The Coven has given me both an empathetic and supportive community of artists and healers, as well as the permission to expand my own personal space in my development in self love and recovering through trauma. I love that as a marginalized identity, I have been able to walk into this sacred space and know that I have nothing for which to feel shame or guilt. The Coven has been a bouncing board of ideas and inspiring ideas, while also being the warm embrace of so many arms when I have not felt my strongest.

I am grateful to The Coven, because without them, I may not have taken my first real steps towards healing. Through this community, I have been able to dive into my own shadow work and healing process from trauma. I would sadly not have been able to gain the different perspectives that have challenged my past mindsets and beliefs, allowing me to broaden my views towards myself, my creative process, and those I interact with on a frequent basis.

Through my work with The Coven, I have been able to:

Complete my first album in 6 years

Start and complete an entirely new painting exhibition

Become a Reiki Master

Begin a new healing venture

Create a new performance piece around ritual, music, and art

Become my strongest advocate as an artist

Taking steps into inner child and trauma recovery

Composed several musical miniatures during the pandemic, as well as making several small video works to accompany them

THE COVEN SUPPORTS ME WITH COMMUNITY, LIKE MINDED PEOPLE WITH SYNCHRONICITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AS WELL AS PUTTING DEEP SELF CARE FRONT AND CENTRE AT ALL TIMES. IT IS ALSO FUN AND PLAYFUL AND MAGICAL PLACE WHICH I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR MEETINGS AND CONNECTIONS. I’M NOT SURE WHAT I WOULD BE DOING WITHOUT THE COVEN AND ISABELLE’S SUPPORT, PROBABLY NOT VERY WELL. POSSIBLY BURNT OUT, NOT CREATING WHAT I FEEL I’M HERE TO CREATE. THE COVEN HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY ESSENTIAL AS A TOUCHSTONE DURING LOCKDOWN/QUARANTINE AS STABILITY AND RECONNECTION WITH SELF AND OTHERS.

WHAT MAKES WRITING A TESTIMONIAL FOR ISABELLE RIZO SO CHALLENGING IS THAT IT'S HARD TO KNOW HOW TO QUANTIFY THE MANY BENEFITS AND THE SCOPE OF ALL I'VE RECEIVED FROM HER VARIOUS OFFERINGS.

AS A HIGHLY SENSITIVE AND INTUITIVE PERSON, I'VE SPENT MUCH OF MY LIFE FEELING LIKE AN OUTSIDER, A BIT OF A WEIRDO, A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND. THERE'S BEEN YEARS OF TRYING TO FIND MY WAY TO MY AUTHENTIC SELF, MY GIFTS AND THE MEANS TO OFFER THOSE THINGS TO THE WORLD.

THE COVEN HAS OFFERED ME THE EXACT KIND OF SUPPORT I NEEDED TO HEAL THOSE WOUNDS AND TRAUMAS, TO NORMALIZE MY STATE OF BEING AND EXPAND MY CAPACITIES AROUND MATTERS PRACTICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL. THIS HAS ALLOWED ME TO DO MORE THAN I EVER IMAGINED WITH MY PERSONAL CREATIVE WORK AND PROFESSIONAL OFFERINGS.

THE COVEN IS A MAGICAL MIX OF COMMUNITY ALCHEMY, BRILLIANT SPACE HOLDING AND EXPERT FACILITATION. THERE IS A SPIRIT OF SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION THAT'S NURTURING AND WHICH CREATES INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT SHOWS US THAT WE ARE ALL MORE THAN THE SUM OF OUR PARTS. ISABELLE EXCELS AT ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS THAT ALLOWS EACH MEMBER TO DISCOVER THEIR OWN SOVEREIGNTY, AGENCY AND AUTONOMY.

BEING PART OF THIS GROUP HAS BEEN LIFE-CHANGING IN ALL THE BEST WAYS. IF YOU ARE WILLING TO DO THE INNER WORK AND ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, THEN ALL KINDS OF MAGIC AND EXPANSIVENESS MAY TRANSFORM YOU INSIDE AND OUT.

THE COVEN SUPPORTS ME LIKE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY SHOULD, WHERE ALL THE VOICES ARE HEARD, RESPECTED, NURTURED AND ENCOURAGED TO BE WHO THEY NEED TO BE. FOR ME IT'S A SAFE OASIS TO EXPRESS MYSELF FREELY AND LEARN TO TRULY LISTEN AND VALUE MY VOICE. IT'S ALSO EXCITING TO SHARE THE SPACE WITH SUPER AMAZING, DIVERSE AND TALENTED SENSITIVE PEOPLE. THE ANTICIPATION OF WHAT WE CAN CREATE ALL TOGETHER AS OUR DIALOGUES UNFOLD IS MAGICAL AND FEEDS MY DESIRE TO CONNECT AND COLLABORATE FROM A SOUL LEVEL.

I ALSO FEEL SUPPORTED AND GUIDED AS I'M LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT HOW TO STAY ORGANIZED IN THE MIDST OF MY MANY CREATIVE WISHES AND AS I AM TRUSTING I CAN CREATE A CREATIVE BUSINESS THAT FITS ME LIKE A GLOVE. POSSIBLY A MAGICAL GLOVE.

WITHOUT THE COVEN, I WOULD PROBABLY FEEL ALONE AND DISCOURAGED AND WOULD DROP MY IDEAS LEFT AND RIGHT AND WOULD NOT GET AS DEEP AS I COULD INTO MY OWN PROCESS AT THE THIS STEADY PACE.

THE COVEN HAS ALLOWED ME A SPACE TO SAY WHAT I'M FEELING WITHOUT FEELING JUDGED OR COMPLETELY INSANE WHILE ALSO RECEIVING ENCOURAGEMENT AND FINDING PRODUCTIVE WAYS OF DEALING WITH THOSE FEELINGS AND INUITITIVE NUDGES. CELEBRATING FINDING A LITTLE MORE CLARITY AROUND MY PATH AND PURPOSE, AND ALSO ALLOWING MY INTUITION TO CONTINUE TO GUIDE MY WELLNESS JOURNEY.