2022: A Creative Year in Review

Timeline

Jumping right tf in!

May 2022: The Med Gala

Since this year was my Personal Year 3, I did a lot of networking, creating, and having fun. I attended The Med Gala, an ethereal party celebrating our enlightened form. It was sensory overload, yet inspirational. From the atmospheric aesthetic, to the therapeutic scents, and artistic performances, this event was a healing vibe! I walked away with so much inspiration and ideas to scale my wellness brand and my lifestyle. The event is happening again in Queens on May 5th. Get your tix and let me know if you plan on attending!

August 2022: Hip-Hop Block Party

The National Museum of African American History and Culture threw their first annual Hip-Hop Block Party in the heart of DC. I planned to get away for a quick weekend of social rest, so you know I had to pull up with the team; a few of my DC-based business partners joined me in the celebration of Black music, fashion, and culture. There was soul food, DJs in every room, beautiful Black people from all over, history lessons, performances, and all-around good, Black vibes. To say this event was healing is an understatement. Chocolate City owes me nothing!

September 2022: Black Love pon di Yaad

I traveled to Jamaica to witness the union of two dear friends who I met damn near as soon as I touched down in Texas back in 2017. From party barges on Lake Travis to walking across the street to their apartment for pool-side kickbacks, to saying final goodbyes to our good sis Isabelle who transitioned last year, it was my honor to see those two tie the knot on my Ancestor's land. It was such a beautiful wedding! You know I had to make it wellness and business, so I got a lot of rest. Every morning I ate ackee and saltfish, porridge, drank organic cold-pressed juice, tore up some sugar cane, and guineps. I tried to spend as much as time as possible in the ocean because I'm a water baby and love nature. I said a prayer to Yemoja (The Mother of all African Orisha and the Goddess of the Sea), collected shells and rocks from the ocean floor and meditated for hours in the sea.

October 2022: Rest is Resistance Book Tour

I'ma keep this short because the title is self-explanatory. I was honored to see Tricia Hersey in the flesh at the Schomburg Center in Harlem, speaking on the intersectionality of rest in the Black community, specifically against the yt power structure. Just get the book and thank me later.

November 2022: Candle Experience Launch

Ya'll really showed out for ya gworl with this one. I was happy to launch my first wellness product/tool/essential and ya'll loved it! My goal was to create a candle experience. If you didn't cop the signature Radical candle, you missed out, but they will return top of the summer. Although it was a lot of work, time, money and trial and error, I absolutely LOVED designing and creating them. These came from the heart and I appreciate all my Day 1s who supported me. Ya'll showed up and out. I sold out in a third of the time I expected to, got raving reviews and even some requests to sell the debris bags separately because ya'll loved them so much. Subscribe to my mailing list to get a sneak peak at the next candle launch! This next experience is dedicated to the divine masculine, my faves. Check out me hand-pouring the Radical 14oz plant-powered candle below.

November 2022: How We Heal Book Tour

Another amazing Black woman promoting healing. If you haven't already, follow Alex Elle on social media. Her IG lives, Tea Tuesdays, hit! Get her book and thank me lata!

November 2022: Beaucoup Hoodoo Fete

This year was my first official year tapping into African Traditional Religions (ATRs) as a Hoodoo and Lucumi practitioner. Here is the quick breakdown of how I got into practice: I watched the film, In Our Mothers' Gardens, on Netflix, followed the creator of the film, enrolled and attended a few classes she offered as a follow-up to the film, joined her Beaucoup Hoodoo bookclub (ya'll know I love Black bookclubs), registered for the first annual festival in New Orleans and began applying all of the things I've been learning all year. Ya'll, the festival was Black af. There were African spiritual leaders, priests, and witches all around me in my favorite city ever. I completed the following workshops at the festival, in this order:

• African Rebellion and Resistance in the West Indies

• Spiritual Hygiene

• Spiritual Baths

• Winti & Maroon Culture & Afro-Surinamese Spirituality

• Mojo Making

Hands down, this was the event of the year. I met so many wonderful Black people who are on a similar wellness and spiritual journey as me. I met the creator and star of the film and marched in my very first second line in true NOLA fashion all the way from New Orleans Museum of African American History to Congo Square where I collected dirt from the Egun (Ancestors) tree, danced to African-Cuban drums and sat in community with elders and young people in ATR traditions from all over the world. It was almost a week full of celebrations, food, music, dance, learning and unlearning. I stopped by Haus of Hoodoo, a Black botanica where I purchased all my divination tools for my mojo. Again, it was a lot of stimulation, but Egun would have it no other way!

November 2022: COVID, & DC again

How, Sway? Everyone had to test negative for the NOLA Fete, but some rando there got me sick! Big up to whoever has been able to dodge this virus. Mind you, I haven't been traveling a lot before this year and I just started going to the gym without a mask. Ya'll, this thang took me out for two weeks! I traveled to DC after New Orleans for a few days of post-spiritual rest (because spiritual work is heavy af), and became progressively sick throughout my stay. Finally got home and tested positive for ya boy, and have been weary of meetups ever since. Moral of it all, it's not over. Wear a mask.

December 2022: Winter Wrap-Up

This year has been fun, filled with growth, and everything felt good and right. I turned 35 and realized I really only have like 5 true friends, but that I'm loved and supported by an army of people who want to see me win. You know who you are and you are appreciated!

5 Experiences That No Longer Serve Me:

1. Interacting with ppl who aren't actively healing

2. Accepting ppl's low vibrational experiences

3. Thinking small

4. Not expressing more of what I want/need

5. Being strong. It's ghetto (repeat from last year)

5 Lessons I'm Taking Into 2023:

1. Do nothing without intention (King Solo)

2. Journey in grace (Alex Elle)

3. Pay attention to the signs

4. Go to your Ancestors

5. Make decisions from your internal compass and not ego

2023 is my Personal Year 4. This year I put in work, lay new foundations, and make shit happen. My word for the year is Fearless. Thank God and my Egun for guiding, protecting, and keeping me grounded to Source. Maferefun Egun! Wishing you all a radical, restful, and fearless new year!

Love + Light,