Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Principe.
Hi Teresa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi, thank you for this opportunity. I am an out of the box kind of gal. I love exploring this inward journey of the Heart. One of my greatest teachers is my daughter. I am an Intuitive, Psychic Medium, Projector, Healer and Embodied Wellness Guide. I invite, ignite and inspire others to come home to their heart’s inner truth and live it out courageously.
In this journey, I have found that there are both storms and rainbows that live inside each of us and depending on what stage, cycle or life experience we are going through, the outside can influence how we are feeling on the inside. Learning that you have the power to shift what you are feeling on the inside and trust that it will all work out in your favor has been a game changer in my life.
When something intense arrives in life, it may feel like the dark clouds have come in yet I have found that on my inward healing journey of the heart, these very dark and dense times can actually be blessings in disguise.
Like the native American proverb says: ”The Soul would have no rainbow if eyes had no tears.” The wounds and pains are an opportunity for healing and growth, and when we go through it the miracles that show up on the other side are breath-giving.
This foundation of deep trust and surrender is a continuous practice that isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires conviction and courage to stay on course. Sometimes pleasure and pain are closely related especially when there is trauma involved. When the body and mind have experienced trauma there is what I call a “mis-fired” wire where we start to fall back on the feelings we felt for so long, which were confusion, doubt, fear, pain and worry. I recall times when I was healing and growing when my body still had some residual lingering from the past and wanted to just hide. Even after I would witness my life shifting in the ways I desired, I still felt the old feelings of pain and had to create regular practices to get out of my overthinking, anxious mind and body and back into my heart. For underneath the fail-safe feelings of pain were feelings of excitement, euphoria, curiosity and possibility. My discernment to fully see the situations and life as they truly were took practice to feel safe in the present again.
Rewiring to get out of the head and into the body and heart takes patience, consistency, practice and yes, support from others. Sometimes even complete strangers you meet along the way in perfect Divine time.
I recall a time when my nervous system and life were still not my own and I was in overdrive….I was living and working in Boston, MA at the time. The old record was still playing in my mind that hummed the old tune “success was on the outside and having it, would get me feeling better on the inside”.
This I would learn was not entirely true. True success is felt when you know who you are and you feel grounded in your own truth. This can only be found by doing our inner healing work. It is here when the outside starts to transform and change right before our very eyes.
After experiencing a variety of unique work environments to include Hospitality, Financial Management, Not for profits in both At-Risk Inner City youth environments and Small Business Education and networking Associations; I came to realize that there was something missing from this all deep within my heart of hearts. It didn’t matter what I was doing because I felt disconnected from who I was on the inside. Even with self-care, a healthy social life and money I still didn’t feel content or even accomplished. I felt I had a deeper purpose and was being called. This feeling was different than the guilt programming I was conditioned into growing up that told me maybe religion was a calling I should consider. No this feeling was more heart centered and soul calling. Ironically It was around this time that I got a call from my parents telling me my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I heard the news and decided to move home and help my big family while also taking time to reevaluate my life, health and priorities. This was one of those moments in life where I would later realize that despite the fears, grief, loss and sadness there was a gift on the other side.
Growing up my mother introduced us to alternative and natural ways of healing through vitamins, herbal supplements and other healthy modalities to care for the whole body. As I observed my mother take a more natural alternative health route to healing her cancer without chemo or radiation, the more I focused on improving my own health naturally and through exploration of different practitioners and modalities. It was here that I was introduced to yoga. Yoga would become one of the biggest pivotal experiences to shape my life. Yoga to me was a way to open and feel my body on a whole new level that working out in the gym just wasn’t offering me.
My heart, mind and body felt more aligned. I found more energy and was sleeping much better than I had in a long time. My dream life came back vividly and it was here that I uncovered the next shadow I was to heal. A traumatic and painful past experience showed up in my dream life and propelled me to seek out therapy and unravel this memory that was living in my body and psyche.
From here therapy became a regular practice I would stick with even when things got tough. To talk things out, be heard and learn just how influential my past experiences were on my current reality was life changing. This is when my trauma healing began in 2002. I was referred to many self-improvement books and so much more. This started a journey of exploration and inquisition into my reality, duality and even the quantum realms. Yoga became a regular activity as did exploring healing alternatives to feel back into my body and heart even more.
