Walking into the light
“God can can create beauty out of complete desolation and nothingness”
Saint Olga of Alaska
Before becoming a birth keeper, postpartum doula and trauma care specialist, I experienced my own deep suffering.
In 2019, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and went through a series of hospital visits, spouts of immobility and the long road of treating a chronic condition. Although I no longer believe that these things are life long or that they have to be handled in the medical system at all, I was ‘in it’ at the time. I was devastated, confused, traumatized, weak and systematically malnourished. I started experiencing the medical system as entirely insufficient for the emotional layers that I was going through (not to mention the lack of holistic attention to the body).
Although I do believe that doctors, nurses and other medical professionals are good people, I was experiencing a system built on overwhelm and profit above healing.
I knew at this moment that chronic illness patients deserved more.
As I was navigating the medical system, I was an infant care specialist. I started to realize that more than just caring for newborns, I was serving mothers. From this place, I fell in love with supporting families become more resourced. People started to mention that I would be a great postpartum doula. I didn’t know what this was at the time, but as I discovered more I realized this was so aligned for me. So I worked toward my ayurvedic postpartum doula certification. A traditional and holistic approach to supporting the body after birth.
Although I felt confident in my ability to nourish the body, I wanted to learn more about navigating and supporting the deeper emotional layers. The crushing grief of loss, postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety were on my mind and I felt that I couldn’t show up how I wanted to without a way to support them. So I began another study, a 6 month intensive training in nervous system based techniques for healing. From there, my EMDR inspired sessions were born.
I realized that not only could this method support mothers struggling postpartum but research shows the benefits of this type of support for preparing for birth, healing medical trauma and alleviating symptoms of chronic pain in some cases.
My worlds collided in the best way and I finally knew how I would provide chronic illness patients with the deeper care they needed.
Then, I found Christ.
Or, Christ found me I should say. I started this work as a new age, ‘spiritual’ healer (Lord have mercy on me). But the revelation of the true, living God, came in and changed everything. I realized that there is one true healer. That although my work was important, it wasn’t fully sufficient without Christ. And it was made clear to me exactly why I needed to start the Magpie Ministry. To open the doors of support and service to everyone.
All people are icons of Christ, giving us a window into His love. And it is my mission as an Orthodox christian to become more selfless, serving those who need it most and not turning anyone away. It is also my value to never comply with a system that is harmful, abusive or turned away from God.
This is why Magpie Medicine is completely private and sovereign. No mandated reporting. No tax dollars funding violence. No interaction with harmful systems. No protecting a license over your best interests.
Whether you’re struggling with trauma, postpartum mental health, birth preparation or you’re looking for hands on support, I’m here for you and would love to meet you.