This blog is dedicated to my favorite brands that I collaborate with and my promo codes for you to join the movement. Being the muse that I am, conscious collaboration is a key ingredient in my lifestyle. I aim to support sustainability, simplicity and kindness for our body, community and environment as a whole. These are a few of the brands that share similar values to myself, all in which I honor as a sacred way of life. You've seen me express my excitement for the collaborative love... here is the lineup.
Living Prana - Superfood Pancakes & Waffle Mix ⛺? Watch my happy camping flipping pancakes reel here 🙂 My favorite is the prana cake mix (I suggest getting a bag of prana mix and brain mix for your first hit, you will finish it and be ordering more within a week) Use my code "dani22" for 22% off.
Knott Brand - My personal brand which started as a passion project to unite the source of our goods to an ethical and conscious way of life. A happy cause where 10% of profits go towards funding a semester of school for a child in Bali. Read more about how you can support the kids and treat your water as sacred! Water is life & the children are the future, what do you stand for? Shop sustainable accessories online and support a greater movement?
Palo Santo - Sustainably harvested palo santo from Ecuador and delicious altar products. I love the spray mist hydrosol, luna wipes and palo santo bracelet. My code is "knottbrand", that's with 2 T's for 15% off your order?
One Golden Thread - An incredible cozy, ethical lifestyle wear that I live in. You've seen me dancing in my yellow bandana, one size fits all skin-like cozy pants and versa wrap - all the color of golden sunshine. I love being naked and these threads are the closest thing to that. Made from trees and planting a tree with every purchase. If you choose comfort and quality over all else > the investment is worth it. Use "dani11" for 11% off your order. Stay golden?
Ritual Oils - A skincare must have! Moringa oil as the carrier oil infused with blue lotus, the smell is sensational and timeless - you will be hooked! I use mine daily as a night time serum, post clay mask, and with the rose quartz gua sha... it's a RITUAL? Use my code "danielle" for 10% off purchases!
Fun Earth Co - I love my concoctions!! The mocha mushroom blend is my favorite! & I am obsessed with their serving spoon also 🙂 Use "dani30" for 30% off your concoction blend ?? it's a mocha mushroom life - I add ghee and my home made nut milk and FROTH it up!!
Late Sunday Afternoon- The coziest and softest and one of a kind scarves and wraps that will last you a lifetime!! If you are in Venice Beach, CA, I suggest you pass by the shop off Venice Blvd to feel for yourself! A long time brand that is woven into my life. Read my interview with LSA as a proud ambassador http://magazine.latesundayafternoon.com/blog/dani x May The Snuggle Be With You ?
Global Breathing Awareness - My teacher (Katia) is recognized as one of the original rebirthing masters in the world. If you want to learn how breathwork can assist your profession via training certification, I suggest their in-person "Breath and Life Mastery Training" ` in Samothraki. The seminar changed my life in ways I cannot imagine (& I will continue to come back every year to the beautiful island of Samothraki in Greece for advancing my certification and indulging in the islands' magic). Watch my personal video testimonial of the 2021 training here. If you feel the calling to attend their summer training, reach out to me directly for a friends & family discount.
I was inspired to write this article after witnessing a friend experience what you could call "airport trauma". I was witnessing the moment unfold, but I have been in her shoes and could relate to exactly what she was feeling, powerless and small. When we are operating in a victim mentality, anything and anyone can feel like a threat.
Airports provoke a feeling or reenactment of our birth trauma. I've had many similar experiences in the airport: the fear that you aren't on time, you aren't worthy to have a seat of your choice, your bags are too much weight, you are too much, the list can go on and on.
The stress hormones that are released when we are in fight or flight mode are activated in a moment of panic. These same hormones are released, whether we are being "attacked" or not, our body doesn’t know the difference and so we are navigating in a constant state of fear or worry.
