"I was unaware that I was setting out on a deep inner voyage that would lead to a more fulfilling life."

-Anne D. LeClaire,

Listening Below the Noise: The Transformative Power of Silence

Emma Freeman wearing glasses, purple scarf, and matching headband, smiling indoors.

I’m Emma Freeman, a Mixed Media Artist, Writer, Reiki Practitioner, Intuitive Medium, Massage Therapist, and Teacher.

I’m a deep, sensitive, curious, passionate and creative soul. Getting in touch with the deeper parts of myself and others through authentic, creative experiences makes me feel alive and inspired. I love holding space for people to express themselves and explore who they are.

Healing to me means unearthing our truest essence, our soul, that is always right there at the very core of each of us, waiting to be cared for and listened to. Healing means choosing to go on an inner journey of self-discovery, growth and evolution full of challenges, surprises and extraordinary beauty and wonder. Healing means living a rich, meaningful, empowered life on our own terms, guided by our own unique radiant light.

My own difficult healing journey led me to explore healing and spirituality in creative ways. I have struggled through addiction, trauma, an eating disorder, chronic illness, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive behaviors and grief.

It has been through this healing journey that I have felt deeply called to share my experiences and learn healing modalities to support myself and others as we work collectively to recover and amplify the light of who we truly are. That’s how Deep Rooted Healing was born.

I have worked in the arts for over 20 years as an arts educator and professional artist. I am certified in three levels of Reiki and as a Reiki Teacher. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Studio Art from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I have studied mindfulness meditation, human anatomy, physiology and biology, human pathology, epigenetics, near death experiences, Quantum Touch, art and poetry therapy, shamanic studies, and nature based healing practices.

I’m endlessly curious about who we truly are and what good we can do with that wisdom for ourselves and others. I’m a voracious reader, sober, silly and playful, deeply sensitive (Highly Sensitive Person/HSP), and an animal lover. I live in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin with my wonderful family. After many years living in other places, I was called back home to grow deeper roots.

Education, Training & A Few Fun Things About Me…

I am currently enrolled in a Spiritual Counselor program through The American Institute of Health Care Professionals.
I am a Licensed Massage Therapist in the State of Wisconsin.
I completed a 650+ hour massage therapy program through Everyday Bliss School of Massage in Waukesha, Wisconsin in July 2023. I’ve been trained in a variety of massage modalities as well as anatomy, physiology, pathology and kinesiology.
I am certified in Reiki Levels 1, 2, 3 and Master/Teacher Level 4 in the Usui lineage. I was trained by Kristine Joy in Hales Corners, Wisconsin and Christine Eartheart of Joy Potential in Bloomington, Indiana.
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Studio Art from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
I have over 20 years of experience in the arts and arts education. I have taught art classes in a wide variety of mediums to thousands of students from ages 3-85 in schools, community education centers, libraries, art centers, non-profits, museums and online through my own business. I absolutely love teaching art, it brings me so much joy.
I owned a photography business for 15 years. I fell in love with photography when I was in high school in the 1990’s and would spend hours in the darkroom processing film and learning how to see in new ways. In my 20’s and 30’s, I photographed weddings, events, portraits, worked in a photography school in New York City, organized and led a photography collective for women, worked in a photography gallery, managed fine art and commercial photography studios, and helped organize national and international spiritual photography workshops.
I have explored many different creative mediums throughout my life including drawing, collage, jewelry making, photography, greeting card design, product design, web and graphic design, painting, printmaking, mixed media, bookmaking, stitching, weaving, cyanotypes and poetry. I’ve shared my art in art exhibits, in books, in small shops around the country, and at farmers markets and craft fairs.
I owned a brick and mortar shop called Polka Dot in Saint Paul, Minnesota for 2 years that was a combination of secondhand clothing and home goods that I sourced, local art and art classes taught by me and other artists for people in our community. It was a colorful, joyful space.
I love to read, watch documentaries and movies, have deep one-on-one conversations, be silly and playful, be outside connecting with nature, dance, laugh, cook with people I love, listen to music, meditate, write, talk to animals and trees and be with my family and friends.
I grew up in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and moved away for many years. I have lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, Brooklyn, New York, Northampton, Massachusetts, Shanghai, China.
A few other fun things to share: I have always loved animals (my grandparents operated the first animal refuge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), I’m a twin and I’m an Aquarius.

