TALKING HERBS, HEALING AND SPIRITUALITY ~ WITH CHONTEAU McELVIN
Hi Chonteau, can you tell us about yourself?
Hi My Name is Chonteau Blake McElvin and I was born in the Northeastern United States. I grew up however in sunny Florida and have lived here for 43 years. I identify as African American and First Nations. My paternal grandmother's grandparents were Cherokee and Apache. In this moment, my life is very simple. I live a classic suburban life in Central Florida with my two children, life long partner and therapy dog. I am self employed as a medicine woman, soccer and basketball mom and volunteer social worker when the opportunities arise.
You are a Shaman, Folk Healer and Naturalist what does this entail?
It means showing up in my life with authenticity. It also entails that I understand I am here to serve as a channel for healing, which requires consistent self study and inner work to keep my channel free and clear. Consistent meditation, prayer and spiritual practice are the most important parts of my life.
What are your passionate about?
I am most passionate about being a mentor and a reminder that our best world begins with our remembrance that we are all we need. I am passionate about inspiring and empowering women to consistently look within themselves and heal the wounds and tears of our lives. Her story is our story and our stories heal. I believe all women are healers and I am most passionate about empowering women to awaken their inner medicine woman.
What circumstances forced you into evaluating your own self care and Spirituality?
Loss. My experiences with grief loss forced me to evaluate my self care and spirituality. It seems when I experience great loss, I am stopped in my tracks. There is no where to go and nothing to do expect be with me. It seems I am most open to receive when I am in that raw space. Great loss came very early to me. I was 12 years old when my mother crossed over. After that every major milestones had a bittersweet tone until I was able to truly mourn. In my early 30's I had two babies to die and again major loss forced me to stop and care for myself in an entirely new way. This is when I disconnected from what society viewed as self care and embraced an entirely new model that served me. What emerged was a more expanded mission in life: Truth, Authenticity and Empowerment
I've heard you speaking of the Light and Shadow aspects of our nature, can you elaborate on this?
Every archetype has numerous parts of its nature. We are the ones that label them as good or bad, and desirable or undesirable. I tend to not view things in positive and negative because I can get caught up in the good or bad, and right and wrong paradigms. I am choosing to view life from a different perspective. There are times in my life when I feel very expansive and that is when I feel happy and joyful and full. There are times in my life when I feel very contractive and withdrawn. In these times I feel sad, angry and frustrated. I am choosing to view expansive and contractive as necessary to my development. One is not better than the other. It just is. Understanding this perspective requires lots of reminding myself that whatever I feel is okay. I am a work in progress.
Is there any advice you can give to someone experiencing major transitions in their life ?
Trust and Believe. That has been my motto this year. Trust and believe that ALL is working for you and not against you. When I am in such darkness that I can not see my hand in front of my face, I keep walking and I Trust and Believe that I will see a spark of light far off in the distance and if I keep walking it will get brighter and brighter until it illuminates my way.
What advice would you give to women who let age define or restrict them? What are your secrets?
The American culture around age and beauty leaves lot to be desired. I am lucky enough to have amazing grandmothers in my life that have modelled to me a range of attitudes, body shapes, sexuality, sensuality, strength and flexibility when it comes to aging. I welcome middle and later years of my life with curiosity. There are also times when I am afraid to grow older. My insight has been to honour thyself just as I am. Honour the days when I feel fit fly and ageless and also to honour the days when feel fragile, unfit and unworthy. My secret to ageless beauty is mindset. Other secrets are managing stress with meditation and herbs, daily movement, positive outlook on life, regular stretching, healthy sex life and figuring out what food support my body best and eat more of that.
What would you say are the most important herbs for women to take regularly to have optimum health? Can you share a recipe?
Oh my goodness, there are so many herbal allies that can support us. Herbs are sophisticated and have an energetic component. It's not about me telling you what herbs can support you, its about getting to know the herbs for yourself and let them teach you how they can support you. This is my approach to herbalism. So anything that I may suggest please know the importance of not taking my word for it, but to build a relationship with your herbal allies for yourself. Also I have found herbal infusions to be one of the safest way to incorporate herbs into our lives. I do not take herbs I eat and drink herbs daily in my food and drink A simple nutritive herbal blend for women I have found helpful in boosting my immune health because it is mineral and vitamin rich is: 1 part nettles, 1 part alfalfa, 1/2 part red raspberry leaf, 1/2 dandelion leaf, 1/4 part mint.
You facilitate group sessions for teens and adults. What does this consist of and how does this impact their lives?
For 13 years I counselled adolescent girls and I have been facilitating meditation type group sessions for 15 years. It is one of the most rewarding services I offer. I love to witness the melting away of stress and the realization that within each of us is a very calm and peaceful place. Most people begin to notice positive changes in their lives after meditating consistently and will come back to me to report the biggest change is, they feel more peaceful. I truly believe when we feel more peaceful we act more peaceful, which means the world becomes more peaceful.
Chonteau
Website: www.chonteau.com