About Maria Owl Gutierrez

Maria has been serving her community as a spiritual counselor and teacher for over fifteen years, pulling from her own indigenous identity as well as traditions she was initiated into. Through her intentional research, dreamwork and personal experience she has come to deeply respect the unitive wisdoms of the ancient spiritual traditions. Being descended from cultures around the globe, Maria identifies herself as a bridge-builder, engaged with the work of the awakening of human consciousness and the greater enlightenment of the cosmic web of life.

Maria received her BA from New College of California, in Sustainable Community and Group Process. She received her MA from the California Institute of Integral Studies in Integral Counseling Psychology. Other certifications and trainings Maria has acquired include: a certificate from the California School of Herbal Studies as a Certified Herbalist; she is a certified Master of Intuition Medicine through the Academy of Intuition Medicine in Sausalito, CA, where she studied for two and a half years; a certification in Alchemical Hypnotherapy through the Alchemy Institute of Hypnotherapy in Santa Rosa; and Maria is certified as a Clinical Hypnotherapist through the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners (cert. # CHT 207-215).

From 2004 – 2007, Maria acted as program coordinator and concentration faculty for the concentration in Consciousness, Healing and Ecology at New College of California’s North Bay Campus for Sustainable Living. Classes taught by Maria included Naka-Ima, a 6-day wilderness Vision Quest experience, Imaginal Psychology, The Body and the Unconscious, Shamanism, Indigenous Wisdom and Earth Spirit Medicine.

Today, Maria continues to teach in her community, leading wilderness fasts and retreats, and offering classes and workshops in Healing Trauma, Leadership Trainings, and Conscious Awakening. She serves on the Board of Directors for the non-profit Earth Medicine Alliance (www.earthmedicine.org). She writes articles and puts out a quarterly newsletter called Walking the Ancient Path. (To receive Maria's newsletter, click here.) Maria sees people by appointment for healing work and spiritual counseling in Marin and Sonoma Counties in California.

Discovering the medicine I have to offer to the world has been the greatest joy in my life. This discovering process is always full of challenges and ecstacies, as it includes diving deep into my wounds in order to embrace the gold at the center. I have deep gratitude for my teachers past and present who have offered me glimpses of a different way of living, free of the suffering of the illusions we’ve created – Ray Jacques, Steve Red Buffalo, Harry Charger, Lavern, Clifton and Charlotte Siweumptewa, Francesca McCartney, Larry Kaplowitz, Karin Sundberg, Deborah Riverbend, Jaime Campbell, David Quigley, Debbie Untermann, Sashana Proctor and Adyashanti. I also thank my spiritual teachers residing in the invisible realms, the Earth and Pure Being.

My devotion is to the awakening of human consciousness into our true natures and to the realization of the inter-connection of all life. My intention is be a clear channel for Consciousness to move through me, through my unique medicine, and serve creation. My passion is in discovering what it feels like to be a real human being on this beautiful planet. And when I can share what I’ve discovered with others, I feel fulfilled.