Ash Miner, MS, MM

Shamanic Practitioner & Teacher

Ash Miner of Animal Song Healing practically came into the world a teacher, from helping with her ballet classes at age 9, to helping with horseback riding camp and lessons at 13, to music lessons at 17, to dog training & behavior modification as an adult, and now shamanism. She graduated magna cum laude with her dual bachelor's degrees in music education and violin performance in 2008, then sumam cum laude with her first master's degree in violin performance in 2010, then summa cum laude again with dual master's degrees in canine/feline and equine behavior & wellness in 2023. She began formal shamanic studies in 2016 and completed Sandra Ingerman's final Practitioner Training in 2024, culminating in Ash's acceptance to Sandra's final Teacher Training, slated for completion in September of 2026. Ash has studied online with Jonathan Horwitz and Zara Waldebäck of the Scandinavian Center for Shamanic Studies since 2020, and has flown to Sweden for their residential courses.
 
Ash believes that spiritual healing is part of a triad of healing that includes the body and mind. It does not replace Western medicine or psychotherapy, but can enhance and empower a healing path. Ash had PTSD after the tragic death of a teacher in 5th grade and 1.5 years of abuse in middle school, as well as lung surgery to remove a carcinoid tumor in 2022. Having a shamanic practitioner to help guide her through that entire process, including therapy, medication, and hospitalization, was essential to her holistic healing path. Shamanism is also an animistic way of life, viewing everything in the world as alive, conscious, or soulful, and able to offer help. Ash humbly walks in Nature with the knowledge that every rock, plant, drop of water, and animal could be offering her insight into her life, or healing for an ailment.
 
As a teacher, Ash's favorite compliment is that she always makes her students laugh and brings such good energy into her lessons. Her hope is to bring her joyful teaching style to managing a healing sanctuary where animals who are recovering from trauma can help humans who are doing the same, and vice versa, while incorporating the joy of music for youths and adults. Musicians can overcome performance anxiety when playing for the animals. Everyone who has gone through the program can pay back by volunteering to help care for those who are beginning their healing process. Ash's helping Spirits are big on the duality of Life and Spirit, so even before the facility has been found or funds raised, she has already begun the work in the Spirit World to plan and manifest the sanctuary's existence. Her expertise in animals, music, and healing makes her uniquely able to bring this vision to life in an ethical, reciprocal, and honorable way.