Spiritual Community of Venus Rising
Transformation through Spiritual Journeys
Aahara Spiritual Community offers opportunities for personal and spiritual growth through initiations including Shamanic Breathwork, their signature Shamanic Warriorship Path, the Shamanic Healing Initiatory Process (SHIP), and more…
WELCOME
So what is the Aahara Spiritual Community of Venus Rising?
Co-Founders John Malan and Carley Mattimore
Aahara Spiritual Community, founded in July 2011 in the Heartland of the USA (Springfield, Illinois), is an officially chartered 501(c)(3) congregation of the Venus Rising Association for Transformation.
We offer a unique orientation of connection, community, and spiritual development. Our programs support personal and collective psychospiritual growth through diverse opportunities to heal, grow and expand your consciousness, helping you to live your life with more passion and purpose.
Our Shamanic Healing Initiatory Process (SHIP) supports seekers from all over the world in becoming Shamanic Ministers and Shamanic BreathWork Facilitators.
Carley and John participated in the rigorous training program and certification process through Venus Rising and then made the leap of faith to offer this exceptional training program in the “Heartland”. Our work has evolved into a cornucopia of offerings for participants from all over the USA and the World. We offer the Shamanic Healing Initiatory Process (SHIP), the signature program of Venus Rising along with our own signature Shamanic Warriorship Path program and much more.
Spiritual Community refers to the fact that we are all spiritual beings having a human experience. At the most basic level, psychological health and spiritual growth are on the same continuum. This form of spirituality is not specific to any religion or doctrine but is part of what it means to be human.
Aahara is nondenominational and welcomes people from all faith traditions as well as atheists, humanists, and those who just don’t know. Participation in an Aahara event does not require the adoption of any belief or creed, only an openness to the idea that each of us contains within us the ability to heal and the possibility of transforming our lives and realizing our full potential.
Carley and John share more about their own paths and Aahara’s origins.
Spiritual Journeys
Africa: Pilgrimage to the Motherland
March 8th-22nd, 2025
Who We Are
Meet the Founders and Team
Co-Founders
Carley Mattimore
Carley is a Shamanic Midwife for our times, holding space for you as you remember who you are and step into your authentic self to share your gifts with the world. She is a Shamanic Minister, Master Shamanic Breathwork Facilitator, and Shamanic psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience in working with children, adults, and families, as well as a Therapeutic Energy worker (Healing Touch Practitioner and Shamanic, Usui, and Tibetan Reiki Master.) She is co-author of Sacred Messengers of Shamanic Africa: Land of ZepTepi.
John Malan
John is an explorer, mainly of his inner life, but lately of the world at large as well, as he offers insights through dreamwork, storytelling, and the shared experience of shamanic transformation. He is a Shamanic Minister and Shamanic Breathwork Facilitator. John is a skillful facilitator who meets you where you are and empowers your own exploration in finding your true self. He continues to be of service to his family and community, with an open heart for each soul he meets.
Aahara Team
Ruth Souther
Ruth Souther is the Lead Trainer and Cofacilitator of Aahara Spiritual Community.
She is a Shamanic Minister, and a Master Shamanic Breathwork Facilitator. She is a certified Consulting Hypnotist and a Holy Fire Reiki Master Practitioner.
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Ruth is the Director of the Vega’s Path Priestess Process, author of The Elemental Priestess, and The Heart of Tarot. She is an accomplished Astrologer and has thirty years of experience in Tarot Studies. She is a graduate of Venus Rising University with a Master’s in Shamanic Intuitional Practices and a Doctorate of Shamanic Psycho-Spiritual Studies. She is a founding member of The Sanctuary of Formative Spirituality, a NFP eclectic spiritual foundation, and The Edge of Perception Collective. She is also a founding member and Chief Editor of Crystal Heart Imprints, a co-operative author/artist owned press.
Teri Freesmeyer
Teri Freesmeyer, adjunct Aahara Staff, has been instrumental in weaving her talents, gifts and inspiration through the birth of Aahara’s Shamanic Warriorship Path. She is the creator of the Art of Receiving and Transforming Energy Academy, The ART ACADEMY.
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Teri is an intuitive healer offering transformational and integrative bodywork (LMT) and coaching, using a variety of metaphysical skills and holistic arts. Teri is a certified metaphysician, consulting hypnotist, priestess, and Holy Fire Reiki Master and a Transformation Game Facilitator®. She is an ordained Shamanic Minister and Breathwork Facilitator and shares her creative passion and work through writing, teaching, creative and spiritual coaching and as a speaker and presenter. Teri works with wellness advocacy, offering self-care practices, yoga, mindfulness, energy medicine, movement therapies, sound healing, aromatherapy and more.