Welcome, to Health & Wellbeing Magazine’s Spirit Keeper monthly column. This is the place where you will discover tips and practices for creating, developing and maintaining a personalised self-care practice as a Spirit Keeper.

Since July 2024 I have been writing about self-care exercises (rituals) which are spirit centred, mind centred and body centred. As we enter the third year of this column, I am going to shift the focus to the development of specific characteristics using mindfulness techniques and rituals. A Spirit Keeper has characteristics which can be described as soulful, spiritual, mindful and masterful. A true integration between mind, body, spirit and soul.

These characteristics are mastered and embodied through reflective inner work and practice in the outer world. I will be using the chakras as a guide. By learning to embrace the positive and negative archetypal force of the characteristic, one can walk the middle road and have one foot in the world of spirit, and one firmly planted on Mother Earth. As Gregg Braden describes it, walking between the worlds.

The specific characteristics are:

• Self-reliance
• Self-Care
• Self-Worth
• Self-Appreciation
• Self-Expression
• Self-Exploration
• Selflessness

These characteristics to me are sovereign powers which form the backbone to the personality of a Spirit Keeper. One of the principles of moving from the wounded healer to the integrated healer is to come from a place of personal integrity. One needs to be walking the talk and talking the walk. What Ghandi referred to as ‘becoming the change you wish to see in the world’.

This month, July 2026, I will focus on the characteristic of self-reliance and how this can be developed as a key characteristic of being a healing facilitator and Spirit Keeper.

Metaphorical Story : The Qualities of Self-Reliance

The air grew thin and sweet as Yasmina ascended the Path of Whispers. Beneath her boots, the earth felt ancient, and the rustle of silver birch leaves sounded like a thousand soft voices guiding her upward to the forest glade where Sage Dhrona and Mother Sela dwelled. As she crested onto a small ridge half-way up the mountain side, the mountain opened into a vibrant glade.

Towering oaks stood as silent sentinels alongside fragrant pines, their shadows dancing over a carpet of wild summer flowers – columbine, foxglove, and yarrow – and which hummed with the songs of hidden birds. In the centre of this sanctuary sat a fire pit, encircled by four massive stones cloaked in emerald moss.

Sage Dhrona was tending the hearth; his movements deliberate and steady. Mother Sela sat upon a mossy stone, her eyes reflecting the dappled sunlight.

“You seek the marrow of the healer’s life, Yasmina,” Mother Sela said, gesturing for her to sit. “You seek to know the path of self-reliance.”

The Foundation: The Root & the Well

Sage Dhrona handed Yasmina a smooth, heavy river stone. “A spirit keeper must first secure their own ground. Look at the mountain. It does not ask the clouds for permission to stand. To be self-reliant is to master your own physiology and safety; to provide for your own bread and your own peace.”

“If you do not own your rhythm,” Mother Sela added, “the world will own it for you. When you provide for yourself financially and physically, your healing work remains pure. You are not a beggar for external happiness; you are a well which draws from its own deep spring.”

The Analogies of the Forest

Sage Dhrona tossed a handful of dried cedar into the fire and in his deep melodic voice said to Yasmina, “To walk this path, you must embody the characteristics of the wild.”

Taking Initiative: The First Sprout

“The forest does not wait for a gardener,” Dhrona said. “A self-reliant soul is like the first sprout after a fire. You must be proactive, identifying opportunities to heal and create before you are asked. You do not wait for a leader; you become the movement.”

Adaptability: The Willow & the Gale

Mother Sela pointed to a willow near the stream. “See how she bends? That is agility. When the winds of the world shift, the self-reliant healer doesn’t break. You pivot. You find new paths when the old ones are blocked by fallen timber. This resilience is your shield.”

Trusting Instincts: The Owl’s Sight

“Others will offer you a thousand compasses,” Dhrona warned. “But you must trust your own instincts. Like the owl in the dark, you will need to make decisions based on your own internal assessment. External validation is often just like a flickering candle; your intuition is steadier like the moon and its cycles.”

Resourcefulness: The Weaver’s Art

Mother Sela picked up a fallen bird’s nest. “Look at this. Mud, straw, moss and fur. This is resourcefulness. A self-reliant spirit keeper uses what is at hand to weave a solution. You do not lament what you lack; you innovate with what you have.”

The Inner Architecture

“As you develop these qualities,” Mother Sela continued, “your self-understanding deepens. This fulfils the command of Know Thyself. You learn your strengths and your weaknesses contribute towards developing skills which enable you to survive and feel safe. You stop fearing the cracks of your daily life because you have learned to develop a growth mindset. You know that every challenge is merely a whetstone to sharpen your soul.”

