In a world where pain and trauma often seem insurmountable, there are those who find a way to turn their suffering into a message of hope and healing. In a recent episode of The Sweetest Little Life, we sat down with Maria Teresa Pratico-Swanson, a shamanic healer, channeled poet, and mentor, who shared her powerful story of transformation from darkness to light. This blog post explores the profound insights from our conversation, shedding light on the path of spiritual awakening, healing from trauma, and embracing one’s divine purpose.
The Awakening: From Trauma to Purpose
Maria describes her life as one filled with heightened sensory experiences—where every feeling and emotion was magnified. However, the trials of life, including abuse and trauma, dulled that heightened state, forcing her to navigate the gears of her human existence through hardship and pain. But instead of letting her experiences break her, she transmuted them into power.
Now, Maria uses her story to guide others toward healing. She reminds us that no matter how deep the wound, there is always a path forward.
“Healing is indeed possible.”
But what was the turning point? When did she decide to transform her pain into a message?
Maria shares that in 2011, she reached the lowest point in her life, attempting to take her own life. This was the wake-up call—the moment where she realized that she wanted out of life, but life, in return, showed her the light of hope. That was the beginning of everything for her, and she has never looked back since.
“Everything is temporary. If we can just stick with it long enough, things change. As does life.”
The Reality of Spiritual Awakening
One of the most striking moments in our conversation was the discussion about spiritual awakenings. There is a misconception that awakenings are serene, effortless transitions into higher consciousness. The reality is often messy, painful, and deeply transformative.
“Awakening is messy, just like relationships are messy. And the messiest one is the one with ourselves.”
Maria shares how, during her own awakening, she felt like she was losing her mind. This is a common experience—when deep-seated trauma surfaces, the unearthing can feel chaotic. However, she emphasizes that awakening is not just about confronting ancestral trauma but also embracing ancestral gifts.
Her spiritual awakening led her to shamanic healing, guiding others through their paths of self-discovery. It was through facing her deepest wounds—childhood abuse, personal struggles, and self-doubt—that she found her true calling.
“The first time I dropped into a session, I was like, ‘Oh, I have done this before.’ I understood why my life had been confusing, why I wrote poetry, and why I felt things so deeply. Everything was divinely given to me by my ancestors.”
Navigating the Path of Healing
For those currently in their awakening and feeling lost, Maria offers wisdom:
- Trust that what is meant for you will never pass you by. Life will involve wrong turns, but each misstep is an opportunity to learn and grow.
- Invest in yourself. Self-love and self-care are the most valuable investments.
- Understand that healing is a journey. It takes time, patience, and a willingness to go deep into the shadows to bring forth the light.
Her teachings are rooted in shamanism, guiding individuals through tailored mentorship programs designed to help them reconnect with their intuition, face their shadows, and transform pain into medicine.
“Your medicine lies within the shadows.”
The Power of Creative Expression
A vital part of Maria’s healing journey has been creative expression. Writing poetry, dancing, singing, and even channeling light language have all been ways she taps into her soul’s energy. She explains how light language—a divine, energetic form of communication—came to her spontaneously on the beach one day. Now, she incorporates it into her work, helping others activate their own gifts.
“Light language is the language of your soul. It arrives when it’s meant to arrive.”
Beyond light language, she also emphasizes the importance of embracing individuality. Too often, people conform to societal rules and expectations. But true healing and awakening come from embracing one’s uniqueness and coloring outside the lines.
“I live life as a rainbow unicorn. I am very colorful, and I do things in a different way. For me, spiritual awakening was embracing all of that.”
Grounding: The Key to Balance & Spiritual Awakening
A crucial takeaway from our conversation was the importance of grounding. Many individuals in the spiritual community focus on upper chakras—on enlightenment, intuition, and higher realms—without anchoring themselves in the physical world. This often leads to burnout and exhaustion.
Maria experienced this firsthand, learning the hard way that grounding is essential for maintaining spiritual and emotional well-being. She shares her personal grounding practices, including:
- Conscious breathwork
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Sound frequency healing
- Spending time in nature
- Embracing silence through earplugs and stillness
“If you are not staying in alignment, nothing will stick. It’s all just going to fly out. That’s why so many spiritual people come across as flighty. Grounding is so, so important.”
Embracing Your Authentic Self
Perhaps one of the most inspiring messages from this conversation was the reminder to take up space unapologetically. For those who have experienced trauma, standing fully in their power can feel uncomfortable. But healing requires stepping into your true self, without fear or shame.
“It has taken years of practice, but now I am fully me. I don’t place myself in environments where I can’t be my authentic self. I don’t do surface relationships. I don’t do corporate settings. I am careful with where I put myself.”
A Final Word of Encouragement
For anyone reading this and feeling lost, uncertain, or deep in the throes of an awakening, know this: you are not alone. Healing is a journey, and every experience—good or bad—serves a purpose in your growth. Keep going. Keep trusting. Keep embracing your divine light.
As Maria beautifully said:
“If you are reading this, if you are hearing this, you are meant to. Everything arrives when it’s meant to. You are exactly where you need to be.”
For those looking to connect with Maria Teresa Pratico-Swanson for mentorship, healing sessions, or simply to follow her journey, she is active on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and runs a blog, Emotional Musings. She welcomes direct messages and encourages anyone in need of guidance to reach out.
Healing is possible. And you are not alone on this journey.
About Maria: Maria Teresa Pratico-Swanson is a woman walking the journey of life guided by the healing power of love. Maria is a practicing master shamanic healer and under the brand Emotional Musings, she conducts healing sessions in person and long distance all over the world. The poetry she channels is meant to inspire others on their own personal healing journeys and stands as a testimony of truth by her motto, “Triumphing over Trauma”. Ms. Pratico has successfully overcome trauma and abuse, an addiction to drugs and alcohol and an eating disorder. She speaks to audiences of all ages and backgrounds as a spoken word artist and a motivational speaker. Her work in personal development and self-help can serve anyone on the spiritual path to a higher consciousness and enlightenment of the heart and soul. Maria is well versed in holistic health and understands the importance of obtaining and maintaining the mind, body and spirit connection.
Connect with Maria: https://emotionalmusings.com/
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