Spiritual/Paranormal Psychology, Shadow Work, Mentoring, Magick, Psychic Development, & Intuitive Readings for the Modern Mystic! Based in Sheboygan, WI. Online Appointments. Online Classes. Modern Mystic Psychic Development Group. Divination Tools. Poisonous Plant Products. Markets & Fairs. Presentations. And More!
Garden Gothis hosted by Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD and produced by Mead Public Library. A new episode will be released every other Friday. Garden Goth is a 3-segment podcast that focuses on the duality of life and death. Segment 1 (Memento Vivere) focuses on living a big and bold life to the fullest. Segment 2 (Memento Mori) explores the darker and less understood side of life through gothic gardening, gothic philosophy, gothic music, and other taboo and stigmatized things people might fear, not have exposure to, and misunderstand. Segment 3 focuses on gardening, horticulture, sustainability, and land conservation. Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD is an Herbalist, Certified Aromatherapist, Master Gardener, President of the Sheboygan County Master Gardeners and is on the Board of Directors, project chair of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center Indoor Gardens, a member of the American Herbalist Guild, a member of The American Botanical Council, botanical artist, and specializes in Heirloom plants and Gothic Gardening (black/dark plants and dramatic/bold design). Christina works in the realm of Spiritual Psychology. She has a PhD in Health Psychology, Training in Transpersonal Psychology, a Masters in Clinical Psychology, a Bachelors in Anthropology, a Bachelors in Psychology, and is an ordained minister. Christina has been involved in the Goth, Industrial, Electronic, and underground music scenes for over 25 years.
Sesh, my familiar, RIP By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA Mind, Soul, and Self LLC mindsoulandself.com
My PhotoBlog: I have come to understand, true ways to heal spiritually, psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. I started joining my artist husband in his art studio to paint and experiment with making art. Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I try to post a new photograph every day. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photoblog to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on.
In European folklore, animal familiars, sometimes called animal guides, help witches and healers conduct their magic. They typically assume animal forms of the likes of cats, dogs, or birds. Familiars assist healers in spreading health and wellness. My beautiful familiar, Session (Sesh) returned to the world of spirit on July 22, 2020. My heart is broken into a million pieces and my grief is profound. Sesh was 13 years old when he passed. I adopted him from the Sauk County Wisconsin Humane Society in June of 2008. He was 9 months old. He was the Pet of the Week in the newspaper. As soon as I saw his photo, I knew he had to be mine. He was the perfect dog. Sesh journeyed with me through the start of my business, my spiritual awakening, my breakdown, and my breakthrough. I would never be the healing facilitator who I am today without him by my side. Sesh was attuned to Reiki Level 2, had his own crystals and essential oils, and even had his own set of Doggie Oracle Cards. He developed a mast cell tumor when he was just a pup and I completely healed it with essential oils. But that same cancer came back 12 years later with a vengeance and claimed his life. There will never ever be another dog like him. You will always be in my heart and soul. I love you forever Sesh.
*All photos are the property of Christina Wilke-Burbach. All rights reserved *
April 2020: Spring Blooms By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA Mind, Soul, and Self LLC mindsoulandself.com
My PhotoBlog: I have come to understand, true ways to heal spiritually, psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. I started joining my artist husband in his art studio to paint and experiment with making art. Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I try to post a new photograph every day. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photoblog to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on.