Here’s a glimpse into my world…

Emma Freeman from Deep Rooted Healing with glasses and a blue headband standing in a lush green field with trees in the background.

Emma Freeman from Deep Rooted Healing wearing overalls kneeling in a forest, burying art, a fabric meditation book, in the ground near a large tree during an art retreat with Ali Manning and the Handmade Book Club.

A group of artists sitting around a wooden table engaged in a buried book making workshop taught by Emma Freeman at the Books in the Woods retreat hosted by Ali Manning and The Handmade Book Club.

Person's bare feet standing on grass, wearing a green and white patterned dress, sunlight casting shadows.

Spiritual altar setup with owl image, sage bundle, crystals, feathers, stones, birch logs, and inspirational quotes.

A decorative hand sculpture holding a small lit candle sits on a table next to a piece of paper with the text "Kotodama: word spirit, the mystical force inherent in language." Nearby, there is a small bowl and some crystals on a fabric.

A piece of paper with Japanese kanji "Ma" meaning pause, gap, or breathing room, with a description in English, is taped to a green wall. Dry lavender is pinned next to it.

Massage table with crystals, cozy room setup, blue blanket, lamp, small shelves with decorations, salt lamp, and plants.

Hand with turquoise ring touching tree during a grounding meditation practice.

Corner of a room with spiritual decor featuring dried lavender, crystals, a sage bundle, a carved hand lamp with a candle, artwork of an owl, and a pyramid ornament. There is also a framed picture of a person with the text 'full of light,' mala beads

Decorative card with "full of light" text, portrait of a woman, surrounded by lavender and crystals; a typed quote by Lewis Hyde on paper, and purple gemstone on a book.

Open notebook with writing and a black pen on a white desk, surrounded by art supplies like paintbrushes in jars, fabric samples, and a bowl of beans.

A white desk with assorted items, including a book titled "The Wakeful Body" by Willa Blythe Baker, hand-dyed fabrics, a spool of thread, a mug with floral patterns, and natural objects like stones, beads, and candles.

Close-up of a hand holding a tea bag tag with a motivational quote, "Be guided. Listen to the whispers of the universe." A patterned notebook, pen, and ceramic cup are in the background.

A tabletop with various textiles and sewing materials. There are different colored fabric swatches, a ball of dark blue yarn, a blue spool of thread, and a needle. The swatches include indigo-dyed and patterned pieces.

A hand touching a piece of textured fabric with stitched designs and a circular embroidery, next to a skein of blue yarn and a paper with the text 'Return to FINGERTIPS'.

A hand holding a small rolled-up linen scroll tied with twine.

Hand holding a decaying piece of fabric covered in soil, surrounded by green foliage in a garden setting.

Person's feet dipped in clear water from dock, wearing black pants at Squam Lake at Sacred Makers retreat.

Person holding a red admiral butterfly with orange and black wings featuring white spots.

Decorative elephant figurine with intricate patterns on a table, next to a candle, a Buddha head statue, a nature-themed card, and other small decorative items.

A rustic altar includes a stone Buddha head, a decorative elephant figurine, a butterfly, a small wooden bead necklace, a bird's nest with an egg, and lavender on a blue cloth. A sign reads "SANCTUARY."

Cozy workspace with a laptop, open book, and pens on a white desk. A potted plant and candles sit near the window. Decorative sticks and blue ornaments hang on a green wall above a small altar with natural elements and a sign reading 'SANCTUARY.' A w

Hand holding a black and white feather over grassy ground with visible bare feet.

Stones and seashells arranged on a white surface, accompanied by a note reading "yutori: living with spaciousness." A glowing orange salt lamp and a card with flying birds silhouetted against a sun complete the scene.

Hands holding a smoldering piece of Palo Santo wood over a frayed brown cloth with stitching, next to a metal bowl containing more Palo Santo pieces.

Teaching and Speaking Experience

I have taught many classes, workshops and retreats.

