The wisdom and knowledge she shares about connecting with, learning from, being present with our ancestors deeply moved me and has shaped my thoughts, feelings and aspirations everyday since. Insight about the four elements, directions, medicine wheel has literally changed the way I see the world. Really, the way she relates to all people is inspiring. Witnessing it makes you want to work on your own relationships - to be more open, honest, loving, patient, present. By demonstrating respect, kindness, hard work, tirelessness, strength, vulnerability, honesty, she leads by example. She is generous with her guidance and encouragement. Everything she does is infused with meaning, without being judgmental or heavy, and making room for joy, humor and spontaneity. She has a special way of being honest and real (saying it like it is), while being powerfully loving. She is a magical storyteller, and her stories are another tool she has for communicating big ideas, values and lessons. Her deep appreciation of nature is really moving and witnessing it shifted something for me. It demonstrated a creative, artistic, expressive side of her that is able to tap into the hurt and the joy and the love that we all have inside of us, but are often unable to access.

-She is the strongest, most loving, knowledgeable, and widely experienced person I know. People are drawn to her like sponges. She has helped me turn from my negative overwhelm into a positive "a little bit everyday adds up" kind of attitude. “Failure is not an option.” ‘Done is better than perfect.” “Remember to use your tools from your toolbox.” “Make a list and then a schedule.” “Reward yourself.” ‘Don’t forget to play and have some fun.” ‘Nurture yourself.” “Ask for what you need.” “ If you can’t do it all, do the part you can do now and build on that.” Her words and wisdom sink into your being and become the strength you can draw from to keep going. She literally is the most amazing person I know!

Working with Lushanya has encouraged a shift in me that is bringing Spirit and Community from the periphery to the center. She has challenged me with questions; questions that make me squirm, questions that make me think, questions that I don’t know the answer to, questions that I didn’t know I needed to ask. She has asked me to look deep within myself, she has helped me to see beauty and love and light in myself and in my life. She has challenged me to make changes in my habits and my ideas, and to speak my fear. This has helped me to identify and remove barriers to my own growth, broken the inertia. Gentle yet vital changes to my space, and my routines have kept the momentum going. I can feel a change in the way I see the world, the way I walk and the way I speak and interact with others. All along she has introduced tools that have heightened my connections. Each one that I have picked up and really worked with has been life changing. As I do the work, she is there to witness, open to listen and to remind me of the tools that I have available. She has encouraged me to live into my strength, hear my own voice, listen more deeply and to pay attention to the messages that I am given. My work with Lushanya has been and is a beautiful gift in my journey.