Today we’d like to introduce you to Ouida Patten
Hi Ouida, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Sure. I got started after an allopathic medical diagnosis of cutaneous lupus (at the time I didn’t know of more than one type) and experiencing anxiety. While I had no intellectual understanding of the mind-body connection, my inner guidance told me that my body was communicating with me. That led me to research this diagnosis and its metaphysical reasoning. This opened a whole new world to me as it resonated deeply. While seeking answers, I learned about my maternal great-grandmother Theodosia. She was institutionalized in South Carolina for thirty-three years for what medical records describe as anxiety and also looks like post-partum depression. This stayed with me as I continued on my healing journey and is part of my WHY I chose this work or why it chose me.
I tried many modalities during this time and began studying Healing Touch. That led me to Reiki and Niasziih. Niasziih helped me connect more deeply with nature, and as a result, I became interested in herbalism. This was during the height of the pandemic when I was working from home. The universe provided information about an online herbal medicine-making course. It was life-changing and provided another area of healing. Plant medicine has supported me as I have continued on this healing journey. Tinctures, Tisanes, and Flower Essences have supported me as I worked to release an anxiety medicine I had taken for years. November 17, 2024, I celebrated a year without this pharmaceutical drug. Next, I completed a Somatic Trauma Therapy and a Mind-Body Coaching certification because they connected with my desire to learn more about the mind-body connection and communication from our bodies. I believe that our body technology is infinitely more intelligent than we have ever been led to believe and we can heal ourselves. Healing provides whatever our body is communicating that it needs. For me that has included safe spaces, community, accepting responsibility for myself and wellness, movement, spirituality and unlearning old patterns and beliefs, resulting in showing up as a new person. All of this can be challenging and why I want to support others.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh my! Great question. There have been many roadblocks and speed bumps along the way. One of the largest ones has been the desire to keep relationships that have been a part of my life for long periods of time, even if they were not growing and evolving in ways that I needed. For a person who has not expressed herself fully (check out Non-Verbal Communication and Marshall Rosenberg), I am working daily to express my needs instead of resorting to old behaviors. And relationships are meant to be a part of our journey and may not be able to sustain change. At any rate, I have had to grieve the loss or change in relationships that have been a part of my life. There will forever be love there, however, the difference now is the love I have for myself. This self-love helps me to continue moving forward when there are speed bumps.
Another speed bump has been the old limiting belief that something is wrong with me. At one point I thought it was about how I was conceived, the trauma that my mother and grandmother carried, being bi-racial, living in a body that the dominant culture judged, and so many other things. Now, after listening to so many people speak about this particular belief, it may be part of the human experience for us all, on some level. And so the work has been to be with this part (IFS) of myself and love her, and to allow this belief to show up and not keep me frozen.
As you know, we’re big fans of Wise Heart LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Wise Heart grew out of my former business Love Liberates. Self-love has fueled my desire to heal and to be of service to individual and collective healing. Wise Heart is a fairly new business that incorporates a bit of all that has impacted my life. Primarily my offerings are Reiki, Mind-Body Coaching, Herbal Tisanes for Relaxation, and Intuitive Guidance. I also infuse Numerology, Human Design, and Oracle Card pulls, if they are of interest to the client. I am particularly interested in supporting those who have felt unseen and unheard, those who are ready to take responsibility and work towards the life they desire. Wise Heart operates with the belief that each individual has all the answers already within their own wise heart, and they may need assistance with accessing that wisdom. It means so much to be doing this work because it feels like my ancestors approve and that means the world to me, it is also liberating to walk in my truth and support others in a way that aligns with my values.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love that Winston-Salem is growing and it feels vibrant with new life. There are more activities for nature lovers, gardeners, herbalists, and healing communities. My connections are growing!
Hmmm, what do I like least? I am not sure. Sometimes I still see racism happening in my city. Lately, I have seen harm in how the homeless have been treated, and that has impacted my heart. If we see another human being mistreated, that hurts us. And while I have seen this, I am learning about resources and working to be a part of the solution. We all deserve a safe place to shelter us, to have food- to have our basic needs met.
Pricing:
- Reiki-In person $85
- Reiki-Distance $80
- Intuitive Guidance-$125
- Mind-Body Coaching-packages available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wiseheart-wellness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ouida_wiseheart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091367113907
