Hello beautiful people and welcome to this dose of Celestial Goodness.
I had a rather longer than planned hiatus, and so if you are still here in this space with me, I offer my deep gratitude and appreciation. 🙏🏾
See this weeks video here: https://youtu.be/SuhH_CrkFCM?si=UdZwxSx9-kBxjOAH
Life is very mysterious in how it unfolds, and sometimes what might be the plan to take a few weeks off becomes months off. To say that a lot happened in that time would be a major understatement.
What were some highlights?
Visiting Arizona, California, New Orleans, Jamaica, London, South Carolina, Germany, and Nigeria. I felt as if I went across the US and across the world multiple times. I love to travel and even though most of these trips were unplanned when 2023 started, I had a lovely time in each place. I had delicious conversations, yummy food, rest, rejuvenation, hugs, endless synchronicities, firewood to feed my creative flames, and just beautiful reminders of love in abundance.
In the case of both Jamaica and Nigeria, it had been over six years since I had been to either country. When I was in New Orleans, a lady that I met told me that sometimes you have to go back to a place to touch the soil. I felt that in my spirit. Returning home to Jamaica was a profound and powerful experience.
My cousin Latoya had her first Sacred Souls Healing Retreat in our home parish of Portland. I went to help her for the first week, and then for the second week, I hung out with family and friends. Shoutout to mommy who came down to hang out with me. This was my best trip home to Jamaica. I saw the country through different eyes and enjoyed parts of it that I had not experienced before. I will probably make a video/post about it separately but being there reminded me deeply of where my family and I were coming from, and of where we have yet to go. Being by the sea and up in the mountains calmed my nervous system, and just recentered my soul. It was a beautiful experience.
Going back to Nigeria was a similar experience. I spent time with my “Nigerian family.” Hehehe. I rested, ate good food, partied, rested some more, and let my creativity unfold. Lagos is one of my favorite cities in the world, and somewhere that my soul just feels a deep resonance.
I can’t explain it beyond, a beautiful quote that I heard— “I was not born in Africa, but Africa was born in me.” I will probably also do something separate on that so stayed tuned.
So what of the Celestial Goodness space? Doesn’t it feel sometimes like the world is in more need than ever of kindness, compassion, empathy, gratitude, reminders of the beauty of life, and just our interconnectedness? Yes, I have some plans for this space that will continue that work for sure!
This particular dose of Celestial Goodness is inspired by one of my dear friends. I can’t sing the praises of my close friends and family enough—because even as a joy filled unicorn sprinkles spreading soul, I definitely have those moments where it feels like life is dragging me. I have learned not to avoid those moments, but to lean into them because they are informative. I do know though, that we can’t stay in those moments… but sometimes it is hard to pull ourselves out. Sometimes we need our community to help pull us out from the proverbial underworld.
Late October 2023, I was definitely feeling out of sorts. I went to dinner with some friends and a few of us were feeling in a similar way. One of my friends who was in a remarkable mood—spoke pure life into the rest of us. His excitement and happiness for life was contagious. It is true that a rising tide raises all ships because he got us together at that dinner. One of the things he said to me was , “I learned some of this from you—Celestial Goodness. When are you putting out another video lol.” So you know, I have to take my own advice haha!
What he said to us that we needed to change our perspective. How amazing is it that we get to live this life, and to do all the things that we do? How amazing is it that we get to have the experiences that we do? That we get to live and love and be here on the planet at this time. He mentioned that he had reclaimed his mornings—incorporating meditation, a gratitude practice, and physical activity. It reminded me of a quote I have often read. “In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: “When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop being comforted by the sweet territory of silence?”
My friend also asked us what if anything were we doing each day that was specifically for us? I felt so moved by the reactions that I was having to the questions that I made up my mind that I would resurrect my meditation practice, gratitude practice, and add a bit more movement to my days. How has this unfolded? 80+ days later, I have meditated every day—it is a work in progress. I have a blog post/video on meditation if you want more information and resources. What I have noticed is that I feel more centered and calmer. Some days I struggle to quiet the mind, but that is not the goal. My goal was to reform the habit and stick to it! I also write a sentence or two of something that I am grateful for in my notes app on my phone. It is amazing to scroll through and look at everything that I have to be thankful for. It reminds me on seemingly bad days that I have a lot more to be thankful for than not.
And then movement. I have been seeing a trainer once a week for the past year and a half. I have felt stronger and more confident in myself, and he has helped learn new exercises that keep me interested in my workouts. I have also reminded myself to dance, and sing—the primary audience for this are my plants, but they haven’t complained. All of this is to say—what are you doing for yourself? How have you been taking care of your physical health? Mental health? Emotional health? Spiritual health?
What are three things that you feel immense gratitude for right now?
How can you squeeze even ten minutes into your day just to remind yourself to breathe and to be?
I know the world feels often like it is burning. The work that we do internally echoes very loudly externally. If we want to change the world, we must start with ourselves. We must start in our communities and the spaces we inhabit, and let it ripple out across the world. Ultimately, travel reminded me yet again that we harbor more similarities than differences, and that most people in the world are concerned with the same things on a micro level—purpose, relationships, health, safety, and so forth.
So, this is my encouragement for you—paid forward from my friends—the angels that walk among us. Can you put your hand over your heart right now.
Can you take in a deep breath and just absorb this message.
You are needed here.
You are love and loved.
You are the essence of the divine made manifest.
The world is a better place because you are in it.
May your smile light up the lives of ten thousand souls.
May your love echo across the planet and light the love in a million hearts.
May you know this deeply.
May your life unfold in beautiful ways.
And may the stars shine brightly over your week—until next time!
Celestial Goodness 