The Imprinting Process
After prolonged hours of travel and sudden shock from place to place, I am really starting to recognize how our birth imprint creates a blueprint on our physical body. Our first needs as a baby/child impact our experiences and our perception later in life (this is deep shit and when I started to make the connection, I noticed how my birth script played out in every arena of my life).
Transit comes from latin “transire”, which means to cross over. The transition or crossing over we experience during traveling is symbolic of our transition from womb to world. Traveling can be a pleasurable or a dreadful experience, depending on how you are wired (and your willingness to rewire those circuits if you aren’t enjoying yourself). What fun is traveling when we are stressed out? I think of the quote "It’s not about the destination. Life is about the journey (so take your time)."
A realization I had last night: why are people always rushing around trying to get somewhere?
The conclusion I made, most of us are born in hospitals where the main agenda is to get the baby out in a "timely manner". No wonder we feel like we are rushing to survive.
Navigating Reality
A group of us were heading home from the beautiful island of Samothraki in Greece, where we took part in the 3 week Breath and Life Mastery Training https://www.globalbreathingawareness.com/courses/breath-and-life-mastery-training. We were buzzing off the energy of the ferry (a smooth birth canal moment), and headed to the airport.
It is mandatory (the date is September 2021 of a global pandemic) to have a valid PCR or Antigen test (or a vaccine, if that’s the decision you choose to go) to board any flight domestic or international. No exceptions.
When I overheard the young girl say she took a self-test (which is not valid to fly and she knew this), I knew that she was about to reap what she sowed, the prey in a circle of predators.
There was a deep subconscious imprint that was unlocking itself. In the eyes of the girl, the airport check in representative appeared as the "aggressor" of an uncovered past trauma. It was up to her to cultivate acceptance in the moment or retreat into previous submissive patterns.
After an extended argument with the flight representative, it was made obvious she couldn’t board the flight. (I thought to myself, it costs 10 euro to take a rapid test and ride smoothly, why jump through all the loops and even risk it?)
When it came time to navigate towards airport security, she knew she wasn’t joining us. I could see in her eyes she wanted to cry, her body trembling and hands sweaty.
Uncovering Childhood Trauma
Is it possible our school trauma is also brought up while at the airport? The fear that we aren't accepted or valuable (in the eyes of the teacher/ students) or the fear that we aren't on time (for school) then we get punished.
Perhaps we have developed a subconscious mechanism to cope with this feeling as a child. We have created a story that if we are late then we are bad, and therefore we should suffer. You did NOT come here to suffer, play small or feel inferior.
If you remain ignorant of your natural divinity and continue to play the victim, these stress hormones will continue to shower you in any arena of your life. The airport is one context, but it's come to my attention that, if you are playing small, the world will continue to show you that you are small.
How can we feel secure in a whirlwind of chaos?
Stepping Towards Success
When you change the chemistry of your body and signal the happy hormones, the universe will provide. And I mean it, like really provide. Because you are surrendered and you trust, the universe will show that to you. Real life examples of the universe serving me, "you have been upgraded to business class miss" "your flight is delayed, you have an abundance of time to enjoy"; you sit next to someone and you have a, "wow this is the reason I am here" moment.
I've learned over the years and many failed attempts to understand the nature of making peace with the moment. Making peace with the inside will mirror the peace you feel towards the outside. There is no separation.
All moments exist simultaneously. When you change your reaction, the world changes. When you change your breath, your physiology changes.
The same practices it takes to become a master traveler relate to those of a breathwork master, focus, discipline and persistence!!!
There are a few things that we can do to have an effortless, effervescent transit while passing through airports and in navigating life:
Breathe! - Take 20 connected breaths or a few slow deep breaths to ground your body and get back into homeostasis/ into a neutral charge; in this state, you can make an aligned action/ decision.
