We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aimee Gochinski a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Aimee , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Let’s talk about this from an archetypal point of view, seeing as how our psyche speaks this language best. Archetypes are universal symbols or character types that recur across cultures and stories, helping us understand human behavior and motivation.

The Risk Taker archetype has played a strong role throughout my life. I have always felt that I have strayed from the crowd, not necessarily because of them, but because of me. My solitude has always been my sanctuary. My ways of thoughts and actions have seemed to differ from the societal theme. I will not choose a particular situation to speak about, I would rather talk about this pattern and how it comes together as a whole to form what one could call a personality trait.

The Risk Taker archetype can be defined by a consistent pattern of behavior that includes bold decision-making, a comfort with uncertainty, and a drive to push limits—whether physical, emotional, or societal. These patterns aren’t random; they form a cohesive trait rooted in a desire for freedom, experience, and continuous transformation. Risk Takers often act quickly, trust their instincts and intuition, and are willing to face consequences for the sake of discovery or progress. Over time, these repeated behaviors solidify into a distinct personality trait—one that views life as a series of opportunities rather than threats. When this trait becomes central to a person’s identity, or when we truly embody the energy of the archetype, it can influence everything from relationships and career choices to morality, spirituality, and discovering universal truths.

‘You can’t win if you don’t play’. We have all heard this quote.

I have unconsciously, yet at the same time, knowingly spent my whole life taking chances. I never realized how empowering and courageous of a quality this was, until I did. The unknown is a very familiar ally of mine, and I have begun to master how to wield it, work with it, and when needed, surrender to it. It is in those subtle, yet powerful jolts from a higher part of myself that sing ‘it’s go time’. It is in the inner trust, connection, and soul level contract that I have made with myself and a higher intelligence. It is a deep knowing that when taking a chance, even if it doesn’t necessarily make sense at that time or even work out, (at least the way I thought it should,) that there is a strong foundation of reassurance, and whatever I gain from taking that risk will not be for naught. It could be the key that opens a locked door in a specific area of my journey, or a lesson that is longing to be learned in my existence here in this plane. It could be a 50x on that $20 scratchie, plunging me into another timeline of financial freedom (or finally coming to the realization that I’m paying for someone else’s vacation instead of my own by throwing my cash to the lottery).

Life is a risky business. It involves trusting in yourself, and where your soul is being led. It involves action, taking the next step, and then the next, and the next. There are leaps involved, which include a risk of bleeding the blood that makes us human. It involves landing in unknown spaces. It involves recognizing there is an opportunity and untapped potential in this unknown space. We are here to be whatever we choose, and some of us have no business in standing still. At the end of our traveled path, how many steps we take is up to us.

Afterthought: You could say I took a risk in releasing these words. I debated on whether or not to submit this piece, as it doesn’t completely follow the guidelines of the given prompt. I submitted it anyway, as I believe there is an underlying message that completely coincides with the writings. -the Risk Taker

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a soul-led woman, guided by an inner calling to remember, create, heal, and inspire. My path has always been one of transformation. For much of my life, I’ve worked with hair—not just as a stylist, but as someone who holds space for those in my realm. Over time, my hands learned not just to shape the outer form, but to listen deeply to the energies that move beneath the surface. After undergoing a powerful personal awakening, I began weaving energy work, plant medicine, and conscious, holistic wellness into all I do.

My work is rooted in connection—to self, to the Earth, the creative spirit, and to the unseen threads that connect us. I make herbal medicine and work with the energetics of plants, honoring their ancient wisdom, creating not just remedies, but rituals of remembrance. Whether I’m crafting tinctures, teas, or mushroom blends, I approach plant medicine as both a healer and a bridge—one that reconnects us to the natural world and to ourselves.

Art is another portal I move through. I paint with watercolor, shape clay, and play with various media, letting my creations emerge through feeling and intuition. I use plant matter from my herbcraft, transforming dried botanicals into visual pieces that carry intention and beauty. Each piece is a conversation with spirit, expressed through the Earth, a reflection of something deeper wanting to be seen. These expressions, like the plants themselves, are alive, even in their state of death—they hold energy, emotion, frequency, and memory.

My personal practices are deeply woven into nature. I spend time in the forest, foraging, listening, and learning from the land. These quiet moments—gathering herbs, walking barefoot on the earth, or simply sitting in presence—are where I find guidance and grounding. Nature is not just my muse, it is my teacher. The forest, the rivers, the plants—they speak, and I listen.

Self connection and creative expression are central to my healing work. Through visual transformation, energy alignment , the sacred plants, sound & frequency therapy and art-based practices, I support others in accessing their own inner wisdom and soul language. Healing, for me, is a return—to wholeness, to intuition, to creation. I believe we are here to bring the visions of our inner worlds into form, and I feel it is sacred work—especially now. I am here to inspire, to mirror, and to walk alongside those who are ready to awaken the creative fire within and birth their truth into the world.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes, there is a mission that guides every step of my creative journey—one that feels both ancient and urgent. I am here to help others remember. To remember their magick, their voice, and their right to create.

We live in a world that often strips us of our individuality early on. We’re taught to follow, not to feel. We’re rarely encouraged to connect with our inner worlds or the Earth beneath our feet—to listen to the sky, the soil, the pulse of our own intuition. We aren’t shown how to bring our dreams to life, how to trust the unseen, or how to manifest from a place of soul. And because of that, so many visions go unspoken, unwritten, uncreated.

Through my work with plant medicine, energy, sound, and art, I seek to create portals back to that inner knowing. I want to inspire others to take creative risks—to bring to life what lives within them, even when it defies logic, even when the world doesn’t yet understand it. Especially when the world doesn’t yet understand it.

My work is about transformation, yes—but more than that, it’s about liberation. The kind that happens when someone dares to believe in their vision again. I want people to know their creations matter. That their dreams are sacred. That creation itself is a form of healing, of resistance, and of deep self-remembrance.

I hold space for those ready to come home to their creative essence—to co-create with Earth and Spirit, to weave beauty with intention, and to trust that what longs to come through them was always meant to.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is witnessing the unseen become seen—watching something once held quietly in the heart take form in the physical world. There is a kind of alchemy in that process, a deep magic. Each creation is a bridge between spirit and matter, between what I feel and what I can offer. Especially through my herbcraft, the process is deeply intimate and cyclical. From planting seeds or foraging wild medicine, to watering, harvesting, drying, crafting, and ultimately returning remnants back to the earth—I feel each step as an initiation, a remembering, a communion.

There’s a quiet magic in watching the art come to life, not just in the final form, but in the moments of stillness and presence that happen along the way. It’s not just about making—it’s about listening. Tuning into the energy of the plants, the whisper of spirit, the rhythm of the body. Creation becomes a way of connecting to the unseen, and letting it speak through color, form, scent, and vibration.

This process grounds me, opens me, and reminds me that I am part of something vast and intelligent. Something so extravagant that feeling has to take the lead, as it may be a challenge for the mind to comprehend, and when someone else feels that depth—when something I’ve created stirs memory or healing in them—that’s the true reward. To co-create with the Earth and share something that resonates on a soul level… It feels like fulfilling an ancient soul agreement.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: aimeegochinski , hairenergyrealm , forestflooralchemy , quill.byAIMEE (4 total)
• Facebook: Aimee Gochinski , Hair Energy Realm , Forest Floor Alchemy , Quill.by AIMEE (4 total)

Image Credits

Aimee Gochinski
&
Roxanne Elizabeth Photography