Local nurse embarks on walk of healing

Local nurse Shira Granote will begin today a 200-mile walking trek through the state of Missouri with the purpose of addressing health care in a more holistic way and offering her services to the communities she passes through.

She plans to start the walk of healing at 9 a.m. in La Plata at the Possibility Alliance, a homestead that lives simply and practices service to its community. She plans to pass through Kirksville within the first two days and finish in Kansas City, Mo., within 10 to 12 days. Even more than her medical services, she plans to use art as a means of healing as she meets the people, sees their needs and attends to them to the best of her abilities.

"We're just going to go into communities and ask if there's things we can help out with," Granote said. "Maybe doing some yoga classes, maybe some healing circles, maybe some music and dance."

Although she came up with the idea of a healing walk on her own, she won't be alone. Her partner, Joshua Duncan, is a healer with gems and stones and will offer services to the communities they pass through by way of therapeutic touch, an energy healing. They had been planning to open up a healing center in the United States but have put that on hold for now. Granote said

Duncan's participation in the walk of healing offered her the assurance of having someone to do the entire walk of healing with her. There are several others committed to start the walk with her at the Possibility Alliance, but she does not know how far they'll go yet. Granote and Duncan are hoping that people will join them as they pass through their towns.

Granote said the inspiration for this walk, unprecedented in her experience, was her own life's journey, which left her with a message of hope to give.

"The inspiration was, I guess, my own journey of finding my own healing path," Granote said. "And I wanted to just spread the message that anything is possible. … It doesn't matter what it is, healing or business endeavors or friendships or partners."

Granote's funds are coming out of her own pocket at this point. She doesn't plan to stay in hotels but counts on the kindness of the townsfolk to respond with hospitality by lending them a couch or even a yard to sleep on. She also isn't anticipating having to provide much food. Rather, she is leaving it up to the communities to host dinners or provide donations. Most monetary donations, however, will be used for the people they meet.

Granote said they are collecting money as they walk for healing. She said that if people feel inspired to write a check or give them money, they can lend financial support to some of the people they encounter. She said maybe the money can go toward providing assistance for covering charges at the dentists, or something for their physical health.

Granote's Web site, http://wakeuphealwalk.weebly.com, provides an outlet for people wanting to join the walk, support her or donate to the cause.

"We're just hoping to be honest and open with people and see how people respond and see what comes back for what we give out," Granote said.

Ethan Hughes, founder of the Possibility Alliance, first met Granote when she came to visit for a few days in the summer of 2009 to see their educational center. He said he's planning to assist bicyclists during the opening day and possibly with following ones, help with food and host an open-end walk. He wants to have a lot of people from the community come for a send-off.

"I think it's wonderful to see nurses like herself just go out to heal people, not waiting for a political decision," Hughes said. "[I'm] 100 percent behind it and wanted to make it happen however we could."

Hughes said he thinks this walk will be an invitation for people to take action. He said she'll be able not only to heal people but also inspire them not to wait for someone else to start helping other people.

"I've seen amazing movements happen from when people just … start creating the world they want to see," Hughes said.