Affirm yourself in the moment - repeating affirmations in a moment of high stress will signal your mind to change your body chemistry from a state of anxiety to peace
Try this one: "IN THIS MOMENT EVERYTHING IS WORKING OUT FOR MY HIGHEST GOOD, OUT OF THIS SITUATION, ONLY GOOD WILL COME, I AM SAFE."
Trust yourself - Trusting yourself is accepting yourself as you are in this moment (without the need to change anything).
Acceptance - Developing self acceptance and trust that you are guided in all moments; If you don’t board the flight, consider it meant to be. (harsh but to some extent this really works! "If I couldn’t catch that bus, then maybe that was FOR me rather than against me"
Gratitude - "thank you for getting me this far"; when we practice gratitude; we become aligned with the unified intelligence that is serving us at every moment
Play BIG! - Don't take no for an answer, flight for what you believe you deserve!!!
Have fun and laugh at yourself - Essential step to pure pleasure and enjoyment; If we take a step back at look at the big picture, "why are we so serious?"; everything is okay (even the most stress-provoking moments); in this moment, you are breathing, you are safe, you are unharmed; laughing releases happy hormones the opposite of the hormones that are provoked in traumatic experiences - develop a habit to laugh more and bathe in the happy hormones
After all, we love traveling because we can meet new people, expand our hearts and minds and see the world from a new perspective. When we cultivate our happy hormones often and navigate in a state of trust and gratitude - life will get really good!!! You become the master of your life (and the airport/ life becomes your servant rather than the other way around).
Thank you life for all my experiences because I grow and get better through the failures and mistakes. I wouldn’t exchange anything. I love the challenges because it means I am growing!!! JAYY! (Something we say in Greek, jay = victory!)
I've come from a codependent upbringing. During childhood and teen years, my parents were "abusing" themselves with alcohol and other fixes, and at a very young age, I witnessed this behavior and confused it for love.
Do you ever feel so stuck, you're just praying for the signs to be heard and answered? My prayers were answered, at least for today. Tomorrow is the unknown. Something so simple can spark such great inspiration. And so, in times of chaos and duality, the one thing we can control is ourselves, our focus, and our attitude towards a person, place or thing.
Now that I am an adult, I am experiencing love at first hand and I recognize my tendency to avoid it or "run away" from it, as my little child had done or made the decision to do when she was vulnerable and afraid.
Now that I am an adult, I am my own mother to my inner child. I know that previous illusions of "love" can be dissolved and I don’t need to hide away or run from current relationships (including the relationship with myself) because I know what is safe and supportive for me (and my inner child). I have the opportunity to tell her she is safe and she can be direct about how she feels and when she feels it (and then I give her a long embrace, literally.)
What Our Society Says About Feelings
Our culture splits our feelings into two categories: good and bad. Anger, pain, fear and shame are labeled as bad or negative. Joy, passion and love are considered good or positive. Pia Mellody (Facing Codependence) says that "this sort of black and white categorizing is erroneous and dysfunctional.
We are constantly being labeled and worrying about which emotions are acceptable or not. This puts a lot of pressure on us! For example, if a man is afraid, he's a coward. It's acceptable for a woman to be afraid because she is weak and vulnerable, but if a woman is angry then she is a witch, but a man's anger is him exerting his power…" it’s all a bunch of crap!
Another message society imposes on us is that pain is not acceptable (for men or women). The code I interpret when I hear this is that "I don’t have a right to have pain, or I am not worthy of pain, so I should take what I need to numb it", which leads to higher rates of drug and alcohol abuse/ addictions.
Pia says that, "wisdom and maturity come from facing pain and learning from it... we are a nation of very immature people who don’t have the willingness to experience the pain that leads to authentic wisdom. We haven't learned how to tolerate pain and deal with it as an agent of positive change."
Emotionally Numb
"Emotional damage most profoundly sabotages our lives as adult codependents," says Pia. The moment I decided to understand my emotional numbness (rather than being in denial of it) and slowly open to feel is one great step towards liberation!
