At the heart of Ewassa’s philosophy lies the belief that true healing transcends the physical realm, delving into the unseen domains of energy. Elizabeth Gómez and her team recognize that within these energetic realms reside the intricate tapestry of intentions, motivations, memories, emotions, beliefs, and desires, along with imprints from trauma, relationship bonds, rejected aspects of self, and ancestral influences – both positive and negative. In this exploration of the unseen, Ewassa unveils a rich landscape that extends beyond challenges, encompassing allies and guides eager to support individuals on their journey. These include angels, spirit guides, ancestors, and the potent elemental forces of nature. Join Mystic Mag as we delve into the transformative world crafted by Elizabeth Gómez and Ewassa, where deep soul healing becomes the catalyst for thriving in today’s intricate reality.
Can you share a pivotal moment from your experiences working in public health overseas that influenced your decision to transition into founding Ewassa and focusing on nature-based healing practices?
Two experiences early in my international travels come to mind, both of which helped plant the seeds to eventually found Ewassa.
The first was in Senegal, West Africa, during the year I spent studying at the University of Dakar. At the time I was majoring in Psychology and thought I would eventually become a therapist. I lived with a large Senegalese host family with an older family member, who at first glance appeared to have a classic case of severe schizophrenia. He would sit in the corner half-clothed, engaged in animated discussions with beings from the spirit realms – mostly disconnected from shared reality. My host family recounted how he had been a successful businessman for many years until one day a jealous partner put a curse on him. He was found days later roaming the streets naked, practically unrecognizable. The family worked with their medicine man to try and lift the curse, but to no avail. The other magic was too strong. This experience and others during that year (including getting help from their medicine man myself) led me to realize that there was a vast world of other cultural realities and unseen realms that the Western field of psychology couldn’t even begin to explain. So I pursued a Master’s degree in public health instead, and kept searching for answers during my international work.
The other pivotal moment was during my first trip to Brazil a few years later, when I experienced my first nature-based emotional cleansing ritual in a waterfall outside Sao Paulo. I had been practicing the tradition of Umbanda for about a year through the Templo Guaracy in Washington DC., but had yet to witness the powerful nature-based energies called “Orixás” or see how rituals were done in Brazil. At the time I had just broken up with a boyfriend of several years and was carrying a lot of grief and confusion in my heart.
The ceremony was intense. There were 40-50 people singing to invoke Oxum (the goddess of the river), a large group of drummers, and the opportunity for each participant to step under the waterfall and release what was on their heart. When it was my turn, I felt the icy water hit my crown and simultaneously blow a ball of heavy emotions out of my heart. I stood under the potent flow of the water for a few more seconds and felt as if years of pent-up feelings were washing away. The ceremony was simple yet powerful, and when it was over the difference was palpable – my energy field felt clean and refreshed. I knew this ritual was something that many people could benefit from, and to this day remains one of my favorite ceremonies to guide.
As the author of “From the Depths of Creation: A Nature-Based Path to Healing,” could you elaborate on how your personal journey and observations of traditional medicine practices shaped the philosophy and approach outlined in your book?
The approach in my book is primarily inspired by the Brazilian spiritual tradition of Umbanda, which I actively practiced for 10 years as an apprentice, initiate, and then a temple coordinator. The tradition teaches a profound philosophy of life and nature rooted in the cycle of the four elements (Fire, Earth, Water, and Air). My book shares this philosophy and explores the wisdom offered by sixteen manifestations of the elements in nature (including the rainbow, stone, desert, forest, rain, river, ocean, wind, etc.) to help understand nature as a reflection of self and access it for healing.
Each chapter encourages contemplation of a different part of your inner landscape, with a specific exercise or ritual that you can do on your own in nature to shift or rebalance that part of self. My goal in writing the book was to help people in Western cultures reconnect deeply with nature in a practical and healing way. The book offers a framework that is intended to appeal to anyone, regardless of your own spiritual or religious beliefs.
I faced my own health crisis in 2016 before founding Ewassa, and drawing on these nature-based techniques and energies helped guide my own path to recovery. I found myself in crisis in Colorado, with no Umbanda temple or spiritual community for support. What I did have access to were the forest, the river, the skies… the energies of nature. After beginning to recover, I enrolled in an intensive 6-month shamanic training course rooted in the Q’ero traditions of the Peruvian Andes. The book was born of what I learned and practiced through the Brazilian tradition, complemented by some shamanic techniques, and other nature-based practices that were helpful for my own healing.
What type of services do you offer?
I offer individual shamanic energy medicine sessions, and group events at my forest tipi in Evergreen, CO or nearby parks or rivers. I also have online courses accessible to everyone. The individual energy medicine sessions focus on releasing emotional imprints or dense energies from your body, loosening old patterns and beliefs, and gaining insight and guidance to help create a more positive path forward. For these sessions I work with various tools from nature to help shift and transform emotions and energies, and my clients’ spirit guides or ancestors.
