A healer’s power stems not from any special ability, but from maintaining the courage and awareness to embody and express the universal healing power that every human being naturally possesses.
— E. Leventhal
At heart, we all have the capacity to heal ourselves and nurture others.
Spirit, energy, thought, intention, skillful practice, and empowered belief are available to all people.
Yet, as individual expressions of the Divine, we all have different paths, and not all of us feel called to healing practices.
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So, are you called to be a spiritual healer? Let’s find out!
Table of contents
Spiritual Healing and Social Rejection
Let’s first briefly explore the ‘dark’ or difficult side of being called to be a spiritual healer.
Those of us who do feel “called” in some way to spiritual healing are often met with some resistance, either from our friends, our family members, or our culture.
This is because spiritual healing can often be frowned upon as a quasi, scientifically misguided, charlatan practice by a society that is built on the mind and ego.
While there are con artists in every practice, the genuinely beneficial aspects of spiritual healing are often ignored mainly because they can’t be quantified or reasoned with.
Unfortunately, this has led to a large percentage of us (particularly in Westernised societies) losing touch with traditional forms of healing.
In this modern world, very few of us were raised around shamans, medicine people, or traditional healers who could pass on ancient knowledge and holistic healing practices.
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Instead, as children, we were taken to GPs, physicians, and doctors who prescribed us medications and other allopathic medicines.
While some of these medications were indeed useful and helped to fix certain parts of us, they never aided us in healing our whole organism with its many layers.
Yet despite the way you were raised, you might still feel a strong pull towards spiritual healing, even if it “goes against the grain” of what you were taught or the model of healing you were raised to accept.
So, are you a spiritual healer? Let’s find out.
30 Signs You’re a Spiritual Healer
If you’re a spiritual healer, you will sense it deep down.
You might feel like an old soul who doesn’t quite belong in this time or place, an empath who feels everything too deeply, or quite simply an outsider or lone wolf who can’t seem to integrate into society properly.
On a personal level, I’ve always known in my blood and bones that I’m a healer.
As a child, I was thoughtful, inquisitive, dreamy, and extremely nurturing. I remember caring for the kids at school, caring excessively for my toys, ‘rescuing’ stranded insects that got caught in spider webs or snails about to get crushed on the pavement, and caring a whole lot about the “bigger picture” in life.
I also remember playing with energy, having precognitive dreams, being hyper-sensitive to the physical and emotional environments around me, and somehow always attracting wounded people into my life.
Spiritual healers come in many shapes and forms. For example, I fulfill my role as a spiritual healer through my writing. Other people fulfill their calling by practicing reiki, kinesiology, yoga, meditation, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, herbalism, acupuncture, EFT, and a whole range of other practices.
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Spiritual healers are shamans in their own right. They are people who allow the energy of Spirit to flow through them in a way that guides, rejuvenates, and empowers others.
The spiritual healer is also a wounded healer, meaning that by healing themselves, they also heal others. This is the best kind of education available.
Are you a spiritual healer? Here are 30 signs that I’ve compiled (some might surprise you):
- You are highly sensitive to energy.
- You feel other people’s emotions and physical ailments as your own (aka., you’re an empath).
- You’re incredibly intuitive and can ‘read’ others very easily.
- You are a “big picture” thinker (and don’t concern yourself too much with the details).
- You have gone through bouts of existential depression or existential anxiety.
- You’ve felt like an outcast for most of your life.
- You think differently from others.
- You get overwhelmed in public easily.
- You’ve struggled with anxiety or panic before.
- You’re the natural peacemaker between people.
- You’re the confidant that people turn to in times of need.
- You experience digestive issues, lower back pain, or gain weight around the stomach area (lower chakra imbalances).
- You feel drained after spending too much time around people
- Sensitive beings like animals and children gravitate towards you.
- Other people tend to “dump” their emotional baggage onto you to deal with.
- You think in shades of grey rather than in black and white.
- You’re very aware of the interconnectedness of life and deeply respect it.
- You believe in synchronicity more than coincidences.
- You have a history of healers in the family, e.g., nurses, psychologists, massage therapists, doctors, counselors, etc.
- You’ve experienced major trauma in your life, e.g., the loss of your family, a life-threatening illness, a near-death experience, physical/sexual/emotional abuse, war, mental illness, etc.
- You’ve gone through a spiritual awakening or kundalini awakening.
- You’ve experienced the dark night of the soul.
- You tend to be mostly a right-brain thinker rather than a left-brain thinker.
- You experience chronic low energy or pain in your body (e.g., chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, etc.).
- You are drawn to the archetypes of the shaman, wise man or woman, witch, wizard/warlock, and healer.
- You tend to attract people who need “fixing” but often get trapped in self-sacrificing roles.
- You’re an excellent and compassionate listener.
- You’re naturally drawn toward healing professions that help others experience balance and wholeness.
- You can feel, distinguish between, and alter the energy within and without yourself.
- You have had numerous mystical experiences.
How many signs in this list can you identify with? If you think I have missed any signs of being a spiritual healer, comment below and make a suggestion!
