Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marguerite Nesteruk. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Marguerite, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?
Both my parents are a huge part of who I am today. I am very close with both of them and have had the privilege to be their eldest daughter. When I was in middle school my mom decided to go back to school to study Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine. My dad was the top salesman at every company he ever worked for including Hewlett Packard. Their dedication to being amazing and present parents amidst raising three daughters, while following their own goals in life is incredible to look back on and still inspiring to this day.
I am forever grateful to them for opening my eyes to a wholistic lifestyle, living life to the fullest, & for allowing me to follow my heart and be my truest authentic self.
They allowed me to travel the world on my own for a few months to a year at a time abroad. They also never pressured me to study or become someone ‘they’ wanted me to become. If it took me changing my major multiple times, it was fine. If it meant me leaving a secure job, it was fine. I believe it is due to them allowing me to follow my heart that has led me to live in alignment with my higher purpose that continues to unfold.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I spent my childhood and formative years exploring the woodlands, meadows, and gardens of Long Island, NY, & developed an early, heartfelt passion for the natural world. As an adult, I nurtured and transferred this passion into my professional life. Upon graduating from Parsons School of Design in NYC, I set off for a year on a work-holiday visa in New Zealand. It was in New Zealand – amidst the organic farms, local vineyards, and verdant plains and mountains — that I realized I wanted to dedicate my life and work to Mother Earth and the natural world.
In the years since, I have worked as an Urban Farmer, Garden Director, Outdoor Environmental Educator, & School Garden Teacher. Many of these endeavors have involved teaching youth and adults about the healing benefits and techniques of growing herbs and edible plants. In 2016, I was also selected as one of five inspirational women to represent the earth friendly brand ‘Alba Botanica,’ in their “Women Doing Good: Do Good, Do Beautiful” campaign. With training in aspects of creating school gardens and permaculture design — and as a certified Master Gardener and Reiki Master — I have turned my talents to more deeply exploring the spiritual aspects of plant medicine, as well as the role of negative and positive energies on properties and land. Having completed courses in both herbal medicine and geomancy, I infuse my work with a more attuned understanding of the energetic properties of plants and the Earth, and their benefits to human well-being.
As an ‘Earth & Energy Practitioner,’ all the services I provide encompass energy work and the earth. My mission is to connect people more with themselves &/or Nature through various healing modalities. A lot of people would say I own a tea business. While a portion of that is definitely true, I don’t just work in tea. Instead, I use tea as the bridge between all my services to facilitate deeper healing and connection within self and with Nature.
My services include being a Reiki Master (for people & dogs), and a Geomancer (earth energy healer for land, space, & home). I also facilitate Herbal Tea Ceremonies & Tea Experiences for corporate, public, & private groups. And yes, I also have my own line of organic herbal tea blends.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I never really spent much time thinking about challenges I would be faced with as a new, solo-entrepreneur. When I would daydream about having my own business, I often thought of things like being able to be my own boss, create my own hours, having more than 2 weeks vacation a year, & doing what I love.
One thing business owners don’t talk much about is spending days, weeks, &/or months creating a product or program launch and then having little to zero interest. Or spending tons of time putting price estimates together for potential projects and them not getting accepted. I also had a long period of dealing with a bad injury that put me out of work for a while. It takes a lot of belief in yourself and in your craft to stay focused, motivated, and inspired to keep going. But I honestly wouldn’t trade it for doing something that doesn’t light me up. I understand not everyone is in the position to drop security, especially if they have a family, but I am grateful for the life I have cultivated and continue to create.
When you believe whole heartedly in what you do it is hard to give up. Especially when there is no replacement job you would want to do. There are definitely times now when I catch myself reminiscing about when I was an employee, like having the consistent paycheck and medical benefits. There are pros and cons to everything in life, but it is all from the perspective in which you look at it.
In doing soul-led work like this, my business is a reflection of me, and that can be incredibly confronting at times. I am most proud of continuing to push through when I am challenged by being a solo entrepreneur. There are always times the Universe is testing me and my dedication to this work, and as a true Pisces I daydream easily. There are just so many things I didn’t know about owning a business that I was forced to learn as I go…and continue to. As long as I stay committed to my work, craft, and own self-healing, the only thing left is continued expansion.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
I’m on Instagram and Facebook and referrals are still my #1 way of acquiring new clients. I have also found that write-ups and interviews like this help as well. Oftentimes, those who have attended a tea ceremony will also come to another experience to learn about different herbs, or to just have the involvement again. People love to bring a friend or a loved one which helps with referrals. And lastly, interfacing with people at Pop-Ups is another way I gain clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ResonatingEarth.Org
- Instagram: @ResonatingEarth
- Facebook: Resonating Earth
- Other: Email :: info@resonatingearth.org
Image Credits
Amy Smyth and Semina Bildik