Dhrona stood, his presence commanding yet kind. “This leads to leading your ship, or what can be termed leadership. Not the kind that demands followers, but the kind that inspires others to find their own feet. It takes courage and determination to stand alone until others are ready to walk beside you.”

The Blessing of Autonomy

As the sun began to dip behind the mountain, the glade glowed with a golden hue. Yasmina felt a shift within herself and a cooling of anxiety and a warming of resolve.

“Self-reliance,” Mother Sela whispered, “empowers you to adapt to the shifting dynamics of life. It reduces your dependence on the whims of the market or the moods of the crowd. You are now the architect of your own sanctuary and life.”

Yasmina looked at her hands, then at the moss-covered stones. She realised and recognised by cultivating these values, she wasn’t just becoming a better healer; she was becoming a sovereign human being. She stood, thanked the elders, and began her descent down the Path of Whispers, her footsteps heavier with purpose and lighter with the freedom of knowing she carried everything she needed within to survive daily living on Mother Earth.

Each soul descends to Mother Earth on a quest for expansion and wisdom. Yet, when we fail to remain embodied and grounded, we lose our centre and drift away from our true alignment. Without that internal anchor, life can feel less like a journey and more like being locked in a cage; leaving us at the mercy of socio-political and economic tides which threaten to erode our autonomy. These systems are designed to drain the very essence of our sovereign power: the profound truth that we are, first and foremost, spiritual beings navigating a human experience.

The chakra system acts a wonderful guide for working through the key commands of Know, Love, Heal and Free Yourself. They are also a useful guide for reflective inner work when it comes to acknowledging the archetypal forces which exist within your own mind, body and spirit.

To move from the energy of the Victim archetype (who feels at the mercy of external forces) to the Mother archetype (who provides, nourishes, and sustains the self), we can work with the Root Chakra (Muladhara). The gift of the root chakra is self-reliance. This energy centre is the seat of our physical identity, stability, and “groundedness.” It is the chakra which helps you provide for your physiological needs and feelings of safety.

In the spirit of Yasmina’s journey to learn about self-reliance, here are some mindfulness techniques to begin your own inner journey to transmute these energies into the sovereign power of self-reliance.

The “Stone to Soil” Grounding (Physiological Safety)

Victim energy often makes one feel like one is floating or being tossed by the wind (i.e. ungrounded). To embody the self-reliant Mother energy, you must anchor your physiology to Mother Earth.

• The Practice: Stand barefoot on the earth or a nice piece of grass. Imagine red roots extending from the soles of your feet, passing through the “ground” and deep into Mother Earth’s core.
• The Mindfulness Shift: As you breathe, say internally: “I am my own source of safety. My body is a secure home for my Soul.”
• Self-Reliance Link: This practice helps to settle the nervous system, allowing you to move from panic-based reactions to resourcefulness.

The Fire Pit Inventory (Self-Understanding – Emotional Safety)

Just as Sage Dhrona tended the hearth, you must tend to your internal resources. The Mother archetype knows exactly what is in her pantry; whereas the Victim feels they have “nothing” and constantly envies the success of others who are self-reliant.

• The Practice: Sit in meditation and visualise the four mossy stones around your internal fire. Assign one “Resource” to each stone, for example: Financial, Physical, Emotional, and Intuitional.
• The Mindfulness Shift: Honestly assess each resource stone. Where are you leaning on others too heavily? Where are you already strong?
• Self-Reliance Link: This fosters self-understanding and a learning and growth mindset by identifying exactly where you need to “take initiative” to fortify your life.

The “Boundary Breath” (Trusting Instincts & Intuition)

The Mother archetype protects her personal space, whereas the Victim archetype allows their personal space to be invaded. Self-reliance requires the courage to say “no.”

• The Practice: While inhaling, visualise a vibrant red sphere of light expanding from the base of your spine to about an arm’s length around you.
• The Mindfulness Shift: On the exhale, chant the seed sound of the Root Chakra: LAM. Feel the vibration creating a solid “wall” of personal integrity.
• Self-Reliance Link: This practice helps to build inner confidence. It trains your spirit to recognise where you end and where the world begins, reducing your dependence on external validation.

The “Pivot” Walk (Adaptability & Agility)

The Victim archetypal energy gets stuck in “why is this happening to me?” Self-reliant energy of the Mother archetype asks, “where do I go from here?”

• The Practice: Practice a “Mindful Walk.” Every few minutes, intentionally change your pace, direction, or even the way your foot hits the ground.
• The Mindfulness Shift: When you change direction, mentally note: “I am the architect of my path. I pivot with grace.”
• Self-Reliance Link: This physically conditions the brain for adaptability and agility, proving to yourself you can find a new way forward when the old path is blocked.

Rapid Sensory Learning: The “Red Tree Breathing” Technique

Find a comfortable seated position or stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Imagine your spine as the sturdy trunk of an ancient tree.

