Meet Sara Atikune

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sara Atikune. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Sara, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?

Self-care is essential for me. I learned early on in adulthood how paying attention to my emotional state, energetic state, and physical state had a powerful impact on the rest of my day. On days that these things were ignored, I would very distinctly feel depleted, out of balance, depressed, and muddy in my thinking. When I had children, the need for self-care became even more evident, as one cannot effectively care for another being when in a state of depletion or imbalance. Luckily at that point, I had some tools in my kit. And now as an energy worker, it is imperative that I am in the most balanced and alert state that I can be, so I can be more effective at tuning into other people’s energy fields and assist them.

Currently, I spend time as soon as I wake up doing Qi Gong and meditation. This creates a connection and balance within my own system for the day. Sometime in the middle of the day, I do a Yoga session. This gives me the boost of energy I need in body, mind, and soul for the rest of the day. On days that I am feeling overly tired, I might lay down for a quick nap if time allows. At the end of the day, I spend a short time in bed doing a meditation to collect my energy and ground it into the earth to settle. When I take the time to tend to myself, I am easier able to see and feel more clearly the needs of my clients and my family. I am able to balance my emotions and stay in a more neutral state, rather than a reactive state. And I simply feel better about myself and the world around me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

As an energy worker, one of the most important aspects for me is helping another work through their feelings of hopelessness and despair. We start with a meditation, where the client will connect to a powerful elixir field and energy center called the lower dontien, a few inches below the belly button. The client will then send their energy down into the earth for a sense of grounding and rootedness. Slowing the breath and focusing on this area helps the client and myself to enter the internal energy systems that “run the show”. Just doing this can help to bring some relief.

While the client maintains this focus, they will simultaneously notice and feel the discomfort they are in. I then begin to scan for areas that are related to the challenge they are experiencing. Areas such as ancestral lineages, past lives, and parallel lives can be cleared. For example, perhaps someone in a past life was in a slave with shackles around their ankles. These shackles can be removed and associated emotions cleared to have a positive effect on their current life where they are perhaps feeling trapped or in servitude. Karma between people can be cleared. Sometimes there are blockages within the client’s belief systems or emotions. Those can be cleared as well. Sometimes they need strengthening of certain aspects of self. Sometimes the patterning in the subconscious is creating undesirable and uncomfortable loops in the mind. Those can be shifted as well. Sometimes there are blockages in the energetic field that can be removed. Chakra balancing is also beneficial for others. The path of healing is ultimately up to the client and their higher self, and the life lessons they have planned for themselves before incarnating on this planet.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The first skill I would say that has been the most impactful is learning how to be still in presence. This can be quite challenging in our society where doing and accomplishing are seen as more valuable. There is such power in stillness. These are the times where often the most brilliant and creative ideas come forth. This is the space in which our intuition and inner guidance can be heard. Being in presence with ourselves is where we get to know our true divine nature and who we truly are.

This next one might sound trivial, but having the courage to become aware and fully feel our feelings is quite powerful. Again in a society that tries its hardest to distract and numb from feeling, by doing so we are able to heal our wounds, move forward and become more effective in this world. By fully feeling the energy of the feelings that arise within us, we are aligning more deeply with our true self. We are able to have more compassion with those who have also suffered.

Another skill is to trust in self. There is so much information all around us at all times. It is easy to simply read this article, research that topic, or listen to a podcast about a particular subject. And while at times this can be beneficial, it is important to remember that we have an innate wisdom within us. Coming back to the self and knowing that we too, have something special to offer this world. It comes from deep within us.

Meditation is a great way to develop these skills. Or something that puts one into a meditative state. Perhaps an artist who is creating, or a hiker walking through a forest, or a dancer immersed in flow also experience this type of complete presence. Noticing the emotions that arise within us from moment to moment and sitting with them is a wonderful practice as well. Avoiding the initial impulse to pick up our phones, scroll through various information, and instead be still with ourselves even if for just a few breaths as we allow the energy of uncomfortable emotions to pass through. Watching the thoughts in our head is helpful for shutting down the doubt the begins in creep in. Stopping those thoughts and replacing them with positive self empowering thoughts of self can help to reprogram the habitual neural pathways of self-doubt.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Overwhelm used to sneak up on me when I was younger and not as aware of the state of my inner world. Sometimes it still does now, but I am able to catch it quicker. I first notice it in my body. Everything feels like it’s moving too fast inside of me. My muscles feel tight. My brain can’t organize thoughts efficiently. The words that come out of my mouth get jumbled together and sound nonsensical. My heart beats faster.

When I notice this happening, I need to slow down, close my eyes, take very long and slow breaths in and out. That is a momentary remedy. Just becoming aware of overwhelm is key, as I can then proceed with that knowledge. After that, I have an automated question in my head that I ask myself for every thing that is asked of me, whether it be doing one more task, meeting with a friend, or attending another event. That question is, “If I say yes to this, will this make me feel crazy inside?” I laugh as I write this, but it works. And by “crazy”, I mean, will my body and mind go into further overdrive if I do this particular thing. The answer is always very clear. And I follow it. Sometimes it means missing something fun. But if it means having a chance to recharge my battery, it is worth it.

Looking at things piece by piece instead of the whole big picture helps me to wrap my head around what is happening. No one ever built a building in just one quick swoop. It gets built brick by brick, one at a time. Similar to life, Baby steps are needed to complete anything. And sometimes that takes time.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.aurascaping.com