Dance, somatics, body work, acupuncture, non-traditional therapy, and more, would contribute to my unique journey. Trusting in the unknown started to become something I felt deep within and the more I trusted the sooner the next step on my path would reveal itself. Sometimes that meant things had to fall away and these were opportunities to grow and heal.
I let go of the idea of moving back to Boston, MA and experienced a series of contract work in which each job would reveal the next step on my journey. I landed a longer-term role in the world of Radio & Broadcasting. The radio business taught me new skills from copywriting, to voice-over work, to creating my own public affairs show that focused on Revitalizing the Arts and Culture in my hometown of Rochester, NY. Networking and connecting local leaders to support the growth of the City through Arts and Culture became my gift and project. Later, the City would come to thrive and grow once more.
During that time, I met a colleague who invited me to participate as a board member in her dance company supporting at-risk youth. Nydia and I quickly became friends, it was here that she invited me to attend a vision quest up North in NY. Not only was I introduced to Native Tribal Traditions and the natural ways of honoring the land; I also gained a new understanding and love of our Creator and these healing practices. I started attending sweat lodges and vision quests regularly with people who would become my tribal family. My shaman was humble, wise, a man of few words, yet, his actions and teachings were potent and rich through ceremony, drumming, fire tending and fasting. He led from the heart and allowed me to show up as me. I listened to stories, teachings and wisdom of the ancient ones, creepy crawlers and 4 legged. I observed how he embraced and accepted everyone there with open, and loving arms. This became a healing place where I could be in nature with the Creator, explore Self and come present to and accept others as they were on their own inward healing journey. This would pour over into my interactions within the world.
Back home the Radio business was going through some changes. I could feel things were shifting. It was then that a volunteer opportunity came up in Costa Rica. I knew I had to go. I had accrued hours from working overtime and instead of staying quiet, I spoke up and was granted time to go. A blessing in disguise when I realized instead of waiting, I needed to go towards the unknown and simply try.
My then boyfriend came to meet me on the trip and we traveled to the Osa Peninsula it was here that I was shown early signs from the universe of the fate of this relationship, yet I knew there was still some growth and experiences that had to happen, it’s all here for us and he taught me so much… While at the Iguana Lodge in the Osa , the owner and I realized we had a love for the same yoga Teacher, Shiva Rea. It was after this experience that confirmed my heart’s calling to study with her and so in July of 2007 I set off for Venice Beach, California to do my 300hr teacher training with Shiva Rea. I learned so much during this time and opened up to an even deeper level of my personal practice and self-awareness. Shiva embodies her art of living your yoga through her teachings in Prana Flow. Upon returning home, I decided to leave my corporate career and pursue my love of teaching and wellness coaching. Throughout that time I continued to study and train as a psychic medium learning about metaphysics, energy healing and clearing and more. My acupuncturist at the time became like a Spiritual mother to me and introduced me to a variety of other explorations for my journey. I found it amazing how things would unfold naturally the more I kept up on my inner healing. My intuition became stronger too and my healing became a ripple effect within my work and practice.
In 2008 I was still with my boyfriend from Costa Rica and after some joyful times, we still were having challenges, and it felt more like an emotional drain than an uplifting one so I knew I had to move on.
It was here that I decided I had to make a change and ironically found out I was pregnant at the same time. That felt confusing for sure especially with my catholic upbringing and wanting to do what it takes in a relationship. I wondered if this was the miracle I needed to propel me forward on my path. Either way it ended up being that for no matter what I chose it was for my highest and best. I had to trust that and realized we can’t get this thing called life wrong. We just learn and grow. So I chose to have my child as I was desiring to have the experience of a child and was not sure if there was going to be another time and I had other factors at play at the time that had me make this choice…. I don’t regret it at all. Our daughter Tula was born and she has been one of my greatest gifts. The experience only brought me more clarity and understanding of myself, the world and my relationships.
My daughter would come to show me what was really important and it was here that I decided to leave this unhealthy relationship. My daughter and I moved a lot that first year and would over the course of the next 10 years. I didn’t know if I was going to make it or where I would go. I felt helpless and unsure of what my future would hold. It was a scary and lonely time despite being in my hometown. I had some support however it didn’t feel like enough. I had to land in a deeper place of trust. Deep down I knew we were going to be ok. I have somehow always known this. Perhaps because of my conversations and connections to the unseen and other side since I was a child.
