Sofia Sunshine
"Who we are is not what we do but how we live our lives."
-Sofia
Welcome to a little about me. Below are a few stories of my own awakening and transformation, while at the bottom of the page you will find both a traditional CV sharing my educational and work experience. do not define myself by what I do, but how I live. I hope you enjoy perusing my past and that it inspires you to honor your own. Let's begin.
To the left, is a picture of me with a beautiful mama elephant I met while staying with the Karen Hill People of Thailand, outside of Chiang Mai.
The Story of a Life
In Art School in the 90's, I discovered both the Goddess and my innate talent as a channel. During my BFA, I found myself immersed in eastern art history, philosophy and comparative religious thought, exposing me to ideas and traditions that sparked remembering in my heart. After school, I would travel and teach around the country, blending art with personal growth work in my teaching. In 2004, I opened my art studio in Oregon, which would eventually grow to employ numerous employees which would help me create hundreds of projects, host events and teach classes until my body just couldn't do it anymore. I became very sick and had to close my studio and surrender to spirit's plan.
The next eight years would be a deep dismantling, letting go of everything I had built, focusing to rebuild my health, wellness, life and home. It would take many years for me to finally be diagnosed with Lyme disease, all the while I attended retreats, trainings and traveled around the world in search of health, peace and the passionate spark I had for life that I'd once known. This journey would take me to Africa, Bhutan, Thailand, Nepal, Mexico and all over the American Southwest in search of ancient teachings, ceremonial training, personal healing and education in the spiritual healing arts. I have studied with amazing teachers from numerous lineages, all of which have shared the medicine and wisdom of their traditions generously.
For this I am eternally grateful. From this same well of generosity I hope to share for the benefit of others healing. Here is just a small glimpse into the magical world of healing and transformation that shapes me to this day.
I traveled to Bhutan where we visited monasteries and sacred sights, staying with a fellow monastic community in the far northeast part of the country for a week, perched on the top of a mountain, surrounded by the Himalayas, looking into Tibet. The experience was moving and surreal. To travel through such a profound country, feeling into what resonated for me personally taught me a great deal about listening to my heart. The last photo shows me only one ravine away from Taktsang, aka "Tiger's Nest", where Padmasamhava, the Guru of Buddhism in Tibet and Bhutan stayed for many years, meditating in a cave. Throughout my time in Bhutan, I searched for an image of Guru as the compassionate teacher I yearned for. I must have seen hundreds of images of him prior to entering the cave. But it was not just the image of him that lived in there, that broke me open and laid me on the floor weeping. It was the undeniable presence of his spirit. Climbing the trail to this sacred site was one of the most challenging climbs of my life. I was sick and still not diagnosed with Lyme, but continuously ill. When I left the cave, I was carried down the mountain on a cloud of bliss, feeling the undeniable presence of spirit by my side. I would travel on to Nepal, where I would visit more sacred sites and then trek to Anapurna base camp, sleeping at 14,000 feet. Again, I was carried up and down the mountain passes, shown by spirit that I was beyond the limitations of my own body and mind. One step at a time I was guided.
My visit to Mexico took me with a powerful group of priestesses to visit the sacred sites and spirits of the land. This was a homecoming of sorts, re-uniting me with the ceremonial training that had started my journey years prior. Here we would do a deep dive into the underworld of our own souls, journeying the inner and outer realms with each site we visited and each ceremony we held. Life long dreams of participating in the native Temascal, the sacred sweat lodge of the mayan, held the edges of our journey while the full moon completed our journey on Isla Muheres (the Island of Women) at the Temple of Ix Chel. Again I navigated sickness throughout the trip, still attending every outing, I was surprised when my fever kept getting worse. We finally arrived at Isla Muheres, the Island of the Women, where we would complete our journey. The time had come for me to face my own demons. I set my altar up to Ix Chel in my hotel room and journeyed spirit asking them to reveal the source of my illness. I was taken to the spirit of the Cenote, the underground lakes in the caves we had visited. I was guided through the dark water into a small opening, where the blue water became a brilliant light, a radiant spirit. I asked for her help. She explained that the pain I was having, was the anger and betrayal I felt when visiting the sites. The commercialism, the aggressive maculine presence and even remembering from past lives of the pain and suffering experienced under heavy masculine rule, was making me sick. Even the disappointment I felt at how the Island of Women had become overrun with tourism, quite literally men on every corner, pressing you to buy. What this spirit then told me will stay with me for the rest of my life. What I was failing to see, was that I was just as responsible for all that had happened to the earth and throughout time than anyone else, because I have been every version of person, man woman or child, that has created everything. That no matter how ugly I thought was, there was no one to blame but myself and that the only medicine I needed was to understand that all of it is sacred. She told me I must forgive myself, stop blaming others in my heart. I wept profusely upon hearing the truth and my fever broke. The next day I would be taken to the ocean to complete the Ceremony of Ix Chel, where I was washed by the sea and cleared of my fever.
