Mellie Areena Artema
I hope this website offers a sense of getting to know me, my values, and how we might journey together. I have included many links and resources below to support your own learning and sense of curiosity. Please reach out with any questions.
I came into this world energetically sensitive and naturally aligned with a kind of language that goes deeper than words. I have always had a profound interest in holistic ways of seeing and exploring the human experience. My offerings are informed by decades of experience with bodywork modalities, energy medicine practices, somatic therapies, herbal medicine, spiritual studies, and more. I became fascinated by the human body and the world around me as a child and began diligently studying herbal medicine, learning to identify plants, practicing reflexology, and studying everything I could find related to holistic healing in the late 1980's. I found yoga in 1993 which sparked my love for embodiment practices. I have continued to develop and focus my skills through the present, extensively studying, practicing, and integrating numerous healing modalities into my own life for both personal and professional development. I have studied dozens of bodywork styles, energy medicine modalities, acupuncture techniques, trauma healing approaches, and methods of working with plant medicine with many prominent acupuncturists, herbalists, bodyworkers, qigong masters, shamanic practitioners, psychotherapists, anthropologists, and other integrative healing professionals across the globe. |
My professional background is heavily focused on wellness and healing arts, providing body-centered therapies, services, and education to promote holistic ways of thinking, building self-awareness, and creating conscious personal growth. This work uses multiple, eclectic modalities to offer opportunities to slow down, connect, reflect, learn, holistically process, and expand our human experience.
I use a collaborative, heart-centered approach, encouraging taking action in support of personal and planetary well-being while also honoring mystery, paradox, less "doing," and the more intangible and subtle ways in which growth, transformation, and integration happens.
I tend to attract people who identify as empathic, introverted, highly sensitive, or neurodivergent. I offer supports that may utilize concepts from somatic practices, bodywork & energy medicine modalities, Eastern methodologies, and soul tending from a grounded, body-based framework. I am neurodivergent in multiple ways and have unique ways of sensory processing along with complex chronic illnesses and dynamic, invisible disabilities. I bring this lived experience into my work in the world.
While I love learning, I also acknowledge that our education systems are broken and unhealthy in many ways. I recognize the fragmentation these systems often emphasize with deep roots in racism, ableism, classism, etc. I have an even greater appreciation for lived experience, integration and reflection work, contemplative practices, and intentional personal growth work. It is this kind of consistent and ongoing work that allows us to truly gain wisdom through experiencing the wholeness of our humanity. I love exploring ideas and finding the common threads across modalities. Formal education can enrich these experiences but can never be a substitute for them.
These days, I choose to offer services primarily as a mentor, soul companion, and energy medicine practitioner to support the reemergence of the feminine aspects of healing, community, and care that refuse to be regulated.
While I appreciate the knowledge and experience gained from my formal education, I prefer to work outside of models that medicalize and pathologize the human experience. Additionally, I have deep reverence for opportunities to gain wisdom and insights directly from experiences with the animate world, plant allies, ancestors, unseen forces, the imaginal realm, and other-than-human kin.
I use a collaborative, heart-centered approach, encouraging taking action in support of personal and planetary well-being while also honoring mystery, paradox, less "doing," and the more intangible and subtle ways in which growth, transformation, and integration happens.
I tend to attract people who identify as empathic, introverted, highly sensitive, or neurodivergent. I offer supports that may utilize concepts from somatic practices, bodywork & energy medicine modalities, Eastern methodologies, and soul tending from a grounded, body-based framework. I am neurodivergent in multiple ways and have unique ways of sensory processing along with complex chronic illnesses and dynamic, invisible disabilities. I bring this lived experience into my work in the world.
While I love learning, I also acknowledge that our education systems are broken and unhealthy in many ways. I recognize the fragmentation these systems often emphasize with deep roots in racism, ableism, classism, etc. I have an even greater appreciation for lived experience, integration and reflection work, contemplative practices, and intentional personal growth work. It is this kind of consistent and ongoing work that allows us to truly gain wisdom through experiencing the wholeness of our humanity. I love exploring ideas and finding the common threads across modalities. Formal education can enrich these experiences but can never be a substitute for them.
These days, I choose to offer services primarily as a mentor, soul companion, and energy medicine practitioner to support the reemergence of the feminine aspects of healing, community, and care that refuse to be regulated.
While I appreciate the knowledge and experience gained from my formal education, I prefer to work outside of models that medicalize and pathologize the human experience. Additionally, I have deep reverence for opportunities to gain wisdom and insights directly from experiences with the animate world, plant allies, ancestors, unseen forces, the imaginal realm, and other-than-human kin.
Highlights of Studies
- Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in Spiritual Direction & Master of Arts (M.A.) in Eco-Justice, dual degree in progress - United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN
- Interfaith / Interspiritual Ordination in progress - One Spirit Learning Alliance Seminary, New York, NY
- Ordained Animal Chaplain studies in progress - Compassion Consortium
- Monastic Path in progress - Gnostic Celtic Church, Ancient Order of Druids in America
- Certified Advanced Master Practitioner of Shamanic Energy Medicine - Alberto Villoldo & The Four Winds Society
- Master of Acupuncture (M.Ac.), Summa Cum Laude - Northwestern Health Sciences University, Bloomington, MN
- Individualized Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Integrative Health & Ecopsychology - Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN
Here is more of my info that might give you a good idea about whether we would be a resonant fit working together.
