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Interview with Marie & Travis of Althaea Herbals

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Dannika Soukoroff

Marie and Travis are an Herbalist dream team in Nelson B.C.

"Althaea is the Latin name of a plant very dear to our hearts, commonly known as Marshmallow. It can be translated to “healing plant” or “to grow, nourish and heal”. The work we do in centered around the health and healing of ourselves, our community and the wild, living world around us. The name Althaea Herbals encompasses the journey that we are on to bring growth, nourishment and healing into the world through the support of herbal medicines."

Both Clinical Herbalists & medicine makers, Marie and Travis offer their own unique tools in working with those are seeking to improve or manage health conditions from a naturalist standpoint. 

                                  Travis

Travis Cartwright, D.Phyt, RHT

Travis is a clinical herbalist, herbal medicine maker, educator and co-founder of Althaea Herbals. He maintains a professional membership as a Registered Herbal Therapist (RHT) with the British Columbia Herbalists Association (BCHA). He received his formal education from Pacific Rim College and has furthered his study with The School of Evolutionary Herbalism.

Guided by nature, his practice integrates the holistic energetic system of Traditional Western Herbalism with modern scientific knowledge. Travis is honored to support individuals in their personal growth and healing with the use of herbal medicine. Travis lives in Nelson, BC, where he forages and prepares various herbal medicines, teaches and runs a clinical herbal practice.

                             Marie

Marie Zak, D.Phyt, RHT

Marie is passionate about creating a container for her clients to explore the deepest layers of themselves. She works with herbal medicines and somatic tools to support her clients to become fuller, more embodied versions of themselves. Marie’s clinical focus is mental, emotional and spiritual wellness, as well as psychosomatic conditions. 

Her love for nature and plants is woven into her clinical practice, classes and medicine making.

Marie completed her herbal studies through Pacific Rim College, and is a Registered Herbal Therapist with the British Columbia Herbalists Association (BCHA). She is the co-founder of Althaea Herbals. She completed her Somatic Relational Therapy training through Mariah Moser’s training, Opening to Grace.

We had the absolute pleasure of interview these two amazingly skilled and amazing human beings!

Gaia: Hi Marie and Travis, such a wonderful opportunity to chat with you both. Why don't you tell us a bit about yourselves... 

Marie: I’m one of the founders and Herbalists behind Althaea Herbals.
I grew up here in Nelson with my five siblings, parents and dogs. It was a full and busy house, infused with a mix of love and conflict. My parents are very Christian, which was hard for me, especially once I hit my teens as I wanted the freedom to explore my own path. I was so lost during this period; I knew I
wanted something different but didn’t know what that was. Once I graduated from high school I started traveling and getting to know parts of myself that I hadn’t been allowed to explore when living with my parents. I fell in love with the practices of yoga, and eventually settled down in Victoria to study deeper. Yoga was the modality that opened me up to other holistic ways of living, and eventually I ended up studying holistic nutrition and herbalism at Pacific Rim
College. Once I completed my herbal training I moved back to Nelson to start my practice and study Somatic and Relational Therapy. Most of my interests are centered around nature and holistic living. I love cooking beautiful food, making
medicine, and spending time in nature. I’m fascinated by human consciousness and development, and love modalities like astrology and human design that connect the dots between the cosmos and human
experience.

Travis: I grew up in Red Deer, Alberta, a place that can be a challenging place to live for a person sensitive to the natural living world. As a teen and young adult I found sanctuary amongst the trees and wetlands and spent plenty of time traveling the extensive pathways and parks scattered throughout the city. I found
comfort in these places but knew little about those that lived around me. The forest was like a sea of green, rather than a diverse array of unique individuals.
One day, while visiting Kerry Wood Nature Center, a hub a part of the Waskasoo park trail system, my friend and I discovered and purchased a local medicinal and edible plant book. Outside the center, we identified our first wild plant, Yarrow, and learned a few of the plant's medicinal uses. Since this moment,
I have been infatuated with medicinal and edible plants.Upon graduating High school, I soon left Red Deer for Calgary. I worked at a local health food store for a few years where I learned some basics of natural health. Driven to learn more, I studied Herbalism with Wild Rose College, in their last in-person classes before they moved online. Seeking further herbal studies, I discovered Pacific Rim College in Victoria, BC. I relocated to Victoria, having never visited
before, to study western herbal medicine. I worked at a natural health clinic in Squamish, BC after graduating from school. While I was working,
Marie was still studying. We dated long distance, but visited each other regularly. When discussing our future, it became clear we both wanted to settle together in Nelson, BC, her long time home, where we
now practice herbal medicine. My interests are primarily focused around living a life in relationship with the natural living world. Herbalism is one of the aspects of a broader life practice that also happens to be a career choice. A large portion of my time is spent hiking, cultivating and foraging food and medicine, and more recently practicing archery to prepare for hunting.

                             Travis and Marie

Gaia: What prompted you to study herbal medicine?

Marie: My herbal studies were a byproduct of being in nutrition school. I knew nothing about herbal medicine until, in my first semester in college, I had to take a couple herbal elective courses. It was in those classes that I fell in love with the practice of herbalism, and after a few semesters I switched programs to become a Herbalist.

Travis: It’s difficult to determine what exactly prompted me to study herbal medicine because there seems to be a number of things over an extended period of time that lend me to this world. The innumerable hours spent
in nature inspired me to get to know the individual plants and mushrooms I encountered regularly. I learnt a few interesting medicinal uses but it remained that, just an interesting piece of information. It wasn’t until I began working at a natural health store that I began to recognize the medicinal value of herbs.
There were many stories shared by the customers and coworkers telling of the ways herbs helped them through various health challenges. While working at this store I began consuming and experimenting with many different herbs and supplements to get to know them. When I experienced my own serious health
issues I worked with herbs, supplements and conventional medical treatments. It was a difficult time but I made it through and healed. Not long after I decided to fully commit to studying herbal medicine.

                              Travis

Gaia: Did you find in pursuing your path of herbal medicine there was conflict with any beliefs or lifestyle you were brought up with?

Marie: My world view has changed dramatically from what I was taught as a child. As a kid I was taught that nature belongs to humans, and that humans are separate from plants and animals. Now I see through the lens of animism and vitalism; there is an intelligent force that animates all things. We are all micro
reflections of the macrocosm, and innate connected to one another. This lens informs the way that I work with plants and people.

Travis: Not at all. Looking back, I feel as though the path of herbal medicine has been a blessing and guide. Growing up I didn’t have any strongly held beliefs besides the felt sense that mine didn’t reflect those around me. I felt like I was in conflict with the culture I was embedded in, and herbal medicine has been a
guiding light towards what felt true, that helped form and clarify my current beliefs.

Gaia: How did you know herbalism was for you?

Marie: I felt it so strongly. The plants brought me so much joy, and there was this magical quality about them that I was drawn to. I make most of my big life choices based on feeling, and this was certainly one of those
choices.

Travis: I didn’t conscientiously know herbalism was for me. It was more of a slow process that pulled me in further and further to the point I’m at now, where it basically forms most of my lifestyle, identity and cosmology.

                               Elderberry

Gaia: As a Registered Herbal Therapist what does your job look like? What do your patient sessions look like?

Marie: My practice is different then most RHTs because I approach my work from the lens of Somatic and Relational Therapy. Patients come to me wanting to work on embodiment, nervous system regulation, boundaries and other mental/emotional/spiritual themes. We spend the majority of the session exploring these layers and we incorporate plant allies to support them in their processes. It’s been beautiful bringing these two unique modalities together to help people become more connected to themselves and the magical world of plants.

Travis: I am somewhat of a generalist in my practice. I welcome people of all sorts with a variety of health concerns. I offer containership for those who are seeking a safe and comfortable place to assess and reflect on their personal health and their broader place in the world. Clients who work with me value
working on the multiple aspects of one’s self, including emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing. With my support they are able to transform longstanding conditions that haven’t been adequately supported or assessed by any other health modalities. I offer a new perspective through the lens of Traditional Western Herbalism while taking into account modern medical diagnosis and therapeutics. In my sessions I review past medical history, current health & life circumstances and broad energetic patterns to offer customized lifestyle adjustments, dietary recommendations and herbal therapy. With my support my clients are empowered to integrate and implement deeper shifts they desire into their lives for long term change.

Gaia: Where do you source the herbs you use for your preparations? Why is it important for the product and for yourselves that you source the herbs the way you do?

Marie & Travis: We source our herbs as locally as possible from a variety of locations. Many of our herbs are grown by Micheal Silver, Earth Temple Farms, in Meadow Creek. We grow some ourselves, and ethically wildcraft many of them. Those that we can’t find locally we source from organic growers as close to home as possible. It’s common for Herbalists to import their herbs from overseas, which ends up being much more affordable with no cost in time. We choose to make our own medicine because our focus is on forming direct relationships with the land in the plants. It is important for us to have a direct relationship with the plants we work with and the land in which they live. We can ensure there is integrity in the growing practices and the foraging is done ethically. We have consistently observed the medicine that we make tends to be better quality and more potent than herbal medicine we find on the market. It’s really hard to do that without touching, tasting and communing with the live plants. We’re happier with the quality of the medicine that we make than we have been with most other products on the market. 

