Care Motika, Acutonics Faculty
“Everything is vibration. It is one thing to say that and quite another to feel that. Acutonics is such a powerful system that bypasses words and supports embodiment almost immediately. I love this about Acutonics and have never experienced anything else that grounds and embodies so quickly.” — Care Motika
We are thrilled to announce that Care Motika has joined the Acutonics faculty, completing her training to becoming an Acutonics Level I & II teacher in April. We first met Care in May of 2019, when she joined our Acutonics Level I & II Intensive at the Mothership in Northern New Mexico. She went on to study Level III with us here in New Mexico and Hygeia on Zoom. Care has a genuine curiosity, quest for knowledge, and natural warmth that shines through. We hope you enjoy getting to know Care through the following interview.
Originally from Southern California, Care relocated to the UK where she has continued her Acutonics studies with Joanie Solaini, who shared this perspective.
"It’s great news that Care is now teaching Acutonics—her students are lucky! She brings so much to this work—a wealth of experience as an acupuncturist and evergreen student of Oriental Medicine, an unusual depth cultivated through on-going inner work and study, and a nuanced and multi-layered curiosity and understanding of the various facets of the precious gem that is Acutonics. This is remarkable and would be enough, but in addition she possesses a warm and welcoming presence which has been a gift to have in class, and will surely be to the benefit of her clients and students. I’m glad she has taken the leap and am so pleased to have her as a colleague."
— Joanie Solaini, Acutonics Faculty
What were you like as a child?
As a child, I valued my friendships and the natural world. My friendships were not just with children my own age but a wide breadth of age. I had an elderly neighbor who was an artist and a dear friend. We would make pottery in her studio, and she really opened me to the magic of imagination.
My world was constantly creative from make-believe worlds with my brother to sewing clothes for my stuffed animals. I was involved in dancing and soccer. I loved singing and music and that ruled my life growing up. I can still remember years of my life based on the music that I was listening to and that influenced me greatly. My uncle was a meditator and noticed my interest in learning at age 9, and so he taught me Transcendental meditation. He asked a question at that time that always stuck with me and that was “do you think it is possible to create an orange out of thin air in the middle of the desert? For some reason I said “yes.” I have been pursuing consciousness ever since.
How has your family of origin influenced you?
My paternal grandmother is Slovenian, and I have been spending more time in the country learning about ancestral land, herbal medicine, and land art. I work with a Slovenian artist and Earth healer, called Marko Pagočnik who has informed and taught me much about earth energetics and how to work with land spirits and environments.
My mother’s ancestry is what brought me to the British Isles where I presently live. I have had the greatest fortune to be able to live in this amazing place for the last few years getting to know the land, sacred sites and standing stones. I have been privileged to work with Acutonics teacher and friend Joanie Solaini near Stonehenge, where she currently resides. It has been a gift to continue my work with Acutonics here in the UK and I have had the good fortune of taking the sound tools and practice across the world with me.
What type of professional training have you pursued?
I went to work at a young age having tested out of high school and never thought I would go the college route. Eventually, I went to the Tao Healing Arts School in the late 90’s and that was the first time that I felt truly seen and gifted at something. Being able to sense energy wasn’t something that people talked about, and it was in my late teens that I started to find my true calling. I was always interested in esoteric and metaphysical studies, and this was the first time I felt I had a community to explore it with. I had so many incredible teachers at the Tao Healing Arts School who inspired me to attend acupuncture college in my late 20’s. I studied at Emperors College and found the experience to be rewarding and launched me into my acupuncture practice and what I am presently doing today.
How has your work evolved over time?
I would say I am interested in the same things now as I was as a young person. I was aware that I was called to healing arts in my teens. I am surrounded by supportive community now and that has been the biggest change. Feeling support from the world around me and trusting myself.
