Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jennifer Accristo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
One of the overarching defining moments in establishing myself is when I was studying in the Shamanic Academy under Rose Cole and we were doing a module on boundaries. One might think what do boundaries have to do with spiritual work!? Yet it was a honing of the ability to center and direct one’s energy, to shield oneself, to fully examine tendencies of codependence, to be clear with one’s intentions, to master one’s response to life, to practice direct communication, and be fully authentic without fear. During these studies, I realized if I was to enact my life path of being a leader of women I would have to make major changes in my life, including shifting out of some relationships that were not in alignment with my values and belief system. I knew if I did not make these difficult choices, my soul would no longer grow. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done yet I knew I could not coach women to be strong and stand in their power, speak their truth, be transparent, and be in alignment if I was not doing that myself! I could not hold space for groups in authenticity if my own life was not clear! As I dove deep into the healing modalities of these holistic arts with exploration into shamanic work, energy medicine, Lifecoaching, Sound Healing, Plant Medicine, meditation, breathwork, yoga, these experiences literally breathed new life into me, particularly the study of ahimsa in Yogic practice, which is do no harm, including to your self. And in what ways was I betraying myself, and harming myself by allowing circumstances in my life, where I was not able to be my true self, and how was that affecting my ability to connect in service to others for my work, and to call in business opportunities? I began to be excited about what this life could be like if I were to let go of fear and shame, and rise to a higher vibration of joy and love, and it was amazing how my own transformation mirrored that of my clients as I held space for them to transmute what no longer served them, to exit narcissistic relationships, to set clear boundaries, to stand in their power, to speak their truth, it was as if I was talking to myself and I realized that what I do for my sisters I do for myself, as I wish to be a free and sovereign being, I wish the same for all of my sisters! Once my energies were in alignment with my authentic self and integrity, opportunities begin to open up for group sound healing, teaching more yoga, holding space for cacao ceremony, executive wellness, & retreats, confirming that the universe is not punishing us or rewarding us. It is simply responding to how closely we are operating to our hearts truth, and that every thought, every word is an invitation into the echo chamber that returns to us karmically. We may think that work and personal life is all separate, but the way you do one thing is the way you do all things…and having good spiritual hygiene, clear energetics, good boundaries, and authentic heart led truthful motivation in your personal life will help you enact your truth authentically into the business world. The clearer you are, the more you can shine your own unique light into whatever work you do!
Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
While supporting women in their fitness journey as a trainer, I began including yoga stretches, breathwork, guided meditation, sound healing and life coaching to address my clients as a whole, mind, body and spirit, and witnessed amazing shifts and results! After exploring these healing modalities personally in order to heal my own childhood PTSD I saw the benefits for my clients and felt called to serve in this way. Soon clients were asking for more of these holistic arts approaches, and, although I already knew it was my calling in life to be of service to women this work felt even truer in my heart, enabling me to enact my seed of purpose, and be of the highest and best use in this lifetime. After many years spent studying under a life coach, two years of shamanic academy training under Rose Cole, certifications in Yoga, breathwork, Craniosacral Massage, & guided energy medicine, obtaining my black belt in Shaolin Kung Fu, studying under composer and musician Lawrence Libert to learn flute and the science behind sound healing, and exploring plant medicine and ceremonial space holding I am honored to partner with clients and hold space for groups using this powerful yet subtle Alchemic formula in the sacred work of transformation. The science behind sound healing is fascinating! The transmutative frequencies of this ancient practice affect the body on a cellular level for healing, and create brainwave entrainment, synchronizing the brain waves with the external stimuli from the vibrations of singing Bowls, gongs, chimes and flute which allow the heart rate to slow and the brain waves to down regulate out of survival brain into transcendent brain state. An overall feeling of bliss radiates after sessions! One service I absolutely love providing is one on one sessions where sound healing is combined with breathwork, guided meditation, Energy Medicine, Reiki, and craniosacral massage for a ‘Healing Alignment.’ These combined elements help to drop the brain out of survival brain into transcendent brain state, bring the brain waves into theta, cause a neurochemistry flow of serotonin for a calming affect, and access the parasympathetic nervous system for a sense of well-being and calm. Clients report lessened feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression, and increased joy and clarity after sessions. Breath work can also be extremely transformative when used on its own, whether that be euphoric breathing, dopamine breathing, or holotropic, the essence of breath, of pranayama is lifeforce and spirit! Turning off the mind that has a tendency to overthink and try to solve the stress or trauma allows the emotions to be deeply felt, fully experienced and released! Another beautiful exploration is voice activation, clearing the throat chakra of its constriction carried from perhaps a lifetime of being quiet and unable to speak up or set a clear boundary. Our vocal cords are formed in childhood and often carry trauma, and when we work on vocalizing and becoming comfortable with the sound of our voice, we free our authentic voice, and release the ancestral hold of women throughout history who have been muffled, shushed, ignored, imprisoned, punished, or even killed for using their voice to protest or speak up. Leading women is some thing I’m very passionate about and it is an honor to hold space for women and guide them into their power, help them discover their strengths, speak their truth, and live a life of authentic self, sovereignty, and freedom . Helping women turn adversity into advantage, release negative programming, shift unconscious beliefs, set clear goals and boundaries, and become a more powerful creator for their best life is beyond rewarding! Clients also have the opportunity to go deeper with the work and receive guidance around essential event work to clear past trauma held in the body, and timeline research to reframe events that shaped the nervous system. Whether these sessions are virtual or in person, energy is beyond space and distance, and just as powerful. In healing my own sister and mother wounds, creating women’s circles seems so important at this time of disconnect and isolation in society where we all need support, connection, and sisterhood! Cacao ceremony can be especially powerful. Ceremonial cacao is a heart opener and allows one to tap into deep calm and wisdom. Organically sourced from South America where the medicine is prepared by indigenous peoples praying over it and putting their loving intentions. Cacao contains high levels of theobromine producing a pleasant resonance within the body and activating the cardiovascular system. Approached with reverence and gratitude and partnered with journaling, intention setting meditation and Dance a cacao ceremony can be a beautiful way to come home to self and community. All of these Modalities are extraordinarily beneficial, it’s magic, and it’s science! There is literally nowhere else I would rather be in those moments of connection and healing, and in the remembrance that we are all worthy of the self care and self love that comes from self exploration and self actualization and filling our cup, welcoming the journey with an open heart! There is so much to release, to be learned, to be surrendered, to call in, to be realized…it is a life’s work to let go of programming, baggage, conditioning, and anything that separates us from our infinite worth as divine beings, I am eternally full of gratitude and honored to steward the deeply profound nature of this work with so much love! A beautiful shift is occurring in the collective for this type of holistic approach, understanding the important role the nervous system plays in our health, and the importance of mental health and self care, what a blessing to be part of the shift!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I come from a family history of addiction and suicide, I could have easily gone that way as well yet I have always felt protected and a deep well of strength inside me despite all circumstances. Through this work, coming to the understanding that what appears to be traumas are actually gifts wrapped in darkness that once opened and honed into a awareness, can be transmuted into exactly what will become your highest and best calling and allow you to be of the most good in this lifetime, and will be exactly what others may need as medicine in order to help them on their healing path! Now I know that everything that happened was perfect, there are no wrong steps on the path, every step serving its purpose, and being humbled into the compassion of my heart, and facing the challenges presented to me are the very things that gave me the resilience to want to not just survive this life but to thrive and use the evolution of the shadow work of transmuting past traumas into gifts that help me with my amazing clients on their own heroes journey to wholeness. I could not do this work if I had not traversed own heroes journey!
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
This type of heart centered work is deeply empathic and intuitive, so for me personally my own practice of foundational elements where I shield myself, cut cords, and clear my energy on a daily basis, as well as putting my feet directly on the earth, being in nature, Breathwork, meditation & yoga in order to stay grounded and present as I hold space for others is helpful and necessary. One can only hold as much space for others as they have created within themselves. Incredibly important is working on my own triggers, traumas, and wounds, so that I can be a hollow bone, and as clear and transparent as possible in my interactions with clients. I have also found Plant medicines, such as psilocybin, ayahuasca, kambo, Hape, and sananga aid immensely in continually attempting grow beyond what I believe myself capable of, to elevate my consciousness, and open my heart. Also in my experience when you are calling on source energy or creating a Shamanic field for healing you have to be clear, so you do not enmesh your energy with others, being an open channel it is only source coursing through me and directing me, so the ability to surrender to a higher intelligence and to leave the ego behind and understanding oneness correctly… this is not about me, it is about how we are all connected, and that as another heals, I heal, and the whole collective consciousness benefits. With the purity of your heart, you create your thoughts, with the purity of your thoughts, you create your word, with the purity of your word, you create your life, and in the work of holding space for others, the more I have softened my heart in compassion and humbleness realizing my own faults, self judgments, shame, self criticism, triggers, the more I have been able to step powerfully into my own truth, so I would say doing your own work is the most important part of holding space for others. 
Contact Info:
- Website: jenaccristo.com
- Instagram: Jenangel999
Image Credits
They’re all my photos