healing through creating
who are we?
Heartberry moon art & wellness is rooted in the belief and practice that inner healing begins through creating. we began crafting as a way to channel negative emotions and negative coping into something positive. The arts, crafts, and services we create serve as tools for cultural resurgence, storytelling, and wholistic wellness through mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects.
June’s full moon is known as the strawberry moon, marking the time when strawberry plants begin to bloom. it is the last full moon of spring or the first full moon of summer.
ode’mini-giizis holds special meaning to us as it is when we first met. ode’mini, or the strawberry, is known as the “heart berry” because of its shape and meaning of love.
what started as a blog on instagram to share our healing journey has evolved over the past few years into something healing and meaningful for our community. we are excited to share our experiences and knowledge with you, and we are very humbled to hear your experiences and knowledge as well!
-Jordan and sarah
The wellness
sarah blekkenhorst, “fire bear woman”
rsw, therapist
i am an ally-settler on turtle island, with finnish and dutch ancestry. I was in a dark place in my life when indigenous culture welcomed me with open arms; this is when i began my own healing journey. i was taught how to bead from a lovely anishnaabe youth and fell in love immediately. beading has become my way of grounding, coping, and keeping my neuro-spicy hands busy! although i love to bead and create items for my community, i am passionate about changing the way “therapy” or mental health services looks.
i am an aquarius with adhd tendencies, which makes it very difficult for me to find systems or services that work effectively. throughout my own lived experiences, i found i was the most “unwell” when 1 or more of those areas of my medicine wheel are not being cared for. using a wholistic, culturally grounded, trauma-informed approach, i strive to tailor counseling sessions to include mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical health.
by weaving creativity, nature, and/or spirituality, into mental health services, we are able to nurture every aspect our ourselves, while primarily focusing on mental health, as everything is interconnected.
i have personal and professional experience in trauma, IPV, gender-based violence, anxiety, depression, adhd, substance use, suicide ideation/self-harm, autism, developmental and physical disabilities, brain injuries, and blended families/youth. i am an nihb provider and are covered by mental health insurance provided by a registered social worker.
to book an initial meeting regarding your own, unique, mental health sessions, please fill the form below or click the “book now” button at the top of this page.
services are offered in-person or virtually, at our home-based studio, in the community, or wherever is most comfortable and safe for you!
watch for future updates: we will be offering family/group art therapy sessions, utilizing the 7 grandfather teachings, alongside jordan. i will also be offering integrative sessions in the future, utilizing knowledge keepers, practitioners, or artists to further support your healing journey!
kiitos, miigwetch
sb
the art
Jordan beardy, “smoke bear man”
traditional woodland artist & painter
I am anishnaabe from sachigo lake, I call thunder bay my home base. I obtained my civil engineering diploma from confederation college, and am still on the journey to obtain my engineering degree. i have 10+ years in project coordination/management experience among many first nations communities. i am new on my art journey as of 2022. i attended a cultural treatment center for substance abuse issues and have since then found a grounded way to heal through painting in the woodland style art. art has always been apart of my life; i love music, play guitar, and i grew up with artists in my family. I have always drawn to the woodland art hanging in the homes i visited, and buildings I frequented in thunder bay.
through heartberry art, i am able to create unique and one-of-a-kind art that revililizes my indigenous culture, that people are drawn to, and strikes up a conversation.
i am passionate about sharing my healing journey through art and creating, especially with indigenous youth. we will be hosting “Art is medicine” workshops and recovery groups in the future so keep an eye out for updates!
stay wild
jb
have questions? want to make a request or booking? fill out the form below!