Gaia: What are a few of your favorite herbs to work with and why?

Marie: A few of my favourite herbs to work with are Hawthorn, Reishi, and Tulsi. Each of them for completely different reasons. Hawthorn is my favourite cardiotonic, that supports the physical and emotional heart. Most people feel
more heart centered while working with Hawthorn so I often give it to those who are moving through grief or overwhelm, and have lost their heart connection.
Reishi is one of my favourite mushroom medicines. It’s medicine is quite earthy and grounding; I work with it when people’s nervous systems are burnt out and frayed. It’s also a great immunomodulator, meaning it supports healthy immune function. It’s generally quite well tolerated.Tulsi is another lovely nervous system support that helps to clear mental fog and scattered thinking. It can help to clear the mind, improve focus and relieve anxiety.

Travis: Skullcap is a mint family plant we grow in our garden and source from Earth Temple Farm. It’s one of my favorites because it is consistently helpful and safe in most cases of anxiety, stress, and insomnia, while also being helpful to restore a “burnt out” nervous system.Yarrow is a common wild and cultivated plant, found in many parts of the world. The plant has a long history of use amongst many different cultures. It is a polycrest herb, meaning that it is therapeutically useful in many illnesses. It can be used internally and externally. If I was to work with only a few plants, Yarrow would be one of them.

                               Inner sanctum salve

Gaia: What’s your favourite type of preparation to make and why?

Marie & Travis: We make a lot of tinctures, which are potent alcohol extracts of herbs, they're our favourite to make. Tinctures are our most used and preferred medicinal preparation we provide for our clients. Tinctures are a highly concentrated alcohol and water extraction. The high concentration of herbal medicine means one can consume a relatively low dose of a tincture to receive medicinal benefits. The water and alcohol act as a solvent that extracts a wide variety of medicinal compounds, and often compounds that don’t extract as
well if prepared as a tea. The alcohol in a tincture helps to sanitize and preserve the medicine for many years, whereas dried herbs often degrade quickly and should be used within a year or two.

Gaia: Have you come across any herbs in the Kootenays that you haven’t found anywhere else?

Marie & Travis: Not yet! Many of the herbs that grow here can also be found on the West coast and/or in Alberta. The Kootenay area is very biodiverse, which makes our lives somewhat easier because we can stay close to home to access the numerous wild herbs we work with.

Gaia: Do you think natural medicine and allopathic medicines could ever come together and offer a more balanced and cooperative approach to healthcare?

Marie: For sure, many of our patients are on medications or working with other practitioners, and oftentimes we are able to co-create a protocol that is supportive for them.

Marie & Travis: Yes, of course. Many of the folks we work with are also working with a variety of healthcare professionals, and consuming a variety of medications and supplements as well. Herbal medicine provides a lot of support for people's health where other forms of medicine don’t. I believe herbal medicine should become much more widely available and accessible for folks because there are many gaps in other medicinal practices that herbal medicine can help in, as there are also gaps in herbal medicine that other practices can provide support for. It’s really about the person who needs help. Often people require multiple health care strategies to receive the best possible care.

                               Calm waters

Gaia: Are there any other spiritual practices you have? Do you mind sharing about them?

Marie: Most of my spiritual practices are centered around the plants and communing with nature. I often do new and full moon rituals, plus meditations, yoga/dance classes and other practices that connect me to my body and heart.

Travis: Nothing specifically. Although I have an animistic type of world view, meaning that I perceive a type of immaterial life force that animates all. Each individual being has this life force flowing through them, yet there is a unique expression of each individual based on their constitutional/elemental makeup. By working with plants directly the uniqueness of that being can help shift our being, consciousness, constitution makeup and teach us about the archetypal qualities they express. Essentially, interacting with nature is my spiritual practice if I have one.

Gaia: Are there any spiritual philosophies, beliefs or paths that you are drawn to that you’d like to learn more about? 

Marie: I love learning about how different cultures from around the world relate to plants, spirituality and our place in the world as humans. I’m especially interested in Celtic traditions.

Travis: I am very attracted to Alchemy. Alchemy is a direct study of the transformational cycles and patterns of nature. The practice of alchemy is not limited to the physical and the alleviation of physical suffering, but also the evolution of the soul and transcendence of spirit. It ties into herbalism well because herbal medicines work on the multiple levels of being, and by working with alchemical principles and practices I believe I can provide greater depth of healing for myself and the people I work with.

Gaia: How do you think you’ve grown as a person this last year?

Marie: This last year has been many big shifts for me that have helped to trust, know and value myself on a deeper level than ever before. The process of working with Travis to create Althaea has been a huge learning process that has been fun, and hard, and frustrating, and satisfying all at the same time.

Travis: This year has taught me the value of compassion, devotion and conscientiously created routine. In my practice I encounter many folks of many backgrounds and experiences. They often shared challenging aspects of their health and personal lives. By being there during peoples vulnerable moments I have developed greater compassion and care. As an entrepreneur it has been challenging deconstructing the self limiting habits and routines that have gotten in the way of me being a committed and involved herbalist and business owner. By conscientiously devoting myself to the practice of herbalism, my partner and my own personal development I have begun creating better daily habits that help me to focus and commit to the things that mean most to me.

Gaia: What is one thing you’d like to grow about yourself in 2022?

Marie: Trust is a big one, I have a hard time just letting things be. My capacity for trust has deepened over the years, but I still have a long way to go.

Gaia: What is your sun sign and how do you relate to it? If you know what your moon and ascendants are, do you feel like they reflect in your personality?

Marie: I love astrology and feel very connected to my chart. My sun is in Gemini in the 12th house, which tends to be curious people who are quite sensitive and have a natural interest in otherworldly things. My ascendant is in Cancer (tender, emotional, mothering) and my moon is in Capricorn (ambitious, earthy,
pragmatic).

                         Marie

Travis: My sun is in Aries, a sign associated with the qualities of fire, activity, passion and independence. My moon is in aquarius, a sign associated with the qualities of being observant, unique, and caring of others. I have an ascendant scorpio, and scorpio tends to represent the qualities of being mysterious,
individualistic, passionate and authentic. I do feel like I embody a lot of these qualities.

Gaia: Tell us more about the products and services you offer.

Marie: My favourite way to work with people is through my embodiment container, Sanctuary. It’s 4-12 weeks of somatic work and herbalism to deeply support people to heal patterns held in their body and nervous system. We also have a sweet herbal product line, which can be found on our website, and we offer classes and plant walks.

Travis: I offer clinical herbal consultations where I assess one’s health from a medical point of view as well as through the lens of vitalism. I use both conventional diagnostic information and the unique energetic characteristics of the health condition and person to develop a customized herbal protocol. In addition, I provide basic nutritional and lifestyle advice. Teaching is a major part of my work because so little is known, in the general public, about the herbal
medicine and the healing potential they provide. We offer classes on plant identification, medicine making, therapeutics and in depth herbal studies.
We also have a sweet herbal product line, consisting of herbal syrups, salves and tinctures, which can be found on our website, and we offer classes and plant walks.

                              Inner light

Gaia: Where can we find more information about accessing your products and services?

Marie & Travis: The best place is through our website, althaeaherbals.com and we’re also fairly active on Instagram, @althaeaherbals.

Gaia: What would be in your shopping bag at Gaia Rising?

Marie: Tarot cards and all the books :)

Travis: Books!

We will be doing an Instagram live with Marie & Travis of Althaea Herbals on Saturday, April 23rd at 1pm PST @gaia_rising_metaphysical 

Posted in

Interview with Stacey Arseneau, Nelson School of Yoga

Posted on April 07, 2022 by Dannika Soukoroff

 

                                  Stacey

Meet Stacey Arseneau. Yoga teacher, Yoga teacher educator & trainer, and owner of Nelson School of Yoga. 

"A grassroots Yoga studio located in the heart of downtown Nelson BC Canada. Hatha Yoga, Pranayama & Meditation practices for the beginner to experienced student. A Yoga centre that provides a space where people of all levels and abilities can come to learn and practice the teachings of Yoga. Classes range from Hatha to Vinyasa to Yin Yoga. With experience beginning in 2003, Nelson School of Yoga is registered with Yoga Alliance at the 500hr level including certified Yoga Teacher Trainings, ongoing continuing education, workshops and led classes. Join a community of connection, conscious evolution and realness."

Find us nestled in the Kootenay mountains amongst glaciers and the interior temperate rainforest. Find us at Herridge Place, across from The Best Western, along Nelson's Baker street. Dive deep into practice, contemplation and community led by Stacey Arseneau E-RYT 500, YACEP.

