About Me
I describe myself as an interdisciplinary facilitator and I’m interested in exploring the space between spirituality, movement and the arts. I enjoy working with modalities that provide an opportunity for direct experience.
I’m currently working on a Masters in Buddhist Studies with the University of South Wales and my research explores whether Zen can really be expressed through (Zen) Arts.
I worked as a freelance photographer for the 10 years and occasionally I still take commissions. If you’re interested in working together please get in touch about rates. You can see my portfolio here.
I’m also co-founder of The Floating Space. A platform that facilitates thoughtful and thematic group sessions for creatives made with intention to share and support each other's practice.
I live in south Cornwall with my husband Charlie & our dog Kiki. I’m also Sōtō Zen student with the Ordinary Mind UK Zendo.
I use pronouns they/them
Personal Story
I was drawn to Buddhist practice about 10 years ago but it wasn’t until my after my grandmother passed away that I started looking for answers how to process all the grief and sorrow I was experiencing.
Initially I started practising Insight but after a few years I gradually was drawn towards Zen. Two years ago I started an MA in Buddhist Studies as a way of deepening my understanding on an academic level.
In 2019 my childhood trauma caught up with me and I was diagnosed with PTSD. I remember my therapist explaining to me that I’m also a ‘hyper-sensitive’ person which is why I’m more aware of social stimuli and get overstimulated. She helped me realise that this is not a weakness but a capacity to feel and care deeply. It took me over 2 years to soothe the panic attacks and find compassion within myself to accept this new sense of self.
I began my journey with trying to find answers to two questions:
1. How can we make our nervous systems more resilient to stress?
2. How do we transition through change with equanimity?
These two questions continue to inspire my practice and after many years I continue to believe that deepening the awareness through the process of inquiry gives us an insight on how to live our lives with more ease and greater acceptance.
Credentials
2022 - 2025 - MA in Buddhist Studies
2022 - Yearlong Qigong mentorship programme with Mimi Kuo-Deemer
2021 - extended study programme Depth and Embodiment: An Integral Path with Christina Feldman, Chris Cullen, Christoph Köck and Yuka Nakamura
2018 - Yin Yoga intensive with Norman Blair - 30 hours
Practice
2024 - Garden of Dreams, Black Flower Publishing.
2023 - What Makes a Lake? Tracing Movement , Another Earth.
2023 - Legacy of Love, Within Without.
2023 - Currently studying Zen precepts with the Ordinary Mind teacher Malcolm Martin
2023 - 3 day sesshin with the Ordinary Mind
2022 - Body, Speech, Mind – bringing Zen practice to life - 5 days silent meditation retreat in Gaia House
2021 - Dependant Origination - 7 days online silent meditation retreat
Extending gratitude to my teachers
Over the years I’ve been fortunate to learn from wonderful teachers who continue to inspire my practice. A deep bow to you.
Mimi Kuo Deemer
Mimi is an author and teacher of meditation, qigong, and internal martial arts (6th generation lineage holder in Baguazhang). I started practicing in with Mimi in 2021 as a way to support my PTSD flare ups. In 2022 I did a yearlong mentorship with Mimi. Her knowledge, light heartedness and a healthy dose of goofiness inspired me to start sharing Qigong with others. I’m deeply grateful for the Mimi’s warmth, encouragement and kindness that have supported me all these years.
Malcolm Martin
Malcolm is the sixth Dharma heir of Barry Magid, who founded the Ordinary Mind Zendo in New York in 1996. He is also ordained lay member of the Order of Interbeing founded by Thich Nhat Hanh, and has been leading Buddhist groups in UK prisons for the last ten years. I feel grateful to be touched by his deep care for the world and his generosity of the heart. He has been a huge support for me throughout my journey with Zen; always happy untangle even the most complicated questions I tend to bring to the table.
Master Huang Ping
A former Chinese National Champion and member of the China National Wushu team, who dedicated her life to Taiji and Bagua. Learning Yang Taiji forms from Master Ping is a highlight of my week. I’ve practiced many movement schools over the years (Scaravelli, Hanna Somatics, Hatha and Iyengar Yoga) but I’ve never met a teacher who explains movement in such a creative, relatable and inspiring way. I’ve only been practicing with Master Huan Ping for a little while but during this time she helped me understand the way energy can be expressed through movement, something I thought about in the past but could never quite grasp it. I feel honoured to learn from Master Huang Ping, thank you for expanding my world.