What happens when the place you turn to for healing becomes part of who you are? In this episode of North of Normal, Amanda McKeen sits down with Isaac Vars of Deep Earth Arts to talk about his path from a deeply religious upbringing to finding connection, healing, and belonging through nature. Isaac shares how time spent walking in the woods helped him navigate difficult experiences and eventually led him toward herbalism, Reiki, energy work, and massage therapy. Along the way, he discovered the importance of paying attention, listening to the world around us, and building a genuine relationship with the places we call home.
Amanda and Isaac also talk about what it means to offer healing work without promising miracles, the experiences that helped Isaac trust his own practice, and the ways his work continues to evolve. Their conversation touches on community, authenticity, partnership, and the idea that none of us exists separately from the people, places, and living world around us. It’s a thoughtful conversation about finding your way, staying curious, and learning to listen to what has been there all along.
