We were lucky to catch up with Mya Miller recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

The moment I met my teacher Nataline, and attended my first class at Strawberry Moon is the moment my life changed forever. Before I began my walk on this path my life was fairly normal. I had just turned 20, and was navigating through the ups and downs of life. I didn’t really know who I was or where I was going. At the time my mom was taking yoga teacher training with Nataline, and one day informed me that she had signed me up for one of her all day classes, 12 hours to be exact. She knew I had deep interest in spirituality and not really knowing what the class would be, thought I would like it. I received a text message that said “MASTERS OF ASCENSION… This is a series of classes/workshops/processes of healing/awakening/enlightenment and learning… this masters of ascension is a journey into the world of the Shaman.” As I continued to read the rest of the message it was made clear that I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I was so excited to find out. The day of class I arrived at Strawberry Moon Energetics, a little place off Colfax and Kipling that you would have never even known existed. Everything smelled like cigars and copal, medicine I would later form a deep bond with. All of the women looked like they were straight out an enchanted forest with skirts that touched the ground, shawls, and rings on every finger. I didn’t know why, but as soon as I arrived I knew I was home. What took place within those 12 hours is something that is hard to explain. My heart was opened completely, and it was as if everything my spirit had ever longed for was finally found. I was shown a way of healing, a way of existing that was sacred, and miraculous. Everything that I felt inside my soul was laid out in front of me in physical form.That was my first encounter with shamanism, and ancestral medicine. That is the moment that set me up for what I do now, that class pointed me in the right direction.

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

I am a Licensed Medical Qigong practitioner, practitioner of Ancestral Medicine, and owner of Into The Smoke, LLC

Medical Qigong is the study of Chi, life force energy, and how it manifests in the body as disease and illness. As a practitioner it is my job to form an ‘active plan’ consisting of energy work, nutritional refinements, supplementation, and lifestyle changes to help correct the energy, and bring the person back into balance. The energy work that goes along with treatment is miraculous, and effective. It requires me as a practitioner to be centered, and grounded so that I can effectively emit chi energy externally into the client. This takes much practice and skill as a deep knowledge and connection with the meridians, and anatomy of the physical body is necessary. Through this transmission of energy we can direct the chi to dissolve blocked or stagnant energy within the meridians, organs and other aspects of the body to restore proper balance and harmony within the physical matter, mind, and spirit.

My Journey in the Medical Qigong field began when I was just 19 years old. I was fresh out of high school, and had declared to myself and the universe that I wanted to become an energy worker. I was put in contact with my teacher Debra Lin Allen, Owner of Chi wellness, through my boss at the time. She was just about to begin her teaching series ‘Beginner Chigong Lifestyle’. I signed up, and just after the very first class told her I was going to take it all the way to becoming a full practitioner. Under her guidance I had intensive studies in self healing, nutrition, supplementation, energy work, and of course the study of Chi (life force energy). I have been studying with Debra for 6 years and continue to seek her guidance still today.

The ancestral medicine that I practice is known as Curanderismo, a holistic system of Latin American folk medicine. Here I work with different healing tools such as tobacco, copal, eggs, herbs and flowers to perform different healing practices. These healings are deeply profound and beautiful as they are used to help to bring balance and reorganization to the four manifestations – The mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical.- Alongside these tools, prayer is a sacred piece of this work. Used to ask for healing and blessing to be bestowed upon the person receiving the healing based on their specific needs.

I received these teachings under Nataline Ruth Cruz, owner and practitioner at Strawberry Moon Energetics, Ancestral Healing & Sacred Teachings LLC. Under her guidance I have completed her four year apprenticeship, Kalpulli, fast tracking it to be completed in three years, was initiated into the Strawberry Moon Women’s Warrior Counsel, and began my journey as an initiate on the Maya path under the Oxlaju Ochoch Tz’ikin — House Of The 13 Eagles, School Of Maya Cosmology & Cosmic Investigation, as spiritual Guide/Priest. I have been walking with and learning from Nataline for 5 years, and hope to continue to walk alongside her for many years to come.

I am a solo female traveler and have journeyed to places such as Guatemala, Bali, and Thailand. My deep love for travel and exploration of new places has sparked inspiration for my first ever retreat where I will be guiding a small group to Bali Indonesia. The intention for this trip will be healing through playfulness, reawakening spiritual connection, and reactivating our sense of wonder through adventure.

My personal healing practice Into The Smoke, LLC is intended to blend the worlds of eastern medicine, Curanderismo teachings, and personal knowledge and wisdom to provide deep healing services to humanity. These services include but are not limited to one on one sessions, seasonal attunement ceremonies, house blessings, and retreats. As I continue to nourish my small practice, my vision for it is to be a part of the advancement of humanity, in the ways of healing, awakening, and enlightenment. My wish and my mission is to help people navigate through trauma and pain and move into peace, to help those stuck in the dark find the light, and to remind everyone that I come in contact with that they are divine, miraculous, and pure potential. Into The Smoke is a journey into yourself, where transformation, healing, and growth can take place. Bliss, freedom, and balance is where I want to take you.

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

I think the biggest lessons i’ve had to unlearn are things we are programmed to believe when we are young. Growing up we aren’t really taught to find our purpose and our passion. We are taught to find a well paying job, and to stay there until one day we are hopefully able to retire. It is normal for people to be unhappy with their job, and to suffer in the work place. It is normal for people to be over worked, and for dreams to go unfollowed. Finding my passion so early on, and wanting to nurture and grow my personal practice has challenged a lot of these learned beliefs. I am learning that having a career that brings you peace, and happiness is a possibility. I am learning that you don’t have to be over worked to be successful. I am learning that dreams can be realized, and fully experienced in this lifetime. With that being said it doesn’t mean that it’s not scary making a decision to create something that is your own. It requires a lot of hard work, belief in yourself, and some serious trust in the unknown. But it is possible. Thats what I want to help others believe.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Definitely authenticity and integrity. Authenticity because I want to create an environment where everyone feels safe to be themselves. I think this is easier when they see that you, the practitioner are being your authentic self. Theres nothing to hide, theres no judgment, what you see is what you get. Integrity because healing work of any kind is extremely intimate and personal work. I want people to be able to trust me, to know that their secrets are safe with me, and that I will guide them in an ethical and moral way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @adventure_mya_time_
• Other: Email [email protected] to schedule appointments!