We love Stacey's space, it is so extremely inviting. There is a strong presence of Goddess & Divine Feminine energy that feels supportive in one's practice. Please enjoy our interview with Stacey as we learn more about her, her practice and her offerings.

                                 Mudra

Gaia: Stacey! We are so excited to be interviewing you. Please tell us about yourself.

Stacey: I grew up on the east coast in Bathurst New Brunswick. My roots are French and indigenous (Mi’kmaq and Inuit).

My father and mother are both strongly rooted in the east coast way of life and we would spend weekends out in the forest hunting, and connecting to the changing seasons. It’s here I began my inner journey with meditation and my connection to myself in a deeper way.

I have always had an appreciation for nature and the harmony it brings. I slowly made my way across Canada, to Montreal in 2001 and to Vancouver in 2003 as I was curious about the culture and lifestyle outside of the humble province of New Brunswick.

Gaia: How did you first get into Yoga?

Stacey: I was going through some big changes in Vancouver and started exploring my own personal growth.  I was looking to find community, a healthy balance and a grounded way of life that would nourish me in ways my previous lifestyle couldn’t provide. I was tired of the culture of grasping and indulgence and was needing to feed my soul. Yoga for me was a profound shift in my relationship with myself and the external world. In 2003, I dove into the practice, excited for knowledge and something new. It ended up transforming my body, mind and nervous system in very remarkable ways.

Gaia:  At what point did you decide to become a teacher? What prompted you to become a teacher & study yoga more deeply?

Stacey: I was frequenting a few studios in Vancouver, enjoying the different vibes, techniques, styles, and communities. In 2009, I took a 200 hour teacher training with Shakti Mhi and was able to expand through the rich history, philosophy and practice that is Yoga. I was fortunate to meet amazing practitioners to study with who helped stoke the fire of my journey and guide me toward teaching. I pay reverance to Chris Richardson, Christine Clancy, Mugs McConnell and Lalita.

                Stacey

Gaia: What do you feel you offer as a yoga teacher?

Stacey: I have a diverse history! I have overcome addiction, trauma, mental illness, and hardships. The practice has kept me grounded and focused. When a student comes to class, or I work with someone privately, we explore concepts like trauma theory, body biomechanics, having compassion for our emotions and Yoga philosophy. We manipulate the nervous system for positive change. There are parts of ourselves in everyones journey. We must come to know that we are not separate and are all reflections of one another.

Gaia: What are a few of your favourite yoga poses and why?

Stacey: This varies greatly depending on life events and how the body changes over the years. There are times where the simplest pose allows for connection. In a twist, I can connect to the present moment. In forward folds, one practices introspection. In backbends, one reflects on the past. That being said there is so much more to this practice than what meets the eye in physical postures. Outside of this Asana, we observe and quiet the mind and connect to the heart. Yoga is the stillness of mind fluctuations. The Yoga sutras tell us that Yoga begins now, in this present moment.

Gaia: How do you feel yoga helps you grow in your life?

Stacey: Yoga can be seen by many as a fitness routine. The 8 limbs of yoga offer a guide to live a happy and whole life. We learn the Yamas and Niyamas, we have a framework in which we can relate to others, our own desires, and tune our nervous systems towards contentment.

Gaia: Tell us about your studio.

Stacey: Nelson School of Yoga is warm and welcoming Shala. I was so fortunate to find a space that had great natural light and is walking distance to most amenities. I designed a modest room with warm colours, rainbows refracting through the windows, and a sense of clean, modern pop design.  Somewhere anyone could feel comfortable and tap into the beauty of the mountains out the front windows. I’ve brought my library of books to share with the students. The alter is adorned with flowers, candles and the smell of incense.  Its a fun loving revenant space that feels like home. Tea is always on :)

                                 Books

Stacey: What is your vision for your studio & what do you wish for your students?

Gaia: I wanted to create space that felt cozy and could only fit a limited number of students per class; this way each teacher has time and energy to focus on every student. It’s created a community of joy, compassion and acceptance. Often we chat, laugh, and share before and after class, and it makes my heart sing. I wanted to create a community, a lifestyle, and a safe place for everyone to do the work, and to find their own inner joy and light through Yoga. 

Gaia: Are there any other personal spiritual practices you have? Do you mind sharing about them?

Stacey: I’m a regular meditator and perform indigenous practices such as offering and smudge. Connecting to nature is important for me.

Gaia: How do you think you have grown as a person in the last year?

Stacey: I took the leap of opening the Shala 20 years into the practice.  It was a monumental undertaking and I feel so blessed to have done so. I have had to be vulnerable, understanding, immensely patient, and often stoic with the challenges that come with starting and running a business in todays politics. Luckily everyday is filled with lovely shiny people who come to the studio with an open heart!

Gaia: What is one thing you would like to grow about yourself in 2022?

Stacey: I would personally like to take a slight step backwards to finding work/life balance and have a bit more space for myself within the week.  Now that the school is growing and glowing, I would like to take some more time for nature, cooking, and spending time with my partner and daughter in the beautiful place we call home.

                            Ryan

Gaia: What is your sun sign and do you feel you relate to it? If you know what your moon and ascendant signs are, do you feel like they reflect in your personality?

Stacey: I do appreciate others commitments and interest in astrology. I personally don’t have much of a relationship to my signs, but have a deep reverence for sunrises, the lunar cycles and seasons. It’s undeniable to say we are not affected by the universe around us. I’m a Capricorn, isn’t that obvious?!

Gaia: Tell us about more about services you offer?

Stacey: I offer 200 and 300 hour Yoga Alliance accredited teacher trainings as well as private one-on-one sessions in alignment, emotional release, philosophy and spiritual guidance. The school hosts a number of dynamic workshops from holistic accounting to conflict resolution. My heart is so full to know that my humble space brings so much positivity to our community.

                                 Stacey

Gaia: Where can we find more information about accessing your services?

Stacey: On Instagram @nelsonschoolofyoga as well as www.nelsonschoolofyoga.com. The best is coming in for a lovely class with any of our yoga alliance accredited teachers!

Gaia: What would be in your shopping bag at Gaia Rising?

Stacey: Definitely Triloka incense, Himalayan salt lamps, beeswax candles, and braided sweetgrass.

Posted in

Interview with Sarah Salter-Kelly author of Trauma as Medicine

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Dannika Soukoroff

                           Sarah Salter-Kelly Trauma as Medicine

Sarah Salter-Kelly is a local author who her book 'Trauma as Medicine' in 2021.

"In Trauma as Medicine, Sarah Salter Kelly shares her experience of her mother's kidnapping and brutal homicide as an inspiring example of how to distill trauma into medicine on a personal level. Chapter by chapter, she invites the reader to take their own journey of healing."

'A riveting read. Sarah really grips your attention every step of the way with her personal stories. Her approach is very relatable and easy to understand. A great book for those who are dipping their toes in their own healing, as Sarah creates a clear and easy format to understand tools of healing, stages of healing and how to work with them. Also a great read for any veterans on the healing path, as everyone can use a reminder or a different perspective in our continuous healing and growth. This book is for everyone.' -Dannika,Gaia Rising

We had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Sarah about her and her book!

Gaia: Sarah, such a pleasure to be chatting with you. Why don't you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your background?

Sarah: I grew up near the banks of the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton Alberta, spending most of my free time playing in the ravines, hiking the trails, and jumping from the cliffs. This amounted to a lifelong love affair with nature and a desire to seek the edge of possibility.

Gaia: The main trauma you talk about personally in ‘Trauma as medicine’ is the experience of your mother’s kidnapping & homicide. Was this the first major trauma you addressed in yourself? Did it bring attention to other traumas in your life that were hidden in the shadows?

Sarah: Rape and Murder were the most obvious, and because of the extreme nature of this trauma it cast a shadow on the ones that were not. What I’ve noticed through the years is that it is difficult to acknowledge the power the smaller ones hold over us. We must convince ourselves that they’re relevant, and worthy of our attention/intention. Our bodies of course know this, but our mind needs to get on board. The first significant trauma for me was leaving home/being kicked out at 15 years of age. I was determined to be my own authority, unwilling to subject myself to my parents’ unreasonable expectations, and I refused to ask for help – with the fear that it would not be given. Given my age, lack of skills and development, this meant I went from the suburbs to the downtown core (of Edmonton, Alberta) and a lifestyle that was precarious and oftentimes dangerous. This took years for me to address as I couldn’t rationalize that it was traumatic, because I felt it had been my choice. Ironically, the self-determination and connection to Spirit that I gleaned from those formative years were what supported me in facing the devastating challenges of losing my mother to homicide.

Gaia: What was the hardest part for you personally in getting started with your healing of this trauma?

