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SPRING FASHION COLOR TRENDS – What the 2010 Color Trends Say About Our Mood
(Use color to transform your personal style and well-being)

Pantone, the leading authority on color, sets the professional color standards for the design industries each year. According to their Fashion Color Report for Spring 2010, the top color this spring is Turquoise. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone had this comment on the spring colors -  “Now more than ever, women are vigilant when it comes to spending. Instead of reinventing their wardrobe at the start of each season, consumers want pieces to complement what they already own. Pairing a bold color with a basic piece or freshening up their look with bright accents addresses the need for practicality, as well as fun”.

Two leading color and aura experts, Elizabeth Harper and Kala Ambrose are traveling around the US this year, to discuss the power and presence of color in your life and how it affects you on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. Teaching together at the prestigious Omega Institute in New York in July 2010, one of their first stops of the spring season begins right here in Raleigh, NC as they hold a 3 Day Event on March 4th, 5th, and 6th, hosted by Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship.  The event includes a lecture on Thursday evening, private color readings on Friday and an all day workshop on Saturday discussing Color and Auras, which are the colors seen by intuitive people in a field around the physical body.

Kala and Elizabeth teach that… “Color is the mirror of the soul. Every day waves of color-filled energy wash over us and the colors we choose at any given moment reflect messages from the deep knowing part of our being. The choices of color can be used not only in fashion, but in the food we eat, our creative pursuits, home decoration and work environment to enhance our well-being. Color permeates everything in our lives and can generate significant emotions; pink invokes love, green creates space, and violet inspires reverence. As hue-man beings we possess an awareness of color, but much of this knowledge is buried beneath the surface of our waking consciousness”.

According to Kala Ambrose, “Turquoise, the top color selected for 2010, represents self-expression and has to do with communication and healing.  Turquoise worn in clothing can stimulate the imagination and bring forth creative ideas and the turquoise stone, worn as jewelry can bring transformation.  The choice of turquoise this year signifies the mood of the people around the country who are ready to have their voices heard and want to bring about change in a big way. Turquoise reflects prosperity and collectively the color represents the desire by the people to heal from what has occurred nationally in the past few years and builds motivational energy to turn things around in the economy”.

More information on the event at: http://exploreyourspirit.com/workshop-sff.html

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Not that these aren’t challenging times, but all the fear mongering and consequent pubic anxiety isn’t helping anyone. How can Feng Shui help in all this, you might wonder. It is my experience that when life becomes stagnant and money is not coming in as it should, changing the environmental condition does help to get the energy flowing again. In other words, move the furniture around; put it into a new configuration. The end of summer and beginning of autumn is a good time to make such changes. Sometimes even a small change makes a world of difference.

It really helps to clean out the place. Clutter spells stagnation and anxiety. To clear your space, start by throwing out everything that you don’t need. Clear up all the clutter. Get organized. Look over all the old papers and decide what goes where and what goes into the garbage.

To make a spiritual cleansing of the house, according to Chinese tradition, first open all the windows and do a thorough house cleaning; washing and vacuuming. When that’s done, take a broom and lightly sweep all the floors and walls from the back of the house to the front door, then sweep all the stale energy out the door. And, if you want to do it right, slam the door behind it all once you’ve got it outside.

There is a secret method for getting bad spirits out of the house that you can include. For this you need to get a small round mirror. Traditionally, one uses a round bronze mirror that can be held in the hand, but a small, round cosmetic mirror will do if you can’t find a bronze mirror; bronze mirrors are hard to come by and are expensive. Take the mirror in your left hand; hold it flat with all five fingers around it so the reflecting side faces out. In your right hand, hold a lit red candle so that  the candle flame is reflected on the face of the mirror. With this, go around to all the walls of the house; walk close to the wall surfaces, reflecting the candle flame in the mirror onto the walls as you go from the back of the house all the way around to the front door. This causes hungry ghost energies to flee the house and can cause your hair to stand up on end if you are sensitive to such entities.

To freshen up the house and bring in good luck, bring in fresh oranges and fresh, live flowers and arrange them on a table. Then light two red candles on the table where you have arranged the oranges and flowers, burn sandalwood incense, and make a prayer for the blessings of Heaven for peace and prosperity to come into your home.

