Five provocative questions answered by an inspiring and fabulous woman – a woman with something to say.
Meet Judith Dreyer
Judith Dreyer, MS, BSN, RN has an MS in Nutrition Science and her BS in Nursing. For thirteen years, she has taught at Western CT State University in Danbury, CT, focusing on holistic health, including western based herbalism. She is certified as a Holistic Stress Management Instructor with Paramount Institute. She has taught Nutrition Science at college level. She is the author of At the Garden’s Gate, her journey in growing a sustainable backyard meadow, following a Medicine Wheel of truths while working with nature.
As a Master Gardener, Judith gives talks on wild edible and medicinal plants, landscape sustainability, and creating meadows throughout the East coast. She is also available for topics in the holistic health field.
People would be surprised to know that: I used to sing and while out of practice today, I write ideas for songs. I always enjoyed the balladeers like Woodie Guthrie, Harry Chapin, Don McClean and others. A dream of mine is to write a song worthy of a record. When on the road, I sing to my favorites and that makes the miles meaningful.
The WTL 5:
What’s the conversation that changed your life?
At 25 years old I was told I had severe endometriosis. Women with this disease have a harder time conceiving. I wanted to be married and have a family. I was devastated that my chances were less than normal. At the same time I saw women get parts of their bodies cut up, literally pieces of ovaries cut off because of cysts, pelvic infections, etc.
I embarked on a holistic healing journey, one I followed instinctively making changes to diet, rest, exercise and spiritual. Back then it was simply following one idea after another and a belief I would be well and avoid surgery. Five years later, I was married and gave birth to my first child. Today I can articulate the process, share the experiences and create a bridge for those who want to be healthy from a holistic perspective.
What are you most conscious of today?
People confuse healing with curing. Family and friends want to see people cured, free of pain and suffering, and rejoin families healthy again. I understand. Healing requires inner work, deep commitment to listening to self and the deeper guidance we receive, and it’s not easy. And death can be the outer result of inner work. We are afraid of death – yet with birth comes death in some form.
What part of you have you yet to give voice to?
I am a dreamer. I feel I have another bridge to build about dream sharing that makes it real in everyday life. My dreams, whether nighttime or intuitive, guide me and yours guide you too. But it’s a different language, one western society does not encourage. And I have more stories to write. I love a good story. Can I write one? We’ll see.
What’s the conversation women need to be having collectively?
Celebrate each other more. Form a community of genuine caring, allowing each of us to be in our process while supporting the whole. It’s time for the reality shows of such negative behaviors to stop. I want my grandchildren to be strong within themselves, to understand life is challenging, to develop the inner skills to cope, and to know we need each other. Oh and dance, sing, play and laugh along the way.
What needs to be said bigger, louder, stronger?
Strength comes from following an inner path. Knowing self helps us respond to the world instead of react to it. There is a time and a need to go into the silence so we can be stronger in the outer world. Today everyone is talking but who’s listening? The earth is polluted and we are polluted with dis-eases from a tainted food system, lack of awareness of our connection to the earth, and lack of inner knowledge. So we struggle. We give over to some outer ideal that has always been an illusion. It’s time to feel again the love that is here, the guidance readily given to each of us and to act, be the “do” er in this world.
The good news: we are making a difference!
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Thank you, Judith, for sharing your powerful voice
with WomanTalk Live
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