About Angela
I really did run with the wolves, even as a girl. My childhood was blessed
with sunshine, fresh air and connection with the wild.
For my 9th Birthday I received a dessert coloured dog. Georgie was a dingo
cross kelpie and she howled at the moon. From this dog I learned about love,
loyalty, and companionship. Georgie and I were one in the natural world.
We were a pack together. We traveled on foot, in four wheel drives and on
pushbike exploring the terrain. I never felt afraid outside in nature. Georgie
was my dog soul mate and with her I felt loved and happy.
As a child my life was full of adventure. I freely and happily explored waterfalls, the beach, rock pools and the rainforest behind the home where I lived. From a young age I loved the energy of the natural world. I was at home with and felt totally safe outdoors. I felt free. I found comfort and healing in my environment in beautiful far north queensland, Australia.
As a child and teenager I embraced dance as my expression. I created dance performances for local eisteddfods, shopping centres and clubs. I loved and still love to dance. After leaving school I studied business at university and quickly discovered that the corporate world was not for me. I hated having to be part of a regimented system that seemed soul-less, dry and restrained. In my early twenties I embarked on a journey of self discovery.
What followed was a seven year cycle of learning about my feminine nature. I was drawn to move to Byron Bay, Australia's most easterly point and emersed myself in dance, yoga, waterfalls, healing therapies, massage, the beach, bike riding, sunset gazing, star watching, and divine women's circles. I discovered the magic of following my spirit and found my bliss. I was embraced by a loving community and touched to my core by the warm invitation of the people of the Byron Shire.
I soaked in modern and ancient dancing including african, contemporary and bellydance. I found my bliss in the expression of my spirit. I came home to myself.
I felt like a bird who had finally left its cage when I met Sufi teacher
Tamsin Murray who inspired my spirit to dance freely. I was also warmly
welcomed by the Osho Community. Osho has been a great teacher of living
joy and celebration. His sanyassins offered me a great opportunity to open
to beauty, and dance, dance, dance. I talked my way into a Bellydancebirth
class a year before I was pregnant; being taught by my dear friend Maha
al Musa.
Once embarked on my journey to my womb through bellydancing I found myself
longing for a baby! It wasn't long before my wish came true. (as Maha had
predicted upon sight of me in my non pregnant state in her bellydance for
pregnancy classes!)
In 2001 I gave birth at home to a beautiful baby girl. Pregnancy and motherhood
were a great initiation into feminine mysteries and the sisterhood .The
day after I gave birth I saw a woman outside my house pushing her pram.
I wanted to run out and kiss her feet knowing well she had stepped through
the tunnel of life and death to birth her baby just as I had the night before.
After giving birth at home to my first child a huge doorway was opened within
me connecting me to the sisterhood. I knew intuitively that my survival
as a mother now depended on my connection with other women who were mothers.
Prior to giving birth I had lived much more independent of womens support
and guidance and thus from my own inner knowing.
Childbirth felt like a huge initiation. After giving birth the old me gradually
died and a new being was born...the mother. There was indeed grief about
this transformation. As a maiden I was free to flit here and there at a
whim. Motherhood had me earthed, home bound and fully focused on caring
for my fragile state and that of my baby. I was initiated into devotional
service to life, to the care of another being. I feel deeply grateful for
the gifts and strength of motherhood. I am very happy with the soul i received
who is my blessed daughter. Ah the gifts of the goddess!
Once a motherI I found myself in many mum and baby circles, healing workshops
and blessingway ceremonies. I loved the feminine way of life. Living close
to nature, breastfeeding and being nurtured by women something deep within
me began to heal.
One night as I lay on my bed beside my fire watching the crescent moon in the sky a weird thing happened. As I was drifting into sleep I felt a strange tattooing between my eyebrows, in the shape of the new moon. It was like the moon came down from the sky and imprinted at my third eye. (the space between the eyebrows is said ancient teachings to be the centre of intuition) I even heard a sound as this happened. I heard a zapp and a twink similar to the sound of turning a computer on. At that moment I felt initiated. This was truly amazing to me. I believe I was initiated by the moon and have a mission now to call the sisters and to hold sacred spaced for women. And that is what I do.
In 2006 I moved to Sydney and studied to become a Doula. Attending births has seen me face many of my fears, let go of plenty of judgements and transform me as a woman. In 2007 I also began Sacred Woman Gatherings. These are powerful healing events for me and the women who attend them.
I am now blessed with a daughter, two step sons, a wonderful partner and beautiful work that I love. My life is full of amazing people that I am truly honoured to serve.
