About Bonnie Ontko
Bonnie started her inner exploration early in life. In 1973, she read Ram Dass’ Be Here Now, cover to cover in one night. Everything changed. This launched an interest in Eastern philosophy that led to practicing Transcendental Meditation for decades, along with Art of Living’s Sudarshan Kriya breathing protocol. After exploring Vedic teachings, she joined the SYDA Foundation, held multiple leadership positions for a local Siddha Yoga Meditation Center, visited their ashram several times, and had the pleasure of hosting world-renown Brahman Priest, Sri Vivek Godbole, for private ceremonies (pujas) at her home.
But, for the last 15 years, Bonnie has devoted her heart, soul, time and energy to Shamanism and the exploration of various types of spirituality. Bonnie’s training includes the core aspects of South American shamanism, insights gained from a Huichol shaman, along with 5 years of study and training in Celtic and Norse spiritual traditions. Initiations into various types of plant medicine along with her shamanic practices have led to a deeper understanding of nature’s innate healing process, the energetic aspects of the natural world, the intelligence of Spirit, and the vastness and complexity of consciousness. Shamanism has offered an avenue for Bonnie to combine her interests in Metaphysics, Psychology, Energy Healing, Plant Medicine, Cosmology, and Consciousness all under a single umbrella. Her training with indigenous healers and personal practices have enhanced her natural intuitive abilities, and strengthened her bond with spirit. As a perpetual student, Bonnie has enhanced her shamanic background by learning the fundamentals of various magical systems, and esoteric principles.
As a shamanic practitioner, Bonnie is dedicated to creating a safe space for individuals, and small groups to heal, learn and share in the experience of applying shamanic psycho-spiritual perspectives to their lives.
Additionally, Bonnie accomplished a 10-yr technology career as a systems engineer, followed by a 20-yr career in Marketing Communications. She earned positions as Creative Director and Director of Marketing which included the production of over 20 websites, graphic design, animation, advertising and marketing collateral across multiple industries. She also had freelance businesses in both Interior Design and Graphic Design. In addition to creating course materials and this website, she keeps her artistic side alive with decoupage, furniture repurposing and crafting. Writing a book is on the horizon!
Credentials
15 years training/experience: Shamanic psycho-spiritual coaching
Training in Celtic and Nordic Shamanism, Mediumship & Magic
Training at the esteemed Four Winds Society & Foundation for Shamanic Studies
MA, Family & Interpersonal Communication Theory & Methodology
BA, Sociology/Psychology
Ordained Metaphysical Minister
Practice of Druidry
Certified Level I Hypnosis
Services Offered
Shamanic Life Coaching
Shamanic Illumination/Soul Archetype/Soul Retrieval/Integration
Curse & Spell Unraveling/Clearing of Negative Energies/Intrusions
Ancestral Healing
Nature Ceremonies & Celtic Holiday Celebrations
How Real Awakenings Began
The inspiration for the name “Real Awakenings” stems from Bonnie’s passion for keeping things real, accessible, practical and down to earth. There’s no sense in having a powerful spiritual insight or experience if it can’t be integrated and useful for daily living. Spending a lifetime on personal work herself, Bonnie took a deep dive into her Celtic ancestry to discover a combination of Welsh, Scottish, Irish & English. She comes from a long lineage of ministers, bishops, and preachers originating with 14th century Medieval Swiss Mennonites, also rooted in Celtic culture. By embodying the shamanic archetype of the wounded healer, Bonnie was inspired to take her shamanic experience, plant spirit knowledge, and a add a layer of Celtic Spirituality to create a new series of workshops. The scene on the home page depicts an early experience when sitting by a river during a Blue Moon. Thousands of Devas revealed themselves by filling up the entire canopy of trees arched over the river bank, morphing in and out of existence. The experience culminated with a full Kundalini surge.
The Triskele, one of the many ancient symbols of Celtic Shamanism, is the logo for Real Awakenings. Known as the Triple Spiral or Triskelion, it’s meaning is derived from “three legs” in Greek. It’s thought to represent motion as all three arms appear as if moving outwards from the center. The motion signifies energy of action, cycles, progress, revolution and competition, but the exact meaning differs depending upon the particular historical, cultural, or mythological context. Some connotations include life-death-rebirth, mind-body-spirit, mother-father-child, past-present-future, or creation-preservation-destruction. Shamans believe the spiral represents the 3 realms of existence: Lower, Middle and Upper Worlds. In Pagan traditions, it may also signify the 3 phases of a woman’s life, Maiden, Mother and Crone, and early Christians felt it represented the father, son and holy ghost.