“When setting out on a journey, do not seek advice
from those who have never left home.”
~ Rumi

I’m Jamie.
I definitely left home,
literally and metaphorically.
I honed and picked up quite a bit along the way —
through more than a few “adventures by choice,”
ideas that turned into real things (like a
San Francisco consultancy, a book …
the kinds of things that impress others,
and that your mother likes to brag about).
I’ve also had the sorts of experiences and losses
that left me stunned, unmoored,
and shattered to the core.
Real-deal passages, not the ‘bad hair day’
or even ‘normal’ life challenge
sorts of ‘plastic dark nights’ that are popularized
on web site bios these days.
Here’s one wild thing I learned:
Our core, revealed by these experiences,
is what’s truest about us and in us.
Wild what it takes for us to get a clue
about that, to remember ourselves
and to hone and gain some mastery
with the gifts that are natural for us.
(As Hafiz wrote, ““Love sometimes
wants to do us a great favor: hold us upside
down and shake all the nonsense out.”
Consider me shaken.)
This is a wealth of experience,
and you’ve got your own kind
of Experience Wealth, too,
(plus the gifts that you came in with).
I’m committed to sharing what I’ve
experienced and picked up along the way,
as well as gifts I came into this life
with and have honed and shaped
with the seasoning of experience,
to help my fellow Dark Nighters and
Persephones phoenix and share your
unique and journey-honed
Experience Wealth and transformed presence
with a world that very much needs it,
from right where they are.
You’ll find more ‘normal’ (ish) Bio Stuff
below, but here are a few of the ways
I’ve assisted, mentored and guided others in
navigating the big-change and Dark Nights passages,
and in sharing their unique gifts with the world.
The following nuggets were reflected back
by my clients, mentees, and creative collaborators:

A Skillful Transformation Partner.
A Graceful Communication Guide.
The Creatrix & Curator of Sophia’s Children.
A Dark Night and Spiritual Awakening Doula.
And … Jamie is …
A calm, kind presence.
A Pattern-tracker.
A Sense-maker.
A Meaning-finder.
An Inquiry adept.
An Insight and inspiration catalyst.
An Idea-Jam partner.
An Underworld & Hero’s Journey Returnee —
a real Persephone, a Phoenix.
An Ancient-Wisdom, Modern-Times strategy weaver.
An experienced guide for Change Agents & Transformation Leaders.
A Writer and “content” strategist and creator.
A Skillful-communication coach.
All with warmth and a fair bit of humor woven through.
Most of my clients, apprentices, and ‘mentees’ over the years have wanted (or needed) to get ‘from here to there’, preferably with some grace, skillfulness, and effectiveness.
They’ve asked …
• How do I navigate this rough patch?
• How do I navigate (and survive) the patches of the sort that come after some epic life-storm or spiritual awakening experience?
• How can I move more gracefully through this change cycle?
• How can I communicate this more skillfully … and authentically?
• How can I manage this heightened sensitivity and ‘mind chatter’?
• Where has my sense of clarity, motivation, and purpose gone?
• How can I more deeply explore the re-emerging Divine Feminine and the ‘fruits’ of all of the loss and/or transformation I’ve experienced?
The Question is the Lantern
Questions like these make the most of the gifts I’ve been given … the skill, understanding, and perspective that I’ve earned through deep ‘in the trenches’ experience with change, transformation, and communication.
I enjoy making the most of my experience to help someone else navigate these ‘from here to there’ patches more gracefully, confidently, effectively.
So I serve in these roles:
Coach, mentor, idea-jam dialogue partner, believing mirror, content-strategist, wordsmith, and experienced counsel.
Reflecting my own journey, I draw from and weave in multi-tradition timeless wisdom and practices that help do the above more skillfully … and keep-center and stay sane (sort of) while traversing the in-between patches.
Highlights of courses-of-study and/or certifications include:
• Strategic Change Facilitation (Interaction Associates, San Francisco)
• Coaching for Performance (Interaction Associates, S.F.)
• Skillful Meeting Facilitation (Interaction Associates, S.F.)
• Crisis Communication
• Energy & Intuition Medicine, Emei Qigong, and other Ancestral-Wisdom and Energy Healing studies (mid-90s into the present — for more, see the detailed Bio).
