Introducing myself and my journal: Bombilore

About Me:
Hello Dear Ones,

My name is Amanda and I live in Portland, OR. I am a writer, researcher, online marketing coach, Reiki practitioner, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and hopefully I'll be a mom soon too! Most of all, I love to communicate and connect, especially with women. I live in Portland, Oregon, on the western coast of the United States. It rains here for many months of the year, but in exchange, we have the most magical, green forests that are dripping with moss, waterfalls, and enormous, very old trees. I am originally from New England, a little over an hour north of New York City. My husband is from a small island off the coast of New England, and he is an environmentalist who is now going to school to become a school counselor. I love him very much!

When I was in my twenties, I opened a small, loose-leaf tea shop with my mentors in Burlington, Vermont. It still exists today and is very beloved space for that community. I sold it several years ago in order to realize my dream of becoming a writer. We imported tea ourselves from over 13 countries, and I traveled to China and India to meet our tea friends, visit tea gardens, and purchase teas. We focused on working with small, family run gardens. I met many women tea pickers during this process, and felt such a connection to them, though I rarely saw them in positions of leadership. Nonetheless, I was able to tell their stories, one cup of tea at a time, in the tearoom. Dobra Tea is not just a tearoom, but an opportunity for people to travel the world and get to know another culture via tea.

I learned an incredible amount about running a small business with the tearoom, including working with international business partners, leadership with a team, importation, and much more! After the tearoom, I worked as a writer, editor, and marketing associate for a performing arts management company- because I love the performing arts and the job presented itself! Now, I am pursuing being a freelance and creative writer full time! I assist businesses and individuals in excellent copy, editing, online content strategy, and social media marketing. I am also working on my blog and a book!

I am also very interested in natural healing. I am a Reiki practitioner. Reiki is a subtle type of energetic healing. It heals the subtle body... that is, the spirit, the vibrational part of us that we cannot see but can feel. Many studies have been done in hospitals showing the ability of Reiki to help speed recovery from illness, to relax patients, and to restore balance. I practice distance Reiki as well.

I believe that we are all connected along beautiful lines, beautiful webs that are so intricate and intelligent, we can hardly know how it works. I am a spiritual person, though I do not claim any one faith. My faith is in Great Spirit, Source, the Life that permeates all things. I feel deeply concerned about the current conditions of women the world around, as well as the health of the planet and all her inhabitants. I feel that that the desecration of the Earth and the disempowerment and oppression of women are completely related. Until we free and empower women everywhere, I fear we will not be able to heal the earth. And so I am trying to find ways to help with that.

With Love & Light,
Amanda

My Passions:
writing, live music, cooking, gardening, green living, connecting with people across the world, travel, reading, spending time in nature

My Challenges:
knowing where to start, self-doubt, hesitancy

My Vision for the Future:
A world where Love rules the world. A symbiotic relationship with nature. The eradication of poverty. Food freedom.

My Areas of Expertise:
copywriting, editing, social media marketing, small business operations, Reiki