When faced with a challenge, not everyone consults a wolf for input. When making a difficult choice, not everyone convenes a council of ancestor Grandmothers. When dealing with illness, not everyone stops to hear what the body itself has to say.

In the world of sound shaman Rachel Berry, though, these things are commonplace and common sense. 

Rachel Berry, MDiv is a sound shaman and spiritual guide for souls in transformation. She is a gifted ritualist and ceremonial facilitator. She has the ability to weave together strands of ancient healing methods to speak to current needs. Herself a window for three ethics - Native American, Celtic, and Norse - Rachel sees the world in transformation, moving toward a more encompassing consciousness.

Rachel utilizes an empathic style, drawing energy from others and converting it, triggering transformation and freeing trapped power. Since childhood, she has owned an ability to hear and help people - especially ones in pain - feel noticed, understood, verified. As she'd developed expertise in shamanic disciplines, healing forms, connection with old ways of the earth, and ministry, this ability has been reinforced. Today, Rachel works at the point where spirit and matter meet and the seen and unseen converse.

Integrating ancient spiritual wisdom with modern practicality, and using some of humanity's oldest healing modes, Rachel goes beyond the traditional to offer people guidance through their challenges with conflict and uncertainty. She enters shamanic states of consciousness to access spiritual council and enlightenment, then returns and applies these awarenesses to current needs. By acting as an intermediary between the human community and a larger sense of the earth, she works to ensure these two realms are balanced and reciprocal. In the process, people recover their sense of deep purpose.

Rachel seeks to awaken inherent abilities, and urges a bringing to life gifts, passions, and dreams. She helps others recognize their place in the grand web and provides tools and practices for enhanced living. Her goal is to lead people into the ancient, primal divine, where dark and light meet, where wholeness, meaning and purpose are illuminated.

Rachel received her spirit name Runa Ruhau shortly before completing her Master in Divinity degree at New West Seminary in 2006. She is an initiated sound shaman in the Hungarian Basci tradition, a form of shamanism which uses voice and various instruments to place people in the presence of the ancient, primal divine.

Rachel's work has taken her to churches to deliver sound services; perform land blessings, naming ceremonies and house clearings; sing at the bedsides of the critically ill or those transitioning; and participating in ritual theater.

Rachel founded the shamanic sound healing troupe, Shemaya. The group of 8 tours the state, bringing sound healing to various organizations and individuals. Rachel is a community drum keeper for the Grandmother Drum Project, and is currently working on an 8808 Peace Project with Laura Merrell. She collaborates with other healers to bring sound healing into the hands of mainstream therapists and counselors.

Rachel has a private practice and sees clients regularly. Please visit her website at www.sacredimpact.com.