Meet Salem Islas-Madlo

 

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

Salem , sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

I have cptsd which can be traced to repeated experiences of abandonment and abuse spanning from childhood into young adulthood. I’ve had a lifelong struggle of not belonging…not feeling at home anywhere or with anyone. This dilemma isn’t just because of the maltreatment I experienced, but it’s also connected to the diaspora I lived through and in some ways has been my greatest weakness and strength. For the longest time, I was so caught up trying to define me identity that I felt only separation.

The book Women Who Run with Wolves, walking the camino St. James Way, regularly attending mindfulness meditation retreats in France and Germany led by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hahn and the community there, as well as spending time with Mayan elders from Guatemala has given me a solid foundation for my healing journey. I’ve learned to cultivate a spiritual practice which feels authentic to myself as it provides a restoration of belonging and a sense of healthy identity. Self-compassion and compassion for others continues to be an integral part of my mindfulness and meditation practice which is deeply ingrained in both my personal and professional vision for living life.

As a Mexican-American, I have had the sacred honor and privilege to draw from a rich, indigenous heritage of Yaqui ancestry entwined with Germanic/Spanish European roots. The dignity this human experience has brought into my life allows me to honor my ancestral truths and reclaim the freedom and sovereignty of my deep wild spirit back into a celebration of life and beauty.

The truth is that life only began to change when I learned to acknowledge and accept myself and the natural flow of my life. I’ve needed to make peace with it over and over. Mother Earth has become my greatest teacher. I’m learning to let go of the need to rigidly arrange my life. Through the daily practice of self-forgiveness and patience, I cultivate courage, truthfulness, compassionate mindfulness, and connection in order to rise up each day. It is what I like to call the gift of presence.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a Chicana poet, writer, and holistic energy and trauma recovery coach. My purpose is to support people to reclaim their deep wild nature as their energy flows into alignment with their intuition and creative power to seed a life that thrives and flourishes alongside the cycles of Mother Earth.

I hold a BA degree in Communication Disorders as well as a Masters degree in Education. My academic background also includes a five year study in art therapy. I completed my life coaching certification at the ICF-accredited Beautiful You Coaching Academy and am working on completing my trauma recovery certification with International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching by the end of 2024.

My vision is to help people establish a sense of balance as they process challenges so they can be with what is present in their lives as they take steps towards change. I guide whole-hearted indivduals to engage and face their vulnerabilities so that they find the inner strength to harness their courage and confidence to move forward. This means facilitating a space where they can soften, loosen and shed boundaries that they no longer need or that no longer serve a function in their life. I hold space for human beings willing to commit themselves to create new boundaries that support healthy growth while connecting with their “deep wild” essence.

I often share my poetry and writing in order to raise awareness, honor and protect what is sacred on this earth. My passion for social justice and healing has been ignited and it is my intention to connect and collaborate with others to foster growth and wholeness through creating and nurturing community, while being an active and compassionate presence as we rewrite the unfolding narrative of our lives and our collective stories. I believe poetry is the medicine within our stories. Writing is part of my soul mission and it brings me the power that I need to stand in confidence and self-belief and to help others do the same.

It is my mission to connect people with their natural beauty and excellence as a way to forge a deep wild path into their wholeness while honoring what is sacred in their life. It brings a sense of humanity and dignity to our whole existence on this planet. We heal together when we share our stories. Story is medicine. It is what living an intuitive, creative, energetic life is all about through setting clear intentions and healthy boundaries so that we can mindfully and compassionately grow and thrive knowing that we are enough.

I also offer intuitive guidance, channeling, clearing and energetic coaching as well through the use of tarot and oracle cards, breath work and writing as practical tools. The cards give suggestions, indicate challenges, and provide a plethora of information, revealing new direction. Energy coaching helps you to alchemize your intuition, creativity, and deep wild nature into concrete actions towards seeding a new life.

Beginning January 2025, I will be offering trauma writing workshops for healing, 1-on-1 as well as group trauma recovery coaching sessions and energetic coaching.

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?

Culitivating the gift of presence, compassion, and creative play were skills and knowledge that I find have been the most consistently empowering for me because they offer an opportunity to embody the change that we want to create in our lives. I would encourage folks to slow down their pace of living to create space and time to observe where they are at so they can gather the courage they need to embody their sense of worth and well being. I would invite people to engage their senses in creative play so they can reconnect with their inner spark and sense of wonder.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, a beloved, Vietnamese Buddhist Monk and Teacher changed the course of my life by introducing me the path of compassionate mindfulness. A path that would bring me home to my roots, my heritage, my ancestors, and the Earth. It was his offering of wisdom that enabled me to integrate a new way of being and moving on this planet. He showed me a path that brought nourishment and balance to my soul. It opened up a whole new life that held space for compassion, love, mindfulness, truth, and belonging. His gift of presence brought me to a place of faith when there was none left in my heart. I was a single mom with two children living in a foreign country with very few friends and no family. I was utterly alone feeling lost, exhausted, helpless, and hopeless. His message entered my life at a time when I needed love the most. It’s simplicity has kept me grounded in the wisdom of being inter-connected with all our relations in the web of life.

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Claudia Blake Photography
AnnaLisa Erdemgil Brandstätter

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