Old Wisdom Arts

By appointment only in Manayunk, Philadelphia.

OWA is the private practice of Licensed Massage Therapist, Herbalist & Ayurvedic Practitioner, and Tarot Reader, Ally Gobi.

07/05/2023

Intentional sweating makes some of the crust I’m prying off my psyche feel like real and tangible shedding.

It’s a ritual. Tie a mental process to a practice in-the-world and boom: you are making things manifest.

And no: I’m not referring to magical thinking like the ‘law of attraction’ — we do not live in a world where the conditions are right for such a ‘law’.

The magnitudes of privilege it takes to occupy space unhindered by our s**tty dominator culture is massive.

🪡 I’m talking about an actually helpful strategy to deal with the unfairness of life. To stitch up your tattered and tired soul and create scaffolding in your story. To animate it and make it sacred. And worth living.

It takes practice and discipline but most of all heart.

I hope I can start to share a little more as I unfurl inside this cocoon.

But one thing I can offer right now? Bodywork. Massage Therapy. If you are in Philadelphia, especially Manayunk, and you’re tired to the fking bone: I can help you with that. And a bunch of other stuff. My table is waiting (and my book is temporarily open for new and returning clients). Link in bio.

There’s nothing like nourishing your nervous system in times as they are.
❤️✨🌈

04/11/2023

WATER: some elemental wisdom for your week.

Something I have been thinking about when it comes to these metaphorical languages of cosmology, physiology, and spirit surrounds this sense of fluidity. The language is always in movement: culturally, collectively, and in the individual. It doesn't mean there aren't rules. That the structure doesn't matter. Or that water ascribed to different symbols breaks the code.

It's just the universe of discourse you're inhabiting.

That's why it also makes sense to be careful when trying to equate the symbolic architecture of wisdom tradition to concrete things-in-the-world. Traditional medicine and biomedicine. The parallels are ASTOUNDING. But it's not always a one-for-one situation.

That doesn't mean anything is broken. You can describe the same thing in many languages. But to limit confusion it helps to get solid in one understanding first -- especially when it comes to wisdom systems (ex. Western vs. Vedic astrology, Traditional Chinese Medicine vs. Ayurveda).

If this is your type of magic(k)? Please share save it, share it, spread the love of wisdom. And ask questions! My obsession knows no bounds -- take advantage!

07/05/2022

In the water element I am *feeling* (hello Tarot suit of CUPS!) a desire for embodiment and exploration -- inner and outer. I'm letting go of my need to intellectualize everything so that I can get at the heart of what is keeping me stuck. Yes: systemic oppression, tyrannic governmental structures, and all things hegemonic-ally holding us down need to be addressed. But if you are like me, the stuckness doesn't go away when I fight harder.
The old wisdom piece here is the language. Understanding how to navigate the world in these metaphorical cosmologies is NOURISHING. It is a universe of discourse outside of the ones we venerate in this timeline. Indeed sometimes we foolishly malign it -- I definitely get triggered by reductionist skeptics making light of humoural medicine as if folks of its time period believed there was a *physically manifest* structure for everything they described. On the contrary they were just able to hold animistic ideologies simultaneously with scientific ones. By now we've desiccated everything as to remove all its binding, nourishing MOISTURE. What is left to hold us together? You don't get to taste without WATER, y'all. What gorgeous, fertile, abundant life are we missing out on? How can we take our sumptuousness back from our dusty oppressors? Animating our ideologies is one way.
The work that is sustaining me and my family right now is HAPPENING my loves. Grab an herbal and mindfulness infused deep tissue therapeutic massage session to get back in that body, or order a Tarot reading to get at the root of your stuckness. I wanna be here for you and I am. Hit my DMs anytime.
Link to my services in my bio!

07/01/2022

I AM BACK. And if you’re just excited and wearied by the verbosity all you gotta do is check the link in my bio to see what I've got for you.

So here I am, sitting in a pool of skepticism that is veritably drowning my joy, and I’m like: you know what would be good in this situation? Magick. Mfing magick. Yes, with a k. That ritual-making, life-processing, purpose-driving s**t. What does that mean? I am re-opening Tarot readings! Except this time I’m doing written/email only. I will happily include audio if that is your jam. But I’m a writer, y’all. And magick and writing are tools I feel like I can offer to the resistance.

What about massage tho? Yes, I’m taking massage therapy appointments — get yourself one at
bit.ly/allyisback or check the link in my bio. Come and get your physical body back in some semblance of order and comfort.

And watch this space! More stuff coming oh so soon. Much love!

Address

Manayunk Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
19128

Website

http://bit.ly/oldwisdomarts

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Hey: I’m Ally and I’m here for you.

If you’re here ‘cause you want to feel better, there’s a good chance I can help. I am ready to serve you in the gorgeous hills of Philly: the Manayunk-Roxborough neighbourhood. My space is filled with herbs and books and sacred things, waiting to welcome you into a good, healing deep breath. Or maybe a sigh? Let’s start there. And yep, this is a by-appointment situation. Evidently to receive massage therapy you need to be on my table, but appointments for wellness consultations & tarot readings are available both in person and online. To learn more about what to expect when you visit, see oldwisdomarts.com.