A behavior that codependents often have trouble expereincing is setting functional boundries and owning and expressing their own reality. Their needs and wants get mixed up in a storm of what other people need and want (people pleasing) and their personal expression is not being met moderately, nor is it being owned. I've always been very passive aggressive in my words and actions. And up until now, I didn’t realize it was a defect, I took pride in it. (HA!)
I can relate a lot to this… in fact, I am slowly recovering from this dysfunctional, less-than nurturing "parenting" style. As a child, it was all that I knew, the intensity was normal and if I didn’t feel this intensity in myself, in my relationships, sex life, family, food… then I thought something is wrong with me! And worse, I tried to numb myself (and my emotions) for many years in thinking that my behavior was valid and sane when in fact, the more I come to think of it, my life had become unmanageable!
A Willingness to Heal
In Pia Mellody's, Facing Codependence, she explains that feeling healthy emotions is a positive experience. And that as long as each emotion is expressed in a healthy and functional way (not bypassing or numbing), each of our emotions has a specific purpose and can serve as a teacher for us! Below are core emotions and perspective on each:
Joy gives us hope and a sense of abundance or "I have enough."
Passion gives us an energy that motivates us to create and to survive.
Love is a sense of warmth for self or another that motivates us to treat ourselves and others well. It gives us a sense of inherent worth.
Anger gives us the strength we need to do what is necessary to take care of ourselves. We can use anger in a healthy way to our own best interest by facing it and expressing it in non-abusive ways (to ourselves or to other support).
Fear helps us protect ourselves. We become alert to the possibility of danger when we feel fear, that way we can safely protect ourselves. Healthy fear keeps us from getting into relationships that would not be in our own best interest. (A question I asked myself during meditation... "Would... be of my best interest? "Would it be of my best interest to...?" and so on... listening to my body's reaction/ and considering your heart).
Pain motivates us to grow towards increasing maturity. Life is full of pain-producing "problems", that is normal and healthy. Feeling the pain produces growth, ability to heal from past events, and a maturity to learn and move on. Repressing the pain and not facing it (or medicating/ abusing substance in some way) keeps us injured and immature.
Guilt is a healthy warning system telling us we have transgressed a value we considered to be important. Meaning, what you thought was important and was previously damaged/ hurt by it, is serving as a gentle sign for you to recognize your behavior and evolve. By feeling our guilt, we can shift our behavior and decide to live up to our values.
Shame tells us that we are imperfect and that we are not God. Although, according to our culture, we may feel shame but "we're not supposed to talk about it... our lives are filled with experiences of shame." Pia says, "codependency is a shame-based illness and it's hard to recover when the one thing we need to talk about is not supposed to be revealed or discussed." Our own healthy shame serves as a reminder to self that we are perfectly imperfect (as I like to say), and we can learn to be accountable and responsible for our own actions and the world around us.
Walking Through the Door
These times bring up so much uncertainty. In a world with so much chaos echoing all around us, it is most important that we listen to our greatest M.V.P... our heart!! As well as trust ourselves and ask ourselves, "What is most important for me right now?" or "What is good for my soul right now?".
I've been the "love avoidant" all my life, because I witnessed a distorted version of love as a child and decided back then to turn away or "avoid" love. Now that I am an adult, I can walk through the shadows, pain and sorrow (all those "black" emotions") and allow them to come up and out without judgement or shame. This is so liberating! I can now see and feel with a new pair of spectacles (and an ever evolving skin suit)! But of course, I had to experience all that I did to come to this realization, how magical!
These days bring so much distortion and it is hard to tell what is true and what is false. Asking ourselves, "What is true?" or "Is it true for me?" is a good place to start when making decisions about your future!! Let's not forget to always invite JOY and PLAY into our relationships, intents, words, and actions!!
