Blurred twilight grass silhouettes against a teal and orange sky.

About

Two people, one small step for wildkind.

Rimrock & Otter was created to help people light a path to their own wholeness through nature literacy and a reconnection to the earth spirits all around them.

The founders

Kristy Sweetland

Co-founder · Nature-spirit ceremonialist · Teaching

Rooted in New Mexico: Traditional land of the Pueblos, Ute, and Tiwa people.

Kristy has been helping people develop their deep connection with nature for nearly two decades. With a bachelor's degree in organizational psychology and a master's degree in transpersonal psychology, she works with individuals via her private practice, Coaching to Come Alive.

Kristy is a credentialed Certified Professional Transformational Coach and a Board-Certified Executive Coach. She holds professional certificates in neuro-transformation and resilience psychology.

After a life-changing, spontaneous shamanic initiation (read about it in her award-winning book, Stark Raving Zen: A Memoir of Coming Alive), Kristy studied with multiple shamanic teachers, the most pivotal Alberto Villoldo, who also teaches channeled light energy.

Shari Vaccaro

Co-founder · Strategy · Communications · Art

Rooted in Minnesota: Traditional land of the Wahpekute and Ochethi Sakowin people.

Shari is an empath and lifelong existential ponderer, raised with reverence for animals and the outdoors.

In every professional and personal setting, she is a trusted thinking partner and a grounding presence people turn to. She spots possibilities everywhere—and cultivates clarity so others can see it too.

With a bachelor's degree in studio art and years of wordsmithing experience, Shari has spent well over a decade strategizing brand communications, copywriting, and crafting experiences that support people's health.

Bringing Rimrock & Otter to life is a significant step in her ongoing search for meaning. Creating the art for our cards released a torrent of artistry in Shari that had been tucked away too long.

Why the name Rimrock & Otter?

Rimrock: The rim, the elevated boundary of a landform, symbolizes the edge between worlds, the place where perspective changes entirely. When erosion carves away the underlying layers, it becomes rimrock — stone guardians that embody the land’s vitality and serve as thresholds between the earthly and spiritual realms.

Otter: Otter represents deep connection, nurturing, and the flow of pure joy. With their foundational social traits, such as hand-holding and never-ending playful spirits, they teach us the importance of tangible, tactile togetherness. Otters are the masters of presence and teach us what it means to be in sacred community with each other, the earth, and all wildkind.

&: The ampersand connects two relational forces, a reminder that everything has a spirit you were born to know.

Soul sisters

Other-level connectedness across 30+ years

A shared love of animals brought Kristy and Shari together in their youth; they worked together at an animal hospital in Minnesota for several years.

Connected on a soul level and with unwavering belief in each other, they've navigated decades of individual growth and transformation. And no surprise, each has always felt most like themselves outdoors exploring nature or marveling at a creature — especially together with their spouses.

Kristy and Shari camping, some decades ago — Some decades ago.

The founding story

Why we came together, and why this offering.

Rimrock and Otter was created as ecosystems, environmental protections for endangered species, and public lands were under full attack in the U.S.

Two longtime best friends — with an ancient worldview that everything in nature has a life force — were among millions who marched, called, sent emails, spread awareness, and donated money. Each, separately, had come to a point where they ached to do more but weren't sure what.

They'd talked about the root of the problem, about the disconnection between humans and everything in the natural world that's non-human.

Kristy had been holding sacred space for others for 15+ years and wanted to extend her work in animism. Shari had been part of the broad layoffs in corporate health care; now seen as a push to redirect her focus toward creativity. One day, in April of 2026, while chatting on the phone, they agreed to open a little door to the possibility of doing something together — and bam. The door flew open with plentiful, undeniable signs. Stars aligned for this partnership.

So, an artist and an author came together to create a humble tool to expand minds and challenge worldviews that see nature as expendable.

Shari as a child at a campfire with her dad and brother

Childhood enchantment.