April 2020 Photo Blog: Right now, the World is in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The whole month of March slipped right by me. It was a month of uncertainty, fear, panic, and anxiety as I temporarily shut the doors of my physical business location until Safer at Home orders expire and the public health situation improves. Its like time stood still as it simultaneously sped up. As we moved into April, I started adjusting to this new normal, almost enjoying it in a way. Nature is very active this month as it continues waking up from winter slumber. I feel the birds and animals are also more lively right now with less human interference since many of us are sheltered in our homes. In fact, right now as I write this, I hear coyotes outside in our yard! We live in the city limits! Many cities are reporting bears, wolves, coyotes, etc venturing into residential areas since there are fewer humans around. Pollution is less and the air is clearing up. Nature will always win. This is an auspicious time to be alive. I do believe there is a great spiritual shift happening right now and on a deeper level, something for the higher good of all will come out of our current situation. Spending time out in my garden this month, my observation is, that while humans survive, nature thrives. We are all stuck at home hoarding our toilet paper while nature is blooming. My photo blog this month is titled Spring Blooms. My questions for you to ponder this month, What is the silver lining in our current situation for you? How can this help you thrive? Remember the metaphor of the lotus, the flower representative of the spiritual journey….it grows through the muck and murky, dirty water to transcend and float above it, a gorgeous flower. Sometimes we need difficult experiences in order to shine. ~Light, Love, and Blessings. Stay safe and healthy this month. Christina~
**All photos are the property of Christina Wilke-Burbach. All rights reserved ***
Lilac buds Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
Lilac buds Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
Pink Bleeding Hearts Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
Pink Bleeding Hearts a Few Days later Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
White Bleeding Heart Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
White Bleeding Hearts a few days later Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
Wormwood Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
Woodland Strawberry Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
Black Parrot Tulips in my Gothic Garden Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
Violets Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
10 foot tall lilies emrging from the ground Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
Heirloom Lilies emerging from the ground Picture by Christina Wilke-Burbach
As Above, So Below. Plants & Spirituality. By Christina Wilke-Burbach PhD, RMT, CA Mind, Soul, and Self LLC mindsoulandself.com
Christina in the Glass Gallery at JMKAC
You may be wondering why a holistic healing and spirituality business offers so many plant and gardening classes. Let me explain to you why…..
As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…”― Hermes Trismegistus
This is my favorite quote. It deeply resonates with me for a number of reasons. The concept implies that the cosmos is linked to nature and that the microcosm and the macrocosm are connected. We are divine and the divine is us. The earth is a mirror of the larger universe. One way I personally interpret this quote is that we can connect to the divine through nature. Plants and Spirituality. Spirituality is a personal and individual practice of developing one’s inner reality/inner path. Spirituality is feeling like a whole and complete person with meaning and purpose. It’s searching inside yourself for the answer. It is an inner path enabling you to discover the true essence of your being; the deepest values, morals, and meanings by which you live. It’s a feeling as if there is something greater than yourself; a higher power or a higher being, nature or the cosmos. You feel that you are more than just a physical body. You feel connected to others and to your surroundings. Spirituality is often experienced as a source of inspiration or orientation in life.
Nature has been an incredible teacher to me in developing and deepening my spirituality. Nature is my church. A beautiful sunset is a mystical experience. Admiring beautiful plants and flowers inspires me. Walking through the forest, I feel so connected and a part of something much greater than myself. Caring for a garden; watching it grow; harvesting it; then making food or medicine or art from those same plants I grew gives my life so much purpose and meaning. I am both a creator and a caretaker. Humans forget that we too are nature. When we get out of sync with the natural rhythms, the seasons, and earth’s creations we can feel existential emptiness. Being attentive to the cycles of nature can impact your spiritual, physical, and emotional health for the better.
The human/plant connection can be traced back all the way to prehistory (the time before writing systems were developed). We find that different cultures around the world, for thousands and thousands of years, have been utilizing plants as medicine, for fun, for ritual, for divination, for altered consciousness, for decoration, for food, for clothing, for art, and for aroma/perfumery. Plants are and have always been the principal form and oldest form of medicine for the majority of the world, since the beginning of time. Several diverse lines of evidence indicate that medicinal plants represent the most widespread form of medication. The use of herbal medicines has been documented for over 6000 years. Anthropologists and archeologists have found evidence that prehistoric man took medicinal plants and botanicals to cure health problems. In addition to using plants for medicine, the act of gardening and caring for plants can also improve all areas of your life and wellbeing…physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. Spending time outside is good for our bodies and our minds. Research has shown gardening can help us: connect to others, connect to nature, connect to something greater than ourselves, help us be in the present moment, reduce stress and depression, improve mood, provide us with exercise and fresh air, and helps us reach higher states of consciousness through mindfulness. Plants are amazing!
