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Original photography by Karine Gordineer
Copyright 2007
Copyright 2007
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I have spent much of my life being close to nature. Nature brings balance and awakens
tremendous forces for healing in a way that nothing else does. Everything that I practice
and teach springs from that tenet. My exposure to herbal medicine began with my father
as a child. My father is of Native American heritage (Mahican) and would often use herbal
remedies that were handed down through our family. I learned quickly to identify the
plants he would use and to absorb the knowledge and wisdom he shared with me. From
my mother's lineage, both her father and grandfather were herbalists. As a young adult I
felt drawn to and inspired by nature and wanted to learn all I could about the green world
all around me and so I began studying with local herbalists, taking workshops and reading
everything I could get my hands on. I gained much knowledge through these experiences
but found that I still longed for the deeper connection with the natural world that I had
tremendous forces for healing in a way that nothing else does. Everything that I practice
and teach springs from that tenet. My exposure to herbal medicine began with my father
as a child. My father is of Native American heritage (Mahican) and would often use herbal
remedies that were handed down through our family. I learned quickly to identify the
plants he would use and to absorb the knowledge and wisdom he shared with me. From
my mother's lineage, both her father and grandfather were herbalists. As a young adult I
felt drawn to and inspired by nature and wanted to learn all I could about the green world
all around me and so I began studying with local herbalists, taking workshops and reading
everything I could get my hands on. I gained much knowledge through these experiences
but found that I still longed for the deeper connection with the natural world that I had
come to know as a child who often spent entire days pondering the movement of the sky or the petals of a flower.
After spending a considerable amount of time alone and quiet in nature, it became apparent to me that the Earth and
the green world has a language all it's own. Being quiet in nature you can hear this language and experience this
tremendous healing force. I have felt this power, this force throughout my life.
Much of what I knew growing up and experienced as a young person drew me to herbalism, shamanism and the
healing arts. As I continued my herbal studies I also began studying complimentary healing modalities. In 1994, I
began my Reiki training and received my First and Second Degree attunements in the Usui Tradition. In 2000 after
working with the Reiki energy for some time and allowing it to work its healing power in my own life, I completed my
Reiki Master’s training. I began studying shamanism in 1998 and found that it felt completely natural to me. I
continued to expand my shamanic training and spent 2 years studying Plant Spirit Medicine with Pam Montgomery
which was a beautiful and life-changing experience. I have also taken the Core Shamanism class with Sandra
Ingerman. My work today consists of teaching a variety of classes, conducting healing sessions and creating natural
herbal remedies.
Our world is out of balance as are all of us living in this world. Many of us remain unaware of this imbalance until we
are faced with a serious or life-threatening condition. Take a walk in nature and see the balance. Become aware of
the way in which all things in nature seek to maintain equilibrium. It is from this perspective that I teach and engage
in healing sessions. Balance is not a fixed static point but something that flows as nature does. I believe that as we
seek the Silence in Nature we are able to hear the Silent Place within ourselves. It is within this place that all healing
begins.
After spending a considerable amount of time alone and quiet in nature, it became apparent to me that the Earth and
the green world has a language all it's own. Being quiet in nature you can hear this language and experience this
tremendous healing force. I have felt this power, this force throughout my life.
Much of what I knew growing up and experienced as a young person drew me to herbalism, shamanism and the
healing arts. As I continued my herbal studies I also began studying complimentary healing modalities. In 1994, I
began my Reiki training and received my First and Second Degree attunements in the Usui Tradition. In 2000 after
working with the Reiki energy for some time and allowing it to work its healing power in my own life, I completed my
Reiki Master’s training. I began studying shamanism in 1998 and found that it felt completely natural to me. I
continued to expand my shamanic training and spent 2 years studying Plant Spirit Medicine with Pam Montgomery
which was a beautiful and life-changing experience. I have also taken the Core Shamanism class with Sandra
Ingerman. My work today consists of teaching a variety of classes, conducting healing sessions and creating natural
herbal remedies.
Our world is out of balance as are all of us living in this world. Many of us remain unaware of this imbalance until we
are faced with a serious or life-threatening condition. Take a walk in nature and see the balance. Become aware of
the way in which all things in nature seek to maintain equilibrium. It is from this perspective that I teach and engage
in healing sessions. Balance is not a fixed static point but something that flows as nature does. I believe that as we
seek the Silence in Nature we are able to hear the Silent Place within ourselves. It is within this place that all healing
begins.