From loss to triumph, Emerald “Starlight” Norman continues to share her healing gifts every full moon with others in need. Starlight has been hosting monthly full moon ceremonies for the past five years.
"This happened just from a desire to celebrate the phases of the moon and also wanting to create," Starlight said.
Her full moon ceremonies are gatherings where people can bask in the full moon's energy.
She says it’s the ideal time for wrapping up, and reaping from and reflecting on any projects or habits you started during the last full moon.
"It's a very healing thing to meet, to gather every month, and to celebrate whatever it is that we need to celebrate, to grieve or to clear whatever it is that we're releasing," Starlight said.
The ceremony offers a way to connect with the natural world, tap into lunar energy and cultivate a sense of peace and purpose, she said.
At her ceremonies, guests are welcomed to gift bags that include crystals, essential oils and other elements like tarot cards or palo santo.
"Truly, at the core of what I do, I just want to be of service and I want to serve a deeper purpose that can help touch lives and help people heal," Starlight said. "I just feel grateful and honored that people trust me to guide them in this way. When you're laying down for meditation, someone's guiding you in, and there's a vulnerability in that."
Starlight’s journey with the healing arts and becoming a Reiki master and grief guide started in 2017 after the sudden passing of her 13-year-old daughter, Liberty.
“My whole life changed, I never really lost anyone close to me and I never expected to lose her,” Starlight said. “And so that put me into my own experience of deep loss and grief.”
Despite having a strong support system as she grieved, she still felt unfulfilled.
“One of the best things I found early on was just this simple advice that we all have over 100 gifts, and if you don't know what your gifts are, ask your friends, but if you want to be living your purpose, to share your gifts with other people every day.”- Emerald "Starlight" Norman
“I knew right away when she died that I needed to serve a deeper purpose, that just working my corporate job was not going to do it for me anymore,” Starlight said. “And so bit by bit, I kind of followed this path of breadcrumbs of that unfolding.”
After losing her job due to budget cuts, Starlight turned her grief into helping others heal. She specializes in grief therapy and utilizes a multifaceted approach incorporating sound healing, energy work and aromatherapy.
Starlight says that Reiki fosters a supportive and comfortable space where individuals can release their worries, fears, and pain.
“One of the best things I found early on was just this simple advice that we all have over 100 gifts,” Starlight said. “And if you don't know what your gifts are, ask your friends. But if you want to be living your purpose, to share your gifts with other people every day.”
She acknowledges that dealing with individuals experiencing profound emotional pain and loss can be a heavy task, but her job is to listen and be there for her clients.
“It's very important as a healer that you're not taking responsibility to make someone feel better, I can't do that,” Starlight explained. “No one can do that for us, right? But just by sitting with you in it and allowing you to feel how you're feeling, you will naturally feel better.”