When arranging your furniture, make sure the configuration you put everything into lets you move easily through the house; nothing should get in the way of movement. The house has to feel open. Clutter or obstruction anywhere means stagnation in one or another department of your life. A Feng Shui reading of your house will tell you exactly what the cluttered areas of your home correspond to in your life according to the elements of your Chinese astrological chart and the elements of the different compass points inside your home. A complete cleansing of the house, including decluttering it and sorting out and realigning all the stuff will help you to get your energy moving in the right direction, and that’s what you want. While doing this, concentrate of rearranging how you feel about your prospects in life. A feeling of being stuck in life with no idea what to do is no better than living in a cluttered mess. Clear your mental environment of mental clutter while you clear your home environment; both your mental and living environments reflect one another. When you can see your intention for an unobstructed way in life reflected in an open, clean environment you will be taking a very positive step in the right direction. While organizing your house, organize your personal goals and prioritize the steps that will bring you to realize your goals; everything corresponds.

Anxiety or despair, for whatever reason, needs time to come around and be transformed. In the context of the Chinese elements these emotions are related mostly to Earth and Metal. In their most positive life supportive expressions, Earth and Metal signify nourishment and cleanliness. If you are in emotional trouble for fear of not having enough, take care of nourishment and setting healthy boundaries; pay attention to what you eat, and keep negative people and situations at a safe distance. In terms of your space, pay attention to your kitchen, and throw out all the junk.

Money points or areas in the house to consider include the first place you see inside the house upon opening the front door, also the far left-hand area, or corner, of your entire house or apartment, and the southeast area, or corner, of your house or apartment. There are also other areas designated as money points that are determined by the age of the house as well as by the elements of your Chinese astrological chart; to locate these areas, however, you need the help of an expert, one who knows the Chinese astrological and compass methods. Besides the fixed money points, there are money points that circulate around the house on a yearly, even monthly basis due to the rotation of the heavens. In China and Japan people who use fengshui readjust their homes and places of business on a regular basis to catch the luck.

What to do mainly in money points is to make sure the energy or chi, breathes unobstructedly. Clutter or unsightly stuff in the money points militates against a healthy relationship with money. Money points, besides being uncluttered, should be well lit. If you wish, put symbols of prosperity in the money points. Symbols of prosperity, besides the appropriate Chinese calligraphies, include such things as bouquets of flowers, flowering plants, miniature orange trees, jade plants, the lucky Buddha, a conch shell, images of two gold fish swiming around one another, images of elephants, deer, horses, dogs and so on. Certain images such as dragons or money turtles need to be positioned in special ways according to the element they represent in order to work for you the way you want them to. For example, a dragon or money turtle made of plastic, crystal or glass corresponds to the element Water and has to be positioned to face north; made of wood, it has to face east or southeast; made of stone, it has to face northeast or southwest; made of metal it has to face west or northwest. The famous money toad has to be positioned to face the direction of the front door. The money toad also has to be placed high up, never low down. This is because the money toad is a form of the Moon Fairy Chang-O, and Chang-O lives in the sky, not on the earth. There are Chinese magical formulas for using money toads to increase money luck that require knowledge of the lunar tides and astrological number theories to work. The same holds true for using fish tanks for attracting money luck.

To make decent money, you need to keep your mind clear and focused while persevering. This is where the element Metal comes in. Metal cuts out everything undesirable and concentrates. To keep your mind clear, or clearer than it has been these past months, make sure to throw out everything you don’t want and can’t use anymore. Keep your house in a simple, balanced condition. And to cheer up, use the element Fire. Fire is beauty. Keep things of beauty to inspire you.

In the Chinese system, everything is cyclical; everything moves in waves. This down cycle will be followed by an up cycle. The tides will turn. Get ready for improved luck. Money is flow, or affluence. If the flow of energy of your home and life is good, your chances of luck are good. If the flow is stale and stagnant, your chances of luck are poor. Breathe right, open the channels to life, let in the light and get more luck. Chaos, or clutter often denotes depression. If you or someone in your home is depressed or chaotic, go about decluttering very carefully and sensitively unless you want to get a bad reaction; decluttering often exposes emotional pain that wants to be left alone and needs time to come through its own process by itself in its own time. In other words, be patient with yourself and with the others living with you when fixing up the place.