The group events include full moon fire ceremonies, river release rituals, solstice and equinox ceremonies, and other events to give thanks to the earth and sun or engage nature energies in other ways. I offer shamanic journeys and vision quests, classes to help you get to know your own spirit guides, and courses related to nature healing. I’m currently developing some new shamanic training courses as well.
My goal is to facilitate deeper soul healing and connections, and help people thrive in today’s world. We face many unprecedented challenges, exacerbated by our disconnection from the natural world and eroding community support systems. As a society we’ve also lost much of the traditional knowledge that helped people care for one another and the natural world in a balanced way. The challenge is to find new and relevant ways to meet these needs that are adapted to the world we live in today.
Having worked in diverse locations such as West Africa, Haiti, and Central America, how do you integrate the cultural perspectives you encountered during your travels into the spiritual and healing practices at Ewassa?
Despite the vast cultural differences, the traditional spiritual practices I encountered when living abroad share many common themes. First is a recognition of the domains of spirit, and the ubiquitous presence of ancestors, guides, and other unseen forces with whom we can build harmonious relationships. These beautiful guides from the unseen realms are a blessing in our lives, and can vastly enrich our earthly experience. Cultural practices for cultivating ties to the spirit domains vary significantly, but my takeaway is that accessing them is part of our innate capacity as human beings.
The second common theme is the central role of meaningful ceremony in building and maintaining strong communities. Annual ceremonies, rituals, and pilgrimages are vital to many people’s lives around the world. When we come together in groups with a shared goal and common intention (typically in service to a greater purpose) we create tight bonds that strengthen our sense of meaning and belonging.
The third shared theme relates to a deeper connection with nature. Honoring the bounty of the harvest, the fullness of the sun on the summer solstice, or the end of a month of fasting marked by the newly risen moon, are examples of beautiful traditions that tie people to the cycles of nature and a sense of something greater than ourselves. The reality is that we are a part of nature, and born of the elements. The cycles of birth, growth, survival, death, and decay govern our lives just as they do the rest of the natural world. Witnessing this regularly in nature helps us accept the cycles that govern our own lives, and accept the difficult moments with less resistance.
I like to share stories of things that I experienced around the world to illustrate particular points, but the heart of my work is about personal transformation. So while we may do rituals of emotional release at the river or create altars of nature art offerings as learned in South America, the focus is on heartfelt intentions, prayer and release in a way that is personal and powerful for event participants.
Given your extensive international experiences, how do you create a culturally inclusive and sensitive space at Ewassa that respects and integrates diverse perspectives on healing and spirituality?
To begin with, I warmly welcome people of all cultures and identities to participate in events, classes, or one-on-one work. I love to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and believe that we all have much to learn from each other. I encourage people to share their thoughts and experiences, and also cultivate their own wisdom. My activities and teachings are primarily inspired by nature, and therefore accessible to people with a range of beliefs.
With regards to the Brazilian tradition that has inspired much of my work, I follow the guidance and protocols of my temple in terms of what can be shared with the public and what knowledge is only accessible to initiates. While the tradition has impacted me profoundly on a personal level, I focus more on practical wisdom rather than specific cultural practices. I may periodically use healing techniques from Brazil or West Africa if I’ve found them to be highly effective and relevant to clients here, but take care to do so with respect and reverence. My main focus is on finding ways for people to connect with the intention of an event or ceremony at a deeply personal level.
With your background in both public health and energy medicine, how do you envision the future of integrative approaches that combine conventional healthcare with holistic and spiritual practices for overall well-being?
I believe that both conventional healthcare and alternative medicine have vital roles to play in our overall health. We are multidimensional beings who must attend to our bodies, emotions, thoughts, and life purpose. Conventional healthcare does a good job of meeting many of our physical needs, particularly in urgent and emergency situations. But it has struggled to effectively address more complex conditions such as chronic illnesses, autoimmune disease, persistent pain, and psychological ailments. Many of these conditions have underlying emotional or energetic origins, which can be successfully treated with energy medicine and other alternative therapies.
To move toward a more integrated approach, several shifts are needed. First, it is important for conventional medicine to recognize its limitations – there are ailments that it simply doesn’t yet understand how to heal. Second, new research into holistic therapies including energy medicine would help legitimize these ancient methodologies and tease out which conditions they can most effectively address. A research-based approach will help accelerate referrals to alternative health practitioners for more holistic care. Third, there are afflictions affecting many people today that would be better addressed at a community level, including loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Support groups, nature immersion therapy, and healing ceremonies could play an important role in addressing these issues.
Traditional cultures have a wealth of tools, insights, and rituals developed over thousands of years that could be adapted to expand the work of modern-day psychologists. Traditional elders can offer guidance to help address our need for more connection, environmental care, and sense of purpose in today’s society. Working together, I believe that it is possible to create a more harmonious and sustainable society that honors both the natural life around us and our present human needs.
