Women's Health & Spirituality Radio Blog

Check out my radio series... 

Charlotte View presents Women's Health and Spirituality with Krystal Kinnunen
Are you ready to experience a new way of navigating your Life? If so, you have tune in to the right show! Do you feel like there is a greatness in you but there is something holding you back? Have you tried to rise up but old traumas keep bringing you down?
During this show, Krystal will provide refreshingly simple advice on health, transformation and ritual to all listeners and callers. Inspiration for women who are struggling with low self-esteem, and/or anxiety, and who are ready to step up and shift their consciousness to thrive, once and for all! Krystal believes in every moment as an opportunity for a miracle and a catalyst for change; in finding the light and positive in every situation; in seeing the beauty in the unseen, the esoteric, and in the mystical mysteries of life; in sisterhood and ritual as way to heal; in living a spirit-led soulful-life that is full of Grace.
In her blooming practice, Krystal supports women with healing old wounds, hurts, traumas so they can flourish as their authentic self. Cultivating high frequency attitudes, routines, and healing practices to help unlock their true potential. Creating radical self-care rituals. Encouraging daily-devoted spiritual practices. Living a holistic lifestyle.
Krystal is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist, Transformational Healer and Sacred Space Holder for women. Some call her a Modern Day Medicine Woman. Krystal is the sacred holder of mystic insights and healing wisdom. She holds a Master’s Degree in Oriental Medicine, is a Certified Kundalini Yoga and meditation instructor. She is a Reiki Master, and currently studying Peruvian Shamanism. She lives in Asheville, NC where she is raising two beautiful daughters.
Contact Krystal Kinnunen: www.KrystalKinnunen.com / (828) 301-7166 / krystal@krystalkinnunen.com

Guest Blogger for the Asheville Mothership: Acupuncture + Pregnancy

It is with great delight that I share having the honor of being a guest blogger for the Asheville Mothership! 

For thousands of years, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used to promote the health and well-being of pregnant women and their babies. Even with all of today’s technological advancements, conventional medicine is not always able to address the most common challenges experienced during pregnancy in a drug-free, non-invasive manner. Acupuncture, by restoring the smooth flow of energy throughout the body, offers a safe and relaxing way to relieve common ailments throughout pregnancy and prepare mother and baby for a safe, natural birth.

To read more click here

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Jyot’s wisdom: Beloved Elder

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A few weeks ago, Aaliyah (my 17 month old toddler)  and I had the honor of being with this beloved wise elder grandmother-Jyoti. I was deeply touched by her love and wisdom. When Aaliyah ran up to sit on her lap, Jyoti greeted her with open arms, tears welled up in my eyes and streamed down my cheeks. We were sitting in a closing community circle after experiencing her beautiful Earth Altar ceremony at Laughing Water’s Retreat Center.

I realized just how much I miss my mother and grandmother.

It came to me, that my daughters are not getting to grow up knowing their wise grandmothers from my side. Luckily this weekend, several wise and powerful women adopted us. The truth is we need our elders they carry wisdom. My grandmother raised me and taught me so much about the power of devotional prayer and being in service. Granted, she was not necessarily empowered but she was in the spiritual realm. It was refreshing to be around a tribe of wise empowered elders. It’s an honor to adopt them as our spiritual family.

Our culture has lost the knowingness of taking counsel from the elders. I humbly bow to Jyoti and the 13  Indigenous Grandmothers. Jyoti is responsible for bring these grandmother together and spreading their healing love across the world.

We must listen and awaken to our deepest hearts of love and intuition. It's whispering and nudging you... take heed now before the call is like a brick over the head. That would hurt, right?

The Great mother is calling you. She has nothing but unconditional love.

You are worthy.

The time is NOW.

It's time to come back to the wisdom of the First Nation's sacred technology of the earth. We must drop into the wisdom of our hearts and release the mind in order to bring things back into balance.

There's a lot of ego floating around- where people are expressing beliefs when the truth is we don't know anything! Jyoti says the First Nation people believe we aren't adults until we reach the age of 51.

In our culture we have cut ourselves off from our elders and the wise ones.

Grandmother Jyoti is true wisdom keeper.

I'm deeply touched by her. And I humbly bow acknowledging that I'm still a child and open myself to learning the original principles of being- the original instructions - the seed wisdom carried in the  Indigenous People as my soul and DNA awakening and activated.

