By Krystle J. Bailey
“A healer is someone who triggers within you the ability to heal yourself,” explains Mandee Elam, co-founder of Sea Goddess Healing Arts.
Born out of a deep desire for human connection and collective healing, Sea Goddess Healing Arts emerged to serve the community in a beautiful new way. A group of heart-led healing artists combined their gifts to collectively serve as a “lighthouse for the soul” at the Jersey Shore.
The Sea Goddess story has a deeply rooted history in Atlantic City. Rachel Ahava, daughter of the infamous piano man, Charlie Birnbaum, found solitude in the building that Birnbaum fought hard to keep during a drawn out eminent domain case. Rachel, originally from Hammonton, moved to Atlantic City seeking healing after her divorce. In divine timing and with a renewed energy, Ahava found herself in the midst of a group of women that would soon become her soul sisters.
The trio formed quickly, as Ahava was immediately drawn to intuitive ascension guide, Mandee Elam and astrologer, Ursula Duffy. After a gathering at Ahava’s home in February of 2020, the group of women knew that they were meant to coexist with one another. How it would manifest was yet to be determined.
When the Covid-19 pandemic rocked everyone’s world, it was this soul-level connection that held everyone up. The group of women, along with Kendra Hammell, began a group message thread that as Hammell explained, “gave space to have free thought.”
Hammel, a crystal and Reiki master, described the group of women saying, “These women have allowed me to speak my truth. I know I could not have done it alone. They allow me to be who I want to be.”
The connections grew deeper as the year passed. Then one night, Elam was woken from her sleep with a detailed vision of a sea goddess. Ahava, an accomplished graphic designer, brought the sea goddess image to life, which now serves as the Sea Goddess Healing Arts logo.
“She represents all of us,” explains Ahava, referring to the feminine energy that the sea goddess logo represents.
Following their intuition and trusting the timing of things, the trio officially formed Sea Goddess Healing Arts in the beginning of 2021. They began offering several gatherings centered around various healing modalities, which quickly led to the vision for a Light and Sound Healing Arts Festival. The festival came together within two months and with “unbelievable ease,” as explained by Ahava.
On May 1, 2021, the Absecon Lighthouse was beautifully lit up with the colors of the rainbow, representing each of the seven energy chakras. The grounds at the lighthouse were transformed into an entire meditative space as the lighthouse was used to amplify the healing sounds of a crystal singing bowl.
The event included an afternoon of yoga classes, live music, meditations, and workshops all centered around intuitive, energy healing. With sponsors such as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Stockton University, Meet AC, Higher Self Healing, The Leadership Studio, and several others, the group raised $5,000 for the Absecon Lighthouse.
The Light and Sound Healing Arts Festival served as a launching pad for so much more to come from the Sea Goddess Healing Arts collective. On June 13th, the goddesses will be hosting the first Surf & Soul Drum Circle co-hosted by Kind Magma Music. Attendees are encouraged to bring a drum, shaker, tambourine or any instrument and come “vibe with your tribe” at this free beach event. More information can be found on Facebook at Sea Goddess Healing Arts.
On June 25th, Sea Goddess Healing Arts will hold space as an official vendor at the cannabis inspired Boardwalk Budz event. Information for that can be found at Boardwalk Budz Atlantic City on Facebook.
Those looking to be involved with Sea Goddess Healing Arts can look forward to upcoming farmers’ markets, fundraisers, beach clean ups, free community events, weekend retreats, and so much more.
The Sea Goddess mission is to soothe and inspire the community through hope, creativity, kindness, wellness, compassion, and consciousness. They are a collective of heart-led healing artists, creative artisans, musicians, and New Earth visionaries. Their intention is to shine light in the world and to be of service to humanity through intuitive gifts and healing modalities.
Get involved, learn more, and connect at www.SeaGoddessHealingArts.com.
Krystle J Bailey. Multimedia journalist, Author, Poet
KrystleJBailey.com
