Peace
MELISSA POTTER, MSW, LADC, LMT, SHAMBALLA MASTER
Spiritual Guidance
Are you looking for inspiration and guidance? Do you need someone to listen to the feelings and stories of your deepest heart? I am a compassionate and empathic person who would love to help you along the path to your own most comfortable and healed self. Call if you would like to set up an appointment for spiritual counseling or an astrological consultation.
Sometimes all we really need is to be seen! Your inner self knows everything you need. My ability to tune into the deeper places of a person's soul, my compassion, and my personal experience of over 30 years of recovery and healing can act as a mirror that will reflect your own truths back to you.
Our listening creates a sanctuary for the homeless parts within another person.
-Rachel Naomi Remen
Education and Experience
I began to walk along my own inner-healing path as a seventeen year old woman when I entered a twelve-step program of recovery that changed my entire life. Doors I never knew could open, swung wide for me.
In 1992 I received my first massage and knew that this was a path I wanted to take. I had been dedicated to my emotional and spiritual growth but had not connected the fact that my body was in desperate need of healing, nurturing, safe touch. Massage Therapy gave me this gift and I knew it was a gift I wanted to pass on to others.
I attended the New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts in September 1992.
I am a NH Licensed Massage Therapist who has a passion for Craniosacral Therapy and Somato-Emotional Release. As a Professional Member of the American Massage Therapy Association since 2001, I am dedicated to continued education and to upholding the ethics of my profession. You can feel confident that you are in the very best of hands.
Over the years, I have obtained certificates in many healing modalities of Massage Therapy including Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Salt Glow Massage, Kriya Foot and Hand Reflexology, Circulatory Massage, Fibromyalgia, Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Craniosacral Therapy, and Myofascial Release.
In April of 2010 I completed my Advanced-Level training in Craniosacral Therapy through the Upledger Institute. I love this work and feel absolutely grateful that I can offer it to my clients.
To complement the physical components of healing, I offer somato-emotional release sessions for those seeking deep emotional healing from physical and/or emotional trauma and the opportunity to release pent-up tension that may be creating pain and energy blockages.
In the fall of 2013, I completed a certification course in Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling at Northern Essex Community College; in 2015, I earned my B.S. in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire; and in May 2016, I graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work.
I see my work as a bridge between traditional and alternative healing methods.
Energy Work
I received my first Shamballa attunement from Irene Fox on Martha's Vineyard in the summer of 2003 after feeling some very special energy in her rose-scented hand cream at her booth in a Farmer's Market, and asking her if I could experience what she put in her herbal body products! Before long, I was in her studio, surrounded by apophyllite, and getting my first Shamballa attunement! I received my subsequent Shamballa attunements from Holly Brown and Betsy Haley of Dover, NH. I LOVE to do energy work. It is transformational, healing, deeply-peaceful work that I hope everyone will experience.
In my heart and by my nature, I am a teacher. As a woman who honors the Sacred Divine Feminine, I am dedicated to the Wise Woman tradition of empowering, uplifting, and sharing knowledge with others, whole-heartedly. Out of this love for teaching, I developed a monthly workshop series called, Reaching into the Heart of the Goddess and a seasonal, bi-weekly, sacred circle group for women called, Roots Deep, Branches Rising.
In early 2010, I began mentoring and teaching at the Wise Woman University. My Artemis Workshop is now available throughout the year in a beautiful, online, 6-week-long course entitled: Reclaiming Artemis: Calling Passion, Power and Wildness Back Into Your Life!
One of my deepest passions is to teach and to facilitate individual and group healing rituals and workshops. Together we can create a personal and unique ritual for the transition, celebration, sorrow, or joy you may need to honor at this time in your life.