How well can you move through your home? Do you need all the stuff you cling to? Can you take chances with your money to improve your condition? Fear comes of feeling stuck. The more freely you can move the more unstuck you feel. Open your space and move and you will begin to feel less stuck. And that will start to turn your luck around for the better.For more information about Raphael’s work in Feng Shui see www.psychicarts.net or www.trs-fengshui.com

T. Raphael Simons will be on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show Friday, August 28th at 8pm Eastern.

More about T. Raphael Simons…

T. Raphael Simons is a psychic reader, astrologer (Western and Chinese forms), feng shui expert, hypnotherapist and life coach and is  available for consultations and counseling in person and by telephone. Author of Feng Shui, Step by Step, Feng Shui Strategies for Business Success: Arranging Your Office for Success and Prosperity, and The Feng Shui of Love, his interest in the metaphysical sciences and arts began in 1970, he first learned to read Tarot cards in 1971 and took up reading them professionally in 1977. From there he studied astrology for seven years with Ivy Jacobson beginning in 1980. In 1988 he took up the study of Chinese astrology and fengshui with Terry Lee in New York and has been practicing and teaching Chinese astrology and fengshui ever since. He also trained in channeling in New York with the medium Alex Murray. Since 1999 Raphael has been a member of OBOD (the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids), the most ancient bardic and druid order in the UK in which he was elected a full member in the Druid grade. Raphael has been living in Durham, North Carolina since 2003, moving to NC from New York City. Originally trained as a musician, he taught music at Princeton University and Oberlin College. More info at: www.psychicarts.net

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Every time I make a work of art, I am ready for a new adventure.  I have developed my own artform:  mixed media fabric collage tapestries. I feature my tapestries in our the many books & tools I have created with my husband, author Monte Farber, as  well as on my Spiritual Couture one-of-a-kind jackets.

Collage is a very therapeutic technique because it is a creative and spontaneous process; it allows me to be open to my soul language, to imagine the way I would like things to be.  When we develop our abilities to visualize, we can achieve many goals, we can create our own reality.

As I make the many decisions of placement, and balance by intuitively adding and eliminating elements, my decision-making muscles are strengthened on a daily basis.  By trusting and connecting to my “dream world” of metaphors & symbols, I draw up answers and revelations from the well of the unconscious.  That is why I love to make art all the time, because it is such a spiritual journey.  And its fun, too!  We all have an Artist within us yearning to express the feelings, language, and teachings that touch our soul and mirror back images that can heal us at every stage of growth.  If not expressed, the Inner Artist shuts down, and our spiritual natures shut down as well.

True creativity is arrived at by following a disciplined psychological and spiritual path.  Being creative entails the liberation of your “dream” and the ultimate realization of its delights.  To walk the creative path, though, one must be tenacious and heroic.

Art, writing, and other creative outlets are a way of talking to our Higher Selves.  By actualizing your creativity, you become spiritual.  If everyone is creative, then we live in paradise.  I believe we all have special gifts to share.

More About Monte Farber and Amy Zerner:

Internationally known self-help author Monte Farber’s inspiring guidance and empathic insights impact everyone he encounters. Amy Zerner’s exquisite, one-of-a-kind spiritual couture creations and collaged fabric paintings exude her profound intuition and deep connection with archetypal stories and healing energies. For more than thirty years they’ve combined their deep love for each other with the work of inner exploration and self-discovery to build The Enchanted World of Amy Zerner and Monte Farber: popular books, card decks, and oracles that have helped millions answer questions, find deeper meaning, and follow their own spiritual paths.

Together they’ve made their love for each other a work of art and their art the work of their lives, with over two million books in print in fourteen languages. Their other best-selling titles include The Chakra Meditation Kit, The Tarot Discovery Kit, Karma Cards, The Enchanted Spellboard, Secrets of the Fortune Bell, Little Reminders: Love & Relationships, Little Reminders: The Law of Attraction, Goddess, Guide Me!, The Animal Powers Meditation Kit, Astrology Gems, True Love Tarot, The Instant Tarot Reader, The Psychic Circle, Wish Upon A Star, The Pathfinder Psychic Talking Board, The Truth Fairy, Spirit of the Ancestors Altar Kit, Vibe-Away!, The Mystic Messenger, The Breathe Easy Deck, The Healing Deck, and The Ghostwriter Automatic Writing Kit.  More info at: www.TheEnchantedWorld.com

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The journey continues as we seek seek out talented artisans who are designing unique heartfelt products and designs. This summer on the Bohemian Blog, we focus on art, fashion and design which nourishes, harmonizes and enhances the body, mind and spirit. Next up, we have Kathy Morawski, a well known equine and collage artist with works in many collections worldwide, so relax and get comfy as we spend some time with Kathy here on the Bohemian Blog, which as always is dedicated to “Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Love”.