It is okay to ask for clarity and take as much time as we need to process our daily experiences. Imagine you get in a car accident and the little child is in the back seat... post accident, everyone is safe, but the little child is traumatized by such an extreme experience. We have to hold our inner child and tell him/ her that we are okay, we are going to be safe, and allow as much time as you need to walk through the door. I always say "take baby steps" or as my mentor says "micro-commitments". And remember, saying "no" is a sentence. When you say "no" to someone else, you say "yes" to yourself.
“Even when I detach, I care. You can be separate from a thing and still care about it.” ― David Levithan
I saw these two little girls doing cartwheels and it reminded me of my nature... I hope it brings you to yoursEven when we fall... we can get back upA message written in the sand at Waialua Beach, Kauai
Featured Photo @rosa.scipion
Other photos taken by me on my most recent adventure to Kauai
Highly recommend books "Love Addiction" and "Facing Codependency" by Pia Mellody
For further help/ recovery, reach out to me for support and/or healing breathwork sessions; also visit Al-Anon.org for further support.
Do you ever wonder why you cannot fully meditate? Put it this way, meditation without the heart is like thinking without the mind. Mediation is feeling, while thinking is using your cognitive brain. Do you get where I am going with this? Rather than using your head in practicing a meditative state, practice scanning your feelings and body awareness, such as breathing. Being a volunteer for the world is the "work" of the soul, and one who takes the courageous leap, walks the path of the warrior. Just as a child graduates from crawling to walking, our human experience is celebrated every time we take a breath.
So what brought you here? Something greater than the very existence of life itself created this moment now; in fact, you created this moment right now for something else to unfold and so on in the spiral of time.
I will be up front with you now. I have been releasing a lot of emotion, some days it comes out of no where, I'll be driving and then "Whoosh", waves of emotion, feelings of loneliness, crash into my core. Other days, I am "triggered" by my mamma; whom is simply extending her unconditional love and service to me at every moment. I used to fail to realize the pure awareness and lucidity within the situation at hand. The biggest revelation I've had (and keep coming back to) is simply that we are all reflections of one another. Why for some people we can feel so fluid and free in expression, while others bring out the angry little child? Perhaps it's the little child whom we have not given the attention to in the first place and we need to comfort them most right now. These moments of "trigger" are created by your higher-self to bring you face to face with the facet that you are invited to uncover and clean the dust away. It's like a spiritual service; when you receive the invitation, you are invited to the "shadow work" at play; and therefore, initiate what you need to do (breathe; cry; scream; share; dance) to surrender to the little gremlin within.
Relationships are a service which allow us to grow and evolve. The "shadow" moments are simply dark spaces being illuminated by the light to help you shift out of an old way of being, or out of your head, and into your heart.
In a world where we all are fueled by heart, there would be no "low frequency emotions" (anger, fear, jealously, resentment) because everyone reflects one another, the great mirror. All people recognize love and compassion in the heart of a stranger and within the heart of a loved one. This is ultimate oneness. This is who we are.
The concept of separation is worth bringing up. Separation is a head thing (yep, same system that we discussed in the first sentence about meditation). Our (ego) mind created separation. It's a game our mind likes to play for the sake of its own entertainment purposes. The "imbalance" of our nature is that we were conditioned to believe the "duality" is our truth. We lived a majority of our lives practicing it in action, and therefore, if we dissolve the illusion of separation, we dissolve our physical existence and we see the world through spiritual eyes, as one whole body pulsating together.
According to Heart Math, "The human body has a magnetic field, with the heart being the strongest source in the body for electromagnetic activity. The heart generates the largest electromagnetic field in the body, about 60 times greater in amplitude than the brain waves."
Leonard Orr says, "When the mind is at peace, the body is enjoying what it's doing." Take a deep breath right now. Your breath is connected to the plants outside, the breath of your partner in the other room, the breaths of all whom once did breathe in this atmosphere. The connection with our breath awakens the connection to our heart. Your heart is your true north, the graduation from mind to heart, creativity thrives here.
