But my first twenty years I learned it wasn't safe to be seen as I fought to survive in a world that made me feel I wasn't invited and didn't belong. From deep in my mother's womb, my twin and I held close for our lives in a violent and unpredictable home. My sister Heather protected me in the womb but left her physical form before we were born. Despite her passing, she stayed with me in spirit during tumultuous times growing up. Together we found solace outside with the plant and animal spirits.

Yet through conscious daily practice over the next twenty years I discovered strength in surrounding myself with the community of others (including people, plants and pollinators) that helped me feel a sense of belonging — re-membering how to feel safe in my skin and embedded in the natural world. Finding that alchemical gold buried deep within the hard rocks of violence, abuse and neglect became my resilience superpower.