4 minute read
Feels Good to Feel Good Magazine, Spring 2023
Sometimes our greatest suffering leads to our greatest awakening.
This is how I would sum up our journey over the past several years.
My partner Dana went from laying in our living room recovering from spine surgery to being the main character of a documentary focused on healing.
I could have never imagined this amount of pain could lead to the life we have today, a life in which we are experiencing healing and helping spread hope to those still suffering.
As I reflect back, I can still recall what it was like after my partner Dana came home from her second spine surgery. She was completely traumatized after two incredibly invasive surgeries only six weeks apart, thanks to a mistake in the first.
Because she had been alone in the ICU as no visitors were allowed during the pandemic, she had night terrors and couldn't be alone. So after she came home, I would lay next to her with my hand on hers and make sure she knew I was always there.
In those moments, when the days felt like years and the darkness seemed to last forever, I prayed for hope. I prayed for an answer to the question why -Why her? Why did this beautiful person I loved and adored suffer so much?
Why us? I thought we were good people - why did such awful things happen to good people?
The questions went on and on, seemingly unanswered. My brain was searching for any bit of meaning. I recall telling someone I knew that no matter what the future holds, it would never make sense WHY we had to go through this. I had so much anger and frustration and felt we were victims of these awful circumstances.
After some time, Dana began to improve slowly. Although I was a filmmaker full-time, I hadn't picked up a camera in months as I spent most of my time taking care of Dana. At some point, however, I felt compelled to document parts of our journey.
I believed she would eventually be in a better place, and I felt the filming could provide a marker to show progress. Eventually, Dana could walk longer distances and even go up our stairs. However, her pain was still worse than before surgery, and we had many regrets about agreeing to the surgeries in the first place.
As we neared the 1st anniversary of the first spine surgery, I got a call from a producer interested in hiring me to create a documentary on healing. She worked directly for Ilchi Lee and said he wanted to create a film to help people as they struggled through the pandemic.
Ilchi Lee is a world-renowned author, spiritual teacher, and humanitarian from Korea. He established a retreat center in Sedona, AZ, called Sedona Mago Center for Well-being and Retreat, and we knew of him because we had attended a life-changing retreat there years earlier.
I had done some video projects for the retreat center, and after seeing my work, Ilchi Lee decided I would be a great fit for the project.
At this point, Dana was on disability and unable to work, so she came with me to meet and discuss the film. I was excited but unsure how to create a film to inspire hope and healing when we were still trying to find that ourselves.
The day before we met with Ilchi Lee, I was in meditation and felt strongly that Dana should be the film's focus. I was nervous about mentioning it, but as Ilchi Lee got to know us, he said the same thing. This was the confirmation I needed to feel confident about moving forward, and we began production immediately.
We were given full creative freedom and wanted the film to be much more than just our stories. We wanted to show how others had healed themselves and also see what was possible for those experiencing these healing practices for the first time. We didn't know how it would unfold, but we trusted the Universe to be our guide and set our intentions on creating something to help spread hope and healing to the world.
As we worked on a title for the film, Ilchi Lee shared his intentions for making the film. He said he wanted the world to know that "you are your own best healer and the power of self-love." Out of these intentions rose the title of the film, Love Heals, and it couldn't be more perfect for how the film unfolded.
The most powerful part of the production was bringing together 18 people from across the country who had never tried immersion in ancient practices such as yoga, tai chi, qigong, and meditation. These individuals were all struggling in some area of life and seeking healing. Witnessing and documenting the transformations in a 5-day retreat was remarkable, and I was forever changed.
Throughout our time filming, Dana was still very much on her healing journey as she still experienced quite a bit of nerve pain in her body. It was very important to me that Dana has an authentic experience and does not feel the pressure to "heal" or be out of pain for the end of the film to have some closure.
Now that the film is finished, we receive notes from people worldwide sharing how much the film's ending was everything they needed for their journeys. They share that Dana's vulnerability helped them heal parts of themselves and put less pressure on themselves to get to a certain place.
And isn't that what love is all about?
We released Love Heals in January 2022, and the response has been incredible.
The film has been translated into 11 languages, shown in person and virtually to audiences worldwide, won awards at film festivals, and most recently was accepted for release on public television by PBS sometime this year.
In those dark days at the beginning of 2020, I could have never predicted how much our darkest days would lead to the greatest life I've ever known. Dana and I have found our life's calling and are more committed than ever to spreading hope and healing through conscious filmmaking.
We have begun production on a new film focused on the healing power of horses as it relates to heart coherence, and we couldn't be more excited (to follow our journey, check out RescuedHeartsFilm.com).
I now feel overwhelming gratitude for this journey and every challenging moment as it led us to where we are today. Dana and I have a completely different relationship with challenging times, as we now see them as important moments paving the way for something remarkable.
The truth is that this season helped us tap into something inside of us that only knows limitless potential, and I pray our films will help others find that place within themselves, too.
Bios
Krisanna Sexton is the award-winning Director of LOVE HEALS and has passionately produced film and video content since she was 16. She is the primary cinematographer for LOVE HEALS and did the editing, audio mastering, and color correction herself. She believes in the power of storytelling and pours her heart and soul into each story she has the privilege of sharing.
Dana Croschere is the award-winning Producer of LOVE HEALS and is featured as the main character in the film. Her journey is inspirational and full of obstacles, including two unsuccessful spine surgeries in 2020. Yet, while she still experiences some chronic pain, Dana has been able to harness the power of these ancient mind-body practices to facilitate continued healing in her body which has rippled out into every area of her life.
Synopsis
LOVE HEALS is an award-winning documentary that will be nationally broadcasted on PBS starting in 2023. LOVE HEALS follows the journey of Dana, a chronic pain sufferer, in search of healing. Her partner, Krisanna, is a filmmaker. Together, they travel the country to understand how ancient mind-body principles have helped so many heal and to see what's possible for those experiencing these practices for the first time.
With a combination of experts, energy healers, master trainers, and everyday people struggling with chronic pain, the film balances the research of acclaimed scientists like Dr. Bruce Lipton with the wisdom of globally renowned energy healers like Ilchi Lee. This film is based on the book, "Water Up Fire Down: An Energy Principle for Creating Calmness, Clarity and a Lifetime of Health" by NY Times best-selling author Ilchi Lee. Water Up, Fire Down refers to a balanced energy flow in your body. When you have that flow, you enjoy your life with a clear mind, open heart, and more power. Our mission is to help those who suffer feel hope by introducing ancient energy principles that empower them to discover the healer within, find love and acceptance for themselves, and take charge of their health and well-being. We also hope to inspire a movement to create peace, harmony, and healing in their lives, with those around them, and for our planet.
Endorsements
"If you're looking for a light in the darkness of your healing, THIS FILM IS IT!" -Dani Fagan - Mind-Body Coach + Yoga Instructor
"This is not just a documentary. It's a healing documentary." -Dr. Les Aria - Pain Psychologist
"The overall message - that we all have the power to heal ourselves through self-love is transformational." -Dave Beal - Speaker & Author
"This film made me feel hopeful about my healing process and the healing of the world." -Jenny Cusack
"Words cannot fully express my reaction to this epic journey that was not only masterfully produced, but holds the promise of changing countless lives." -Michael Sexton
"I've always been a huge advocate of self-love and holistic health, but the Love Heals film introduced me to practices that allowed me to connect to my body in a way I've never experienced."
-Leah Rachel Boquilon
