Hi, I’m Janelle…

I am a Somatic Womb Alchemist and a Women’s Circle Facilitator living in Hamilton, New Zealand. I work with women who may experience low self-worth, feel underserving or ‘not good enough’ and who are disconnected from themselves.

This may feel like they are just ‘going through the motions’ of life and they may notice they prefer to be ‘in their heads’ rather than connect to their bodies and feel their emotions. This may exacerbate high levels of stress and anxiety which can become normal for them.

I help these women reconnect to their bodies, heart and womb wisdom; attuning to and tending to parts longing to be witnessed and acknowledged. Through somatic practices and embodiment of their feminine essence, women come into full acceptance of their fullness, allowing them to activate their aliveness and radiance; coming into wholeness and remembrance of the goddess and divinity within. I have previously struggled with low self-esteem that has been underpinned by a sense of shame and a belief that I am unlikeable. I was disconnected from my body and my womb.

This led to chronic overthinking with a toxic self-critic, over giving, fluctuations between co-dependency and hyper-independence with a fear of vulnerability. Through learning somatic therapy, feminine embodiment arts, ceremonialism, archetypal psychology, womb work and earth-centred modalities, and applying these modalities and principles to my own healing journey, I have been able to release, transmute, alchemise and heal past traumas and wounding.

Through this work, I have been on a journey of self-discovery, peeled back the layers of my shadows, learned to integrate parts of myself some long forgotten or shunned; to a place of remembrance of my own feminine essence and divinity. This allows me to walk and act from a soul and heart aligned place, in deep knowing and trust.

This path led me to the Somatic Womb Alchemy Apprenticeship. SWAA has supported my foundational practice of holding sacred space through ceremony and ritual, and being in integrity with cultivating my own relationship and language with spirit and the elements. Being in allyship with spirit, allows me to attune to the needs of my clients and be in service to what is their highest and greatest good.

Through SWAA teachings, I am able to support women to come into resonance and alignment within their emotional, physical, spiritual and mental bodies, which works to strengthen their life force energy. This may include guiding someone through an inner alchemy session, self-womb massage, yoni steam supported by plants/herbs as allies.

For myself personally, through attuning to my body, my heart, my womb, my inner being; SWAA has helped me reconnect with and witness those parts of myself that needed attention and helped me come into a sense of wholeness and alignment.

I have facilitated psychological therapy groups with men for over 10 years. While effective and transformative spaces, through my own learnings, studies, and healing; I came to understand that there was a piece of the puzzle missing… the transpersonal and spiritual aspects of self, supported by somatic principles and practices. I also began to have a desire to work with women. From this, my work is underpinned by psychological principles and incorporates holistic, spiritual and somatic principles.

When I am not working, I can be found walking and finding new spots and watering holes with my dog Storm, true to his name he is a bit of a whirlwind. I also love pottering around the house with my incense and music on, gardening, cooking, cleaning and doing DIY. Home is my happy place.

If you are at a time in your life that you could do with some extra support and you feel that we could be in alignment, I would love to talk with you. You can contact me through email in the initial instance, gracedgoddess88@gmail.com or IG @gracedgoddess88.

I look forward to connecting with you.

With Love, Janelle

Janelle Stokes {Hamilton, New Zealand}