Sarah Salter Kelly is a talented healer, teacher, and speaker, utilizing the raw compounded teachings of her life experience, to uplift, empower and guide others. Her wisdom is authentic, embodied and hard won – generated through years of integrating the tragic homicide of her mother and learning to forgive the perpetrator – alongside thirty years of studying personal growth, mysticism, restorative justice, and earth-based healing traditions. Over the past fourteen years she has run her own private healing practice, facilitated retreats – both in Canada and in Peru – taught trauma focused and shamanic healing workshops, and presented at conferences/public events.

Her primary background is in energy healing – Shamanism, Reiki and Ceremony to be precise. She has been initiated into the highest order of the Andean Shamanic path on her eight journeys to Peru, being gifted rites of passage at over five of their sacred Apu’s, (mountains) and carries the lineage of the Q’ero tradition. She has worked extensively in creating and facilitating shamanic healing programs that integrate these teachings in relationship with the land, culture and spirit of the West.

She is a mother, wife, and lover of organic gardening, as well as an avid out-door enthusiast, seeking the edges of the wild for solace, connection, and the challenge of physical endurance. 

Work History 

2021 – Author of Trauma as Medicine a DIY book for healing trauma and transforming your life

2007 – Present – Private healing practice. It all started in an old dairy barn converted into a healing centre in Pigeon lake Alberta, evolved into working in clinics throughout Alberta and BC as well as on Zoom. Garnished a reputation for being able to support people in healing trauma and doing deep soul transformation work.

2012- Present – Created, designed, and implemented Trauma focused 4-day retreats/workshops – including the use of sharing circle, ceremony, meditation, personal and group process. These evolved from Healing Grief and Trauma programs to Trauma as Medicine through the years and are also used as a 4-day training.

2015 – 2020 – Created a two-year Shamans Path training program. First year included teachings on the wheel of the year, directions, five elements and Andean Shamanic principles/ceremonies. It was rooted in practical tools and skills for an embodied shamanic practice, applicable for daily living. The second-year program was a certified Shamanic Practitioner program with a practicum clinic focused on shamanic journey, navigating the dark and soul retrieval. Program was tabled as I took time off to write and launch Trauma as Medicine, will be revisited in 2022

2010- 2020 – Inspirational speaker, sharing my story of healing trauma at the following organizations – Alberta Restorative Justice Conference, Alberta Questers Conference, Edmonton Women’s Prison, Victim services Blue Quill, Knowing our Spirits Conference, Central Alberta FASD, Indian residential school’s recovery Saddle lake, Various churches and Wellness Conferences as well as those organized by myself.

2007- 2019 – Monthly healing circles or full moon fire ceremonies on my land, often including co-facilitators of various talents and healing traditions.

2008 -2018 – Wrote articles for Alberta’s Mosaic – body, mind, and spirit – Magazine, and Blogged on Waywardhealer@blogspot.ca

2013, 2014, 2017 – Facilitated Women’s empowerment retreats at numerous locations around Alberta. 

2013, 2014, 2015 – Led three groups to Peru, highlighting the Andean Shamanic path, by directly connecting my participants with the Q’ero tradition; camping high in the mountains and learning their healing practices as well as integrating the philosophies rooted in the mystical path of the Inca at the ancient sites in the Sacred Valley. Two of these trips included Ayahuasca retreat centres in the Amazon where I facilitated support circles and shamanic practices to integrate the experiences of plant medicine.  Next trip September 2022

2008 – 2015 – Created, designed, and implemented Reiki workshops, retreats and training including a practicum clinic with local volunteers.

Training and Credentials: all sourced in Energy Healing modalities, earth-based spirituality, body focused awareness and love for restorative/social justice ( I am a healer not a therapist):

2020 – Yin Yoga teacher training Bernie Clark

2015 – Somatic experiencing first level -therapeutic practice for supporting people in tuning in to their nervous system to self regulate.

2008 – 2015 – Eight group trips to Peru, three of which I led myself, to work with the Q’ero in the high Andes – Indigenous Healers who are the last of the Inca – as well as venturing into the Amazon to work with Grandmother Ayahuasca.  

2006-2011- Inca Medicine Wheel 5-year apprenticeship in Andean Shamanism which included directional teachings, ceremony, healing the light body and core shamanic techniques for transformation.

2011 – S.T.A.R. Level 1 – Strategies for trauma awareness and resilience put on by Eastern Mennonite University, Washington DC – trauma informed practices for supporting people in highly traumatic situations

2010 – Peace circle facilitation with Kay Pranis – utilization of the circle as a tool for mediation and conflict resolution.

2007 & 2010 – Alchemical Healing training with Nicki Scully – renowned shamanic teacher of Egyptian Mysteries and transformation – completed beginner, advance and assistant programs.

2007 – 2008 – Reiki level 1, 2 and Master Teacher

2003 – 2004 – Training in the Reclaiming tradition: Cycle teachings, sabbaths, working with the 5 elements, creating ritual/ceremony, and using trance/journey for healing. 

1990 – 2005 – Personal growth workshops focused on self esteem, empowerment and transformation, including the late and great Shakti Gawain