THE EXPANSE
Somatic Membership for Expanding Your Capacity & Life's Horizons
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Are you feeling restricted by your body?
Unsure how to process life's traumas?
Held back in expressing yourself?
Uncertain about finding emotional safety?
Many of us live disconnected from our body's innate wisdom and healthy emotions,
struggling to understand life's challenges and our own reactions to them.
But it doesn't have to be this way.
Inside of The Expanse, we specialize in cutting-edge Somatic therapy techniques that
empower you to transform behaviors, thoughts, and narratives.
Through years of my own personal healing and professional study in psychosomatic therapy,
I discovered profound shifts when I embraced free movement, nervous system regulation, and deep connection to my soul.
This 10+ year journey of research led me to create a space where I guide others in doing the same.
With supportive calls, live sessions, and curated materials, blended with expressive movement, sound and more, we allow for meaningful personal growth.
The Expanse is not just a program—it's a community experience dedicated to embracing life fully.
We gather around our humanity and our collective desire to
engage with life, rather than hide from it.
We provide you with effective tools to live your fullest spectrum of joy,
heal from past pains, and embrace future hopes using
body-based approaches.
Life's journey is unpredictable, but within The Expanse, we cultivate inner spaciousness
to meet every moment with clarity, awe, and appreciation.
Join us and e x p a n d into your greatest potential.
MONTHLY staples
1x month
PRE-RECORDED soma slowdown
In the monthly Soma Slowdown, you receive space for expression. You learn key somatic practices to attune to the subtleties and experience new awarenesses (vocalizing, breathing, shaking, regulating, clearing energy and more.) You re-program your nervous system.
1x month
live MOVEMENT CEREMONY
In these 120 min. sessions, we use a proven psycho-somatic movement method to unwind your body's stories and stuck emotions, and create maps to expanded states of awareness.
Expect to tune into the body and breath, maybe get the heart rate up, tap into what's been buried, and utilize trance states as gateways into insight and expression of your authentic essence.
You will dance and be guided, as previous participants have said "into a state of renewal, refreshment, and inspiration."
private telegram TRANSMISSIONS
The Private Telegram Thread is where you will receive transmissions + tips on the monthly theme, while bringing our work out to your everyday life. It's also an easy way to access updates, share personal insights, ask questions and receive reflections.
1x live q & a + community CALL
These calls are a space to let the heart speak, the mind be satisfied and the soul be heard. You will have the opportunity for 1-1 support.
This is a space to ask and answer:
What came up in your practice sessions?
What other support do you need?
Feel heard and metabolize all that has happened.
REPLAYS + BONUSES INSIDE Membership Portal
Want to do more practices? No problem there is a WEALTH of resources and replays for you inside of the Membership Portal. You will not be bored.
guiding PRINCIPALS
"In the dance, as in life, grace glides in on blistered feet."
- Gabrielle Roth
EMOTIONAL PROCESSING:
Scientific evidence now shows us that unprocessed emotions manifest as anxiety, depression, illness, and many other issues when left unaddressed. Inside The Expanse we are here to give healthy space, voice, and expression to move what needs to more from the subconscious (constantly impacting you) to a more conscious and empowering feeling.
SOMATIC THERAPY:
The body is an intelligent portal to learn from and engage with. It is connected to our mind, our emotions, our habits and our belief systems. We have a direct line of access to make changes on a whole-system-level in a quick & effective manner. It encompasses a range of approaches and techniques that emphasize the importance of bodily experience, sensation, and movement in understanding and promoting overall well-being.
EMBODIMENT:
Somatics is applied in our container and this therapeutic settings with practices and methods but what matters most is how it helps us live in the world. Embodiment is how the body shapes our experiences and identities as a conscious entity in a physical body. How we integrate what we've learned so it benefits our relationships, work and so much more.
FAQ
How does The Expanse membership work?
The Expanse Membership provides you monthly access to a special member area through our website.
Within this area you will have access to the Zoom links for our live calls, all call replays, additional courses provided as bonuses; as well as a place to ask questions, connect with other members, receive playlists, art, journal prompts and more.
It also includes access to a Private Telegram where you will receive weekly inspiration and on-going access to get support from me and community.
