Elen Sentier Short Bio

I was born in 1948 – Leo sun, Virgo moon and Sagittarius rising. My mother's mother was a witch from the Isle of Mann, and my father a somewhat reluctant shaman and engineer. One of my uncles was a gardener who talked to his plants and did lots of biodynamic-like things, another was a farmer who could talk with animals. I’ve seen him call a wild hawk to his wrist and, many times, sat all night by his side under a tree watching foxes and dormice, weasels and rabbits, badgers and hunting owls, and all the other night denizens of the wild woods. So I grew up in an environment full of everyday magic.

Always living with otherworld, I’ve explored all sorts of magical paths and been lucky to meet and work with some amazing people … like C Maxwell Cade; Hamish Miller; Tom Graves; Colin Bloy and Lilla Bek. Meeting and working with Caitlin & John Matthews was a wonderful moment for me, they helped me come out as a shaman and still encourage me in the work. Emma Restall Orr (Bobcat) is another person who has strongly influenced my life.

I’m a writer, artist and gardener as well. Biodynamic gardening is a passion, our land here is Demeter certified & I do all I can to promote biodynamics - see my blog. I also did 3 show gardens at the RHS international shows at Hampton Court (2004-6). You can see the garden here at Archenland at Biodynamic Gardening.

I’ve done all sorts of things in my current incarnation. I started out as a teacher, trained to teach Rudolph Laban Modern Educational Dance but went on to do contemporary dance, partly with Robert Cohen at The Place in London.  Then I took a big step sideways and joined the Ministry of Defence, carrying on dancing as “demonstrator” for a friend who taught for Arlene Phillips at the London Pineapple Dance Studio. I enjoyed my time with the services and finished up as project manager designing a networked computer system for Defence Sales. Then rheumatoid arthritis struck, literally overnight, and stopped me dancing. I carried on working until 1991 before I cracked up completely and was medically retired.

As I got a bit better I met Ian Gordon-Brown and Barbara Somers and trained with them in transpersonal psychology.  I had a practice, working especially with dreams, until I moved out of London in 1999. The transpersonal is a part of me, informs everything in my life.

I did a lot of photography in London, including exhibitions. Ansel Adams is my absolute photgraphic guru (along with Bill Brandt) and I taught his methods at the Camera Club of London while it was still in Leicester Square. My photography has now evolved into digital art.

I live and work in the Welsh Marches - the borders of Wales and England – a very magical place and full of Celtic and Arthurian legend, and share my life with my husband, Paul, 2 cats, host of wildlife and the Seelie Court J.

Warm wishes from between the two lights,

Elen

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Copyright © 2009 Elen Sentier   Last modified: 07/14/10