I’m Emma Freeman, an artist, teacher and deep, playful human finding my way through life with love as my guide. Art feeds my soul. Creativity and being with nature are spiritual practices that help me feel grounded, inspired, calm, held, and connected to myself and the world in positive ways.

Art has been a consistent presence in my life since I was a child and has taken many forms over the years. Spirituality came later and the blend of the two is what I love now, how creating something can be a way to to connect with myself in an intentional and loving way. Art making is a support that helps me find my way through difficult times and feel joyful connections to materials, to nature, to other humans. Sometimes that looks like stitching slowly with my hands on to soft fabric, other times it looks like writing in my journal and other times it looks like creating an altar or going for a walk and noticing the light. It’s all art and it’s all spiritual.

I love sharing what I learn through classes and retreats and find that there is something incredibly special and meaningful about connecting with others through creativity and authenticity.

My journey has led me to explore a variety of healing modalities and philosophies inspired by my curiosity and need for healing on physical, mental and emotional levels. I studied massage therapy and Reiki along with therapeutic art and writing practices, shamanism, mindfulness, meditation, Buddhism and other spiritual practices. I love to learn and ask questions which often lead me in unexpected directions. But ultimately I have learned that it all boils down to a few core things: Loving myself is the key to healing. I need close family and friendships to feel well and happy. I love beautiful colors, soft textures, animals and warm sunlight. Reading and writing nourish me. Naps and a great hug make everything better. Cooking and eating delicious food with people I love makes me feel fulfilled and joyful. I love to dance, sing and laugh. It’s all so simple, really. But as the Indigo Girls sang in one of my favorite songs, “The hardest to learn was the least complicated.”

I am also sober and a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Learning about my sensitivity has brought me into a deeper relationship with myself and the world. What once felt like a curse, now feels like an incredible gift.

I live and love in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. I grew up here, then left for many years to live in a variety of places including Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts and China. I returned home to grow deeper roots in 2020.

Here’s a glimpse into my world…

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.
Hand with turquoise ring touching tree during a grounding meditation practice.
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.
Emma Freeman from Deep Rooted Healing with glasses and a blue headband standing in a lush green field with trees in the background.
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.
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.
Person's feet dipped in clear water from dock, wearing black pants at Squam Lake at Sacred Makers retreat.
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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.