Ivy Lee, the brilliantly inspiring woman behind Luminae Wellness, is an acupuncturist, herbalist, energy healer, and mother. With a profound gift for creating educational opportunities and holding space, she specializes in the cultivation of luminous health, fertility empowerment, and emotional alchemy. Always honoring the innate intelligence that resides within each of us, Ivy brings the wisdom of TCM to life through workshops, herbal offerings, and one-on-one healing sessions.
R+B: Welcome, Ivy! It’s such a pleasure to get to connect and there’s so much I want to ask you. To start, can you share about your journey to the present moment? What inspired you to become a channel for carrying forward this ancient tradition of medicine?
IL: I never imagined that life would lead me to where I am now. I grew up as a daughter of immigrant parents from Taiwan, who struggled with survival and making ends meet, so I was pressured into studying business in college and working a stable job in corporate. Yet from a young age, I was fascinated by and immersed in Chinese Medicine, Buddhism, yoga, herbalism, spirituality, and all kinds of healing traditions. I was constantly taking classes and learning from master teachers, just for my personal journey. Over time it became evident that I had a gift for healing, and after experiencing firsthand the high stress and numerous ailments of modern work and pace of life, I felt called to share the wisdom and ancient practices of Chinese Medicine to help my community.
That was when I took a leap of faith, quit my corporate job and went to get a Masters Degree in Chinese Medicine. I had a vision to practice acupuncture and Chinese Medicine in the way that I knew from my family culture, not a Western biomedical lens that is typical in the US, but rather as a whole framework of health and healing that interweaves the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of life. There were moments when I wasn't sure if this way of practicing would be accepted, but thankfully I had the courage to stay true to myself. Now looking back over the years, I am so grateful that my work and offerings have resonated well with so many people!
R+B: What an inspiring journey! You recently moved and expanded your practice, offering such a beautiful variety of workshops for people to gather, learn, and commune in the Berkeley hills! How do you balance entrepreneurship and motherhood with tending to your Yin?
IL: I know that how I feel affects everything that I do - my work, the way I show up in relationships, my ability to parent consciously, my experience day to day. Therefore I'm intentional about prioritizing my health. I make sure to eat nourishing meals, get restful sleep, receive regular acupuncture care, stay on top of my energetic practices, and do things that bring me joy. When I'm feeling good in my body, emotionally well, and connected to my spirit, then I'm able to creatively flow with each day and appreciate the blessings of life. For me, spending time with my young daughter is a priority, because ages 0-7 are so influential for a child's development. So that clarity sets clear boundaries for my business as it grows and expands.
I'm ok with letting go of certain ambitions, putting projects on hold for the future, or saying "no" to opportunities that aren't the best fit right now. I only say "yes" to things in my business if it feels easeful, aligned, impactful, inspiring, and enables me to still tend to my wellbeing and show up fully for my daughter.
R+B: That’s all so relatable! You speak about birth as one of life’s great initiations, and I couldn’t agree more. What were some of the practices that best prepared you for crossing that threshold?
IL: What best prepared me for birth was practicing surrender. Letting go of my analytical mind, and tuning into the somatic and intuitive feeling in my body. Being ok with not knowing things, and trusting my ability to learn and adapt on the fly. Embracing the unknown, and strengthening my spiritual connection. I knew that who I was and how my life looked would transform in becoming a mother, so I completely surrendered the attempt to dictate or control how that would unfold, and I allowed myself to be present in the process.
R+B: Supporting the constant recalibration of our energetics is a foundational aspect of TCM… can you speak to your energy healing work, and how it ties into this timeless concept of finding balance in polarity?
IL: This world is composed of both tangible matter and the unseen. I believe that the most effective approach to healing is to address both the physical and the energetic. Chinese Medicine has roots in Daoism and Shamanism from thousands of years ago, so we know that working with energy can influence the physical condition of the body. For example, it's incredible that a single acupuncture point can have indications for physical symptoms and also mental-emotional and spiritual disharmonies. I think more and more people these days are remembering that as humans we are by nature energetic beings, and therefore we're seeing a collective rise of energy healing modalities and consciousness work, and a desire to understand how that interplays with our health, physical reality, and experience of life.
R+B: We share a passion for empowerment, highlighting some of the ways we can reclaim our agency and enhance our felt sense of health with practices undertaken at home, from self massage to herbal medicine. I love that vaginal steaming is one of these practices for you. How have you witnessed the power of this luxuriant tool in honoring the female form?
IL: It's amazing how vaginal steaming has become more trendy in the last 10 years. Vaginal steaming has been historically practiced all over the world with local herbs, from Korea to Mexico. Keli Garza has done extensive research and has great resources to learn more. I've seen that vaginal steaming can help physically with issues like menstrual cramps, PMS symptoms, cysts and fibroids, and also energetically to release stuck emotions and connect to the womb as a sacred center of the body. Traditional practices remind us that there are things we can do to regularly care for our menstrual cycle and womb, to treat symptoms and more so to prevent symptoms and conditions from happening.
R+B: It’s such a joy to be featured on the shelves of the Luminae Space. Can you share a few words about why you chose the products you did?
IL:
Reishi Spore- Reishi mushroom is my favorite medicinal mushroom, for how it supports Qi, energy, and immunity, and also for how it benefits the Spirit, offering a sense of calm and clarity.
Shen Blend- The Summer season in Chinese Medicine is related to the Heart organ meridian system and the Shen, our understanding of the spirit or heart-mind consciousness, so this is naturally a great blend for this time of year.
Fifth Kingdom- I use this blend of medicinal mushrooms with cacao and chocolate–a lovely combination.
Pearl- Pearl is known in Chinese Medicine to brighten complexion, so I love using pearl in a topical facial mask along with clay and other botanical powders for skin radiance.
Rose- A beautiful heart medicine, I use rose in so many ways… I often draw upon rose when my heart is feeling heavy or I'm feeling emotionally stuck, it provides a gentle opening and embrace.
R+B: During this peak summer moment, would you tell us what’s lighting you up and what’s calming you down? How are you currently nourishing your own luminosity?
IL: It's all about the balance of yin and yang, so this summer I've been enjoying being in nature, slowing down and soaking up the energy of the sun, connecting with the wisdom of water as I swim in the rivers and oceans.
R+B: Thank you so much for this juicy conversation! Please share about any upcoming offerings, virtual or in person!
IL: My wellness space Luminae Wellness is located in Berkeley, California. Here we offer acupuncture, massage, sound healing, women's circles, workshops and events. You can find out more at www.luminaewellness.com and follow along at IG @theluminaespace, and you can connect with me personally at @luminaewellness.
