Peeling the Layers: Conversation with Josh Barlow

I spoke with Josh Barlow of OreGayWanderer about energy flows, moving beyond religious backgrounds, feeling ungrounded during travel, and even a bit about non-binary identities and fluctuating masculine/feminine energies. We also talked about peeling off the layers of domestication and the importance of forming healthy boundaries.

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Pappas-Kelley: Hi Josh, I had the privilege of working with you recently and one of the things that came through was that what you do is closely aligned with your individual and spiritual journey—not just your background and your physical environment—but your transition into who you are and how you approach life. Would you like to talk a bit about this journey and introduce people who might not be familiar?

Josh Barlow: I grew up with a deeply religious background that introduced me to hands on healing at a very young age. I always had a special relationship with spirit and at times a somewhat turbulent relationship with religion. I officially left the religion I was raised in due to a lack of support the religion provided for myself as a queer individual.

I also had a highly successful career in finance.

Once I began to awaken spiritually, magically, and energetically I realized a major career shift was in order. I retired from my career and pursued energy healing full time.

My path has led me on a diverse magical, spiritual, energetic path.

I work with and heal all types of energy.

PK: I also think you have an intriguing way of working with a number of modalities along with Reiki and that feels very seamless, but how did this develop for you in your own experience?

JB: My modalities include, crystals, angels, sacred geometry, hoodoo, rootwork, and religious healing practices. I wrap it all in Reiki. I do this because Reiki is no harm. It is scientifically proven and being used in hospitals around the country.

"While I present masculine, I am energetically feminine leaning. Nurturing in nature, protective and fierce. I can fluctuate my masculine/feminine energy balance and do so to maintain healthy energy flow."

PK: I remember when we first spoke, and we mentioned our mutual queer identities and you also mentioned being non-binary—how do you think this journey and understanding weaves into how you approach this work?

JB: I identify as non-binary. While I present masculine, I am energetically feminine leaning. Nurturing in nature, protective and fierce. I can fluctuate my masculine/feminine energy balance and do so to maintain healthy energy flow.

I use this diverse fluid perspective to understand and respect each individual’s personal journey and how they are perceiving life. For me it’s about helping each client find success on their path. We are all connected. I help my clients understand the path they are on and the choices they are making and how they play a part in the bigger picture. I like to help them understand their own connection with source and take ownership for their journey. This helps to clearly see what choices lay ahead. It’s very empowering.

PK: What do you feel is your specific emphasis or what do you bring to this work?

JB: My mission is to heal people with the world and the world with the people. (I use the terms people and world universally)

"I have clients who feel at their best when the energy swirls from chakras to chakra. Wrapping them in a protective cocoon. Others have flows following in more linear paths."

PK: When we spoke last you mentioned energy flow in the body and unique energy flows, would you like to talk a bit more about that?

JB: Absolutely, energy flows through our bodies in diverse ways. We have chakras and the energy flows from chakras into the aura and from the aura back into the chakras and depending on your boundaries your energy interacts with many other people’s energy.

Typically, the cosmic energy flow runs from crown down the central energy channel to the root chakra. It then runs up through the chakras and out the crown parting at the throat chakra to allow part of it to flow down your arms.

The grounding energy flows up through your feet chakras, up your legs and connects at your root chakra. It then swirls around with the cosmic energy, clearing negative energy and pulling it down your energy cord deep into the earth.

I have clients who feel at their best when the energy swirls from chakras to chakra. Wrapping them in a protective cocoon. Others have flows following in more linear paths. They key is to ensure the energy is flowing in a healthy way and there are no blocks.

PK: When we spoke, I was feeling a bit ungrounded, was jetlagged and visiting family, had just had covid, and that was one of the first things you picked up on. I think it is easy to get stuck in our heads and get a bit ungrounded, so how do you approach that in your own life?

JB: I like to monitor my energy flow and intentionally connect and feel my grounding, healing and cosmic energies.

When traveling or at times of stress it’s helpful to adjust your grounding cord to your geographic location and sense for any blocks in your energy.

PK: Where do you think you are going with this work?

JB: I am a spirit guide, helping people and energies navigate the world of energy spirit and magic. I am a psychic medium, I can see the energies of the past present and future and it’s in pencil. It’s like seeing that there is a party planned and it’s up to you if you go. I work with you to align energies to support your path. I am a medium which means I can contact source and channel information from anyone anywhere in any space or time. I use this mostly for grief healing. I do a connect and protect for all my clients. This connects them directly to source energy and protects their boundaries.

PK: What do you think is important for people approaching this type of work to understand?

JB: It’s like looking into all information past, present, and future, in the point of pin, to pull out the information specific to you. The more clear you are in the request the more clear the information comes in response.

PK: What are you currently excited about with this or what inspires you?

JB: I am excited to see healing happening. It is thrilling to see the world awaking in a magical way. To see people peeling off the layers of domestication in their own life and connecting with spirit in lovely, beautiful ways.

PK: The world can seem like a complicated place at the moment, especially with the last couple years, so what inspires you?

JB: Creativity, I think this is a beautiful way for everyone to connect with the world of spirit. Whether it be art, music, dance, the written world, etc. Finding a creative connection with spirit is thrilling.

Josh Barlow is a Reiki Master, Energy Healer, Spiritual Guide, Psychic Medium and Natural Healer - who loves to wander and do it in a healthy and loving way in a coastal Oregon town, with son and dog-ter Ms Penelope. You can find out more about what they do at OreGayWanderer.

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Transmissions: Voices in Transformation

Pappas-Kelley: I have always been intrigued by interesting people talking about the work they do, what makes them tick, their ideas, and what they find themselves drawn to as well as their approach. The Transmission Series is a conversation with (for better words) energy workers/transformational/spiritual/intuitives and beyond, to do just that.

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