In my early thirties, I left rewarding work in graphic design to answer a deeper call — to work with living things and help others heal. I first worked with sheep, cows, and horses while living in a meditation center. I studied herbalism with Susun Weed in my spare time and grew an herb garden outside the barn. That’s where I first witnessed the quiet power of nature-based healing.

One ewe, Mumu, was underweight, constantly coughing, and couldn’t complete a pregnancy. The vet prescribed various antibiotics, but nothing helped. One winter, I gave her a homemade vinegar tincture of coltsfoot, plus dried nettles and red clover in her feed. That spring, Mumu birthed two healthy lambs. This miracle was a turning point for me and a reminder that real medicine often begins with listening, presence, and the gifts of the earth.

Not long after, I moved to Berkeley, California, and immersed myself in many years of holistic health training — acupressure, craniosacral therapy, nutrition, and somato-emotional healing. My original idea was to work with animals, but what surprised me most was how much I loved working with people. My years in meditation centers helped me stay present with those in distress, and opened my heart to the healing path I walk today.

A Personal Reckoning with Midlife

In my late 40s, menopause arrived — and at first, I welcomed it. I had been teaching Acupressure for Menopause, and Women’s Health, since I was 40, and I knew many natural remedies to ease the symptoms. I embraced the process as a sacred rite of passage.

Then my marriage ended suddenly, and my life unraveled. My symptoms drastically intensified — non-stop hot flashes, high anxiety and insomnia. Exhaustion took over. I felt depleted and lost. So I did what I now help others do: I reached out for support. I turned to coaches, healers, and therapists. I leaned into nutrition, body therapies, and nature. I moved to the country and let the land hold me. Slowly, my natural joy and love of life returned.

And something else emerged: The wisdom to recognize the cycles of nature echoing in our lives and overcome the fear of aging. When I understood that each stage of human development has the potential to unlock amazing gifts, I became excited to experience new levels of my natural empowerment. Aging became a magical invitation to become more fully myself. To root deeper, and rise stronger.