When Intuition Leads You Home

My serendipitous discovery of Pantarei Approach happened at a festival last summer. After sleeping on a tree root where our tent had been pitched for 3 nights, my spine sent me in search of a massage. A couple of hours later my friend and I had both undergone a profound physical and emotional shift, that went way deeper than our muscles. A few days later, my intuition told me to sign up to the yearlong Pantarei Approach Professional Training Program, to learn how to become a practitioner. I had never been surer of anything in my life.

As I write this, I have completed my first two modules of the Pantarei course and can confirm that my intuition was overwhelmingly right.

I first knew I had found something truly special, when I experienced the extraordinary teaching from Vered and Claudia. I was, and continue to be, in awe of their acute intelligence and unique approach to working with people; an approach that is grounded in respect, empathy and astute perception. Through Pantarei they have created an approach that makes space for people to be truly heard. This was reflected in our first module which was focused on listening, something which – after spending a week focussing on it – we realised is all too scarce in our everyday world.

Another clear sign that I was in the right place was during the process of getting to know my classmates. In week one, I found myself in a room flooded with natural light, a brightness amplified by an inspirational collection of individuals, whose ability to listen and truly see each other for who we are, blew my mind. The insights, observations and kindnesses leave a lasting imprint every time we meet.

After completing our second module, which was on communication, I had a beautiful realisation about the depth of fulfilment I would experience from becoming a practitioner. The communication at the start of a Pantarei session, allows the practitioner to understand the client’s personal journey – how they grew up, where they are in life now, how they are feeling about it and so on. With this knowledge in mind, the two of you agree on a focus or a shared intention for the second part of the session (which is the physical touch part) that can help them to make decisions in their life, bring clarity or simple further explore an emotion they are feeling .

As a trainee practitioner, I feel so alive and privileged to be able to get know someone at such a deep and profound level. Not only does this fulfil me in a spiritual capacity, but also intellectually. Through my clients, I hear direct accounts of how political, social and economic issues affect people’s daily lives, in ways I may not have considered before. This gives me an understanding of the world, far greater than my own lived experience.

In terms of my own development as a practitioner, I am beginning to feel a growing sense of confidence when I practice. I am gaining a belief that I will be able to connect with my client or classmate on a deeper level – one that will allow them to feel touched and supported through whatever challenges they are facing. Whilst I joined the school with an objective to help others, I am inevitably undergoing my own personal journey at the same time. Through the observations of my classmates and my own, deepening understanding of myself, I feel I am on the path to living a life that is reflective of my truest self. A thought that comforts and exhilarates me in equal measures and one that will hopefully benefit the people who I am lucky to cross paths with throughout my life.

If I was to sum up my Pantarei experience so far, I would say it is most similar to my relationship with music. Giving or receiving a session can often feel like dancing to a track that connects me to a deeper part of myself. An experience that helps me to process often suppressed emotions, connect with other people and express myself in a way that words sometimes fail to convey.

With four modules still to go and so much more to learn, I couldn’t be more excited to see where my Pantarei journey takes me – around the world and into rooms with people that I could never have imagined meeting, I hope!

by Milla Harkness