- Astrology: Virgo Sun, Virgo Moon, Aquarius Ascendant
- Enneagram: 5w4
- Human Design: Manifesting Generator
- Gene Keys: My Life's Work 59, My Evolution 55, My Radiance 20, My Purpose 34
- Myers-Briggs: INFJ
- Clifton Strengths: Input, Intellection, Learner, Achiever, Focus
Thanking My Teachers
I want to honor some of the teachers, modalities, values, and organizations that have positively impacted my work over the decades. I include this information to pay respect to them as they've shaped my own path and to also provide resources for you, if you are in a place of wishing to expand your knowledge base.
Bodywork & Massage
Energy Medicine
Spirituality
Death & Dying
Yoga, Somatics, Movement, Embodiment Practices & Trauma Care
Plant Medicine
Peer Support Values
Creativity Practices
Nutrition & Health Coaching
Bodywork & Massage
- Heartwood Institute of Integrative Medicine
- Upledger Institute, CranioSacral Therapy
- Dr. Aline LaPierre, NeuroAffective Touch®
- Zero Balancing Health Association
- Bowen Therapy
- Reflexology
- TuiNa Chinese Medical Massage
- Lomi Lomi Hawaiian Massage
- Thai Yoga Bodywork
Energy Medicine
- Formal Acupuncture Studies
- Lorie Eve Dechar, Alchemical Acupuncture
- Esoteric Acupuncture
- Dr. Alberto Villoldo, Marcela Lobos & The Four Winds Light Body School
- Munay-Ki Rites (more info here)
- Pranic Healing®, Dr. Jason Calva, Chandan Parameswara, Master Stephen Co, Kim Fantini
- Jaime Meyer, Celtic Shamanism
- Jin Shin Jyutsu
- Cyndi Dale
- Bruce Burger, Polarity Therapy
- Master Chunyi Lin, Spring Forest Qigong
- Reiki
Spirituality
- Formal Spiritual Direction Studies
- Formal Eco-Justice & Eco-Spirituality Studies
- One Spirit Learning Alliance, Interspiritual Seminary
- Spiritual Directors International, SDI Companions
- Animal Chaplaincy
- Interspirituality Values
- Mirabai Starr
- Academy of Inner Science
- Center for Courage & Renewal
- Rev. Dr. Deb Berman
- DeShannon Barnes-Bowen
- Woman Stands Shining, Pat McCabe
- The Center for Action and Contemplation
- Rev. Dr. Diane Rooney
- Gnostic Celtic Church
- Ancient Order of Druids in America
- Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids
- The Theosophical Society in America
- The Theosophical Society's Free Self-Study Courses
- Minneapolis Theosophical Society
- Online School of Theosophy
- Theosophy: An Introductory Study Course, John Algeo, Ph.D.
- Lunea Weatherstone, Sisterhood of the Silver Branch
- Ron Moor, Interfaith Ministry Studies
Death & Dying
- The National Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Acupuncturists
- International End-of-Life Doula Association
- Elisabeth Kubler Ross Foundation
- Hospice Volunteer Work
- End-of-Life Specialist Training
Yoga, Somatics, Movement, Embodiment Practices & Trauma Care
- Joshua Schrei, The Mythic Body
- Maureen Gallagher Ph.D., Inner Relationship Focusing
- Thomas Hübl
- Strong Institute, Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention™
- Jean McClelland
- Somatic Experiencing®
- Robert Falconer
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Dr. Aimie Apigian
- Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Body-Mind Centering®
- HeartMath
- Irlen® Syndrome Screening
- Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
- Dr. Diane Poole Heller
- River Flow Yoga
- Viniyoga
- Tantra Yoga
- Sun Moon Yoga
Plant Medicine
- Lise Wolff
- Matthew Wood
- Jim McDonald
- Francis Bonaldo
- Asia Suler
- Rebecca Altman
- Julia Graves
- The Human Path & Herbal Medics Academy
- Eclectic School of Herbal Medicine
- Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
Peer Support Values
- Wildflower Alliance
- Wisconsin Peer Support Specialists
- Intentional Peer Support
- Hearing Voices Network
- Alternatives to Suicide (more about the Alternatives to Suicide approach)
- Emotional CPR (eCPR)
- Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP®)
Creativity Practices
- Soul Collage® (more info on therapeutic benefits)
- Musea, Intentional Creativity®
- Musea Courses
- Musea Medicine Painting
- Morning Alters
Nutrition & Health Coaching
"Muse" by Mellie Artema, 2022 - Acrylic on 30" X 40" Canvas | Studies with Musea & Intentional Creativity®
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"Matrica" by Mellie Artema, 2023 - Acrylic on 24" X 24" Canvas | Studies with Musea & Intentional Creativity®
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