These are only a couple stories of hundreds from the profound spiritual healing and beauty I have experienced since surrendering to spirit. Lasly I'll share a bit about my healing practice. Most of these images are from my home in Oregon even though I am creating new sacred space and home in Arizona now. I have taught groups for over seven years now, holding safe and sacred space for personal growth and healing. It took years before I had the energy to create the way I once did, but that is only because now I create with others, as you can see the teepee above was a sacred space I designed and then the community came together to paint it and then hold ceremony within its walls. The land is sacred to me, just as the medicine that comes from it. This relationship has played a big role in my own healing through the study of Ayurveda, plants medicines as well as flower and stone medicine. Our bodies are sacred and are here to help us understand the importance of our relationship with the earth.
Study and Creations
June 2021 - Present
June 2019 - May 2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2008 - 2014
2000 - 2007
1998 - 2000
Desert Flower Mandala Llc - Purchased 4 acres of sacred land in Cottonwood, AZ where a private retreat space has been set up along side a small studio space for hosting circles, creative endeavors and ceremony. Stewarding the land and holding ceremony here is the mission. We will begin planting food in 2022.
Private Healing Office set up at the Arts Center in Cottonwood Group Offerings at the Studio - Sacred Mandala of the Self
Center of Universal Light - Speaking Engagements
Mariposa Mandala, Hood River, OR - Retreat Director
Mariposa Mandala - Designed and built, sustainable eco friendly retreat home containing prayer, crystals, and sacred artwork through out its intentionally designed space and sanctuary on 5 acres in Mt Hood Parkdale, Oregon. The home sleep 10, has full commercial kitchen, beautiful sauna house w/cold plunge, outdoor shower, land also holds a community painted teepee, an additional building with classsroom and sanctuary space for groups, and over a thousand square feet of gardens for growing food and medicine.
Foundation of Shamanic Studies, Marin, CA - Shamanic Practitioner Training
Wise Earth School of Ayurveda - Year Long Practitioner Training w/Maya Tiwari
Lightsong Shamanic School, Portland, OR - Summer Intensive
Goddess Conference, Simi Valley, CA - Presenter
Foundation of Shamanic Studies, Marin, CA - Shamanic Practitioner Training
Pilgrimage to Bhutan - with Lama Tsultrim Allione.
Tara Mandala Trainings- with Lama Tsultrim Allione and others - Vajrayana Retreat, Chod Training, Simhamuka Retreat.
Feeding Your Demon's Certification Completed
Foundation for Shamanic Studies in Marin, CA - 2 Week Healers Training and
Shamanic Practitioner Training.
Tara Mandala Retreat Center, Pagosa Springs, CO - Feeding Your Demons 2
Eagles Wing Year 2 Apprenticeship w/ Shayne Case, Portland, OR - Energy Medicine, Flower and Stone Essences and Channelling.
Jeffrey Yuens, 88th Gen. Doaist Priest - Stones for Spiritual Alchemy Course.
Ix Chel - Mayan Ceremonial Training - Year Long Priestess Training Complete.
Eagles Wing Year 2 Apprenticeship w/ Shayne Case, Portland, OR - Energy Medicine, Flower and Stone Essences and Channelling.
Jeffrey Yuens, 88th Gen. Doaist Priest - Plants for Spiritual Alchemy Course.
Tara Mandala - Feeding Your Demons Training Level 2.
Ix Chel - Mayan Ceremonial Training- Boulder, CO- Katie Silva & Ann Drucker
Tara Mandala Retreat Center, Pagosa Springs, CO - Feeding Your Demons 1
Laughing Tara Living Arts - Hood River, OR - Healing Arts Center Director, Teacher and Practitioner, through Present.
Glassometry Studios - Designed and Built 8800 sq ft warehouse for Sculpture Studio in Hood River, OR. Owner, artist, and teacher.
Reiki I and II training, Milwaulkie, OR - Margaret Joyce
Alpha and Theta Remote Healing Training, Milwaulkie, OR- June D'Estelle
Teaching, Creative and Administrative Positions :
Chemeketa Commuity College, Salem, OR - Art Glass Coordinator - 2 Yrs.
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR - Teacher
Savoy Studios - Portland, OR -Special Projects Director
Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, WA - Visiting Artist and Teacher
Oregon City Community College, Oregon City, OR - Visiting Artist & Teacher
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH - Visiting Artist & Teacher
Art Academy of Cincinnati, OH - Teacher
Laurelle Studios, Glass and Metal Sculpture Studio - Artist & Teacher
Education
Northern Kentucky University, BFA Cum Laude - Graduated 2000.
Pilchuck Glass School, Stanville, WA
Penland School of Crafts, Asheville, NC
Centro Studio Vitro, Murano, Italy
During and Beyond these years I had many jobs teaching and training in the arts. I will leave the rest to your imagination. I hope this is helpful for those that are curious in this way.