We gather to honor the many layers of the human experience: the light and the shadow, the known and unknown, the parts of ourselves that are emerging, changing, or asking to be seen.
Co-facilitated by Melissa Keating and Katrina Wiese, Gems weaves together reflection, ritual, intuitive practices, embodied experiences, shadow work, and meaningful connection. Rather than offering a path to follow, we create spaces where you can listen more deeply to yourself, explore alongside others, and honor your own unfolding.
Some gatherings are intimate online spaces for reflection and connection. Others bring us together in person for sacred ceremony and deeper communal experiences.
There is nothing you need to become before you belong here.
Come as you are. Bring your curiosity, your questions, your shadows, your gifts, and whatever is ready to emerge.
Meet Your Facilitators
Katrina Wiese
Katrina is an herbalist, intuitive practitioner, facilitator, meditation teacher, certified Usui Reiki Master, and Tuning Fork Sound Healer. Her work is rooted in the belief that every person carries an innate wisdom that can be uncovered through presence, curiosity, and meaningful connection.
Her practice weaves together plant medicine, energy work, meditation, cacao ceremony, dyadic practices, and trauma-informed approaches. She creates intentional spaces that invite people to slow down, turn inward, connect authentically with others, and experience what it means to be truly seen and witnessed.
Katrina brings a calm, grounded presence to Gems in the Shadow, honoring each person’s experience without judgment or expectation. Her approach is rooted in compassion, deep listening, and the understanding that some of our most meaningful growth happens when we are given the space to meet ourselves fully and be met by others.
Melissa Keating
Melissa Keating is a trauma-informed coach, Certified Perinatal Behavioral Health Coach, postpartum doula, certified meditation teacher, Usui Reiki Master, and facilitator. Her work is rooted in curiosity, compassion, and the belief that personal growth begins with creating space to listen deeply to ourselves.
Her practice weaves together mindfulness, meditation, somatic awareness, energy work, intuitive practices, and trauma-informed approaches. She creates intentional spaces where people can explore their inner world, meet themselves with greater compassion, and connect with the parts of themselves that may be asking to be seen or understood.
Melissa brings warmth, openness, and grounded presence to Gems in the Shadow. Her approach honors both evidence-informed and intuitive ways of knowing, inviting people to explore without judgment, deepen trust in themselves, and uncover the wisdom and gifts already within.
Together, Melissa and Katrina bring complementary practices, grounded presence, and a shared reverence for sacred personal growth, creating spaces where people can explore, connect, and be deeply witnessed.
Gems Online Gatherings
Tools & Support in Community
Our online gatherings offer a supportive space to slow down, turn inward, and explore what is present within ourselves while staying connected in community.
Each gathering is centered around a shared theme and may weave together reflection, meditation, grounding and nervous system practices, embodied awareness, emotional exploration, dyadic practices, intuitive exercises, and meaningful conversation.
These practices offer ways to meet ourselves with greater awareness and compassion, while community gives us space to share, witness, be witnessed, and learn from one another.
Online gatherings are held on the third Friday of the month from 6:30 to 8 PM, except during months when we gather in person for Sacred Ceremony.
Gems Sacred Circles
Seasonal Gatherings for Personal Growth
Four times a year, we gather in-person at Seven Arrows Farm to honor the turning of the seasons and create space for deeper connection, reflection, and exploration.
Each ceremony is centered around a seasonal theme inspired by the Wheel of the Year.
Together, we may explore ritual, meditation, grounding and embodied practices, intuitive reflection, dyadic connection, sound, creativity, and other experiences that invite us more deeply into our inner world.
These Saturday gatherings offer an opportunity to step outside the rhythm of everyday life, connect with the season, and gather in sacred community as we honor what is shifting within and around us.
Sacred Ceremonies are held in January, April, July, and November.
Our Mission
Shadow work isn’t about fighting what’s hidden, it’s about uncovering the parts of yourself that have been waiting to be seen.
It’s a process of remembering what was quieted or overlooked, and walking alongside others who honor the courage it takes to grow.
Whether you join our in-person gatherings or the online community, you’ll be met with steadiness, compassion, and supportive guidance every step of the way.
Let’s find the gems in the shadow, together 💎
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is here to help you feel comfortable and informed as you step into Gems in the Shadow. You’ll find practical details about our online gatherings, Sacred Ceremonies, what to expect, and how to prepare, so you can arrive with a clear sense of how each experience flows.
What does "Gems in the Shadow" mean?
Gems in the Shadow is rooted in the idea that there are meaningful parts of ourselves waiting to be discovered beneath the surface.
Our “shadows” can include emotions, patterns, experiences, needs, strengths, and parts of ourselves we may have learned to hide, avoid, or disconnect from. Shadow work is an invitation to meet those places with curiosity rather than judgment.
The “gems” are the insight, wisdom, self-understanding, and inner gifts we can uncover along the way. Gems in the Shadow is about exploring those parts of ourselves in a supportive community where we can be witnessed, connect, and grow together.
