Kristina Ellery grew up in the woods of Rowley, Massachusetts, where her connection to nature and the arts began at an early age. Often found helping her mother in greenhouses and gardens, she developed a natural curiosity for the plant world alongside a lifelong passion for dance, theatre, painting, gymnastics, makeup, and performance. Although creative and driven, Kristina also struggled with periods of depression throughout her youth and early adulthood — experiences that would later shape her personal healing and the direction of her life's work.
In 2006, Kristina attended Joe Blasco Make-up Artistry in Orlando, Florida, where she trained in beauty and special effects makeup. Creating such works of art became an outlet for emotions she had long struggled to express. She credits this practice with teaching her to "dance with her shadow". Her work on independent films soon reignited her love of acting, leading her to join SAG-AFTRA and establish herself within Boston's growing film community before relocating to Los Angeles in 2011.
After years of working in the entertainment industry, an unexpected opportunity brought Kristina to the Peruvian Amazon in 2018, where she was invited to sit with a traditional shaman and drink Ayahuasca. What began as a journey of curiosity became a spiritual awakening that changed the direction of her life. She witnessed all of her darkness and then, for the first time, witnessed all of her light. Kristina returned from Peru with an expanded understanding of herself, the natural world, and a glimpse of Spirit. She eventually left Los Angeles and returned to the East Coast, stepping away from the film industry for several years, in search of a more aligned path.
Drawn back to the plant world she had loved as a child, Kristina earned her certification in herbalism through The Science and Art of Herbalism, developed by Rosemary Gladstar and taught by Rochelle Baca. She went on to create 917 Heart, crafting her own herbal teas and plant-based preparations while continuing to explore the relationship between plants, consciousness, and human well-being. What began as a study of herbal medicine gradually became part of a much larger spiritual path.
Then, in June of 2020, the sudden loss of her brother brought Kristina into one of the darkest periods of her life. While on the edge of hopelessness, a close friend invited her to Sedona, Arizona. There, during an intentional experience with psilocybin mushrooms, Kristina found herself coming back to life. She covered herself in mud, saw through the eyes of nature, and reconnected with the internal light she was certain had burned out. Her grief was not erased, but the experience became a turning point that forever changed the course of her life.
Upon returning home, Kristina devoted herself to understanding the psilocybin mushroom and its relationship to Spirit. Sitting with the mushroom repeatedly as both student and seeker, she entered an intensive period of personal healing and conscious exploration. With each experience, layers of grief, fear, and conditioning gradually fell away, revealing an embodied connection and knowing that Spirit is present within all things.
Feeling called to share the path that had transformed her own life, Kristina founded Sacred Earth Sanctuary in 2021. For the past five years, she has held ceremonial space and worked closely with individuals exploring the psilocybin mushroom as a sacred tool for healing, self-discovery, and connection with Spirit. During that time, she has guided the growth of Sacred Earth Sanctuary into a community of nearly 400 members while developing an intimate understanding of the importance of approaching the mushroom with reverence, intention, and respect.
Today, Kristina has returned to her professional career in film and television while continuing to serve as the Founder and Head Minister of Sacred Earth Sanctuary. Though seemingly different, she views her work as an actor, artist, herbalist, and spiritual leader as expressions of the same calling: to explore the human experience, foster transformation, and help others reconnect with the wisdom and divine nature carried within us all.
Bio coming soon.
As a young child being raised in a challenging family environment and experiencing many layers of trauma, Sheena was placed into the custody of the State of Massachusetts where she grew up in foster care and group homes throughout Metro Boston and the surrounding areas. During these times of not knowing, not understanding her belonging, and not having a secure foundation, Sheena always turned to and found comfort and solace in nature amongst the trees, stones, waves, storms and animals. This connection with the natural world, carved an early deep reverence, respect and sense of stewardship of the Earth and all her beings.
In mid adolescence in the 90's, Sheena started experimenting with on-going journeys with psychedelics, which at the time unintentionally sparked an initiation into greater self awareness and consciousness. This process allowed Sheena to sink deeper and harness more sturdiness and grounding while navigating heavier emotions and Mystical states. At 21, Sheena married and became a mother, devoting herself to cultivating the family she never had. Through the years, the effects of childhood trauma started manifesting and eventually grew bigger into crippling anxiety and depression. With no relief in sight, Sheena yet again turned to nature and was guided to the path of natural healings in 2013. As this unfurling path brought loving awareness to navigating her shadow, Sheena opened the doors to the studies and practices of Animism and was eventually internally guided to commune with Plant and Earth Medicines such as Psilocybin, Ayahuasca and Kambo starting in 2016. This was a welcoming back into these realms, though this time bringing an understanding and integrity to come in a ceremonial and reverent way. Being the mama that she is, Sheena was encouraged to nurture her inner child as she peeled back many layers of complex trauma, abandonment and grief. Throughout the years, Sheena has been able to welcome back embodiment of unconditional love and acceptance of self through her practice of shadow work, approaching life as ceremony, connection with the Earth, and the continuous path of integration.
What started as a journey of self healing, sparked a passion, a drive, a remembrance within her Spirit to be of assistance to others on their journey back to wholeness. Sheena is a familiar guide that has walked down many deep, winding roads, and has the experience and capacity to meet people where they are at. While embracing her multifaceted being, Sheena was called to study many different modalities, which she incorporates and personalizes to aid individuals in their time together. She has received recognitions and certifications as a:
- Reiki Master/Teacher
- Ordained Minister/Ceremonialist
- Munay-Ki Mentor
- Shadow Guide
- Kambo Facilitator
- Psychedelic Integration & Transformational Coach
Since 2019, Sheena has facilitated and held sacred space for Plant and Earth Medicine Ceremony containers for others on their journey ahead. As a child of the Earth, a Mother above all things, Sheena walks this plane led by her heart. She knows the darkness that can ensue, as she has been through the depths, and is here to be a familiar guide to walk with you around those murky corners.