This conversation with Stephanie from Atempause is part of an interview series with women who, like me, feel a special connection to nature. I will speak with different women and learn more about them and their approach to nature.

I will then share these stories with you here, so that you too can discover diverse insights into and approaches to nature.

 

In the spaces between breaths lie the pauses of everyday life - Stephanie Mika-Wikenhauser

Tell us something about yourself:

I am Stephanie and I come from Southern Germany, near Lake Constance. I like to call myself a "modern witch", because for me it's not just about herbs, but also about healing stones and flower essences. Herbs are a very big topic for me, and I am currently training to be a naturopath. I work independently and also work two afternoons a week in a pharmacy. That's my "learned" profession, but even during my training, I realized that I wasn't drawn to chemical medicines, but rather to natural health products and homeopathy. I then worked for several years in a natural health drugstore in Switzerland, where I learned a lot and gained valuable experience. Today, in my independent work, I offer Reiki, energetic massages, as well as Bach flower and healing stone consultations. Online, I lead women's circles and online workshops, which brings me a lot of joy.

 

 

Where does your love for nature come from?

 

I've always been a nature child, grew up in the countryside, and still live here. As a child, we were almost always outdoors. I inherited my love for herbs from my grandmother, with whom I spent a lot of time with herbs. She collected nettles, wormwood, marigolds, and much more and made her own teas from them. She also had her own herbal medicine cabinet, and it always worked well. In my teenage years, it fell into oblivion for a while, and it wasn't until I started working in a pharmacy that my awareness of herbs and nature re-emerged.

It was also exciting to find out what these herbs, which I only knew in dried form, looked like fresh and, above all, where they grew. I then completed a herbalist training and, especially there, realized that this was truly my calling.

It was also wonderful to observe how nature develops from the beginning of the year to the end. Every year, you discover new leaves and plants.

 

 

Do you have a favorite plant? Or, if you could choose to be a plant - which one would it be?

 

I feel like the wild rose suits me well. It's not immediately recognizable as a rose. As a flower essence, it is often used for people who lack a bit of joy in life. Those who have lost sight of their goals and don't quite know where they are going. I think I can convey that quite well and help people rediscover the beauty of life. Some clients even openly say that they are glad they came to me, because I helped them rediscover their love for the small things and regain their joy in life.

 

 

Do you have a favorite spot in nature?

 

I have a few favorite spots in nature. One of my favorite places is a hill in the area, where we also celebrated our wedding, or rather, the champagne reception. It's a beautiful spot high up on the mountain with a fire pit. When the weather is right, you can even see the Alps.

 

There's a great tree that supports me. But there isn't just one favorite place – instead, there are four or five places where I can always recharge my strength and energy.

 

 

Is the topic of SUSTAINABILITY important to you? If so, how do you live it?

 

It's definitely a topic, even if it's sometimes difficult to implement. I try to reduce plastic. I make my own cosmetics and even mix my own face cream. I no longer use conventional shampoo, but solid shampoo - I also make my own soap and my own deodorant.

Once you've found your way in one area and experimented there, you can tackle another. I also try to look for natural materials in clothing. I pay attention to buying cotton or bamboo clothes.

It's important to start somewhere and do your best there. Even when shopping, I bring my own container and make sure not to use plastic bags.

 

 

Which 3 adjectives best describe you?

 

Nature-loving

A little bit crazy

Joyful

 

 

Which area of your calling is closest to your heart?

 

One of my passion projects is coming to fruition this August. My friend and I have planned a herb weekend.

 

It is important to me in everything I do, whether energetic or physical, online or offline, to guide women back to their intuition. You don't always have to follow exact rules, but you should also listen to your gut feeling and listen to yourself to see what suits you or why this or that plant caught your eye. Women should develop a greater sense for this again and create their own "medicine" or care products. We ourselves should get to know our bodies better again and trust our own instincts and perceptions more. Re-establishing the connection with the body and "feeling" the soul better again - that is what is important for me to convey.

 

 

What's your tip for a "breather" in between?

 

If you're from my area, I'd be happy to invite you for a visit! I had the idea for "Atempause" years ago. "The spaces between breaths are the pauses of everyday life." Just stand still for a moment and consciously breathe into your stomach. Deep down, it relaxes the autonomic nervous system and calms your thoughts and nerves. If you're agitated or experiencing a tense situation, deep belly breathing can help you relax. It's also good to go outside or at least stand by a window and breathe consciously.

A breathing break is also an opportunity to treat yourself to a massage or a consultation.

 

 

You have a few terms on your Instagram profile that you use to describe yourself; please tell us what these terms mean to you:

1. Herbal Witch

The term "witch" comes from women who worked with herbs. The word "witch" comes from the term "Hagezussen" - the "Hage" were the bushes that grew around the city walls. The witches dared to go behind these hedges, collected their herbs there, and made their medicine. For me, it's a very positive term.

 

2. Women's Health

Through engaging with myself, my body, and my cycle, this topic has always fascinated me. I'll soon be training in therapeutic women's massage, which I've come to appreciate greatly myself. Engaging with one's own body and getting to know it better again is a very important concern for me, which I'd love to pass on to all women.

 

3. Moon Lover

It started with the moon days when I went to the hairdresser. After that, I dedicated myself to the full moon and new moon energies, and now I generally spend a lot of time with the moon and its effects on body and soul. Especially on us women, the moon has a great influence.

 

4. Healing Stones

These are also a favorite area of mine. I came across them in the natural health pharmacy in Switzerland, as we also sold them there. I started carrying them with me and observing what they did for me and how they affected me. It was very exciting to see what happened and what effect the stones have on our bodies. As an experiment, I placed a moonstone on my abdomen during my cycle and it relieved the pain. That was a very significant experience for me, and since then they have fascinated me greatly. This is also a very large part of my work.

Each stone also helps with different issues, but even there, it's a good tip to simply let your intuition guide you and just reach for the stone that appeals to you most.

 

Thank you very much, dear Stephanie, for this wonderful interview and for giving me the opportunity to "drop by" and have this conversation about nature and your connection to it.

If you want to know more about Stephanie and what else she does, check out her homepage or her Instagram profile. 

 

Further interviews about amazing women and their connection to nature can be found here:

Karin from Naturspirit
Stephanie from Atempause
Susanne from Naturzauberwerke
Tina from die Kräutermacherei
Melanie from Mint
Anja from Gänseblümchen & Sonnenschein
Andrea from Fermentista
Andrea from Yoga Cuisine
Marlies from Quendelgrün
Christine from Textpoterie
Doris from Mit Liebe gemacht
Alex from Die Kräutermadame
Bianca from Naturespiritauraspray
Gerda from Grüne Kraft
Judith from Seelenzauber