Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nichole Ferro. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Nichole, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
I spent many years disconnected from myself and my creative flow. I always knew I was meant to do something different in this world yet my vision was so blurry and unclear. However, I was determined to create and live a life that was truly aligned for me.
The most profound way I began to overcome my creative blocks was by doing deep healing work on myself to remove all the stagnant and dense energy blocking my flow. Before I began my healing I was forcing myself to fit into society’s terms of creativity- which is sit down in front of a computer and work for 8 hours a day, ignore your body’s needs, keep grinding, and when things don’t work keep pushing. This demanded me to squeeze into an outdated, old, masculine-dominated system that just did not align with my heart’s values.
So I found another way that aligns with my body’s cycles, and my unique energy levels, and let my creative flow guide me – rather than me trying to force my creative flow.
I let go of expectations with my productivity, made intentional time for rest and space, and created structure around my creative days.
Our brain fluctuates in 3 primary brain waves; alpha, beta, and gamma. When our brain is functioning in Beta waves it is in a super powerful creative mode, motivated, inspired, and creative. This only happens about 2 days a week. Instead of trying to force myself to be creative, I tune in when the creative juices are flowing and allow myself to move with my rhythms naturally. I have found this has been a huge help in creating content and putting my work out there.
I also follow my own feminine rhythms and cycles! The fluctuations of hormones within a female cycle are changing constantly and there are certain seasons within a month that better support the function of creativity and spark the fire to produce the things that want to be shared.. And, there are specific times of this cycle that ask for rest, quiet time, more boundaries, and less doing. When I follow and honor this ebb and flow, I can generate profound material that flows out of me naturally.
This was a huge shift for me and took time, patience, and practice. I had to change my subconscious beliefs around what productivity means, shift the deep conditioning of the ways our society produces, and reconnect with my intuitive knowing.
After curating my own beliefs and flowing with my natural rhythms I began to learn how to build safety within myself and believe this is a huge component to overcoming creative blocks. This allowed me to regain a sense of trust in my unique ways of creating and producing content that aligns with me. I believe trusting in oneself is a huge superpower because it anchors you into your well of wisdom, and no one can take that from you!
Another thing that is extremely supportive in overcoming creative blocks for me is community. I surround myself with people who inspire me deeply and have created a circle of friends that align with my values. These deep and rich friendships are so important to me because they nourish my heart and soul. I can count on them to bounce ideas off of, and to share my deepest desires and longings for my work, and I trust in their honest feedback. When you surround yourself with people who not only inspire you but believe in you, it changes the game!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
It was my healing and exploration of Self that ultimately led me to this being my passion for my work and career. Through intense emotional healing and deep self-exploration, I found my way back to myself.
My healing began when I was in my early 20s and continues! I spent my earlier years lost, stuck in fear and pain, and functioning from a fight-or-flight trauma response. I lived in a rebellious state fueled by anger and self-hatred with deep-rooted insecurities. I ran with the wrong crowd and had a f debilitating fear of vulnerability. Through painful life events, I was forced to examine the wounds in my body and heart, which led me to my self-healing journey. Once I healed her relationship with myself and began to understand the workings of the human experience, I found freedom and began to experience my own embodied aliveness.
I am now dedicated to helping others reclaim their lives through holistic modalities such as Breathwork, Somatic Therapy, Shamanic Journeying, Soul Retrieval, Inner Child Work, Womb Healing, Generational Trauma Healing, Yoga, and more! I specialize in supporting others in reclaiming their authentic nature, reconnecting with themselves, and building a life they love living.
Through years of study and practice, I have learned firsthand that the healing process is not linear but more like a spiral that contracts and expands. I believe with my whole body that surrendering to the spiral process of birth, growth, death, and rebirth is crucial to deeply understanding Self and contacting your fullest potential.
My professional work focuses on normalizing the human landscape and guiding people on how to live fully embodied in their sacred human experience! I believe spirituality is not about moving up and out of the body, but rather moving down and in – so we may expand in ALL directions.
I noticed there were a lot of holes in the realm of healing, spirituality, and certain therapies, so I developed an Academy that offers trusted certification programs in various healing modalities. The Embodied Healing Academy is founded on the belief that reclaiming the body as safe and moving through life as a fully expressed, authentic, embodied being is, in fact, an art form.
There are several access points to learn to safely re-inhabit one’s body and effectively process emotions. Our mission at The Embodied Healing Academy is to offer a surplus of techniques using trauma-informed principles to help people orient back into sustainable nervous system regulation. In our programs, you will learn the tools of emotional self-awareness, self-soothing, human-centered leadership, somatic intelligence, empowered leadership, trauma healing, and so much more!
