When I was in high school, I was your average student with a good group of friends, good grades, and a pretty typical family life. I was not a “problem child” by any stretch of the imagination. Like many, I had classes in which I excelled and some that challenged me, where I’d often find myself asking, “When am I ever going to use this stuff?” My sophomore math classes come to mind and to this day, I’m still not a huge fan of numbers, yet I know the basics to get me through business and everyday life. I often questioned the traditional way of doing things because the simple fact is that I’ve always learned and viewed the world a little differently. I’m far from a traditional person so why would my education have to follow the exact same formula as everyone else? The truth is it didn’t and so, I actively sought out my options.
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Topics:
holistic practitioner,
Life Coaching,
holistic entrepreneur,
Great Graduate,
SWIHA,
holistic health care,
life coach,
Hypnotherapy,
spiritual studies,
Arizona,
Tempe,
Mind-Body Psychology,
Holistic Health and Wellness Coaching,
Holistic Health and Wellness Coach,
Associate of Occupational Studies Degree
I have been on the journey of entrepreneurship for almost 5 years before beginning my path at SWIHA as an Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner student. After bringing my daughter into this world, Ella Rae, my mother, and I started a skin, soul, self-care business: Dragonfly co., and our mission has been to create “products you can feel good about.” Through the years, I felt the call in my heart to expand this mission. I knew that feeling good was about more than just looking good. It prompted me to create and coin the term: ‘feel-good living” ((soon to be trademarked!)) While moving through my own life experiences of separation, loss, and transition — I became wholeheartedly committed to setting out on the journey of discovering what ‘feel-good living’ actually is. My partner, daughter, and I moved out to Arizona, on a whim or what I feel was a divine call, in January of 2022. Shortly after, I discovered SWIHA, randomly and unintentionally. Through this journey of defining ‘feel-good living,’ SWIHA is providing a safe container for me to fully embody and explore every layer of this lifestyle.
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Topics:
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts,
holistic entrepreneur,
SWIHA,
Spiritual Coaching,
spiritual studies,
Arizona,
Tempe,
intuitve guide,
integrative healing arts practitioner,
IHAP,
SWIHA Students,
Spiritual Coach and Celebrant,
The Feel-Good Sisterhood,
Trauma-informed
A Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912) named Nan-in welcomed a university professor who came to learn about Zen. The Japanese master began to serve tea. Nan-in poured the professor’s cup full, and then some. As the professor watched the teacup flow, he eventually could no longer restrain himself and blurted out “It is overfull. No more will go in!” Nan-in then replied, “like this cup, you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”
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Topics:
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts,
western herbalism,
Holistic Nutrition,
Whole Foods,
Mindfulness,
Nutrition,
habits,
spiritual studies,
Mindful,
Dairy-Free,
Holidays,
Raw Foods,
Herbal Medicine,
herbal teas,
Holistic Education,
herbal remedies,
natures herbs,
Mindful Practices
If you are unfamiliar with Astro-terminology, Mercury in Retrograde, or more commonly known as Mercury Retrograde, is when the planet Mercury seems to be moving backward - from west to east. The areas of life that Mercury tends to rule are disrupted and can affect each of us differently. Mercury is the planet that rules communication, travel, and technology, and when in retrograde - life can seem a bit out of control. Mercury Retrograde is a time for channeling energy inward, reflecting, re-assessing, and rethinking our lives. We’ve already survived two retrogrades in the year 2021, and now- we are right in the middle of one! This final retrograde of 2021 started on September 27 and is lasting through October 18. Here’s what you need to do to make it through the rest of retrograde with ease, based on your zodiac sign (according to AstroTwins from Mindbodygreen).
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Topics:
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts,
spirituality,
holistic entrepreneur,
Mind Body Wellness,
SWIHA,
entrepreneur,
Angels,
Intuition,
spiritual studies,
astrology,
Intuitive Guide,
mercury retrograde,
mercury,
Relationships,
Sacred Space,
Holistic Education,
Zodiac,
Holistic Modalities,
communication,
retrograde,
travel,
Guides,
Intuitive Messenger,
zodiac signs,
rituals,
technology
Have you been noticing communication issues, technological mishaps, or difficulty with your emotions lately? Yep, it’s true: We are in Mercury Retrograde until July 31st. Fear not! There is a simple ceremony that may help relieve some of the tension.
