keeper of the four medicines

I’ve always been an animist. As a young girl, maybe around 10 years of age, I’d leave my parents’ house and wander through backyards, over a fence, through some overgrowth, down a slope to a creek.

I’d hop, skip and jump along large stones to the center of the creek. There, in the center, was a large flat stone and the water rushed past on both sides — this was my sit spot (my place in the natural world that resourced me).

I’d sit there and catch up with Creek, Heron, Stone, etc until I could hear Trees singing again. This sometimes took hours and sometimes just minutes. But, when I could hear their voices again, I knew I was ready to return to the hustle and bustle of my every day life.

One would think there’s not much hustle and bustle for a child and, truth be told, in my childhood, there wasn’t. But, I knew even at that age, I needed to maintain my relationships with my other than human kin or I’d be lost. And you know what? Somewhere along the way, I stopped dedicating time to listening. And I got lost.

My first year in college, I injured my back during crew practice and my coach suggested that I take the on campus yoga classes to heal and stay fit so that I could return next season. I was so inspired and transformed by this physical practice that I never went back to rowing.

It wasn't until much later that I learned the deeper lessons of Yoga and how it would transform my whole way of navigating this crazy experience we call Life. But, yes I’ve been on my mat since I was 17. #gratitude #blessed

The year after my first child was born, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. I’d been struggling with it since high school, but wasn’t diagnosed until this year.

During that year while on a myriad of medications, I spent a total of one month of my life in the hospital away from my newborn daughter. When the more conventional route for Crohn's management failed to bring me relief, I decided to make some changes. I met with my gastroenterologist and arranged to wean myself off of the medications. We agreed to a one-year trial. I changed my diet and dedicated myself to my mat. At the end of my year, my colonoscopy showed no signs of inflammation, scarring, or any other indications that I had Crohn's disease. My doctors were amazed. I was not.

The universe made it very clear to me that toxic energies move forward and backward in time if left unaddressed. Ancestral tending, reiki, and meditation help me deepen my connection with bigger energies.

In July of 2010, I was rushed to the ER unable to speak, shivering, and with a raging-I-think-my-head-is-going-to-explode headache. Once there, we learned that I had spiked a sudden fever of 103. This was the cause of my headache. The physicians spent the next 7 hours working to bring my temperature back down. Based on my initial test results, they determined that I was fine. I was sent home with instruction to return if symptoms worsened.

Two days later, I received a phone call from the ER. They casually explained that I needed to return to the hospital and that I had about 48 hours to live without treatment. I was septic. So it was back to the hospital. After several intrusive exams, it was discovered that I had two bacteria in my bloodstream; my liver and pancreas were failing, and my bile duct was inflamed. I spent a week in the hospital, was released for one week of recovery at home before going back for gall bladder removal surgery.

It wasn't until 2 weeks later during my post-op visit that I learned that what I suffered was a rare combination of ailments; cholangitis and sepsis. When it does occur, 67% of the people afflicted, die from it. My surgeon explained that I had gone in so healthy and strong that I was able to be counted among the lucky 33%.

Ultimately, I finally learned, all four pillars of wellness must be tended to and it’s my role as a keeper of the four medicine ways to help others tend to their pillars.