Today we’d like to introduce you to Tnah Louise.
Tnah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Ceremony has always been part of my life, even when it was stripped from my early years when my father decided to convert us to Jehovah Witnesses through my most impressionable years, however what it taught me down the line was that life is a ceremony, not the holidays that are so consumed with materialism. My mother is a Sun Dancer, and my brother is a ceremonial bear dancer who walk the red road of the indigenous people. We are part Yaqui, which is an Indigenous Mexican – Indian tribe from the mountains that border Mexico and the southern parts of Arizona.
Throughout the years I have been asked to hold space and create meaningful ceremonies for friends, and have helped many women find their true calling through hosting women’s circles and retreats. Word of mouth started to grow and my calling was turned into an actual job, and thus my ceremonial services began to boom. Reverence for this work has allowed me to accept donations for the ceremonial aspect, while creating and organizing the Beauty Way filled event for a fee based on the event created. My pregnancy/postpartum services kind of happened organically. I birthed my first son Roméo on the beach of Costa Rica when I left Lala land for deeper meaning in my 20’s. While the pregnancy was both incredible and lonely, and my birth story unreal, I did not know at the time I had suffered postpartum depression. It was not understood until about four years ago when I was asked by Anni Daulter, the visionary behind The Sacred Living Movement to share my birth story in her book Sacred Pregnancy. She later invited me to photograph her very first Sacred Pregnancy Instructor Retreat in Ojai, California for over 40 women. The energy was electric like nothing I have ever seen, the women all there with hopes to improve a new mother’s life. I was so moved by this work I continued my training to offer classes that support the emotional side of a mother, which really gets overlooked during pregnancy. As I helped facilitate live retreats, and meet many doulas and birth workers I knew having my four sons I was more than qualified to do this work. I continued my studies to include postpartum care, so I now am certified as a Sacred Postpartum Mother Roaster (which is different than a doula) these last few years. The focus of my work is to warm, nourish, and hold space for a new mother’s wellness through her fourth and final phase of pregnancy. It is a passion of mine to weave in ancient practices on modern day women. My studies with Dr. Clarissa Pinkolas Estes teach me how to live in both worlds, as a healer and teacher at the same time, like the curenderas (Mexican Folk Healers) from south of the American border.
There is a saying, “The teacher shows up when the student is ready”, and I have been fortunate to have great maestras /mentors to lead me on this path to serve, help, heal and restore woman both emotionally and physically.
Great, 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?
I have been very fortunate to not suffer some of the struggles others have had. I have an incredible network of sisterhood worldwide that helps me along the way with support as a ceremonialist and ritual maker. My work may be seen as “Hoobie Doobie” which can be off-putting for some, and using the word “spiritual” seems so cliché living here in the city of Hollywood where everyone claims to be a healer and shaman and charge astronomical amounts of money for their services! I have had to look at this and make the decision to offer my own ritual services on a donation base, I do charge for the ritual event planning, which takes much time creating “The Beauty Way” decor for each unique occasion.
Being a Mother Roaster, and tending to the women I serve has been smooth and effortless. Each mother I have had a unique connection with, whether it be working with their placenta or serving a woman who is vulnerable in her first days. The fact that I am trusted to be by their side and allowed to witness them in this state is a beautiful thing.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about A Sacred Passage – what should we know?
I am known as Earth Mamma, mother to many, including my family tribe of five men and three female pooches to keep the balance. I am a creative catalyst who wears many hats! Ultimately, I am working towards becoming a Strega Nona (a grandma-witch who cares for the people and makes concoctions to heal) in the second half of my life!
Spiritually I am a Ceremonialist + Ritual Maker who feels so passionate about sharing space + reintroducing the act of ceremony into everyday life, helping individuals, families, and my community mark milestones and transitions in their lives. I have found that this deep work serves as an ancient cook-fire, a meeting place where we come together to nurture one another through meaningful connection.
Through Sacred Living Movement, I was trained with the Sacred Postpartum program as a Mother Roaster, and serve the birthing community in the Los Angeles area by cooking nourishing postpartum meals, encapsulating placentas, holding “Closing of The Bone” ceremonies, and practicing the Art of Benkung Belly Binding on new mothers who are in their fourth and final phase of pregnancy. I am deeply passionate about my role as mentor / leadership within the Sacred Living Movement, which encompasses several programs that support a “Beauty-way,” spiritually grounded lifestyle. I introduced an online program this past spring called Sacred Menarche, sharing my knowledge of how to create a BEAUTY-FULL rites of passage ceremony for a young maiden’s walk towards womanhood honoring her first mense. I have answered the call to mothers from so many different parts of the world wanting to empower their daughters and mentor the young women in their community. I will soon be releasing “Sacred Sons” an online/ live retreat for boy’s rites of passage through the Knights Journey.
I am currently studying Archetypal and Cross- Cultural Psychology with emphasis on modalities of creativity/ healing under the mentorship of my beloved maestra Dr. Clarissa Pinkolas Estes, author of Women Who Run with The Wolves. Currently I am in my second year of a newly released five-year program: Way of The Wounded Healer. Always wanting to expand on my education so I can do the deep work that heals my family, community and Mother Earth.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I believe living in large city gives us the opportunity to grow to the level we desire, but it does take standing out above the rest. Being unique and hungry are two qualities that will do just that, set you and your business so that it stands out from the rest.
For those starting out, branding is so relevant this day and age, along with online presence and reviews. The younger generations seem to have their fingers on the pulse with everything online unlike us, an older generation that possess something that is a dying art… the ability to wow the person you are speaking with just because you connect, because you see and witness them, you look into their eyes, and you hear and understand them.
My advice to someone starting out is to find the balance in today’s commerce while being passionate about your art. Don’t forget your human-ness when dealing with others in business, not everything is virtual, and online, back it up with substance and integrity in all your relations.
Pricing:
- Placenta Encapsulation $350.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.asacredpassage.com
- Phone: 310-508- 5171
- Email: www.asacredpassage.com/contact
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
