A Journey into the Heart
Hello,
My name is Isis Bouhraoua, and today I’m excited to share with you the journey that led me to holistic healing and the development of my unique method, Clear at Heart. This method is a culmination of over 20 years of study and practice in diverse fields such as Chinese medicine, Daoist philosophy, coaching, shamanism, and Chinese astrology.
Let me tell you a little about myself: Always feeling « In between »
I was born in France to an American mother and a French-Algerian father. Growing up, I lived between California and Paris, always carrying my Algerian heritage as an integral part of who I was as well. My parents separated when I was young, but I was fortunate to have a close relationship with both of them, as well as with family and friends from all walks of life. Despite these strong connections, I always felt like an outsider. I didn’t belong to any one group, country, or culture. I couldn’t identify with a particular philosophy or religion, though I could understand and empathize with all of them. This feeling of not belonging lingered throughout my life, leaving me in a constant state of searching for my true identity. I always felt I was not quite at the right place and always « In between ».
In my quest for self-discovery,
I turned to my studies. I pursued a Master’s degree in Foreign Languages and Civilizations, focusing on the integration of minority communities into mainstream cultures, particularly in Britain and the U.S. Yet, despite the academic success, I felt no true sense of fulfillment. My goals were materialistic—dreams of a house with a yard, a fulfilling relationship, and a prestigious career title to hold onto. But life, in its wisdom, continually guided me away from these surface desires and deeper into a search for purpose.
As a young adult, I faced serious health challenges that conventional Western medicine couldn’t resolve. This is where my journey into traditional Chinese medicine began—not as a practitioner, but as a patient. The holistic approach of treating the body, mind, and emotions immediately resonated with me. But it wasn’t until later that I understood how deeply the soul influences our lives.
I became deeply immersed in the study of Chinese medicine, dedicating the next six years to understanding its profound concepts. I studied acupuncture, reflexology, Chi Nei Tsang, and Tuina. Although I found these techniques highly effective, something was still missing. I felt restricted and disconnected, despite the undeniable effectiveness of these practices. What truly fascinated me were the extraordinary meridians—channels of energy that connect our body, mind, and spirit. These meridians, with their transformational and transcendent qualities, connected me to something more subtle, more universal than I could have ever imagined.
The interconnectedness of all things, as expressed in Chinese medicine, was another key revelation for me.
I began to see life’s interconnectedness everywhere—from the branching of blood vessels in the body to the patterns of rivers seen from above. At the atomic level, everything is connected. This realization helped me embrace my own feeling of not belonging. Instead of seeing it as a weakness, I began to see it as an interconnection with all things, a realization that we are all, in essence, part of the same energy flow.
My studies then expanded into the cosmology and metaphysics of Daoist medicine—how Daoist views the universe, with its idea of Wu Ji (the state of nothingness), from which the Taiji (the primordial force of Yin and Yang) emerges. This gave rise to everything, including the Eight Trigrams, the 64 Hexagrams, and a rich tradition of astrology, feng shui, and divination systems like Yi Jing, Qi Men Dun Jia, and BaZi (the Four Pillars of Destiny). These are all methods to understand the constant changes in our lives and how to navigate them consciously, for change is the only constant in life.
At the heart of this philosophy is Wu Wei, or the path of non-resistance. It’s about living in harmony with the flow of the universe, avoiding unnecessary depletion of energy, and embodying your highest potential. The purpose of life, in Taoist thought, is to live in alignment with your true nature, showing gratitude for the gift of life and ultimately returning to the cosmos in a more evolved state.
But how do we navigate life’s imperfections, challenges, and contradictions while trying to maintain balance? How do we deal with fear, desires, and frustrations in a constantly spinning world?
This is where the tools and concepts of Taoist medicine come in. They help us identify imbalances in our nature, in our health, and in our emotions—crystallized beliefs that impact our bodies, minds, and behavior. As a holistic practitioner, my first goal is to help individuals accept their current state, acknowledge their imbalances, and create a path toward self-realization, balance, and deep connection.
What fascinates me most is that the concepts and knowledge that I work with were revealed to shamans thousands of years ago through meditation and trance states. These teachings were then passed down orally through generations and clans. The ability to receive information and guidance by connecting with the divine, and to heal through meditation and spiritual practice, is what resonated deeply with me. This is what led me to immerse myself in shamanism, embracing the practices of trance and magic, and developing a devoted spiritual practice.
This journey brings me into a daily state of being “in between”—a state that has become a constant and essential aspect of my path.
I’ve never considered myself a Shaman in the traditional sense. My knowledge, I feel, is still limited compared to the vast wisdom that is required of a true shaman. I am not a community leader, protector, or healer in the way that shamans are often called to be. I don’t claim mastery over all the aspects of shamanism. However, I do possess qualities that resonate with this path—my intuition, the innate power within me that I’ve developed over the years in the most honest way I can. By honesty, I mean facing my shadows, confronting my ego, and acknowledging my imperfections, while also recognizing the positive impact I’ve had on others, based on the feedback I’ve received over the years.
In my distant healing practice, which evolved from my shamanic work, I enter trance states where I connect with my guides. It is through them that I receive messages and guidance that shape my intentions. Once again, I find myself “in between” – bridging the visible and invisible worlds, existing between the realms of the mental, the physical, and the energetic aspects of the human being.
Throughout this, I remain grounded and connected to my vertical axis, which links me to both Heaven and Earth, enabling me to channel energy as a vessel for healing work.
For me, the human map—a concept rooted in Daoist medicine—is the foundation of my practice as well. It’s about understanding the person as a microcosm of the larger universe. Alongside this, I incorporate Qi Men Dun Jia and BaZi, two powerful systems of astrology and metaphysical arts, to understand a person’s celestial mandate—the unique energy they carry from birth.
Knowing your celestial mandate gives you the power to make better life choices by understanding your intrinsic strengths and challenges.
Often, these readings confirm what you already intuitively know about yourself and provide the validation needed to step beyond self-doubt. These insights can also reveal inner conflicts, paradoxes, and the behaviors that stem from them, allowing you to release unnecessary resistance and focus on cultivating balance.
One of the most powerful aspects of these practices is their ability to highlight what nourishes and supports you, helping you grow and align with your true nature. It can uncover hidden talents, shed light on harmful habits, and make you more conscious of your choices. This process, of course, takes time. It’s a journey of healing, and it often requires multiple sessions to unravel the deeper layers of your life’s path.
My goal as a practitioner is to help you let go of resistance, embrace your shadows, and align with your highest self.
Life is constantly in flux, and by accepting the imperfections of our human nature, we can learn to flow with change more gracefully. The most common challenge I’ve encountered in my work is the self-judgment and guilt that stem from fear—fear of not being enough, fear of not meeting expectations, fear of facing our true selves. These fears are often created and amplified by the ego, which constantly wrestles with who we think we should be, who we want to be, and who we truly are.
Ultimately, our true nature—the spark of light within us—resides in the heart. By cultivating self-love, compassion, and a deeper understanding of ourselves, we can heal the wounds of the ego and realign with our true essence. This is the heart of my practice, and this is why I named it Clear at Heart. It’s about removing the clutter, the fears, and the layers of belief that obscure the purity of who we really are.
In the end, spiritual connection is the key to quieting the mind, diminishing the ego’s control, and opening up to the divine flow of energy that is always present, guiding us. When we connect to this energy, we align with our deepest truth and our highest potential.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. May it inspire you to embark on your own journey of self-discovery, healing, and connection to your true nature.
I’m thrilled to join Soul Vision and look forward to sharing my services with you!
With Love,