Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana-Alicia Montano.
Hi Ana-Alicia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
If I were to really backtrack to the origin point, I would say that my journey started with the sudden death of one of my brother’s. His death became an unfolding of a life-long initiation.
The loss and grief has guided me, and continues to inspire & initiate me into psychedelics and Amazonian plant medicines, studying death & dying, working with different teachers & mentors, and has piqued my curiosity in things taboo, sex & sensuality, the shadow & unconscious, the archetypal realms, transcendental states of consciousness, and the life/death/rebirth cycles.
I tend to follow the breadcrumbs that life leaves me, and it’s taken me on an interesting journey. And in more recent years, I’ve learned to trust my inner guidance and where that wants to take me – regardless of whether it’s going to be challenging or blissful. There have been times where following that deeper things inside of me has asked…all of me. But what I learn, and who comes out on the other side, has always been worth it.
But, this means that I am constantly shifting. At different times, I find myself going through processes of shedding and unraveling, only to meet myself again, and again. And the nature of my work reflects this. Whatever themes I’ve worked with (internally) becomes a part of my teaching. I believe that this only enriches the nature of my teaching and guidance because it comes from a place of lived experience, as opposed to something being solely intellectualized. How can I work with someone and guide someone through territory I haven’t experienced myself?
There’s a lot more to my story but I imagine this can provide a little taste of it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not hahaha. Does that diminish the experience? Absolutely not.
The road is never smooth, is it? And if it is, chances are, you’re walking someone else’s path (Carl Jung).
I prefer to “walk the road less traveled”, it makes for a deeper and more enriched experience. And some good stories along the way.
Some of the main struggles I would say, have been me against me. Reckoning with my deepest fears, shadow aspects, unconscious patterns, moving beyond my own edges etc. There are times when I have felt so raw, like a live wire exposed and extremely sensitive because of what I’m facing. But all this to say, that it leads me deeper into myself and I gain more clarity and groundedness.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an Erotic and Feminine Embodiment Coach for women – I know, this is a mouthful.
I’ll have to break it down a bit as I know when people hear the word “erotic” they associate it with porn (am I allowed to say that?). But erotic comes from the word ‘Eros’ which means Life Force Energy – so I help women connect to this current that lives within them so that they can feel more alive, free and empowered.
But there’s a process to this, which involves the archetypal process of the descent (the life-death-rebirth cycle – speaking symbolically here).
As for Feminine Embodiment – this is the expression of the Feminine (not to be confused with ‘femininity’). It’s the multifaceted nature of the Feminine, and it encompasses a connection with the Body, with the Earth, with Source, with Spirit and with Soul. It involves themes of pleasure, play, sensuality, sexuality, primal devotion, intuition, play, emotion etc,
Connecting that to embodiment – our culture prioritizes the mind, the intellect, productivity and constantly doing (something). Embodiment is the slowing down to connect with what is happening internally and within the body so that it can be moved and expressed.
I adhere to the notion that the unconscious lives within the body – so our thoughts, emotions, lived experiences are stored in our body. When we don’t tend to this, it can show up in a myriad of ways such as pain, dis-ease and what-have-you.
The whole point of embodiment coaching is to have someone animate and express what it is they’re feeling internally through their body so that it is released. In doing so, it frees up the life force energy (Eros) and we feel more alive.
Ultimately, what I do is I guide women into themselves, through their bodies, so that they can connect with their aliveness (eros), sensuality and their unique power.
What sets me apart from others is the journey with which I take women on in order to connect with their aliveness. I weave together different modalities to assist one on their journey.
As I mentioned earlier about the archetypal process of the descent – this is where the secret sauce is. We’re constantly striving for ‘ascension’ and ‘transcendence’ but real transformation happens in the descent. It’s like the saying that talks about a tree can only grow as tall and strong as it’s roots are deep – I help women’s roots grow and deepen.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I’m not entirely sure.
I’ve been told I’m intimidating but I’m actually very playful and cheeky.
As for my work, people may assume that there is fluff to it, or have preconceived notions about it (due to wording) but I take my clients on a deep journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.journeyswithana.com
- Instagram: @journeyswithanaa
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/anaalicia.montano
Image Credits
Jordan Hutchinson
Nicolás Hernandez
Sofia Sanchez
