Hello lovely Soul…my name is Jackie Gutknecht.

This is my spiritual awakening story. During the 47th season of my life, I had a spiritual awakening. In 2013 my father was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and the doctors predicted his remaining time on earth would only be about 1.4 years.

I was operating at a 60% capacity. I was not spiritual or connected in anyway, even though I was always a seeker and was raised in a religion. Emotionally I was depressed/suppressed and walking around with an underlying feeling of anxiety. Physically, I had a thyroid condition, lower back issues, allergies, and a low grade fatigue that was a constant struggle. When I heard his diagnosis I was just teetering on health. It was a 4 legged stool with only 3 legs and they were wobbly The foundation of spiritual, mental, emotional and physical wellness were unbalanced. I had a knowing that I couldn’t do this life change on my own. I was going to end up in the hospital right beside him. I just knew that I didn’t have the capacity to handle this stressful time in our family’s lives, especially mine. I wasn’t stable enough. I didn’t have the foundation to weather this storm.

That is when I broke. I broke down. I fell to my knees and prayed for grace. I prayed for grace to carry me through this time because I couldn’t do it on my own. I dropped the pride and when I dropped to my knees I allowed something infinitely greater than me, support me, love me, and hold me in unconditional loving Grace.

It has been a magical time ever since. In the midst of the change and what I thought was devastating for me (let alone for my father), was actually a transformation for me. It was a place of being held in grace while all the time feeling all the feelings of what was occurring right before me. It was strength in the grace. It was God, it was all, everything and nothing. It was a life changer.

Right then and there after dropping to my knees I was given a sign. A sign that was unmistakable. It was a message, it was the heavens opening up to something greater than myself. It was God’s “Yes”. It was when I started my new life. A journey of healing to balance all these aspects of self. To surrender to what I knew was no longer working for me and then to surrender all my control. Surrender surrender surrender.

Where this has brought me today is my purpose and in service. I received early indications that I would be doing what I am doing today. Like bread crumbs, God gave me these to follow which has brought me here today. It is a contract with God, a design, a calling, a plan, it is what I am meant to do in this lifetime. A healing sanctuary, a plentiful property, animal partners, spirit teachers, a healer, a grateful existence of connection to all things and all people.

It is an Earth Medicine School where we Embrace our Light within ourselves to learn to live a life with a solid and grounded foundation that can carry us through all kinds of storms that our lives inevitably bring us in connection with the sacredness of our spiritual foundation.