demographic

My partner & I both come from privileged lineages (Celtic, Germanic, Scandinavian, English.) although we have moved between classes and learned some perspective through that journey. There are definitely hard, shameful traumatic parts of our ancestry as well as parts that are highly admirable and inspiring.

An unique thing about my current family's demographic is that my devoted 32 year partner - let's call him the secret sauce - and I have nine kids. We are outside of organized religion at this time and that is a near zero demographic in the world (with a few rare exceptions).

​That doesn't mean I don't have a faith, it just means that I don't embrace man-made religious systems that claim to align with love and then who show a curious allegiance to patriotic affiliation and/or racist or intolerant practices that actually contradict sacred texts.

See article: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2019/12/12/household-patterns-by-religion/



LIFE WORK

I am a community herbalist and a community organizer. I am also a home educator (getting more unschooly all the time).

I believe children are persons and my feminism is expressed through investing in the next generation by curating spaces where children are nurtured and valued.

I have put in my years behind the scenes changing diapers, maintaining a learning atmosphere, and curating a home where my children and others are treasured and nurtured so their bodies and spirits can thrive and survive. I believe this gives me a unique voice in community as I have put years in to my work - 30 years - being a mama and caring for my children and wanting them to thrive and change the world.

I laugh that you could call me a laundress as I have changed thousands of diapers, nursed 8 babies and barely had a period for decades as I nurtured many lives with my beloved partner. Each of these children were birthed and raised in love and through love (with a generous sprinkling of mistakes). There also has been immense physical suffering, trauma, and loss through this great foolish risk of loving and welcoming so many beloveds. But we would not change a thing with our choices with each of our nine children - even with the heartache and sometimes immobilizing pain and trauma.

Faith

I am an inclusive mystic deeply grounded in my faith and practices. I love a very misunderstood and misrepresented Jesus which makes me hate man-made religious systems that involve control and conformity.

​I have found an earthy, diverse, authentic community that I can roll with that is vibrant, passionate, inclusive, and works together through non-hierarcacal discernment and listening to one another in beautiful synergy and rhythms of rest, reflection and action. We can be whole people in our community. We can be authentic and we curate space to walk with each other through intense journeys without codependence, denial or dissociation.

I love to learn from others that have different background and ideas than myself. My greatest joy and space for my own personal growth is through having a variety of people around our dinner table.


STORY

My story involves some serious ancestral white trauma including a large immobilizing force of mental illness and disconnection. This had led my partner and I to engage in decades of trauma work and abuse recovery work. We curate small groups where people can be authentic and do their own journey work and checking in on and supporting mental health work is normalized.

PERSONALITY

I am a stubborn and strong minded stoic who has been tempered and softened through decades of suffering. I am an Enniagram 8 who is grounded, calm, connected, flawed, and ever growing.


EMOTIONAL & INTELLECTUAL INTERESTS

My passion is community organizing and deconstructing systemic racism through grass roots engagement done at the speed of relationships and through herbalism, trauma work, friendships and community. Art, music, and creativity guide my work.

​

ethnicity

I am endeavoring to embrace my indigenous roots - to discover what they are and to find more ways to incorporate and celebrate these ethnic roots. White is not a thing (other than to be able to discuss racial issues) and what is white culture (hamburgers? video games?) That all is boring to me so I try and find life's flavor in herbalism, cuisine, artistic expression, customs, and history through my historic roots in Celtic, Germanic, English & Scandinavian ancestry (especially the regions of France, Poland, Scotland, and Sweden get my interest, research, and resonance.

I have a special resonance with Celtic sacred spirituality.

​I come from a line of some very bad ass and strong women.


COMMUNITY

I am deeply tied to the Detroit Region through the community I have fallen in love with.

Iron sharpens iron and I love to run with some other "queen bees" who are strong empowered women who can celebrate and cheer one another on.