Before Tammy Barnett found SWIHA, she was navigating a path of uncertainty and deep searching. Having endured a life-altering illness that left her disabled, Tammy found herself lost—physically and spiritually. Her body may have been in recovery, yet her soul was yearning for clarity and purpose. That illness became a turning point, prompting her to ask life’s biggest questions: Who am I really, and what am I meant to do with this life?
Just when she was asking for guidance, a flyer from Southwest Institute of Healing Arts appeared—listing programs that spoke to her soul. “Even though I didn’t know how I would accomplish it, I knew I had to attend,” Tammy shared. Years later, through Michigan’s Ticket to Work program, she was finally given the opportunity to make her dream a reality.
Tammy chose the Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner program because of a deep, intuitive pull: a calling to help others learn how to heal. Her experience with illness gifted her insight that she felt compelled to pass on. It wasn’t just about gaining knowledge—it was about living that knowledge and empowering others to walk their own healing path.
Her defining moment came while reading Grounded: Finding God in the World by Diana Butler Bass. In its pages, Tammy found a new understanding of higher power and a powerful affirmation that she was on the right path. “That was the moment that sealed it for me,” she said.
Since graduating, Tammy’s life has transformed. She no longer fights against the current of life—she flows with it. She’s gained a new understanding of who she is, how to balance duality, and how to walk her true path with trust and clarity. “I also gained GRIT,” she emphasized, something she hadn’t fully embraced in her adult life until now.
Tammy is now the proud founder of Equal in Nature LLC, a holistic business that offers handmade herbal products like lotions, facial scrubs, and her customer-favorite pillow sprays. However, her vision doesn’t stop there—she plans to integrate coaching and energy healing into her offerings. “As I coach, I can offer my products for specific ailments and spiritual work,” she explained.
Her SWIHA education has laid the foundation for her business and her personal evolution. “Without the lessons I learned about myself and the support of my instructors and classmates, this would have been a much harder journey.”
Beyond entrepreneurship, Tammy feels a deeper mission to awaken collective consciousness. “I want to bring people back to life and away from AI, before these computers completely take over who we are,” she shared passionately. Her message is about real-life living, independent thinking, and reconnecting to the collective as a thriving human unit.
Tammy’s greatest takeaway from SWIHA is the power of trust—in both herself and a higher power. “Life isn’t about how accomplished you are, it’s about how you contribute to the collective,” she reflected. She also spoke about the power of intent—something she hadn’t previously understood but now uses as a compass for her life and work.
Tammy’s SWIHA journey was shaped by a team of passionate educators who helped unlock her potential. She spoke highly of Lori Dye, Jodi Johnson, Gisele Marasca, Sherry Fragosa, and Rachel Astarte—each of whom impacted her learning and growth in profound ways. “I’m old enough now to appreciate the ones who push you the hardest—they want to make sure you’re getting the most from the experience.”
Tammy’s advice to new and future SWIHA students is clear: “Do not fear what you are about to do. Enjoy every moment of the experience—especially the hard ones. Those are the moments that grow you.”
Tammy is still integrating her learning into her daily life—allowing it to become her way of being, not just a profession. She plans to return to SWIHA for more courses when the time feels right, yet for now, she’s walking her truth, building community, and inspiring others to do the same.
“Of everything I have learned throughout this program, one thing is to not put an expectation on anything. We can create and implement our learning, yet we have no clue of the wonderful things that might be just around the corner if we are living our truths.”
Explore how SWIHA can support your healing journey and empower your purpose-driven path—just like it did for Tammy.