Full Circle Health

 My earliest memories are of dreams of a massive bear. I was 5 years old and I had frequent dreams with that same bear for years. He taught me many lessons and is a highly respected and much beloved guide to this day. I was very blessed to grow up in a small community in western Washington State during a time when children could mostly run free. We explored the forest, played in the river and creeks, and I formed relationships with the plants, animals, and trees. I have been highly intuitive and empathic since childhood. I learned plant medicine and wildcrafting from a young age and my maternal grandmother was a significant influence in my life.  Starting at age twelve, I trained under a Quinault Medicine Man that introduced me to the sacred herbs of cedar and sage and started me on the Road with years of teachings. The name Wakaya is an adaptation of the name that I was given as a teen (wax̣ʔaya). The Elders explained it to me as a concept, and it means that I am to "share knowing/knowledge".  Fast forward and through education I became a cultural anthropologist with a focus on health, wellness, spirituality, and alternative healing. I meld the worlds of science, mysticism, plant medicine, and traditional healing.