She graduated from Southern Oregon University with a Bachelors of Science in 1996, majoring in Sociology and Women’s Studies.  In 2011, she graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona with a Masters in Applied Sociology, with an emphasis in Social Theory, Sociology of Art, Sociology of Gender and Psychoanalytic Sociology (4.0 student).  She did her thesis research on Women Artists and Identity Formation in a Postmodern Society, which turned out to be a major critique of culture and the art world. This entailed qualitative research methods and in-depth interviews with a random sample of artists (50).  What emerged from her research was a developmental model of artistic identity development, which revealed the stages that most women go through in their identification process.  She wrote a 250-page thesis, which was later condensed and published in academic journals and magazines.  It is her dream to be able to compile a book of her research so it can serve to empower women artists in a rationally and scientifically oriented culture that is in many ways antithetical to creative and spiritual development. 

Victoria started a second piece of research in 2002 on Feminine Mysticism in Art, which eventually led to the creation of this book.  Upon interviewing several mystical artists (male and female), she discovered that most of them were extremely gifted and felt marginalized by the traditional gallery scene simply because their work was “too spiritual,” “to political” and “too feminist.”  As a result, all of the artists felt it was necessary to harness their mission and “publish the map” in order to get their images into the world without compromising their spiritual and visionary voices.  The book evolved over ten years and includes the creative visions of over 65 emerging and established visionary writers and artists.  It will no doubt be a powerful contribution to the Transcendental Art Movement, the Women’s Spirituality Movement, the Inter-Spirituality Movement and the Ecological Movement.

Victoria received a second Masters of Social Work through Portland State University in 2015. She is currently doing homehealth social work for medically vulnerable and socially oppressed people in Southern Oregon. She also has a private therapy practice called Guanyin Healing Arts, where she implements various therapeutic modalities, including art and somatic therapies. She continues to work as an avatar for the Goddess, assisting the awakening of human consciousness and empowering visionaries to change the world. She has done numerous lectures promoting the book. She has also lectured and done workshops on “Artists and Identity Formation” and the "Transcendental Art Movement."  In 2009, Victoria produced a DVD titled Feminine Mysticism in Art: Artists Envisioning the Divine, which has been featured at various music/art festivals, theatrical performances and spiritual conferences across the globe.  

Susan Stedman works as a court reporter, editor, tarot/astrology counselor and the creator of oral histories documenting the lives of elderly people for future generations. She has raised three daughters, including Victoria Christian, and had many diverse life experiences that have contributed to her wisdom and ability to work with people, including her upbringing as the daughter of a prominent theologian and minister. She draws not only on her own rich history as a preacher’s kid and single mom, but also as an anthropology student at Southern Oregon University, freelance editor, and twenty years as a freelance court reporter. Susan is a respected member of the Grandmother’s Council in Southern Oregon and has devoted her life to pursuing acts of compassion in her local community. She reads prodigiously and is devoted to a spiritual walk. She and her husband currently reside in Southern Oregon.