Finding Your Shine Through Personal Transformation and Loss of a Loved One

Through the past years of my life, it has been anything but normal. There have been magical awakenings, major changes, suffering, loss, beauty, and a whole lot of love found in moments, good & bad. I am writing this article as my first one, one day after losing my father on 8/8/26.

The Pull Towards Something More

I have successfully owned and operated a Salon and Spa for the past 28 years, starting this venture at a very young age. It was my passion and purpose to help people feel more beautiful. As the years went on, my family grew, and I brought two amazing boys into the world, who now, at 18 and 20, are about to step into their own future. During their tween years, I found myself yearning for something more. I felt burnt out in many areas of my life as a business owner, mother, and wife. I spent more time nurturing and being the strength for others while not allowing myself to receive the love and strong shoulder I needed to fall on. I’m sure many of you can relate. The hard part is doing the work to find out why we allow ourselves to get into these patterns.

But the one consistent pattern that was happening came from the universe: that undeniable pull and force letting you know there’s something more. I would speak of this often to my husband, that there’s something more… I just don’t know what that is.

Not long after that, I found myself in Greece on a Retreat with some girlfriends, and while trekking through the hills of Santorini during a sunset, there was a necklace staring at me through the glass window that pulled me into the store. I bought it right away. It was called the Phaistos Disk and, if I remember correctly, the only ancient artifact whose meaning they could not decipher, but considered it blessed.

This is where my journey began as the universe continually dropped things into my lap. Adventures that I would have never considered, like crawling into caves so deep into the Earth, turning all the headlamps off, and then having to speak your deepest, darkest secrets. Working w/90yr old shamans in sweat lodges. Going to the top of Mt. Shasta and witnessing unexplainable light forces all around you, along with many other journeys.

My world cracked open fast, so unbelievably fast, that it showed me that this was not new to me; it’s always been a part of me. I’m meant to help others see beyond what they already know.

Growing up as a girl in the woods, I am very connected to Earth energy, along w/a strong intuitive sense that has helped direct me through life. Both of my parents came from religious backgrounds. They chose to raise us as Unitarians, which, during that time, taught that what you believe is true to you is what is. As a child, sometimes I felt like I wanted more direction with this. As an adult, I am forever grateful because it has allowed me to be open in many ways of believing.

Awakening

My first awakening was around my heart. I achieved this through Breathwork, which is an incredible way to shed the layers we hold and reconnect to our truth.

What it brought me back to was an image of myself when I was 19. I was about to go out with my best friend and had just gotten an apartment for myself on a beautiful pond. We were getting ready to go out, and I was in the bathroom, staring at myself in the mirror, doing the last little touches, and I remember feeling how much I loved the way I felt on the inside and the outside, and the big open world that was waiting for me.

That true feeling of just love for yourself and excitement towards life.

I had let that slip, but my 19-year-old self came back to remind me. I thank her!

Next Awakening

The next awakening was around Angels, although I look at it more as a remembering. We are all individually guided, and each connects with different forms of presence. For me, that was through remembering a higher support that’s been with me all along. As my own work continued, I began seeing patterns of support in threes: work with angels, indigenous teachings, and what I call the land of the unknown.

Having
Faith – Hope – Love,
as a driving force.

I am so grateful for this foundation that helped guide me through my father’s passing on 8/8/26.

Dad

Born the day before me, we have celebrated our birthdays together through the years. My dad was kind, playful, positive, and fierce when he needed to be. He was one big, beautiful package all wrapped up in one.

There was a lot to process through his passing, but what I can tell you is that his resiliency for life Moved Me! And I’m SO Proud of him.

My father passed away twice, and although I did not get to have a conversation about what happened during the time he was gone, the focus was more on being able to hold his hand and hear him tell me he loved me, along with sticking out his tongue at moments to lighten the mood, were the times that stand out most, and I’ll always treasure.

However, days before his passing, we did get caught in a moment where he was speaking with me and others who were not seen, pointing to the left side of the wall, letting me know that’s where they came in, and then pointing to the right side of the wall, and that is the door they leave through. He then started calling out the names of who was there. The first one I heard was Betty. Her name was all I paid attention to because Betty was his aunt who had passed.

Lovingly, I told him that he was between two worlds and that this was a beautiful thing because both sides loved him dearly.

I don’t know exactly what he experienced in those moments, but I know what it meant to me.

My Dad recently taught me that we are all in between worlds, that there is a door we enter, and a door we leave through.

During my years of transformation, the loss of my father, and continuing to do the good work on myself, the message I’d like to convey is that “it all starts and ends with your heart.”

Your connection to all that’s true – your heart is your superpower: the connection to earth and light above. And when willing to understand, even in the darkest of moments, that your shine is yours, knowing the privilege it is to foster its growth, connecting to yourself and all that’s around you.

If you feel like something is missing or find yourself constantly giving w/little return, know that there is a space waiting for you where your mind & body run free.

That is the heart of what I created.

Heartlight Breathwork is a combination of heart activation, lightwork healing, and breathwork. Return to the true essence of who was there all along.

TAKE ACTION: Today, let someone you trust support you in one small way. Accept their offer to help, listen, or simply spend time with you, without feeling you need to give something back immediately. What might it feel like to receive the care you so freely offer others? If you feel called to reconnect with yourself and make space to receive, Join Our Next Group Session or Get Your Complimentary Heartlight Reset Guide.