Episode 214 - The Vagus Nerve. Chakras, Trauma and Healing with CJ Llewelyn

Barb Crowley
Jun 11
2 min read

In this insightful interview, trauma therapist and intuitive Reiki master CJ Llewelyn returns to discuss her newest book, Chakras, the Vagus Nerve and Your Soul. Building on her earlier work, she explores how the vagus nerve serves as a bridge between trauma stored in the body and access to the soul’s wisdom. Drawing from polyvagal theory, CJ explains the three branches of the vagus nerve—dorsal, sympathetic, and ventral—and how they regulate our responses to safety, connection, and threat. She emphasizes that healing trauma through nervous system regulation can unlock a deeper connection to one’s higher self or soul.

CJ shares her belief that our souls choose the human experience and that the body’s wiring, while protective, can sometimes limit access to spiritual awareness unless safety is restored. She explains that the ventral vagal state—marked by calm connection—is essential for tapping into intuitive wisdom and inner light. Her work is influenced by Michael Newton’s research into life between lives, reinforcing the soul’s purposeful journey in a physical body. Ultimately, CJ advocates for honoring both the body’s biological defenses and the soul’s fearless curiosity as vital aspects of healing and awakening.

Meet CJ Llewelyn, M.Ed. — Therapist, Author & Intuitive Healer

CJ has spent a lifetime exploring the human experience—from her early days as an intuitive child seeing energy, to a career in journalism covering the highs and lows of people’s lives, to her current work as a trauma therapist and energy healer. With a master’s in family counseling and two decades of clinical experience, CJ brings a unique blend of psychological insight, nervous system expertise, and spiritual awareness to her private practice.

Specializing in trauma recovery, she integrates polyvagal theory, Internal Family Systems, EMDR, Brainspotting, and energy psychology to help clients safely reconnect with their inner wisdom. As an intuitive Reiki master, CJ understands the nervous system and energy field as deeply intertwined—each reflecting and informing the other.

She is the author of Chakras and the Vagus Nerve and Chakras, the Vagus Nerve and Your Soul (Llewellyn Publishing), essential guides to healing at the intersection of science and spirituality. For CJ, the body isn’t just connected to the soul—it’s the very path to it.

Chakras, the Vagus Nerve and Your Soul

C.J. Llewelyn offers a powerful guide to healing by aligning your body and spirit. Building on her previous work, Llewelyn shows how the vagus nerve and chakras serve as pathways for the Soul’s wisdom to flow through the nervous system. With over 45 exercises, meditations, and prompts, the book provides practical tools for tuning into your body’s messages and restoring inner balance. It shifts the focus from understanding what these systems are to how to work with them for spiritual awakening. This is an essential read for anyone seeking healing through the integration of psychology, physiology, and Soul.