Some of my Story

Where does one begin their story if not in the in-between spaces—those moments of change and insight that shape who we become? Like you, my personal history has influenced my identity, my academic path, and my creative work. From a childhood steeped in patriarchal religion to marriage at 17, the joys and sorrows of motherhood, including the devastating loss of one child and facing a cancer diagnosis followed by divorce just as the pandemic unfolded—each of these experiences has etched me like wind and rain upon stone.

They have carved deep channels within me, shaping the lens through which I see the world.

And yet, like you, my story is not only about the events themselves but about how they have become the ground for insight, transformation, and a way of knowing, seeing, and being in the world differently.

I began my studies in the sciences, focusing on anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and microbiology—fascinated by the complexity and intricacy of the human body, working toward a career in medicine. But a cancer diagnosis shifted my life’s trajectory, leading me toward anthropology, spirituality, and more existential questions about meaning and connection.

Living as a neurodivergent woman has been both a challenge and a gift. On the one hand, I’ve struggled with the sense of not belonging—feeling out of sync with the neurotypical world, experiencing burnout, and spending time bedridden from things others seem to endure without a second thought. And yet, on the other, my sensitive nervous system has gifted me with a way of seeing that some might only access through psychedelics—an ability to perceive the nuances of experience and vast but hidden connections. This heightened perception, this wild sensory sensitivity that enhances and vividifies the world around me, while sometimes overwhelming, has also opened me to the beauty of life’s interconnectedness. It has let me see to the root of things.

During times of upheaval, I found resonance with the mystics—those seekers who walk the edges of conventional understanding, who dwell in the spaces between the known and the mystery. Julian of Norwich, Hildegard von Bingen, and John of the Cross all influence my way of knowing.

Their writings and experiences gave me language for my own sensitivities and insights, access to the divine through my senses, offering a framework for a gentle understanding of the interplay of light and darkness, of suffering and grace. In their writings, I found both comfort and challenge, and they became a quiet yet persistent influence on my evolving work.

Throughout, I found purpose in academic inquiry. I completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Public Relations from MSU Billings, where I explored the role of media in shaping public perception and public discourse, particularly during moments of conflict. These studies sharpened my ability to analyze narratives, think critically, and understand the complex interplay between language, power, and perception.

In 2022, I earned a Master’s Degree in Anthropology and Social Change from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). My research focused on the stories of witches, women, and wolves—figures historically marginalized, feared, or persecuted for their perceived wildness. I examined how narratives of control, particularly fears of the feminine and the natural world, reinforce societal power structures.

Drawing on ecofeminist, anarchist, and radical anthropology, I explored how communities resist these narratives and imagine alternative futures rooted in ecological awareness, collective care, and shared belonging.

These experiences and studies have led me to my current PhD research at CIIS, where I explore the relationships between humans and the more-than-human world. I am drawn to liminal spaces—those thresholds where life and non-life, presence and absence, blend. My research focuses on the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the COVID-19 pandemic, investigating how these liminal unseen entities challenge our assumptions about existence and reshape our understanding of resilience and belonging. I am particularly interested in how transformation unfolds at these edges, where old forms dissolve and new ways of being emerge.

Alongside my academic pursuits, I founded MoonGather Women’s Circles in 2015—a space where women come together to share stories, support one another, and cultivate collective healing. These circles weave together community, creativity, and care, reflecting my belief that transformation is not a solitary endeavor but a process nurtured in relationship with others.

Today, my work integrates anthropology, spirituality, and personal narrative into a practice of soul friendship and deep listening. I offer guidance for those navigating life’s thresholds, helping them trace hidden patterns, uncover connections, and make sense of the stories that shape their lives. Whether through creative expression, storytelling, or conversation, I seek to support others in finding meaning within life’s challenges. My work is an invitation to embrace the beauty of transformation, to recognize that what appears broken may, in fact, hold the key to new ways of being, and to discover the profound interconnectedness that sustains us all.