We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Barbara Denny a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Barbara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Back 2001 I became ill and was hospitalized. At one point I ‘crossed over’ but was sent back. When I was able to come home I knew there was a change in me…. a ‘shift’ of some sort but couldn’t figure out what it was. I just knew that I was now different and my life was going to change. Years later, and via the rabbit hole, I realized I had a “Shamanic Death.” This experience had not only changed my life but also opened me up to the intuition and abilities we all have, but often lay dormant in the corners of our soul. As I began to learn about Shamanism, it opened me up to a whole new world and expanded not only my mind, but my heart. I learned to journey for myself and met my Spirit Animal Guides.

My path of Druidry allowed me to easily accept and develop as I was accustomed to working with the Wheel of the Year and the Medicine Wheel. Toward the end of 2017 a wonderful woman was put in my path and I began to attend Sound Healings she and her husband put on. After many of those, watching and following her on social media and extended conversations, I began the shamanic immersion offering she was doing. This teaching began in May 2019 and continued for a year. In this immersion, we gathered in a yurt for four days every three months and I learned how to do the shamanic work for myself and for others. In October of 2020 I began my apprenticeship with her. She is Robbie Warren, Otter Woman Standing, and her teaching has changed the course of my life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As I a child I seemed to always have the ability to feel others and aid in their healing. By touching a classmate I could help relieve their aches. My ‘religious’ upbringing frowned upon this so I stopped and hid that ability. Many years later, I suffered with some of my own aches, and remembered I had this ability and started to heal myself.

I became a Certified Herbalist in April of 2001 and I continue to expand my knowledge by taking classes and learning from nature. From there I learned the art of Reflexology and Chakra Balancing. For many years I taught Herbal Classes at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont North Carolina, as well as other locations. From how to plant an herbal garden to the herbal medicine cabinet, the classes were fun and well rounded. During that time I also had a monthly column in the News & Reporter newspaper focusing on herbs, their uses and preparations.

In 2016, I became a Reiki Master and began teaching all levels of Reiki in 2017, in partnership with my Master, Richard Fiallo of Healing Today. I love teaching and passing on the wisdom and healing techniques that have been taught to me. It is funny how one interest will lead you down the rabbit hole and to other healing modalities and interests!

Since then I have trained under Sajah Popham of Evolutionary Herbalism, and other herbalists, I became certified as a Sound Healer and also work with Tuning Forks for vibrational healing. I teach many of these modalities and have incorporated them into my practice. In 2022 I received and award as a Shamanic Reiki Therapist; as my Reiki sessions focus not only on the physical healings but also on emotional and past life healings and may include cord removal, extractions or soul retrieval.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

In my area of business, reputation is the foundation of how my business was built. There is no room for dishonesty and there is sure enough of that in the alternative healing world. My philosophy is not based on the dollar, but on community. I chose to help my clients learn how to heal themselves and their families. Almost all my clients and customers for products come from referrals, and this is how I prefer to ‘advertise.’ I could and would never pass on anything that I didn’t receive from Spirit. As I tell my patrons, I am not doing the healing, I am the hollow bone that Spirit works through.

I still provide many services at no cost or reduced costs and will continue to give products to those in need, many times even if they can afford to pay. The property where my healing farm is located is a river bed that stopped flowing about 125 years ago. The abundance of rock, crystals and the high water table, provide much healing in itself. I love hearing how just driving onto the provide brings about peace and tranquility. I am honored the land allows me to reside here and take care of it so it can take care of those who come here.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

What is that saying??? If I knew then what I know now??

Yes! Not only would I chose the same path that I am on now, but I wouldn’t have stopped when I was a child. This is why I teach! I feel responsible to help reawaken the abilities in others and see them then walk a more enlightened path. What a gift this has provided me!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.serenityacresfarm.net
• Instagram: @serenityacresfarm_
• Other: Google Serenity Acres Farm

Image Credits
These are all my images