Why I Created Sea and Sage: A Journey from Shadow Work to Light

Have you ever felt like you're living someone else's life? Like the real you is buried somewhere beneath years of pain, patterns, and pretending? That was me.

In 2021, I hit rock bottom. My life was completely turned upside down; my emotions were out of control, and I had zero direction in life at the time. I was stuck in cycles of self-sabotage, and watching relationships crumble. Then I started yoga, which led me to meditation, meditative nature walks, and journaling.

These practices marked the beginning of my journey to embrace who I truly was. This inner work eventually deepened into shadow work, and from there, Sea and Sage Wellness was born.

This is the story of how my darkest moment became the catalyst for transformation, not just for me, but for everyone ready to reclaim their inner light.

My Personal Awakening

After years of unresolved trauma, I finally had a breaking point. A lot of things weren't working in my life: relationships were going down the drain, self-sabotage was at an all time high, and I felt stuck. There was this pain in my chest from feeling disconnected; like my potential was trapped somewhere. I wanted to seek help, but not the traditional kind of help.

So, I turned to yoga and it helped me to slow down mentally, and strengthen my body. Anytime I felt overwhelmed, I did yoga and instantly felt better. This practice of intentional presence became the foundation of what I call soulcare, the sacred practice of nurturing your inner world.

It wasn't until after intense personal work, that I discovered what I had actually been doing had a name: Shadow work. This concept was developed by psychiatrist Carl Jung, who explained how the shadow represented the unconscious parts of ourselves that we've repressed like difficult emotions, unwanted traits, and hidden patterns. Shadow work is the practice of bringing these unconscious aspects into awareness so we can integrate them and heal. It also involved exploring hidden patterns, so they could stop controlling your life from the shadows.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” - Carl Jung

At first, I was resistant because what if digging into my trauma made things worse? But after some time, I identified the generational trauma, plus childhood and adult wounds I carried. These events had created deeply rooted cycles of abuse and pain in my emotional system, nervous system, and mind.

The first step to healing? Being conscious enough to realize them. After that, my healing journey started taking shape, and that first breakthrough was just the beginning.

The Transformation That Changed Everything

My personal transformation wasn't sudden, but it showed. Instead of attracting toxicity, I started finding friendships with healthy people who saw the evolving me. I finally felt good enough for everyone, and for myself.

But the biggest shift was spiritual. Before, I always felt disconnected, like I was missing something. Through my healing practice, I realized what had been missing in my life: a structured guidance to uncover the real me. That's where I learned to embrace all parts of myself, not just the light.

But, the framework I followed wasn't from a book or course. It was pieced together from my own journaling practices, inner insights, plus trial and error. And that's when it hit me: what if other women didn't have to piece it together alone? What if I created a practical shadow work resource that made deep healing available to everyone? That's when Sea & Sage Wellness was born.

The Birth of Sea & Sage

Unlike most people would think, the name “Sea and Sage” came to me like a little gift from the universe.

I had been using sage daily to cleanse my space, and it became an important part of my healing journey because it helped me feel grounded and peaceful. Plus, it also represents cleansing, balance, and ancient wisdom. The sea represented my connection to nature, and to the healing energy from it that surrounds us.

So, my brand name made perfect sense because I genuinely want to help people in a non-traditional wellness way. Sea & Sage Wellness is a promise to guide you through your emotional depths, while helping you find your inner wisdom and balance.

“Your shadows aren't your enemy. They're your teachers.”

How Sea and Sage Can Support Your Journey

I created this brand for anyone who's tired of surface-level self-help advice. For people who know they need something deeper than affirmations and are ready to do the real inner work to achieve authentic transformation.

Unlike random journal prompts or overwhelming therapy jargon, Sea & Sage offers:

• Shadow Work Workbooks

Guiding you from understanding your shadow and unlocking a new mindset, to tackling anxiety and focusing on self-healing methods. Each workbook offers structured guidance with specific exercises, not just theory.

• Soul Scribbles Guides

Containing daily affirmations, growth mindset statements, and journal prompts for anxiety, happiness, mental clarity, and emotional understanding. They are perfect for maintaining your practice between deeper shadow work.

• Wellness Rituals Practices

With sacred rituals that nurture your mind, body, and spirit with intention and presence. The goal is to honor who you are through conscious self-care choices.

• Personalized Guidance

If you want one-on-one support, book a 30-minute or 1-hour guidance session. Together, we'll create a customized plan with daily practices to support your emotional transformation.

Ready to begin? Explore the complete Sea and Sage collection; from shadow work workbooks to personalized guidance sessions. The goal is to achieve change by focusing on self-healing tools.

Is Sea and Sage for You?

You might be ready for Sea and Sage if you're tired of repeating the same patterns that keep you stuck. If you're seeking emotional healing and deeper self-awareness, or you want to understand why certain situations trigger you so intensely. If you're ready to embrace all parts of yourself, and get structured guidance that actually creates lasting change.

Sound like you? You're exactly who I created this for. At Sea and Sage, you'll find a series of workbooks designed specifically for people ready to embrace their whole selves. The goal is to discover self-awareness, let your inner work shine through, and focus on personal growth.

Since June 2024, over 1,000 people have started their shadow work journey with Sea and Sage, and you can join them too.

Your Invitation To Transform

Sea and Sage Wellness is more than shadow work workbooks; it's a movement of women choosing themselves. Choosing healing over hiding. Choosing wholeness over perfection. If you've been living in survival mode, pretending you're fine when you're not, this is your permission to stop. Everyone deserves to live authentically and wholly, and that includes you. But first, you must be willing to look deep.

At its core, Sea and Sage is about cultivating mindful daily practices that honor our sacred relationship with ourselves and nature. It's about offering tools for personal growth, renewal, and collective well-being through reverence, respect, and responsibility to ourselves and to each other.

Don't see your shadow as the enemy, but instead the teacher that guides you on where to go next and how to channel your inner healing. The journey from shadow to light starts with one courageous step: deciding you're worth the work.

Ready to begin your healing journey? Visit www.seaandsage.store to explore all our workbooks, resources, and guidance services.

Finding myself through shadow work has helped me grow, and I'm grateful to be able to share this work with you, including how it has shaped me to be better.

If you're reading this, know that I'm hoping for your own transformation. That's why I created these workbooks, so you don't have to figure it out alone like I did.

Your inner light is waiting. Let's find it together.

With love 💕,

Christa Gonzalez

Founder, Sea and Sage