Sarah: Any sudden death leaves us grappling for a foot hold on reality, because everything that we knew to be true no longer is. There were so many hard parts, but if I am to narrow one down to the hardest in getting started, it would be making a choice to stop everything else in my life and let myself feel/grieve. After Mom’s body was found and we had a funeral, I had gone back to my retail job selling CDs/tapes in the local A&B sound music store. Three months later I recognized I was so overwhelmed with grief - every day - and I needed to be with the truth of what was coming through me. I could not fake or pretend that I was okay, and I didn’t want to.  I quit my job and went on medical EI for a few months. This set a precedence for choosing what my body was telling me over the expectations of what the over culture dictates as permissible or expected.

Gaia: In your book, you create a framework for individuals to use in their healing, without revealing too much to our audience, can you talk about one of the eight foundations you laid out, and explain how it helped in your experience? If it was a particularly difficult step for you, could you explain why?

Sarah: Intention is where we begin and is of the utmost importance. We can heal anything. There is nothing too big; which is why I share; to give readers/listeners an opportunity to say 'heh if she can do that, I can do this'. Set the bar high and all obstacles will be transformed. My intention was freedom. In as much this included not only addressing the grief and trauma around her death but finding compassion for her perpetrator. In time this included getting to know one of his family members. What is hard is that it is uncomfortable. This isn’t bad, it simply means we are growing.

Gaia: Spiritual bypassing is a term that is becoming a growing topic in the spiritual community. For those who do not know what ‘spiritual bypassing’ is, in a nutshell, spiritual bypassing is a defense mechanism in which we avoid confronting our uncomfortable feelings or shadows. Example: ‘Well this really bad thing happened to me, but everything happens for a reason.” Others can also weaponize, either unintentionally or intentionally (depending on who they are and where they are at). Sometimes it may be used to promote acceptance or some people might use it to establish dominance if they feel threatened. Example being “That really bad thing happened to you, but the universe has a plan and everything happens for a reason.” Your book strongly shares the sentiment of ‘everything happening for a reason’ and finding ‘purpose in the trauma.’ How can the reader walk away confidently knowing the difference between spiritual bypassing and these principles you are teaching as a means of true healing?

Sarah: I love Everything Happens for a Reason and I believe it 100%. What happens with Spiritual Bypassing is people forget the AND that is tacked on to the end of that statement. For example, Everything Happens for a Reason AND this includes all my anger, uncomfortable feelings, emotions, grief and rage. They are a part of the main event not separate from it. We cannot harvest the teachings of trauma if we have not digested it and told the truth to ourselves about what impact it has had on us. We need to tend to and acknowledge victimization, face fear and express emotions as these each hold purpose in our greater understanding of who we are. They push us to let go of control and grow. We are not meant to override our emotional response by tacking a positive affirmation on to it and ignoring what is present in our being. We need to notice what we feel AND that somehow, even if we don’t understand it there is a reason for it. Both are true.

Gaia: What does forgiveness look like to you, and how do you know that you have ‘arrived’?

Sarah: Forgiveness is a practice, a way of living and being in the world. I am certain it is not a place we arrive at permanently, or something we can hold on to indefinitely. We humans change with the cycles of the seasons and the stages of our lives, which generate different perspectives on what has come to pass, and this means we often have to forgive an old wound, again. Super frustrating when we want to be done, yet this is the truth of the human condition. I think the most important part is that we initiate the practice, as it generates freedom. For me this is the act of letting go of blame and opening to the inquiry of why these profound teachings have come into my life. The first time I felt completely free from being haunted by my mother’s perpetrator was when I accepted that he was one of the greatest teachers in my life.

                     Sarah

Gaia: Shamanic themes and altered states are consistent themes in your book. How did you come to the conclusion that these are valuable practices for healing trauma?

Sarah: I have thirty years of experience in utilizing altered states for personal healing, as well as guiding others in my private practice or through workshops/training. Altered states give us an experience of direct revelation where we can feel for ourselves the spiritual nature of our existence inclusive of our connection to Source. Whether this is through the use of plant medicine or shamanic journeys/trance – both are viable tools in helping us remember we are our own authority on healing. Trauma is not something that can be addressed by putting it into a box, these practices help us to incorporate the mythic/energetic/spiritual nature of what has come to pass so we may begin to determine their purpose and meaning. In my book I reference the use of the Underworld as a place where we can imagine that our trauma is hanging out. A landscape that we can invent and connect with through the use of our imagination. In doing so we do not have to cut off or get rid of any parts of our trauma, there is room for the whole thing, and in time when we are ready, we can develop the relationship with it that supports transformation.

Gaia: Would you be open to sharing about a power animal that you work with and what it represents in your life and healing journey?

Sarah: Almost thirty years ago I felt a connection with Wolf. Perhaps it was also because I was reading Women who run with the Wolves at the same time. Either way I used to go out at night under the full moon in the golf course that was in Edmonton’s river valley and pretend to be a wolf. I would ask Wolf to help me shape shift and I would walk through the edges of the open spaces on all fours, smelling wind, feeling the spirit of the land and learning to determine if I was safe. When I felt I was, I’d dash out into the wide-open greens, jumping, skipping and playing as wolf. She is the power animal I reference in Trauma as Medicine for helping to shift the paradigm of victim/prey into personal power. I feel her guide me in stepping into leadership as well as to willing to face/eat any heavy energy on my path - with an open heart.

Gaia: What other books or resources would you recommend for healing trauma, plant medicine and shamanic journeying?

Sarah: Books for trauma I would recommend includes, 'Healing Trauma: Walking the Tiger' by Peter Levine,'The Body keeps score' by Bessel Van Der Kolk & 'In the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts' by Gabor Mate.

As for Shamanic Journeying – most of my knowledge comes from direct experience, however these books are great: Starhawk’s Spiral Dance (journeying is called trance), Nicki Scully’s Alchemical healing or Power Animal Journey’s, Sandra Ingerman's Soul Retrieval.

Plant medicine: I first started experimenting with psychedelic’s thirty years ago and am comfortable with how they work in my body. My preference has been to explore their ceremonial aspects with others, rather than read a book. As I share in Trauma as Medicine this included venturing to the Amazon on five occasions. That being said I am presently reading 'Fly Agaric, a Compendium of History, Pharmacology, Mythology, and Exploration' edited by Kevin Feeney – which is fascinating book on the use of the infamous red capped mushrooms. And have just purchased Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World by Paul Stamets!

                              Sarah

Gaia: Could you explain what “wholeness” means in terms of being healed from trauma? Do you think that we can be completely whole in our lifetime, or does it take our whole lifetime to create wholeness?

Sarah: I think we are whole already. However, we tell ourselves stories all the time that make us believe we are not – stories that are most often related to our trauma. Some of these include why we are not worthy of love, what we are ashamed of, or what we are afraid of – to name a few. This energy negates our capacity to feel into our wholeness. Into the truth of what is present. We need to change the stories; it is actually that simple (and that hard.) To recognize our wholeness includes the experience of our challenges. Instead of allowing them to make us feel separate from ourselves, we can learn to metabolize them and open deeper to who we are.

Gaia: I fully agree with the sentiment of “you are not what has happened to you”. Why do you believe we can easily get caught up in making our stories our identities?

Sarah: Honestly Dannika, I think it is a natural stage in healing. In the acute phase, right after we go through trauma it overwhelms our whole identity. We do not know who we are anymore – and the truth that something horrible happened to me, needs to be felt because it is real. Its energy is dark, heavy and charged, and we carry this around with us, it becomes a part of the stories we tell. However, in time the charge lessons, and we gain more perspective, where we can start to realize that there is more to who we are than what happened to us. We recognize we have a choice in who we are, and how we live, that is not dependent on what was or was not done to us.

Gaia: Our ‘feelings’ can sometimes feel like our gut or intuition. How do you differentiate between your feelings and your grounded sense of inner knowing?

Sarah: I need to have practices in my life that keep me grounded, such as meditation, gardening, and physical exercise. This way I am cleaning my energy body regularly and addressing or allowing for emotions to move through me when they arise. It becomes easy to tell the difference between a sensation that is intuitively guided and one that is just an emotional reaction/response with this practice.

Gaia: You mother’s assailant was a first nations man. Finding this out about your mother’s story prompted a further journey into learning about Peter Brighteyes’ life, upbringing and history. Through your discoveries you learned how colonialism, racism, present day legislation & the systems in place that still affect first nations peoples, had a great impact on Peter Brighteyes. You were able to arrive at a place empathy learning about how him being in and out of the system, abuse & intergenerational traumas greatly impacted Peter and created the ‘evil’ in him that you believe led to him murdering your mother. Can you talk more about the process of how the empathy developed over time? What were the challenges of stepping into empathy?