• Berrett-Koehler author, and published writer and blogger over many years and in many formats.
(See Jamie’s full professional bio for more details.)
How can you schedule a coaching or mentoring session, or consulting engagement?
Embrace your mojo — schedule a coaching session or trio of sessions (that’s really optimal for getting some momentum).
Explore the Current Featured Offerings.
For more in-depth consultations around communication, content, or navigating change, send me an email (info ‘at’ sophias-children ‘dot’ com) and we’ll see what might work best given where you are and where you’d like to be … here to there.
For a bit more on my own ‘journey story’ and the ‘why’ of this blog and my work, read on. You’ll find more below.
Big Love,
Oh, and What’s With the ‘Sophiastrology’ Thing?
Certain astrology traditions can help shed light and insight where purpose and transformation-cycles are concerned.
I’ve tapped the astro-wisdom for years now, and it’s helped shed light and illuminate clues where light and clues were most appreciated.
Since I often drew up a chart for clients moving through Big Change & other ‘W.T.F.’ Cycles, some started asking for Sophiastrology checkins and sessions specifically.
So that’s an option, though it’s usually best when it’s part of ongoing coaching. Even so, you can schedule a Sophiastrology ‘reading’ and go from there.

A bit more of my own story …
I’ve lived a fair bit (just post-Chiron Return now), and had the good fortune to do and experience some things I never really thought I’d be able to do or have the chance to do, like creating a business, getting my writing published, traveling, being a coastal-Californian for two decades, learning from some amazing elders, and having some truly wonderful friends, and so on.
And in some cases, I’ve navigated things I never thought I would ever have to do…like a Near-Death Experience (and the common NDE ‘aftereffects’ and other Epically Transformative Experiences).

That landscape included some real-deal Dark Night sleepovers, Underworld excursions, and Life As I Knew It crumbling into rubble and ash.
All so I could be stirred alive and remember what’s truly real and valuable and investigate what it’s like to do the Phoenix Thing (and the ‘Return’ part of the Hero’s Journey!).
Sounds glamorous to some, perhaps, and while it surely had its dazzling moments and gifts, there were also some core-challenging rough patches that knocked me flat.
A real buffet of experience!
So I’m moved to write, consult, and otherwise draw from experience as well as research to hold a lantern and share ‘intel’ that might make my fellow NDE/EPErs and Underworld Journeyers way just a bit easier in places than my own has been.
Particularly when those in the Transformation Zone are also those who are the horizon-edge, paradigm-shifting transformation leaders, change catalysts, vision ‘seeders’, and creative nonconformists of our times.
Why?
Because I know only too well that every little spark of light, every graciously extended hand, every bit of heart-sparking inspiration, and every bit of true care and kindness can make such a huge difference in the dark or seemingly forlorn places we find ourselves in sometimes — or even just at the beginning of some audacious, seemingly impossible endeavor or vision that other people seem a bit too keen on diminishing and discouraging.

As it happens, I’ve gathered up more than twenty-five years of experience consulting on things like high-conflict communication scenarios and navigating big — or epic — change and transformation.
I’ve also logged a couple of decades studying a variety of ancestral and spiritual wisdom traditions with some amazing elders and wisdom keepers, and like all good students do, I practiced, practiced, practiced. I’m so genuinely grateful to my teachers.
Drawing and weaving the best from both streams of experience, I write for and consult to the transformation leaders and change agents who are in the crazy-wilds of transformation, and/or who are doing their bit to “tip” things in the direction of an emergent conscious, sustainable, Wisdom-centered culture.
I’m definitely a geek for the latest findings coming out of food-medicine (aka conscious and ancestral nutrition insights), neuroscience, and consciousness research — both the Ancestral Wisdom and contemporary sciences offer clues and practices for navigating change, renewing vision, rejuvenating from burnout, and staying sane in these crazy times of ours.

I created Sophia’s Children, founded Ivy Sea, and had the good fortune (and writing discipline!) to be a Berrett-Koehler author (and researcher and writer of many things along the way).
Chocolate and Other Wee Tidbits…
I’m really fond of these things …
Quality conversation; dark chocolate; stories of heartful daring, graciousness, and magic; explorations of how strengthening our roots helps us to weather transformation-storms; conversations with anam cara (over food, or at least an enjoyable beverage!); sharing intel that helps us be more aware and mindful, and thus reduces the ‘isms’ in the world; moments of genuine connection, delicious sensuality, myriad walkabouts, my beloved felines Luna & Baby Cat, and various other explorations and adventures.
