The world has a way of demolishing our best laid plans and giving us opportunities to surprise ourselves… we usually don’t predict which stars we’ll land among when we shoot for the moon.  It’s up to us to surrender to the lessons that teach us who we truly are, to find gratitude for unexpected blessings, and to discover what it is we value most.  My journey started much like yours, as a being of love surrounded by density and confusion. 

I cared so much about people that I started studying human development and literature when I was only ten years old, though my favorite books to read were about animals and strong fictional heroines.  I grew up learning what it means to be “of service” and had lots of quiet time outdoors.  I’ve spent my life walking between realms, existing in a reality filled with angels and elemental beings.  It wasn’t until I was 15 years old that I realized other people weren’t aware of the messengers I was seeing, hearing, and feeling.  Eventually I realized that, as much as it hurt to feel disconnected from other people, in a way it kept me safe and no one ever asked me how I knew what I knew. 

My struggle with the awareness that others weren’t receiving the divine guidance and love that surrounded them led me to study more about the intersection of spirituality and neuroscience, culminating in multiple Reiki certifications, a degree in psychology from Albertus Magnus College, and participating in a study at Yale to help others who hear more than the eyes can see.  I also completed intensive trainings to become a certified holistic life coach and, more recently, a Recovery Support Specialist (RSS) in the state of Connecticut. In the past year my eyes have been opened to so many things about the strength and determination of the recovery community and its commitment to holistic wellness. The “breadcrumb trail” has led me to explore even more- including initiatives to support survivors of domestic violence.

What I have learned from it all?

With each course of study, the first thing that changed was me.  The list above doesn’t mention the years I spent focused on shadow-work and learning how to ground into my human body.  It doesn’t cover the book by Doreen Virtue that saved my life, and the tears I cried to make room for new adventures… or the friendships that ended when I started loving myself more.  Over the years I’ve been called to surrender more and more into the fire.  Trauma comes in every flavor.  We are all recovering from something (or many things).

We all have the capacity to heal ourselves, sometimes we just need another person to offer a little permission, space, and softness whether we are struggling with grief, expanding our intuitive gifts, or recovering from our past.  We lose our voice only to find it again in new places.

As we learn from each other with compassion we create connection and open pathways to giving and receiving love-- and that is the magic!