Kala: Hi Kathy, Thanks for joining us here on Explore Your Spirit with Kala’s Bohemian Blog. This summer, we’re featuring Fashion and Artistic Designs for the Body, Mind and Spirit. I discovered your work online and was touched by your use of natural elements to express strong heart-centric expressions of love and joy. Tell us, how did the inspiration begin for Love Rocks?

Photo caption: A selection from the Love Rocks series

Kathy: It’s great to be here, Kala! I’m honored you were touched by the Love Rocks. Their inspiration initially started in the aftermath of my mother’s sudden death. I began encountering angel and heart references seemingly everywhere and wasn’t sure of the source of these synchronicities but they were comforting. Then I started finding heart shaped rocks on my walks and began collecting them. It wasn’t until I was preparing for an art exhibit and acting on a spontaneous whim, I made a music themed collage titled “Love Rocks!” featuring sheet music and some of these rocks. Since most of my work incorporates words, for my next show I wanted to use the rocks in more of a text based way, but in a simpler format than a collage. I edited down as much as possible, substituting the letter O with a heart shaped rock and thus the Love Rock plaques were born!

Kala: You’re a talented artist, (mixed media collages, black and white and color pencil portraits) with a sincere love for horses. Your painted ponies jump off the cover and I connect deeply with the colored pencil horse portait. Your eye for detail is inspiring. How did your career in art begin?

Kathy: Thank you. I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember and my favorite subject was horses. I was always attracted to details and rendering them myself, so the fact I’m a Virgo seems appropriate! I was also incredibly lucky to have parents that nourished my art and called me “the artist of the family”. As a kid I painted on rocks and took orders for drawings from classmates on the school bus. I studied art and then worked professionally with an amazing art director who expanded my knowledge and took me to a level I would not have obtained otherwise. Over the years I continued creating my art and commissions while working my way up to being an art director myself in the publishing field. It was at this point when my mom passed away prompting a reassessment of my own life and I left the corporate cubicle world to do my art full time. It was a huge leap of faith but I knew I was loved and protected so I jumped.

Photo caption: Colored pencil horse portrait drawing

Kala: In many ancient wisdom teachings, it is said there are four animals who are here with the purpose to be of service and connect deeply with humanity. They are the horse, the cow, the dog and the cat. With this in mind, how have horses touched and inspired you in your life?

Kathy: Well, there’s no doubt which animal I resonate most closely with! Looking back at the many horse references in my life it’s obvious that horses are my totem animal. I was born in the Chinese Year of the Horse in a state claiming the horse as its state animal and my high school mascot was a horse. I got my first horse in another Year of the Horse and was invited to create a horse sculpture for a national art project during yet another Year of the Horse. The horse in my life now, Skip, is a true inspiration and helped me to open my heart again after the death of my mother. He was an older horse who’s owner had just died and no one wanted him. Initially thinking he was too old, I didn’t want to put myself through the possibility of getting attached only to lose him too. But he taught me that wasn’t a way to live and constantly amazes me in how two completely different species can clearly communicate with each other. Horses have the ability to mirror us  – you can’t hide, lie or B.S. a horse, they’ll call you out on it every time. Riding and trusting my horse with my life is an honor as it means he trusts me as well. Recently I began volunteering for a therapeutic riding program and am witnessing yet another aspect as to how horses enhance our lives. Horses truly help us in so many ways, spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Kala: I was born in the Year of the Horse too and agree horses have so much to teach us and to share with humanity. I can see your love for horses in your work, tell me more about your inspired “Quarter Horse’’ design…

