Chantal Robert and Frantisek Strouhal

The 1968 revolution and resultant Soviet invasion turned his life upside down. His ambitions as a poet, writer and photographer were crushed under the weight of a social structure rooted in communist repression. Sports afforded an opportunity to skirt the worst of the new, Soviet-imposed system. Frantisek's early adulthood was dominated by soccer, both as a full-time player and coach, all the while nurturing his love of the arts and literature.

When he eventually immigrated to Canada, Frantisek became a full-time poet and visual artist. After experimenting with and mastering Bromoil, a 19th-century alternative photographic approach, he was introduced to oil printing, a process he both reinvented and extended.

At the same time, he went through deep spiritual transformation, studying and becoming a teacher of A Course in Miracles. As his self-knowledge deepened, he was led to the study of the contemplative dimension of life, influenced by the writings and teachings of many spiritual teachers and mystics. Through this journey, Frantisek gained insights into the human condition, insights he believes it is vital to share, in the hopes of restoring the human family into a unified whole.

Taking an unconventional path in life, she found herself living off the land in her young adult life on Canada's west coast, where she started a family of her own, mothering four daughters.

Studying spirituality, learning to meditate, and living in harmony with nature were key motivators in those early days for Chantal. That devotion to the spiritual path remained as she and Frantisek met and began to write a new chapter of their lives, together. She has also become an indispensable part of Mirage Studio, embracing a role as the artist's assistant and manager.

Before establishing their art enterprise, Mirage Studio, which she manages, Chantal worked for years as a highly skilled health professional, adept in both holistic alternative healing and Western medicine. Her years of spiritual practice, together with a life lived close to nature, have led her to the study of spiritual psychology, and deepened her knowledge of the human condition.

She serves as an instructor with two art therapy schools, the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute (KATI) and the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy (CiiAT), and also works as an art therapy clinician for the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), facilitating group therapy for parents.

Cheryl has navigated her own journey of healing from complex trauma, understanding from the inside out the profoundly positive impact the creative arts can offer. Her practice is grounded in core values of compassion, respect, and kindness, believing that every individual needs and deserves to be seen, heard, and validated. In her view, empowerment and genuine connection are fundamental to the healing process.

Her passion lies in working with marginalised populations, survivors of abuse, and those living with mental health diagnoses. Deeply resonating with their heartfulness and compassion, she feels excited and honoured to work alongside Chantal and Frantisek in their shared mission to bring the healing power of creativity to a hurting world.

These deeper imprints and the relational, behavioural, thought, and emotional patterns that stem from them can influence every aspect of our lives, from our health and relationships to our work, finances, choices, and sense of purpose. Melissa guides people in bringing awareness to these patterns and alchemizing the illusions of the false self, so they can integrate what no longer serves them and come back home to who they truly are.

Her work is ultimately about remembering the truth of who we are beneath the conditioning: to reconnect with and embody our authentic self, reclaim our innate wholeness, and embody our divinity more deeply.