(Bobby Gene Mike has passed away. She will be greatly missed by her Rogers Park neighbors.)

They say the journey to find your lost self begins with one step. Eight years ago, I took one step into Isis Rising, a spiritual books store, and discovered something more special than any of the books there, Bobby Gene Mike. She wore a cowboy hat and a wise smile. I told her my story and she helped me to discover the beauty and strength in me.Bobby Gene Mike, now 76, is a shaman, writer, psychic, painter, jeweler in Rogers Park.  Her mission in life is to help people help themselves. "I want to make people feel better about themselves.  I walk around telling people to smile 80 % of the people smile, 10% frown and others look like I am asking them for something. I do it to make them feel better.

At her storefront studio and shop located on Glenwood in Rogers Park, Bobby is open for business. She divides her time between writing, teaching writing, providing psychic readings and Shamanic counseling.

Shamanism is a sacred tradition of healing, Bobby learned from her Mohawk elders, inspite of being raised away from her tribe. From the age of six, she was raised in a catholic boarding school away from her mom and her tribe in a small town in Vermont. This was a common practice to make Native American children more "white". Bobby says "I am proud to be Native American. I like who I am." Author of five books, currently, Bobby Gene is working on preserving Native American history and myth. Her first effort in a series of books is called Cherokee History With Myths.  Bobby wants to supplement traditional history books with her own to children in elementary schools. Bobby seeks an experienced federal grant writer to help locate funding for this project. Below is a sample of writing from Cherokee History With Myths:

"The history of the Cherokee nation is one of pride, bitterness, defeat and success. The Cherokees have suffered many losses in the last three to four hundred years in their contact with the white race, but through it all they have maintained their cultural heritage which is their birthright."

Bobby Gene's birthright seems to involve giving advice.  For as long as she can remember, people have been coming to her for advice. This writer came to Bobby Gene for advice for the first time eight years ago. I had returned to Chicago after five years in Boston. I was glad to be home but was having doubts about direction and focus of my life. Bobby said "Eve you are going to be alright, just relax. Rest and look inside yourself for some answers." She gave me some meditation techniques and said "trust you Eve". Looking back on it, I feel at that moment in my life, I needed some assurances that I had made the right decision to move back to Chicago.  Bobby gave words of encouragement and validation rather than telling me what I needed to do. She saw that I had strength inside of me that I could not feel at the time.  Thank you for that Bobby.

Bobby Gene encourages clients to like themselves. "You have a lot of good likeable qualities, analyze them and write them down.  It might surprise you what you come up with, maybe a few pages." Bobby encourages clients to connect with themselves and nature.  "I encourage clients to find a big tree, find a spot on tree and then sit there for a while to give you peace. It is important to give yourself the ability to accept peace."
Bobby asks that people give whatever they feel is right for her services.