284 - Heather Lovegood, Part 2 - Tap Into the Healing Wisdom of Body and Spirit
“We have the ability to be anything on the human spectrum.” - Heather Lovegood
“I thought I knew what this conversation might be like. I had all my worries, concerns, and anticipations of what might be brought up––and it didn't go that way,” laughs Heather Lovegood.
Intrigued??
Check out part one, and then come back here for the conclusion of my conversation with Heather, a holistic bodyworker and lymphatic drainage expert who provides healing-centered, trauma-trained services to clients in Chicago. We’re exploring the interconnectedness of everything, the subtle energy of Indigenous wisdom, and the power we claim (or not) in spaces where healing occurs.
“Part of the work I'm leaning into now is really recognizing that I'm not actually empowering anything with my clients. If I say I'm empowering them, I'm taking their power away,” says Heather in response to my time-honored tradition of asking my guests if they consider themselves a healer. “I don't have the ability to empower somebody.”
Longtime fans know to wait a beat. There’s often more to a guest’s answer than their initial reaction. “I can empower myself,” Heather continues, “and maybe in my doing so, demonstrating and modeling that, something is inspired.” But Heather does more than simply “lead by example.” She conducts hands-on healing through lymphatic massage, which focuses on gentle contact and rhythmic motion along the lymphatic pathways rather than muscle manipulation.
“In Indigenous culture, healers are revered. There's honoring and understanding and respect for people who hold that role in the community,” says Heather, who has lately been exploring the wisdom of her ancestors via the study of Hungarian shamanism. Eventually, she circles back to my original inquiry. “I still wanna play with that. But I've softened around it now where before I would say, I don't wanna be called a healer 'cause I don't want that responsibility.”
I love the consideration Heather gives to my question and the duality of her answer. Folks in healing professions must confront their power and connect with it rather than deny it out of fear. “If I don't own my role in our partnership and the work we're doing, I am not honoring the work I've done to provide a space that clients could heal inside of.”
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GUEST CONTACT & BIO
A long-time student of life, Heather Lovegood’s own healing path led her to the healing arts, specifically bodywork. Drawing from these tools for both her personal practice and her work with clients has been the deepest gift and greatest of teachers.
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