Why smoke cleansing?

The likely origin story is from when I was about 12 years old. I was raised with a cousin the same age as me, and one day he had a piano lesson that wasn't at home like it normally was; his teacher was out of town and arranged a substitute. My grandparents dropped us off at a beautiful manor in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, and as my cousin sat at the piano, I was guided to sit on a green velvet couch next to a fireplace. Sweet, right? I'd brought a book with me, but my attention was drawn to the next room, which I couldn't quite see into, yet I felt something there. It felt horrible, actually! I couldn't shake the sense of dread that came over me, and I sat hunched over in discomfort until my grandparents came back to pick us up an hour later. I never found out what that sensation was, nor do I remember anything else about the house or its location, but I can recount the experience as if it happened yesterday.

Today, I lean on the wisdom and experience of my elders and teachers to inform both my personal practice and my work with clients. Energetic clearing is an accessible way to reset, renew, and reclaim a space. Note that I do not use the term smudging, as that belongs to Indigenous traditions, but I regularly incorporate smoke cleanses into my daily life and rituals.

What else do I do?

I provide one-on-one coaching sessions and specialize in religious trauma. Having been raised Evangelical, converting to Catholicism in college and then leaving the Christian faith altogether, I work with folks who are deconstructing their various faith experiences. Other areas of focus include complex trauma, somatics and nervous system regulation, relational conflict, and chronic pain/illness. Feel free to ask me about this in a consultation call!

Hi, I'm Amanda.

I am an energy worker from and based in Brooklyn, NY, with a solid background in social and human services. After experiencing severe burnout and a series of heavy losses over the course of three years, I knew I needed to fundamentally shift how I operated in the world. Lavender and Shift came out of a desire to keep providing tangible services while navigating these changes.

A bit more about me:

I am a disabled cat mom who sings in a choir and loves the ocean. I currently hold an AS in Mental Health and Human Services from CUNY Kingsborough, and I am a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) via Denver Yoga Underground. In 2018, I graduated from a year-long intensive training in Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Therapy (IFOT) for Complex Trauma, which changed the trajectory of my life and work; while this specific training is no longer offered, you can learn about it here.