Meet Our Board of Directors
Jessica Riphenburg
Community Weaver, Ceremonialist, Teacher, Shamanic Practitioner and Founder of SACRED THREAD™
Jessica has been practicing shamanism since 2011 and serving full-time as a Shamanic Practitioner since 2019. With hundreds of hours of formal training in both Core and Peruvian shamanism, she approaches her work with deep respect for cultural integrity, the wisdom of lineage, and a commitment to treading gently upon our Mother Earth.
Jessica has earned the nickname “The Great Connector” for her gift of bringing people together in meaningful, heart-centered ways that create lasting ripple effects beyond the circle itself.
At the heart of her vision for SACRED THREAD™ is a vision of the modern village: a community gathering to share, heal, celebrate, and tend to the sacredness of Life together.
Meagan Mac Ionnrachtaigh
Board Member, Yoga Teacher, Chef, Massage Therapist,Womb Continuum Care Practitioner
Meagan has been developing her skills in the healing arts specifically massage/body work, yoga, cooking and Ipsalu Tantra for close to 10 years with the vision of interweaving different modalities, energetic tools and spiritual ceremony to help women move through some of the major transitions in life, especially around the perinatal period.
Meagan is passionate about creating a venue through which people can access holistic healing practices, become a part of a like minded and connected community and increase overall vitality and wellbeing through practices and modalities that have been successfully used throughout millenia for healing and connection.
Judy Taber
Board Liaison, Compassionate & Intuitive Presence
Judy brings a steady, grounding presence to the SACRED THREAD™ board, along with a natural blend of wisdom, warmth, and gentle humor. She is a deeply compassionate listener and offers valuable perspective shaped by her experience serving on other boards.
As a board member of the McFarland United Church of Christ, Judy serves as a key liaison, helping coordinate space use and calendar scheduling for our gatherings that take place at MUCC.
Judy also supports the practical flow of our events through hands-on assistance with setup and clean-up, ensuring that each gathering is held with care from beginning to end.
Judy’s presence helps bridge vision and logistics, allowing our work to unfold smoothly and with heart.
Jayne Lauby
Board Member, Shamanic Practitioner
Jayne walks a heart-centered compassionate path dedicated to supporting individuals in releasing heavy energy that no longer serves their highest well-being. As her spiritual journey has unfolded over the past several years, she retired from a corporate career and now serving her community as a part-time Shamanic Practitioner.
Her training includes Peruvian and Core Shamanism, along with exploration in complementary modalities such as Mediumship, Reiki, and Depossession work. Throughout 2026, she is deepening her Shamanic studies and broadening her practice to include Irish Celtic Shamanism, further enriching the spiritual tools and traditions she offers in service to others.
Leveraging her previous experience as a board member of a nonprofit organization, Jayne brings enthusiasm, curiosity, and a spirit of collaboration to her role as a SACRED THREAD™ board member.
Kelly Hepper
President of SACRED THREAD™
Mystic, Poet, Singer-Songwriter, Performer, Energy Harmonizer
Kelly is a poet, singer-songwriter, and performer with more than 30 years of experience using music, storytelling, and creative expression to foster connection and transformation. A lifelong seeker, she is a trained energy healer and considers herself a Mystic, passionate about supporting the evolution of human consciousness through the restoration of personal sovereignty and authentic spiritual exploration.
Raised with regular church involvement throughout her formative years, Kelly carries a deep appreciation for the power of community and sincere spiritual inquiry. Her work seeks to preserve those nourishing aspects of shared spiritual life while moving beyond dogma, fear, and division.
Through SACRED THREAD™, Kelly is dedicated to fostering welcoming and grounded spaces where curious seekers can explore, connect, and cultivate direct experiences of their own Divine connection.