HAWTHORN HIVE

CREATING THE HIVE

Hawthorn Hive is rooted in the belief that healing happens within connection—to ourselves, to one another, and to the natural world. Founded by Kari L. de Boer in 2019, the practice reflects the wisdom of the hive: collaborative, intentional, and grounded in community. Kari brings nearly 20 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist, supporting individuals of all ages in finding balance, building resilience, and reconnecting to their inner sense of wholeness.

In 2021, Kari brought her vision to Traverse City, creating a space where clients are gently supported in tuning in, mind, body, and spirit. Her work is informed by a humanistic and holistic framework, rooted in the belief that every person holds an innate capacity for growth, healing, and transformation. Clients are invited to slow down, listen inward, and explore life’s transitions with presence and self-compassion.

During the quiet of the global pandemic, Kari turned to clay, finding calm and creativity in the slow, mindful rhythm of pottery. This gave rise to Cicada Ceramics, her small-batch ceramics studio where she explores the beauty of functional art and shares that process with others. As a registered yoga teacher and certified mindfulness instructor, Kari integrates movement, breath, and creative expression into her therapeutic work, offering gentle, embodied pathways toward deeper awareness.

Kari is also a proud board member of the Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network, a nonprofit organization amplifying the arts through connection. She continues to offer karma yoga classes, volunteers with local schools and nonprofits, and deeply values being of service. 

This is a season of slowing for Kari, intentionally carving out time for stillness, mindful movement in nature, and tending to what nourishes her most. She enjoys life with her two children and two standard poodles, Pixie and Bodhi, while also dreaming forward. Her latest passion project, Hive Hills Hobby Farm, is an extension of the Hawthorn Hive vision where healing, creativity, and connection will one day come together in a natural, retreat-like setting for clients and community alike.

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