Salena was a full time studio potter and ceramic artist during the 1980's and early 90's.
"Living in Sante Fe influenced my work to produce the smoke fired pieces that you see above."
Meet Salena
The arts have always been my core interest from age 7 on through a BA in Art and beyond. Explorations in painting, drawing, photography (pre digital), music/dance, theater plus more than ten years as a professional potter and ceramic artist, each weaving its thread throughout my body and soul.
During the mid 2000s I often called myself the “Queen of Blockage” aka inner saboteur. I was ignoring the call and keeping myself small, not implementing the wealth of ideas and creativity brewing inside. In late 2018 the intensity of stuckness grew until, at the end of my rope, I took a traumatic fall breaking both my arms. On impact I was transformed by a spiritual awakening. It was then that my heart flew open and God flew in. My faith journey since has bloomed a heart filled with love to give and share and an ever growing capacity for empathy and compassion. Combined with my years as a Reiki and Reconnective Healing practitioner, I am currently experiencing a fully realized intuition and an ability with remote prayer. Love is a verb, after all.
Education, work and other creative experiences:
Synthesis Center, Amherst, MA: Transformational Life Coaching certification, 2015
Philadelphia College of Art (now The University of the Arts) majoring in painting, drawing and photography
Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA: completed BA in Art, culminating in a month long travel seminar to Japan: Buddhist Thought and Art, including Zen meditation instruction
Southwestern College, Santa Fe, NM: Archetypal Drama Therapy....2 intensives
Reiki, levels I, II, III....the Master Teacher Level, since 1995
Reconnective Healing, levels I and II, since 2009
Art Department Slide librarian: University of Colorado, Boulder, Co and Wesleyan University, Middletown, Ct
Professional Potter & Ceramic Artist and teaching ceramics workshops in the community
My participation in Community and Improvisational Theatre:
Community theatre troupe performance of The Serpent by Jean Claude van Itallie
Playback Theatre workshop at Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
Goodheart Players in N.Y. City: Improv movement, theatre games, storytelling
Omega Theater: A Transformational Theater Laboratory, Saphira Linden, MA, RDT, Jamaica Plain, MA
“These personal explorations in theatrical expression convinced me of the transformative power of finding one's voice and being witnessed in a safe and supportive environment.
Needless to say, that is the cornerstone of my service as a Transformational Life Coach.”
Alignment with one's soul brings authenticity, meaning and joy!
Let’s chat!
Supportive Resources
Sonia Choquette, author, vibrational healer, spiritual teacher.
Her book: Grace, Guidance and Gifts, was an early source for learning to trust and melt into my heart, into the spiritual realm, helping me move from fear to trust/faith/love. Click Here
Dan Buettner, is an American author, explorer, longevity researcher and public speaker.
He co-produced the documentary TV mini series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones based on his book of the same name.
I discovered his book fairly recently and really resonated with the six areas of life one needs to address for health and vitality, and possible longevity as a bonus. Because I am an autodidact and a Renaissance woman with many interests, I have the knowledge and experience with these areas and was thrilled to know of his global research. They are: Purpose, Faith, Community, Downtime, Natural Movement, Plant Based Foods. Click Here
Former President Barack Obama and his 2004 keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, before anyone knew who he was. What a fresh wind of truth and love came from that man! He spoke of the audacity of hope (title of one his books, actually). SO inspiring!! Click Here
Brene’ Brown, Professor of Social Work, Researcher, Storyteller, Author.
Her Ted Talk, The Power of Vulnerability has imprinted my heart with a big “Yes!” As one who had impenetrable walls against feeling vulnerable with a huge need to feel safe above all else, I’ve watched this video over and over till my heart healed enough to no longer need the reminder. Plus she has a fab sense of humor!
Marianne Williamson, Spiritual Thought Leader;
student and teacher of The Course in Miracles that teaches there are only two choices: Fear or Love. Marianne teaches Love and I listened. Here is her famous poem about worthiness that gave me a boost whenever I read it, during my long digging out of self esteem issues.
“My experience with Salena has been unique in my life. She is capable of showing an emotional and physical awareness and attentiveness that I have rarely felt from another person and am delighted to have found in her.”
S. S-W. Corporate Business Development
Stephen Nachmanovitch, Improvisational Musician, Author.
Stephen’s first book, Free Play: The Power of Improvisation in Life and the Arts was my “bible”, my go-to uplifting, motivating resource for way back when I was more involved in being an artist. It is so underlined and dog-eared and so very loved by me because he speaks of the creative process in the greatest depth possible!