We recently connected with Ursula Duffy and have shared our conversation below.

Ursula, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with 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.

Prior to 2017, my life path was what one could consider “traditional”. I went to college, earned a bachelor’s degree and worked in professional/corporate jobs for over 15 years. I worked as a certified professional Geospatial Scientist mapping for local and federal government. I was a team leader in every position specializing in organizing, teaching, training and managing projects.

Early 2015 marked the beginning of what I consider a Spiritual Reawakening, which arose out of a challenging situation at one of the corporate jobs. I began meditating, taking intuitive development classes and reawakening the parts of myself I always knew were there, but hid because they were unconventional. I began studying and working toward my Aromatherapy certification during this time. Then in August of 2017, there was the “Great American Eclipse”, which fully ignited my awakening, Astrology came back into my awareness and I had my first natal chart reading shortly after. Learning about myself through the lens of my natal chart confirmed a subtle feeling that I’d had for a while, that there was definitely more to this life journey. What I learned was so impactful that I enrolled in an Apprenticeship in 2018, and became a Professional Astrologer. My completion of the Astrology Apprenticeship and my Aromatherapy certification program occurred concurrently, and by the end of 2018 I was ready to create my business and dip my toes into a very different path.

I created and started my business Ursa Alchemy in early 2019, and began practicing my crafts on the side while still working a full time, corporate job. I also started connecting with local tribe and like-minded people.

As I continued practicing and teaching, I realized how much my Spiritual work filled my cup and lit up my Soul. I had a deep inner knowing that this was my truest, authentic path and work in the world. This feeling and knowing was reinforced when we were all sent home to telework in March of 2020. The gift of the pandemic for me was getting physically out of what was a toxic work environment, which helped me work toward fully separating myself from the corporate world. I became co-owner and one of the founding members of Sea Goddess Healing Arts in early 2021.

I planned, saved, worked very diligently and finally took the risk and left my job in mid-August of 2021.

Devoting all of myself professionally to Astrology and Aromatherapy, I’ve shifted into my true calling to create and retrieve cosmic maps to help people navigate and discover their Soul’s journey, and to Live in Touch with their Souls. Ursa Alchemy now fully operates under the Sea Goddess Healing Arts umbrella, and I am so grateful I took the risk and to be working with a team of incredible, courageous and talented women.

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 was born in Atlantic City and grew up in Margate, New Jersey. I find it helpful to divide my journey into parts, which were each integral, interconnected and in perfect divine timing, and what I consider my personal hero’s journey.

Part I – The First Call

I wasn’t aware of what was actually happening at the time, however I now know that my first call came just before my 28th birthday (#sadesati #saturnreturn). I was laid off from my job at an engineering company, I ended a 9 year relationship with my then fiancé, I moved back to my childhood home and was a few months into a new job. My life was completely dismantled. My very neat rough draft was thrown into the shredder. After a couple of heart-wrenching, transformative years, I came out on the other side in a new relationship, started a second new job, moved again and was on the precipice of a whole new chapter, lessons and growth in tow.

Part 2 – The Second Call

The second call was the one that pushed me into my “Spiritual Re-awakening”. This one came in the form of an intolerable coworker. After about 1.5 years of anger, frustration and feeling utterly helpless, my sister referred a podcast called PsychicTeachers to me. I began listening and practicing their teachings, and studying meditation, intuition, crystals, spirit guides and the chakras. My connection to Spirit, a connection I always knew was there since childhood, reblossomed. Concurrently, I became aware of Aromahead Institute’s online Aromatherapy school and Aromatherapy Certification Program. Over the next year, I continued my spiritual practices, developing my intuition and began studying to become a Certified Aromatherapist. In early 2016, one of the PsychicTeachers announced that she was launching her first online intuitive development course called Be Your Own Psychic. After spending the last year practicing and learning intuitive development on my own, I became very excited about an interactive class and to meet like-minded people. I enrolled and for the entire month of March I was in “psychic school”. We had class once a week, and between classes we worked with a partner to practice the lessons and topics of the week. The education, community and practice helped me learn so much more about this innate ability we all have to connect with our own Soul and with Spirit. I learned how to do psychic readings for others, and also that I’m a medium. Several of my classmates and I were so excited about what we learned, we continued on after class to practice with each other, and we formed a group through which we offered free readings for others for about a year after Be Your Own Psychic ended. Throughout 2016 and into 2017, I strengthened my intuitive development, I was doing free psychic and mediumship readings, I had my first Tarot course, and I was still focused on my Aromatherapy studies.

Part 3 – The Third Call

The third call was the one that led me to Astrology. It was the summer of 2017, and the hype about the “Great American Eclipse” was everywhere. I had my own internal hype about this eclipse. For about a month before the eclipse, I started seeing dragon symbolism repeatedly. Lots of references to the movie The Wizard of Oz, and the album cover for Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, and the Dave Matthews song The Space Between were also showing up repeatedly. I had a heightened awareness of “signs” at this point due to my intuitive development, however I had no idea what dragons, The Wizard of Oz, The Dark Side of the Moon and the Dave Matthews song had to do with anything, so I just documented everything in my journal. I took off the day of the eclipse, and went to the beach to watch it with my husband and my sister. We weren’t in the path of totality here in Southern New Jersey, however it was still remarkable!