Breath is like an alchemy; just like our creativity is to the heart. If you transform one, you transform the other.
In truth, not everyone will be there when you need them. We cannot rely on outside forces to lead us home. The path home is simply the walk, hand in hand, with your breath. That's who will guide you... never underestimate the power of the breath. I encourage you to study each other, practice and experiment. You will gracefully feel the oneness dancing within you, and you will fully experience the unlocking of your heart in full synchronicity, full power, guiding you home.
If "returning home" (returning to your breath vs. your mind) is the ultimate ecstasy; a time for celebration, and the graduation within our soul, then how can we create more heart coherence?
Dan Brule teaches Focus, Consistency, and Commitment, in his best seller "Just Breathe", as the big three to direct your spiritual practice in achieving conscious breath awareness. He says, "Breathwork is like a spiritual discipline." The more we focus and create unlimited compatibility with our heart, the more time dissolves, our intuition increases, psychic senses are activated, and our creativity rises like the reborn phoenix.
No one said it would be easy, though, a meaningful challenge is essential for the celebration of our souls. Breathing is the dance of your soul, so let us support each other in the union of our ever-expanding hearts; create our wildest dreams, and open portals to universes through the transmission of our beating drum within.
As above so below, as within so without.
In Lak'ech Ala K'in
(Pronounced "in-la-kesh-a-la-kin". Mayan for "I am you and you are me.")
Thank you for receiving my humble truth. Visuals are by Rosa Scipion at Villa P.O.E.M., in Bali. Enjoy the rest 🙂
What's a leader? What defines a leader in our world? We have been conditioned to think that a leader is someone outside of us; which can be true; although, in times like these, we must center on our inner (cheer) leader.
Think of anyone who's always intrigued you, challenged your beliefs, caused you to feel a certain way, sad, happy, angry; someone that inspires you... why? What qualities do they possess that allows you to put so much of your attention on them?
In truth, we cannot be looking outside for the answers. We can be curious and ask for help, but it is certain that your answers are already stored in your very own tool box; the toolbox called your heart. Your intuition is your most sacred and valuable tool, which has been given to you to use to navigate this earth and the life that you create for yourself. We are so fortunate. Not only do we have a heart to navigate, we have a mind to constantly challenge incoming and existing thoughts and beliefs that we encounter everyday.
With our heart to come to for direction when we are stuck, our mind to process our internal dialogue, and our spirit which embodies our physical... who would fear intimacy with such an intelligent creature? We were never taught how to consume, digest, process, store, purge, and heal... as complex as life may seem, it is so simple you see. I could (and I have) spent lifetimes simply discovering and uncovering my own body's unique and authentic faucets. This is part of my process. Your process may be completely different.
When we love our individual process and we honor our metamorphosis, our transformation becomes like a drug, and we fall madly in love with our "home".
The difference between us and an animal is that an animal knows one thing: survival. On the other hand, we are given the gift of intuition; a direct connection to Source/ God itself, a connection that created us, drives us, and powers our sole/soul purpose here on this wonderful Earth. Because we hold the tool for being/ existing in our core, we are meant to lead others which have not discovered their tools yet, on the path of discovery, to let them know, "hey you have a toolbox, if you need help using it, I am here to guide you, but you possess it, it is not going anywhere, and it will bring you home".
The process to discovery is meant to be challenging. If it was easy, we wouldn't need tools. We don't need to know where we are going and we don't need to put pressure on ourselves. Pressure comes from conditioning of society, conditioning of the self and how we should be, who we should be; we weren't given a manual at birth, a manual that says who you are and what you will do. No, that would be boring and meaningful and completely lifeless... you might as well be dead. So now you see why it is okay to feel lost, lonely, and vulnerable, it is our nature (only for a short time). We are given tools (I am referring to your heart, intuition, mind and body), tools to pick up, and practice, again and again and again.