To learn more about working with me via coaching, consulting, multi-tradition spiritual direction, mentoring, or self-study resources, begin here.
I can be found through this Sophia’s Children blog, the Berrett-Koehler Author web site, or you can connect and send a direct message or inquiry via email (info ‘at’ sophias-children ‘dot’ com) or social media:
Berrett-Koehler Publisher’s Author Page
If you want to know more about my longer-running history facilitating and advising on Skillful Communication & Change/Transformation Leadership, send me an email and I’ll be happy to speak with you about that!
info ‘at’ sophias-children ‘dot’ com
Thanks so much for stopping by! I genuinely appreciate it.
Big Love and Be Well.
Image credit: Japanese Garden, by Linnaea Mallette, PD Pics.
Collaborations with Kindreds
You’ll also find me in collaboration with kindreds such as Leeby at ShamaGaia and his ShamaGaia Universal Healing Archive here:
August 14, 2014 at 1:21 am
Thank you for following my blog. I look forward to your future posts!
March 28, 2015 at 3:46 pm
You’re welcome, and thank you too, Tammi!
August 22, 2014 at 5:44 pm
Thanks for finding me and your follow. I am intrigued by your blog and plan to learn more…
in light,
litebeing
August 22, 2014 at 5:49 pm
Thank you as well! I look forward to your blog posts, too. Blessings, Jamie
August 22, 2014 at 5:47 pm
PS I used this same image on my blog here: http://litebeing.com/2014/04/20/for-goddesses-everywhere/
August 22, 2014 at 5:50 pm
It’s such a beautiful painting, isn’t it? And those images speak to the right brain and ancestral memory, too. 🙂 xoxo
August 22, 2014 at 5:52 pm
true!
I decided to follow you as I have much to learn here..
BTW, is your gravatar a sea creature? I wrote I would acknowledge my symbols when I saw them on a blog 🙂
August 27, 2014 at 2:47 pm
Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying your meander through Sophia’s Children; welcome. My gravitar is from my Ivy Sea logo, which you can see here.
The logo image grew out of a collaboration between me and designer Rhonda Rose. It’s a beauty, isn’t it? It’s a finessed image from a photo of a fossil nautilus (spiral) shell — I really wanted to use the spiral because of the deep symbolism and ancestral connection, and the blue shade is purposeful, too.
I’m glad you resonate with it! Love, Jamie
August 27, 2014 at 2:54 pm
You are welcome! It is especially interesting that you followed me right after I blogged on my symbol exercise since seashells are one of the choices I identified for this purpose. It is really beautiful. I also love spirals which are prominent in sacred geometry.
xx Linda
August 27, 2014 at 2:59 pm
That’s really cool, isn’t it Linda? I always appreciate the magic of synchronicities like that. I love spirals and sacred geometry as well — really beautiful, and those sacred symbols are evocative as well as beautiful. Feel free to include the link here in the comments for your post on the symbol exercise that included seashells. Love, Jamie
August 27, 2014 at 3:09 pm
Here’s the link:
http://litebeing.com/2014/08/22/sweet-and-salty-follow-the-trail/
Synchronicity is one of my favorite experiences. I write often about these “chance” encounters and similar time/space morphing experiences. Very cool indeed.
August 27, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Here’s to synchronicity magic, then! 🙂
August 28, 2014 at 4:38 pm
Perfect. I was just going to add the link and here you are! Thanks for sharing the link — seashells, spirals, German Chocolate cake and cupcakes … delicious. Love, Jamie
August 28, 2014 at 1:18 pm
Hi Jamie, I made my way here thanks to Linda and I am so happy I did. I resonate with much of what you say about Wise Women, and I love so many of the topics I am finding here. When I saw your “Is New Age Greed Subverting Spirituality” I knew I was “home.” 🙂 I am grateful for this new Goddess/Shamanic/Wisdom connection and truly can’t wait to see more. Blessings, Amanda
August 28, 2014 at 3:55 pm
Welcome, Amanda! Thanks so much for visiting, reading, and taking the time to post your lovely comment and feedback. I appreciate that. I’m so glad that you’re resonating with the Wise Woman and Feminina topics here in my Sophia’s Children blog. Dive in, and keep in touch! Love, Jamie
August 29, 2014 at 2:34 pm
Lovely to read more about you, such a rich and fascinating body of writing, I could bask here for days!!
