To unpack the journey of what brought me here could be an entire book but here is a condensed version.
As an only child, I spent a lot of time alone outside growing up at the foot of the English South Downs. I developed a devotional relationship to nature - I spent my time building dens, digging for treasure, long walks or rides in the woods, playing in the sinking sand in the river. A lot of time spent in dreamland. I was raised by my young creative mother who was always a little different to everyone else I was surrounded by.
I was introduced to spirituality, although I’m not sure my mum would of called it that back then, from a young age. I was always taught to be curious, to look outside of the box, to celebrate our uniqueness.
My teenage years led me down an opposite path, I wanted to know other worlds, I grew up close enough to London I could have a taste, but far enough away to daydream of what could be but I knew that’s where I wanted to be. I longed for a life filled with culture, art, photography, design. I wanted nothing more than to curate conversations, stories, and imagery to inspire others to feel the same. It was at that moment I dedicated my life to become a Creative Director.
My career in the fashion industry began after graduating from University of the Arts London, assisting fashion editors and creative directors. I grew my way into a sought after job at DAZED whilst also freelancing for many other arts + culture magazines, fashion houses and musicians. I was in love with the detailed artistry of this work, seduced by the fantasy and in awe of the world I got to be included. I was thrown in at the deep end, into some crazy career opportunities working with some of the most incredible, creatively inspiring people and I very much had to learn on the job but I thrived off that.
Yet, there was misalignment. The industry is so fast paced there was no way I could honour my body in that cycle. In was a spiral of confusion, doubt and self destructive behaviour that was all consuming. I no longer felt drawn to the idea of selling luxury to reach a state of internal happiness, and I knew there had to be more.
For the first 27 years, I experienced much of my life — work, creativity, spirituality — as something that I was participating in but I wasn’t embodying. I had a hunger for more meaning and purpose and I knew I really had to untangle this really difficult relationship I had with myself, to explore what my values were and what my idea of what success meant. I had been so dedicated to this world for so long that I lacked perspective, self worth or true knowing. It left me longing for more. More depth, more connection, and simply more out of this life.
I sought a path to creatively express myself with the freedom as an artist and visionary to create from a place of integrity. As for many, yoga was my doorway. The practice became my refuge, my safe space, my unfurling. From here I came across other holistic modalities to integrate into my day to day and through the process of inner alignment, my whole worldview began to shift. A new way of seeing life began to break down that heavy feeling of being stuck Illuminating a new path to a better existence sparked my hunger to learn more and the journey to know myself deeper began. A slow, peaceful and harmonious way of existing allowed me to discover the essence of what true happiness felt like.
I want to continue to create and contribute to a life that celebrates our intersections, that allows us as creatives to break free from the conditioning and create new paradigms to create and work from a place that truly feels aligned. An act of devotion allowing ourselves to blossom.