Makenzie Darling
How Did I Get Here? Let’s Get Personal…
In fourth grade, I walked dogs to pay for my own therapy. When asked why I sought help I answered “Because it ends with me.” From a young age, I knew I was destined to be the light of my ancestry and put an end to the generational trauma in my lineage. I entered into a battle for my salvation, one in which I promised myself that I would become better and not become bitter.
This journey would lead me through numerous dark nights of the soul, the loss of many relationships, and the undying quest to find my true purpose in life. Never would I have guessed that by exploring so much darkness, I would unearth so much light!
By turning my pain into my power, I learned to channel my biggest challenges into service and began building positive movements that helped connect humanity. My career began when I worked for a documentary film studio whose films were based on the positive psychology approach to psychotherapy. I produced global film premieres around the world that inspired conversations about how to elicit more empathy, kindness, justice, and spirituality in the world. Using my background in positive psychology and my love for travel, I began hosting worldwide retreats that asked people to wander with purpose.
I turned my attention to the healing modalities of plant medicines and began working ceremoniously with various medicines to further my spiritual exploration and healing. My fascination with these sacred medicines would lead me deep into the Amazon jungle where I spent months working with indigenous Shipibo tribes hosting ayahuasca ceremonies.
Once I returned, I helped build a renowned school and then a seminary, which trained psychedelic-assisted therapists. I began organizing pilgrimages with an indigenous Zapotec family hosting sacred mushroom ceremonies in the foothills of Mexico.
After graduating from the two-year Seminary program, I became a Minister, while studying other holistic healing modalities. I became certified in the Enneagram and integrative somatic trauma therapy. I also studied Internal Family Systems, Hakomi, and Nature-Based Expressive Arts Therapy.
After losing both of my parents tragically in one year, I turned my attention to ancestral healing practices. I began studying divination, ritual, and communal grief offerings. This work brought me closer to my lineage, Source, and ultimately closer to myself.
I am deeply passionate about personal growth and helping to enrich people’s lives through the Enneagram, plant medicine, and transformational travel. I live in San Francisco, CA, and host many events, workshops, and ceremonies within the Bay Area. Please reach out if you are ready to walk your path to awakening and turn your greatest pain into your greatest power!
Continuing Education
2016: IPEN (Keynote Speaker - Positive Psychology Conference)
2022: Pilgrimage to the Amazon to work with Shipibo healers
2022: Natured Based Expressive Arts Therapy Certification through CIIS
2022: Embody Lab Somatic Trauma Therapy Certification
2022: Mexican pilgrimage to work with a Zapotec family hosting ninos ceremonies
2022: Studied with Grace Alvarez Sesma around Día de los Muertos and Honoring Ancestors
2022: Certified in Internal Family Systems through the IFS Institute
2023: Hakomi Principles Training
2023: The Congregation for Sacred Practices (2 year seminary school)
2023: Integrative IEQ9 Enneagram Certification
2023: Masterclass for Healers with Dr. Gabor Maté through wholehearted.org
2024: Ancestral Lineage Healing Training through Ancestral Medicine
2024: Ancestors and Cultural Healing Training through Ancestral Medicine
2024: Francis Weller’s - Entering the Healing Ground: Grief Ritual Leadership Training
2024: Thomas Hubl’s Five Month Ancestral Healing Code Intensive