I began writing poems and keeping a diary as a young girl. I enjoyed having pen pals and passing notes in school to classmates. When I was twenty-five years old, there was a knock on the door of the beautiful, restored farmhouse I worked in when I was a Customer Service Manager for Unity Networking. It was a neighbor announcing that she just purchased the Hollis Times Newspaper. I asked her if I could submit some stories. She said, "Yes!" Before I knew it, I had a weekly column I called, Red Flannel Hash. That was great fun! I am so passionate about inspiring people through writing and sharing my personal stories about how I connect to the seasonal wheel of the year, magic, ritual, the ancient wisdom teachings, and everyday stories about life experiences and people I meet. I love to do this through my seasonal newsletters as well as by contributing to The Spiritual Renaissance Publication in Portland, Maine. You can read these and other published essays on my blog, Melissa's Musings. I share a lot on my MotherRoots Healing Arts Facebook Page, as well! This past year I was honored to become published in Sage Woman Magazine, a publication I have been reading for decades.
Singing
"Where words fail, music takes over!"
My son always says, "Music is Life!" I couldn't agree more. I am known in some of my communities as "The Goddess Jukebox" because I seem to have a song for every occasion. I have collected a large amount of earth and spirit-honoring circle chants and songs. Recently I began writing women's spirituality chants.
A work of musical art was created when Director Joanne Connolly created her 200-women choir, Voices From the Heart many years ago in Portsmouth, NH. I loved every minute of singing with this group and was honored to have the opening solo in the Spring, 2010 concert.
You can see us perform here at one of our fun, local, annual events, The Newmarket Heritage Festival.
Each year Voices has their large spring and fall concert at the South Church in Portsmouth. The concerts are amazing to witness! Visit http://www.voicesfromtheheart.org/.
I also enjoy leading singing and chanting circles in our community and have done so in many circles of ceremony and celebration. This past summer I was invited to sing with some wonderful musicians at the Unity Church of Greater Portland, Maine for their Conscious Convergence celebration!
I have had the unique blessing to be able to teach and provide healing services to students in my community in the following, wonderful ways:
~Beginner Spanish to kindergartners in the World Language Club at the Mast Way School in Lee,NH
~Facilitating Winter and Summer Solstice Celebrations at the Oyster River Middle School in Durham, NH during a yearly celebration of multi-cultural traditions
~Teaching a class on the Seven Chakras to Middle School students at the Sparhawk School in Amesbury, MA during a holistic health and stress-reduction unit
~Offering Holistic Education and Massage Therapy to students as an employee of the University of New Hampshire Health Services office
~The Love Your Body event at UNH
~The University of New Hampshire Holistic Health Fair
~Regular participation in the Student De-stress Festival at UNH
~Herbal Fun classes at a local homeschool cooperative
~Individual Apprenticeships with Children
Community events are the best! Speaking to groups about healing and connecting with nature is something I love to do. I offer many of my talks and services free-of-charge to local, community groups. Please contact me with questions.
Here are some of the fun things I have done in the community this past couple of years! I was honored to be a guest on the television show, The Power of One, filmed at beautiful Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH, and hosted by the most prolific artist and writer of ghost tales and haunted graveyards I know, Roxie Zwicker.
The light of the lanterns guide singing women up the path to the evening chapel service where the group weaves poetry, chanting, song, and prose in celebration of life, love, and community.
Central Altar for a talk on the chakras I was asked to give to the North Shore Women's Group.
Life, itself, is my greatest teacher and I am committed to following the intuitive voices of my heart as they lead me deeper and deeper into the educational and personal experiences I am meant to have!
One of the rules I live by comes from one of my favorite sayings:
"You have to give it away to keep it!"
With this said, may I get the opportunity to share healing, knowledge, and the joy of life with you some day!
Sincerely,
In 1992 I received my first massage and knew that this was a path I wanted to take. I had been dedicated to my emotional and spiritual growth but had not connected the fact that my body was in desperate need of healing, nurturing, safe touch. Massage Therapy gave me this gift and I knew it was a gift I wanted to pass on to others.
Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
I am a NH Licensed Massage Therapist who has a passion for Craniosacral Therapy and Somato-Emotional Release. As a Professional Member of the American Massage Therapy Association since 2001, I am dedicated to continued education and to upholding the ethics of my profession. You can feel confident that you are in the very best of hands.
