Meet Geeta Dsouza, Canvas Rebel Interview
Geeta , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)
As I work with patients over time, many bring their various woes to the treatment space and one common thematic is how to navigate making a big decision.
We don’t realize this but the modern world has us deeply conditioned us to be overly mentally or intellectually oriented- to the point of disassociating with our actual bodies. When we were living in a more interdependent relationship with Nature, we were embodied and in touch with our senses, instincts and intuition. Our bodies hold vital insights for us.
The Cartesian dualism upheld in modern medicine separates mind and body. There is no such separation between our mind and body unless we deny our body’s existence and see our minds as superior to our bodies. Many of us only acknowledge our bodies when in pain or discomfort.
Back to the situation of making a decision. What can be incredibly useful, is being able to to listen to what your body is telling you. To listen to your heart and to the subtle sensations in your body. Modern strategies often focus on meditation to quiet the mind, but again, that’s neglecting the body. Sometimes the mind gets in the way of us listening to our Higher Selves. When you are in a place of true relaxation and rest, over time, you can learn to listen to the sensations and insights beyond the mind and it’s truly one of the best skillsets to develop to inform a decision and guide you in your journey.
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?
I got in to Chinese Medicine as a patient. I was mid twenties, generally healthy but getting recurrent urinary tract infections. One rainy day, I was walking my dog and it started to rain so I ducked for cover under a small residential/commercial building and found a sign for an acupuncturist. Oddly, I felt compelled to pursue treatment and made an appointment. Up until that point, every doctor I spoke with (albeit for five minutes) was never able to offer support as to why I would keep having to get more antibiotics and antibiotics were the only tool offered.
Long story short, within a few sessions of working with Dr. Pea in Austin, Tx, I never had to take antibiotics again.. It turns out, the terrain in my body was what needed to be addressed, not just the infections which weren’t getting fully cleared. Western medicine often focuses on addressing the pathogen and has no agency with regard to healing the individual to prevent infections. The sessions also left me feeling more empowered and calm. I knew this is what I was meant to be offering to the world. I thought it was Chinese Medicine but it was really the ability to be truly present with myself and someone else. To offer a medicine that honestly does no harm and can also be considered sacred, a rare thing today.
Thankful to be doing this today and for my lifetime.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Interestingly, I think the most important knowledge for an acupuncturist in the field is doing your own inner work or awakening. As I mentioned before, being embodied and exploring one’s inner terrain is a prerequisite. Walking the walk of living consciously, being present, looking at your shadows and speaking the truth allow me to stand clear and with wisdom while helping guide others on their journey.
Yes, of course experience and ongoing training and study are also important but people remember how you make them feel. It’s clear when you are in the presence of someone who is embodied and in alignment with their authentic self.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
Absolutely not. I am so glad I found this Way.