Sarah: The word I would use is Compassion or shared humanity. This is such an important part of Trauma as Medicine. When we decide in our own bodies, that we are willing to heal at all costs, Spirit/Source/God brings us the teachings that we need to support this outcome. Of course, the challenge is sticking to it and being willing to face what comes, because it is going to be difficult and uncomfortable. For me, this meant I needed to let go of my need for Peter to be the Bad guy and start to wonder who he was as a human – other than a murderer and a rapist. For he was also a son, brother, father, friend and member of Saddle Lake Cree Nation. This was not easy. However, my mother’s spirit is very pushy - she was life Coach and believed there are no accidents - so I decided to listen to her. This coupled with prayers and ceremony, led me to stay curious and follow my intuition. It took years and has amounted to the soul work I’ve come to this planet to do. 

Gaia: You also developed a friendship with Peter’s sister. Can you explain how that was essential for your healing personally? 

                              Sarah

Sarah: This has been totally unexpected and one of the most soulful relationships in my life. Because it is hard. Because it makes me confront and be with the trauma of colonization and recognize the role my ancestors had to play and learn to be an embodied conduit for change. Together – Marilyn and I - offer story share talks at conferences or events on lived reconciliation. We have probably done this about 20 times since 2015 and each and every time I feel I learn something new, my energy body heals deeper, and I am inspired by what we generate together as possibilities for simply listening to the other.

Books I recommend for learning more about the First Nations experience in canada: 21 things you may not know about the Indian act: Helping Canadians making reconciliation with Indigenous peoples a possibility By Bob Joseph, Half-Breed by Maria Campbell, Stolen life by Rudy Wiebe & Yvonne Johnson, Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King. Most importantly read the reports from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that includes first hand stories, history and calls to action that still have not been mandated.

Gaia: What is your hope for humanity and the Earth?

Sarah: To become sustainable people and live in reciprocity with Mother earth, each other and Spirit.

Gaia: Are there any other personal spiritual practices you have? Do you mind sharing about them?

Sarah: Mediation, Yin Yoga, sharing Haywahrikuy gratitude offerings with the land (I have been studying the energy healing tradition of the Q’ero people in Peru for 16 years) and time outside physically challenging myself.

Gaia: Are there any spiritual philosophies, beliefs, or paths you are drawn to that you would like to learn more about?

Sarah: I would like to go to Ireland, Scotland and England to listen to the land and learn more directly from teachers of the Shamanic lineages native to those lands. About 65% of my ancestry is from there.

Gaia: How do you think you have grown as a person in the last year?

Sarah: This book birthing has initiated a whole new journey, which coupled with the teachings of covid times is really profound. I trust myself more than ever before and feel willing to show up and be present with what is here.

Gaia: What is one thing you would like to grow about yourself in 2022?

Sarah: Quite literally my arm strength with my weights practice…And to generate an international presence in sharing Trauma as Medicine!

                    Sarah

Gaia: What is your sun sign and do you feel you relate to it? If you know what your moon and ascendant signs are, do you feel like they reflect in your personality?

Sarah: I am a Scorpio Sun with an Aquarian Moon and a Libra rising. They – along with the rest of my chart – vastly reflect how I exist in this world. I need things to be in balance, at peace and diplomatic, not always an easy task yet that is the determination of the Libra influence. I am fiercely independent in my spiritual nature and have had learn to forge my own path in relation to energy healing and digesting trauma, here is the Aquarian moon. The intensity of my life and my desire to go into the dark, be with truth – no matter what - and not waste time with small talk is my Scorpio Sun.

Gaia: Tell us about more about the readings you offer and other products or services you offer?

Sarah: Private sessions in person in Grand Forks or on Zoom. I teach Trauma as Medicine retreats – there will be one in Kaslo in September – and have an online mentorship 12 week program which follows the book also beginning in September. Every full moon I host an online shamanic journey. Come April I will be doing a Trauma as Medicine book launch event for the Nelson area at Soma Yoga studio!

      Sarah poster

Gaia: Where can we find more information about accessing your products and services?

Sarah:

www.sarahsalterkelly.com   

https://www.facebook.com/traumaasmedicine/

@sarahsalterkelly (Instagram)

Gaia: What would be in your shopping bag at Gaia Rising?

Sarah: Oh easy – Beeswax candles, new set of cards on mystical astrology, incense, and I need some statues – Green Tara, Kwan Yin, Isis and Ganesh.

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Kari Johansen's Monthly Gaia Update

Posted on March 24, 2022 by laureen barker

                                       Kari's Monthly Gaia Update

                                       Kari

There’s a lot of information out there on Manifestation and Law of Attraction.

Many of us have seen the fruit of childhood wishes or conscious manifestation methods come into reality. It never ceases to amaze, even if we fully expect it!

I’ve noticed, however, some important missing pieces to the modern methods of intentional Law of Attraction or manifestation.  Have you ever tried to consciously manifest something only to be left feeling disappointed or disempowered by the lack of fruition you see in the months or even years to come? Maybe some things manifest while others do not & there doesn’t seem to be a ‘rhyme or reason’. Perhaps you’re still expecting something, patiently waiting for it, even though you’re beginning to question if it will ever come about. Or you’ve just given up on it altogether. 

When I’m working with someone on their Healing & Growth, manifestation is an important part of it. Not as a focus but because we manifest all the time, whether consciously or sub-consciously. When in session, I ‘tap in’ to & translate one’s Energy Systems. What I’ve often noticed in the energy and desires to manifest is such high focus on what’s wanted and creating it, that often we can miss the mark on what's in our Energetic Parameters... [disclaimer, I’m an Energy coach not a Manifestation coach].

These parameters are vast. A combination or your overall Energy signature, your timeline (past/present/future/no time), your connections with others, consciousness and all things both seen & unseen, it’s your Soul’s “Energy Spectrum”. So, when I say “miss the mark” this is not to say there is limitation to our ability to manifest at all, in fact it is incredibly limitless, magnificent and uniquely individual. The manifestations that come from this place are indescribable … the word perfect comes to mind.

The things is, it's really not about manifestation, it’s about living our best and fullest life, a life we love, abundant in all things. It’s about how this is not only possible but allowed and encouraged by the Universe. We just have to get out of the way! To do so, we must ensure our Spirit is in the driver’s seat – where it can get a clear connection with the Soul’s frequency. The ego, who always with us, sits in the backseat (fitting, as this is where a child would sit). We must be aligned in our Heart Center with the Earth & Sky energies within which we live, and in communication with our Soul – where our Energy Spectrum meets with us on this plane. Sounds like a lot, but not really. It’s just a matter of breaking it down.

I’ve observed also, there is often a sense of control coming out of the conscious creation of our life. This is partly what gets in the way. We are free to express our Soul's desires but we must be aware that sometimes our personal translation of a desire – which begins with energies not of the mind, can be misrepresented in this modern world. It’s only with a total surrender of control that we can allow the Universe to support us in our creation – as we are BEST to receive it. Because it knows BETTER THAN US what will bring the fullest potential of the feeling we search for, i.e. whatever it is we’re trying to translate… It is very much possible to achieve that feeling without the thing we think we need to get. But we must be open to that, & our Trust & Faith in that unknown must be there.

Not adapting, keeping ridged routine, holding on, maintaining pain etc. are also a common cause of ‘manifestation hold-up’. From a state of Trust, it’s important to remember; be readily willing to adjust and let go, in order to let in what we want or need. We can most easily manage it by keeping a state of Presence as much as possible. Being present, we are best able to energetically align with all current circumstances –accepting what is, able to see adjustments to be made, and readily releasing what no longer serves us.

There are so many factors in true manifestation. Energetically, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

It can be discouraging to see our manifestation unfulfilled after many years. But it’s empowering to know we can align ourselves, shift patterns causing pain or limitation, readily adapt, & clear pathways for the Universe's support. Don’t give up, know that your manifestation capacity/energy spectrum connecting you to that support is on your side. Open up to new possibilities, unknown gifts of all kinds. And hold Trust & Faith that the Universe has our back.

Kari Johansen

For those who are interested in working with Kari, visit her website (EarthSoundWellness.ca) for services and to connect to ask questions. Take advantage of the Spring Equinox special (expires April 30) by entering code "SPRING22" when booking!

Holistic Health & Energy Coach

Natural Wellness Consultant

Energy Healing Practitioner

Medical Intuitive 
EarthSoundWellness.ca

Posted in

Essence of Ash : Sineating and Seidr, a continuation of our Instagram live

Posted on March 12, 2022 by Dannika Soukoroff

                        Essence of Ash

Ash & Dannika spoke about Sineating & Seidr in their Instagram live on March 12th. These topics go more in depth than what time allowed, so please enjoy Ash going deeper with these topics.

Dannika: You mentioned in our interview that you were wanting to learn more about ‘Sineating’ can you go into more detail of what ‘Sineating’ is and it’s origins?