All of this is a special place on the internet for you to learn, connect and share, without the annoyance of ads and spam.
WHY LIVE MEMBERSHIP OVER CHEAPER PRE RECODED COURSES?
So much of this work is about YOU. What's happening for you in the moment, what do you need support with, how are others handling similar challenges, what questions do you have about the material, how does it relate to your life right now? The list goes on but in-short, this isn't a stock-course that gives you the tools without integration, application or accountability. This is for those who are ready for a living breathing somatic space for their evolution, story-telling, and transformation. You are held accountable and mat
When are the live calls?
The Live calls are listed on the monthly calendar. They will be near the Full or New Moon and do not hold a specific schedule on a month-to-month basis in order to add variety to the days of the week and thus give access to as many people as possible with varying life schedules.
What if I am confused about something?
The Expanse private membership portal as well as the private Telegram group are both perfect places to ask questions, get clarity, and support. You can always post in there and Ashtara will provide you with the support you need within 48 hours M-F.
What is the community element within The Expanse?
Community is a corner stone to this offering. On the LIVE Community Q&A calls (1x/ month) we will have AMPLE time dedicated to connection with one another for integration and witnessing. You will also be able to connect with other Community members through the online portals. We encourage connectivity!
Who can join The Expanse?
The Expanse is welcome to all genders, ages, body types, and belief systems. We remain a strong community connection by celebrating each others differences. Look forward to have you join us!
HOW LONG DO I HAVE ACCESS?
You have access to all live and all replays plus additional bonus material for as long as you have an active membership.
Can I get a refund?
While there are no refunds, you are able to cancel your subscription at any time. Just be sure to email ashtara@codesofthemuse.com before your renewal date and we are happy to take you out of the membership area whenever it feels like enough for you.
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ashtara kukuk
"Welcome to a way of living where every breath becomes a step towards the hidden treasures of LIFE itself. - ASHTARA
I AM ASHTARA KUKUK
𓆩♡𓆪
I work in the realms of Somatic Artistry.
My mission is to help people move their bodies as a way to process emotions, regulate, relax, connect, and feel the wholeness of who they truly are in their core essence.
For my entire life, dance has been my personal lifeline as a means to heal, find myself
again & again, and commune with the Divine.
After a decade of deep study, I jokingly (but seriously) say I have gained a
master's degree from the University of Life.
I've broken the mold.
Diving into the use and study of plant medicines, psychosomatic counseling, trauma-relief therapies, tantric arts, a multitude of conscious dance forms, yoga, and so much more.
Now my service is to bring others into their bodies in order for them to
do their embodied soul work.
Because I believe that our collective movement is the missing link in our evolution.
And our authentic expression is the truth that will bring us all HOME.
Come dance with me, and dance into the Great Mystery of your Life.
MORE QUESTIONS?
BOOK A CALL AND LET'S CHAT
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REFLECTIONS from those inside the expanse
"More profound and risky journeys require an experienced guide to navigate safely the intricacies of the vast wilds of our bodies to uncover the beauty, wisdom and healing potentials that lie beyond our ordinary awareness.” - Don Hanlon Johnson, PhD, Founder of the Somatics Psychology CIIS
ASHTARA KUKUK: CREDENTIALS
Awake-One Divers™️ Continuum Movement Trainee
Cass Phelps, 2021-Present
Dance as Medicine™️ Certified Teacher
Milena Mee, El Salvador, 2022-2024
Talking Hearts Counseling Certification
Joan & Tomas Heartfield, Maui, 2015-2020
5 Rhythms™️ 'Whorigins' Intensive
Masha Tretiakova, Maui, 2023
Los Ceilos, Master Plant Medicine Intern
Sylvie Olson Mier + Roscio Isamani Gordon, Amazonian Jungle Peru, 2019
Tamalpa 'Life as Art' Dance Therapy
Rosario Sammartino, California, 2018
Soul Motion Level 1 Training
Vinn Martini, Portland, 2017
Contact Improv Intensives: Relational Healing
Martin Keogh + Mark YoungBC, 2017-2018
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Counseling Training
Ashland, 2018
Yoga Alliance 200 hr. YTT Certification
Guatemala, Winter 2016
B.A. in International Relations from James Madison MSU
Specialization in Social Movements, 2009- 2013