THIS IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF MOVING THROUGH YOUR LIFE
You don’t have to force your way forward
If you’ve found your way here, something in you is ready for a different rhythm.
Not more pressure.
Not another system to follow.
Not another version of yourself to become.
But a quieter, more intentional way of living—one rooted in alignment, self-trust, and the courage to move at your own pace.
This page will help you understand the heart of this work, how it came to be, and what it means to tend to your life in this way.
ABOUT THIS SPACE
I’m Dr. Michelle.
I am an ecological priestess, ritual practitioner, and scholar creating spaces for women to return to themselves—slowly, honestly, and in their own rhythm.
My work lives at the intersection of ritual, seasonal living, and liberatory practice. It is shaped by years of study, lived experience, and a deep commitment to self-belonging as both a personal and collective practice.
Peonies + Proteas is an ecosystem for women who are ready to move differently—
to tend to their lives with care, to honor their own rhythms, and to come back into right relationship with themselves.
PhD in Multicultural Women’s & Gender Studies
Former C-suite equity & justice executive
Ritual practitioner rooted in seasonal and ancestral practice
Guide for women cultivating alignment, self-belonging, and relational rhythm
get to know me more
A Few Things That Shape Me
1. The way I move through life
I’ve always been drawn to rhythm, even before I had language for it. I notice how energy shifts, how seasons change, and how our bodies ask for different things at different times. I don’t believe in forcing or pushing through—I believe in listening, adjusting, and honoring what is true in the moment. This way of moving shapes everything I create and how I hold space for others.
2. What I’m devoted to
I am devoted to self-belonging—not as an idea, but as a daily practice. My work is rooted in helping women come back into right relationship with themselves, especially after years of overperforming, overgiving, or disconnecting. I believe that the most powerful transformation happens quietly, through consistency, care, and truth. This devotion lives at the center of Peonies + Proteas.
3. What life looks like beyond the work
My life is deeply intertwined with slow living, home, and the land. Alongside my wife, I’m building a more intentional way of living—renovating, planting, tending, and learning as we go. I find beauty in everyday rituals: cooking, gardening, designing spaces, and creating environments that feel grounding and alive. This way of living isn’t separate from my work—it is the foundation of it.
ROOTED in..
Seasonal living
Ritual practice
Self-belonging
Intentional rhythm
IF YOU’RE FEELING THE SHIFT
There’s a way to begin
If something in you is stirring, you don’t have to rush to define it.
This work is not about having everything figured out—it’s about learning how to listen, how to trust yourself, and how to move in a way that feels aligned with who you are becoming.
There are multiple ways to enter this space, whether you’re looking for a quiet place to begin or a deeper container for transformation.
You get to choose the pace. You get to choose the path.
Start where you are
Whether you’re just beginning or returning to yourself again, there is space for you here. You don’t need to arrive fully formed or have everything figured out. This is a place to meet yourself honestly, exactly as you are.
Move in your own rhythm
There is no timeline to follow—only your own pace, your own capacity, your own truth. You are invited to slow down, to listen more closely, and to move in a way that feels sustainable and real. Over time, this becomes a deeper trust in yourself and how you move through the world.
Go deeper when you’re ready
When you feel called, there are spaces for deeper support, reflection, and transformation. You can choose to step into more intentional containers that hold you as you continue unfolding. There is no pressure—only an invitation to deepen when it feels aligned.
