Mary Shields, Ph.D.
When I healed from fibromyalgia, I wanted to help other people do the same. Some of my first clients were people with fibromyalgia who are now also completely healed. Then I started realizing how much I could be of service to others.
My path to spiritual awakening and becoming a healer has taken many turns. In-depth spiritual work in many traditions – experiential as well as academic – has led me to where I am today.
My academic and practical qualifications cover a broad range. My BA was in Elementary and Christian Education, with a minor in Music, and I taught second grade for a year before pursuing and completing a Master of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary. My Ph.D. in Hebrew Scriptures is from Emory University. Along the way, I received training and experience in spiritual direction and pastoral care: both clinical and non-clinical.
Equally broad are my healing certifications: I have been a Reiki Master/Teacher since 2002, and hold the most advanced certifications in the BodyTalk System, both as an instructor and practitioner. I was an Access Consciousness™ Bars facilitator for several years. I also use SourcePoint therapy extensively in my sessions.
My most influential guide and teacher, Ed Rothwell, has also passed on his broad background in many spiritual traditions, including his experiential work with the Good Medicine Society, and “Windrider” (Lydia Gomez), a Mayan-Aztec Medicine woman. I have truly followed the path of the Wounded Healer: in being healed myself, I am able to heal. And now my greatest joy is being in service to others. Due to this work, I hold a strong space for my clients who are doing their own Wounded Healer work.
I have been in healing practice since 2002, and have both in-person and long-distance clients from all over the globe. I’m also a born teacher and have been teaching in various guises since high school. With two college education degrees, I was blessed to be put into teaching roles while still in seminary; I began teaching my own courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels after my first year in grad school. That led to a two-year teaching and research fellowship at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, which also gave me the opportunity to become acquainted with Celtic spirituality, and afforded me the opportunity to develop my preaching and speaking gifts.
In addition, I held two academic positions, one at the undergraduate level in which I taught comparative religions, and the other at the graduate level, where I was able to focus on my field of Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament. While in academia, I wrote a book, many articles, and spoke internationally. My academic focus was feminist biblical interpretation, which led me into the exploration of Goddess traditions, and a passion for work with the Divine Feminine. This, in turn, was expanded through the study of Celtic Spirituality, which is very inclusive of the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine. During my fifteen+ years of academic experience, I taught more than a thousand students both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Since I’ve been self-employed as a healer, I’ve taught more than two hundred workshops varying in length between 1 and 4 1/2 days. The thousands of students I have had the honor to work with come from very diverse backgrounds, and bring a wide variety of challenges and experiences.
Ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1991, my ministry has never been traditional. Through my academic positions, I was first recognized as a “doctor in the church.” While this was fulfilling, in 2008 I gave up tenure to follow my calling to healing ministry. Since then, my healing work is validated as a “specialized ministry.” I build bridges between the church and other spiritual traditions and complementary medicine.
My work has shown me that there is a spiritual root to all dis-ease. By uncovering and working with the spiritual root, full healing can occur. True healing has to be done on the heart level and not (just) on the head level. My passion lies in working with the Language of the Heart and Body.
I am also a musician and love most kinds of music, everything from Renaissance to traditional classical, to folk, to R&B to jazz, and pop. I am a Pentatonix fan. This brings me full circle. For a few years I was in a sacred drumming group; I am bringing singing, drumming and other forms of music into my healing and teaching work.
I follow my own spiritual path at a deep level. I’m a lifelong learner. And I love to laugh and have fun, even with the hard stuff.
A true Sagittarian, I love to travel and experience different cultures and people. The more ancient the sites, the better – I am fascinated by Stone Circles, and, when standing in the center, felt their healing power long before I thought about being a healer.
Some other interesting tidbits about me: I love contra dancing, eating various international cuisines (Indian and Thai are my current favorites), playing card games, and reading. I also love the ocean and must get to it regularly.
Thank you for your generosity of spirit, the integrity of the work/play, holding sacred space, and the deep respect for each and every individual. I had sought such guidance forever. I am in awe of how Spirit animates you. I am very aware of the hours and love you put into this co-creation. My gratitude goes way beyond language but all I know is Thank you! You are inspiration.
It is wonderful to work with someone who integrates the emotional and spiritual aspects of being rather seamlessly. I have learned so much from you and look forward to future classes.
Would you like to host a class in your area?
I am looking for some motivated, heart-guided individuals to work with. I’m looking for coordinators to help bring my healing workshops to interested communities around the US and Canada, and further!
I’m looking to create and nourish strong relationships that will be mutually beneficial for you, for me, and for the students advancing their own healing and that of their clients.
If you are interested in bringing a class to your area, click the button below for more information on the benefits of coordinating, as well as the coordinator application form.
If you're ready to jump in:
Get Centered With My Free Audio Meditation
This free audio will help you feel grounded and centered right away.
You can listen to it at the beginning of your day, before a difficult conversation, as you go to bed, or any other time you need it.