Over the years, I have obtained certificates in many healing modalities of Massage Therapy including Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Salt Glow Massage, Kriya Foot and Hand Reflexology, Circulatory Massage, Fibromyalgia, Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Craniosacral Therapy, and Myofascial Release.
In April of 2010 I completed my Advanced-Level training in Craniosacral Therapy through the Upledger Institute. I love this work and feel absolutely grateful that I can offer it to my clients.
To complement the physical components of healing, I offer somato-emotional release sessions for those seeking deep emotional healing from physical and/or emotional trauma and the opportunity to release pent-up tension that may be creating pain and energy blockages.
In the fall of 2013, I completed a certification course in Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling at Northern Essex Community College; in 2015, I earned my B.S. in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire; and in May 2016, I graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work.
I see my work as a bridge between traditional and alternative healing methods.
Energy Work
I received my first Shamballa attunement from Irene Fox on Martha's Vineyard in the summer of 2003 after feeling some very special energy in her rose-scented hand cream at her booth in a Farmer's Market, and asking her if I could experience what she put in her herbal body products! Before long, I was in her studio, surrounded by apophyllite, and getting my first Shamballa attunement! I received my subsequent Shamballa attunements from Holly Brown and Betsy Haley of Dover, NH. I LOVE to do energy work. It is transformational, healing, deeply-peaceful work that I hope everyone will experience.
Empowerment
In my heart and by my nature, I am a teacher. As a woman who honors the Sacred Divine Feminine, I am dedicated to the Wise Woman tradition of empowering, uplifting, and sharing knowledge with others, whole-heartedly. Out of this love for teaching, I developed a monthly workshop series called, Reaching into the Heart of the Goddess and a seasonal, bi-weekly, sacred circle group for women called, Roots Deep, Branches Rising.
In early 2010, I began mentoring and teaching at the Wise Woman University. My Artemis Workshop is now available throughout the year in a beautiful, online, 6-week-long course entitled: Reclaiming Artemis: Calling Passion, Power and Wildness Back Into Your Life!
One of my deepest passions is to teach and to facilitate individual and group healing rituals and workshops. Together we can create a personal and unique ritual for the transition, celebration, sorrow, or joy you may need to honor at this time in your life.
Astrology
My first and most beloved astrology teacher is Brian Sandy of Dracut, MA. I learned through him that we are all attuned in a unique way at the moment of birth. I will always feel grateful to him for opening this door for me. In the spring of 2009 I decided to study astrology, myself. I took a beginner astrology class with Bob Hoffman of Nottingham, NH. I discovered I had an innate ability to understand many aspects of astrology as it connected deeply with the study of archetypes, mythology, and the earth-centered spiritual path which has always been so much a part of my life! In the fall of 2009, I began studying with Heather Ensworth in Hamilton, Massachusetts. I continue to do so with great passion! I am an avid student of astrology and thoroughly love offering astrology chart interpretations and astrological consultations to my clients! Additionally, I offer group astrology readings for gatherings of friends. These are great fun! Contact me for more information.
Melissa's Musings
I began writing poems and keeping a diary as a young girl. I enjoyed having pen pals and passing notes in school to classmates. When I was twenty-five years old, there was a knock on the door of the beautiful, restored farmhouse I worked in when I was a Customer Service Manager for Unity Networking. It was a neighbor announcing that she just purchased the Hollis Times Newspaper. I asked her if I could submit some stories. She said, "Yes!" Before I knew it, I had a weekly column I called, Red Flannel Hash. That was great fun! I am so passionate about inspiring people through writing and sharing my personal stories about how I connect to the seasonal wheel of the year, magic, ritual, the ancient wisdom teachings, and everyday stories about life experiences and people I meet. I love to do this through my seasonal newsletters as well as by contributing to The Spiritual Renaissance Publication in Portland, Maine. You can read these and other published essays on my blog, Melissa's Musings. I share a lot on my MotherRoots Healing Arts Facebook Page, as well! This past year I was honored to become published in Sage Woman Magazine, a publication I have been reading for decades.
 |
| Melissa after her first solo, "Dance of the Nations" at the Voices From the Heart concert, May 21, 2010 |
"Where words fail, music takes over!"
