Growing up was a continuous process of exploration and seeking. I was deeply wounded inside and did not have the tools or knowledge to express these things in healthy ways. As a teen and young adult, I sought the mystical and pleasurable, through trying many experience-altering substances and then becoming guide and tripsitter to my friends as they joined in these explorations as well.

I was “high functioning” and successful outwardly, captain of teams and leading student organizations, but underneath was on and off substance exploration and some abuses, self-destructive behaviours, eating disorders and some exceptionally difficult and toxic romantic relationships. A few years after my university studies of health sciences, I tapped into the knowing hum of self-healing I believe we all possess.

During conscious explorations abroad, I stayed with intentional communities, organic farms and permaculture sites. In the communities, I had never experienced such reflections of authenticity, respect and acceptance, in the everyday culture of my day-to-day life. Through my work at the organic and permaculture farms, I slowed down, breathed deeper and revered every sign of growth and life around me, getting to peek into the cycle of life and death that unfolded each day.

At a wonderful place called the Fungi Academy I learned about the mushroom life cycle, cultivation, etc. and more deeply about their use in sacred ceremonies. For the first time, I was guided by Indigenous medicine healers and knowledge keepers in sacred ceremony. Of which I have now how the privilege to take part in a few indigenous guided ceremonies, and am forever in reverence of the connection and deep wisdom of the lineages, traditions, and practices.

Since returning in 2019, I co-founded Healing While Healing community, where we co-empowered each other to engage with our truths and our shared experiences. Also co-founding Gwella Mushrooms as Director of Product, helping create tools and education around the safe and effective use of both functional and psychedelic mushrooms. I have been a mentor/apprentice to an incredible medicine woman for a few years, supporting my learning of the ways of medicine both directly with plant medicine compounds, but also through the lens of clinical counseling meets traditional wisdom approaches to reconciling, truth-seeking and conscious self-discovery.

Currently, I am a mentor guide at Othership, a contrast therapy and multi-modality facility in Toronto, alongside my growing practice of intentional plant medicine & psychedelic guidance and healing work. All of this to hopefully learn, teach, grow, empower, and move myself, my community and the collective towards a more joyful, connected, compassionate, and just world.