Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mollie Krengel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Mollie, thanks for joining us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

I started Wild Hive a decade ago as I was yearning for it the most; a safe and sacred space for true connection, dance as a form of medicine, and THE most important ingredient → play. I truly believe that the silliness, belly laughter and not taking ourselves too seriously is the secret sauce to what makes Wild Hive so unique and impactful.

My degree in Human Biology, certificate in Positive Psychology, and lifelong practice in all forms of dance culminated beautifully in cultivating the Wild Hive practice and space. To be honest, it was not necessarily something I consciously sought to do. My original plan was to attend dental school at the University of Minnesota, yet subconsciously I knew this was not the true path for me. I was destined for a nonconventional journey! And, I am so grateful that I allowed that spark to guide me.

Wild Hive has evolved so much over the past decade, all grassroots and organically, which in my opinion makes it truly authentic and life-altering. I could not be more proud of this healing and wild community and I am even more excited to see where we are headed next!

Mollie, 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?

Yes! Well, as a Scorpio sun and rising – I am a total geek over all things involving shadow work (which is essentially what we do on our dance floor!), Jungian theory, and I like to think that my “job” is to breed joy.

I am big on living life intentionally, embracing evolution and developing deep connections. Genuine connection is my jam. Much of Wild Hive was cultivated from everything I was missing throughout my life. Mostly, safe space. But, another big component is true sisterhood. I feel that it is an absolute privilege to witness women come alive through our experiences. And, most importantly, we inspire one another to live with more integrity as we discover parts of ourselves that are revealed through our play. It has been life-saving and life-giving in so many ways, for myself included.

I LOVE to play. So, we dance in a circle (to 90s hip hop and super fresh music that I am very intentional about curating), while we cheer each other on and laugh until our bellies ache! In addition to our mini-adventures, I am proud of the ten transformative ‘dance retreats’ for women that I have curated and led, some with a philanthropic component. We have been to El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama (twice), Joshua Tree, Sonoma, Tucson and soon we are off to Mexico. These experiences are absolutely euphoric and magical. Always returning with revived dreams, a hive of women who have our back, and a deeper connection within.

Dance is my meditation. It is where time is nonexistent. And, if I have one main responsibility in not only what I do here at Wild Hive, but in my life in general, it is to be a conduit for reawakening our wild – inviting our Wild Woman, and Inner Child, among other Archetypes lying dormant within us, to the dance floor to be seen, expressed and accepted, without judgement. It is a release like no other. And, even more powerful when you are surrounded by true community. This is what sets my soul on fire: safe space for expression, community and living this one life fully alive.

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

Well, there have been many instances in the past 10 years that have tested and strengthened both my courage and resilience. One story stands out from all of the rest and was truly a pivotal moment not only for Wild Hive, but my own personal growth and transformation.

Part of the reason that our Wild Hive adventures are so magical is the care and attention to detail I invest in their planning. Anything related to Wild Hive is meant to touch every human sense. So, it goes without saying that I spend countless hours preparing and planning for our meaningful retreats. In November 2021, a group of us were excitedly heading to Nicaragua – a dreamy surfer town in what would have been an incredible week. What happened upon arrival was unprecedented. We got stuck at the Costa Rica / Nicaragua border. We spent almost 24 hours trying to get across, to no avail. We endured an early wake up call for a 5am flight, two flights, a two hour bus ride, it was dark and raining, I was crying…a lot. We had rum and tequila and a few snacks. And, despite our worries and the craziness of it all – we were so fortunate to have each other.

I didn’t know how I would go on. Here I was responsible for 20 women AND heartbroken that an experience I envisioned for so long and worked so hard on would not come to fruition. After a sleep (at a random hostel), I woke up determined to go on. After another unsuccessful attempt to cross the border, we unanimously decided to stay in Costa Rica. I planned a new experience within an hour. And, while I am leaving out so many other wild details – what ended up happening was likely the best week of our lives. We were meant to be where we were. It was my biggest lesson in plans gone awry and how they often lead to the most beautiful, unexpected adventures. And, we did not take a single second for granted.

To be honest, my life would not be the same after that. Since then I have undergone many more unfoldings that have required the most insane amounts of courage and resilience. And, even more importantly – how you can use those attributes not to “hustle” and force, but to receive and surrender, and allow the universe to work its magic.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

While there are times I wish more people knew about Wild Hive and the amount of magic I witness makes me want to shout it from the rooftops, I think what has been extremely invaluable for not only my vision, but also our community has been its authenticity. Is it the biggest thing it could possibly be? No. Is it ever something I wanted to scale? No, despite people’s many efforts! What I value the most is real – real friendships, real care, kindness and connection. We experience profound love here. Wild Hive is and always has been word of mouth. People find us when stars are aligned and they want Wild Hive in their lives. This makes for pure magic. Nothing forced. Nothing fake.

The dancing is so fun and cathartic, the music is fantastic – but to be honest, what matters THE most is the space cultivated. My most important role is to remind everyone that they have everything they need / want inside of them already. I will never refer to myself as a teacher or instructor. I will never refer to Wild Hive as a class. I am there to facilitate an awakening of our own, to spread light, to breed enduring joy, to unite us in our human experience. And, Wild Hive is just that – it is an experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: thewildhive.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_wildhive/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildhivenow
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-krengel/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNZin1VOYNfsxX5D-RP65FQ

Image Credits
Mariah Brink (mariahbrink.com) Kaylee LaMoine (kayleelamoine.com)