My son always says, "Music is Life!" I couldn't agree more. I am known in some of my communities as "The Goddess Jukebox" because I seem to have a song for every occasion. I have collected a large amount of earth and spirit-honoring circle chants and songs. Recently I began writing women's spirituality chants.
A work of musical art was created when Director Joanne Connolly created her 200-women choir, Voices From the Heart many years ago in Portsmouth, NH. I loved every minute of singing with this group and was honored to have the opening solo in the Spring, 2010 concert.
You can see us perform here at one of our fun, local, annual events, The Newmarket Heritage Festival.
Each year Voices has their large spring and fall concert at the South Church in Portsmouth. The concerts are amazing to witness! Visit http://www.voicesfromtheheart.org/.
I also enjoy leading singing and chanting circles in our community and have done so in many circles of ceremony and celebration. This past summer I was invited to sing with some wonderful musicians at the Unity Church of Greater Portland, Maine for their Conscious Convergence celebration!
Working with Students in the Community
I have had the unique blessing to be able to teach and provide healing services to students in my community in the following, wonderful ways:
~Beginner Spanish to kindergartners in the World Language Club at the Mast Way School in Lee,NH
~Facilitating Winter and Summer Solstice Celebrations at the Oyster River Middle School in Durham, NH during a yearly celebration of multi-cultural traditions
~Teaching a class on the Seven Chakras to Middle School students at the Sparhawk School in Amesbury, MA during a holistic health and stress-reduction unit
~Offering Holistic Education and Massage Therapy to students as an employee of the University of New Hampshire Health Services office
~The Love Your Body event at UNH
~The University of New Hampshire Holistic Health Fair
~Regular participation in the Student De-stress Festival at UNH
~Herbal Fun classes at a local homeschool cooperative
~Individual Apprenticeships with Children
Giving Back to the Community at Large
Community events are the best! Speaking to groups about healing and connecting with nature is something I love to do. I offer many of my talks and services free-of-charge to local, community groups. Please contact me with questions.
Here are some of the fun things I have done in the community this past couple of years! I was honored to be a guest on the television show, The Power of One, filmed at beautiful Prescott Park in Portsmouth, NH, and hosted by the most prolific artist and writer of ghost tales and haunted graveyards I know, Roxie Zwicker.
Here is a clip of me giving a Transformational Service Announcement from that day at Prescott Park:
Great community fun at Ann's Ginger House's Autumn Holistic Healing Fair
Winter Solstice Ceremony at B.I.G. Newburyport's Holiday Gathering, (Believe, Inspire, Grow), a local, Women's Networking organization.
Spring Equinox Ceremony at Scala Art Center's, Goddess Night!
Astrology and Moon talks with the Seacoast Gay Men's Society
Radio interview with Rustie MacDonald of Living and Thriving with Rustie!
Facilitation of opening ceremonies and workshops at the Star Women retreat on Star Island in The Isle of Shoals.
The light of the lanterns guide singing women up the path to the evening chapel service where the group weaves poetry, chanting, song, and prose in celebration of life, love, and community.
The women of the Star Women conference created this weaving throughout the weekend. Beautiful and so fun!
A spiral walk to the center of ourselves in a Fall Equinox ritual I led for the women of the Star Women retreat.
Forgiveness Altar ~ Star Women Retreat
Central Altar for a talk on the chakras I was asked to give to the North Shore Women's Group.
Life, itself, is my greatest teacher and I am committed to following the intuitive voices of my heart as they lead me deeper and deeper into the educational and personal experiences I am meant to have!
One of the rules I live by comes from one of my favorite sayings:
"You have to give it away to keep it!"
With this said, may I get the opportunity to share healing, knowledge, and the joy of life with you some day!
Sincerely,
Melissa Potter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)