Understand your experience as an integral part of the universal order so you can move through life with purpose, grace, and confidence.
What is Āyurveda?
"The Science of Life"
Āyurveda is a 5000 year old system of healing that has roots in ancient India. The Āyurvedic approach to health takes the totality of one's being into account, examining the environment in which they live, diet and lifestyle, and sense of purpose, along with the physical, spiritual, and emotional state. More than a healing system, Āyurveda is a guṇa shastra, a way of seeing and assessing all areas of life through the qualities of the five great elements: Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. A skilled Āyurvedic practitioner is able to assess the state of the elements within us by interpreting the guṇas (qualities) associated with these elements, and seeks to restore equilibrium by using their natural opposites to balance insufficiencies and excesses. Holistic therapies, like herbs, adjustments to diet and lifestyle, oil therapies, massage, yoga, meditation, pranayama, marma, and more, are used to guide the body, mind, and spirit towards a state of inner and outer balance.
What is Jyotish ?
"The Science of Light"
Jyotish, or Vedic Astrology, is referred to as the science of light because it examines how the celestial bodies illuminate and influence our path. Considered a sister science to both Āyurveda and Yoga, Jyotish incorporates various other modalities as well, including Hasta Samudrika (hand analysis, or palmistry), Vāstu Shastra (which is similar to feng shui), and Nimitta (omenology) to help us understand how we relate to the various facets of reality (the energy of the living, the ethereal, and the material, as well as time itself).
A Jyotishi can provide information on the deeper meanings behind the events of our lives and on our journey through time from the perspective of the cosmos. It is different from Western or Tropical astrology in many ways, but one major difference is that it utilizes the Sidereal Zodiac (which is why it is sometimes also referred to as Sidereal Astrology).
A Jyotish reading tells our story as it relates to the biggest picture, the cosmic order, and it paints a picture of the many roles that we play throughout our life, providing an objective perspective on our personal and collective history. Astrology has been used to help people understand who they are and how they can navigate the planetary energies for thousands of years. When we develop a relationship with these energies, we can work with them to understand our purpose and to accomplish our goals.
My teacher says that Jyotish is not an end point, but a place from where one can make an informed start.
Not everything is set in stone ~ We have free will.
Imagine all of the potential that the heavens see in us?
What is Intrinsic Counseling ?
Spiritual Guidance
Intrinsic Counseling is what I use to describe guided spiritual counseling. In these sessions, we use various modalities from the Vedic and Yogic traditions to help us to process and eventually understand the truth of who we are and what our purpose is from the perspective of the cosmic order. While we untie the bindings of our personal histories, we shed light on the significance of and deeper meanings behind the experiences of our life, which enables us to move forward free from the baggage of these events while we step into alignment with our own truth.
The path of intrinsic counseling is an exploration of inner divinity and truth rooted in our own deeper intrinsic knowing. This is a revelatory practice, an unfolding across time, and a becoming that takes patience, dedication, and attention.
So, who am I?
Danielle
I am a student of the human condition, be it through culture, philosophy, or studying spiritual traditions, I have, for as long as I can remember, sought to understand the many ways that we exist in relationship with the world around us. I love learning about people as individual and collective beings, and I have often found myself immersed in the search for knowledge about the influence of overarching systems on a person's sense of self and identity. In Āyurveda, it is said that you are the microcosm of the macrocosm, and as such, the systems under which we grow up and come into ourselves inform our identities and behaviors, our sense of self, and our health, wellbeing, relationships, and more.
So what happens when we remove this ego veil and live from truth, from our hearts?
The answer to this question is the heart of my practice.
In my work with clients, I look to connect these dots with those of the natural order through the lens of the vedic, yogic, and the teachings of Advaita Vedanta (non-duality). I believe that it is possible to grow and thrive in alignment with the natural and cosmic order in a way that is practical to our lived reality. You don't have to reject society, the people around you, your culture, or your religion to connect with truth and with your inner divinity. In fact, I myself practice the art of connection everyday while living in a city, working, and raising a family.
In my personal life, I am a mother and a homemaker. I enjoy gardening, cooking, bicycling, watching movies, writing, and learning (languages, philosophy, culture... I love to do the deep dive). I am also a Japanophile, and I have an academic background in East Asian studies, which helped me to understand the intricacies of cultural connection through space and time. I have done various speaking engagements at colleges and universities on subjects ranging from film (Japan & India), to individual and cultural identity (specific to Japan), to the foundations of Āyurveda, and more. I am a follower of Sanatana Dharma, a mumukṣu (seeker/student/devotee) in the traditions of Advaita Vedanta and Shakti Tantra, a certified Āyurvedic Practitioner, and a practitioner an eternal student of Jyotish.
Education, Certification, & Background
