Echoes of Gratitude : Heartfelt Reflections
A Collection of Cherished Testimonials from our Journey Together
I am truly grateful to the vibrant Bend community, which is rich in collaboration and engagement, and is dedicated wholeheartedly to healing through various forms of art, music, and creative expression. It is your enthusiastic participation and support that make such a significant impact. I am thankful for your kind appreciation and heartfelt testimonials, as they inspire us to continue our work in promoting wellness and mindfulness.
Genesis hosted a New Year's Awakening: Nature Mandala event that invited children and their guardians to come together to set intentions and create beautiful nature mandalas. Genesis created a space that allowed participants to relax and really tune in to what their hearts were communicating while fostering a nurturing guardian/child bonding experience. Thank you Genesis!
Hanai Team
Genesis provides a serene opportunity to listen deeply and hear our Souls speaking thru our precious personalities. If you are choosing to enliven your relationship with Self Love and the contributions your love-filled Presence provides others, gather with Genesis in any of her offerings. Participating IN community, WITH community at this level is sacred & joyful!
Donna Wolf ~ Energy Resonance Practitioner
Sound Bridging, Biofield Tuning, & Healing Angel Protocol
Whether with words or thoughts, my mind is constantly soothed by the memories that our experiences together evoke. I believe that my favorite, always, is the experience a large group of us had while we were remembering your mother with you. That experience on a cold winter day in late 2022 was absolutely amazing. The persons involved were professional and the program flowed with the feel of a summer breeze. I remember you, most of all, greeting each participant with the natural kindness and love that you so generously share. Your easy way of gliding about the rooms touching hearts is enviable and contagious. The take-away, for me, is the word courage. I know that the event was a deeply emotional work for you and you were not daunted by the difficulty of it.
I'm so proud of you!
Ted Engstrom
I attended Genesis's book launch for her poetry book and was just so moved at the depth of meaning to her words. She created a space for quiet reflection into our own lives. It was a sweet, wonderful evening and I'm so glad I attended.
Suzanne Landry
Chef & Culinary Educator
Author of "The Passionate Vegetable" and "Fresh Food Matters"
Genesis passion in creating meaningful workshops and experiences is truly inspirational.
I had the honor of doing a holiday photo shoot with her and it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had. I’m not one that typically likes my photo taken, so to be in the presence of her energy, which was so caring, supportive and encouraging was absolutely magical! She puts so much time, effort and care into guiding you through what will be one of the most memorable times of your life.
Wendy Wilson
Awakened Earth Essentials Inc.
I recently experienced Bliss Chain’s Elystral Passage.
From the moment I walked through the door I was greeted with warm hugs and compassionate smiles,
which calmed my doubts and hesitations and gave me a deep sense of belonging that filled my weary soul.
I was surrounded by people who were all on their paths toward healing and renewal.
The lovely environment set the tone of tranquility, the guitar, harp and Native American flute music was
soothing and uplifting and gave us space for reflection and contemplation.
We danced with colorful silk scarves with joyful abandon, we painted with watercolors using our hands, like children at play.
We shared stories of heartache and loss which was received and honored with tender compassion.
I left feeling lighter with profound joy in my heart that I haven’t felt in quite a while.
I look forward to the next Bliss Chains offering as I continue my journey toward healing the wounds of my heart.
Susanne Frilot
Rimrock Trails
Community Engagement Team Member
I had a fantastic experience attending Blisschain's event "Painting with Nature's Gift." Genesis is a Master of guiding participants through thoughtful and deeply connective ceremony and discussion. We shared from our hearts, and then playfully created mandalas using natural items harvested locally. It was fulfilling and gently transformative. 5/5, I'm certain I will attend more Bliss Chains events.
Russell Simpson
Reuse All Detritus LLC Founder
Unity Spiritual Community of Central Oregon, Board Member
Around the Bend Farms, non profit, Executive Lead Designer
The Elystral Passage was a deeply harmonious and peaceful gathering where every connection felt genuine and heart-centered. I was immediately drawn to the fragrance of lilacs—one of my favorite flowers—and it seemed perfectly aligned with the spirit of the day, inviting me to breathe in both the scent and the shared presence around me. The heart connection among participants lingered for many days afterward, something rare to feel so strongly in a group. Everyone was open, embracing, and filled with grace. I’ve shared with others how healing and liberating it was to paint with my fingers and dance with a scarf—acts that invited pure joy and freedom. Though I can be quite shy, I didn’t feel that way during the passage; instead, I felt vibrant, connected, and truly alive. Surrounded by creative souls and open hearts, we allowed the art of life to color our world, if only for a little while.
Elystral Passage Experience – Testimonial by Aaron Tani
Bliss Chains :Transformative Photography
featuring Unity Spiritual Community
It was a time when my grief was slowly emerging due to the genuine connections I have experienced in this community. I believe that Reverend Jane Hiatt offered the Prosperity class as a way to address blockages and hindrances of prosperity in each of our lives. Many have endured lost livelihood, loved ones, family ties, and feelings of depression and resentment. There was an undeniable need for connection and Reverend Jane was our willing conduit to communally embrace this challenge.
