Yes, I was a skeptic

On a recent episode of Menopause Chats, I was chatting with Anna from The Dreaming Otter. I have been working on and off with Anna since 2021, and I found myself reflecting on how, 10 years ago (maybe even less), I would have completely poo-pooed the work I am now called to share with the world.

It also shouldn’t be a surprise that many of my teachers have been former professionals who have found their way to energy work or mediumship. I’m naturally drawn to teachers who have walked the path of skepticism, as well as those who are deeply knowledgeable and experienced energy healers. I believe anyone can do this work with training and desire—you don’t need to be born with some special gift.

As a child, I pushed back on organized religion. In hindsight, I think a lot of that resistance came from my discomfort with blindly following rules that made women inferior. That never sat well with me.

I have always been curious. As a teenager, I read about various religions, faiths, and belief systems. For me, ONE dogmatic path never fit.

As an adult, I have attended Unitarian Universalist congregations and Methodist services, but overall, my spiritual practice has been much more personal than public. I believe in a power greater than all of us. I call it the Universe; others may call it God. I believe in angels and archangels. I believe Jesus was one of the first mainstream energy healers.

I tried to teach myself to meditate as a teenager (probably an outcome of reading Jack Kerouac’s The Dharma Bums). In my late 30s, while working in a stressful job, my doctor recommended meditation and enrolled me in a mindfulness-based meditation class.

That was rough.

Sitting still! Contemplating a raisin (I kid you not) for several minutes before putting it in your mouth to contemplate it some more. I went to one class and never went back.

However, around this same time, I found improvisational theater. I met David Razowsky, who spoke about being present and not efforting because everything you need is right there, right in your scene partner.

Improv became a meditation for me.

I was also introduced to Mike Dooley’s Notes from the Universe around this same time. Much later, I studied with him and made some very dear friends through his Infinite Possibilities community.

I went to the Chopra Center in Carlsbad, CA (before we knew) and learned mantra-based meditation, which turned out to be a much better fit for my brain. This helped me learn to be more present, calm, and relaxed.

I have meditated every day since—sometimes for only one minute. Trust me, it accumulates over time.

During an immersive leadership program, I was introduced to oracle cards by another participant. I loved them immediately (although I kept my love of them—and my use of them—hidden for quite some time). I bought several of Colette Baron-Reid’s decks and have studied with her.

Around this same time, a dear friend of mine was exploring Reiki and shamanism. Not going to lie—I love her, AND my thoughts were more on the skeptical side. I was firmly in the “I love this for you” camp, but it wasn’t my thing.

However, I could see how she was changing. She was radiating, growing, and living more and more in alignment. (Probably not shocking to read, but a few years into her journey, she took a package from her corporate job during the pandemic and hasn’t been back to the 9-to-5 since.)

I would say this is when my curiosity really started to pique.

She introduced me to Anna, who was starting a women’s circle working with goddesses. I went in curious but not knowing much. I had a Zoom tea date with Anna, loved her energy, and said yes to her circle.

I learned to journey.

What a gift.

I became Reiki-curious while Anna was still teaching. That curiosity eventually turned on something in me—the healing energy—and I have since learned other modalities.

And here I am.

I still work a day job in HR. Yes, this HR lady brings the magic. And I still work on my spirit every day.

I sit in the power. I connect to my guides. I ask for messages through automatic writing. I use my oracle cards. I do my own energy-clearing work on myself.

I love exploring how all of this helps me live more aligned.

I lead with energy and love.

We may have different beliefs, and I am not here to convince anyone that my way is THE way. I think there is room for it all.

I know the power of healing energy. I also believe it is not contraindicated—meaning, when practiced appropriately, it does no harm. I see it as an amazing complement to all the other ways we support ourselves: sleep, nutrition, movement, medicine, prayer, and so much more.

I only bring love and light.

When we work together, I protect my energy and yours so that only what is for our highest good comes through. I hold strong energetic boundaries. This work is always intended to support your highest and best interest.

If you are curious AND skeptical, I would love to talk.

If you think this is weird and way too woo-woo for you, know that I understand that, too.

And if you are totally onboard?

Let’s definitely talk.

What are the 5 Cs Intention?