For about two weeks after the eclipse, I experienced extreme digestive issues, fatigue and the strange “signs” continued. During the summer, the two hosts of PsychicTeachers were interviewed separately on the podcast The Positive Head. I hadn’t heard of this podcast until they each announced their interviews. I began listening to The Positive Head during this time. In September, a friend alerted me to an interview episode with an Astrologer, Adam Sommer. She was aware of what I was experiencing in the weeks before and after the eclipse. I started listening, and very quickly everything started making sense. For me, the most significant words Adam spoke during that episode (paraphrased) were “…I call the space between eclipses the dragon hole…”. My mind was blown! WHAT?! The eclipse gifted me the call to become an Astrologer and my teacher. I took my first beginner Astrology class in October, had my first reading in November, and I enrolled in Adam’s 2018 apprenticeship program. During the remainder of 2017, I experienced many revelations. I knew I was to call my business Ursa Alchemy and I bought my domain. I knew it would have something to do with combining Aromatherapy and Astrology. During 2018, I completed my Aromatherapy Certification program and am a Certified Aromatherapist and Essential Oil Specialist. I completed the Astrology Apprenticeship and am a Professional Astrologer. The Apprenticeship program was also a journey of finding more community and like-minded people. I found wonderful connection and friendship with many of the women who were my classmates.

Part 4 – Ursa Alchemy

As you can see, my journey has been quite a roller coaster ride! It’s been very exciting, very emotional and has involved facing and overcoming lots of fear. This is the essence of the hero’s/fool’s journey. I launched Ursa Alchemy into the world in February 2019, and over the course of 2019, I very lovingly laid each brick into a solid foundation. I stepped more and more into my own authenticity and Soul’s purpose. My vision for Ursa Alchemy was to continue building through being of service to others in their own hero’s journey, and to fully step into the role of my Soul’s intention for this precious lifetime.

Part 5 – Sea Goddess Healing Arts

My personal healing journey described in Parts 1 -4 had been mostly independent until I started connecting with local, like-minded women in 2019. It was through events and Moon circles at a local studio that I began to meet my local tribe, including my business partner, Soul Sister, and co-founder of Sea Goddess Healing Arts, Mandee Elam. We have each been called back to the South Jersey area and to each other. My life’s roots are in Atlantic City, my heart is there, and I am so honored to give back to the community through my own Light and through the Sea Goddess Healing Arts collaboration and collective. We consider ourselves Lighthouses for the Soul, located in New Jersey and Vermont, and have a growing website, YouTube channel and online space to extend our reach beyond our physical locations.

We are a collective and our approach is to honor each team member’s modality and light as well as the synergy and power in collaboration and working as a team of healing artists. We feel the collective, team approach sets us apart, especially as a group of women working together and supporting each other. This is a sisterhood, as well as a business, and is one of our qualities of which I am most proud..

We offer a variety of services and offerings including a multitude of Readings, Ascension Guidance, Astrology, Aromatherapy, Reiki, Energy Healing and Cleansing, Teaching, Support, Guidance, Massage Therapy, and many collaborative services as well.

My individual services are a variety of natal chart readings, Aromatherapy consults, Astrological Aromatherapy, writing, teaching and my podcast Becoming Chiron – The Key to Unlocking Healing and Personal Alchemy. When I am working with someone, I blend intuitive and healing arts to support the Soul. It’s a unique experience through which I assist people to realize their highest vibration potential. I also created a signature essential oil blend for Sea Goddess Healing Arts based on the business birth chart. This blend is included in our Signature Blend Energy Cleansing Spray and Roll-on Perfume, which I hand-craft in small batches. I created and offer a Beard Oil and natural deodorant as well.

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

This is our vision statement:

Sea Goddess Healing Arts is a lighthouse for the Soul. Our mission is to soothe and inspire community through hope, creativity, kindness, wellness, compassion and consciousness.

We are a collective of heart-led healing artists, creative artisans, musicians and New Earth visionaries here to shine our light in the world and be of service to humanity through intuitive gifts and healing modalities.

Sea Goddess Healing Arts is based in Atlantic City, NJ with a network of healing artists
throughout the world.

One of our biggest dreams is to connect and collaborate with other local healers and artisans, and work together to lay the foundation for a New Earth and resurrect the original vision for Atlantic City as a health resort and healing destination for South Jersey and for the World.

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

As I mentioned in the beginning, practicing, teaching and embodying my Spiritual work fills up my cup and lights up my Soul. When I’m finished a reading or teaching a class, I feel like I’ve been recharged or plugged in. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is seeing that spark ignite in someone else.

Whether it’s from working together and showing someone something in her/himself previously unrealized, hearing from someone years later that our time together changed a life, and/or seeing someone’s face light up when one of my products is experienced, the spark, the light and touching another Soul is one of the greatest gifts.      

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.seagoddesshealingarts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seagoddesshealingarts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeaGoddessHealingArts/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@seagoddesshealingarts
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sea-goddess-healing-arts-atlantic-city?osq=sea+goddess+healing+arts
• Other: Becoming Chiron Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/4rX9RmKSINqfvsHsg6XCgp?si=fa179a3868d3429f Sea Goddess Healing Arts Private Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/1127459858120280