Meet Vivien Schapera | Teacher, Healer and Author OR Leader, Pioneer and Mystic

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vivien Schapera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vivien, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
The capacity to take risks is a make or break capacity for me. I am both a leader, and a pioneer, so lucky me! I get a double dip at risk-taking. I can honestly say that my entire life is built on taking risks … and this has worked out exceptionally well for me.

Of course, I want to argue that I’m “forced” to take these risks — forced by circumstance — like when I didn’t get into my chosen course of study first time around. The truth is, historically-speaking, very few were getting into this course first time around. Rejection was considered both an initiation rite and a test of commitment, but instead of applying again, I went ahead and chose a completely different and unknown path which brought me to where I am today.

There is a downside to being a risk-taker. People who want the benefits of stepping into the unknown, but aren’t courageous enough, want to get a piggy-back ride. I’ve learned to be very discriminating about this dynamic, but I’ve learned the hard way.

The upside of being able to take risks is that I have had many adventures and enjoyed strange and interesting successes.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Wow! Interesting! I wasn’t sure how to categorize myself … because I straddle all categories. I chose “professional” because that’s my thing — professionalism.

I began by studying Clinical Psychology. As I said, I didn’t get into the final program for becoming a Clinical Psychologist and ended up choosing a different career. I actually always wanted to be a teacher, but had no desire to be in an institution the rest of my life and I liked the idea of working one-on-one helping people. The ideal career presented itself to me when my Alexander Technique teacher asked me whether I would consider training.

The Alexander Technique is a method of teaching people how to think, move and behave with conscious awareness, thereby changing habitual patterns, that can cause stress and pain. The Alexander Technique is also used by actors, singers, professionals and athletes for enhancing performance. The way that this is done is very, very appealing — it is a one-on-one hands-on modality where the teacher literally induces change in the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal dynamics — giving the client a new experience of self. And that sounds too dry — because it is one of the most relaxing, calming and educational lessons one could ever enjoy. In other words, it FEELS great!

I am from Cape Town, South Africa, and there was only one Alexander Teacher in the country who happened to be in Cape Town. A decision to train as an Alexander Teacher was a complicated choice, including a big question mark over whether this was a viable profession. I really needed and wanted this training for personal reasons, and I followed the opportunity for this reason. I never expected to be able to teach the Alexander Technique myself, as I didn’t think I could become good enough.

The path unfolded for me, and in 1983 I certified as an Alexander Teacher in London, England. When I got back home to Cape Town, I discovered that I was in high demand. Newspapers and magazines wanted to interview me and my private practice came together very quickly. I was seeing a large number of people — 73 half-hour appointments per week — and in this immersion a new kind of training developed. I found myself becoming sensitive to the human energy field, becoming telepathic, becoming intuitive, and even psychic.

After moving to the USA in 1991, another new skill developed. One day, in a client’s session, I heard a crystal calling me. I had a few crystals on an etagere, as decor. Theoretically I knew that crystals could be used for healing — but I didn’t have a clue how crystal healing is done. Anyway, this crystal called me, and then told me what to do — and my client’s arthritic pain reduced significantly from following these instructions.

Next thing I knew, crystals had kind of taken over my life. Now, I can look back and see there was a path, and that path is called “destiny.” Over the next 25 years I developed a brand new Crystal Healing modality called Crystal Surgery. I had to use every bit of training I had ever received, as well as a tribe of family, friends, teachers, colleagues, clients and students to get to the “finish” line. Of course there is no “finish” line. By “finish” line, I mean a textbook of over 100 skills and procedures, a website, an online training program and the first graduates. What an adventure!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I don’t live in the Denver area, but still, I have to say this: I come to Denver every year for the Denver Gem & Mineral Show and I bring students with me. The show in Tucson is much, much bigger, but the quality of the Denver show is still equal to the one in Tucson and there is a specific reason why — as my dad taught me, there is such a thing as “enough.” All the significant vendors come to Denver. Instead of over 50 show locations, Denver has 4 show locations — making the show much more user-friendly, much easier to navigate.

I encourage my students who want to develop crystal businesses to begin in Denver, because that is where and how I began — and it worked. Plus, Denver is a GREAT city. I look forward to my time there tremendously because there is a vibe and a consciousness in Denver that I love and appreciate.

What my husband, Neil, and I also appreciate about Denver is that we can get out of the city and go up into the mountains. This is very special for us.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Yes! Since early childhood, I have had the BEST teachers and without question it is due to these teachers that I am the successful person that I am today. It is a long, long list. I will pick out three:

Firstly, my dad — my dad was an inventor, and he had great values. My dad taught me that what I do from Monday – Friday is the most important part of my life and it had better be what I want to be doing with my time here on Earth. He also taught me that there is such a things as “enough” and this would apply in many ways, including that there is such a thing as “enough money.”

Secondly, my friend and colleague Yvonne was an extraordinary mentor to me. Yvonne was a mover and shaker. When I met her, she was twice my age, and she offered me the insights and perspectives of life that can only come from experience. What a gift this was.

Thirdly, my husband Neil, has been an extraordinary source of encouragement and support. Neil’s belief in me, and his willingness to put his heart and soul into our joint endeavors has been more than a cornerstone to our success.

Website: https://CrystalHealingTechniques.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystalhealingtechniques/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivien-schapera-49a95a4/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrystalHealingTechniques

Youtube: Crystal Surgery and Crystal Healing Techniques https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfbWYEvuuNJxz61xtqqKYzg

Image Credits
Photos by Neil Schapera and Vivien Schapera