I was born in Quebec City in a very religious and strict family, At a very young age, I felt a direct connection to Jesus and Mary. With time however, I rebelled against certain rules of the church, the authority of the priest, the treatment of women, and the fact that questioning the doctrine was unacceptable.
My first love was psychology, I made my way through college and received a MA in Psychology. I thought I would spend my life as a therapist. Then I met my husband, moved to the US and followed a very different path, first as a translator and then as an accountant.
In my late thirties I experienced a very serious illness that almost took my life, There were years of pain and difficulties but eventually I recovered.
Left alone to raise my three children, I searched for a spiritual community. I spent a few years with the Church of Nazarene, the Unitarian Church and finally decided that organized religion, however liberal, was not for me. A few years later, facing another health crisis, I decided to look outside of traditional western medicine and explored different types of energy healing. I discovered yoga, the Metaphysical Center of New Jersey (and Story!) and finally, a spiritualist church where I felt at home. I became a Reiki Master and a certified Yoga teacher (Vinyasa), took subsequent training in restorative yoga, chair yoga and yoga Nidra. As a yoga teacher, I worked mostly with shy beginners and people with special needs. Covid and my move to this area (to fulfill my life dream of living in the country) disrupted all of that.
During these years I also started painting. While admiring a friend’s paintings, I told her I would like to do that, without thinking I possibly could. The next time I visited, she had paint and brushes ready for me. The joy I felt! During Story’s Oracle Circle, I would get visions that I would try to reproduce on paper, and while lacking in technique, messages would come through reflecting the teachings. I had developed my own faith and spiritual practice but I also know I can’t keep growing without the help of others. I was lucky to find ISD Oneonta.
Since I was a teenager, I've worked for non-profit organizations: assistance to the elderly, research and publication of books on non-prescription drugs in Quebec; grammar and high school PTAs, the Midland Park girl scouts, the Ringwood Farmers Market and the Peterson Foundation which provides scholarships for low income youth. I have played different roles as simple volunteer, treasurer, program director, vice-president and president.
I love nature, animals (4 cats, 1 dog, chickens, ducks and a goose), gardening, music, dancing, painting and above all, learning. I would like to retire and travel a bit. I haven’t quite figure this out yet. I thought when buying my house that I was settling. It doesn’t seem to be that simple.
If you would like to contact Chantal, please use our contact form.