I owned my own vintage store in my 20’s because I thought I wanted to be a costume designer for film. I have always been interested in history and how people dress and adorn themselves based on what is happening culturally, globally, politically, religiously, and environmentally. I still have an interest in ritual objects, jewelry, and adornment. I was always interested in storytelling and narrative and now I use the story of the Five Phases and acupuncture points to drive my creativity and imagination. I also use the story of Acutonics via the Music of the Spheres and the archetypes that are connected.
What led you toward an interest in Acutonics?
Music and sound led me to Acutonics. I was in a class with Acutonics practitioner Carol Cobine, who had brought forks with her. She let me experiment and start putting forks on her. She was so supportive and encouraged my affinity to sound healing. She then told me that a Level I and II was being taught at the Mothership. I jumped at the chance to study with Donna and Ellen. This was also when I met Joanie Solaini, who was there by the greatest luck to film the first level. It was by far one of the best decisions I have made… one that has changed the course of my life.
What about Acutonics appeals to you?
Everything is vibration. It is one thing to say that and quite another to feel that. Acutonics is such a powerful system that bypasses words and supports embodiment almost immediately. I love this about Acutonics and have never experienced anything else that grounds and embodies so quickly.
And WOW. The magnitude is too vast to put into words. It is a shift in awareness and an ability to be softer in life. When I can see that there are patterns and archetypes and everything is energy... it lightens my grip on things. It helps me let go of the need to control and not take things so personally. In my work I used to plan and think about what I was going to do. Now I just listen and see what jumps out… a fork, a chime, a pulse, a tone… something always comes and Acutonics has helped me with that allowing.
Is there anything unique about your approach to working with Acutonics?
I think Acutonics is universal and belongs to everyone. I feel my work in ecology and earth energetics has shifted my practice and work. Acutonics supports that deeply and the more I pivot and grow, I feel Acutonics is right there with me. It moves with me, and I move with it. I feel that I am in relationship with the process and unfolding of Acutonics. It isn’t stationary but rather a living breathing system. Acutonics is trademarked and a finite modality sure, but I think it is the dynamic relationship that is formed with a practitioner that brings it to life.
Are you combining the Acutonics methodology with other modalities?
Yes, I use acupuncture needles, flower essences, and energy healing. I am particularly in love with the gem tips, and they are my constant. I am working on case reviews to tune into how they correlate to planets and energetics.
Prior to Acutonics what types of integrative health care modalities did you practice/teach?
Prior to Acutonics, I had experience with trauma informed care and biodynamic cranial sacral. I feel Acutonics is supportive for the trauma work I have done and felt connected to Ellen’s thesis on “Compassion Fatigue” and further work with the Self-Care protocol. It feels aligned as gentleness and repair are the greatest focus of my work.
Are there other things you incorporate into your Acutonics practice?
I am working on integrating my work in ecological repair with Acutonics. I am working on a course to help explain this better to practitioners and patients alike.
Are people receptive to what you’re doing? What sort of results have you seen?
People are very receptive. The world is chaotic and an hour treatment or even 30 minutes in community clinic is so needed for everyone. Clients experience increased presence, embodiment, grounding, more clarity, longer lasting change, shifts in possibility, bringing up shadow material, support with letting go, and on and on…
Are there things you enjoy doing for fun and relaxation?
I have a hard time with fun. I am working on it! That is one of my priorities this summer. I love and enjoy dancing. It brings me a lot of freedom. I love listening to music and spending time with my friends. I have been enjoying hosting people and cooking them food. As a caretaker it is hard for me to receive. I have been practicing this too and looking forward to this being more second nature.
What’s next for you?
What’s next is grounding even deeper into my work and life here in the UK. I would like to offer sound healing field trips to sacred sites and support people in listening to the music of the land. It has a very particular song that can help people heal and listen more deeply to their soul.
Care currently lives in Winchester and practices at a healing space and shop called Spirals in Bruton, Somerset. She is accepting new clients and thrilled to be offering Community Acupuncture. She can be contacted through her website, caremotika.com or by email at motika.care@gmail.com