The Waters We Swim In is a ritual of being seen with unconditional love and being celebrated, honored for who you are, exactly as you are. This opens up a deep shift inside that helps you move in the direction you truly desire for the highest good of all. To do the work, live the life that only you can do.  

The further intention of this global project is to highlight the critical presence of water in every aspect of our lives not as a resource to be used, extracted and commodified but as an integral part of the sacred web of life. We recognize that our bodies, or brains are 70 to 80% water. Water holds an intelligience which is part of the essential nature of the universe, the divine, energy and intellgience. My hope is that the project can bring us into greater awareness of our interbeing with water and resonance with the sacred frequency of water so that we might live in greater alignment and create more balance, sustainability and resilience.

 

 We all have a deep longing to be seen, heard, accepted, LOVED for who we are.

Sometimes that is hard to find.

Sometimes we don't even see, hear, accept or LOVE ourselves.

We feel cut off then from the rest of everything.

 

(how much that sucks, feels horrible. A LOT. I know. I have been there with you.)

WE, I, YOU, DO NOT have to stay in that space.

I am here to tell you, if that's something familiar to you, (and honestly, this is probably true for ALL of us at some point, sometimes it recurs and can feel sticky, hard to get rid of) IT DOESN'T HAVE TO STAY THAT WAY.

The magic of the Waters We Swim In is a powerful ritual of making a portrait of you in the water, being seen with absolutely unconditional love.

The photo you keep afterwards becomes the evidence, a fully somatic, fully embodied memory of feeling not only seen but CONNECTED to all the rest of the universe; SUPPORTED by the water AND YOUR OWN TRUST IN YOURSELF.

I SEE YOU AND YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

The photographs you receive at the end of the ritual whether a single beautiful print or a handmade book are the EVIDENCE which remind you daily, in a fully embodied, somatic way of WHO YOU REALLY ARE and help you keep that FLAME OF BELONGING AND SELF LOVE alive in you for the rest of your life. The images serve as a touchstone for reconnecting to the DIVINE WITHIN AND WITHOUT, which knows no boundaries and in which you feel your place in the great pattern of all life. YOU BELONG AND ARE DEEPLY LOVED.

THE EXPERIENCE:

  • We meet by the water.

  • I lead you through a guided experience created just for you so that you can become deeply in touch with your embodied experience and inner awareness.

  • I hold space for you with love and compassion.

  • We enter the water.

  • Witnessing, releasing what no longer serves, and making space for the new.

  • We allow space for the intuitive nudges that allow you to take the inspired actions that will support you creating the life you truly desire as you open up to more and more of the goodness within you.

  • You receive a beautiful photograph of yourself immersed in the water to remind every day of your inner gold, your strength, resilience, creativity and all that is good inside you. You may choose a single delcious print or a handmade book.

I'M IN!  WHAT'S NEXT?

  • Book a call with Hillary for a complimentary pre-session consultation to review details, set location etc.

  • Make a payment with PayPal , Venmo @Hillary-Johnson-1 or, with Zelle to hillary@hillaryohnsonphoto.com

  • You have two payment options.

    • Payment in full 

    •  50% deposit to reserve your spot. Balance due one month prior to your session.

  • Other payment plans available. If you are experiencing significant financial hardship, let's talk. It may be that a bit of mindset work would shift away from scarcity fear to a positive I can make this happen and I am happy to help coach you through that. I also offer Heart-Pricing (a guilt free version of sliding scale) so that all may participate. Please inquire.

The Investment:

$1469 (I price my work intuitively and working with the symbols of Tarot and the numerology of Tarot. 1 is the number of a beginning, You have already set your foot on the road to healing and self mastery. 4 is the number of foundations. You want a good foundation which is solid yet flexible and adaptive to all life brings to you. 6 is the peace that follows the storm, the space in your heart from where all else flows. The peace you can maintain inside no matter what life brings. 9 is all about the internal work that leads you to 10, the number of completion. Together these set you up for the expanding spiral of your conscious evolution, your creation of your life in a way that is authentic and aligned. As above, so below. 

What people have said about their experience:

“I wanted to be a part of "The Waters We Swim In" the moment I saw the first image.”

