGICAL RELIEF

• The essential oils really helped with that. I used Frankincense.
• Walked around.
• Go barefoot outside.
• You might be constipated at this point. Try not to eat too much.
• Drink water. Stay hydrated.
• Relax. The work isn't going anywhere.

DAY 3 - SUNDAY, JAN 20TH 2019

Still hadn't gone # 2 and my belly seemed to be getting even more bloated. 

I kept eating healthy food like soups, salads, veggies and fruits.

​Vinny was amazing at serving me all the time!

Still haven't gone #2!

​I don't know why I waited this long but I finally had Vinny buy me the Smooth Move Tea. That's why I mentioned to buy it before hand!

I took the tea right before bed!

DAY 4 - MONDAY, JAN 21ST 2019

Hallelujah! That Smooth Move tea worked! It made me go twice in the morning and once at night!

Bloating went down significantly. 

Gas is subsiding in other parts of my body.

Continued walking around a little. I had to resist the urge to do more physical stuff.

Painkillers still help.

DAY 5 - TUESDAY, JAN 22ND 2019

My sweet friend Sasu came to see me. She brought me soup from one of my fave Vegan Restaurants in South Florida - Screaming Carrots.

It really helps to surround yourself with people who love you, like I said earlier.

Sasu brought me the Mushrooms in Coconut Soup and the Lentil Soup.

I really appreciate when friends check on me and spend quality time with me.

Bowel movements back to normal! YAY!

Only took one painkiller at night this time, before bed.

DAY 6 - WEDNESDAY, JAN 23RD 2019

Woke up with more energy. Pain very low - more of a discomfort than anything.

Walked around a bit. Made myself coffee - boy, did I miss my coffee!

Didn't take any painkillers at all! 

Today I went to visit a Shamanic Practitioner, Jaes Seis. I am so exhausted right now, yet I feel so renewed and strengthened. She did a soul retrieval ceremony with me - which to say the least - was illuminating and freeing! To begin our session, Jaes first went over my Astrological charts and explained various aspects of my personality that were reflected in the different positions of the cosmic bodies. She shed light on times in my life where I had struggled deeply and other times that were not as difficult and then the easier, more enjoyable times. 

Raven or Crow medicine teaches us to dig deep. Go within. Raven is the keeper of ancient secrets. She is the master magician. 

Click on Spirit Animal Totems to learn more.