Kathy: I remember first encountering the life sized painted horse sculptures on display for an art for charity program called Horse Power New Mexico (later to be known as the Trail of Painted Ponies). It was July 2001 and I was standing on a Santa Fe sidewalk when suddenly the words “I want to do this!” came unconsciously flying out of my mouth. After returning home I started working on sketches but when the events of 9-11 occurred, I set them aside as now designing a horse specifically for America became my creative outlet to deal with the confusing times. After weeks of many new ideas and sketches still nothing felt quite right. Then one night I had a dream in which I was reading a newspaper article about a woman creating a new design for the American quarter and woke up wondering why I was dreaming about coin designs when my problem was coming up with a horse design. I immediately gathered a bunch of quarters, cleared my mind and stared at them. One quarter with a dark tarnished patina caught my attention so I began experimenting, focusing on the eagle and selected words of the reverse side of the coin. The discovery of the opportunity to reflect a theme of national allegiance and unity hit me. E Pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. That was one of most memorable inspired Ah-ha! moments I ever had.
Photo caption: Detail of original Quarter Horse sculpture created for the Trail of Painted Ponies

Kala: Your latest creation is Love Rocks. I love how many words you’ve worked the rocks into… love, hope, yoga, om, joy, and many others. When I look at them, I see the stone… as being strong, enduring, and long lasting and the clay plaques as being of earth, warm, fragile, and encompassing. Together, they hold love. Perhaps the two things most needed during this time on earth is love and kindness. What do you wish for each piece as you create it and what are your hopes for the world?

Kathy: I love your take on this! For me they are also like condensed versions of affirmations. Many times they are often messages or reminders I need for myself. Since words conjure up different meanings and reactions in people I think their simplicity has a pure essence. It’s also interesting to see how people, especially children, are instinctively attracted to the rocks. There is something grounding and reassuring about rocks. The words aren’t set in stone, rather the stone is set in the words and the heart shaped rocks only help to reinforce the words. I want to share and remind others that we are all loved with the idea that the heart shaped rocks are angelic offerings echoing my own hopes for the world to include love, peace and respect for the Earth and all of its inhabitants.

Kala: You also work in mixed media and an author, I enjoyed your Food for Thought design. As a creative person, you’ve found many outlets to share your talents with the world. How do they differ and how are they the same when you are expressing yourself?

Photo caption: Food For Thought, mixed media collage
Kathy: I’ve accepted that I have many interests and facets to my personality and need various ways to express them. My collages are always intuition and process based and made from found and recycled materials. I literally will start with one object that captures my attention and then build a piece entirely around that, often inserting words or hidden messages in them. I have absolutely no idea what the end result will be and the entire process is a dance of the divine, with me constantly asking, getting out of the way and letting the inspiration guide me. The way I work on them is a great reminder and metaphor for how I try to live life. The horse portraits are more straight forward as they are mostly representational commissioned pieces and I generally have an idea of what the desired end result is. But these drawings are the most meditative to work on and I love being able to capture the essence of the horses and why their owners love them. The Love Rocks are my most restrictive pieces as the words must fit in my predetermined plaque sizes and contain a letter O which can be replaced with a heart shaped rock. Sometimes too many choices or options can overwhelm the creative process so working within narrowed parameters allows simplicity to emerge. These are also the pieces where I am most out of the way as they speak for themselves and people will extract their own personal meaning from them. But the spirit of love is literally embedded in each one.

Kala: Do you accept custom orders for your art and for love rocks? What has been your favorite piece that you have designed thus far?

Kathy: Yes, I have done and do accept custom orders and commissions for all of the variety of my art forms. The Quarter Horse figurine is retired from production but I do have a very limited supply of special editions available for collectors. It’s difficult to say which piece has been my favorite as I love them all for different reasons. But I have a special affinity for the works made as a result of being outraged about something and consider them my art activist pieces. I’m a firm believer in that energy flows where attention goes so I’m very mindful of my creative intentions. I don’t want to make angry negative art, so I try to step back to see the bigger picture and focus on what I perceive a positive outcome to be. A piece called 50 States of an American Dream, featuring 50 positive words, or states of being, was created during the heat of the last presidential election and another piece titled Paradise was my response to an environmental issue. These pieces represent my way of enacting Peter F. Drucker’s quote, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

Photo caption: 50 States of an American Dream, rubbing drawing on architectural paper

Kala: Who is Kathy Morawski? If your friends and family were to describe you in five sentences, what would they say?