This literary effort passes behind the polished and opulent facade we all create and display. It is a deep dive into the pressing reality we were facing, and exploring creative ways on how we could redefine this time of reset for ourselves.
My act of redefinition was to create Bliss Chains, a world beyond corporate culture. This is a center of activity where I embrace everything about my life. Bliss Chains is founded by three principles: compassion to oneself, connection with others, and cultivating joy by engaging in artistic play. This project is the summation of the affirmative ways I have been compassionate towards myself, am continually connecting with others by being present, and taking life lightly & joyfully by engaging in play. Photography by Genesis G Ilada.
Genesis Ilada, the founder and inspiration behind Bliss Chains LLC is a living emanation of bliss and love. No matter what she turns her hand to, it is done with beauty, care, and a passion to inspire. Her gentle caring shines through her poetry, her art, her classes, her photography, her conversations. I would, without hesitation, endorse anything that is coming from Bliss Chains, knowing it will carry Genesis’s special grace.
Rev Jane Hiatt
Retired Senior Minister, Unity Spiritual Community of Central Oregon
I love Genesis. I love her gentle but clear, authentic expression of beauty, love, and creativity. I trust her. It was a beautiful, lovingly intimate experience as she did my make-up and my hair, as she offered a dress that I would never wear on my own but that felt just right, as she gently encouraged me to move, to dance, as she taught me how to breathe and let my smile come on the exhale.
I felt a subtle inner shift into my authentic inner beauty, a willingness to go there and to let myself be seen. That shift has stayed with me as a deeper sense of confidence in the beauty of who I am, and more trust in expressing that into my world.
I believe that true prosperity is the return, the gift received from true authentic expression. It is opening up fully to God’s love, trusting in the goodness and bounty of life, allowing it in as I express all of who I AM. I’m very grateful to Genesis for my experience with her, to the shift that allows me to express more authentically and fully in my life, to feel and express my beauty, to open more fully to my life.
Sarah Jones
Spiritual Companion | Unity Spiritual Community of
Central Oregon, President
I had a fantastic transformational photography session with Genesis. She made me feel beautiful and empowered, and happy with my appearance in a way I had rarely felt before. The whole experience, of having her do my hair and makeup, dressing me in fun & fashionable garments, then guide me through modeling for the photos, in various beautiful locations around my town, was wonderful. The resulting photos are excellent and I will use them and share them. I feel much more confident, beautiful, and prosperous thanks to her session.
Russell Simpson
Reuse All Detritus LLC Founder
Around the Bend Farms, non profit, Executive Lead Designer
I felt like I had been transformed into a super star for the day! I was feeling blissed & blessed and in touch with my divine feminine nature all the while having so much fun and pure JOY!!! I felt loved in an expansive way, a bonding with Mother Earth, a feeling of being SO in love with life! So much gratitude to Genesis’s superpower of being intuitively gifted to connect with a deep intuitive knowing as to what features were most desiring to shine.
Thanks, Genesis, for revealing my light, true essence, and
beauty, which all have been hidden for way too long!
Joy Belonga
Joy of Well-being Practitioner | Rewilding Guide
3P Mentor | Eden Energy Medicine
The photo session made me feel beautiful, seen and had the added gift of photos for my new website. Every time I have a client reach out to me, I feel as though it is because they saw a part of the real me in those photos.
I am grateful that Genesis spent time and was able to capture the real me.
Reverend Tamera Schmidt
CEO of Enlightened Coach
Co-founder of Outsmart Brain Cancer
Genesis kindly prepared my skin, hair, and makeup before a photo session. Her caring, gentle, professional demeanor made the process relaxing and fun. She also took the photos! I was impressed with her talents in choosing settings and her ability to coach me during the photography session.
Tally Annette Nelson
Environmentalist
I think we all know Genesis has a caring, gentle and accepting way with everyone she meets. Her kindness settles in more and more as you spend time with her, almost like being wrapped in a cozy banket. The photo session just showed me these qualities in a more personal way. She is reassuring, complimentary and encourages our best selves to come out via photography. With Genesis’ calm demeanor and vision for the photo shoot, I found it was easy to relax and embrace both my inner and outer beauty as she worked her magic. She has a way of capturing the light and essence of every human, so even when I jumped into my “alter ego” photos of a woman dressing and acting so differently than my everyday self, I could be playful with what I wanted to put out there. We spent a lot of time together laughing, so the whole experience was a blast!
Jill Nishball
Regional Program Coordinator
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
I experienced deep gratitude during the photo session. I was touched and appreciative that Genesis and Russell were so generous with their time and talent and so warm and positive through the whole shoot.
As a small business-person I know the monetary value of a professional photo session. This session was particularly special because we included my dog Freya, AKA LottaDog, who just days later would make her transition.
It is very sweet to have some pics of her enjoying her day.
Reverend Cylvia Hayes
Founder and Senior Minister, The ReThink Ministry
Author of TRANSCEND
Author, When Life Blows Up: A Guide to Peace, Power and Reinvention