I came into this body with one big heart and so did you. I possess a heart that feels for your heart and that wants to play and unite other hearts. Drop all expectations and beliefs of being separate from one another. You are alive right now to make clear your "why", your reason for being on this planet at this time, because by you being alive in a fully functioning body (you could not have a body or a leg or something... think how fortunate you are); you are beautiful because you are you.
Think back to the leaders.... what makes them so powerful to you? They are so incredibly different from you... and you are so different from them. They have a purpose, a message to convey to the masses, and guess what, so do you. Have that conversation with yourself, what brings you joy? Why are we all here connected to each other? The answer is to unite and empower each other in authentic ways.
Why are we faced with challenges and with the constant illusion of fear blanketing the earth? It is there for us to observe and detach from the low vibration. Break out your toolbox, the earth is under construction right now, and same for each of us individually.
Its time to lay out all your tools, observe, touch, study, wonder, and make use of the time for ultimate pleasure. As much as you may want to pull up a "how to..." with all the resources we have available at our fingertips, always challenge what you see and hear, and use the knowledge as a stepping stone as you pave your path to your almighty heart. This is not the time to detour another way because all paths lead to your heart. That being the case, face your truth now so you can lead together. If you want to detour that's cool too, do what you have to do. Only you know whats best for you.
Be like the little child that has all the toys/ tools scattered all over the floor, picking one up, one at a time, going slow and existing in you right now for a reason. Tune into its vibration and share conversation with it. The whole universe is working with you to be breathing right now. Create the moment. Craft a story. Build a strong foundation for your empire. You have to clean up all the toys if you want to start a new project.
Use this time (because you have and you always will, have all the time in the world) to pick up the pieces and clear the space/ unwanted energy that isn't serving you or your higher self. Start there. Take your time. One block at a time. You got this. Let's concentrate on our toolbox so much that we can trust one another to operate in each others field. It is essential that we show up for our individual process while showing up with acceptance and compassion for each other. Facilitating in the healing of the collective is the foundation of our future.
You are your own (cheer) leader. Focus your energy and emotion on what brings you joy and pleasure and plant this seed deep into the rich soil. Nourish your seed with patience, pure water, high alkaline foods (plant-based), a strong like-minded conscious community, peace, loving thoughts, and courageous work. Craft the spaceship of your dreams... then don't stop there... keep creating and helping others craft. We are one heart. Let's work on the construction of our home together. We need each other. We are coming home.
"Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen."
I felt called to channel these words for two reasons, one, it is relevant (because it's what I am going through, which means you feel it too), and two, I developed my disposable film in which the portrayal of "ethereal oneness" was embodied in the raw moments I captured.
"Ethereal oneness" being the eternal, delicate, airy energy that surrounds us, "in between the spaces" energy which fills our cosmos. Sometimes we can't see it, other times it unfolds in a form of "coincidence", personal revelation, or simple acts of service. Whether you are present or not, it is present in you. You are connected to the person sitting across the room, the man waiting for the bus half-way around the world, the bird chirping in the Amazon forest, the fish swimming in the Pacific Ocean, the trees breathing outside... we are warm-blooded, breathing beings. We need love and nurturing, juicy colorful plants for nutrition, mineral-rich water for hydration, loving human connection, and most importantly, conscious breathing.
I first came to Bali August of 2016. Looking back at my experience, I distracted myself with the over-indulging night life, drugs, and external pleasures, leading to depression and even more suppression of my feelings. It wasn't until now, three years later, that I stepped out of the illusion I was creating and came heart to heart with my inner child.
Our life is an equal manifestation of light and dark. We are eternal beings, subconsciously striving for a balance in all areas of our existence. It is easy to consume all the bountiful fruits when the sun is shining, although, when we take a step back, we are practically drowning in the sensory overload of the illusion. We are surrounded by lush pleasure, but, we are also surrounded by darkness, which we have been suppressing in our own life.