As a byproduct of this embodied healing, a greater sense of authentic self-expression and spiritual evolution becomes possible. I believe this is our birthright as human beings.
Our certifications include:
The Somatic Arts Facilitator Training
Our Somatic Facilitator Training program is carefully crafted to provide a rich learning experience that combines theoretical knowledge, experiential learning, and practical skills development. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or new to the field, our program offers a comprehensive curriculum that caters to all levels of expertise. In this certification, you learn trauma-informed techniques, somatic processing, and individual and group space-holding skills to master your craft in human-centered leadership.
The Embodied Breathwork Facilitator Training
This unique, powerful, trauma-informed Breathwork Facilitator Training Program offers a spiritual and science-based framework. You will learn various breathwork practices and other healing modalities, such as psychosomatic tools, shamanic techniques, and authentic embodiment, to support people on their journey. Whether you are a yoga teacher, therapist, health/life coach, spiritual mentor, or healer, this training will support you in developing connections to your intuition so you can support the people in your life to have bigger breakthroughs using the medicine of their breath.
Guided Meditation Facilitator Training:
Harnessing the visionary gifts of your psyche you will learn how to facilitate a variety of immersive guided visualization meditations that are incredibly effective in healing the mind, body, and soul – including shamanic, somatic, chakra, and archetypal meditation styles. Using the art of visualization filled with beautiful imagery, you will be able to take people into the wisdom of their own sacred space where they will experience deep relaxation and liberation.
The Embodied Healing Academy offers many other certifications and healing programs that suit many styles of holistic therapies and medicines.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Embarking on a healing journey that encompasses somatic work, breathwork, energy work, and spiritual growth is a transformative odyssey. Looking back, I can trace my evolution through the lens of three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have been profoundly impactful in my healing journey. In sharing these insights, I hope to offer guidance and inspiration to those who are early in their path of self-discovery and healing.
Self-Awareness: The Foundation of Healing
As I reflect on my journey, the first and most fundamental quality that stands out is self-awareness. Somatic work, breathwork, energy work, and spiritual practices all require a deep understanding of oneself. Developing this awareness allowed me to recognize patterns, triggers, and the intricate interplay between my mind, body, and spirit.
Advice for Beginners: Cultivating self-awareness is an ongoing process. Start by dedicating time each day for self-reflection. Journaling, meditation, or mindfulness practices can be invaluable tools in fostering self-awareness. Be patient with yourself, and embrace the journey of self-discovery without judgment.
Embodied Practices: Nurturing the Mind-Body Connection
Somatic work and breathwork have been pivotal in fostering a strong mind-body connection. The body holds profound wisdom, and these practices provide a gateway to accessing and releasing stored emotions and trauma. Engaging with the body as an ally in the healing process has been transformative.
Advice for Beginners: Incorporate somatic practices into your routine. Experiment with mindful movement, yoga, or body scan meditations. Pay attention to your breath; it is a powerful bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind. Regularly check in with your body, acknowledging sensations without judgment. The body’s wisdom is a guide to your healing journey.
Energetic Awareness: Tapping into the Flow of Energy
Energy work and spiritual practices have expanded my understanding beyond the physical realm. Exploring the subtle energies that surround and flow within us has allowed for a deeper connection to the universal energy. Recognizing and working with these energies has been instrumental in clearing blockages and fostering a sense of balance.
Advice for Beginners: Begin by exploring different energy modalities, such as Reiki, Qi Gong, or meditation practices that focus on energy centers (chakras). Pay attention to the energy within and around you. Trust your intuitive senses and be open to the subtle shifts in energy. As you delve deeper, you’ll find your unique resonance with different modalities.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I am feeling overwhelmed, that is a sign from my nervous system that something is not aligned and I need to pause and take a step back. This gives me space to re-evaluate and to check in with my heart and body. Then I can return to the task with a clear mind and peaceful energy. I also believe it’s important to know when it’s time to surrender and when it’s necessary to take action.
I always come back to my tools:
Breathwork – I like candle breathing- Inhale through the nose and exhale slowly out of the mouth like you’re blowing out a candle. Or if I need to shake off more I will practice my Embodied breathwork which activates the nervous system to process the overwhelming feelings. This is done lying down on the back using a 2-part inhale through the mouth and 1-part exhale out of the mouth. Another go-to I use is going outside in nature for a walk or simply lying down somewhere on the earth. This is incredibly grounding for the nervous system.
www.embodiedhealingacademy.com
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https://www.instagram.com/nicholeanne_ferro/
Contact Info:
- Website: www.embodiedhealingacademy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embodiedhealingacademy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/embodiedhealingacademy
- Youtube: Embodied Healing Academy
