When Life Takes a Turn: Rising After the Spin

Sherri A. Nicholas Author

Ann and Sherri’s journey reminds us that healing is not just about recovery—it’s about discovering new ways to live, love, and thrive. 2016-2018

Shifting Energies, Changing Lives

Ann Sheridan was an HIV clinical nurse supervisor and researcher who ran an outpatient HIV clinic for a nonprofit organization in Newark, New Jersey. Working with patients from diverse backgrounds, Ann observed that those who incorporated complementary therapies into their care often showed significant improvement compared to those relying solely on conventional treatments. These non-Western types of treatment seemed, however, to be making the greatest impact on patients who were more financially well off.

Having spent most of her 35-year nursing career in inner-city environments, Ann was always searching for affordable therapies to benefit patients with limited financial resources. Her journey into energy medicine began in 1999 when she discovered Donna Eden’s book Energy Medicine. As her job became increasingly stressful, Ann also turned to Donna’s Energy Medicine Kit, establishing a daily energy routine for herself before heading to work.

Hook Up. Zip Up. Show Up

Ann began incorporating Eden Energy Medicine (EEM) techniques into her workplace. Each morning, she and her staff practiced techniques like the “blow out,” “zip up,” and “hook up” before the clinic opened.

Her team noticed that these busy clinic days felt noticeably less chaotic when they started with energy techniques. Ann also shared EEM practices with her patients, explaining how they had positively impacted her own life. Many of her patients began to feel empowered, realizing that their diagnosis was not necessarily a death sentence as they learned how to shift their own energy using these methods.

"Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls you."

However, Ann’s life took a drastic turn on June 2, 2012, when she was involved in a car accident. Struck from behind by a large Nissan SUV, she walked away from the crash but sustained invisible injuries that forced her to leave her nursing career. 

In the weeks that followed, Ann struggled with dizziness, double vision, short-term memory loss, and an inability to multitask. For the first time, she became a patient in the healthcare system she had worked within for decades.

Healing Is an Inside Job

After partaking in a multiple conventional treatments with limited success, Ann sought help from Lisa Buford, an Advanced Eden Energy Medicine Practitioner. While Ann had been practicing EEM exercises daily, Lisa evaluated her and customized her energy routines to meet her energy needs. When the modifications were made to the homolateral-repatterning exercise, Ann experienced an immediate shift—her mind felt clearer, and for the first time, she began to believe she could regain her life. Encouraged by these results, Ann enrolled in the local Eden Energy Medicine Foundations program taught by Lisa later that same year.

The stresses of life did not, however, stop there. The next few years brought major changes and more stress. But attending Foundations (the first year of the two-year Eden Energy Medicine Certification Program) in 2014 gave focus, purpose, and empowerment in her recovery. After completing Year One, Ann knew she needed to continue on to Year Two and become an Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner so she could "reinvent" her life and continue to serve by teaching what she was learning.

Ann’s life partner of over 30 years, Sherri Nicholas, was also on her own journey of discovery. A massage therapist with experience in orthopedic physical therapy, Sherri had been incorporating Eden Energy Medicine into her massage practice since 1999 after buy the Energy Medicine Book.

In 2014, Sherri and Ann attended Foundations Program, and together, they decided to continue to Year Two in 2015. However, with the loss of Ann’s income as a nurse, finances became a significant barrier. Thankfully, with the support of the Scholarship Fund they were able to enroll in Year Two together. (Part 1: Life Can Turn on a Dime: Who Are We?)

During their Foundations year in 2014, Ann’s brother and sister-in-law tragically died, and Sherri’s father was diagnosed with leukemia and eventually passed at home with hospice. The New Jersey EEM Community they were now a part of became their support system.

Energy Art for a Healing Heart
As Ann progressed through foundations year 1, she struggled with retaining information—a change that left her frustrated and discouraged. To help, Sherri began illustrating EEM concepts in visual formats so Ann could better understand and remember the material. These energy drawings, which became known as “sherringenergy,” were crucial in supporting Ann’s learning process.

In 2017, Ann was finally diagnosed with fourth and sixth nerve palsy, a condition that explained the changes in her vision, her processing, and difficulties reading. Despite these challenges, Ann completed Year Two of the program with Sherri’s creative and visual support. #sherringenergy

In 2016, after graduating from the Certification Program, Sherri suffered a concussion from a fall. Continuing financial challenges finally led to the foreclosure of their home, forcing them to move in with Sherri’s mother.

During this time, Sherri enrolled in Graphic Recording classes to hone her energy drawings. Since the drawings helped Ann learn easier, and drawing helped Sherri feel calmer and think clearer, they both began to see a mission beginning to unfold. 

Sometimes You Are Just in Your Own Cave

Sherri started using her energy drawings with clients to help them better understand EEM techniques more easily. Completing Year Two allowed Sherri to incorporate energy testing into her massage practice, further enhancing her ability to support clients. The combination of energy medicine and visual tools helped clients grasp how to work in partnership with their body and its energies.

Balance Your Energy, Balance Your Life

Over the past decade, Ann and Sherri have realized that their life journey—filled with challenges and transformations—has uniquely prepared them to share Energy Medicine with others. Through their story, they hope to inspire others to explore the profound impact of energy work. Reflecting on their journey, Ann and Sherri credit the opportunity to attend Year Two of the Certification Program with giving them the tools and resilience to face life’s adversities. They now use EEM daily to balance their energies and navigate life’s ups and downs.

Ann and Sherri remain passionate advocates for Energy Medicine, deeply grateful to the Scholarship Fund for helping them repurpose their lives during such a critical time. 

Their mission is to teach their corner of the world about the power of EEM. They share energy techniques and messages through humorous and colorful designs on t-shirts, mugs, totes, magnets, and stickers, under the banner of #sherringenergyteez. 

Their mission is to spread Energy Medicine wherever they go by wearing creative artful messages on their persons! 

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away” ~Pablo Picasa

In a rapidly changing world, Energy Medicine offers tools to rebalance, integrate, and evolve our body’s energies to meet the challenges of our times. 

Rebalance. Recharge. Reinvent

Ann and Sherri’s journey reminds us that healing is not just about recovery—it’s about discovering new ways to live, love, and thrive. Energy Medicine is their gift to the world, and through their creativity, resilience, and passion, they inspire us all to find the balance within ourselves.

 

Part 1: Life Can Turn on a Dime: Who Are We?

Part 2: When Life Takes a Turn: Rising After the Spin

Daily Energy Routine Blog References:

What's THE DER? Exactly
Why DO the Daily Energy Routine?
The Origins of Eden Energy Medicine: Donna Eden’s Extraordinary Journey

 Energy Medicine Conversation 

Starters

SHERRINGENERGYTEEZ Energy Medicine Album

SHERRINGENERGYTEEZ SHOP

SHERRINGENERGYTEEZ LINKTREE

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Categories: : Blog, Doodle, Stories