If we keep running, how will we integrate and understand our heart's desires? Bali will greet you (if she hasn't already), at the golden gateway and it may not be as shimmering as you previously fantasized it to be. Take a sacred pause and honor what you feel right now.
We are all scared and feel all types of ways, its part of our human experience. You are beginning to wake up. You are becoming more conscious of the world around you. Your inner world is a reflection of your outer world. Do you like what you see? Are you happy with your progress? Are you scared? Do you feel worthy of the projections you created in your life?
You don't need the validation. Your feeling is the validation. Embrace yourself and pleasure in your very own existence.
Perhaps you have had bizarre experiences when your feet touch the land, serendipitous encounters, freak accidents, traumatic releases, search for self, whatever may be your calling, you are here for a reason, and that reason being valid because you are experiencing it. Put yourself first in your healing process, but also, pay your respect to the Island of the Gods.
Everything we receive is a blessing in disguise.
Honor everything that you receive. Make a prayer or short blessing. Take a moment in silence. Be still with the offering. Take a few deep breaths. Thank the universe for its presence in your hands (or for this moment if its not a physical gift). Embrace each layer of it (and of you) with compassion and love.
❤️ ❤️ ❤️
The following images are a collection of what my disposable film captured in the rawness of time. To my surprise, the light decided to take a green dance all over the projections... it is what you make of it.
Gaze, ponder, shift your perspective, turn it upside down, zoom in, zoom out. See your reflection mirrored in the grain. Open your heart to her cry. Offer your heart to her existence.
Itzi in the kitchen Muri and Itzi in Ubud CenterLeo in his disguiseThe sign says meatballs but we came for the hot churrosLovers at seaSunny niche in UluwatuMarion and her film on a sunny afternoonDusk in UbudWater purificationSelfie with the spiritsBurning palo santo as an offering "I fill myself with love. I give it all away."
To my brothers and sisters, do not hesitate to reach out for help. You are heard. Thank you for your presence. 🙂
I woke up and honored the sun rising, beginning the day with a few sun salutations and a short morning flow of stretches and qi-gong that my body thanks me for upon rising. I enjoy to make up a flow as I go. It all depends on my body's feeling, so I listen to her (my body/my temple) and act. Every sun rise is different, so why not embrace the uniqueness in my body each day as well.
The enchanting island is alive and enriched with magic. She is growing with wild bush, cherry trees, fig trees, olive trees, wild herbs and wild flowers filling every space of her naked land. Her heart is in the middle which is guarded by the mountains. The story of Samothrace (aka Samothraki) is said that the island used to be virgin, which was held by the priests and priestesses that inherited the land throughout time. It wasn't until the fire was brought from Mount Athos (male/light) to Samothraki (female/dark), that radiated light from her crystal core, illuminating her mysterious presence from miles across the sea. Population of 2,500 humans and 100,000 goats.
She wore her elements beautifully.
The sun is alive and the birds are singing; it is a beautiful day. Today is "spiritual purification" day, meaning on this day, we allow ourselves to break free from the daily habitual norms and envelop ourselves in all the ways to spiritually purify our mind, body, and soul using the 5 elements: Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Ether (Love).
This includes fasting and honoring the day in silence. Sometimes our ego/mind makes up a big story about fasting or not talking for a duration of time, the truth is, once you surrender, there are no barriers. Your mind and body is free to bathe in the abundant life spiraling all around at every moment.
"When I feel in alignment and in flow, it's as if the whole universe is dancing with me. And that dance wasn’t taught or learned, I know the steps because it is imprinted in my cells. My purpose on this earth is to do my dance. My steps are authentic and effortless. There is grace, passion, and laughter integrated in my moves. I can feel the sensations of my body dancing with joy, time doesn’t exist, I am a vortex of abundance and my heart is the music box."
Samothraki (Samothrace), Greece
Muse @farriedasmit
Photography + Words by Dani
Infinite Love to Global Breathing Awareness―AGAPI ❤
