Being greeted by Lakshmi the elephant in India

I have had the great fortune of living what some would consider to be a mythic life, choosing to say “yes” to opportunities that were presented to me. And, I have also chosen to say “yes” to most of my internal callings.  Those callings, which I am sure are the nudges of the Holy Spirit, have led me through a rambunctious spiritual life. 

As you read my history below you will see text in italics.  Those are the words describing my professional life over the years.  I have added, in plain font, the story of how I became the author of the icons you see on this website.

Dr. LaChance was a noted speaker and consultant who specialized in creating change in personal health.  She was a registered nurse with over three decades of experience.  She received an A.A.S. in Nursing from Sinclair Community College, a B.S.N. and a M.S. in Rehabilitation Nursing/Community Health Nursing from Wright State University.  Rebecca received a Doctor of Nursing Science (D.N.S.) in health policy from Indiana University.

Her extensive career has included clinical, management, academic, state government, research and consultation experiences. Rebecca had a decorated military career in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.  She was one of the first two nurses selected for the prestigious Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Fellowship.  At the conclusion of her military career in 1997, LaChance started OMW Associates, a direct service healing and wellness company.  

In 1997, after leaving the Army, I attended a water color painting class at the local community college. I was so uninformed about the process of water color painting I asked the instructor when should I add water to the paints.  He replied, “Now would be a good time.”  That water color class provided the foundation for the works I now paint.

Rebecca combined her clinical and scientific knowledge with the wisdom of mind-body-spirit tenets to help individuals promote healing and develop their maximal health potential.

In all her experiences, she was actively involved in the care of the dying and their families.  She has been recognized for excellence in her research about how hospital personnel implement the advance directives of dying patients.

She has studied under, and been mentored by many Spiritual Masters of our time, including Christian Mystics, Native American Elders, a Buddhist monk in Burma and a Sufi teacher affiliated with a major mosque in Jerusalem.  She was tutored by and collaborated with a Hindu physician practicing alternative healing therapies in India.  During her time in India, LaChance learned about the healing technology, Esogetic-Colorpuncture ^TM. Returning home, she became certified as a Colorpuncture Practitioner and changed the name of her company to Illuminaré Healing and Wellness Care to reflect this new healing emphasis.

Dr. LaChance is a certified Esogetic Colorpuncture ^TM practitioner, a licensed HeartMath® provider, a certified Reiki Master, and an ordained minister.  She is also a certified firewalk instructor. (Dr. LaChance is an overachiever.)

In what has to be the cliché of modern spiritual life – the metaphoric cosmic 2 x 4 upside the head - I experienced a “trip” down the stairs of my office building. That trip landed me in the hospital with multiple fractures of my left ankle and a severe sprain (more like mangling) of my right ankle.  After a year of recovery, two surgeries, and much physical therapy, I found I no longer had any desire or energy to continue my healing practice.  I closed my practice, sold my office building and became a hermit for another year.

It was during this eremitic year that I went back to my childhood fascination with iconography.  Now, I devote my time to my own spiritual growth through the painting of icons.  Every icon I paint teaches me new things about myself, about the Divine and about the practical applications of spirituality into everyday life.  I have the precious gift of living as Rumi suggested:

            “Let the Beauty we love be the thing we do.”

I pray these icons will touch your heart as you would desire.