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Caroline Myss, in her book "Anatomy of the Spirit," describes the world behind our eyes just as important and the world in front of our eyes. I call this the path of the Practical Mystic.
I was born and raised in Bridgeton (see Growing Up in a Small Town), a small farming community in South Jersey surrounded by the spirits of nature. Today I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, married to my college sweetheart for 28 years. We have a beautiful daughter and two golden retrievers~Lady and Roxy. I lead a normal life in an extraordinary world.
In the early nineties, I became aware of my intuitive abilities- spiritual gifts of the practical mystic. I re-membered how to be multi-sensory. Much of my guidance comes through colors and symbols- energies that I had felt, seen and just “knew” as a small child but shared with no one. As an interior designer I used these symbols, images and colors to create spaces for clients when I started my own business at the tender age of 24. At the time I entered a design competition telling my mother "I am going to win." I knew from some deep place that it was so (and I did). There were other glimpses into this reality when I would just "know" something about a person or place, but I didn't recognize intuition or understand the process so it went virtually unnoticed by me.
As an adult, my intuition blossomed and reawakened through my own inner healing process. As I entered this dark time I became frustrated because the professionals I consulted did not understand the psycho-spiritual changes that were rapidly manifesting in my body, mind and spirit. Fortunately I followed that still small voice within and found the right teachers and books- conventional and non-conventional, that showed me a way through.
Back then there very little written on how to develop and use these intuitive gifts, yet alone how to interpret their messages. My path lead me back into the creative arts for spiritual contemplation together with alchemical work such as breathwork, dream interpretation, rebirthing, shamanism and more - each process offering up a piece of the puzzle which formed a picture, one that I embody for myself and share with my clients and students today.
1994-Present. Artist, heart-centered spiritual healer and counselor. Working with clients both in a group or on an individual basis. Facilitating creative workshops that nurtures spiritual self-development in adults and children.
1981-1992 President of Bailey-Lessirard Designs/MLDA- an interior design and architectural firm of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and BLD Purchasing- a contract purchasing of FF&E for hospitality services. During this time Michele achieved an outstanding reputation as a leader in the restaurant and hospitality markets through her marketing and design talents. Major accomplishments included 22 restaurants; flagship hotels for Holiday Inn and Hilton Hotel Chains and life care design for the elderly through Life Care Services, a specialist in retirement living facilities.
 State of Florida Governor's Conference on Small Business.City of Plantation Landscape Planning and Review Board.
National Board Rep for New Product Development for the Fortune 500 companies of General Tire/Essex Wall Covering Division and Color Roll Contract Design Book for BF Goodrich.
South Florida IDG Award for Crawdaddy's Restaurant.
MLDA, Inc. firm rated in the Top 100 Interior Design Firms for Restaurant and Hospitality, Interior Design Magazine.
Restaurant Hospitality Magazine's Interior Design Award for David's Plum Restaurant.
Michele Lessirard Design Associates rated in the Top 25 Commercial Interior Design Firms by the South Florida Business Journal.
Michele Lessirard inducted into the Broward County Woman's Hall of Fame for her efforts as President of NAWBO of Broward County.
Nominated for the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale Alumni Hall of Fame Award.
Ordained Minister through Universal Brotherhood, Inc.
Certified Member of National Society of Hypnotherapists (NSH).
Society for Shamanic Practitioners-founding member
In 1992, I sold my companies and walked away from the life I had created for 12 years. Just as a trapeze artist lets go of one bar to meet the next bar coming at her, the artist's courage and trust in the process allows her to hang in the air for that brief second with faith in herself and the Universe to meet whatever challenge that awaits her.
What happened next is still a wonder to me.
When I left interior design, I found myself on an unfamiliar pathway with dark night of the soul experiences where I learned to re-connect with my Teachers in non-ordinary reality. One teacher called it “Soul Path Clearing”. Since 1993 I have been easily traveling in what Michael Harner defines as the shamanic state of consciousness ~ a walker between the worlds. My experiences have been nontraditional and transpersonal in nature, and I am passionate about this life. Work is play and play is work.