Kathy: This is great because as for the answers I actually posed these questions to my friends! Though my family is no longer physically here, they always said I was talented and smart and I loved my grandmother telling me I had the Midas touch. My polled friends said I’m compassionate, have a good sense of humor, and am a good friend and offered some responses that were surprising in their depth: Kathy embraces the scared sensuousness of life and is able to tap on a creativity that exists outside of the box while still being able to communicate to the rest of the world in an enlightening, entertaining and expressive way. Kathy is free spirited with a daredevil quality that inspires others and is extraordinarily creative and wonderfully adept at gathering her creativity to make significant visual contributions to the world. Wow!

Kala: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to connect more with their creative side?

Kathy: First of all, I believe everyone is creative, and anything can be done in a creative fashion. Just thinking about how to do something differently than you usually do it is being creative. Immersing yourself in activities you enjoy and learning new ones is a great kick start to creativity as is discovering what other creative people are doing. I’d also suggest slowing down to be aware and open up to intuition by asking and allowing yourself to receive answers in whatever form they may arrive. I find looking for the humor in situations makes life more fun and creativity breeds when you’re in a lighter state of mind. And when you get an idea, instead of dismissing it, act on it!

Kala: Beyond your artistic creations here Kathy, what inspires you? How do you Explore Your Spirit?

Kathy: I also believe spirit and inspiration can reside in anything, it’s the connection that counts. Some things I’m inspired by are music, nature, beauty, truth, books, dreams, great minds that explore the blend of science and spirituality, and words which includes quotes, song lyrics and even catchy lines on junk mail! I’m also moved by moments when humanity bands together to make a difference or help others. Methods that help keep me in that state of being include spending time with my horse, going for walks, listening to music, yoga, traveling, learning new things and spending time with good friends and being grateful for all of it.

Kala: It was a pleasure speaking with you Kathy. Looking forward to seeing more of your work and best wishes for your continued success.

Kathy: Thank you so much, Kala, the pleasure’s been all mine. I look forward to keeping up with you on your work as well! It’s inspiring people like yourself who help raise the consciousness of the planet.

Photo caption: Kathy with her horse, Skip. Photo by Susan Kozlowski
Artist Kathy Morawski is known for her articulate assemblages featuring found objects taken out of context and placed in unique perspectives, encouraging the viewer to look at them in a new way or to find hidden meanings. She also expresses her life long love of horses with her equine portraits and is an official artist of the Trail of Painted Ponies. Her current Love Rocks series is part of her recent work exploring life experiences and the clues that cross her path. More information on the artist and her work can be found at www.kathymorawski.com.

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On Explore Your Spirit with Kala’s Bohemian Blog, we seek out talented innovative designers and entrepreneurs of the 21st Century.   Join us as we meet up with bright souls who do what they love and allow the rest to unfold as it should. On this path, we connected with Niki Fountain, CEO and owner of Serene Bath and Body.

Kala: Hi Niki, Thanks for joining us here on Kala’s Bohemian Blog. We’re featuring a special section on the Bohemian Blog entitled Inner Beauty and Fashion for the Body, Mind and Spirit.  Your company, Serene Bath and Body sells a metaphysical inspired line of soaps and lotions with delightful names including Goddess, Aura Enhancer, Eve’s Garden, White Light, Awaken and Zen for Men. What was your inspiration to create this metaphysical line of products called Celestial Farms?

Niki: Hi Kala. First let me say thank you for having me! The inspiration for Celestial Farms came from a number of places but it really started many years ago when I was a young woman who, like many other women and girls, found myself with a poor body image.  I didn’t take very good care of myself or treat my body with the respect it deserved.  But I did find one activity that I truly enjoyed and it actually helped me feel better about myself.  And that was indulging in really nice bath products.  I can remember many times in graduate school where I would take what little money I had left after paying the bills and go shop for new soaps and lotions.  I would hurry back to my apartment and take a long, hot shower with my new soap and then slather myself with my new yummy lotion. The entire act of picking out a new scent, hurrying home in anticipation, taking the shower and then rubbing the lotion in created a wonderful sense of well being and made me feel good about myself.  So that was part of the inspiration, the desire to help others feel good about themselves, to help them find that sense of well being that I had found, that serenity that comes from taking care of our bodies.  But the other part, the metaphysical inspiration ironically came from my science background as a geologist.  Being a geologist I’ve spent many years learning not just about the physical properties of crystals and gemstones but also the metaphysical properties.  I took this knowledge of the crystals and what they can do and combined that with my desire and inspiration to create beautiful bath products.  And from there I created the Celestial Farms line where we include crystals and gemstones in everything we make.

