“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.”
Rumi
Hello, we are the Sigstad Family, and we are so grateful you have visited our website. As we cultivate the land and share our bounty, we hope to inspire peace, joy, and love through the garden sanctuary we are creating here at Elysian Sanctuary Farm in Belleville, IL.
The Owners: Philip & Belinda
Phil and Belinda have been partners and collaborators in life, health, love, and creative endeavors for over 25 years. Through their marriage and service in the military, they have lived across the U.S. on the West Coast, East Coast, in the Deep South, and now in the Midwest. Originally high school sweethearts who grew up in the Chicagoland area, they now call the Metro East area their home.
Meet Belinda.
Integrative Health Practitioner
Clinical Herbalist
Flower Essence Therapist
Certified Usui Reiki Master & Pranic Healer
Belinda is a clinical herbalist, intuitive artist, gardener, and mother of two daughters. Her life’s work is rooted in the exploration of mind, body, and spirit healing through both creative expression and holistic health practices.
She has spent over 20 years studying and engaging with integrative wellness, drawing from a wide range of natural modalities including herbalism, homeopathy, flower essence therapy, iridology, ecotherapy, mindfulness, meditation, art therapy, Kundalini yoga, Reiki, and Pranic Healing. Over time, this study has evolved into a deeply embodied practice centered on supporting transformation, resilience, and whole-person wellness.
Belinda’s training includes horticulture and botany through multiple educational institutions, including the Master Gardener program through the University of Illinois Extension. As a gardener and practicing herbalist, she has developed a lived understanding of the healing relationship between people, plants, and land.
She is academically trained in integrative health, clinical herbalism, homeopathy, Bach flower essence therapy, and iridology through the American College of Healthcare Sciences, a recognized accredited institution. She has also studied Western and Ayurvedic herbal traditions through registered herbalists affiliated with the American Herbalists Guild. Her approach integrates traditional plant wisdom, evidence-based therapeutics, and contemporary holistic health understanding.
In her energy healing practice, Belinda is a certified Usui Reiki Master and a trained Pranic Healer. Her work focuses on supporting emotional, energetic, and spiritual well-being, particularly during times of stress, grief, transition, or healing from trauma. These practices are offered as gentle, complementary modalities that support overall balance and restoration.
Belinda’s work is guided by a deep respect for natural healing systems, conscious living, and compassion for all beings. She is passionate about helping others reconnect with their own capacity for healing through plants, presence, and embodied awareness.
Meet Philip.
Philip is a retired United States Air Force veteran with a deep interest in health, nutrition, and natural living. During his military service, he witnessed firsthand how diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices directly influence human performance, resilience, and overall well-being whether in high-intensity environments such as deployment in Iraq, or during long administrative shifts managing military operations.
These experiences led him to pursue formal education in human behavior and health. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an initial intention of working in counseling and supporting others through life challenges. Over time, and through significant personal life transitions, his focus shifted more specifically toward public health, nutrition, and preventative wellness.
He went on to complete a Master of Public Health with a concentration in nutrition and wellness, further deepening his understanding of how lifestyle, nutrition, and education shape long-term health outcomes.
Following his military career, Philip transitioned into a civilian role with the Department of the Army, where he continues to serve in a government capacity. Outside of his professional work, he is actively involved in family life and in the ongoing development of Elysian Sanctuary Farm.
He is a certified Project Management Professional, and brings practical skills in organization, systems thinking, and project development to the evolution of the farm. His work often focuses on structural, mechanical, and operational aspects of farm development as the sanctuary continues to take shape.
Philip values time with his wife and two daughters and finds meaning in contributing to the shared vision of a space rooted in health, restoration, and connection to nature. His commitment to supporting others through education, service, and practical application remains central to his work and daily life.
Together we are building sanctuary, growing goodness, and cultivating serenity.
Because we understand the challenges of personal health struggles, we hope to provide a place of healing and restoration for individuals and the local community.
Our Homestead
Originally built in the mid 1850s with additions in the 1890s, the brick farmhouse on the property is reminiscent of the nostalgia of the mauve decade. Now our home, filled with love, laughter, and sometimes chaos, we are honored to be the next generation of homesteaders.
“The greatest fine art of the future will be the making of a comfortable living from a small piece of land.”
Abraham Lincoln
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
John Muir