For the launch of our latest product — See The Sign Tapestry, we asked a select few to assist with the release by sharing their stories through the lens of their zodiac sign. We hope you find the human in fellow strangers, see your reflection in those who walk the Earth beside us, and move with compassion during these times. Immense gratitude to those who opened their heart and participated with us. Next up, meet Anna Ulmer @wild.embrace

 

 

WE ASKED: WHO ARE YOU?

Anna: I guide people home to themselves through reconnection to the earth and the body as really they are one in the same. I am an occupational therapist, somatic guide, writer, teacher, and yoga instructor. I have been leading courses, programs, and retreats for over 7 years. I have worked with children and their families with complex traumas & special needs for over 10 years.

I am passionate about combining my clinical knowledge as a therapist with more holistic, intuitive, and earth based approaches to healing and empowerment. I am a seeker of wild places traveling extensively and lived abroad in Costa Rica for a number of years. I have found a home in beautiful, wild remote Alaska with my husband, dog, and an enriching community of humans and wild things. 

WE ASKED: WHAT'S YOUR LIFE MISSION/PASSION/INSPIRATION?

Anna: I believe the disconnect we are experiencing from nature is the loss of the connection to ourselves. I believe the way we treat ourselves is the way we treat the earth. Our nervous systems are a reflection of the health of the soil, water, and ecosystems. We can only be as well as the health of the ecosystems we depend upon.

I am passionate about helping humans reconnect to the wisdom of their bodies and form deeper relationships to the earth. I believe in soft regenerative power and the antidotes to force, control, and domination to move beyond individual liberation and into collective liberation. I believe all the answers lie within nature and ourselves. I believe beauty cures most everything and that we are the ones to cultivate it. I believe in the goodness of human hearts and the healing powers of compassion, humility, and love. I am passionate about bringing us home to our bodies, our earth, and each other.

WE ASKED: WHAT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE IN YOUR LIFE? HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH IT OR HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH IT? 

Anna: What’s been challenging for me is overcoming the trauma of living within a system that doesn’t support the thriving of life. The systems that convince me my worth equates to my ability to produce and succeed. I always say that no one should have to earn a living. Having to earn a living creates stress and disease along with competition, scarcity, and rugged individualism. The work of an entire community then gets placed on a single individual or family unit. This creates feelings of shame, unworthiness, and not enough-ness. It has been the journey of my lifetime to cleanse my body and mind from these harmful cultural stories, beliefs, and pressures.

It has been the journey of my lifetime to reclaim my worth and to remember who I am innately before the world told me how to be. To remember that I have always been worthy, that I have always belonged because I am alive. That no external thing can ever provide me with what I seek. That everything I need is inside of me. I believe as a collective we are remembering. We are remembering what is means to be human and we are coming home to our truth.

WE ASKED: WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT? HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOUR LIFE MISSION/PASSION? 

Anna: The best way to support me is to seek self-respect and self-kindness in all of your actions. To stop the pathologizing of the self and offer compassion and acceptance instead. To slow down enough so you can remember you have always been enough. To look at the hard stuff and feel it all and then burn it all to the ground so you can begin the groundwork for orienting your life to what truly matters to you. To forget everything you were told so you can become who you truly are. This is the best way to support me and the earth. If you wish to further support me, I offer courses, programs, and retreats.  I would love to walk beside you.

WE ASKED: HOW DO YOU RELATE TO YOUR ZODIAC SIGN?

Anna: I relate to being a cancer in every sense of the sign! I love water and it has always been my medicine. I feel very uncomfortable in my body when I am not close to bodies of water. I love feelings! I love crying! I feel everything all the time. I am a highly sensitive and deeply feeling person. As a water sign, this used to really overwhelm me. I experienced much anxiety and fear. Now I have learned how to honor and harness my sensitivity.

Coming home to my body has given me the tools to move and cleanse the energetic waters of my being so as to not carry other peoples energy. Through this, I now understand my sensitivity as my strength. In a world that is incredibly disembodied, sensing and feeling is the medicine we need now. I love my fellow cancerians because I believe our nurturing, sensitive, deeply caring ways are exactly what the world needs now. We need you cancers, come out of your crab shell with me!

CANCER ARTWORK INTERPRETATION:

 

 

"The eye ymbolizes protection and motherly intuition. Feathers also often signify the love and protection of ancestors and guardians. Cancer is a water sign ruled by the moon which is feminine embodiment of comfort and maternal energy."

For more interpretations of your astrological sign illustration read Leigh Cariaga's breakdown here and to read other Tapestry Stories released biweekly head here.