Between Smoke & Shadow is the space where the unseen meets the seen, where whispers of spirit rise like mist, and where the steady steps of the present are guided by the wild heartbeat of the past. This is my hearth and crossroads a place for stories, rituals, and truths that live between worlds.
My name is Nicole, and I walk a path woven from ancestral stories, plant magic, and creative fire.
I am a writer, deck creator, herbalist, and seeker a grandmother, mother, wife, and wild spirit learning to balance the steady rhythms of daily life with the untamed call of the soul.
For years, I’ve tended my work under the banner of Wild + Steady. This space, Between Smoke & Shadow, grew from a dream quite literally where two Great Dane guardians appeared, guiding me through the thresholds of shadow and transformation.
In my dream, two hounds appeared:
Shadow, black as midnight, loyal and fierce, stood at my side. Smoke, gray and liminal, walked ahead, clearing the unseen path. Together, they represent the presence of Hekate, the keeper of thresholds, and the guidance of the ancestors who walk beside me. They are here to remind me and you that we are never alone when we step into our truth.
In another dream, four animal spirits appeared: the Crane, Turtle, Bear, and Alligator. They embody balance and the four directions air, earth, water, and fire. These spirits, connected to Leto’s nurturing energy, now anchor my work, guiding the stories, rituals, and creations you’ll find here.
Whether you arrive in curiosity, seeking, or serendipity, you are welcome here. May the guardians walk beside you, the animal spirits guide you, and may you find a spark of your own wild truth Between Smoke & Shadow.
– Nicole 🌿✨
Between Smoke & Shadow 