It was one of those moments I will never forget. I followed a feeling, and from there my life took on a whole new perspective.

I was driving home after teaching a yoga class one dark December night in 2019. One of my favorite podcasts was playing through the Bluetooth speaker in my car. The guest on the show was an Akashic Records Practitioner, and she was channeling a collective reading for the audience.

The Akashic Records? I had never heard of such a thing. For years, I had been drawn to all things metaphysical. I was tip-toeing down my own spiritual path and working to grow a holistic healing business. As I listened intently to the podcast, I felt magnetized to learn more, and I recognized that when the Universe gives you a nudge, you must heed the call. The next thing I knew, I had scheduled a private Akashic Records  reading, and the following month, I found myself on a plane to Los Angeles to attend an Akashic Records Practitioner training.

The Akashic Records are not a physical book or scroll like the name might imply. Translated from Sanskrit, the word akasha means “ether” or “space.” Soon, I would discover that, much like the element of space, the Akashic Records are expansive and full of power and potential. During my training, I sat in circle with a small group of women in a bohemian villa in Marina del Rey. I noticed my thinking brain wanted to categorize and fit the Records into one easy to understand, catch-all definition. By the end of the training, I realized that doing so could never truly honor and reflect what they are.

On the first day of my training, we were taught a meditation to recite to access the Akashic Records. As we prepared to open the Records for the first time, my whole body buzzed with excitement. After reading the last line of the meditation, “And so it is, the Akashic Records are now open,” I felt a strong energetic shift. My body softened with a calming sensation like I was floating underwater. My eyes were closed, but there were pulses of brightly colored light that eased me further into an altered yet peaceful state of consciousness. My intuitive senses took over, and the first thing I heard was, “Welcome home.”

There were no mind-altering substances involved. It was just me opening up my mind to receive whatever was meant to come through.

As a reiki master, I knew I had intuitive gifts, but frequently, I struggled with trusting that the information I was receiving was accurate or valid. When I gave reiki to others, oftentimes I would hear messages coming through or see images and colors. However, I did not always believe in what I was hearing or seeing. My thinking mind would often diminish my confidence in myself as an energy healer. Now through the Akashic Records, I instantly had a platform to move past my ego to feel, experience and channel energetic information on a whole new level.

Initially, when I signed up for this training, I imagined it would be an opportunity to add a new modality to my business. Soon, I would find that this learning process would facilitate profound personal healing and intense inner exploration. During one part of the training, we were instructed to open the Akashic Records for ourselves individually and ask, “What types of people do you judge the most?” and “What can this teach you about yourself?”

I asked the first question, and immediately what I heard from my spirit guides was, “You tend to judge drama queens.”

“Yep, ain’t that the truth,” I thought. At that time, it seemed like I had several drama queens in my life, and I found myself irritated by them all. Then, the answer to the second question was transmitted without me even asking.

“You judge and struggle with drama queens, because they are everything YOU are not.”

Wow. My mind was officially blown. It was something I knew deep down inside, but I had failed to acknowledge. This answer did not come from a place of criticism or shaming. It came from a space of unconditional love. I knew the intention was to help me see outside of myself and foster greater awareness.

For much of my life, I buried my truth and tempered my emotions. I pretended to be normal and okay when everything inside of me was broken. Expressing myself and bearing judgment from others terrified me. I was completely disconnected from myself. I was the exact opposite of a drama queen. I was an ice queen.

Through this experience and several others I had in working with the Akashic Records, I came to realize that we are all just reflections of each other. Whenever a trait or characteristic of someone else really irks you, it is either something you don’t like about yourself or a trait you wish you had. I could now see the interesting ways in which our egos function in efforts of self- preservation. The Akashic Records allowed me to release my ego and view my life from a universal perspective. I could truly see that we are all different. We are all the same. We are all learning lessons. We are all connected.

I left Los Angeles forever changed. Through this process, I finally connected to and healed long neglected parts of my being. Shortly after I returned home to Colorado, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and interestingly, I found myself mentally and emotionally prepared to endure all of the changes and shifts that arose. I knew I had to share this amazing gift with others, and Akashic Records readings have become a sought-after healing experience that I offer in my practice today.

So, what are the Akashic Records? They are so many things, including the story of your soul’s journey, an energetic download of information from your spirit guides and a reservoir of all-knowing. The Akashic Records offer us a universal perspective of our lives, helping us to see how we are connected to everyone, everything, everywhere. With our world as divided as it is, feeling and understanding that we are all one can give us a greater sense of peace and ease. If we choose to function less from the ego and more from this universal perspective, we can learn to heal and grow together. The Akashic Records allow us to connect to the universe right here on Earth.

Photo from Adobe Stock. 

As a leading light, DANA KNERL guides and mentors empathic people to heal trauma, reclaim their essence and illuminate the path toward their purpose. In her work as a Holistic Healing Guide, she has integrated her background as a registered nurse, master energy healer, Akashic Records practitioner and yoga teacher to support dedicated and empowered people through their healing journeys. Dana started her holistic healing practice in Vail, Colorado in 2015, and over the last several years, her reach has expanded to working with clients both in-person and virtually across the globe. Her offerings include single session healing experiences, an eight-week holistic healing program called Illumination and beautifully crafted workshops and retreats.

Originally published in Winter + Spring 2022-23 issue.