Here’s a lovely interview with Jyoti where you will learn about her and wise woman ways.

 

It’s with great honor that I can now call Jyoti a mentor. When you come to me for assistance I’m connected to her wise counsel beyond myself. We need wise elder’s in our lives. We aren’t meant to do this alone. If your family isn’t able to offer you the wisdom you seek, find your tribe and adopt a mentor- a wise one. It’s time we weave back in the collaborative support of the maiden, mother, and crone (wise grandmother).

Why did I choose a snake and wings for my logo?

For far too long the snake has been misunderstood and misrepresented in our culture.

The snake has powerful medicine to teach us. To me, it represents the cycle of life, death and rebirth. It is transformational, primal energy and life force. The shedding of the skin represents letting go of the old and becoming new again.

In Kundalini yoga, the serpent represents the primal life force that resides at the base of our spine. When it rises we awaken to our true benevolent selves.

The wings connect us to the Angelic realm and represent liberation and freedom. It’s reflective of the rise of the Divine Feminine reemerging within us all. Also, the ancient symbol of the caduceus--two snakes wrapping around a staff with wings--has become a symbol of medicine in our culture.

It’s my honor to hold sacred space for your transformation and healing to occur.

I took the Healing Oath, written by the great healer Sun Simiao (581-682 AD), which states:

I promise to follow the way of the great physician. I will serve to live in harmony with nature, and teach patients to do the same.

I will stay calm and completely committed when treating disease. I will not give way to personal wishes and desires, but above all else hold and nurture a deep feeling of compassion.

I will be devoted to the task of saving the sacred spark of life in every creature that still carries it. I will strive to maintain a clear mind and be willing to hold myself to the highest standards.

It will be my duty to diagnose suffering and treat disease. I will not be boastful about my skills and not driven by greed for material things.

Above all, I will keep an open heart. As I move on the right path I will receive great happiness as a reward without asking for anything in return.

-from the text “On the Absolute Sincerity of Great Physicians” by Sun Simiao.

Trust and Surrender

I recently had this wake up call… I need to stop trying to make things happen instead allow things to unfold at an organic pace.

Surrender and Trust are my new mantras.

Lately I’ve been super active and motivated to build my business while at the same time showing up for my family like a super mom. Staying up late working on my business plans then falling into bed only to be woken up several times by my dear sweet Aaliyah who’s teething. One night my 10 year old woke up as well because she had played with the darn Ouija board at a sleepover, which scared the crap out of her. Thank goodness it scared her and she won’t wanna play with it again. One less thing for me to worry about as she enters her teen years…

I didn’t realize how hard I was pushing until I discovered a bald spot on the top my head. Hair loss is normal after giving birth but this is rather extreme. I sat with it in meditation and realized that I’ve been trying to do it all on my own… this good ole Midwestern-Southern gal works hard to make things happen – be in action mode. Take charge. Do it all! Sure I can run to the office and treat clients, come home in between and nurse my baby and start dinner and run back to office. Come home feed everyone, clean up, put baby to bed, get back up and keep working on the business. Why not? I’m a super mom. And granted I’ve gotta give my dear partner, Michael, props. He’s an amazing support and does so much around the house and helps with baby. He’s a wonderful father and so supportive.

The clarity I received is that, yes I can do it all and the most graceful way to hold it all together is by just being. Have patience. Trust that something greater than me is taking the lead and holding it all. I don’t have to hold it all or make it happen. The best way for me to practice what I preach –radical self care – is to trust and surrender. It’s all happening and it doesn’t need to be perfect. And YES I’m about to get all woo woo here. It’s time to ask yourself: How much do I truly trust something greater than me will take care of it all?

Call upon your angel support team. It’s time to let your intuition lead and guide you. In our western culture we have forgotten to truly have faith and trust. It’s time to call upon the wisdom of the tribe. Ask for help from your community, your tribe. We aren’t meant to do this all alone. We need to call upon, build and connect with our soul tribe. I’m going out of a limb writing this – I believe it to be true and crucial for our wellbeing. We all need to come together. Period. It’s time!

If you are struggling to find your community, click here:  Mastin Kipp gives 7 tips on how to find your tribe.

Surrender and trust. Surrender and trust. Surrender and trust.

Update:  My hair has fully grown back and is healthy thank goodness to Acupuncture and herbal medicine!! Yay, it really does work.