07/14/2026
One of the greatest gifts in creating The Gathering has been finding someone whose heart and vision so beautifully align with my own.
It is my honor to introduce Michelle Briggs. From the very beginning, I knew I wanted someone who shared a deep respect for nature, a passion for helping others reconnect with themselves, and a belief that healing happens through meaningful experiences, intentional presence, and authentic connection.
I couldn't imagine a more perfect person to walk alongside me on this journey, and I'm so excited for you to get to know this incredible woman.
Michelle Briggs is the founder of A Paw Above LLC and the visionary behind Pawz & Soul Sanctuary™, an emerging Conservation & Healing Sanctuary rooted in the belief that people, animals, and the Earth heal together.
For more than 25 years, Michelle has dedicated her life to the care and well-being of animals and the people who love them. Her journey began in veterinary medicine and professional pet care, where a deep love and respect for animals became the foundation of her life's work.
As life presented both profound joys and personal challenges, Michelle found herself on a deeply personal quest to better understand healing, not only for herself, but for all living beings. That journey ignited a lifelong passion for learning integrative healing modalities and discovering how nature, energy, sound, and compassionate presence can help support the body's innate ability to heal.
Today, Michelle is a Usui Ryoho Reiki Practitioner and Teacher, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner and Teacher, Sound Healing Practitioner, Forest Therapy Facilitator, Pure Bio Energy Practitioner, and an honors graduate in Aromatherapy from the American College of Healthcare Sciences. While she values every certification she has earned, she believes her greatest teachers have been life's experiences, the animals she has loved and cared for, and the quiet wisdom found in the natural world.
A lifelong learner, devoted animal advocate, and lover of nature, Michelle's greatest passion is creating meaningful experiences where people can reconnect with themselves, discover the gentle wisdom of animals, and deepen their relationship with the living Earth.
Michelle is honored in weaving together healing, conservation, and stewardship, creating spaces where people, animals, and the land are all recognized as essential partners in the healing journey.
Her guiding philosophy is simple:
We are not owners of this land; we are its caretakers.
🌿Healing Hearts • Restoring Habitats • Inspiring Stewardship🌿