Welcome to my cozy little corner of the interwebs!

I'm Cat, the creator and curator of Heliotude (Helio=Sun; 'Tude=[Gr]Attitude), a community and attitude reminding us to direct our compass toward the sun while navigating life's journey. 

Life is a marathon with many stops for water breaks along the way. I encourage everyone to seek the radiance of living, despite continued obstacles, and to learn how to take and savour those water breaks.

Because today's society is stressful and polarizing, we can't always stay positive.

Like many others, I strive for Balance.

The year 2020 became a pivotal embodiment of deep grief. Having witnessed and experienced what felt like so much brokenness and conflict in the world, through a vortex of personal, pandemic, racial and political tensions, my brain and body floundered. I continued seeking wisdom through education and created a container for deep introspection, yet still struggled to ground myself. I felt powerless.

I turned to Nature.  

For two years, I paired my nature photography with quotes. At times it was inspirational, other times it was intended to be more thought-provoking.  There was so much happening in the world. We were all isolated. I recognized that it wasn't just about trying to override grief with positivity.  

I needed Connection.

I found comfort in creating a safe space to offer grounding and alignment with Heliotude as a way to join with others in collective processing of the world within and around us. At the time I called this series 'Mental Health Moment of the Day'. 

With the aid of nature, photography and mind/body awareness I began to share the power of Heliotude online. This was a way to not only cope, but work on that which the mind and soma (body) desired to integrate.

People have always and will always crave connection. To see and be seen. To listen and be heard. To love and be loved. To strive for balance and peace inside and out.

Nature creates a web of connectivity between all living organisms, non-living elements and features on Earth. From Mycelium to Mountains, Flora to Fauna, Sun to Soil and beyond. I hope my photographs are able to convey this connection and also help others find balance while navigating life's journey.

As a neurodivergent person (diagnosed in adulthood) I struggle to meet societal standards that aren't authentic to me. I've jumped from job to job, have never settled on one career, and relationships are constantly challenging. I feel like a square peg trying to fit in to a round hole…an unfinished Rubik's cube of sorts. Expressive Arts (be it poetry, photography, movement, etc) has always allowed for me to communicate with others when verbal relating becomes difficult. I’m passionate about helping others express themselves in their own unique ways as well. 

I believe that gratitude comes from embodying authenticity, vulnerability, resiliency and humility.

Gratitude is not a Platitude; Gratitude is Gritty

I've done my best to use gratitude effectively to help steer me through troublesome times. This conviction is one of the driving forces behind everything I do. I also encourage others to tap into the power of authentic gratitude. One way I've chosen to honor this is through my initial offering ...The Heliotude Collection.

 

Cat holds a B.A. from Union College, NY and is working towards a Master's degree.  She is a California certified massage practitioner who has worked in a specialized trauma healing center. In addition she's also completed certificates in both Myofascial Release and recently, Somatic Attachment Therapy. Cat is driven by a continuous and compassionate curiosity to better understand neurodiversity, embodiment and mental wellness in relationship with self and beyond.