Tag: mindfulness

Manifesting Your Highest Destiny

by The Unconventional Life, posted in Uncategorized

Last summer I took an eight week class with my shaman to map my highest destiny line. I learned new shamanic prayers, ceremonies and journey meditations. I laid out my stones on my makeshift mesa cloth and journeyed to the upper world to see the highest destiny for this lifetime. I had already decided to go for the gusto.

I also took a screenwriting class. Memoir was full and there was that whole COVID isolation thing. I had to keep some form of human contact. I like everyone else had zoom fatigue but really enjoyed learning a new style of writing. I finished my first screenplay. The class loved it. We had some great writers in that class and I loved everyone’s scripts.

How is this connected? Writing is a huge part of my identity. If you ask me what I am that’s likely my first answer. I knew that my destiny map contained at least one writing project. I’ve had a novel on my vision board for three years. I’m still 55 pages into that project two years later. Finding time to write is really hard right now. I never imagined writing and producing a short film, but I did!

The Return To Me Poster Image

My film trailer had everyone so excited! My teacher had said find five thousand and she could help produce my movie. I set out to find grant money as an individual artist and I’m pretty certain it fell from the sky lol. I’ve only executed the law of attraction without error on a few occasions and this was one. Side note more than five thousand is needed for film making. Do you have dreams and goals? Don’t worry manifesting magic is all around you! My film premiered this September in the Afrikana Film Festival. It was recently a final selection in the S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase. Is this my life?! Yes and it’s in transition! I’m currently writing episodes for a TV series pilot we’d like to create.

https://youtu.be/qPLqEhrySA0https://youtu.be/YQGM73eu_Yw
The Return To Me Trailer

I’ve also started a reiki and candle business. I tried working for other companies but it just didn’t work out. I stopped trying to force things to fit. If you’re meant to let go just release. Likely something so much better is on its way! I love making these candles and providing energy sessions for clients. I’m completing my shamanic mesa and am so excited to embrace being a healer professionally. My hope is to generate enough revenue to give my nonprofit, STORY, general operating revenue. My products can be purchased on Etsy and reiki sessions can be booked on Schedulicity.

Reiki Candles
My reiki studio.

We all have free will. As we prepare to begin a new year I’d like to suggest you reflect on your true desires. Is your life in alignment with your highest dreams for yourself? Dream big, dream often! Set your intentions, raise your vibrations and practice gratitude. Whether you choose destiny line one or five I hope it brings you immense joy!

Healing Blackness

by The Unconventional Life, posted in mental health, mindfulness, Spirituality, Uncategorized

I started my job as a reiki master at Lucid Living in December 2020. This is the only time I’ve executed the law of attraction flawlessly. I was so excited to join a black owned business focused on holistic healing.

Getting ready for company marketing shoot.

I’ve seen a diverse mix of clients, mostly women. And then one evening there was the young black man having his first reiki experience with me. His friend had made an emergency appointment for him. I asked my normal pre-session questions. What brings you in? Where do you want energy directed? What is your intention? He answered as best he could, but I had to read between the lines.

We as a black community are not taught to seek services or healing for stress, anxiety or other mental health issues. We are taught to pray. You are questioned and often berated if you seek the help of a therapist. I’m a reiki master, so just amplify that criticism to an infinite amount. Yet there is so much daily stress and trauma in our people.

I have made healing from trauma a priority in my life due to what I see at work and just wanting to end generational patterns in my own life. Being a black woman working in public housing communities full of poverty, crime and yes mental health issues for so long can feel like wearing a winter coat in a Florida summer. It’s heavy, very heavy.

A few more black men trickled into my appointments and it was such a joy to provide them with reiki. One astral traveled to his house and was quite surprised by my explanation of what happened during his session lol. I hope the Black community finds tools such as reiki, meditation, sound baths, etc. I hope the community will be less close minded about spiritual practices that have significant health benefits for stress, anxiety and depression.

I recently filed with Virgina’s SCC office and am officially The Unconventional Life. I offer in person and remote reiki appointments in addition to making reiki candles. I will soon offer shamanic healing sessions and hopefully in 2022 shamanic breathwork sessions. The energy I felt during my first breathwork session was 🤯! On of the most amazing hours yet! I am also looking forward to certifying reiki practioners and masters.. Very grateful for everyone that has been vulnerable enough to trust me as their reiki master. I love holding space for you! Follow my IG page, TheUCLife, and DM for appointments.

