My name Samantha is of Aramaic origin and means "God's Listener". Inspired by my grandfather's name Samuel and Samantha Stephens, the legendary nose twitching witch on the beloved TV Classic "Bewitched", my given name is a very fitting combination that combines my natural inclination for all things mystical & magical, acting & performance, ancestral honoring, and holding compassionate space in personal and group settings. Thanks Mom & Dad!

I am passionate about the power of storytelling, ancestral healing, & intentional gathering to inspire personal growth & collective progress. My mission with Hands of Mercury is to weave this core belief into my personal and group offerings as a multi-disciplinary guide & facilitator.

I was born in Tampa, Florida and raised in Portland, Oregon from twelve years old onward. My ancestral roots are Puerto Rican, Ecuadorian, and Sephardic Jewish on my Mother's side, and Northern German on my Father's side. My work in the Tarot and Astrology space started when I was a teenager, absorbing the writings and wisdom of Rachel Pollack, Liz Greene, Alan Oken, Chris Brennan, Richard Tarnas, and more. After moving to Los Angeles and attending conscious festivals like Lightning in a Bottle, Symbiosis, and Burning Man in my early 20s, I was inspired to continue walking the path of self discovery, community building, and facilitation while pursuing acting.

From there I expanded into the healing modality of Reiki, becoming certified in Reiki Level III at Santa Monica College in 2018 and receiving additional attunements from Aki Hirata Baker and Manu Del Prete of Minka Brooklyn in 2021. I began holding bi-monthly moon circles in Los Angeles in 2018, shifting to the virtual space during the pandemic. I have had the privilege to provide Tarot and Astrology readings for one on one clients, retreats, corporate functions, parties, and entertainment industry folk for close to a decade now.

In August of 2021, my partner and I decided to jump into international travel. In 2022, we found ourselves spending six months on the breathtaking and sacred shores of Lake Atitlán, Guatemala where I had the honor and opportunity to learn under Mayan maestros at Lavalove Cacao the ancient wisdom of the Mayan Cosmovision, as well as the facilitation of Cacao Ceremony. I began hosting weekly astrology and improv workshops at the internationally acclaimed eco resort Eagles Nest Atitlán. The lake also graced me with a Human Design teacher and mentorship with Chaitanyo Taschler, one of the original students and masters of this system for the past three decades. From January - March 2022 I devoted myself to more cacao and ceremonial study with my Mayan teachers, as well as facilitating workshops with Tata Walter Quiacain bridging the Mayan Cosmovision and Western Astrology.

The Meaning Behind Hands of Mercury

Mercury is the celestial body that rules over Gemini and Virgo. Mercury is associated with the Roman god Mercury and Greek god Hermes. Hermes was considered the only god who could cross between the physical and spirit world and known as the "Messenger to the Gods". Mercury traditionally rules over the hands on the human body as well. As a Virgo Rising with Mercury in Gemini, I resonate with the energy of Mercury that moves through my work which involves effective communication, using my hands during energy work, and bringing healing messages and moments to others.

Hence, Hands of Mercury was born!

© Hands of Mercury, 2023. All rights reserved

Photos by Ben Kalra Photography

Painting Source Unknown