Meet Kiara, your Forest guide
Thank you for joining me!
I’m Kiara (she/her). Vulnerability is intrinsic to the work that I do as My Mossy Heart, so it is only right for me to give you an earnest look into who I am.
I would describe myself as a sensitive, curious, joyful, loving, playful, passionate creature of the Forest. I love to write, spend time with my loved ones, and take macro photos of the Forest. I find fulfillment in authentic moments of human connection.
Actively loving the other living beings I share this Earth with (human and non!)
Honoring my authentic self and giving space to others to do the same
Spending as much present time with Mother Earth as I can
Remaining curious and teachable, especially about perspectives other than my own
Spending time with my loved ones!
Advocating for social and climate justice
Holding onto sources of joy
Expressing my many feelings through creation (photography, poetry)
Deprogramming body shame and supporting others while they do the same
Growing, healing, and striving to be the best version of myself every day
What matters most to me in life
Why this work is my calling…
I have found healing from trauma and mental health struggles through Nature
My relationship with the Nature has been my solace through many of life’s darkest moments. I am comforted by the complexity and resilience of the Earth and her creatures. I find hope and a source of creativity in the Natural World.
Indigenous cultures have long known of our belonging and interconnection with Nature. As a result of colonialism, the technological revolution and the prominence of cities, many of us have grown up severed from the land.
Scientific research has supported what many of us have known intuitively: spending time with Nature makes us happier and healthier.
These sessions offer are an opportunity to connect more deeply with Mother Nature, and tap into your own innate Wildness. I have witnessed the profound, healing impact of this offering time and time again. I am honored to hold space for my clients to connect more deeply with Earth.
I am deeply familiar with the pain that comes from body shame
When I was a child, I loved running around naked, experiencing the world through all of my senses. All-too-soon, however, I internalized the toxic messaging about bodies that was around me. I learned that my body was supposed to look and feel a certain way, and that my value came from my ability to please others. I felt that I was failing my duty to be an exciting object. Shame took hold of me so young.
In my early 20s, I started questioning the scorn I held towards myself. Exhausted from years of pinching skin, dieting, and self-loathing, I wondered if the shame was mine to hold. I allowed myself to become angry about all of the lost time and emotional energy that went into hating my body. I became angry about my body being objectified and sexualized when I just wanted to exist. Anger was the catalyst that woke me up from the illusion and showed me that I (along with everyone else) deserved so much better. Since then, I have been working to rewire my brain and cultivate more self-love and body acceptance. It is not a linear journey, and there are times where I struggle to face the mirror. However, I now know that I deserve to be comfortable in my own skin, whatever form it takes.
I believe that everyone deserves to feel at home in their body -
to see themselves as a beautiful expression of Nature. Western beauty standard are based in fatphobia, racism, ableism, misogyny, colonialism, and transphobia and they are lies that need to be dismantled. People also deserve to celebrate their bodies without the pressure of performing sexuality. I am passionate about creating space where people can release body shame and come home to themselves and to Mother Earth.
Having a personal relationship with Nature makes us better caretakers of the Earth
It is no secret that our planet is struggling. As climate change advances, the fate of all of Earth’s inhabitants is uncertain. Species and habitats are being lost at an unprecedented rate, and we are currently in the sixth mass extinction. In human environments, already vulnerable communities will be most heavily impacted by the adverse effects of climate change (food insecurity, natural disasters, water shortages, unsafe temperatures, etc).
Looking at the state of Mother Earth is incredibly painful - but we cannot afford to give up. Jacques Cousteau says “we protect what we love.”
Our personal connection with Nature motivates us to be better stewards of the land.
Sharing our love for Nature with others is a form of activism that will inspire further protection of the Earth.
This work is a love letter to Mother Earth and her inhabitants. May we never give up on taking care of the Natural World.
Thank you for getting to know me. I look forward to getting to know you, too.