Spiritual Healer Q&A
Think you might be drawn toward the role of the spiritual healer but are still unsure? Here are some commonly asked questions that might help you out:
Spiritual healers come in many shapes, forms, and types. However, overall, a spiritual healer’s focus is on the non-physical realm: the Soul, Spirit, and energetic layers of a person. Most spiritual healers focus on helping a person reconnect with their Soul or Higher Self by clearing away old energy, identifying inner blockages, and channeling healing energy. Spiritual healers may choose to work with ancestral trauma, past life issues, chakra imbalances, soul loss, or anything that may be causing unhappiness, inner dis-ease, and disharmony.
There are many courses out there that can certify you and sharpen your skills as a spiritual healer. However, none of these are mandatory to becoming a spiritual healer (although, they can strengthen your skills and give you a strong theoretical/philosophical basis). Spiritual healing is an innate calling that comes from the Soul; it can’t be handed to you on a piece of paper. Many people study intensively by themselves. With that being said, formal study can help to hone these innate talents. To become a spiritual healer, focus on what subjects and topics you’re drawn to and seek out trustworthy and trained facilitators – that is your path.
Yes and no. Spiritual healing is an inborn gift. If you’re an empathic and naturally compassionate person, chances are you are a born healer. But spiritual healing doesn’t suit everyone – even those with the innate gift. To be a spiritual healer, you need to have done a lot of inner work (working through your own inner wounds), have a high level of integrity, and be a grounded person. Some people find spiritual healing too overwhelming and intense, so keep that in mind when pursuing this path.
How Can I Start Being a Spiritual Healer?
As a healer, the best possible place you could start is with yourself. As the proverb goes, “Physician, heal thyself!”
Starting from within first is the best way to ensure that you have enough energy, passion, and love to give to others. If you haven’t done the right inner work, you may struggle with issues such as:
- Low energy and chronic fatigue
- Poor personal boundaries
- Projecting your problems onto others
- Being a ‘savior’ rather than a facilitator
- Struggle to hold space
- Compassion fatigue
- Overwhelm and burnout
In the words of teacher Phil Good,
Doctos study medicine. Teachers study education. Healers study darkness.
Being a spiritual healer requires a profound, long-term, ongoing commitment to your own mental, emotional, and psychological healing (aka., working through your darkness) so that you can be a clear channel or mirror of Love for others.
There are three places to start. The first is with self-love. The second is with inner child work. And the third is with shadow work.
Here are some further guides that can support you on your journey:
I have also created a Spiritual Healer Journal specifically to help guide you on your path. If you feel called to be a spiritual healer but don’t know where to start and need a helping hand, begin here:
If you’re a sensitive, empathetic, and intuitive person who feels called to be of service to others, this journal can help you awaken the ancient wisdom within you.
The journal includes:
- 40+ journaling prompts exploring the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of spiritual healing
- Lush images with quotes
- Healing mantras
- Oracle/tarot card spreads
- Book recommendations
- 100% editable & printable format
You can download it as a permanent bonus in our Shadow & Light Membership. May it serve you well. ♡
As healer Shakti Gawain writes,
Inner Work Journal Bundle:
Ready to take your spiritual practice to new depths? Our highly-rated set of guided inner work journals leads you step-by-step through processing trauma, transmuting pain into power, and finding transformation through deep healing and self-illumination.
Spiritual healing occurs as we begin to consciously reconnect with our essential being – the wise, loving, powerful, creative entity that we are at our core.
May you reconnect with that wisdom within so that you can help others access their innate healing power.
Tell me, how many of the signs in this article can you relate to? What is the biggest struggle you’ve had as a healer, and what advice do you have to share? Please share below – you never know who you may help!
Whenever you feel the call, there are 3 ways I can help you:
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There’s so much I want to say in response to this post but I truly want to contribute to wellness in our world with my craft. It’s amazing how there’s many options to comfortably do so, such as blogging, art, becoming a speaker, reading tarot, writing a book, reiki, yoga, teaching, etc. Your blog inspires me that I can literally make a safe, magical space for others by sharing my knowledge, thoughts, journeys and creations. I’m trying however to not be dominantly online. I was raised strictly, yet I didn’t want to absorb my family’s fear of the world >_<
One of my “odd” passions is world building (which makes sense growing up as a sheltered curious artsy kid). These OCs help me make sense of the world and of myself… and honestly, it’s starting to feel like I have multiple personas as I embody a specific character to help me thrive and survive in different environments. If I dare share these feelings to my family they’re going to think I’m absolutely koo-koo, or possessed, yet, the concept would probably be their favorite Netflix show lmao.
I only had very few yet very special conversations with others who were open to know more about this “universe” of mine. Sometimes when I talk about it it makes others quite drained and lost, and feeling that makes me pretty sad because I’m so fucking passionate about it. Even my family on Facebook stopped liking my posts.
Slowly I’ve learned that I shouldn’t be bummed out that I’m not attracting EVERYONE into my orbit no matter how close. Ultimately it’s their choice whether to pursue getting to know me deeper and personally. My witchy looks and my cryptic work almost acts as a guardian of sorts, asking them “are you curious enough to explore further? Do you even dare?!” So hey, if others don’t wish to associate with me because they think I’m a “witch” seeing the future through tarot and talking about my imaginary friends, so be it lol.
