We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Heather Mack. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Heather below.
Heather, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My journey to has been a long and winding road teaching me the art of resilience along the way. Though I initially grew up in Rhode Island, I don’t remember much about my childhood. Due to my father’s work, my family moved frequently and by the time I was in 3rd grade we had lived in 6 different places. I do remember how sad I felt to repeatedly have to leave my friends and start over in a new school, though. Yet, these days I see those experiences as a gift, having allowed me to learn at a young age the nature of impermanence and the value of non-attachment, adaptation, and resilience. It turns out that my youth was preparing me to learn what would become the most valuable lesson of my life: surrender, the ability to surf the wave of life without trying to control the ocean of existence.
Adolescence in Connecticut wasn’t all smooth sailing either. My mom’s military service and my dad’s struggles with alcohol made for some rocky moments. But amidst the chaos, I was able to find a silver lining – the power to turn pain into strength. It’s like that saying goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?
As a teen, I found myself in some rough situations, battling addiction, an eating disorder and surviving assault. It took years to feel and heal, but I learned to make peace and silence the negative self-talk and find my inner warrior.
A pivotal turning point came in an unexpected place. Burning Man opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities and catapulted my awakening. I quickly found myself on a healing journey, I was on a mission to live authentically, to find my purpose and spread love. Kambo, Ayahuasca, Iboga, vipassana retreats, and climbing mountains all became my teachers, helping me shed old wounds and embrace a brighter future.
After I made my transition from the corporate world and things seemed too good to be true. My dad’s cancer diagnosis rocked my world. Yet, in his final days, we found closure and peace. His passing taught me the ultimate lesson in surrender – to accept life’s twists and turns with grace and gratitude.
Here I stand, a survivor, a warrior, and a firm believer in the strength of resilience. Life’s path may be fraught with obstacles, yet each trial has forged me into a stronger individual, revealing that every experience, every conscious moment is our divine gift. As I progress and heal, I appreciate every lesson absorbed and every hurdle conquered.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
After two decades in the corporate world, wearing various hats from accountant to corporate buyer, I made the bold decision to leave it all behind in pursuit of a path rooted in service. In 2019, a profound spiritual awakening ignited my journey of self-discovery and healing, uncovering deep-seated wounds I had long suppressed. This transformative path led me to explore the healing potential of various plant medicines, including Kambo, Ayahuasca, and Iboga, revealing ancestral traumas buried within my subconscious. These sacred plant medicines supported profound healing by guiding me through deep introspection, purging toxic energies, and providing transformative insights that liberated me from the grip of past traumas, enabling spiritual growth and emotional resilience.
Among these medicines, Kambo became my biggest ally. If you aren’t familiar with Kambo, it is a secretion from a Phyllomedusa bicolor frog, from the Amazon, that is applied to small surface-level burns, moving through the lymphatic system to cleanse the mind, body, and spirit. Personally, it guided me through battles with depression and addiction, including Adderall and alcoholism, while strengthening my immune system to a remarkable extent—I haven’t been sick in nearly two years. In 2022, I took a leap of faith, bidding farewell to my cushy international corporate position and fully surrendered to embrace this new journey, founding my business, Divine Gift. Through Divine Gift, my aim is to remind others that every conscious moment is a sacred offering. The trials and triumphs we experience, the good, the bad, and the ugly, are all gifts that provide us with invaluable lessons and opportunities for growth. This endeavor is not just my life purpose but also my offering to remind us all that every breath, every heartbeat is a gift, awaiting our moment of remembrance.
My journey of surrendering to Divine Gift began with studies in Reiki, Cacao, eventually leading me to study Kambo. I had the privilege of studying with Kambo International and directly training with the Matses tribe in the Amazon, experiencing firsthand the profound potency of this sacred medicine. Getting to hold the frog and feel the energy from this transformative ally was a privilege. Also, it was beautiful to witness how much respect and admiration the tribes have for the frog; they call it the “king of the Forest,” and how the animal is not harmed in the process.
I’ve had the great honor of sharing this medicine with our community. Along the way, I’ve learned invaluable lessons in surrendering to the divine flow, trusting my intuition, and finding joy in every step of the journey. As clients embark on their healing journey, it became evident that life needed to shift for sustainable changes to occur—patterns needed to change, relationships needed reevaluation. After all, we become like the five people we surround ourselves with the most, and if we aren’t inspired by our surroundings, we risk stagnation. This became apparent to me as I healed and shifted away from drinking and partying; initially, the journey was solitary as I forged a new version of myself. Therefore, Divine Gift began organizing conscious events where like-minded individuals could gather and support one another. These gatherings empower individuals to share their offerings and facilitate workshops such as breathwork, sound healing, yoga, kriya, kundalini activations, dance, reiki, and much more. Infused with love and support, these events leave participants feeling empowered to contribute positively to the world, creating a ripple effect that excites us.
In sharing my journey and the transformative power of Divine Gift, I am reminded that every step taken with intention and love contributes to the collective healing of our world.
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?
The most important concept that I’m still constantly learning is the idea of surrender. This means letting go of control, unlearning the unconscious programming of the mind, and stepping into a place of divine flow. When you start to lean into this concept, make peace with it, and see how all that has happened in your life is lining up for your highest good, you begin to witness the divine magnificence this life has to offer.
In order to truly catapult yourself into this concept, you must trust: trust the process, trust divine timing, and most importantly, trust yourself and your intuition. Early on in my journey, my mentor gave me the mantra, “I trust myself.” In moments of despair or chaos, there is nothing more empowering for your soul than knowing that you are confident in yourself and your abilities. Conversely, if we reflect on the theory that the easiest way to manipulate someone is if they are in fear, then we want to embody the opposite to be able to step into our power and full expression of who we are meant to be. Then we can drop into new levels of surrender, letting go, and faith in the unknown, which brings us more in touch with our truth and authenticity underneath it all.
Lastly, I’m going to add a few very important things that changed the game for me. Words cast spells; every single word you choose is creating your reality. This is imperative to understand. Don’t talk negatively about yourself or others, even as a joke, as it brings more like energy back towards you. Change the words “Have to” to “Get to” and watch everything shift. When we step into the frequency of appreciation, we attract more of that; after all, it is a privilege that we get to be here. The depth at which you know and love yourself is what your output will be. One of my favorite Beatles quotes “the love you make is equal to the love you take.” The deeper you can go, the depth at which you can be with others. Express your feelings in real-time; don’t hesitate, they are there for a reason, express them. Lastly and most importantly take care of Mother Nature, after all we are nature and she will love you right back.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
One of my missions is to foster a conscious community and provide a safe haven for people to feel seen, heard, and understood. As we expand these events, I’m eager to collaborate with healers, shamans, small business owners, and anyone interested in participating. We’re keen on growth and open to support with marketing, as it’s not my strong suit.
Additionally, I would love offer my services for retreats or events if anyone is seeking support aligned with my offerings. I find joy in being of service when it aligns.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.divinegift.me
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__divinegift/
Image Credits
Trina Severson & Earth Angel Studio,