What happens at the online Gems in the Shadow gatherings?
Our online gatherings are supportive spaces to slow down, connect, and explore what may be present beneath the surface.
Each gathering centers around a theme and may include guided reflection, conversation, grounding and nervous system support, mindfulness, somatic practices, or other tools for self-exploration. There is also space to share, listen, and connect with others in community. Occasional guest facilitators will join us in the online community as well.
Every gathering offers space to explore, connect, and participate at your own pace.
What happens at the Gems in the Shadow Sacred Ceremonies?
Our Sacred Ceremonies are in person gatherings that give us more time to slow down, connect, and explore a seasonal theme together.
Each ceremony is a little different and may include reflection, meditation, grounding, creative practices, gentle ritual, time in nature, sharing, and connection. We gather with intention while honoring the natural rhythms of the seasons and what they may invite us to explore within ourselves.
Sacred simply means that we approach the space with care and intention. There is no religious affiliation or belief system connected to Gems, and you are always invited to participate in the ways that feel right for you.
Do I need experience with shadow work, personal growth, or ceremonies?
Not at all. You do not need any previous experience with shadow work, personal growth practices, or ceremony to participate.
We meet you where you are. Practices are introduced with guidance, and you are always encouraged to engage at your own pace and in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful to you. Curiosity and a willingness to explore are enough.
Who is Gems in the Shadow for?
Gems is for adults interested in personal growth, self-exploration, and connecting more deeply with themselves and others.
People come to this work from many different places. You may be navigating a transition, exploring patterns or emotions, moving through a healing journey, or simply feeling curious about what is beneath the surface.
There is no particular experience or path that brings you here. Gems is a space to explore, connect, and grow alongside others in community.
Is this a therapy group?
No. Gems in the Shadow is a supportive, trauma informed community space, but it is not therapy and should not be used in place of professional mental health care. We are not licensed therapists.
Many people find this work supportive alongside their therapeutic or personal growth process, but it is not clinical treatment. We encourage each person to honor their own needs, boundaries, and wellbeing throughout their experience.
Can I join if I'm going through a difficult time, and do I have to share?
Absolutely. You are welcome to join Gems while moving through a difficult season, as long as you are not experiencing an active mental health crisis that requires a higher level of support.
Sharing is always optional. We may invite and encourage you to engage in activities, reflection, or conversation within the circle, but participation is always voluntary. You are welcome to listen, observe, and engage in the ways that feel most comfortable for you.
Is energy healing part of these gatherings?
Yes. Melissa and Katrina may weave energetic and shamanic healing practices into our Sacred Ceremonies. At times, you may also be invited to receive hands on energy work as part of the experience.
You will always be asked before any hands-on practice. Participation is always your choice, and you can engage with these practices in whatever way feels comfortable for you.
How does confidentiality and inclusivity work in this space?
We ask all participants to honor what is shared with care, respect, and confidentiality. Gems in the Shadow is intentionally designed to be welcoming and inclusive of all identities and lived experiences. You are invited to show up exactly as you are and be met with compassion and dignity.
Are sessions recorded?
No. We do not record our gatherings. This helps protect the privacy of everyone in the space and allows us to be fully present with one another.
We find that when people know they are not being recorded, there is more freedom to share, participate, and simply be present in the experience.
Why is Gems no longer donation-based?
Our monthly gatherings were originally offered on a donation basis to help make Gems as accessible as possible while the community was growing. We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported Gems during that chapter and helped it become what it is today.
As Gems has evolved into a new format, we have moved to an accessible set fee. This allows us to honor the time, care, space, and experience that go into each gathering while also supporting the continued growth of this community and the vision behind it.
What is the difference between the online community and the sacred ceremonies?
Our online gatherings offer a supportive space to explore a theme through reflection, conversation, grounding, and connection from the comfort of home.
Our Sacred Ceremonies are longer, in-person experiences that give us more space to gather with intention, connect with the seasons, and explore through practices such as meditation, reflection, ritual, creativity, energy work, and community connection.
The two experiences complement one another, but they are not dependent on each other. You do not need to attend online gatherings to join a Sacred Ceremony, or attend a Sacred Ceremony to be part of our online gatherings.
What is the cancellation & refund policy?
We understand that plans can change. Cancellations made at least 24 hours before a scheduled gathering are eligible for a refund. Cancellations made within 24 hours of the event are nonrefundable.
How do I contact Katrina & Melissa if I have any questions?
You’re welcome reach out to GemsintheShadow@outlook.com.
Upcoming Events
Gems in the Shadow gatherings are an opportunity to pause, reconnect, and explore in community. Through our online gatherings and in-person Sacred Ceremonies, we create space for reflection, self-exploration, meaningful connection, and grounded personal growth. Each experience is thoughtfully guided and shaped around a theme, with space to show up as you are and engage in ways that feel meaningful to you.