Ash: I first read the book The Sineaters Last Confession: Lost Traditions of Celtic Shamanism 4 years ago, and I became fascinated with the lore surrounding these rituals. The book is based on a true story and it records Ross Heaven's fascinating journey as the sin eater's apprentice, who is introduced to the lost art of sin eating and other Celtic shamanic traditions. This spiritual memoir records the author's wondrous and moving experiences with the powerful energies of the natural world. He witnesses Adam removing negative energies from a patient, meets fairy folk, reads omens in nature, discovers his soul purpose through dreaming, goes on a vision quest in a sacred cave, and participates in a sin eating ritual. I was particularly interested in the sin eater's workbook included in the book, providing some of the same shamanic exercises and techniques practiced by Adam.

A sin-eater is a person who consumes a ritual meal in order to spiritually take on the sins of a deceased person. The food was believed to absorb the sins of a recently dead person, thus absolving the soul of the person. Sin-eaters, as a consequence, carried the sins of all people whose sins they had eaten. Cultural anthropologists and folklorists classify sin-eating as a form of ritual. It is most commonly associated with Wales, English counties bordering Wales and Welsh culture.

Today, anthropologists view the practice of sin eating as an aspect of magic that protected other people from harm. One might expect that they were respected for safeguarding people’s loved ones from damnation. Far from being appreciated for the valuable service that they gave to the community, however, sin eaters were believed to be defiled with the sins that they consumed. They didn’t merely absolve the deceased of their sins but actually absorbed them, effectively becoming sin on behalf of the community. On top of being outcasts in the next life, they were outcasts in this one, as well. It was not a pleasant job.

I am not interested in performing these rituals but I am fascinated with the techniques that Sin-eaters employed as healers in their communities or often on the outskirts of the communities. They lived alone and had extensive knowledge of herbs and their magical qualities. In the book I mentioned, the sin-eater was sharing his knowledge with an apprentice. Sin eaters were the ultimate scapegoat, they took on the burden of sin and held the responsibility of transmuting it. They were essential, masters at their craft and yet never had the connection of community. 

Dannika: You mention that you want to teach ‘Seidr Trance’ in 2022, can you explain what Seidr trance is and what Seidr means.

Ash: The definition of seidr relates to thread, circumference, a bond, or something that approaches. This leads to the idea of seidr as something that spins, a spirit thread, a circular movement that induces trance. It is commonly interpreted as the shamanism of Scandinavia, insofar as shamanism concerns itself with a trance state that invites in the possibility of undertaking journeys or “soul-flights”.

Practitioners of Seidr were known as seid-madr, seid-kona and Seidberendr. The most famous act of divinatory weird is found in Voluspa, the poetic rendering of the end Aesir and the coming of a golden age. Here the practioner is referred to as “volva”. Volva or Volve derives from Volver, carrying a staff, giving purpose to how she was holding Yggdrasil in her hands; planting the staff in the ground would be similar to erecting holy ground, allowing the world tree to stretch its roots to the ground and enter into contact with Nidhog and the Norns. Usually she was an old woman, old is defined by loss of menstruation, where she left her position as woman and mother and became something else. She became a prophetic channel, going between men and gods. Volva often carried a volr, literally, a stang (or staff), literally symbolic both of Yggdrasil and the dual acts she is capable of by being able to both bring fertility to a land or household or to take it away. So great was her position and status that even Odin himself goes to her to learn of the fate of the world and the gods. These divinations were usually a lengthy process that included songs and enchantment, galdr and silence. She could transform her shape (hamr) and her body would lie as if dead, or asleep, even though she would be a bird or beast, fish or snake and be off in a twinkling to a distant land upon her own or other peoples business. She could also do other things, still the ocean, turn the wind to any direction, she could know other fate and foresee what has not yet happened, she could bring men to death, misfortune or ill health. This was an art and power with great responsibility that is why it was upon a volva who could take up this power and straddle multiple realms at the same time. 

Dannika: In my reading I found out that the practitioners were often women sometimes referred to the völva and or Norns. These women were professional or semiprofessional practitioners of Seidr. They were both revered and reviled for being women with so much power and wisdom. Do you feel you relate to this archetype? Do you feel that we have made strides in creating respect, understanding and even admiration to these powerful, connected spiritual archetypes of women?

Ash: Volva links to my patron goddess Freya and to the crone archetype that I have cultivated my practice around. I also work with the Slavic mythical character Baba Yaga and I have found some similarities between her and the archetype of volva. 

Seidr was an art that belonged to women. It was Freya, the Vanir, who brought this wisdom to Odin, who became the master of it. Seidberendr is translated literally to “the art of the cunt”. Actually, it was considered quite complicated for a male to indulge in these arts as the accusation of ergi could arise. Ergi was meant to mean to take the more submissive part in a sexual relationship. By being subject to this particular accusation, one could lose respect, work, wife and income. 

Interestingly, the apprentice in the art of seidr was sometimes referred to as “the apprentice of the moon” as the keys to the art were thought to be hidden in the art of poetry and the abundance of soul. “Those who ride at night” were connected to Seidr. 

I am interested in teaching methods of Seidr Trance but do not identify as a Volva, I am a student of the practice and have found the trance techniques to be helpful for my rune casting. Galdr (chanting and singing) is used to enter into a trance like state, breathwork extending the length of in and out breath is used in unison to enter a state of relaxation. There is an element of ecstasy involved with Seidr trance, an elation that comes from “sitting out” in a sacred place and calling on the runes to assist in a prophetic journey or for the act of rune casting. Trance is likened to “going out” or sending the spirit out of the body aided by galdr and at times by drums. I am aiming to teach the very basics of this technique and am by no means an expert. My “Intro to Norse Magick” course will illuminate the foundation of this practice and how to begin to explore trance techniques. 

As for the question about whether we have made strides in creating respect, understanding and even admiration to these powerful, connected spiritual archetypes of women… I would say, this is just beginning to shift in our present world. The archetype of the crone is one of inner worlds over the outer expressions. The importance of intuition and developing strength in aloneness. In silence. The volva is connected with the natural world, with the elements and has the wisdom of womanhood. We are just beginning to value this type of wisdom and seek to find the places where we can learn these old traditions. In many ways, it is an unlearning process. She is wild, untamed, feral in many ways. These are not traits that we have been encouraged to explore or hold in reverence but we are edging towards a change. 

Find ash at @essence.of.ash on Instagram

Her website: www.essenceofash.com

Posted in

Interview with Essence of Ash

Posted on March 10, 2022 by Dannika Soukoroff

'Ash is an artist whose work revolves around the ritualistic inscription of mandalas on animal skulls. She views her artistic practice as a means of transforming grief and pain into beauty, and as a reminder of both the fragility and indestructibility of life.'

                Ash

I found myself in this interview struggling to find a word that would act as a container to describe Ash and her work, but to no avail.

A multi-disciplinary artist, archaeologist, diviner, seeker....

Essence might just be the perfect word. In all of the things she creates, the source and the completion of her creations is truly her essence.

Gaia: Hi Ash. We are so excited to get to know you. Please tell us about yourself.

Ash: I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan. I was interested in witchcraft, herbalism, and divination from a young age but it was hard to find a lot of material about it at the time. I had an active inner world and often escaped into it. Living on the farm had a wild edge and I loved ripping around on the quad, helping out with seeding and spraying, and spending afternoons in the garden with my mom. There was always plenty to do and we didn’t watch much tv. I experienced depression when I was in high school and that depression deepened in my early 20s. I journeyed through illness and loss and was homeless for a time. I tried to numb pain with opioids and antidepressants, and although I never really enjoyed drinking, I gave that a go too. I couldn’t shake alienation and despair, and I attempted to take my own life a few times, with one serious attempt. After that close call, I made some major shifts and went back to University for Archaeology. The majority of my work experience was at the University. I worked in the Students’ Union, Admissions, as an Analyst and then in the College of Arts & Science as an Academic Coach and Coordinator. I took the leap into my art full time after dealing with illness that took me off of work and I re-examined what I wanted to do with my life. I had my Archaeology degree but had only gone on a couple of overseas digs. I didn’t really feel there was much of a future in the field for me, especially with my health the way it was. I flowed more energy into my art, into wellness and reconnected to spiritual traditions. I also trained as a Death Doula and started volunteering with a local hospice organization. I started living in a completely different way, embracing all the wild and witchy ways that for so long I tried to suppress. So grateful for all the ways my journey shaped me and where I have ended up.

Gaia: You seem like a bit of a Renaissance Woman, with your offerings and talents being so varied. Archaeologist, rune reader, artist, mushroom enthusiast. Why don’t we start with learning more about you, and how you found your way into Norse mythology and rune reading.