Becoming My Authentic Self

by The Unconventional Life, posted in Inspiration, mindfulness, Spirituality, Uncategorized

It’s a Tuesday evening and I’m completing my whirlwind trip to San Antonio to discuss the importance of early childhood education with other professionals from across the country. Everyone was very energized by the topic. This is what happens when your work is your passion. You have insane amounts of energy. I was intrigued and somewhat excited, but not quite energized. I find myself questioning why and how did I end up in these work spaces? I’m questioning whether or not I want to pick up another community problem. I’ve seen three astrologers recently, and for the most part the readings were the same. I’m an insanely creative individual with a great human service work to complete. It seems this is the soul contract I agreed to. However, the neglect of self that I am forced to accept in my current work is taking a toll. I’m very often tired, I find myself fleeing to rivers for hydromancy and I can’t remember the last time I slept without thoughts of trying to solve enormous community issues waking me up. The cards said the best life is coming, so as the saints instruct you to do, I’m yet holding on.But do I want to hold on?About a month ago I stayed at Galleywinter Farm for the weekend at my first shamanic retreat. Rachael Mannwas the facilitator and I’ve been working with her for a few years. I was instantly connected to her after my first soul reading. I just knew I would be safe on my new spiritual journey with her. The purpose of the retreat was to find your soul’s highest destiny line among the many available to you. We did shamanic journeying, we danced the medicine wheel, sang Cherokee songs, made earth mandalas and I attended my first fire ceremony. I also saw my highest destiny line. It was amazing!

This is where I am energized. This is the work I don’t want to leave, but there are these annoying things called bills and obligations.Last year my organization began work around trauma. This translates to me as healing work. Shamans heal. I have been very excited to find myself in mindfulness training with teachers. I have discovered I have a talent for combining my reiki training and mindfulness practice with my mother’s gift for interior design to make calm spaces. I am currently creating these spaces for an elementary and high school and the community center where we work with low-income youth. Who knew I’d love this so much?! Definitely not me. I also began redesigning my organization’s website as our fifth year approaches. I have spent several weekends at my kitchen table heavily involved in web content and design. As I end this year, I want to ensure that next year I am my authentic self. I have really been thinking a lot about what this will look like. I know I will no longer be able to serve an entire community alone. Stress is manifesting itself in the form of sickness and must be addressed. Executive Directors have a whole team of persons in the form of a board of directors that are supposed to help grow the mission and funds of the organization. This has yet to happen for me and I feel like I’ve had the longest trek through the hottest desert. Any desire I had to save anyone or anything is about completely gone. Yet I am still the insanely creative with a need to serve.

However, direct service for empaths is very difficult.

As I look forward to 2020, I’m identifying steps I need to take to live a more authentic life. This demands that I pay attention to my natural writing talents and a few other things.

  1. Practice saying no.
  2. Take care of my health. I can’t help anyone if I’m not well.
  3. Write and write often. This includes working on my novel, journaling, blogging, poetry and more.
  4. Return all social work duties to their rightful owners by the end of the year.
  5. Take a real vacation.
  6. Make some new friends. The struggle is real in this area lol.
  7. Begin shamanic training.
  8. Return to my yoga practice.

Technically this list could go on forever as I need an intervention, but I’ll stop here. My hope for you if you’re reading this is that you’ve found your way to living an authentic, fulfilling life. If not it’s not too late. What can you do to begin to create the life you want? After all, we create our reality. Is it switching careers? Moving to a new place? There are so many choices available to become your authentic self. As always the light in me sees and honors the light in you. Namaste.

Thriving in the Desert

by The Unconventional Life, posted in depression, Faith, Hope, Inspiration, Marriage, Relationships, Separation, Spirituality

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A couple of mornings back I decided to stop and start my day journaling. I’m always yapping with God, but often do not take time to sit still and listen for answers or instructions.

