THE FIRST STEP IN OUR JOURNEY IS:

How did I get here—able to speak to you, to connect through trust...   The answer begins with a feeling:

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"I know what Safe feels like."

 

That statement holds deep meaning for me. It’s not just about physical safety, but emotional, spiritual, and communal safety. I got here by trusting others, by receiving support, and by choosing to grow. I’ve taken steps to build my inward compassion and, through that process, found my way back to community.

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Support has come from many places, starting with my large family of origin and the loved ones who stood by me. I’m also deeply grateful for my career as a professional designer—a visual communicator—where colleagues became trusted allies. I have always sought out and been held by various “tribes”: friends, colleagues, communities that held space for trust. These are my human trusts, and they have played a vital role in shaping who I am.

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My path has also been shaped by healing communities like AA and Refuge Recovery. These programs taught me lessons in direct compassion and reintroduced me to the concept of community from a new, more grounded perspective. During this integration period, I experienced both failure and success, and learned to live in the mystery of both. The "warm blanket of community" became real to me again, coexisting with what I call "The Family Blanket." This helped me shift previously held beliefs formed by post-traumatic stress and the more current experiences of trauma.

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One of the most transformative experiences was meeting the tribe at The Sanctuary—my first medicine wheel. They helped me reconnect with my original, inner tribe, my “Local,” which in turn opened the door to overwhelming gratitude for All My Tribes. If you’re one of them, you know. MUNAY. From there, I went on to complete two more powerful medicine wheels with Rising-Fire, culminating in their Healer’s Training Program. That training ignited something within me—Local-Ritual—my current path. HAYAYA. Deep thanks to Rosemary Beam and Rising Fire for their guidance and wisdom.

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Healer’s Training offered me something that changed everything: real-world applications of Spirit. This is what I call Practical Shamanism—adjusting your inner Operating System (OS) to live with more ease. Let me be clear: ease does not mean easy. But with practice and attention, we can learn how to live more naturally, honoring the human animal while staying spiritually attuned. This work is as much about being grounded in the everyday as it is about transcending it.

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Lastly, I want to thank something unexpected: technology. Yes, the digital tools and the human developers behind them. Through shared-video platforms and virtual circles, I’ve been able to experience genuine connection. Compassion flows even across screens, and healing continues. I’ve found trusted communities here too—communities that I love. I believe the more vulnerable we can be, in spaces where safety is real, the more we can experience deep, transformative change. Some of this work happens far from home. And some of it begins—and continues—within the Home that we choose to make safe.