BLéSSïNgS, flame keeper and way shower!
September 4, 2014 at 6:20 pm
You’re very welcome, Nadya. I’m so glad you stopped by Sophia’s Children to drink in the shared Musings! Love, Jamie
October 10, 2014 at 12:24 am
Love the new photo of you!
October 10, 2014 at 1:44 am
Thank you! I wanted to reconnect to that beautiful, powerful energy of Glastonbury and Aqua Sulis (Bath). I think it’s working. 🙂
November 14, 2014 at 12:52 am
Just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. The main reason for my accepting my own nomination was to recognize some of the very lovely souls and blogs out there, and share them with others. I completely understand if you don’t resonate with following the guidelines, and/or don’t have the time to do so. You’re still someone I want to honor! Much love, Tania http://taniamarieartist.wordpress.com/2014/11/13/one-lovely-blog-award/
November 14, 2014 at 7:37 pm
Thank you very much, Tania Marie. I’m honored by your nominating me & Sophia’s Children for the One Lovely Blog Award. So lovely! Here’s to sharing the inspiration … xoxo Jamie
November 15, 2014 at 1:57 am
you’re so welcome!! much love to you xoox!!
November 16, 2014 at 2:37 pm
xoxo 🙂
January 19, 2015 at 12:21 am
hi Jamie,
as you know, odie and i love your blog. as such we’ve taken the liberty to add a permanent link to your homepage from our site.
hopefully this will lead a curious traveler your way.
you can find the link under pages-xtr spcl on eyesofodysseus.
You’re extra special to us.
hugs,
o and om.
January 19, 2015 at 2:51 am
Dearest Odie and Odie’s Mom. Thank you so much! I’m honored, truly, as I know the Feline Tribe’s standards are very high. I’ll endeavor to honor that trust. 🙂 Luna and the Baby Cat are very delighted as well, and send their greetings to Odie. xoxo Love, Jamie
January 19, 2015 at 3:03 am
Hugs to all of you. And purrs of approval.
Odie and company
February 19, 2015 at 4:31 pm
Hi Jamie, Thank you for following my blog and introducing me to your work!
February 19, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Greetings, Michael. Many thanks for stopping by. Yes, I’m delighted to have come across your blog as well, and look forward to perusing what you share. Blessings, Jamie
February 19, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Hello Jamie.. I am just catching up with those who have recently started to follow me.. Many thanks for pressing the follow button to my blog.. And so pleased to meet you.. And Look forward to getting to know you more..
Love and Blessings Sue x
February 19, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Thank you, Sue. I appreciate your visit and your comment, and I’m glad that I was introduced to your blog via another of our kindred-sisters’ blogs. I look forward to sharing the inspiration. Blessings to you! Love, Jamie
March 28, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Thanks for Following my blog, jamie. Glad to have found you. We have much in common, I think…
March 28, 2015 at 3:40 pm
My pleasure, Anne. I agree!
I followed the link from your 12th house article on astro (I’d just dipped in to check the transits), and recognized what you shared and appreciated your experience and perspective as well.
Neptune transiting Aquarius and early Pisces touched on nearly all of my natal placements (while Pluto and Saturn teamed up to handle a few others over the same, lengthy timeframe!), so I’ve been thoroughly Neptune-Pluto-Saturned! 🙂
As you so beautiful note in your article, it’s such a wild experience, Neptune and the 12th house, particularly anyone with a more Saturn-Capricorn orientation up til that point. I’ll be sharing an excerpt and link to your article and site, because I think more than a few people will appreciate the insights.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Anne.
Blessings, Jamie
March 29, 2015 at 4:14 pm
Many thanks, Jamie! Very much appreciated. Yes, that 12 th House article, seems to have touched people. It was my hope when I wrote it that the distillation of my long- incubated Neptunian experiences would be of value. I am away now to read some more of your blog…
May 13, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Wow! It is very interesting! I’m glad to see it!