Ash: I am a bit all over the place and always have been. My interest in pagan traditions started when I was about 8. I loved to read and my auntie would gift me the most magical books. One of my favourites wove tales of Vikings and Norse gods/goddesses. Soon after, I found out that my mom’s family was Norwegian with ties to Iceland, and I felt a kinship with Norse myths. In my adolescence, I was drawn to many spiritual traditions including Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and Christianity. I was isolated growing up on a farm and attending a small town school so most of my discovery came from books. When I was 19, I started tarot reading and while I was still pulled to the runes, I felt intimidated by them. Tarot reading was my first real journey into divination. I lived with my aunt for the first year of University and she taught me a lot about variations of readings and how to connect intuitively with spirits. When I was working at the University of Saskatchewan as the Women's’ Centre coordinator I became friends with a volunteer that was well versed in Asatru. She connected me with books and rituals that shaped my relationship to the runes in a new way. I started carving my own out of wooden slices, casting and painting them into mandalas. In the last few years I finally felt comfortable creating bind runes, staves, giving readings to others, and exploring Seidr trance.

                 Handmade bone runes by Essence of Ash

                  Beautiful, handmade bone runes by Essence of Ash

Gaia: Did your voyage into divination practices conflict with any spiritual or religious beliefs that you grew up with?

Ash: My parents were atheists and the main challenge I faced was gaining permission to work with different spiritual traditions. My stepdad and I would argue over spirituality and my naivety around it. I was motivated to research as many spiritual traditions as possible to see what resonated the most. As part of my exploration, I went to each of the churches in my hometown. I couldn’t find any Buddhist representation at that time. One of my school friends went to a youth group that I ended up attending with them. I found these environments really welcoming but limiting in some of the beliefs. Eventually, I fell out with the church and came back to pagan practices.

Gaia: If you find that you connect to runes more than other divination tools, why do you feel this is?

Ash: I see the runes as ancient beings. They have layers of access and as far as I have experienced, there is no end to their expansion. When I first started working with divination, they were two-dimensional, translated from books alone. I think this is where the intimidation came from; I didn’t feel close enough to them and wasn’t sure how to enter into deeper initiation. I thought there was a process that I could find or someone could teach me. Eventually, runes became part of every experience. On a hike, I would see the shapes in tree branches, lichen on a moss in the shape of Fehu, roots that cross into Tyr, pebbles that formed a stave. They were in my dreams as beings, with bodies and voices, imbued with messages and intentions. I think working with the runes makes me feel closer to my ancestors. I went to Iceland in 2018 and my relationship with the runes transformed on that trip. They moved in a way that was beyond understanding and my love for them deepened. I feel my great great grandparents in them. I feel roots in them. They are incredibly nurturing but also keep me on my toes.

                       Ash tarot card

                                    Ash and the Hermetic Tarot

Gaia: Do you experiment with other divination tools? Do you think you would incorporate them into your offerings in the future?

Ash: My first love was tarot, and I often do readings for friends, family and for myself. I took a course from Lindsay Mack called ‘Tarot for the Wild Soul’ and it enlightened me to richer meanings and what they can symbolize. They have become a tool that I rely on daily to help navigate challenges and see rising themes in my life. In the past year, I have taken a step back from offering tarot because I wanted to ground into my runic divination. Another practice that I have explored is using animal skulls as scrying tools. I would use the cranial cavity of a cleaned skull to see what patterns arise and what messages naturally come up. Lupa has a fascinating book on this called Skull Scrying: Animal Skulls in Trance Work. This is something I would like to offer in the future in connection with Seidr magic. I also talk about dreams all the time. My dreams have been incredibly important to me since I was a child and I love interpreting them. I have done ‘Gateway’ training with the Monroe Institute focusing on methods for astral projection and out-of-body experiences. Using methods like binaural beats and meditation before sleep, altered states of consciousness can be entered into. I would like to offer sharing circles or workshops to explore dream interpretation and astral projection methods in the future. 

Gaia: How did you get into studying Archaeology?

Ash: First I wanted to be a writer, then an artist, and when I wasn’t encouraged in either of those directions, I sought out the next thing that I was most passionate about, Archaeology. We would find arrowheads, pottery shards, and fossils on the farm and I would collect everything in such awe and appreciation even if I didn’t fully understand what they were. My great grandfather had an impressive knowledge of historical Archaeology sites in the area and he piqued my interest in these subjects. Initially I chose Archaeology because I desired a job where I could be outside as much as possible and handle objects with a story, items that held threads of meaning for someone at some time. Although I currently am not employed as an Archaeologist, my studies and experiences have shaped the methodical way that I work with discoveries. I still spend the majority of my time outside on the hunt for “treasure” or bone fragments in the forest.

Gaia: Does your background in Archaeology influence you or support you in your spiritual studies and your art?

Ash: I think that studying Archaeology created an insatiable curiosity that translated into my spiritual life and art. I try to keep child-like wonder alive and constantly seek out new ways of being fully in the world. My partner and I hike quite a bit and enjoy exploring new places in the Kootenays. Methods of identification and analysis that were part of my schooling help me to stay present when we are adventuring outdoors. I am usually scanning the ground, surveying the trail and pushing off into the trees to see what I can find. I love learning about past cultures' spiritual practices and a lot of my Archaeological papers focused on speculating on the meaning behind those practices. I still spend a great deal of time reading books about how magic has been portrayed over time. I think that my passion for Archaeology weaves seamlessly into my current work.

                    Skull mandala art

                                     Lynx Skull art by Essence of Ash

Gaia: Tell us more about your art! What inspired you to make art out of skulls? What other kinds of art do you create?

Ash: I started collecting animal skulls and bones when I was living on our family farm. I took up decorating them after a trip to India in 2012. I was painting mandalas as a form of meditation and a way to deal with my depression. Decorating the skulls in a ritualistic way became an equally healing expression. I felt like I was transforming something mundane into a sacred object, through my eyes anyways. Cleaning skulls, seeing them from gruesome into a whitened canvas felt like a really nourishing process. Honestly, I didn’t think I would be selling animal skulls when I started painting them. It happened naturally and helped me through very dark times. The skulls came from trappers, farmers, friends that found them on trails or on their land and I had to learn about the permits and appropriate paperwork to obtain animal remains legally. I liked the idea of taking care of these remains that would otherwise be discarded. I would create honoring rituals for the animal, a sort of funeral and gratitude blessing for the life that once was before cleaning the skull. My art has since really branched off from the skulls and includes mushrooms, plant medicines, resin, altars, wood carvings and embroidery.

Gaia: How did you get into incorporating mushrooms into your art?

Ash: I really don’t know when my fungi obsession started. I feel like it was love at first sight. These last few years its been a new level of mushroom madness. I started collecting spore prints because the variation of prints were fascinating and sometimes the only way to identify species. The spore prints looked so much like an iris that I created mandalas mimicking the Greek evil eye. Then I experimented with using mushrooms as natural paint and dye for bones. It might sound silly but mushrooms bring me a lot of joy. I love spotting as many different kinds of fungi as possible and learning about mycelial networks (nature’s internet!). Amanita Muscaria has been the queen of my mushroom dreams and a lot of my art is focused around those spore prints. I work closely with plant allies, primarily poison plants and Amanita have been big teachers since I started exploring with the medicine. I don’t consume Amanita. I work primarily with prints and dried specimens. I also work in a similar fashion with Datura, Foxglove, Henbane, Mandrake and Brugmansia.

                        Mushroom art

     Mushroom spore print 'Evil eye' art interpretation by Essence of Ash

Gaia: Your art seems to be strong expressions of all your interests combined… is this a natural process? Does it require a lot of thought and consideration? Left or right brain kind of process?

Ash: I am winging it most of the time. It has been a very organic process to bring all interests together and I don’t spend much time thinking about the cohesiveness. This is what feels most natural, I am following my joy through the tools that nourish me the most. I am not highly organized in all areas of my life and business. The reason I chose ‘Essence of Ash’ is to allow that freedom of exploration, to move in many directions following interests that arise and diving into the practices that align. I always want room to grow and change as much as possible.

                     Mushroom art

                         Mushroom spore print art by Essence of Ash

Gaia: Are there any other personal spiritual practices you have? Do you mind sharing about them?

Ash: I am interested in the tradition of Sineating. Ever since I read the book The Sineater’s Last Confessions: Lost Traditions of Celtic Shamanism, I have been completely intrigued by this form of healing. This tradition explores plant medicine, deciphering omens and communicating with nature spirits. My other spiritual practices come from psychedelic journeys and plants that I work with to help heal my own trauma and depression. I have found it useful to journey with Ayahuasca, DMT, and Psilocybin. In some ways these sacred medicines have saved my life and I continue to integrate my experiences with these teachers daily.

                     Skull art by Essence of Ash

                     Coyote Skull art with Mandala by Essence of Ash

Gaia: Are there any spiritual philosophies, beliefs or paths you are drawn to that you would like to learn more about?

Ash: I have always been drawn to Tibetan Buddhism and the Vajrayana path. I am especially drawn to the Dakinis in this tradition and how they cut through illusions. My experience is limited with diamond way teachings but I am interested in finding a group to sit with and go deeper into these methods.

