Awakening the Healer Within

Christine Marie's Bookish Journey from Darkness to Light

From the depths of near-death darkness to the illuminating heights of her spiritual enlightenment, I have been deeply moved by Christine Marie's story, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of healing. 

Her life's narrative encapsulates not only a journey of survival but an epic saga of rebirth, self-discovery, and service to humanity. 

The adversities she faced in her childhood, marred by neglect, abuse, and violence, could have easily been the shackles that bound her spirit. Instead, they became the crucible in which her extraordinary gifts as a healer were forged. 

At the tender age of nine, Christine experienced what many might call a brush with death, but in her eyes, was a profound awakening. This near-death experience peeled back the veil between the physical and spiritual realms, unveiling her innate healing abilities. 

However, it was not until she embarked on her own arduous journey of self-healing that these dormant gifts resurfaced, transformed, and amplified.

Christine's path to becoming a Medicine Woman was paved with both conventional and esoteric wisdom. Her background as a Registered Nurse (RN) grounded her in the physical aspects of healing, offering a foundational understanding of the human body and its ailments. 

Yet, it was her foray into Shamanic and Reiki healing, Plant Spirit Medicines, Sound Therapy, and Psychic Channeling that truly unlocked her potential. These disciplines allowed her to transcend the limitations of traditional medicine, tapping into higher vibrational energies and wisdom that catalyze human evolution.

The essence of Christine's work is encapsulated in her role as a bridge – not only between the earthly and spiritual realms but also between individuals' present afflictions and their ultimate liberation. 

Her multifaceted approach to healing, integrating shamanic journeying, sound healing, meditation, energy healing, and the sacred use of plant spirit medicines, creates a holistic modality that addresses the spiritual, emotional, and physical dimensions of well-being.

In her sacred ceremonies and healing sessions, Christine serves as a conduit through which higher wisdom and healing energies flow to those in need. Her ability to perceive and alter energetic frequencies enables her to identify and dissolve the underlying causes of her clients' struggles, be it trauma, disconnection, or spiritual malaise. 

Through her guidance, individuals learn not just to heal but to discover their intrinsic healing capabilities, empowering them to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and transformation.

Christine's advocacy extends beyond the individual, touching the lives of communities and the collective consciousness. 

She champions the cause of de-stigmatizing mental health issues, supports survivors of sexual and domestic abuse, and addresses the epidemic of human disconnection. 

Her work embodies a profound belief in the power of self-love, self-reflection, and spiritual connection as the keystones for a more conscious, loving human evolution.

The impact of Christine Marie's healing work is immeasurable, reverberating through the lives she touches and beyond, into the ancestral lines awaiting liberation and healing. Her life is a living, breathing manifesto of hope, transformation, and the boundless potential within every human being to transcend suffering and embrace their true divinity. 

In the sacred space that Christine creates, every ritual, every practice, and every moment of connection is a step towards wholeness, not just for the individual, but for humanity at large. Through her journey, Christine Marie stands as a beacon of light, guiding others back home to themselves, to their own inner healers, and to the limitless love that binds us all.

Would you be kind enough to share with us a bit about your early experiences with reading along with a book that played a role in igniting this deep passion of yours. 

Christine Marie: A book I remember loving so much as a child was “A Child Called It,” by David Pelzer. David’s storytelling around his abuse as a child is raw, vulnerable and imbued with truth and heartache. I had always felt such a deep connection to him, and as I’ve grown up to face my own childhood trauma, I’ve found pieces within his resilience and pain that have mirrored my own. David’s way of sharing challenging experiences allowed me the courage to do the same as I wrote my first book, Breaking Free. 

Given your unique position as a bridge between the spiritual and earthly realms, how do you believe that books complement or enhance your work here?

Christine Marie: To me, books are filled with knowledge, insights, teachings and wisdom that come from diverse sources who have experienced what it means to live the full human experience, which I believe in itself, is the most spiritual and magical experience we could possibly have. 

In the realm of spirituality, books play an important role in understanding and grappling with what it means to be a spirit housed in physical form. Books have the power to shift and change conditioned perspectives, belief systems, practices, and philosophies, giving us the ability to question what we’ve been taught as “normal living and being,” as a human. 

No matter the category of the publication, there is always a value, lesson, or guidance that one can glean from a written story. Stories are meant to be shared because they hold such meaning. 

