I am rooted in the belief that people are capable of extraordinary things, and, that love truly can heal us all. That trauma can be transmuted into transformation within the self and ripple out to the world. I know this is true because I have experienced it. Coming from a traumatic childhood steeped in generational abuse and addiction patterns, I used the experiences I had gone through and mistakes I have made as fertilizer to grow from.
My healing journey started with accountability. To look at the patterns which had predefined me and start making better choices which reflected my higher good. I learned how to listen to my intuition, to cut ties with previous attachments and beliefs that no longer served me. Over time, I have become a person that others seek out for support in times of need, a desirable friend and ally. These requests for and my ability to provide support are what ultimately led me to this path of serving others. My vision, my hope for this work, is that I can continue my healing journey with you, to lend my story to inspire and my knowledge to guide, and that it may contribute to better, more balanced experiences on this planet.
What you need to know if you want to work with me:
I do not claim to have "the answers", instead, I work with people to help them discover their truth and co-create conditions which make healing and growth favorable.
I believe there are many paths to happiness and/or enlightenment. I proudly work with people from any or no religious/spiritual background and/or sexual orientation.
I do not call myself a "healer" because I know I could only ever hold space for people to heal themselves.
My purpose is to help the movement move through creative action and practical support.
EXPERIENCE TIMELINE:
1994: Began working with Crystals for healing and started my journey of spiritual discovery
2000: Attended first birth and began making jewelry.
2001-09: Vending handmade goods all over Michigan as "Gypsy Jewels"
2006: Attended 2nd birth, found out what a "doula" was and made the decision to pursue it as a career.
2007 & 2008: Runway Hair Model for Pureology
Spring-Fall 2008: Worked on the campaign to get Medical Marijuana on the ballot so the people could vote. It passed 63%.
May 24, 2008: Organized first protest called "Bodies Against The War" - a 'die-in' where 221 people participated. To date it is the biggest 'die-in' in Grand Rapids history.
2009-11: Trained and certified through DONA, intl
May 2009: Founded Crowning Lotus with the goal of connecting mothers to their bodies and their babies to create stronger bonds and stronger moms.
2010: Worked at baby beloved, inc. with Kelly Emery. It was a nursing boutique at the time and while I worked there I was able to help Kelly connect and build community with the women who were utilizing the support groups and her lactation consultant services.
May - August 2011: Formed "Gypsy Hoopers" - a hoop meet up in a different park at the same time every week.
July 28, 2011: Brought the Milk For Thought bus out to Grand Rapids by getting their attention through Facebook. Ended up working with many community programs and together we created a great event in a very short time (my specialty).
Aug 6, 2011: Organized the Grand Rapids Big Latch On at Rosa Parks. We had 62 mothers/babes come and 57 latch on simultaneously.
Winter 2012: Was Reiki Master Attuned by Karen Hays.
2012-14: Initiated The Red Road Sister Circle which grew very quickly. It took place twice a month, for 2 years. This is when I began my more serious study on woman's well being as a whole approach from every age and stage, and became called to facilitate a healing that all women's womb spaces seem to need on some level.Aug 4, 2012: Organized Boobapalooza & The Big Latch On. 53 mothers latched on simultaneously.
Aug - Nov. 2012: Created a Breastfeeding Calendar to promote the normalization of breastfeeding in public and to serve as encouragement and celebration of nursing mothers everywhere.
April 2013: Became an Ordained Minister through the Universal Life Church.
January 2014: Co-founded the first out of hospital birth center in Grand Rapids, MI. and named her "Cedar Tree Birth & Wellness"
August 2014: Brought the Zulu Birth Project to Grand Rapids to teach us the beautiful ways of the Zulu Birth and life traditions. Made a friend for life.
November 2014: Wrote and Developed the Crowning Lotus bEARTH Doula Certification Program and Finalized the Professional Membership
January 2015: Gave my first ""talk" to a large group of teens where I shared with them my life story and some of the wisdom I had gained from that. Ironically, it was located at Wedgewood, a place where I spent a year as a teen as well.
March 2015: Spoke on behalf of Arbor Circle's homeless teen shelter, which I was also a resident in at the age of 12, at their Spring Dinner. I shared with them my story in the hopes that they would be compelled to contribute in any way that they can and to understand that no child - no person - ever should be thrown away or cast aside. That broken people need their community more than anyone. I received a standing ovation from a very large crowd - it was incredible.
June 11, 2015: Organized Jenison 4 Love somewhat accidentally. What started as a desire to create a peaceful presence against discrimination and respect for the separation of church and state turned into a community movement towards a redefinition of Jenison as a place that IS tolerant and safe for everyone. We received a lot of positive press and ended up with an overwhelming number of attendees (around 250).
June 20, 2015: Created Affirmation Cards that say "I believe in the good things coming" to promote mass consciousness and the music of Nahko & Medicine For The People (if you're not listening to Nahko, you're just not listening). Was able to get them in the hands of 400 people - including Nahko - and got backstage to meet and hug him!! I even danced on stage twice for the following band - What can I say....cause, you know...I like to get down! Through these cards the "Medicine Tribe" group found me and I became an active member.
Sept, 2015: Built a Private Facebook Group providing a basic childbirth education course for free in the spirit of "each one teach one".
Jan 2016: Began training for Childbirth Education Certification and taking the Evidence Based Birth professional education course.
May 2016: Was sought out and invited by Harbeen Arora to the 2016 Womens Economic Forum in New Delhi, India. I did not have a passport or the money to get there, but, in the 2 months I had I got everything I needed to and with the help of my wonderful community I made it there! I spoke on three topics: "More to Mothering Than Being A Mother" | "Victimhood, Self-Awareness & Personal Accountability: A path to power" | "Conscious parenting: What every parent should know"
June 2016: Truth time. I blew my life up. I came home from India and I left my husband of 18 years after a long period of knowing that was what I needed to do but was too scared to do it. I stopped offering in person doula work because I needed time to heal, find my center, and rediscover my mission. I continue to support many parents and people virtually through coaching sessions, and, I still offer all of my other services by word of mouth only. But, I take this work very seriously and will not do it if I feel I am not strong enough to.
May 2018-March 2020: Art Coordinator for Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore
Aug 2020 - April 2021: My partner, our magical 3 year old, and I were homeless due to COVID and the extreme housing crisis in our area for 9 months. When the heater in our RV broke in October, we had few options - so, we made it an adventure and packed up the car and hit the road. We lived primarily off BLM land in Arizona while trying hard to navigate a COVID existence (no open bathrooms, parks and nature even "closed" - took homelessness to a whole other level). We've been exploring different ways of living that are outside of the norm, and, we're finding so much love and ways of being that have set us free and encouraged us to seek alternative living circumstances. We were blessed to receive a miracle from someone who sold us a home directly in May of 2021.
May 2021 - Current: HEALING!! I am taking my time and I am taking up SPACE. This new home is my first ever safe space that I could truly call my own. As a displaced foster kid who ended up in a relationship where there was no room for discussion on where we would live, this has been a HUGE deal. I am currently in therapy, dealing with the heartbreak and aftermath of my divorce. I'm taking my time and dancing my way back to myself. I only do work that is put right in front of me and am going where I am led by spirit. Right now that thing is my art and the task at hand of battling the patriarchy and all their bullshit. ;)
2023 - STILL HERE. Still working magic and plotting and scheming on big things. Stay tuned. <3
"The change begins with me and I reflect it back to you." - Medicine For The People