interview by Jess McCuan . photo by Anthony Bellemare

Name: Robin Black Walder

Age: 39

You’re wearing great beads. Where did you get them? I made these from hematite. It’s a healing stone. When you wear a long strand, it gives you a sensation down your back. When people put these on, they drop their shoulders and straighten their posture.

Do you always wear beads? I tend to only wear medallions. That’s where I get my power.

Even when you go into labor? Believe it or not, I really like labor and birth. I always wear my beads. Something with the breath symbol—it’s all about breathing and letting your body go.

So it seems like most of what you do is about building awareness. Yes. I like to think that the things I do put me one step closer to awakening.