Meet Tracy Mcfarland

We recently connected with Tracy Mcfarland and have shared our conversation below.

Tracy, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I have always been a seeker. I came into this world wanting to sing, to tell stories, and to make people laugh and feel good. I knew my purpose was to serve in some way. As an empath (and not knowing what that meant for much of my life), I learned that when the people around me felt good, then I felt good. But that meant I gave away my energy and carried others’ emotions. I didn’t have any boundaries, I couldn’t say no, and I wasn’t in touch with my own needs. I ended up falling apart and experiencing a health crisis. Through the process of putting myself back together, I found my life’s work as an artist and healer. I am now learning how to take care of myself first, to maintain my sovereignty, and help others on their healing journeys through my shamanic practice, which includes singing and storytelling. I suppose I have found my true purpose by living life—I think that is how it works!

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?

As an energy medicine practitioner trained in core shamanic practices, my purpose is to inspire harmony and wholeness within, while also embracing the messiness and wildness of life. With my clients I am helping to awaken their truest selves, their knowing hearts, their vibrant souls. I love creating a safe, sacred space for my clients to experience deep transformation. Together we are also creating and building a thriving relationship with the magic of this Earth.

Through my music, I wish to translate messages from the Earth for the people: how to connect to one’s own heart and to the magic of being human. I explore the relationships we have to ourselves, to each other, to Spirit. I like writing songs about the darkness of life, because that is real. I try to bring humor and levity to the pain. I want to get to the deep stuff of being human and encourage honest conversations about grief and feeling lost. I want to share in all the facets of being alive.

In 2024 I followed my heart, took a risk, and joined forces with three amazing women to start The Soul Ascension Studio, a holistic wellness sanctuary in Vancouver, Washington. We offer a range of healing experiences: energy medicine, breath work, sound healing, aromatherapy, and beautiful events that honor the cycles of life. We are committed to inclusivity, growth in all its forms, and creating a safe space for community and creative expression. We opened our doors in September and are steadily building a beautiful circle of seekers, healers, and open-hearted humans. Starting a new business was so scary! It was a leap into the unknown, but this risk has already brought so much magic into my life. I am learning to transmute the fear into excitement, to even relax and enjoy as I witness the studio coming to life.

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?

1. Humor. I laugh a lot, and I love to make others laugh. Humor transmutes my sadness, anxiety, and depression, and deepens my connection with others. Humor makes it safe to open up and share. I feel like there is a big cosmic joke happening that we are all a part of in this Great Mystery of Life. Humor helps me feel like I’m at least a little bit in on the joke. Life is hard for sure, so let’s not take it all so seriously.

2. Relationships. I have cultivated a wealth of true friendships in my lifetime. I care about people, I listen to others, I am honest and I am trustworthy. People feel safe with me. These qualities make me valuable to the communities and circles I participate in. I want people to feel good about who they are and the gifts they have to offer. Everyone deserves to feel like they belong and they matter.

3. Self-care. Being kind to myself is a life-long practice. I have always been so focused on what I’m not getting done, what my shortcomings are, what I haven’t yet achieved. I am getting better at catching this pattern of thought when it starts. I am focusing more on what I have accomplished, what I have learned, what I do get done each day. I remember not compare myself to others. I remind myself that being here, just being me, being alive, is enough. I am catching when I “should” myself. Any voice that says, “you should be different than who you are” is not the voice of your true self.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My mother has always let me make my own decisions and my own mistakes. She still does this for me. She is a source of trusted counsel when I need it, but she never tells me how to live my life.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Tracy McFarland

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,