The next handful of years would feel a bit wobbly, yet within them were also some amazing and transformative moments and support on the journey. My inner practices kept me strong and soft at the same time. I met many beautiful beings and practitioners on the path. I learned about myself and others. It was also when I discovered the Waldorf tradition and community which would end up supporting me and my daughter’s journey along the way in amazing ways.
Even though I knew deep within that my purpose was to lead and guide others through my healing, yoga and wellness business; I put it on the back burner to get ahead financially for me and my child. My mother had fully healed from her cancer naturally and things felt back to “normal”. It was then that we decided to move to the Adirondack Mountains. One visit and many family trips growing up confirmed the move felt in alignment for our journey. In 2015 we had a fresh start and I went back to the hospitality industry. We found a Waldorf community to support our transition and we had help along the way. The gradual unfolding in this growth journey invited moments in to show me that I was on track, even when it didn’t feel like my “ideal” it was still a step in the aligned direction.
The mountain life was healing on a lot of levels. I would hike the high peaks almost every day and get out whenever I could. The home we would come to live in was heated only by a wood stove and was disconnected from most technology so the body felt more rested and at ease. As work options started to wane and I felt my practices starting to fall to the wayside with overworking. I hired a coach and started to explore other options. After four years there it was time to move to continue to grow forward. In 2019 we moved to Vermont after being offered a management job in a small-town café, and there was a Waldorf school within the area and again housing and a scholarship came through, so I knew it was our next step on the journey.
As the world took a turn with C-vid so did my work in the industry. Truth be told the overworked hospitality environment was wearing on my body, mind and soul and the universe took care of it for me for my purpose and desired work was elsewhere. I didn’t know what we were going to do being far from family, I had to reinvent myself again and saw it as an opportunity to go back into my purpose work and passion. I knew it would be a long road having to start from scratch during a pandemic. Through these challenging and changing times of 2020- 2021, with schooling at home, working on my business and trying to make ends meet while also learning to adapt to this strange new world coming in; I was reminded of my past practices and tools I had been building from all my other past challenges and so despite the tough road, it was smoother for me than most for I had years prior of being able to handle these traumatic and changing events. I was able to navigate without losing myself. I practiced yoga regularly with my teacher Shiva Rea virtually and I felt supported while I worked, taught yoga, gained new amazing clients, started a grass roots podcast and created online content for social media to support my grassroots efforts. It truly was a learning and growing experience.
Getting back to my soul’s calling and purpose was one of the greatest gifts of the pandemic along with having quality time to slow down and be with my daughter and offer online support to others. My inner work kept me resilient and focused no matter what and so I didn’t give up, even when it got rough. I was doing it. I worked through the fears, doubts, worries and worst-case scenarios. In the summer of 2020, my daughter and I took our first road trip and vacation in 10 years. We visited the national parks across the country and camped out in nature. We grew closer and made up for lost time.
The second summer, I grew even more with an experiential travel trip for my business, where I took a 30-day trip guided by my intuition. I didn’t plan much and allowed my heart and the signposts to lead me. My Journey to the Heart was focused on visiting Sacred sites, National Parks and the roads less traveled throughout our country. There were so many beautiful and healing moments on this trip. I met amazing people who supported me in beautiful ways along the trip. I would share profound moments, and I learn more about my process within and with others on this heart centered journey. The world felt safer and more compassionate than my old wounding would have had me believe.
I documented a lot of this trip on the socials to share my experience with others. The trip had some intense and unknown moments yet it was life changing. It showed me that when I allow, release fear, and let go of old conditioning; I get to step out into an unknown place of possibility, wonder, joy and expansion.
There were times I didn’t know if I would find a place to sleep, or if I would be ok doing all those hikes alone in foreign areas, yet the signs showed up in the form of loving and caring individuals and help along the way. I met so many wonderful beings. They would come to affirm my inner knowing that when we let go and trust, it all works out as it needs to and sometimes even better than we could have ever imagined.
