If you had told the teenage version of me—the one sitting in a Southern Baptist pew in rural Tennessee, praying to be someone else—that I would one day be a "loud and proud" queer hippie farmer living a life of spiritual freedom, I wouldn’t have believed you.

Back then, my life was defined by "shoulds" and "sins." I spent years navigating the heavy shadows of religious conversion therapy and the deep-seated religious trauma that follows it. For a long time, I tried to numbing the pain of not belonging. I looked for an escape in bottles and substances, eventually hitting a rock bottom that led to a suicide attempt.

But that wasn't the end of my story. It was the composting phase.

In the garden, we know that the richest soil comes from things that have broken down. My life is a testament to that cycle of rebirth.

From Religion to Ritual

When I left the church at 19, I had a God-shaped hole in my life that I desperately tried to fill. I spent years auditioning "replacement" religions—diving deep into Buddhism, Wicca, Paganism, Hinduism, and Taoism.

What I discovered was life-changing: I didn't need a new set of rules; I needed a new way of relating to myself.

I realized that spirituality doesn't require a steeple. It’s found in the dirt on my hands after a day on the farm, in the patterns of a Tarot spread, and in the quiet alignment of my mind and body. Today, I live with a solid balance of science and spirituality—honoring the neurobiology of the "Happiness Advantage" as much as the ancestral wisdom of the land I live on.

7 Years of Sunrises

On December 15, 2025, I celebrated 7 years of being clean and sober.

Recovery taught me that we are not broken; we are just covered up by layers of survival mechanisms. My sobriety isn't just about "not using"—it’s about the radical act of being present for my life, even when living in the heart of the Bible Belt presents its daily stressors.

Why I Do This

I advocate for mental health and suicide prevention because I know what it’s like to feel like the light has gone out. I share my story because I want you to know that your trauma does not have the final say.

As a life coach, I combine:

• Positive Psychology: Rewiring the brain for joy and resilience.
• The Mind-Body Connection: Healing the physical toll of trauma.
• Spiritual Intuition: Using Tarot and nature-based wisdom to find your path.

I’m still here in rural Tennessee, planting seeds—both in the ground and in the hearts of those I work with. Whether you are "ex-vangelical," in recovery, or simply searching for a spirituality that feels like home, I am here to walk that path with you.

"The wound is the place where the Light enters you." — Rumi

I’ve been through the fire, and I’ve found the water. Let’s find yours.