Gaia: What is your sun sign and do you feel you relate to it? If you know what your moon and ascendant signs are, do you feel like they reflect in your personality?

Ash: I am Scorpio through and through. My sun and moon signs are both Scorpio and ascendant Sagittarius. I am an Aries North Node. I am not nearly as murky and moody as my chart would claim! I do spend a lot of time in the emotional realm and feeling into the existential abyss. If there is anything that is spot on, it’s the introverted Scorpio narrative. My Sag wants to connect and I can be very energetic and playful but I need a major recharge after being around people. I crave one on one connection always but my anxiety flares up at events. I relate to Baba Yaga's crone energy. My happy place is puttering around in the garden, making concoctions, and planning adventures in the forest. There is definitely an intensity that comes with being a double Scorp that can be exhausting. It means overanalyzing, over-feeling, and seeking out the root to everything. It’s a gift in a lot of ways but I regularly try to shake off the seriousness and be jolly.

                          Skull art

                                  Elk Skull art by Essence of Ash

Gaia: How do you think you have grown as a person in the last year?

Ash: Moving to Nelson has brought with it some major changes. I have sustained myself almost completely through my Essence of Ash business and moved a lot of my services online. This wasn’t entirely the plan but I couldn’t find an Archaeology contract position or anything at Selkirk College that fit my job experience. Leaving my community of family and friends in Saskatchewan was difficult and I still do not know many people in the Nelson area. I have always been a kind of recluse but this past year, even more so. I started volunteering with the Kootenay Wildlife Rescue (Little Mittens) and had the opportunity to take care of some wild animals that really warmed my heart. I started taking the BC Real Estate Licensing Course this past Fall and will be writing the exam in June. That has allowed me to grow in a lot of ways and brought me back into study/learning mode which is one of my favourite states. I feel motivated and driven to move outside of my comfort zone. The Spring and Summer were busy months of wildcrafting tinctures, hunting mushrooms, camping and exploring the vast, beautiful Kootenays. We live just outside of Nelson so I have enjoyed living closer to the forest and the water, less noise and more connection to the wise trees. I have felt the wildness returning since we came to the mountains. There is room to expand and play. I have found new interests including embroidery, sewing, and block printing.

Gaia: What is one thing you would like to grow about yourself in 2022?

Ash: I would like to make videos about Norse magic, rune casting and Seidr trance. Most of the sharing has been by writing, instagram posts, photos, or on my website, but I am aiming to create different content that is more interactive including live reels, interviews with other artists, and informative videos. I would love to capture rune casting sessions, reels about the process of making runes, cleaning animal skulls, and mushroom identification (or spore prints). I have an offering coming up on March 23 - April 27th, an Introduction to Norse Magick 6 week course that is delivered through zoom. I am going to be preparing more classes and workshops, this is something I have been working up to for a long time and I am really thrilled about. I am getting some branding work done by a local artist in Nelson called November Wild. This will help grow my business and I can't wait to work with her on a new logo. I also hope to welcome more opportunities for collaboration in the next year.

                       Skull

                           Cat Memorial Skull Art by Essence of Ash

Gaia: Tell us more about the readings you offer and other products or services you offer?

Ash: The products really vary based on what I am in the mood for creating. I always have skulls available for custom including wolves, lynx, fox, coyote and bear (more available on request). Details on my custom process can be found at www.essenceofash.com. I also offer pet memorial, where I create a ceremony for a pet that is passing, and I can clean pet skulls. I have done pet memorial paintings using ash remains. Information about this can be found on my website. Rune Casting readings include: 3 rune spread (past, present, future), 5 rune spread (based on the elements), ship-burial method rune spread, and a 24 runic year spread. Custom Bind runes, combining runes to create an intentional symbol or talisman, is by far my favourite service to offer. They can be used for tattoos, altars, visions, logos or jewellery. Includes a digital file of the bind rune and write-up on the runes integrated.1:1 Rune Magic Mentorship: these sessions cover an introduction to the Elder Futhark, embodiment practices, daily rituals, bind runes, casting techniques, how to make your own rune set, Seidr Magick basics, and how to use staves. I am doing these sessions primarily online for now. I will be offering Tarot Card readings again in the near future. I am also a trained Death Doula who works with end of life clients. For more information on this, I recommend reaching out so I can explain what the end of life support can look like and what I am able to offer. I have my Jikiden reiki certification and can provide distance reiki sessions. I am always working on bindrunes, staves, spore print art, bone mandalas, and I post this under the ‘for sale’ highlight on my Instagram page @essence.of.ash

                        Art

Gaia: Where can we find more information about accessing your products and services?

Ash: My instagram @essence.of.ash is the most up to date with offerings, information can also be found on my website www.essenceofash.com. My email address is essenceskulls@gmail.com.

Gaia: What would be in your shopping bag at Gaia Rising?

Ash: Incense, Scandinavian folklore books, Norse pagan books, Tourmaline, Jet, Obsidian, Kyanite, Beeswax candles, mushroom rings, and Tarot cards (there are so many to choose from!!).

Ash and Dannika from Gaia Rising will be doing an Instagram live on March 12th at 1pm! Make sure you attend this very special live event!

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Interview with Peggy of Chateau Blanche

Posted on March 03, 2022 by Dannika Soukoroff

Chateau Blanche is an independent artist and creates beautiful & funny stickers, cards, mugs and many other products!

                               Peggy

We found Peggy's line and could not resist bringing it in to Gaia.

                     Bong

Being a metaphysical shop, in the Kootenays & next door to Buddy's Pot Shop, the themes of occult, spirituality & marajuana combined seemed to be a perfect fit for our shop.

Gaia: When did you start creating art?

Peggy: I've always loved creating. In my earliest memories I'm drawing, painting, sculpting, & collaging. If it had anything to do with making art, objects, pictures etc. I wanted to try it.

Gaia: What were some of the first mediums you worked with in creating your art?

Peggy: I have memories of raiding my parents' business supply closet and using basic copy paper stapled down the side to resemble a sketch book, red & black bic ballpoint pens, & yellow highlighters.

Gaia: On your Instagram page you describe yourself as a ‘Greeting card company gone rogue’. Did you only initially start with greeting cards and break into other things? When did this happen?

Peggy: I was primarily a greeting card company for the first year and I slowly branched out to other things that my art would work on. Enamel pins & patches, stickers & magnets. Art prints & keychains & mugs. I made a coloring book once too. I enjoy several processes outside of drawing so a lot of the handmade items are products of my desire to work with a specific medium. What do I want to work with right now? Do I want to play with clay and make ashtrays or ring cones? Do I want to experiment with resin & gold leaf & crystals? Do I want to zen out and paint wood beads for keychains and roach clips?

           hbd

Gaia: Do you plan to grow your collection to other products?

Peggy: Oh absolutely. I will always want to play with my creativity through trying new things and learning as many artistic processes as I can. Sometimes I try a new process and I'm hooked! Other times I'll try something and immediately realize I never want to do it again.

                 topshelf

Gaia: We absolutely love your weed tarot stickers! What are your favourite pieces from your line?

Peggy: Any of my recent stickers & coffee mugs. Those products allow me a bit more creative wiggle room as opposed to designing an event specific greeting card. Also part of the reason I've continued to "go rogue".

                          selfcare

Gaia: What is the most challenging thing about being an artist? What is the most rewarding, fun or exciting thing?

Peggy: The most challenging thing about being an artist is that I've made it my career. When I draw or design something there's pressure for it to be well received & marketable while still being authentic. The most rewarding thing about being an artist is that I made it my career. My actual job is to make things that others enjoy enough to give as gifts or buy for themselves and that's really really cool. The most exciting thing is that I get to write off all my art supplies.

                            stickers

Gaia: How do you think you have grown as a person in the last year?

Peggy: Honestly, I didn't grow much last year. That sounds bad, but I was just trying to get through it, ya know? I've probably grown more in the last month than I did the entirety of 2021.

Gaia: What is one thing you would like to grow about yourself in 2022?

Peggy: Giving myself and others more grace. We're all doing our best.

Gaia: What is your sun sign and do you feel you relate to it? If you know what your moon and ascendant signs are, do you feel like they reflect in your personality?

Peggy: My sun sign is Scorpio and yes 100%. My ascendant is Scorpio and my moon is in Leo. These are also all too accurate. I'm also considered a cusp baby, born on November 22nd... so I have quite a few Sagittarius traits as well.

Gaia: What would be in your bag at Gaia Rising?

Peggy: What would be in your shopping bag at Gaia Rising? White Onyx Runes. Selenite Yin Yang Candle Holder. Herbal Tarot Deck. Gratitude Journal. Bee by the Sea Hand Soap, Shampoo and Conditioner. :)

                 Dope

We carry a number of Chateau Blanche stickers, cards & some mugs at Gaia Rising....

But you can find Chateau Blanche online @ https://linktr.ee/chateaublanche

 

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