Guest Profile
Judy Redhawk
For over 40 years, I have walked a path at the crossroads of nature, religion, the arts, psychology, and shamanic psychospiritual studies and practices.
My earliest roots were formed in the wild teachings of the natural world in the woods, the creeks, the skies, the creatures…and in the sacred rhythms of Roman catholic ritual…both worlds instilled in me a reverence for mystery and the living presence of spirit, and an awareness of the cycles, patterns and deep intelligence and wisdom of the earth.
In the woods, and in church, I found a sense of peace and quiet away from my noisy and chaotic family…I found inspiration for creating art, for dreaming, and ways of creating meaning from wounds. As I would later read in Alice Miller’s writings: My greatest gifts came from my greatest wounds. In the shamanic world, this was the path of the Wounded Healer.
From my time in the woods and in church, theatre and art became my first languages of transformation…teaching me the powers of imagination, story, embodiment, and ritual which later became a living language I used to understand psyche, heart, and spirit.
My training and work in psychology, drama therapy, psychodrama, and expressive arts therapies brought an even deeper understanding of the human mind, heart, spirit, and psyche while shamanic psychospiritual studies and practices opened gateways into the unseen, offering practices of healing, ceremony, and connection with the greater web of life.
Together, these streams have woven into a living tapestry which guides my life and my service to others, illuminates what my heart longs to share with the world, and focuses the holy longing of my spirit’s desire and calling to help others.
These streams of my life led me to Venus Rising Association for Transformation where all parts of who I know as “me” have come together…and where I know “more is to be revealed” about who “I” am.
Today, as Core Staff and teacher with Venus Rising, I experience myself as a shamanic psychospiritual guide, a ‘walker between the worlds’. Through teaching, mentoring, and counseling I assist others in healing wounds and traumas, and discovering the art of living in ceremony-bringing together psyche, heart, mind, body, and spirit in ways which honors both ancestral wisdom and contemporary life. I have experienced that utilizing my Shamanic Shakti Art Process is a powerful way of helping students and clients to explore, understand and integrate recovered parts of self. My work is dedicated to fostering healing presence and a re-enchantment of the everyday experiences. To live fully is ‘a hard-won miracle’… human life is not for the faint of heart. It takes a tribe.”
Finally, I acknowledge and honor all those along the way who, as Mr. Rogers would say: Have loved me into being…my children, my family, friends, teachers, my spirit tribe…I hope you know who you are.