As the saying goes, “you do you boo.” Be proud of yourself for having the courage to share and pursue your true interests, regardless of what others think :)
As a Reiki/Seichem hands on healer and teacher and Psychotherapist I can relate to 29 of the 30 .
My biggest struggle I had when I started out on my healing journey was my families response.
I fell for a lot of ridicule, taunting and name calling and due to my sensitivity I would become extremely upset and feel very vulnerable and misunderstood by people who were supposed to love me.
I found I pulled away and wanted to see them less for my own sense of well-being.
Some friends also became bitchy about it even though I refused to discuss it with them, their indifference hurt and I cast them aside.
That was when a door opened for me and I found like minded people entered my world.
My advice to anyone just starting out on their healing journey ? Rise above and be the person you are being called to be, for your good work will be so rewarding and others will benefit so much from what you have to offer .
Just keep going regardless and live your authentic unique life ✨️
Thank you for sharing this Helen, I so appreciate your vulnerability. It can be quite shocking to experience this sense of subtle or overt rejection and ridicule from those who are supposed to care for us. I see that it often comes from a place of insecurity on the person’s part, especially if they have conformed to a conventional path that was set out before them unquestionably. I’m glad you moved on and found new supportive folks who are affirming of your deeper life path. 💜
Thank you ❤️
You know, as someone with ADHD, and helping others with ADHD for the last 17 years now, the majority of this list could describe someone with that diagnosis with an eery accuracy.
An intriguing overlap to be sure. 🤔
Hah! On time for the journal! I am really looking forward to start working and exploring in this journal. I already saw a few journal prompts i am quite passionate about! Better get me some pen refils on hand. 🤭
Brilliant! Enjoy, Evelien 💜
Thank you so much for this! Beautiful insight. It resonated so deeply. The way you described yourself as a child, I was the exact same way… rescuing insects and talking to animals, daydreaming, “too sensitive” for the world. Reconnecting with that child has given me hope that I wasn’t born wrong, there is a bigger purpose I can’t see yet. I wish you could see how much you inspire me and help all of us “too sensitive” girls feel so seen and loved.
Thank you for this beautiful comment, Claire — it touched my heart and reminded me of why I keep doing this work after more than a decade. I appreciate your presence here and in the world. Sensitivity in this world can be a curse but also a tremendous gift when used in service of others 💜
I can relate to 90 to 95% of the signs. The one area i differ is crowds usually do not bother me.
I started a healing business last year (Reiki, Hypnosis, and Integrative Energy Healing) and the largest issue i have is finding clients and getting them to sign up. But, this is what I’d do for free, so I’m tweaking things to see how to make it work.
Thanks for sharing Steven. Social media can be a great place to connect with potential clients if you haven’t tried that route.
Do you need qualifications for spiritual healing?
In my State, you have to provide the clients a Client’s Bill of Rights for Complementary and Alternative Healing businessea, which includes your training and a list of Certificates you have. Other than suggesting to see what is required where you live, I am interested in seeing other folks thoughts on this.
I mirror what Steven says: see what is required where you live, especially if you want to pursue this as a ‘career path.’ Many healers choose to join complementary therapy associations etc., for accreditation, a code of ethics, and insurance.
Can you add me meet in person?
A real request.
I’m a little late to this comment, but I believe you’re asking whether we do in-person meet-ups. At this point we don’t, but it might be a future possibility.
I am ALL of these. My gifts started in my 20’s, I am 64 now. About 8-10 years ago, my oldest daughter and I went to a group session, led by a medium, Reiki Master, author, etc. and a friend. She went around the room and we told of our paranormal experiences, if we had any. When she got to me, i shared the many experiences ive had in my life. She told be I am a sensitive, empath. I said i can see shadows, sometimes more then a shadow. I, once in awhile, hear voices directed at me. Ive had my name called, so many things. She said I have a rainbow aura. She told me I had 5 strong men standing behind me. They said I’m supposed to be healing and why am I not doing anything with this? ARRRGGG!! I feel that my life is so messed up. I get anxiety, then depression sets in. My life hasn’t gone the way it should have. I don’t have control and it’s driving me bananas! I have always felt deep down that I should be a healer. I don’t have any idea which direction to go with this. HELP!
Hi I am a total stranger, but maybe you feel depression and anxiety because you are not following your life’s purpose. Have you ever considered that? Get into meditation and start to ask the real questions that you need answers to and start your journey. It is never too late.
Thanks for your vulnerability, Deb. The best place to start on the healing journey is with yourself first so that you will have enough groundedness and capacity to hold space for other wounded folks. Start with self-love, inner child work, and eventually shadow work – the three pillars of inner work. I hope that helps <3
I found it both a relief and a surprise, that I could relate to about 95% of the signs mentioned. But I still am not sure I am a healer. Goung through my own healing and existential crisis atm, and I WANT to feel Spirit in me, be aware of my guardian team, and know that it’s my intuition and not just my head making decisions. Second-guessing myself all the time. Any advice?
Make space for silence, stillness, and solitude. Journaling and self-reflection help tremendously. 💜