Lessons from a shaman on healing and happiness. A Happy Hour Conversation with Jez Hughes

This week's show is with Jez Hughes is a British shaman, having studied intensively the path of shamanism for nearly 20 years, he has worked full time as a practitioner for the past 12 years. He teaches and initiates people onto this path from the heart of the woods in the south of England whilst also working closely with indigenous tribes from Central America.

Jez’s passion is empowering people to reawaken their ancestors, the land where they reside and their spiritual heritages to heal the relationship between the human and natural world. He is the author of the book The Heart of Life- Shamanic Initiation & Healing in the modern world.

In today’s show we spoke healing and how we can better align ourselves to our natural, joyful nature. Jez says we're currently living in paradox - with dark, heavy times and trauma and juxtaposed with healing energies. Healing and growth doesn't come without friction - pain is often growing and part of the process. We spoke about how we can better align ourselves with the natural forces that are starting to come forth.

What you'll learn from this episode:

• We have got out of balance with ourselves and the natural world, by opening our hearts and giving back to the land and the natural world, we can fall back into alignment with the way of things and experience the joy and peace that's natural for us.

• The elements of fire and water are trying to get our attention - we can see this in global warming and rising sea levels - if we can give gratitude (through ceremonies, prayers and thoughts) for the elements then they can fall back into balance.

• We are often so spiritually starved in western culture that we can cling and grasp at spiritual, mystical things and lose a sense of the physical, down to earth, practical side of the natural world that we're living on and part of. We need to come into our bodies and have a natural, real sense of appreciation and connection with the world and the elements.