My mother and grandfather were both avid gardeners. I grew up a little girl among the flowers. I started my professional and personal journey into holistic healing over 20 years ago with aromatherapy and essential oils. I then evolved into an herbalist and more recently, a gardener. I had a spiritual awakening in 2005. At that time, I lived on a 200-acre farm in the middle of nowhere. That time immersed in nature changed my life. I am a Certified Aromatherapist, Herbalist, Natural Perfumer, have Wisconsin Master Gardener Training and a PhD in Health Psychology with 22 years of higher education and experience in psychology, spirituality, holistic healing, and natural health. I am a Member of the American Botanical Council, I am the Project Chair of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center Indoor Garden, I teach Continuing Education Gardening Classes at University of Wisconsin Green Bay, I am a Botanical Artist, and a supporter of organic farming and non–GMOS. My business-Mind, Soul, and Self LLC believes plants are essential to spirituality and holistic healing. Enhance your spirituality, connection to nature, and holistic healing abilities. Join me for upcoming gardening, botanical healing, and herbal medicine classes in 2020! Click on the name of the event for more info:
February 2020 Photoblog:Care for yourself while caring for mother earth! Connect to the divine by connecting to nature! It’s hard for me to put all of this into words, so let me show you with pictures:
The indoor gardens at JMKAC
The indoor gardens at JMKAC
The indoor gardens at JMKAC
Volunteering at the Horticultural Hotline
My moon garden
My black tomatoes. I specialize in growing black and purple heirloom veggies
Sesh, my love
My dahlias
My herb garden 2019
My herb garden after harvesting
Me with my harvested purple basil
Heirloom Corn I grew
Grew veggies outside until winter. Here is our fresh winter salad
A Christmas Wreath I made from all plants
My ferns growing in the snow. January 2020
We grew vegetables outside until December
We grew vegetables outside until December
Fresh Brussel Sprouts in November
Me (with a student) in my herbs class
Herbal Gift Exchange at the Herbs 108 class I teach
Brussel Sprouts growing in November
My lavender growing in the snow. January 2020
My lavender growing in the snow. January 2020
My safflowers growing in the snow. January 2020
Safflowers
Fresh kale harvested late October
My botanical perfumes
Herbal mandala by Christina Wilke-Burbach
Herbal mandala by Christina Wilke-Burbach
My new art project…casting flowers in resin
My new art project…casting flowers in resin
My new art project…casting flowers in resin
My new art project…casting flowers in resin
My new art project…casting flowers in resin
bracelets made from seeds I grew (Job’s tears)
bracelets made from seeds I grew (Job’s tears)
Job’s tears
Sage bundles made from sage I grew
Me in a pink Magnolia Tree
Me in a White Magnolia Tree
My Herbal Tarot
Plants at my office
**All photos are the property of Christina Wilke-Burbach. All rights reserved ***
My PhotoBlog:I have come to understand, true ways to heal spiritually, psychologically and emotionally are non-verbal: through art, music, movement, meditative states, and bodywork/energy work. The language of the soul/psyche is symbols, images, colors, vibrations, sensations, and patterns; we communicate this non-verbally. I have been on an incredible personal growth journey of my own the past few years into the world of art. I have become very involved with John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC) in Sheboygan, WI. I am the chair of the JMKAC Indoor Gardens, a member of the Friends of the Arts Council, and a museum docent (teacher/tour guide). I try to take a new art class every month. I started joining my artist husband in his art studio to paint and experiment with making art. Coincidentally, my old office space was located in an art gallery and my current office space is in an entire building of art studios. My preferred social media has become Instagram. I try to post a new photograph every day. I have enjoyed experimenting with art and photography as ways to express myself. So I have decided to have a photoblog to complement this personal and professional journey that I am on.