 1996- PresentMedicine for the Earth Teacher- represents a way of reversing environmental pollution using spiritual methods. Michele's teachings are based on the book by Sandra Ingerman-
Medicine for the Earth
: How to Transform Personal and Environmental Toxins (Three Rivers Press 2001). Michele shares throughout the southeast through lectures, storytelling and drumming circles.
Classes in personal development at the Nova Southeastern University Center for Continuing and Professional Studies, Davie, Florida.
Touch Drawing™ Teacher (process developed by Deborah Koff-Chapin)
Lecture Series at Barnes and Nobles Bookstores entitled "Walking the Shamanic Path"
Series of classes taught at Earth Wisdom bookstore based on Angeles Arrien's' book “The Four Fold Way”
Dance of the Heart, one-day breathwork experiences
On-going group work Walking the Path of the Practical Mystic
BA Transpersonal Psychology, Burlington College, Vermont.
AS Interior Design, Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
Transpersonal Studies through Soul Studies Institute for MA degree
Making Death Your Ally- a shamanic approach to Death with Robert Moss
Becoming a Spiritual Alchemist- 3-Day session with Caroline Myss, Ph.D.
5-Day Feng Shui Mastery Course as taught by author Jami Lin.
Florida Atlantic University- courses in abnormal psychology, anatomy and physiology and intro to women's studies.
Facilitated integrative breathwork sessions with Wendy Limber, LMFT, Director of Solutions Center for Personal Growth from 1994- 1998.
Five-Day Soul Retrieval Training -Mending the Fragmented Soul
Graduate of FSS 3- year training program in Advanced Shamanism and Shamanic Healing
Medicine for the Earth with Sandra Ingerman, MA attended these 5-day gatherings:
 Medicine for the Earth June 2001Teacher's Training August 2002
Healing with Spiritual Light Reunion March 2003, March 2004, March 2006
Presenter at Medicine for the Earth Reunion March 2006
Heart Centered Depossession and Curse Unraveling
3-day training September 2005
5-day intensive February 2006
Embodying Spirit Breathwork and Conference Orlando
Inner Beloved 6-Day Session March
Weekend Breathwork Stuart, Florida
Mystery School Sessions June 1998 - November 2000
Inner Christ Path sessions with Jacquelyn Small and Don Gill 1997-98
6-day Breathwork Training Intensive
Graduate of the 3-Year Training program in Advance Shamanism and Shamanic Healing
14-day Advance Shamanic Training with Sandra Ingerman, MA and Carol Proudfoot
5-day Training for Shamanic Counseling Certification with Sandra Harner, PhD
5-day Training for Soul Retrieval with Sandra Ingerman, MA
The Way of the Shaman Basic Weekend Workshop (3 times)*
Extraction Healing Weekend Workshop
Divination Weekend Workshop
Death, Dying and Beyond Weekend Workshop*
* Michele was both sponsor and attendee for the Basic Way of the Shaman Workshop, Divination Workshop and the Death, Dying and Beyond Workshop for FSS faculty teacher Dana Robinson in the South Florida area.
Additional Training and Education
HSW Continuing Education to maintain Florida interior designer's license:
Enhancing Design Quality with Concept Sketches with architect Tim White.
Feng Shui Home & Garden Design with Joy Dorst
Florida Uniform Building Codes / Building-Fire - CORE through FSU
Advance Courses for Indoor Environmental Quality
Building and Barrier-Free Codes with Connie Dyar
Certified in hypnosis by the National Society of Hypnotherapists
5-day teacher's certification “Joyful Child Parenting Training” with Peggy Jenkins, PhD author of The Joyful Child and Nurturing Spirituality in Children.
Florida School of Construction, Licensed Florida Residential Contractor 1989-1992.
Interior designer licensed State of Florida #ID4753
Member ASID, IBD, SMPS from 1985-1993
University of Florida, Graphic Arts and Interior Design.
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