The 5 Cs of Intention is my signature approach to working 1:1 with women. It is part of a 3 month (or more) container where we work together to move through the in-between. The in-between is what I like to call the space before our crone era. We are not feeling quite like a crone yet, but we may not be fully identifying as mother or maiden either. This work has evolved to be less about coaching and more about energetically clearing what is in the way of who you are becoming. It is unique to each person and I weave my intuition into each session to help us co-create the energy work for that day. I believe in this work because I live it. Here are the 5 Cs:

1. Connection - tapping into your higher self (pick your destination)

2. Cleansing/Clearing - time to energetically clear the cobwebs (prepare for your trip)

3. Cultivating - how do you get to your destination - customized somatic practice (GPS coordinates)

4. Calibrating - any adjustments to your route (recalculate your route)

5. Claiming - arrival

You may spend some time in 4 before getting to your destination and you may find that you want to go on another trip some day, but ultimately you are the driver - I am merely your trusted guide on the side.

What is intuitive coaching?

Before we begin, I want to share my perspective on psychic abilities. I know when I think of the word psychic it conjures up images of a lady with a crystal ball telling me my future, but it is actually the ability to connect with your deeper, inner wisdom. Everyone has these abilities. You may hear them called “the clairs” - the one most think of when they hear the term psychic is clairvoyance (seeing), but there is also clairaudience (hearing), clairsentience (feeling), claircognizance (knowing), and even clairgustance (tasting) and clairtangency (touch). Ever have a gut feeling? That is clairsentience. Ever just know something to be true (like this person is not telling you the truth), that is claircognizance. We all have the ability to tap into the clairs, but we often rationalize it away or we never get quiet enough to listen. We often have a primary clair - for me that is claircognizance. How it shows up for me in my day to day interactions is being able to see to the heart of something and naming it, so it can be addressed. It looks like naming something I see and asking your thoughts (sometimes I am 100% on and other times I am off, BUT it has always led to the person getting more clear for themselves). In many ways I have always relied on my intuition and only recently have I been open about it.

I have been an avid reader of Sonia Choquette’s books for years (and a member of her Good Vibes Tribe). I had the pleasure of being personally trained by her in her very first cohort of GIFT (Grounded, Intuitive, Facilitated Transmission) coaches as part of her service and legacy in the world. I live the practices to be a clear channel of energy, vibration, and frequency. This translates to me helping guide you back to yourself and to live more intentionally.

As an intuitive coach my role is to be a clear channel, holding a high frequency and vibration so that when we meet you can move beyond ego and story. It is about tapping into your higher wisdom and learning to live in alignment with your true self. You get to choose a new way of being in the world, one that lives with intention and in alignment - easing the burdens of trying to fit into clothes that are too tight. I hold space and gently guide you back to your truest self, one breath and one word at a time. This experience is more of a state of being and you get out of it what you bring to it. It is not magic, it is deep presence and non-judgment. It is coming home to yourself. Welcome home.

What is a Somatic Coach?

If you are wondering what a somatic coach is, look no further. I want to share my shift from a traditional, mindset/life coach to the power of somatics.

Somatics and nervous system regulation are buzz words right now, but what does it really mean? In my own words it is about addressing change in your body first, so your mind can follow. It moves beyond breathwork and meditation to looking at your desired state of being. Once I know your desired state I can provide practices that you can do every day to help your body feel safe enough to expand and maintain your desired state of being without reverting back to its well worn patterns. Then when you desire something different, I provide a different set of practices to support that desire. This work is not cookie cutter, it is highly customized to where you are and where you want to go.

I started my traditional coaching journey in 2018 through course work and certifications. I coached inside the organization I was working for at the time and had a set of clients on the side as well. This coaching is about deep listening, asking powerful questions, and helping to guide a person to their own conclusions. It can sometimes feel like therapy, but is focused more on the future. When I left that organization & joined a new one I had to stop my side business as it was considered a conflict of interest (and I still provide this type of coaching within their organization to participating clients). However, I was drawn more and more to a different way of coaching, one not as welcome in the corporate setting.

In 2025 I felt the calling to learn a coaching modality that felt more in line with my own energy. However, at the time I was feeling very scattered and disconnected. I was lacking inspiration, motivation in all aspects of my life. This was showing up as general malaise, forgetfulness, lack of energy.  I came across a program where not only would I be learning new tools, I would be experiencing them at the same time. Once I started working with somatics and addressing the body before the mind – things slowly started to shift. It didn’t happen overnight. I am a stubborn student, so I did less than was required, so my journey was longer, but over time I started to get my energy back, I started to see more clearly what I wanted to create, I was able to take action and stay the course. This led me to creating Pause and Align to help other women through the power of this work.

I am a realist, as you see in my story I do not necessarily practice for very long, but I do practice every day. Some days as little as a minute, but consistency is what builds the new container. I am living proof that this work is powerful and transformational, even when you do it in small doses. I would love to talk if you are curious about how this could help you.