About the Team

Jeannie Zandi

Queen of Hearts

Jeannie is a spiritual teacher, writer, mother and revolutionary of the heart called to serve the lived expression of the divine through the liberation of the human heart. A year before the birth of her daughter, Jeannie was plunged into a dark night of the soul that culminated in a radical shift of consciousness. She is known for her fearless clarity, tender mercy toward humanness, and a juicy, poetic and often humorous style that draws from Advaita Vedanta, Sufism, Christian mysticism and the ongoing revelation of fully engaged living.

For more about Jeannie, visit here.

Leif Hughes

Guide & Knight of the Realm

With Living as Love since its inception in 2007, Leif has worn many hats with the organization including planning and operations. Leif took on a ministerial role with his ordination in 2015. Previous to Living as Love, Leif was a principle member and minister for American spiritual teacher Neelam’s organization, Fire of Truth. His lifelong passion for world religions and spirituality has taken him through Europe, Central America and India, where he was the volunteer coordinator for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and his Art of Living Foundation.

Amy Norris

Goddess of Operations

Amy is passionate about making a difference and thrives in an environment where she can wear many hats. Her warm heart and detail-oriented nature help her give a deep and sensitive level of support to all who are involved with Living as Love. Amy has an AA in Business Administration, has studied photography, and is a certified yoga teacher. Her varied career includes: small business development and policy; management and recruitment; client connection and care; employee training and support, as well as customer service. Amy volunteers co-leading an international women’s online community, enjoys time with her family and friends, time in nature, and has a deep passion for writing, reading and exploring life as authentically as possible.

Deviki Shioshita

Priestess of Spaceholding

Holding space for people in Jeannie's committed programs since 2018, Deviki now offers individual spiritual guidance sessions to support Jeannie's students in their work of embodiment. In addition to her love for Jeannie's work, Deviki's spiritual path has been deeply impacted by the grace of being with Papaji and Gangaji, as well as by her involvement with the Waking Down in Mutuality work, in which she served as a mentor. Deviki holds a deep, sweet and compassionate space of presence as she supports people in exploring their experience of the present moment. She is a registered nurse who has worked in psychiatric and chemical dependency settings and is a trained practitioner of Inner Relationship Focusing.

To inquire about a session, email Deviki.

Elysabeth Benedict

Empress of Embodiment

Elysabeth sees the body as a portal to and expression of the Infinite. Her background in physical therapy, somatic psychology, and massage therapy launched her into the healing arts. Finding Jeannie in 2008, she felt deeply held in presence for the first time. From that safety and deep witness in community, she could access and release the developmental trauma held in her system. Jeannie’s embodied work has been an anchor and guidepost in Elysabeth’s bodywork practice for 14 years; and Jeannie’s Leading as Love course was a catalyst for her founding the Women’s Embodiment Collective in Nashville, TN.

She offers both hands-on and distance sessions, providing a safe sacred space and intuitive guidance for those interested in receiving body-based, focused support.

You can contact her through her website: www.elysabethbenedict.com