I have come to face my darkness through meeting my grief, jeoulousy, anger, lust and fear. I cycle with my darkness just like day cycles with night. Light and Dark are ongoing and unavoidable aspects of life. I have endured heartbreak and loss. I am blessed with transforming my relationships and am rebuilding my connection with my birth and planetary family. Mother Nature does not leave us without for long. With every loss, life has given me something new.
Where there was anger, there is now a growing tenderness in my heart, the bud of inner peace is showing itself. Where there was loss, there is now understanding, kindness and compassion. I am deeply grateful for the jewels I have found at the bottom of every single well of grief. I am a woman on her journey like any other, a mere mortal. I am no saint and I do not heal people. I have my good days and my bad days. I fly high and I fall down. I am learning like we all are. I have had to take responsibility for all of me. Things are getting better and better for me!
I dream of creating divine beauty on this earth and living simply and sensually. I love to write, dance, paint and sing.
I dream of creating a healthy and happy home and family. I dream of dancing and celebration. I am on my journey like everyone and I am learning as I go along. I embrace all of me, the daylight, the grey clouds and the stormy seas. I love myself and I am learning to listen to my inner voice and the voice of my family and community. I am learning to breathe in deeply and exhale gently. I am learning how to live with love and kindness. Easy does it, gently gently I go.
Acknowledgements and Teachings
I am grateful to the following people whose love has given lilt and loft to my wings.
To my female blood line; my beloved daughter, mother and nanna. Thankyou for showing me where I need to strengthen and where I need to soften and laugh. Our female lineage is strong. To my father Gerald and my brother Sean thankyou for helping me see what is most important to me.
To the men who have loved me on my journey, thankyou. May the Sacred Masculine continue to rise up within us all and powerfully transform this world in balance with the Sacred Feminine. Thankyou to the Gods who have loved me. I bow to you in gratitude and deep respect, thankyou. I love you forever.
To the women who have come to my Gatherings...especially the pioneering first ones in the living room of my two bedroom flat in Sydney...Sherry, Raj, Petra, Julia, Liz , Lorena and Stacey. Thankyou for your belief in me. To Lizzy for divine support. To claudine for showing me deep tenderness, gentleness and the power of surrender. I am in awe of my sisters! You show me what is possible and how I can step up
To Jo Cobbett whose work deeply touches my soul. I love you.
The founder of the Bryron Bay Pregnancy Support Group, Katrina Folkwell and the brave midwives, doulas, educators and mums who keep it going for women. I had my homebirth because of your support.
My dear women friends Liz, Petra, Maha, Maya, Georgia, Lizzy, Claudine, Sally, Siennagh, Sherry, Halie and Jillian. Your love nurtures and nourishes me.Being held by you I easily move forward. Keep at me, I need it.
To Elizabeth Moen my divine midwife and neighbour who made my birth experience sacred and safe. God Bless you and your work. May women continue to birth well at home.
To Maureen Carr for her wisdom. To Suzanne Maxim of Wytchyways who has always supported my gatherings.
To Marnee, Miranda and Moana for deeply life altering women's circles. To my dear Doula sisters, your wisdom and support is all around me. I feel you close by, like angels, always welcoming my call.
Qualifications and Study
Angela trained to be a Doula with Birth Central (now australian doula college) in Sydney. She has learnt Bellydancebirth in Byron Bay. Angela is qualified in Swedish, Traditional Thai and Hawaiian Ka Huna Massage Therapies. She is a Yoga teacher. (1994,CHI, Qld)
She has learnt from many mothers, healers, teachers, dancers, midwives, men and doulas. Angela has danced with the following exceptional teachers:
| Maha al-Masa | Bellydancebirth | Byron, Aust |
| Renee Adair | Australian Doula College | Sydney, Aust |
| Jo Cobbett | Ecstatic Dance | L.A, USA |
| Katherine Cunningham | StarFire - Menstrual Education for the 21st Century | Melbourne, Aust |
| Tamsin Murray | Sufi Foundation | New Mexico, USA |
| Anna Davidovich | 'Unveiled' - The Recognition | Byron Bay, Aust |
| Tamara Williams | Hypnotic Bellydance | Brisbane, Aust |
| Amrita Hobbs | Wise Woman Healing | Byron Bay, Aust |
| Miranda Gray | Optimized Woman | UK |
| Siennagh Moon | Temple Dance | Byron, Australia |
| Devanandan | 5 Rhythms | Mullumbimby, Aust |
| Leolah Antara | Kundalini Dance | Australia |
| Adam Barley | Heartbeat | UK |
| Unmani Liza Hyde | Not Knowing | UK |
