Betti Rooted Lionheart (Lambro)
I was 7 years old when my environmental awareness was activated by learning that the Ocelot might some day become extinct. My awareness of and concern for the health of our planet grew steadily from then on, as did my despair. I earned a B.A. In Environmental Studies (2000) and an M.A. in Geography, with an emphasis on Global Food Systems Studies (2005). I trained as an organic farmer (2002-03), farmed, wrote, became a mother, and settled in Trumansburg, NY in 2010 with the dream of creating a farm-based intentional community that would be self-sufficient and resilient enough to allow us to survive the collapse of the systems we rely upon and society as we know it. Although this dream did not manifest, it led us to where we were meant to be and to me finding my true life purpose.
Encountering the Work That Reconnects at the end of 2015 was a turning point in my life. I lived for 30 years (from ages 7 to 37) in the state of despair that Joanna Macy describes so well in her book “World as Lover, World as Self.” Participating in the Work That Reconnects and now facilitating workshops myself has helped me transform my despair into empowered action.
In beautiful synchronicity, I also found my Spiritual Teacher, Bekki Shining Bearheart, at the end of 2015. In finding my Spiritual rootedness I have also learned why I am on this planet at this time. I am here to help others process their despair so that they too can move through it to find empowered action. I became a Shamanic Healer in 2019, and a Minister of the Church of Earth Healing in 2022.
As a Shamanic Healer I help people heal and Re-Connect to Spirit, to the Earth, to Themselves, to Beauty, to Purpose, to Truth, to Fire, to Ritual, to Being in Circle With Each Other. I have my own Shamanic healing practice called Moon Wise Earth Walks Healing (moonwiseearthwalks.org). I am also in the process of manifesting Braided Root Waters Healing Sanctuary at Braided Root Waters, the land that my family and I love and steward in Trumansburg, NY.
Virginia Metcalf
I’ve lived in the Ithaca area for almost 20 years, raised my two children here, and now live in Trumansburg. In my work life, I am a paralegal for LawNY, a nonprofit organization providing free legal help to people in poverty. I also have a private practice as an advocate for individuals who have been denied Social Security disability benefits.
Like many people, I have felt overwhelmed and in deep despair for many years about all of the seemingly unsolvable problems we are facing as human beings. I found myself denying my real feelings about the future as a way to function in my daily life. In recent years, I have felt paralyzed and unable to face even one of these global problems, so I’ve carried on behaving as if nothing was wrong in my daily life. I was (and still am) confused by the little opportunity that I find to talk openly about the crises that I see clearly happening around me.
A fews years ago, I read the book “Active Hope” written by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone, and soon after was pleased to find that a local workshop was available based on Joanna Macy’s work. I attended two workshops where I was able to speak freely about what I see happening, and my struggles in figuring out how to keep living and working in our current reality. Connecting with others around this is healing, and has helped me move forward and realize that I’m not alone in needing to speak openly about our fears and confusion. I am immensely grateful to have the Work That Reconnects as a framework to bring people together and create time to be with each other as we all face the future together.
Anna DiPilla
I am a Licensed Massage Therapist, certified TraumaWise® embodied yoga guide, Usui Shiki Ryoho teacher in the lineage of Beth Grey, shamanic healer in the lineage of the Church of Earth Healing’s Spirit-Led Shamanism developed by Bekki Shining Bearheart & Crow Swimsaway, and a circle facilitator through the Walking In Balance program led by Elder Strong Oak Lefebvre of Visioning B.E.A.R. I guide people into the waters of their emotions. and support them as they explore the messages in their bodies, alchemize the wisdom they unearth, and unravel liberated expressions of self.