Today we’d like to introduce you to Riya Rose.
Hi Riya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a child of a schizophrenic mother, I began my search for answers early. The gift of being raised by someone who lived in a different reality than me is that I knew innately that I could only trust my inner guidance system. I grew up in Northern Georgia and found the Earth to be my haven. I spent many hours in the woods connecting with the safest mother I had access to, Gaia. I began my deeper search for truth in middle school and found Buddhism. Zen Buddhism, in particular, caught my attention and by high school, I had a daily meditation practice. This stayed my core belief system for many years until I found yoga at 21 and realized I had been using meditation to check out of my body completely. As I dropped into my body and continued connecting with the Earth I was guided to begin working with the cycles of the moon and how they connected with the cycles of my own body. This was so transformative for me that I hosted women’s moon circles in my home monthly. I did many trainings during this time including becoming a certified yoga teacher and clinical herbalist. The most transformative teachers, however, were the plants, the earth and my spiritual guides. I began to open up more deeply to the mystical side of reality and by 2020 I was initiated as a Priestess. Ritual and ceremony became my life and I began working with the other realms more deeply. Through this process, I have guided many on their path to healing and wholeness which is one of the greatest honors of my life alongside being a mother to my two daughters. I am still deeply rooted in working with women and creating safe containers for empowerment and sisterhood. These include monthly women’s circles, courses, trainings, retreats and one on one sessions. I currently take one on one clients of all genders for ceremonies and soul sessions. I am in the process of establishing a mystery school to provide the guidance and support I wished I had when I began my journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing up in the deep south as a little Witch was not the easiest. I knew from my earliest memories that I was different and that I would not be following the path laid out for me. Women were told to submit to men and cover their bodies which caused such a fire to ignite in my being. I still have clear memories of revolting when I was told to “act like a lady”. Church nor the cultural expectations of women’s roles did not resonate and that was extremely isolated in a predominantly Christian culture. No one was saying was felt true or real to me. On top of this, My mother was severely mentally ill and my father struggled with anger issues which made my home life unsafe. The beauty of this challenge was that I grew so deeply close the Earth and this connection is what I attribute much of my magic and potency to as a healer and Priestess. I had to trust myself and be strong in my center of knowing. I had to learn to nurture myself and find nurturing from the Great Mother instead of a biological mother/father. I feel I am here to hear what is beyond the current structures and hold space for people without judgment or an agenda. My childhood, although challenging, uniquely gifted me with the skills needed for my path. For this, I am deeply grateful.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Clinical Herbalist, Priestess, Medicine Woman and 500-hour Kundalini and Tantric yoga teacher. Currently, I offer one on one sessions for clients focusing on holistic wellness and intuitive guidance. During these sessions, I employ my knowledge of physiology and herbalism for health concerns and also shamanic practices for spiritual wholeness. I specialize in ceremonies and rituals that are both expansive and safe. These take the form often of private events or group gatherings. Working with women in sacred containers has been a huge part of my work for many years. I hold monthly full moon women’s circles at Natural Law Apothecary in Salt Lake City as well as virtual new moon women’s circles. Retreats are a huge calling for me so I can create a solid container for deep dives into healing, rest and play for groups. I also offer online courses to train people in the ways of earth magic, ritual and ceremony. Soon I will be launching a Mystery School to deepen and expand my course offerings to a wider audience and to included more teachers and tools for my community. I don’t currently have regular yoga classes on my schedule but I do teach at events, retreats and festivals. More info on my upcoming events can be found on my website.
What makes you happy?
What makes me deeply happy is holding space for others and witnessing the magic that exists in everyone. It is truly astonishing that the Divine takes so many forms and expressions and it is my highest excitement to hold space for individuals and groups. True connection with other people is a joy. When we can let down all walls and be in complete presence together. I truly love humans and believe connection is happiness. The Earth makes me deeply happy. To drop in and play with the earth is when I feel so free and unencumbered. Lastly and most importantly, my children make me so happy. To be present with them and learn for their pure and bright perspectives. Being their mother is the single greatest joy of my life.
Pricing:
- Soul Session 60 mins $111
- Soul Session 90 mins $222
- Private Ceremony $1,111
Contact Info:
- Website: http://wellnesspriestess.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theembodiedpriestess/
Image Credits
Lianna Michelle
