WHY ZELIA?

We named our organization Zelia to honor a spirit that lives in all of us—the courageous choice to define yourself, rather than be defined by others.

Zelia Nuttall (1857-1933) was a pioneering archaeologist at a time when women weren’t allowed into the field. But her story is bigger than that. It's the story of someone who refused to accept the roles society assigned her. She didn’t wait for permission to follow her passion, to speak truth, or to correct the record. She listened to her inner knowing, followed her curiosity across continents, and unearthed truths that others had overlooked or dismissed—truths that reshaped not just history, but identity.

At a time when dominant narratives portrayed ancient Mexican civilizations as primitive, savage or lesser-than, Zelia rediscovered and reexamined the evidence and saw something different. She uncovered stories of intellectual sophistication, spiritual depth, and cultural brilliance. In doing so, she gave the Mexican people back a truer, fuller version of themselves—one rooted in dignity, wisdom, and beauty.

That spirit lives at the heart of Compassionate Self Archeology, the core practice of Zelia. Just as Zelia Nuttall uncovered the hidden brilliance of ancient cultures, our work invites people to unearth themselves—to peel back the layers of mis-narration, survival adaptations, and inherited shame to remember who they truly are. We believe each of us is born whole, worthy, and enough. And like any great excavation, returning to that truth takes courage, curiosity, gentleness, and care.

Zelia’s name reminds us that reclaiming our story is not only possible—it is powerful. She didn’t just uncover ancient relics; she uncovered truths that transformed how people saw themselves and their ancestors. And that’s what we’re doing too—within ourselves, and with each other.

Zelia. Unearth you.