May 13, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Thank you, Vlad, and welcome. Thanks for stopping by (and following) Sophia’s Children! Blessings, Jamie
July 22, 2015 at 9:38 pm
Thank-you for introducing me to a great phrase/concept: Anam cara. I love it. 🙂 I’ve been reading some of the quotes from John Donahue’s book of same title. Glad I found you.
July 23, 2015 at 1:53 pm
You’re most welcome! I’m glad you found me and Sophia’s Children, and I was glad to see your Aphrodite’s Musings blog as well. Ahhh, Anam Cara and John O’Donohue. Sigh. 🙂 His work continues to emanate such an amazing energy — it always ‘sets me right’ (or ‘settles me right’) when I revisit or visit with it anew. Sounds like you have a similar experience with it; maybe a deep ancestral remembering? xoxo Blessings, Jamie
July 31, 2015 at 12:53 am
🙂 I think my heart just exploded with euphoria. I stumbled upon your blog under the search term divine feminine…and my oh my, I love the way you write and what you have to say…it feels incredibly good to find other ladies who are kindred…I look forward to reading all your posts, and getting inspired! 🙂 following via email for sure!!!
August 3, 2015 at 1:59 pm
Ahhh, thank you for the wonderfully smile-inducing comment and lovely words. Heart opening with euphoria … seems like a good sign, affirming kindred spiritry is afoot! 🙂 I agree completely … I’m always so genuinely glad to connect with kindred spirit women. I look forward to your posts as well, and this unfolding conversation! xoxo Love, Jamie
November 6, 2015 at 6:10 pm
sooooo, just found you today as I google trying to find Frank MacEowen, and found this lovely empathic space, looked into ”about”….well, I’m ”about” all the same things, and as I jump for joy in my skin, and want to gather you with me into a clement forest filled with sprites to have those conversations, I must surmise you are far away from South Florida?, sigh….saying Hi. 😀
November 7, 2015 at 7:51 pm
Thank you, Serena, and welcome to the Sophia’s Children cyber-cave (or pool … take your pick). 🙂 It’s always a pleasure to come across kindreds, and we do seem to be spread across this fine planet (rather than, say, all in the same town!). It’d be wonderful to sit and enjoy a conversation with you.
While, alas, I am not in South Florida (but currently situated in a spot along New York state’s southern border), we can surely begin the conversation anyway. I’ll send along an eamil. In the meanwhile, happy solar-Samhain! xoxo Big Love, Jamie
December 18, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Pleased to meet you.:)
December 21, 2015 at 4:45 pm
Thank you, Nomzi. I’m pleased to meet you as well, and appreciated and resonated with the message you share on your own About page. Thank you for stopping by; I’ve followed your blog/musings as well. Blessings and Happy Holy Days to you, Jamie
December 21, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Wonderful. I also appreciate your support Sophia. Thank you and I wish you the same. 🙂
March 1, 2016 at 4:47 pm
I enjoyed reading this so much. I could spend days devouring your site and can’t wait to read more.
March 1, 2016 at 4:54 pm
Welcome to you, Jenni. And thank you so much! It’s lovely when we cross paths with kindreds and feel that ‘sync’. I look forward to visiting your blog-o-sphere space and musings as well. Stay in touch. 🙂 xoxo Love, Jamie
March 1, 2016 at 4:54 pm
and a p.s. tea and kombucha … yes! 🙂
May 18, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Hi Jamie I’ve just put your RSS feed onto my Astrology: Questions and Answers blog. It’s great to have you there!
May 20, 2016 at 2:34 pm
Thank you, Anne! (I’ve had Sun, Venus — my ruler — and Mercury all dancing in my 12th house since 9 Aries, with Sun and very soon Venus crossing my ASC …. you’ll appreciate what that feels like, I know. 🙂 xo Jamie
May 21, 2016 at 3:27 pm
Indeed I do…contradictory impulses rule…
January 5, 2017 at 12:47 am
Hi Jamie! What an intriguing blog you have. Full of mystery and vibrant expression. I’m excited to dive right in and explore your posts. Have a wonderful evening! Andrea 🌷
January 7, 2017 at 8:04 pm
Thank you, Andrea! I appreciate that you stopped by, followed the blog, and shared your comment. It’s nice to meet you in this cyber-meeting-ground. Blessings, Jamie
January 7, 2017 at 8:06 pm
😊😊