Meet Florence

Meet

A Personal Journey of Awakening

Have you ever felt something needs to change but hesitated—unsure what’s next, maybe even shrinking from the next step? That’s exactly where I once stood.

I’m Florence Gaia, RN, M.Ed. Decades ago I was living the life I’d chosen—married with children, suburban life, active in my parish community—and loving most of it. Yet something vital was missing. Hungry for a deeper connection that just wasn’t happening despite my best efforts.

The mental fog finally cleared. I painfully realized: “This is NOT ever going to change… Something in me is shriveling up.”

That awakening meant:

• Challenging my religious upbringing—and eventually walking away
• Facing depression and suicidal thoughts, choosing deeper healing through challenging therapy and compassionate self-reflection
• Transforming my fierce inner critic from Prosecutor to Defender and Ally
• Asking with genuine curiosity: “Who am I when I’m not a wife or mother?”

By listening within patiently, I gradually found my truth—and the courage to speak it and take action.

After divorce and my children fledged, I began crafting a fuller, exploratory life—solo. Following my interests and heartfelt desires, choosing where to live, paying attention to what drained me and what nurtured me. My soul spark reignited.

Finding My Path

My intuition first drew me to Native American spirituality, a spiritual path that nourishes me today. I was led to study deep imagery “shamanic” journeying awakening higher guidance and wisdom within me via animal spirit allies. Then Transformational Breath™— each practice helped release old emotional energy and limiting beliefs I still carried so I gradually experienced my core inner peace and full self-acceptance. I began to share and facilitate this for others.

I returned to nursing, working as psychiatric nurse for 17 years. I saw that medication treated symptoms, gave temporary relief while the whole person went unheard and unhealed. I wanted my professional work to go deeper—where real healing actually lives and knew deep imagery journeying and Transformational Breath™ would do that.

My desire and love of the mountains grew strong. I moved cross-country to Colorado’s mountains—my true home. My lifelong love of dancing came with me so I searched for years. Dissatisfied with what was available locally I eventually found a studio 3.5 hours away… there I was invited to go further than my dreams and became a competitive ballroom dancer —still going 18 years later!

Each step brought me closer to becoming my own woman, daring to listen to my soul’s whispers, my heart’s desire.

And I keep listening…

The Modern Woman’s Heroine Journey ~

Slaying the Dragon Within so the Sacred Feminine Rises
A voyage of being with uncertainty till your truth is revealed—often lying quietly just beneath the surface of consciousness. You are Invited to listen to the message beneath the pain and transform it into deep personal growth. To anchor your inherent worth within. To practice radical self-compassion rather than endless self-criticism.

It’s slaying the “dragon” within: the social conditioning of people-pleasing, being the “good girl”, perfectionism, disconnected from your emotions, your body signals and self-sacrifice women learn at an early age to feel safe and loved.

You become your own Rescuer. You reclaim your power by making room for your anger, savoring your dancing untamed spirit, discovering your true desires—bringing them fully into the light of consciousness without hesitation or judging.

No longer willing to play small or stay silent. Instead, taking up delightful space wherever you are.

That’s Sacred Feminine energy rising within you.

Your Journey Awaits

What I’ve learned to be true to myself: Pay attention to your discontent. Listen to the soft whispers of your soul beneath the noise of the world.

I urge you to do the same. Find your NO… your YES…

On my first vision quest, I saw a simple scene on the landscape that would quietly guide the next 3 decades of my life. I understood my calling: to be a bridge between ancient healing practices holding guiding wisdom and modern life that has strayed far from our human soul connected to Mother Earth, our own natural intelligence.

At WILDE Spirit Retreat, 30 years of wholistic healing practice supports you in dispersing the fog of self-doubt, self-criticism for clear empowerment—moving from restrictive patterns of breath and beliefs to open curiosity, taking your next step no matter how hesitant.

To finally LISTEN to your truth. In-person and Zoom sessions available. Let’s begin together…