Ohmmmm My Gawd!

I grew up a cynical east coast girl, but after almost two decades in L.A., the west coast crunchy spiritual thing has clearly taken root because a few days ago…

I started seeing a “holistic healer.”

For real.

It’s not that anything’s seriously wrong with me, but I’ve got some random issues, like a tendency to get migraines.  I’ve seen regular doctors, and I have hard-core meds for when the headaches come, but I’d rather go for prevention.

Cut to me on a hike with a friend who tells me the most astounding story about her visit to this healer — because of a groupon, no less! — and how the healer “intuited” every issue she had, without even looking at her paperwork.  Then the healer changed my friend’s diet, did acupuncture… and a month later, my friend’s symptoms are gone.  Gone!

I found the whole thing very exciting, and I have to say, the first appointment didn’t disappoint.  I filled out reams of paperwork listing every teeny issue I have with my body and my health, but the healer didn’t read them right away.  Instead she looked at my tongue, at the way I stand, the way I made small talk… then she plopped onto a bench, stared me in the eye, and told me with 95% accuracy everything I wrote on the paperwork.

Coincidence?  Sure, could be.  A good carny could probably do the same thing.  Doesn’t take an intuitive healer to guess things like stress and anxiety.  As for pinpointing my headaches and other minor issues, I’m in a healer’s office — probably most people who walk through the door are dealing with similar less-than-urgent symptoms.

Still.  I was excited.  And when she started telling me which of my chakras were blocked, I was riveted despite myself.

Next came acupuncture, front and back.  I’ve had acupuncture before, and while it’s an odd thing to say about someone sticking you with needles… I love it.  Sprawled on the table like a pincushion, I zone into this trancelike state that’s the closest I’ve ever come to meditating.

I go back tomorrow.  My homework before then is to journal about the chakra blockages.  Some were apparently caused by “giving my power away,” and “putting up barriers to creative bliss.”

I know, I know, it’s all so “I forgot my mantra” from Annie Hall, and I have no idea why I’m so eager to embrace it… but I’m all over it.  I think tomorrow there will be more acupuncture, plus she’ll give me her tips on what I should and shouldn’t be eating (first tip — no more adding salt at the table).

Is it weird that I’m totally looking forward to it?

I’ll keep you posted about what comes next.

How about you?  Have you ever done anything in the alternative medicine realm?  Anything holistic or new agey that seemed completely scoff-worthy… but worked?  Or didn’t work — have you jumped into something that seemed kooky but worth a try, and had it fall flat?

My blocked chakras and I look forward to hearing all about it…