Are there specific genres or authors that you resonate deeply with in terms of your spiritual practices?

Christine Marie: There’s a deep knowing that all storytellers are channeled messengers of wisdom and truth. I actually believe all art mediums share this process. Authors like Elizabeth Gilbert, Glennon Doyle, Don Miguel Ruiz, Rupi Kaur, Pema Chodron, Mark Nepo, and Eckart Tolle, have made a huge impact on my writing journey. 

In your healing journey, have you encountered any books that profoundly impacted your path towards self-healing and empowerment? Could you discuss one or two of these books and the lessons they have imparted?

Christine Marie: Untamed by Glennon Doyle completely changed my life. This book is a permission slip for anyone who feels like they’ve been living a life out of social conditioning and pleasing people, in order to stay safe from rejection or judgment. 

Doyle writes about her radical attempt to discover and reclaim her own power and truth, despite what she’s been taught by society. She shares how authenticity is medicine for not only herself, but for others on their path towards audacious liberation. 

How do you incorporate your love for reading into your professional practice as a Medicine Woman? And are there books you recommend to your clients as part of their healing and empowerment journey?"

Christine Marie: The very first book I recommend to anyone who sees me is The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz. This book was handed to me from my college therapist when I was eighteen years old, and it was the first time I felt seen as a woman connected to the spiritual realms. 

It’s such a simple and easily-digestible roadmap to living a life of mindfulness and intention. Every client or friend I have referred this book to has shared that not only did it resonate on some deep, sacred level, but that it completely changed their life. And I couldn’t agree with them more. 

Considering your multifaceted role as a healer, how do you perceive the role of storytelling—both in reading and in healing? Please share how storytelling can impact the healing process for your clients?"

Christine Marie: The way we tell our stories and our truths can make a profound impact on those who are receiving what we share. Every letter, word and phrase carries a certain vibration that has the power to activate healing frequencies within the other on the receiving end. That is why I love performing spoken-word in plant medicine ceremonies and public spaces, you can tell it hits the reader on a much deeper level. 

Storytelling is all about sharing the truth of the heart and soul, and there is such potent medicine within that process. When we become brave enough to share our personal truths and experiences with the world, we give permission for others to do the same. 

We live in a society where many marginalized people have been suppressed from speaking their truth. And I, as a female-bodied person, come from a lineage of suppressed women, who were abused and silenced into submission. 

I feel I’m being called to be the one who breaks this cycle, as well as have made it a huge mission of my life’s work to support other women who carry this same trauma. 

I believe all those who are being called to break generational and collective trauma, could benefit from mentors to guide them on their way. I am lucky to be one of those guides for my many readers, clients and communities. I don’t take that for granted. 

As someone with empathic and spiritual gifts, how do you believe reading fiction and non-fiction influences your ability to connect with and understand the experiences of others, including those you help heal?

To be a healer, it requires you to be able to really empathize with those you work with. Reading has a way of enhancing my perspective of the trauma and challenges we go through at an individual and collective level. 

Stories usually elicit within me, a sense of hope and resilience, despite the hardships people endure. On this path of healing, that flame of hope is important to keep alive, as one could easily get discouraged. 

Looking forward, how do you see your relationship with books evolving? Can you share a little about the book you’ve written and its significance in your life as well as its impact on others? 

Christine Marie: My relationships with books have already begun to evolve this year. I’ve been diving deep into more fiction, and have noticed my imagination take me to places I never thought possible. I feel my writing becoming more eccentric and mystical, which has me feeling an even deepened closeness to reality as a whole. 

Breaking Free was written at a time where I was experiencing my first dark night of the soul moment as an adult. I had just moved from Michigan to Portland, finding a new life from myself as I was healing from an abusive, college relationship. I felt completely lost and hopeless, and I was searching for a way through my pain. 

Not only did writing Breaking Free save my life, but it healed so much of the suffering I endured from my childhood and adolescence. After it was published, many people, especially young women, sought mentorship with me, in order to support them through similar challenges they were facing. 

I’ve helped many people leave toxic relationships & situations, and supported them in rebuilding their own power and strength to live a life of self-worth and acceptance. It has been such an honor to be in service in this way. My heart is full of gratitude that I chose the path my soul was calling me towards. 

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