
Being Mary
Mary Johnson Van Den Berge is a "wear your heart on your sleeve" kind of woman, an unapologetic bookworm, and an online shopping champion. She devours murder mysteries in every form — whether in books or podcasts — with an enthusiasm that surprises even herself. Raised on a farm near St. Marys in Southwestern Ontario, she now calls Petrolia home, nestled in Ontario’s scenic “banana belt.”
Mary is a proud advocate for women’s rights and believes deeply in the power of honest conversation. On her podcast, she creates a safe and open space for women to explore the emotional layers of life—through candid conversations about relationships, identity, healing, motherhood, and more. It’s not just her story anymore—it’s all of ours.
Being Mary
Healing and Purpose Through Meditation
✨ New Podcast Alert! ✨
Looking to deepen your spiritual journey and reconnect with your higher self? Tune into my new meditation podcast where we explore the power of Holy Fire Reiki, guided healing, and inner transformation.
This episode offers a sacred space for calm, clarity, and connection. Breathe deeply. Align fully. Awaken gently. Now streaming on all major platforms.
Today, we’re exploring the powerful combination of Holy Fire Reiki and guided visualization meditation—how these practices have helped me heal, reconnect with myself, and step into a deeper sense of purpose.
Whether you’re brand new to meditation or already walking a spiritual path, I invite you to listen with an open heart. I’ll share a bit about what Holy Fire Reiki is, how it differs from traditional Reiki, and how it’s transformed my own life in very real, very personal ways.
You don’t need to be perfect or even experienced to begin this journey. Just a willingness to show up for yourself is enough.
Let’s start with What is Meditation? Meditation is simply focused awareness and mindfulness. A way to come home to yourself. One particular style I love is guided visualization meditation, which uses mental imagery to promote clarity, peace, and healing.
Which leads us to the next question: What is Holy Fire Reiki? Holy Fire Reiki is not a religion or a replacement for faith. It’s a method of receiving divine healing energy. Many understand it as coming directly from God’s unconditional love, much like the gifts of healing we read about in the Bible.
It focuses on purification, healing, empowerment, relaxation, and inner guidance. The benefits? Reduced stress, emotional healing, trauma release, mental clarity, and strengthened intuition.
Now for My Personal Experience Stay with me here—I’m going to share my own experience and hopefully take away any old misconceptions.
It took me a few tries to relax and clear my thoughts, but once I could, meditation became a powerful tool for healing. I started with my friend Erin Graham McArthur’s guided meditations on the Insight Timer App. Erin is a Holy Fire Reiki Master from St. Marys, Ontario, and her specialty is in Fertility and Maternity—but she offers so much more.
I chose the meditation Connecting to Your Higher Self with Holy Fire Reiki. Erin’s voice and calming music helped me settle into a comfortable space—eyes closed, breathing slowly, letting my body relax from head to toe. She guided me to visualize a peaceful forest, and from there, the journey unfolded.
For the first three sessions, I came to a bridge over a river and stopped there. For some reason I couldn’t cross. But the fourth time, something shifted. I could see a version of myself on the other side of the bridge, and I crossed.
On the other side, the version of myself kept walking with me. We walked together along the river until we approached a small town, then that version of me stayed behind a little—just watching. I felt her message to me and it was clear: "You’ve got this, Mary. I’m always here when you need me."
I can’t fully explain what that moment did for my confidence, but it reminded me that I am never alone. That divine, higher part of myself is always with me.
www.beingmary.ca
https://www.facebook.com/beingmaryvdb
https://www.instagram.com/beingmaryvdb/
https://www.youtube.com/@BeingMaryVDB
https://www.tiktok.com/@maryvdb