Meet Anela Bird

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

Hi Anela , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience is a fluid thing. I keep developing it. The evolution of my resilience never ends. I feel like the depth of my pool, the capacity I hold comes from my lineages pain and my upbringing. I used to say that I was raised in all the ways I didn’t want to be. I developed into someone completely different from who I was raised to be. Now that I look at my upbringing, I see that all of it was necessary to polish my resilience. That the reflection of pain onto me was needed to create who I am today. It all has purpose. It all was for me and my soul development.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Professionally, my work revolves around helping people reconnect with the energy that flows through all aspects of life—whether it’s Qi, inner wisdom, heart guidance, or the emotions we experience like love, grief, and pain. I’m here to gently guide people back to themselves, helping them clear the blockages that may be preventing them from feeling a deeper connection to something greater—whether that’s their own inner truth, God, or divine source. My hope is to help others remember that everything has purpose, that they are never truly alone, and that their ancestors are with them every step of the way. Ultimately, I want to remind people that they are not failing—they’re exactly where they need to be—and that they are capable of so much more than they may realize. In all the work I do, whether as an acupuncturist, ceremonialist, death doula or breathwork facilitator, I simply aim to be a small guide, offering support on their journey to reconnect with the inherent strength and wisdom they carry within.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities that shaped my journey are resilience, deep listening, humility—and a deep trust in life itself.

Resilience: Life will always bring challenges, and it’s easy to get stuck in the bullshit. But resilience is what kept me going, even when the path felt uncertain or overwhelming. It’s about having compassion for yourself as you grow. For those just starting, my advice is to remember that growth often comes through struggle. Be real with yourself about what’s in the shadows. If you can view struggle as an opportunity to build inner strength and clarity, you’ll grow. Trust that even when things feel difficult, the lessons are unfolding for a reason.

Deep Listening: Tuning into nature has been huge for me. Listening to the land, the elements, and my own inner wisdom has been transformative. It’s an ongoing practice, and it’s what connects me to this place, to the ancestors, to something bigger than myself. For those early in your journey, I’d encourage you to start sorting through your energy—where is it going? Do an energy inventory, streamline what’s important, and let the rest fall away. Connect with nature, listen, and find your roots. The answers we seek are often already within us—wiping the mirror clean helps us see clearly.

Humility: Humility has been key to my growth, both professionally and personally. Acknowledging that there’s always more to learn, staying open to feedback, and accepting that we don’t need to have all the answers keeps me grounded. For someone just starting out, I’d recommend embracing a mindset of learning. It’s okay to not know everything and to ask questions. Growth happens when we stay open to new perspectives and stay humble enough to recognize that the journey is ongoing. And through it all, trust that the right lessons and people will show up when needed.

Trusting Life has been the thread that ties it all together. My own struggle with trusting life has been one of my greatest teachers. Trust that your journey is unfolding exactly as it needs to, even if you can’t see the bigger picture yet. For those just starting, my advice is simple: Trust the process, be patient with yourself, and remember that every step—whether forward or seemingly backward—carries its own wisdom and purpose. Life is not a race; it’s a journey back to your own heart.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The number one challenge I face right now is holding space for others, because it’s not about me knowing everything about healing, cuz I don’t. But I don’t back down from challenges. I show up because I am called to, guided by my inner wisdom, my spiritual support, and my indigenous ancestors. They push me to keep showing up, even when I’d rather stay in the background, away from the spotlight. But my kuleana, my responsibility to help others, outweighs my own shyness. I know I have a role to play in helping people reconnect with their hearts. The world is full of challenges, and if I don’t hold the space like I do, someone less authentic will. They’ll do it for ego-based reasons, claiming titles like “shaman” or “healer” and engaging in spiritual bypassing. That’s just not what I’m about.

I’m here to connect to who I truly am—evolving, authentic, and raw. I’m committed to doing the work on myself and becoming more of who I’m meant to be. But if someone wants to work with me, they have to show up and do the work too. I’m not here to make it easy or feed into illusions; I’m here to help people get real, with themselves and with life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hiacucompany.com
• Instagram: anelabird & Kula_mana
• Facebook: Anela Bird
• Youtube: Kula Mana Wellness
• Other: https://www.kulamana.org