So, despite all my life challenges because I never stopped investing in my inner healing journey, I was able to open to possibility instead. This anchor and foundation of safety was needed to support my life in so many ways. Throughout the moments when I didn’t know where we were going to live, or if we would have enough food or be ok, deep down I knew it was all going to be as it needed to and my trust, faith and just taking the next step would hold me more than anything outside of me could. The more I surrendered the easier the way was revealed and the support gets to show up along the way too, sometimes not how we imagined yet often how we needed it to.
Today of course, life is still unfolding and continues to surprise me in the most beautiful ways. My daughter’s father and I are much better separated and we are co-parenting from a distance with more peace as each day passes.
My daughter and I are growing with the community, establishing new connections and I continue to build my business now that things have opened up again. I keep up on my practices and make a point to get outside every day. I continue to grow and explore through this journey of the heart. I inspire others to live from their heart and follow their intuition despite the roadblocks that might show up. I continue to facilitate groups around embodied wellness, intuition, dreaming and healing from trauma.
I allow nature to inspire my work and keep up on my practices every single day. I attended regular sweats for over 16 years as my practice and with the move I am calling that practice back into my life. My daughter is graduating from the local Waldorf school, which for me has been a dream come true. She is thriving and has a strong sense of self and because of my inner healing and doing my inner work, I am a better more aware parent for her.
This inward healing journey to heart has shaped my life, offering me a deep place of trust beyond what I or anyone can know ahead. I am grateful for all the experiences that continue to shape my journey. I am here to be a guide for others and invite them home to their inner guidance and authentic self. As a Projector I shine a light for others, I work to help others heal trauma through embodiment practices and guidance to create safety within the body.
In this being human, despite how much we long to get to the Summit of the next big thing in our lives, we must remember there is a place much deeper where we find it is in the journey itself that shapes who we are and brings us home to our Essential Self. This pulsating heart journey starts below the surface and waits patiently to reveal life’s ever unfolding wisdom, you just have to slow down enough to listen and love yourself enough to offer space to heal. Going towards the hard things is not always easy and takes courage to reflect and continue on. Rest assured, it’s all happening as it needs to and you are held more deeply than you can ever truly know or see ahead.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Hmm, well, depends on what smooth means… I would have to say that doing the inner healing work made it smoother. Life and the journey are all in how you decide to look at it. Gratitude for the mini miracles and support along the way allowed the road to become more of a loving trail of mystery, wonder and peace within.
The struggles with housing stability, raising a child as a single parent and healing from the trauma, whilst trying to provide and protect were not easy feats to conquer, yet odd as it may sound, I wouldn’t change it. I made it through and will continue to and will allow more loving support to show up.
Healing and repairing the timelines allows the journey to become smoother and invites in an expansive presence into each moment even in the unknown. Challenges are opportunities for growth and bring us back home to what matters when we do the healing around it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Thanks for asking! Well, I am a guide, an intuitive psychic medium, an artist, a projector in the human design world, and I help others build the life they desire by inviting, inspiring and igniting them to live from their heart and follow their own inner knowing. I love to facilitate, and guide groups as well. I share my wisdom through the socials, podcasts, speaking and my all-time favorite guided meditations and channeling. I have been told my voice has a healing all its own!
One of my superpowers is my intuitive wisdom drops that I love to share when invited to of course! I am authentic, loving, and offer a loving, nurturing and safe space for others to heal in.
I am in the process of writing a book to share my work with the world and hope to adapt it as a movie of some kind too.
What does success mean to you?
True success is growing through the inward healing journey and seeing how the outside changes because of it. It is not measured by quantifiable numbers, or qualifications reached on the outside to prove we are enough, instead, it is measured by the level to which you feel and hold compassion and love for self and others in the world and in your heart of hearts. It’s slowing down to life to experience it in its fullest and most beautiful way.
It is seeing things from a full spectrum experience and understanding there is no one “right or wrong” way and it is more about how one discovers and uncovers any barriers within themselves that hold them from showing up as their pure loving authentic self.
Thank you so much for this opportunity!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stariayoga.com and teresaprincipe.love
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/stariagirl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teresa.principe.737
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrwwzYKHksER6Vu31Wo63Zg
Image Credits
Dark Blue Cloud Yoga Shot- Tula Klock
Pink Dress looking up at sky – Kelli Radwanski
Purple Dress laying on the grass outside – Kelli Radwanski
Other photos – Teresa Principe
