My Story
I am a creative being, artist and writer. I was diagnosed with a horrible disease called Multiple Systems Atrophy. MSA has filled my brain with mis-folded proteins that are slowly but surely overriding the controls of my autonomic nervous system. The one thing that disease does not control is my attitude. I believe in the power of laughter and the medicine of art. We all have our "stuff", mine is just way out there and obvious, Healing for me happens through sharing my story and my art. Since my diagnosis of MSA I have filled more that 20 journals and painted over 2000 Mandalas as part of my healing experience.
What brought me to this awareness? I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. I love the Puget Sound and Hood Canal, I love the deep forests and the lush green that surrounds me. I also have a deep love of ritual and art as spiritual inspiration that was influenced by my experiences being raised Catholic. Some children collected baseball cards; I collected holy cards.
The women in my family have a long history of knowing. When someone was ill or in trouble, and in an age before “caller ID”, they would know who was calling on the phone before answering, or they would call a friend or relative to find out what was wrong. This ability was simply explained to me as “the women’s thing." This way of being. my deep intuitive gifts, have always been part of my life.
My most important job has been raising my family. Many of my other jobs were extensions of what I was doing as a parent. I have been a childbirth educator, La Leche League leader and doula. I worked at the children’s Waldorf School, then taught preschool, then kindergarten at two different Waldorf Schools. I have been a 4-H leader and in the Northwest Regional and National teen camps for United Church of Religious Science, now known as Centers for Spiritual Living.
My husband and I have helped start two private schools and two Spiritual Learning Centers. We opened the "Pfarm" in the early 1990's, creating a place for study and healing. We had regular fire walks, sweat house ceremonies and seasonal celebrations for many years. As my health began to become an issue we closed our center and began focus on a new Spiritual Learning Center in Olympia, now called the Olympia Center for Spiritual Living.
I had a spiritual awakening in 1988. My life became focused on one idea; that I could experience a level of connectedness to Source; in my body, in this time, right now, whatever the circumstances may appear.
I am into continually expanding my understanding of what it means to be that Presence. It has led me through the healing arts and intuitive arts, into mystery school, and now I am simply into living the mystery.
I have always be a very flexible person, like many others in my family. It was not until I was in my fifties that I was diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type III. For me EDS was the culprit for frequent dislocations and early onset arthritis and many joint replacements. Then in my late fifties I was diagnosed with a type of Atypical Parkinson's disease called Multiple Systems Atrophy, which effects the autonomic nervous system. These diseases,and all the bells and whistles that come with them, do not define me. The shifts that occur in my physical health become opportunities for me to explore my connection to Spirit in a new and deeper way.
My husband and I have the joy of being integral in our grandchildren’s lives. I am surrounded by shiny children all the time. As an artist I love sharing my works with others. Often I have all my grandchildren, and a few friends hanging out with me, drawing and painting.
I have always been a spiritual coach and metaphysical teacher. I come from a place of knowing that people are already perfect and my job is to help them reveal that perfection. Whatever happens I know I am always on track, that the perfection I help others to find within themselves in part of me too. I know that every part of me, every conversation I have, anyone I come into contact with, is touched by Spirit flowing through me, and I open myself to the flow of the Divine in everyone. Simply by reading this you have become part of my healing process and I thank you for that.
I am in every way an extraordinary person having an extraordinary life. I have found healing in many unexpected ways and I continue to grow and explore my relationship to the Presence that I know we all are.
In grace and ease,
Cathy
What brought me to this awareness? I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. I love the Puget Sound and Hood Canal, I love the deep forests and the lush green that surrounds me. I also have a deep love of ritual and art as spiritual inspiration that was influenced by my experiences being raised Catholic. Some children collected baseball cards; I collected holy cards.
The women in my family have a long history of knowing. When someone was ill or in trouble, and in an age before “caller ID”, they would know who was calling on the phone before answering, or they would call a friend or relative to find out what was wrong. This ability was simply explained to me as “the women’s thing." This way of being. my deep intuitive gifts, have always been part of my life.
My most important job has been raising my family. Many of my other jobs were extensions of what I was doing as a parent. I have been a childbirth educator, La Leche League leader and doula. I worked at the children’s Waldorf School, then taught preschool, then kindergarten at two different Waldorf Schools. I have been a 4-H leader and in the Northwest Regional and National teen camps for United Church of Religious Science, now known as Centers for Spiritual Living.
My husband and I have helped start two private schools and two Spiritual Learning Centers. We opened the "Pfarm" in the early 1990's, creating a place for study and healing. We had regular fire walks, sweat house ceremonies and seasonal celebrations for many years. As my health began to become an issue we closed our center and began focus on a new Spiritual Learning Center in Olympia, now called the Olympia Center for Spiritual Living.
I had a spiritual awakening in 1988. My life became focused on one idea; that I could experience a level of connectedness to Source; in my body, in this time, right now, whatever the circumstances may appear.
I am into continually expanding my understanding of what it means to be that Presence. It has led me through the healing arts and intuitive arts, into mystery school, and now I am simply into living the mystery.
I have always be a very flexible person, like many others in my family. It was not until I was in my fifties that I was diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type III. For me EDS was the culprit for frequent dislocations and early onset arthritis and many joint replacements. Then in my late fifties I was diagnosed with a type of Atypical Parkinson's disease called Multiple Systems Atrophy, which effects the autonomic nervous system. These diseases,and all the bells and whistles that come with them, do not define me. The shifts that occur in my physical health become opportunities for me to explore my connection to Spirit in a new and deeper way.
My husband and I have the joy of being integral in our grandchildren’s lives. I am surrounded by shiny children all the time. As an artist I love sharing my works with others. Often I have all my grandchildren, and a few friends hanging out with me, drawing and painting.
I have always been a spiritual coach and metaphysical teacher. I come from a place of knowing that people are already perfect and my job is to help them reveal that perfection. Whatever happens I know I am always on track, that the perfection I help others to find within themselves in part of me too. I know that every part of me, every conversation I have, anyone I come into contact with, is touched by Spirit flowing through me, and I open myself to the flow of the Divine in everyone. Simply by reading this you have become part of my healing process and I thank you for that.
I am in every way an extraordinary person having an extraordinary life. I have found healing in many unexpected ways and I continue to grow and explore my relationship to the Presence that I know we all are.
In grace and ease,
Cathy