Auditory: The “LAM” Resonance

• The Sound: The seed mantra for the root chakra is “LAM” (pronounced like “L-ahm”).
• The Vibration: Take a deep breath and chant the sound slowly on the exhale. Focus on making the “M” sound vibrate specifically in your lower pelvis and feet.

The Effect: If you prefer silence, imagine the low, steady hum of a heavy bell or the deep thrum of the earth itself. Let this sound drown out the “noise” of external socio-economic stressors.

Visual: The Crimson Roots

• The Visualisation: Close your eyes and visualise a glowing, deep ruby-red light at the very base of your spine.
• The Expansion: With every exhale, imagine this red light transforming into thick, powerful roots. Watch them travel through the floor, through the soil, and deep into the bedrock of the planet.
• The Alignment: Picture a straight line of white light running from the crown of your head down through that red centre, aligning your head, heart, and hips in one vertical pillar of strength.

Kinaesthetic: The Weight of the Earth

• The Action: Slowly shift your weight from side to side, then front to back, until you find your exact centre.
• The Sensation: Press your feet (or sit-bones) firmly into the floor. Feel the resistance of the ground pushing back against you.
• The Physical Anchor: Clench your toes and calves for three seconds, then release. As you release, imagine your physical weight “dropping” several inches deeper into the earth, anchoring you firmly in your body.

Integration Practice:

Perform these three steps simultaneously for three to five minutes. At the end of the practice take three deep breaths.

The Affirmation: As you feel the weight, see the red roots, and hear the vibration, mentally state: “I am safe, I am grounded, and I possess the sovereign power to navigate this world.”

Summary of the Archetypal Shift towards Self-Reliance

Self-Reliance & The Business of Healing

In the “business of healing”, whether you are a therapist, energy worker, or holistic coach, self-reliance is the bridge between spiritual intention and earthly sustainability. While healing work itself is often intuitive, the “business” side requires a grounded, sovereign autonomy to prevent the “drain” of external systems. Here is how self-reliance manifests across the core operational pillars of the business of healing:

Financial Sovereignty (Banking & Invoicing):

Self-reliance here means moving from “money shame” to financial literacy.

• The Manifestation: Instead of avoiding the numbers, a self-reliant healer views their bank account as a pulse check on their energy exchange. They set up automated invoicing to ensure their time is respected, removing the “awkwardness” of asking for payment.
• The Grounding: You recognise clear financial boundaries (like late fees or upfront deposits) aren’t “un-spiritual”, they are an act of self-preservation which keeps your practice from being at the mercy of a fluctuating economy.

Authentic Authority (Marketing & Sales):

In the business of healing, marketing is often where people feel most vulnerable. Self-reliance shifts the focus from “seeking approval” to broadcasting factual information and personal perception.

• The Manifestation: You don’t wait for a viral trend or a marketing “guru” to tell you what to say. You rely on your own lived experience and results to create content.
• The Grounding: Sales becomes an invitation rather than a plea. When you are self-reliant, you aren’t desperate for a client to say “yes” to validate your worth; you know your value, which paradoxically makes you more attractive to the right souls.

Structural Integrity (Stock Management & Logistics):

For those who sell physical tools (oils, crystals, herbs, or books), self-reliance shows up as stewardship.

• The Manifestation: You develop an internal system for tracking inventory that doesn’t rely on “luck.” You anticipate needs before they become emergencies.
• The Grounding: By staying ahead of your stock and supply chain, you ensure that your “human experience” (the physical business) is organised enough to support your “spiritual experience” (the healing work) without the stress of scarcity.

Systemic Independence (Socio-Political-Economic Resilience):

This is where your original thought about “sovereign power” truly lands.

• The Manifestation: A self-reliant healer builds a “diversified ecosystem.” They might use decentralised platforms or local community networks rather than relying solely on a single social media algorithm or one banking institution.
• The Grounding: You create your own “micro-economy” where your value is determined by the transformation you provide, not by the whims of a volatile stock market or changing government policies.

Summary: The Self-Reliant Healing Facilitator & Spirit Keeper

The Sovereign Shift: Self-reliance in the business of healing means you are no longer a “victim” of the marketplace, but a conscious architect within it.

Summary & Conclusion

A final thought: by working with the Root Chakra, you are not just “thinking” about self-reliance; you are weaving it into your mind, body and spirit. Like the oak trees in Sage Dhrona and Mother Sela’s mountain woodland glade, you become a being which provides its own shade.

Next month…

August 2026 I will be focusing on the characteristic of self-care and its qualities as a healing facilitator and Spirit Keeper.

Until next month. From one kindred spirit to another – be safe, be well, be authentically you.

In gratitude

Kathleen

All images by Kathleen Ginn