Meet Meagan Smith of Golden Lotus Healing Arts in Arlington

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meagan Smith.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Meagan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My journey to practicing acupuncture and herbal medicine was not a direct route. As a young person growing up in the Seacoast of NH I always knew I wanted to do healing work in the world, but I thought it would take the form of social justice and human rights activism – perhaps law or non -profit or grassroots movement organizing. In pursuit of these dreams to change the world, I got a degree in Spanish language and philosophy and soon after graduating I moved to Ecuador to volunteer at a women’s rights organization, CEPAM, as well as work as a legal advocate for asylum seekers. After a year abroad, I had a fateful opportunity to move to Cambridge MA and on a whim I decided to take it. At the time, my life was doing a 180 and everything I thought I had been working toward slowly slipped out of my hands – the economy had crashed and in the summer of 2008 I couldn’t find a full time job in the non-profit sector or anything that interested me so I started to think about where my life was going and what to do.

I thought back to my experience receiving acupuncture before leaving for Ecuador. I had gone to an acupuncturist for 6-8 months to help with my mood, motivation and for clarity. I really had no idea what to expect when I first went but the experience was profound. I began to think about pursing it as a career myself. Low and behold when I did research on Acupuncture schools in the US, the only school in New England was a town over from where I had moved to! It all felt very fated. Soon after discovering the school I went to an open house to learn about what it would take and in 2010 I decided to dive in. I studied at the New England School of Acupuncture and graduated in the summer of 2013. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made! The holistic approach to medicine and its ability to conceptualize and treat the multi-dimensional nature of human existence really spoke to me. It wasn’t just about healing people’s physical pain, it was about helping people evolve and come to know themselves in such a way that they could live in peace, pursue their dreams and be free of mental, emotional and spiritual suffering.

I have now been practicing Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine for 5 years. When I first started I worked at a wellness center known as KenkoDo in Somerville. It was there that I got to know myself as a healer and practitioner of Chinese medicine. Over the years I developed the identity Golden Lotus Healing Arts and in January of this year I finally began my own business with the same name in Arlington MA!

Becoming an independent business owner has been extremely empowering and even with all the risk involved it makes my heart sing every day knowing I get to spend my days helping heal and guide others on the path to becoming the most healthy version of themselves.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road! Part of my healing nature is found in my interest in cosmology and astrology. I have been studying and following the cosmic dimension since I was 19, I am 36 now, and along this journey of getting to know the planetary patterns and cycles I have seen all the ways in which life is not smooth. I am a Capricorn and my ruling planet is Saturn, the keeper of time and the ruler of karmic law. It is meant to be a leader of people but it can often get lost in its own pessimism and miserly nature. The world can be a dark place, look at everything happening now! This darkness can close in on your sometimes and you can get in your own way, you can be distracted from your purpose and stray from what you know is best for you. On this cosmic and karmic road to get to know myself, especially as a healer, I’ve had to trudge through the darkness of my own soul and to get familiar with the shadows. I’ve been through unhealthy relationships, repeated disappointments, estrangements from family and yet I’ve always come back to center, I’ve always stayed in touch with the light inside and been guided by something greater than me. This deep knowing that I’m truly here to bring light and love to this planet. To bring light and love to my own existence and from there that light can shine out.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Golden Lotus Healing Arts – what should we know?
Golden Lotus Healing Arts embodies my identity as a healer. The symbolism of the Lotus rising from the mud to bloom so beautifully, represents that movement from the darkness to the light. Helping people evolve, to live healthier and more fulfilling lives because they are more at peace, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The holistic nature of Chinese Medicine allows me to weave together nutrition, bodywork, acupuncture, herbs, as well as emotional and spiritual guidance all in one session. I am also an astrologer which sets me apart – I refer to my work with astrology and cosmology as spirit medicine because it allows me to bring in the dimension of purpose. At the heart of Chinese Medicine and astrology is the knowing that humans need to follow their purpose in life in order to lead a healthy and happy existence. Golden Lotus Healing Arts is the place where I can bring together these two complimentary worlds and offer a truly balanced approach to health and wellness. To relieve your pain but also remind you who you are. To soften your anxiety and depression but allow you to get in touch with what those emotions are showing you about yourself. To truly fuse together and provide a medicine that does not forget your body, mind, soul and spirit.

I also practice an 8 pillar philosophy of health and wellness that is outlined on my website goldenlotushealingarts.com : )

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
A passion for helping to heal and to guide people.
A drive to succeed.
A golden heart.
An empathetic soul.
A quick wit and clever mind.

Pricing:

• First Visit: $120 Follow Up: $90
• New Patient Special: $250 (includes first visit and 2 follow ups)
• Astrology Readings: $90/ reading $130/ 2 readings

Contact Info:

• Address: 360 Massachusetts Ave
  Suite 4 Arlington, MA 02474
• Website: goldenlotushealingarts.com
• Phone: 617-955-3494
• Email: msmith@goldenlotushealingarts.com
• Instagram: @goldenlotushealingarts
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goldenlotushealingarts/

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