Turtle & Butterfly Internal Arts
Creating space to explore the possibilitiesABOUT
Welcome to Turtle & Butterfly Internal Arts!

MARY GNIESER
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with fifteen plus years experience in the mental health field working with children, adolescents and adults. I have worked in various mental health settings on Long Island as well as previously being co-owner and partner in a holistic mental health center located in Commack, New York.
I earned my Master of Social Work from Adelphi University and my undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland. I am a Certified Integrative Hypnotherapist through the Center for Integrative Hypnotherapy as well as a certified member of the International Association of Counselors and Therapists.
I am an Executive Board member of the Soulful Living for Addiction and Long Term Recovery, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing innovative programming that specifically addresses the needs of individuals and families as they move through the long-term recovery process. Addiction knows no boundaries and many families, my own included, are affected by its wrath. I accepted this position with gratitude and honor, to give service to those affected by addictions grip, and I support this non-profit’s mission wholeheartedly. As a member of the Board, I will once again be collaborating with old colleagues and friends who are making an impact on the Long Island community through a holistic approach to wellness.
My Journey in the Daoist Arts
Over a decade ago, I began my studies in the Daoist Internal Arts of Qi Gong, Nei Gong and Meditation. I was introduced by a friend to my first Qi Gong teacher who was the catalyst for me to pursue training in these arts thus leading me to where I am today. Being a seeker of authentic teachers with a whole and unbroken lineage to the Dao, I am grateful to have found a home for the past eight years with my teacher, Damo Mitchell, who is founder of Lotus Nei Gong International.
Although not compulsory for Affiliate Schools, at Turtle & Butterfly, I am committed to teaching the Lotus Nei Gong syllabus as required by schools designated as Official Branches of Lotus Nei Gong International. I do this as I am dedicated to authentically teaching and preserving the purest forms of Qi Gong and Nei Gong that others may not have access to.
Also, as part of my continued emersion into the Daoist traditions, I am a student of Chinese Medicine at the Xian Tian College of Chinese Medicine which is located in Manchester, UK, co-founded by my teacher Damo Mitchell. My interest and knowledge encompasses many different branches of study within the Daoist Internal Arts which also includes The Four Pillars of Destiny or Bazi Analysis. I am now bringing this valuable tool of self-discovery to others by offering Bazi consultations and have been diligently studying with teachers accomplished in this field. I am proudly a member of the IFSA (International Feng Shui Association) USA Chapter.
I am thrilled to introduce Julia Gnieser who will be collaborating with me in my work here at Turtle & Butterfly. She is a compassionate and intuitive psychotherapist with experience working with young adults, teens and adolescents. Julia earned her Master of Social Work from Columbia University and her undergraduate degree from Adelphi University. To add to her awesomeness, Julia is a Certified Yoga instructor bringing her expertise and passion for this internal art to others and will be a welcome addition to Turtle & Butterfly. Click on her name and you will be able to access her website for more information on her offerings.
EVENTS & GROUPS
SERVICES
Qi Gong / Nei Gong
Qi Gong is translated as “Energy Exercises” or “Energy Skill”. Qi Gong exercises are gentle movement and breathing exercises that help to facilitate the movement of Qi (Energy) through the body. There are many different Qi Gong forms that have been practiced through time. Qi Gong, as used by an internal arts practitioner, is a tool to help one progress through the Nei Gong process.
Nei Gong has been translated as “Internal Development” and is the process of internal changes that occur within a practitioner of the Daoist internal arts. These internal changes can be experienced in a very linear way and include the restructuring of the physical body, building the energy system and the refinement of the mind. Thus, Nei Gong is the process of learning to contact and direct Qi in a desired way; i.e. purging, tonifying, regulating and circulating.


Psychotherapy / Integrative Hypnotherapy
Holistic Psychotherapy is a way of working with my clients from a whole person perspective; mind, body and spirit. I not only utilize my western psychology training but integrate my training in the eastern arts as well to help guide my clients.
Through a unique blend of western psychotherapy, Integrative Hypnotherapy, Acupressure, Qi Gong, Mindfulness and Voice Dialogue, I help move my clients to a better understanding of themselves, their relationships and the world in which they live, love and play. I teach my clients active coping skills to help reduce anxiety, stress, anger and depression. These tools can be taken where ever you go. Through Integrative Hypnotherapy my clients can move past patterns of behavior and habits that no longer serve them.
Integrative Hypnotherapy is a way to describe using hypnotherapy which uses a variety of approaches in concert with one another in order to aid in the process of instilling healthier patterns of thinking and being in the world. Each session is specific to the client as one size does not fit all. Whether you are looking to manage anxiety, stress, anger or depression or to stop a habit like smoking, nail biting or other forms of self harm, Integrative Hypnotherapy can be a tool for change.
Bazi or Four Pillars of Destiny Consultation
I have been studying hard to bring this valuable tool for navigating life to others. There is so much to gain from having a consultation and I am excited to bring this service to you! I believe that my skill set, which includes being a licensed psychotherapist as well as a practitioner of the Daoist Internal Arts, is an added strength when offering a consultation to my clients regarding their Bazi. Our Four Pillars of Destiny reveals much about who we are and how our life journey unfolds and I will pass along this information to you in a responsible, compassionate and confidential manner.
What is Bazi or the Four Pillars of Destiny?
Chinese Cosmology or Astrology is quite different from Western Astrology in that it interprets our birth hour, day, month and year into what is called the Four Pillars of Destiny or Bazi. Our Bazi is based on a configuration of the Five Elements that were gifted to us by the Heavens and the Earth at the time of our birth. As humans, we sit between Heaven and Earth and so we are influenced by their energies as we live, work and play every day of our lives. On the day we were born the Five Elements of Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal come uniquely together to form our Four Pillars of Destiny or Bazi. Much gratitude to the ancient Chinese Cosmologists, as the art of Bazi analysis has been passed down, giving us the keys to understanding ourselves from an intimate perspective. We can through a Bazi consultation garner information about our personality, personal relationships, our health, personal potential and ways to navigate future obstacles or capitalize on more auspicious times.
What you will gain from having your Four Pillars of Destiny or Bazi consultation
Better understanding of the following:
- your personality and why you do the things you do
- your inborn talents and gifts that you can tap into
- what careers are best suited for your unique make up
- a better understanding of your relationships with partners/spouses, parents, children, friends, and colleagues and insight into how you can improve them
- what elements comprise your makeup and how that can influence your constitution
- your luck cycles and ways to make them work for you; there are good times and more challenging times to make important life decisions like moving, traveling, marriage, children, switching jobs/careers etc. and your Bazi can guide you in making the best decisions regarding timing for you

CLIENT’S TESTIMONIALS
AFFILIATES
CONTACT US
Turtlebutterfly Internal Arts
202 E Main Street, Suite 301
Huntington, NY 11743
email – turtlebutterflyia@gmail.com
phone – 631-380-4278
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