My thoughts fell on the last six months of my life and I realized I’m thriving. I sat and began to say things that were prospering in the midst of personal turmoil. Two separations back to back can destroy even the strongest of warriors. Putting all your hope and love into someone and a marriage that crumbles back to back is hard to recover from. As I realized that most often die in a desert experience, gratitude filled my heart and tears began to flow down my cheeks. Death can come in many forms: unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, the need for revenge, depression and the list could go on and on.

The flip side of that for me is saying this is my life situation. I am not the cause of it. I am entitled to learn something to grow me as a human that will inspire someone else. I have the right to get up and live.

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With public housing kids at National Night Out

My thriving list:
1. There is laughter, love and peace flowing through my home. Everyone is experiencing a personal struggle, but my kids and I have these things to be grateful for.
2. Bruno is always happy to see me.
3. The works of my hands are blessed! I pray this prayer at my desk sometimes, God bless the works of my hands. I feel like King Midas at work right now lol.
4. I got accepted into a program to teach fitness classes. Training is kicking my butt, but I’m focused on those that don’t have access to fitness and how I can help them. I will soon be giving free classes to public housing residents! I get to share my story of battling depression with fitness.
5. My bills are paid and we have shelter and food. Amen!
6. God pours his love into my life even when I’m not thinking about it.
7. I’m not depressed. Loneliness creeps up on me some days. I am very grateful for Bruno’s puppy kisses at those times lol.
8. I am inspiring others. Whoa really! I wonder about these people lol, but I’m thankful to be a living testimony.

This is just a small list. I hope if you find yourself reading this in a desert experience you will make your own list. You may not have perfect circumstances. I definitely don’t. I’ve again lost my best friend. Sometimes life knocks you flat on your ass like that. However, if you’re reading this you’re alive so get up and live. Even if you have to do so in small time increments. I used to plan years ahead, but I literally at one point had to take myself down to one hour at a time.

Psalm 71:20-21- You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.

May we grow through adversity and rise like mountains. Amen

The Unexpected Pilgrimage

by The Unconventional Life, posted in Faith, Hope, Inspiration, Relationships, Separation, Spirituality

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I started a spiritual journaling class at the Chrysalis Institute two months ago. This has become a much needed activity in a safe and comforting space. We are given a theme and we all journey to wherever it takes us.

This month the theme was pilgrimages. A pilgrimage is a transformative journey to the sacred center. We were asked what journey had a profound impact on us and why. What sacred discoveries were there on this journey?

I chose my trip to Nigeria of course. I viewed this trip as a spiritually arranged marriage. You have to make up something as you fly across the ocean to marry someone you’re meeting in person for the first time right? Lol.

My sacred discovery was that God has been cultivating the fruits of the Spirit in my life. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, patience and hope. I’m growing in all these areas in the most adverse circumstances.

I was not the best wife. I didn’t know how to be. I had to pray and let God show me how to be a wife. He is right smack in my sacred center. I had to learn to give forgiveness over and over. Even in instances where I truly wanted to act like a lunatic. Hello my name is Kathryn and I am working on anger. It conflicts with my yoga practice.

I look at myself now a decade later and am happy I’m not the same person. I have been freed from fear and anxiety. I don’t want to live that way it’s a miserable life. Sadness sometimes wins the battle, but I’m calling victory in the war.

My discovery is I am worthy of love. I can give tremendous amounts of love in return. Giving makes your life brim over with fulness. I never contemplated importance of forgiveness before. I would just omit people from my life. But this is my husband. I’m trying so hard to move forward and forget the person who was my best friend. Forget hopes, dreams and promises. I haven’t quite figured it out. If I give you my word there is no reason in my mind to break it.

For better or worse. Til death do us part. I do take you to be my husband.

So I think I’m on a journey to wholeness. Broken people just can’t do much. My assistant captured this photo of me at an event. I really had wanted my husband to be there, but before today I hadn’t seen him in months. After today I’m not expecting that to change. This picture made me cry, because that’s pure happy. I’m not faking anything. I was just happy. I was so grateful to see myself this happy.

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Joyful

We may not know the destination of pilgrimages in our lives, but there will always be the opportunity to learn and grow as a human. May you be deep rooted in all things blessed. Life is too short to be consumed with anger, bitterness and unforgiveness. Journey well.