We had the good fortune of connecting with Athena Desai and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Athena, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Sometimes I look back on the pivotal choices I’ve made in my life, and they all look like risks. Leaving for prep school. Becoming a journalist. Leaving journalism. Becoming a healer. Learning how to surf & snowboard as a grown-up. Evolving as a healer. Making an EP. Getting divorced. None of those have safety or security as primary qualities, which makes me laugh because I know there‘s been so much fear underneath those leaps and I took them anyway. I think a wiser part of me has always known that taking more predictable routes becomes unsafe in its own way. What do you sacrifice when you choose what seems acceptable over what you know in your bones to be true? When you reach the end of your life, will comfort be the thing you wish you‘d had more of? The soul will keep knocking at all those doors, and I‘ve worked too hard to gain consciousness and agency to default into the boxes and tethers. Everyone has to choose for themselves, but I do believe the universe is asking all of us to live our truths and raise the vibes on this planet.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a healer. I practice Eastern shamanic medicine (acupuncture, herbs, plant medicine) and I‘m very devoted to working with veterans. I‘m the State Director for Veterans Yoga Project, a non-profit that offers free yoga and training to veterans and first responders. I‘m also a singer-songwriter who plays guitar and piano. Ultimately, I am a weaver, and I’m starting to trust that. My music is a good example of that. A great musician friend called my style “soulgrass” once, it’s got a foot in two worlds and that‘s been me my whole life.  The biggest thing I’m learning right now is to return to what’s most simple and true, in any of my pursuits. About what I have to say, about what melodies and ideas emerge, about the art of playing music for or guiding others along their journeys. Being the clearest vehicle possible is my number one job.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In Cambridge: the Harvard Bookstore (and a stop by the Tatte nearby for a snack), rent kayaks or SUPs in Kendall Square, geek out at the Museum of Science, toodle around the Seven Stars bookstore or take a class at the Dance Complex or drop in on the open mic at the Cantab, all in Central Square. In Boston: a show at the Paradise or the Orpheum, the historical walking trails downtown, dinner in the Seaport or the North End, lunch and gazing at the MFA or Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. Outside the city, my favorite breaks in Nahant and Gloucester, almost any Mass Audubon reserve, and a run through the Fells.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people support me, but I’m going to dedicate my shoutout to my amazing business partner, Ariel Szabo of Sacred Moonflower. She is relentlessly present and loving in her listening and reflecting; she meets any kind of edge or darkness with the utmost courage to investigate, and learn, and grow; she is fiercely dedicated to communicating with authenticity, integrity and honesty – I won‘t be able to cover all the things here. But she is a true leader and warrior of sacred work, shamanic practices, and healing around intimacy and the somatic experience. I love her dearly, I cannot imagine my life without her, and I highly recommend working with her if you feel the call.

Website: soulfulhealingandcouncil.com

Instagram: @soulfulhealingandcouncil

Other: For music, my website is athenadesai.com

Image Credits
Sofia Perez, Julianne Lesinski

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