“Hillary immediately put me at ease and I placed my trust in her completely. Even as the waves were pushing me towards the shore. This water experience was beyond anything I could have envisioned.”

"The Waters We Swim In" is a retreat toward calm and reflection during these turbulent times.”

“I am still swimming in the magical experience we had this morning. Being part of “The Water We Swim In” is incredibly meaningful. Thank you for a magical experience that healed my soul and reconnected me to the universe.”

“While I was floating for this project I was thinking of all of those things and how I can honor the importance of this unprecedented time while inviting the passion I see around me to help me evolve into the best version of myself.”

“There is an ethereality, a spirituality, that encompasses us, and a power that you tap into through your use of light and nature. Something primal is released.”

 

 

 

FAQ

CAN I DO THIS WITH A PARTNER, SPOUSE, CHILD OR BFF?

Of course you may! How wonderful would that be? Partner sessions incur an additional fee. This work is open to all. Let’s talk.
 

DO I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SWIM TO BE PART OF THE WATERS WE SWIM IN?

Not at all! All you need is a desire to get into the water. I can teach you to float if you like. But floating is not necessary for this experience to be a success.
 

WHAT IF I’M AFRAID OF THE WATER?

That need not stop you! I can help you face that fear in small gentle steps until you feel ready to go in the water. Remember that you don’t need to know how to swim or float. The fact that you’re intrigued indicates it may be time for you to take the plunge quite literally. I will be with you every step of the way.

 

WHAT IF THE WEATHER IS NOT FAVORABLE?

We typically have a plan B date to fall back on. For sustained bad weather that may mean a more significant rescheduling but so far that hasn’t happened yet! In the case of needing to plan for a separate trip to your location, there may be costs associated with flying back to our location. 

 

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

In our consultation we talk about that. The attire in generally classic black, minimalist weather that means a swimsuit or something else, we select together. 

 

WHAT IF I WANT TO BE NUDE?

You can! We would talk it through together to decide on a time and place where you will feel comfortable doing that whenever possible. I recognize that everyone has a different level of comfort in the body and may have different preferences for making that happen. Let’s talk.

 

WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY PHOTOS?

Typically, I do a hot edit and pick one or two images within 48 hours of our session and send them to you so you can see them right away. I send you a larger edited set within 3 weeks so you can select the image you would like for your special print. Once you make that selection, you will receive your print in about a month. That said, COVID-19 has presented special challenges with the supply chain which sometimes impacts delivery times for prints. If anything unusual arises, I will keep you informed.

 

WHAT KIND OF PRINT WILL I RECEIVE?

I like to print on an archival, matte finish photo paper. Prints arrive rolled in a tube, unframed. If you would like to have me arrange framing, I’m happy to do so for an additional fee.
You may also choose to get a print on canvas, silk or metal. Prices vary with materials. We can talk about what would feel most wonderful for you.
You may also choose to have me make an elegant and simple handmade book which can highlight the process step by step.

 

WHAT IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS?

Let’s talk about whatever those questions might be. I’m happy to talk with you about anything.

 

WHY ME?

I’m an interdisciplinary artist, meditation teacher and healer, empath and highly sensitive person. I grew up on the ocean (literally) on the East Coast sailing, swimming and mucking about in nature. I was a lifeguard and swimming coach for the Special Olympics.  I’m a certified Tarot card reader, energy and Reiki healer,  and a former candidate in a Masters program in Clinical Psychology. (I gave all formal clinical practice in favor of art and coaching. (I wanted to hug people when they needed a good hug! I also have a profound belief in the healing powers of art.) I started teaching mindfulness in 2008. My business clients include Fortune 500 companies, top hospitals, prominent law firms, financial concerns and NPOs. I also have coaching clients across the globe. 

My photography, immersive installations and transformational, embodied practices have two main strands: the investigation of tensions and challenges created when drastic upheavals transform or destroy delicate beauty; and, helping others evolve and expand their capacity for love, abundance, and creativity. I have a background in photojournalism and documentary photography. I’m an MFA Candidate in the Department of Photography at Columbia College Chicago.

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