asialife HCMC 1 - AsiaLIFE Magazine

Jodie Eastwood uses a form ofhealing that taps into the universe’senergy. Muna Khan gives it a go.Photos by Huynh Ho Quang.I am somewhat apprehensiveabout the theta session I am dueto have, despite healer JodieEastwood’s calm and friendlypersona. She’s putting me at easeas we prepare for the session buthaving read up on theta healingand its claims of instant cures,there’s the skeptical part of methat’s saying run.Theta healing combinesquantum physics and metaphysicswith prayer to the universe’senergy. It is a process of changingone’s subconscious beliefsystem by altering the stateof consciousness. The healingoccurs in the theta brainwave(this is where the brain’s activityslows from active beta waves totheta levels) and the healer entersthe subconscious mind to “fix”or shift the problems they believeare buried deep.Theta healing supports fourlevels of belief explains Eastwood.First, core beliefs that welearn from our parents. Second,genetic beliefs that are teachingscarried over generations. Third,history beliefs that shed light onour past lives and finally, beliefsheld on this level are accumulatedfrom experiences and informationan individual has beenexposed to on a deeper level andcarries forward fromone incarnationto another. The healer talksto the client, accesses her brainwaves to command a healing,and identifies which beliefsystem has a problem, a bug,which they then rectify duringthe healing.I imagine what readers maybe thinking right about now: thisis hogwash. There are plenty ofnaysayers out there, certainlyon the Internet, who dissmisstheta healing as fake, its pioneerVianna Stibal as a fraud and itsfollowers as kooky. But there arejust as many testimonials frompeople who have benefittedimmensely from theta healing—Stibal who claims to have curedherself of cancer using thetahealing, which she now teachesto others.But at this point, it is yourstruly who is seated in front ofEastwood, with an open mindand hope that perhaps theta healingwill help me to quit smoking.I tell Eastwood how, despite mydesires to be healthy, I am unableto rid myself of my addiction. Iam thus surprised (even if it isobvious later on) that my addictionties into my self-esteem. Wego further into the recess of mymemory to identify where thesenegative feelings stem from.What takes me aback is how aclear-cut memory emerges—almostas if from nowhere—whichis where these feelings of selfdoubtemanate from. Eastwoodremoves these negative thoughtsto replace them with positiveones. We talk more, she askingquestions after she is in the thetawave; some make perfect sense(I am spooked how her diagnosisof a minor health issue that’sbeen nagging me is echoed bymy acupuncturist only threedays later) while others don’t.Eastwood’s aura is that of ahealer: she is warm, caring (shepaused several times during thesession to check on how I wasdoing) and doesn’t have a hintof arrogance or “know-it-all”attitude you’d find with, say, atelevangelist. She has a realisticapproach towards theta healing,and even healing in general saying“I believe everyone has theability to heal.”Eastwood has always beeninterested in the spiritual aspectof life and been a searcher but“things never fell into place untilfour years ago,” she says. During"I believe everyone hasthe ability to heal."her studies on meditation, shecame across theta healing anddecided to pursue the practicebecause it was what spoke to herthe most. “It is a mix of psychicawareness, core healing, theuniverse’s energy and ultimatelycounselling. People walk awayknowing the core of the issue.”Since she began practicingfull time earlier this year, (after ayear-and-a-half of learning andpractice) Eastwood has treatedpeople for various physicalailments like low energy, severedepression and back problems.K, who was treated for lowenergy and varicose veins saysof her healing “[Eastwood] gaveme much more than [treatmentto physical ailment], by teachingme how our thoughts createeverything in our lives, includinghealth and happiness. Now I feellike I have the freedom to createthe life I want and achieve all ofmy dreams.”Another client said of hersession “I notice that I no longerhave any forced reactions towhatever my partner or anyoneelse says or does. That is bliss!”M says “I feel light and I canfeel my heart again! I'm feelinglike a child learning again. Oldfriends I met [told me] ‘youlook so good! You look young!Amazing!”As we begin to wrap up oursession, I definitely feel invigoratedand am filled with a senseof urgency to quit smoking.Eastwood reminds me that it isan uphill battle—and she’s notreferring to my addiction butmy belief system “Letting go ishard but if you have an openmind and heart, it is possible toshift our belief system into onethat works for you”. Since then,I have significantly reduced mytobacco intake and feel more confidentabout quitting by the newyear. I also find myself questioningmy intentions in general a lotmore. I suppose my mind is opento all sorts of possibilities.Eastwood charges $60 for a 45to 60-minute session and can bereached by email at jodieastwood@gmail.com.40 asialife HCMC asialife HCMC 41