"you are the art" // Truth Tribe interview with Melissa Fernandez
Phoenix soul, what would your most radiant, authentic, soul-full existence look like? What sound would your footsteps make as they kiss earth? What words would cross your lips? What gentle revolution would you spark?
Melissa Fernandez glows with soul-deep grace. She lives with intention, purpose, depth. One look in her eyes (even through a computer screen!) is enough to make you gasp, to bring you home to your self.
Rooted. Centered. Grounded. Uplifted. Aligned. She is.
As I crafted our Radiant issue, my thoughts immediately called forth Melissa. I've long admired her presence in the world, her tenderhearted mission of healing. She has transformed the deep ache in her life into radiant wholeness. Yet she is still willing to sit with her shadow side, to allow us to see the truth of her even when it's something she might rather hide. This meaningful transparency is what I admire most.
I'm deeply honored to welcome Melissa to our Truth Tribe. Her interview in Radiant startled even me, bringing me to grateful tears. I knew her wisdom would be wide . . . but the depth spoke to hidden hurts in me. Melissa is indeed a healer.
When you enter Melissa's online sanctuary, Wild Earth Spirit, she gently urges you to "explore your wild untamed, express your creative fire, expand into your spiritual essence." Everything Melissa offers encourages radiant living, including creative healing arts workshops, online courses, and life coaching. She is an ordained interfaith officiant/minister, Reiki Master-Teacher, and SoulCollage facilitator.
If you follow Melissa on Instagram, you may know she's claimed 2016 as her "year for gentle revival." I asked what that means for her. She says, in part,
“Beginning this year, I was inspired to enter an unlearning phase. I wanted to get to the root, to my most authentic ‘me.’ Choosing my own way, clear-cut and to the point. Stepping out of the way, allowing my passions to flow in. It looks like a woman whose desires have a say, like a woman who knows how to live her life for her own well-being, like a woman who takes on the world with scars and all because she knows what she knows.”
image by Melissa Fernandez
Melissa "houses a healer's heart," carrying on a long line of "compassion and soft-heartedness," born of "a pack of wounded healers moving through layer upon layer of our own healing as we respond to an inner call to help others." This prepared the way for Melissa to find her calling.
“I stumbled upon the spiritual healing arts soon after a really stressful time in my life: going through a divorce, pretty much becoming homeless, and entering single-parenthood. I was in need of some help! What started out as a self-healing journey to mend my broken pieces became a desire to help others on a similar path, just as the people who raised me did. Empathy grew overnight like a wild vine.”
artwork by Melissa Fernandez
Creative expression is vital to Melissa, in her personal life as well as in her work. In a time of churning-up and deep healing, Melissa began creating self-portraits and writing poetry. She says,
“It was cathartic and gave me a safe outlet to slowly welcome healing. I truly believe with each self-portrait, I forgave myself a bit more. I gave myself permission to be. I lightly kissed the scars. I reminded myself how deserving I am. I whispered prayers to my rightful existence.”
For much more wisdom and healing, find Melissa's full Truth Tribe interview in our Radiant issue here.
artwork by Melissa Fernandez
Phoenix, you are more radiant than you know . . . even if you feel anything but. Trust your inner glow. Trust your path. Turn to what heals you, what polishes your soul-shine. Join hands with kindred who support and celebrate you.
We are here for you.
We honor you . . . exactly as you are.
with love & awe,
Amanda
