Meet Elizabeth Etienne
Inspired by big visions and deep connection,
I am a cultural producer devoted to developing spaces, formats, and partnerships that enable people to connect to nature and themselves, while streamlining the logistics of child-care and livelihood.
After 20 years designing exhibitions and visitor experiences in various Bay Area Museums, I’m aiming to establish a more impactful type of “cultural center” in our community- one that deeply benefits and integrates into our daily lives.
Enchanted Lands is that center and Creekside Center is our first iteration.
My role is multi-faceted:
Providing inspiring indoor and outdoor spaces for YOUR work and practice to thrive.
Engaging creatively and spiritually ambitious practitioners, teachers, makers and do-ers.
Holding the collaborative, iterative process that will ensue as we shape programs and construct a fabric of support that makes sense in our lives.
Anchoring and nurturing daily connection to self and nature via sliding-scale, morning practices.
Enabling you and your family to participate by providing kid-counselors and youth programs.
Inspiration and community support are the medicine we need to grow stronger, more connected families and less isolated, more enjoyable lives.
At Enchanted Lands, we bring these things together into one productive, enriching, spirit-filled setting.
My Story
Immersive experiences have always been my lifeblood: losing myself in a good project, a long walk in a beautiful place, deep meditation, great conversation, the intoxication of movement and dance....
After becoming a mother, I came to understand how challenging it can be to hold onto a train of thought, much less maintain a spiritual practice or pursue a creative ambition. The childcare logistics, cost of living, and the multitude of priorities tested my mental health and strained my family. However, I was also introduced to an entire “underground” economy of women-supporting-women as they become mothers... and even when they don’t - midwives, doulas, herbalists, post-partum health and sexuality specialists, mental health professionals, childcare providers, educators… the list goes on. Finally, I came to understand that 40 hours a week and a commute wasn’t gonna cut it anymore…
After 20 years of being active in Bay Area professional, cultural, creative and wellness communities, I know families across the board are more than ready for a solution to a seemingly impossible problem: How can we work together to care for our families without sacrificing our own well-being?
I look forward to co-creating with you!
What I Practice
Inherently non-dogmatic, my personal practice is informed by the traditions of Yoga & Ayurveda, Buddhism, Christianity, sacred movement, popular dance and plant medicine. Additionally, as a cradle-Catholic and a lifelong nature lover, I gain a deep sense of security from observing seasonal cycles and holidays, maintaining a home altar and anchoring into family lineages. Above all, it is the archetype of the Mother -- nurturing, creative and in relationship with her children -- that holds and supports my work and what I will share with you.
What People Are Saying
“Elizabeth, the founder of Enchanted Lands, has taken her years of nurturing, healing and listening and put it together in this wonderful program that responds to the needs of caregivers in creativity, spirit and community. Enchanted Lands is a model of how we can work and be well at the same time.”
— Danielle S.
Artist, Entrepreneur, Mother
“Elizabeth is a gracious, grounded community-builder skilled at both relationships and logistics. Working with her is always a joy.”
— Laura Eliasieh
Writer, Historian, PhD and Mother of Two
“I met Liz a short lifetime ago in a yoga training. We met as spiritual seekers and over the past decade have grown a friendship rooted in spirituality, love of Nature, motherhood and the desire to create.
For years, she shared her vision of a collaborative space where families could work and play in Nature and community.
It is so inspiring and nourishing to see this vision of a co-working creative space for us moms and our little ones come to life, not at some future time but now, when it is so needed!”
—Chrisandra Fox-Walker
Ayurvedic Health Counselor, Postpartum Health Consultant, Yoga Teacher and Mother of Three