Check Out Katherine Loeken’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Loeken.

Hi Katherine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My journey to where I am today started as most do, at the beginning. My life and circumstances presented a lot of challenges as a child and I learned some coping strategies that began to wreak havoc on my physical, mental and spiritual health as an adult. Faced with going down the same path my mother took, and my older sister of seeing doctor after doctor and being institutionalized, or, trying something different; I took the path that called me. I went it alone, using my intuition.

I am a lay herbalist, I learned it to support my body, I learned energy medicine, including EFT, multiple Qigong forms, acupressure, and meditation to hopefully heal my whole self. As many of us find ourselves today, I have mostly been without insurance and did not have the option to seek out medical help anyway. I do have 3 diagnoses, but I don’t put a whole lot of stock in them. It was more for a reference point and the research that I sought out.

As well as something to tell my spouse, and employers that would be “acceptable”. So I am self-taught. Because of this, I never even thought of being able to help others without the years of schooling it would take to be a therapist. It didn’t cross my mind until covid hit and I lost another lame job because I was sick for too long. I just went into despair. But what came out was a resilience that I didn’t know I had, and a vision of something amazing.

Stillwaters Integrative Healing was the starting point. I created a coaching business that would allow me to stand alongside individuals while they also got to discover their true nature and sovereignty. Over the last couple of years, I’ve had a few amazing clients, but mostly I have continued in my growth and changed the name of my business to Shadow and Beam which more closely aligns with the work that I do as a harmonizer, and guide.

I guess in some cultures, what I do would be considered a shaman, but I don’t feel that I have the right to use that word since I believe it must be bestowed by another shaman who has been your teacher. I do not heal people. I guide them in a way toward self-discovery so that they can heal themselves, and they can discover that they are the artists of their own lives. And the main tools and philosophies I use are; the harmonies of Yin and Yang energy systems in the body, and Establishing Presence which is a download from God’s for a short way of telling that story. Haha

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is any form of entrepreneurship smooth? No, it was not, and is not! But, there was always a sense of being on the right path, even as I am still not seeing the numbers I am calling in, I know that I know it will be everything I dreaming. I believe anyone who feels the pull to strike out on their own and start a business has such a drive in them that the conventional path just won’t ever be enough. I started in a very chaotic time for the world.

On the one hand, I feel was the perfect timing. There are a lot of women making this shift and it is glorious to watch. We are redefining the world’s economy. The struggle I am seeing, and I do believe it is temporary, is that people are still somewhat reluctant to step out and be brave with the world as uncertain as it is. And I make no apologies for saying this; I know what the cost is for being brave and vulnerable in a world that wants, almost demands, conformity to a group. But one cannot do the work of inner alchemy (change) without shedding the skin of society.

And right now people are still too raw and traumatized. I say that and also know that we are all looking for a new way of doing life. And this includes the young couple who wants to have a different kind of wedding that honors the earth, and spirit without all of the consumerism, it includes young women wanting to feel connected and have guidance as they enter womanhood and claim their power through celebration and blessing their new moon cycles, it includes so much of how we conduct day to day life.

People are craving authentic living, we are tired of wearing masks and conforming to fit in and not be ostracized because we stand out. So, I do believe what I teach will resonate and take off.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I chose artist/creative because I believe what I do is teach the art of living an authentic life. I am a life coach for lack of a better word that the readers would know, but I like to think of myself as a Sacred Rites professional. What is that? Well, as a coach, I teach how to create sacred spaces; in our environment and internally. I use ritual, ceremony, and energy shifting to create the right conditions for an individual or couple to come into their harmony.

So whether I am working with a one-on-one client or a couple getting ready to marry, I am utilizing the philosophies of balance, presence, the sacred, and connection to help them achieve their desires and goals. Before I mentioned Establishing Presence, I use it throughout all that I am doing now. It is a philosophy and way of life. Where one practices being present, at the moment, and also establishing “Presence” (Who are you, what do you present to the world, how do you relate to the world and yourself?).

The focus on presence lends itself to my passion and leaning more toward the sacred ritual and ceremonies: Like Non-Traditional Weddings, Young women’s coming of age ceremonies, moon circles how to create sacred spaces in your home, and eventually more, for death and grieving. Ritual gives us anchors in the greater expanse of existence, and ceremony gives us community and rhythm.

For weddings, I focus mainly on nontraditional, which is older than what most would call a traditional wedding. I use handfasting which is an old pagan custom of tying a cord or ribbon around the couple’s joined hand. I find this ceremony works for many kinds of couples who wouldn’t otherwise want a modern wedding: religious or formal. I do pre-marital sessions for each or as a couple to practice some energy harmonizing. This helps them to release anxiety, any tension or worries, and begin their journey energetically compatible.

I do women’s circles for the bride-to-be, so she can be blessed by the women in her life and so that she will not forget her power and magic once married. I also want to be clear that I chose this style of wedding and officiating because I am one hundred percent an ally of all people. I want and can do a ceremony for the LGBTQIA+ community and for anyone else who may want to begin a new path together, explore their way, and not feel the pressure to conform to what their families might expect.

In this case, a women’s circle would be what they wanted it to be; for either or no gender, and inclusive in any way they are hoping it to be to make it sacred and special for them. Life is art, loving is art, the connection is art; so I see my role as guide, teacher, officiant as one who provides the canvas and the paint and says let’s go, here’s your brush, what do you want to create?

P.S. I make house calls, and will travel.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I want to encourage anyone who is wanting to begin a journey of self-employment to go for it. I may still have a day job, for now, but the journey will challenge you in a way that grows you. It will bring out the best in you and you will find you are brave, resilient, clever, and determined. The saying that everyone is so fond of “Follow your folly” is so appropriate. Only it isn’t just folly, is it, if it grows you and heals you and helps you in your becoming.

Pricing:

• $100-$648 for 1-1 Guidance
• sliding scale if needed
• $20-$30 per person for group energy/qigong classes

Contact Info:

• Website: http://shadowandbeam.com
• Instagram: @kate_shadowandbeam
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateShadowNBeam

Image Credits
Max McKita Canva