SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - When Joy Clemmons was in her early 30s, she found out a rare and malicious bacteria had lodged in her lungs.
Doctors told her she would never be able to have children. They also gave her two years to live.
Now in her 50s, Clemmons has two children and a thriving career as a pranic energy healer. A Missouri resident, she recently traveled to the Hindu Cultural Center in Shreveport to share a Tibetan Gong meditation and healing ceremony with almost three dozen members of the community.
“This saved my life,” she said. “I do this because I want others to experience health and healing.”
The bacteria in Clemmons’ lungs marked a single moment in a series of illnesses.
Clemmons was born without Immunoglobin A - or IGA, a needed antibody for a healthy immune system. She also was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestines.
As a result, she was frequently, and severely, ill as a child and throughout her adult life.
Clemmons sees her routine dances with sickness as a catalyst for her “hero’s journey” - a term coined by author Joseph Campbell to describe a person’s quest through life to find purpose or do great things for others.
“Every person has their hero’s journey, so to speak. I’ve been on death’s door several times,” she said. “I am my best model of what we can do when we take care of ourselves. Sound is part of what I do daily.”
When Clemmons went to see her doctor about the bacteria in her lungs, she happened across a woman doing five-minute “energy massages” and decided to try one. She instantly felt better.
The woman told her the massage used energy to heal. Fascinated, Clemmons committed to learning more about “prana” - a Sanskrit word for “life force” or energy - and energy work.
“Energy is everything. When atoms are not balanced and vibrating at the right frequency, you have dis-ease,” Clemmons said. “Stress, anger and sadness break down the immune system. Sound is part of what I do daily to counterbalance that.”
The journey to become a pranic healer took her to India in 2008, a year after her organs “started shutting down,” Clemmons said. While in India, she first encountered the healing power of Tibetan bowl and gong energy work.
Clemmons no longer needs to take mountains of medications for her medical conditions, and she has lived more than 20 years beyond her doctor’s diagnosis.
“My life is full of miracles. Energy is everything,” she said.
Clemmons recently traveled to the Hindu Temple in Shreveport with a crystal worker, Lucas Mayes, to lead the community in a celebration ceremony of the Winter Solstice.
The Winter Solstice, celebrated this year on Dec. 21, marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Several religious traditions view the day as a time to reflect, release what needs letting go and sow seeds of intention for the upcoming year.
“This is a special time of year. It’s the end of 2016,” Clemmons said. “It’s the Winter Solstice, the time to embrace the dark side of ourselves with love. I wanted to commemorate the event.”
Along with dozens of small Tibetan “singing bowls,” Clemmons brought three “Planetary Gongs” - large disc-like gongs that hung suspended from wooden supports and are said to vibrate to the specific frequency of the planets in the solar system.
The three planetary gongs were called Nivuru, Chiron and Jupiter, and the deep, resonant sound they produced was meant to tune listeners into restoration, compassion and wisdom, and abundance and optimism.
“People have had miracles with their own health. They sense life flowing through them in a harmonious way,” Clemmons said. “It gives them a space to deal with things without the pain they are accustomed to.”
The crystal grid, which included several large circular crystals aligned with smaller, shard-like crystals, helped create a safe space for those meditating to explore their own depths. Mayes said certain of the crystals, such as rose quartz, would also help those meditating help center on loving themselves.
“I see the work we’re doing as beneficial. The work is from the heart, working to pull people from the misery of their minds,” Mayes said. “The more we do our events, the more we heal the land. It’s here if you want it.”
Many of those who attended the meditation said they entered a clearer state of mind and would love to repeat the experience.
“It feels good. It’s a sense of renewing,” said Tia McKoin, a Shreveport resident who attended the event. “We’re fortunate she came to share this with us.”
Cheryl Hagar, also a resident of Shreveport, said the Winter Solstice ceremony was her fourth meditation with Clemmons. Hagar said she’s learned from the gongs that she doesn’t need to travel far, or find a guru, in order to heal.
“The sacred is everywhere. You just have to let it in,” Hagar said. “I’ve been working on some issues this past year. I keep coming back because I feel my energy is lifting and vibrating at a higher frequency when I’m around these instruments.”
Manohar Manchandia, who invited the pranic healers to his temple, said he welcomes any opportunity to offer meditation to the community.
“I love meditation,” Manchandia said. “It’s important that everyone take some time to meditate. People feel better when they come to the services.”
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Information from: The Times, https://www.shreveporttimes.com
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