We recently connected with Elena Chalchicoatl Faith Chavez and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Elena Chalchicoatl Faith thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents, especially my father, raised me to be aware and support all living things. He started reclaiming his indigenous lineage working with the American Indian Movement. He showed me a world that is not in the normal frame of this society’s box. Because of that, I was taught to see people and have an eye to support and advocate for their health and wellness. Because of his bravery, he showed me I could be brave and fighting too. Being a medicine worker, someone who helps people heal with different natural elements is not always welcomed here. Energy or medicine work as a whole has a lot of taboos associated with it. It is ancient work though and I’m grateful to be able to walk where many of my ancestors have walked before.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I first got into medicine work in general intentionally at eight years old when I started to support indigenous ceremonies. I rebelled for many years as a teen, then as an adult after a great tragedy in my life, I was illuminated back to my life as a medicine worker. That was more than 10 years ago now. I have been doing medicine work, different modalities of massage, and channeling for many years now. A lot of the work I do is empowering people to be more rooted and steady within themselves, so they can walk steadily out into the world wherever their epic road leads them. I look at myself as a beautiful guide and support system going deep into each person, so they can fully expand to their highest potential in alignment with all of creation. That can look like having them do land offerings to support the land beneath them to help them be more stable, helping their nervous system regulate, and giving messages that passed ancestors or loved ones want to gift them with. All of this is with the intention of them being able to walk more in community and in alignment with the sacred rhymes of the earth. The old ways! Ometeotl

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Growing up with lots of radicals around me I really had to let go of the idea of money being evil. I had to learn that it is a tool that can help shift reality and support the community as a whole. I also am not greedy so I am happy to make money and give what is extra to people in the community that need support.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When it comes to business as a whole I am ever resilient. Many years ago at the start of my career, I tried to start a massage business but sold way too many Groupons and just disassociated and got overwhelmed. It took me years of believing I was a bad business owner and in some ways I was, but I learned so deeply from that experience and now don’t take on more clients than I can. I’m grateful for the lessons because they keep making me more polished!

Contact Info:

• Website: Illumehealing7.com
• Instagram: Illumehealing7