Some highlights include:

Slow Stitched Sacred Scrolls Workshop, Wisdom and Wonder Retreat with Dr. Minette Riordan, Estes Park, Colorado, 2024 (I taught this outside in Rocky Mountain National Park under the trees overlooking a gorgeous lake! It was absolutely incredible!)
Create Buried Fabric Meditation Books, Books in the Woods Retreat with Handmade Book Club, Snowfarm Art Center, Massachusetts, 2024
Ensō Meditative Painting Workshop, Unlock Your Artist Challenge with Elizabeth Foley, 2023
Make Wabi Sabi Scrolls Online Workshop, Sketchbook Revival Summit, 2023
Written from the Body: A Somatic Writing Workshop, Creative Unearthing Community, 2022
Make Earth Body Books, Sacred Makers Retreat, Squam Lake, New Hampshire, 2022
Create Wabi Sabi Mixed Media Books, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minnesota, 2022
Create Poetic Prayer Flags Online Class, Creative Unearthing Community, 2022
Make Fabric Meditation Books, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minnesota, 2022
Stitching as Poetry Workshop, The Nook Online Community with Zak Foster, 2022
Make Wabi Sabi Scrolls, The Nook Community with Zak Foster, 2022
Make Fabric Meditation Books, Handmade Book Club, Online Workshop, 2022
Stitching as Poetry, Weaving as Meditation / Collaborative Workshop with Kate Kilmurray through the Making App, 2022
By the Light of a Poem: A Solstice Online Writing Circle, Deep Rooted Healing, 2021
Make Fabric Meditation Books, Milwaukee Art Therapy Collective, 2021
Painting with Raindrops: Mixed Media Art Online Workshop, White Bear Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2021
By the Light of a Poem: An Online Writing Workshop, Saint Paul Community Education, Minnesota, 2021
Weaving with Nature Workshop, White Bear Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2021
Weaving with Nature Workshop, Creative Unearthing Online Community, 2022
Zen and the Art of Slow Stitching Online Class, White Bear Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2021
Transform an Old Book into a Sketchbook, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2020
Make an Art Journal Workshop, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019
Ice Dyeing Workshop, Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2019
Art Making for Anxiety and Stress Relief, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019
Explore Painting with Ink Workshop, Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2019
Painting with Feathers Workshop, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019
Make Tiny Nature Prints Workshop, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019
Make Block Printed Dish Towels Workshop, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019
“I Can’t Draw” Drawing Class, Polka Dot Shop, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 2019
Drawing Animals (K-2 Grade), Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2018
Printmaking with Nature Workshop, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minnesota, 2018
Mural Painting (teens), Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2018
Meditative Nature Drawing Class, Minnetonka Community Education, Minnesota, 2018
“Art in Our Neighborhood,” Art Summer Camp for Kids, Urban Arts Academy, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2018
“Reduce, Reuse, Recreate,” Art Summer Camp for Kids, Urban Arts Academy, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2018
Teen Textile and Dye Camp, Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2018
Art Camp for Teens, Urban Arts Academy, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2018
Create Botanical Notecards Class, Minnetonka Community Education, Minnesota, 2017
Introduction to Sun Printing, Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2017
Sumi-e Japanese Painting Workshop (for Teens), Artistry/Bloomington Center for the Arts, Minnesota, 2017

Support Circles and Discussion Groups I’ve Facilitated and Interviews with Lovely, Creative Humans:

Zen Peacemaking and Art Making Discussion Circle, Creative Unearthing Community, 2022
Sober Stitching Circle, 6 week gathering online, Deep Rooted Healing, 2021-2022
Putting it into Practice: The Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path and Art Making, Creative Unearthing Online Community, 2022
Highly Sensitive Artist Circle, 6 week gathering online, 2021-2022
Stitching Sangha Circle, weekly gatherings for 8 months, 2022
Quiet Writing Circle, Creative Unearthing Online Community, 2022
Stitching Meditation Circles, Creative Unearthing Online Community, 2022
On Slow Art, Sobriety and Spiritual Awakening, a Conversation with Daphne Cohn, Slow Inside Podcast, 2022
Intuitive Creativity, a Conversation with Amy Eaton, Bold Company: A Creative Business Podcast, 2022
From Doer to the Most to Sober Contemplative Artist, a Coversation with Robin Mayberry, Art, Magic and Medicine Podcast, 2022
Nature, Poetry and Buddhist Teachings, a Conversation with Margret Petrie, Authentic Creative Obsessions Podcast, 2021
Burying Books, a Conversation with Zak Foster, Seamside Podcast, 2021
Endless Possibilities, a Conversation with Rebecca Potts Aguirr, Teaching Artist Podcast, 2020