Smudging is an ancient Indigenous American ritual with thousands of years of history and the ability to powerfully cleanse energies. If you’re looking to reduce emotional and spiritual negativity in your body and living space, a smudging ritual is an excellent way to do so and Mercury Retrograde is the perfect time!
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Topics:
western herbalism,
spiritual studies,
mercury retrograde,
Sacred Space,
Ceremonies
Kim O has always possessed a drive to help others.
When she enrolled in college, she pursued Psychology with the hope of becoming a counselor and affecting major positive changes in the lives of others. However, Kim found herself sidetracked by her own low self-esteem and put off finishing her degree hoping that her marriage would bring her fulfillment.
Though that ultimately wasn’t the case, something else amazing happened!
Kim tell us: “I made really poor decisions for a long time, until the message about loving yourself resounded from everywhere. I had been living life as a victim, and then I learned that victimhood was a choice. I was powerful!”
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Topics:
Great Graduates,
Life Coaching,
entrepreneur,
spiritual studies,
national life coaching month
Roann Monson re-defines 80!
After 30 years of working in the ASU library, Roann retired on a Friday evening and came to work in the SWIHA Bookstore the following Monday morning. She then enrolled in Western Herbalism, a two-year program that is one of the most comprehensive and rigorous herbalism programs in the country.
“People travel here from out of state to study herbalism here at SWIHA. I learned so much from the herbalism program. In fact, I drink rosemary tea every morning for memory,” reports Roann with great pride.
Also a graduate of SWIHA’s Spiritual Studies certificate, Roann is proud to say, “I was ordained as a minister in the very first class of students that KC Miller, the school founder, was able to ordain as ministers.”
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Topics:
Great Graduates,
Life Coaching,
western herbalism,
spiritual studies,
yoga,
national life coaching month
Season’s blessings, SWIHA commUNITY—
While most people are singing songs and feeling merry and bright, we must be mindful that, for some people, the holidays are rather blue . . . or even gray.
As one who is coming up on the second anniversary of family tragedy (two years ago, our son took his life due to complications of PTSD), I’m especially aware that the holidays can be tough. Even well-intended greetings such as a simple “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” can trigger feelings of grief, angst, or even anger.
Just this last week, I was witness to such an incident. As I pulled up to my regular Starbucks location I noticed a woman having a full-blown meltdown over an innocent greeting given to her by a kindly gentlemen collecting for the Salvation Army. All he said was, “Happy Holidays!”
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Topics:
yoga,
spiritual studies,
Holding Space,
Holy Reiki,
Holidays,
SWIHA Staff
Thalia Ayres Randolph wants to set the record straight: she never set out to do any of this. Not the international travel, not being featured on one of the most popular reality television shows in America, not the dedicated work as a spiritual leader and teacher…
Exit, Stage Right
As a young woman pursuing a career in musical theatre in Toronto, Canada, Thalia was convinced that the performing arts were the foundation of her identity and would always serve as her path. Yet, performing on a professional level wasn’t exactly leaving her with a lasting sense of happiness, and she found herself pursuing solace through yoga and Reiki; as she strived toward the spotlight, her spiritual gifts were coming to light as well.
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Topics:
Reiki master,
yoga,
Meditation,
Reiki,
Yoga Teacher Training,
spiritual studies,
Interfaith Minister,
Ordained Minister
Before attending SWIHA, Deborah Brown was a professional college student in Maryland, a Community Health and Wellness Facilitator, and a Minister. After going through what she refers to as a “Damascus experience,” she felt a calling to seek something bigger— the pursuit of the “missing piece” keeping her from delivering her gifts to the public.
While Deborah had served as an entrepreneur in various shapes and forms for most of her adult life, the business journey had not always been completely satisfying for her. She had always had SWIHA in her sights, originally in the form of the Natural Aesthetics program at SWINA; however, Spirit had other plans for her and led her to the Mind Body Transformational Psychology Degree Program at SWIHA, where she would learn how to serve as a holistic healer and entrepreneur. “The Mind Body Transformational Psychology Degree called out to my Spirit because it had the components to feed me and fine tune my life's work in Ministry, Health and Wellness, Spirituality, and Entrepreneurship, as well as foster my leadership qualities,” says Deborah.
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Topics:
holistic entrepreneur,
Holistic Healing,
spiritual studies,
Mind Body Transformational Psychology,
Holistic Healer
