06/16/2026
Forever grateful for the experience at the Midwest Shamans Conference 2026. Many thanks to the teachers, the organizers, our ancestors, the beautiful land and elements that provided us guidance, education and space for healing. ❤️🩹
I was invited by a dear friend and followed the calling deep within my soul. At first, I thought I would be attending the conference on my own. (I do love my alone time yet enjoy the company of others 😉)
Two of my soul family members Mandy Bird and Kim Ferrari decided to join me on the journey. It was meant to be and much needed. Something I needed to remind myself…there are times we need to be alone to heal and times we need to allow others to help or hold space while we heal. This was that moment to allow, to surrender, to trust and to not be alone. That moment, the experience of feeling safe and allowing myself to be vulnerable on many different levels opened this wounded heart again.
The first night the ceremony of the sacred fire is where it all began. I allowed myself to open, not fully at first. I could feel my body tense with the familiar judgements of others from my past as I slowly approach the fire. I did not bring my drum this time for this ceremony…only me. My intuition and soul spoke to me and said “only you” and that is exactly what I did. I eased into the circle and slowly began to move my body. My mind began to release the judgements that had bestowed on me. The what if’s, the you can’ts, the you shouldn’ts all of these words spoken to me in the past, slowly dissolved as I began to dance. It was beautiful, freedom has arrived again. Afterwards while the fire still burning, I sat on the earth next to the fire and stared into the flames. I could see and sense the presence one of my ancestors. This is very personal for me and I have not yet fully processed. An attendee named Rachael approached and sat by my side, confirming everything that was happening. What I can say is, the pieces began to come together. The patterns of my family line were once again shown to me. I have seen them before yet in that moment I was able to recognize and have clarity and how these patterns have been passed down to me in this lifetime. How the experience may look different yet the pattern still exists. What was different was that I was able to observe and take this knowledge, transform the pattern by making a choice. I was shown that it ends with me. The choices to no longer allow the patterns to continue. Even though I have known this deeply, fear and shame has silenced me for far too long. That is a pattern that I learned in many forms of abuse in this lifetime. I am not the only one, someone very dear to me has as well. I want to be very clear, I do not call myself a victim and not in a “gaslighting” way. These experiences or patterns had to occur for evolution within myself and my family line. I embrace it all. It brought me to who I am. The darkness has shown me there is light. It has shown me the balance.
After this reflection, I decided to go back to camp with the girls. It was getting late and feeling all kinds of emotions. To be honest, it was overwhelming and was almost talking myself into leaving the next day. A thunderstorm arrived, the tent began to leak. I laid on my air mattress and just breathed. Hearing the thunder, feeling it throughout my body like a drum. Each lightning strike brought more visions and memories from the past. Sometimes good memories sometimes the bad, each heavy memory I was able to sit with calmly and bring more clarity and see the good within. It showed me the strength, resilience and persistence that I learned. It brought me peace.
I finally fell asleep that night. With only a few hours of rest I felt as if a weight had been lifted. Something shifted, something changed. With that being said, I decided to stay at the shaman conference for the next couple of days. I learned so much more about myself and walked away with confirmation, confidence and most of all freedom, peace, love in my heart again. The amazing souls that attended this conference from the shamans, the teachers, the guides, the mystics, whatever name you label yourself…we are all one, tangled in this web of life. I am forever grateful to have experienced all it with each of you. 💞🌟💫
The Universe brought us all together not only for my healing… for each and everyone. The healing of our mind, body and soul extending to Mother Earth, Father Sky in all directions, merging the elements…together as one. Until we meet again, much love🙏🏻
Candice, Elemental Bliss