Kala: When sampling your work, I was attracted to the fact that you include real gemstones and crystals in the soaps and lotions.  How did you decide which gemstone to put in each product and how do they enhance the product?

Niki: As I mentioned, being a geologist I have spent many years working with and researching crystals and gemstones.  Along the way I learned that crystals have more than just the physical properties that we can see like color and hardness.  They also have metaphysical properties. What I mean by this is that crystals vibrate with energy and different crystals have different types of energy.  I selected the crystals for various products based on the energy that I wanted vibrating in them.  For example rose quartz is a crystal that vibrates with the energy of love.  We utilize this energy and embed rose quartz crystals in one of the Celestial Farms product lines called Eve’s Garden.  Eve’s Garden was created specifically with love in mind. Whether you’re looking to attract romantic love, trying to love yourself, or learning to love humanity, Eve’s Garden is “charged” with love and will help attract love to you. By adding the rose quartz crystals we enhance this effect because we’re adding that vibrating energy of love.

This same concept carries in all of the Celestial Farms products.  For example our Aura Enhancer line contains amethyst crystals because amethyst helps clear and cleanse auras.  Our Awaken line contains aventurine because those crystals vibrate with an energizing and healing energy.  Our Goddess line includes moonstone crystals because moonstone vibrates with the energy of the Divine Feminine.

Kala: Celestial Farms soaps are all natural. What makes them different than other soaps?

Niki: I think what really sets Celestial Farms soaps apart is the energy that we put into them.  All of our soaps and other products are created and charged with love and white light. And of course the fact that we add blessed crystals enhances this.  Not to mention the fun bonus of finding a treasure of a crystal in your bar of soap!

Kala: How important is it do you think to connect Body Mind and Spirit in all activities? Is there a conscious thought that we should focus on when bathing?

Niki: I think it’s absolutely critical to connect body, mind and spirit in everything we do. In fact I’m not sure that you can really avoid it, it’s just that most people are not conscious of the connection. I think we can easily see the connection when we see things like internal emotional turmoil expressing itself as physical illness.

So the answer is you should definitely be conscious of your thoughts while bathing.  Research has shown us that we can manifest what we think- like athletes envisioning themselves winning the race before they run it.  So it is very important to be thinking loving and positive thoughts while bathing or grooming yourself.  Our bodies will give us what we give them- if we fill it with love and positive energy that’s what we’ll get in return. But if we’re thinking about how much we hate this or that part of our body or if we’re feeling angry about something while bathing then we’ll get that negative energy back, creating a vicious cycle.

Kala: Your education and background is as a hydrogeologist with a focus on saponification.  How has your work inspired you and what you create at Serene?

Niki: My graduate thesis work focused on creating “soaps” to be used to clean up chemicals that were spilled into groundwater.  I say “soaps” because they were not technically true soaps but had a similar chemical composition.  From there I spent more than a decade working in the environmental industry looking for and cleaning up chemicals that had been released into the environment.  During this time I saw firsthand what chemical manufacturing did to the environment and what long term exposure to chemicals did to the human body.  It was a direct result of this experience that led Serene to use ingredients that do not adversely impact the planet or the human body.

Kala: As an entrepreneur, you’ve found an outlet to share your talents with the world. How does what you do for a living also express who you are as a person?

Niki: First I want to say that I am so thankful and fortunate that I have been able to create a business doing what I love.  I know not everyone has that opportunity.  I guess I have always thought of myself as a nurturing person and someone who enjoys taking care of others.  By creating natural and organic bath products I feel I am, in a sense, taking care of others and helping them take better care of themselves.  Also, being a scientist, I have an analytical side that I get to tap into while formulating and creating new products.

Kala: The shapes and designs on the soap are striking and empowering. Do you connect with the Divine Feminine energy?  Wise women in the ancient past used herbs and oils to make soaps and healing poultices. Do you feel that you are continuing this work or are walking a similar path?

Niki: Thank you! I specifically chose the shapes and images on the soaps for their ability to empower and to further enhance the effectiveness of the soaps.  I do connect with the Divine Feminine energy and feel that I have spent many lifetimes as a healer and a wise woman who created healing potions and poultices. I feel very fortunate that I connected with this energy and found this path once again in this lifetime.  I am very honored and blessed that the Universe has provided me with the talents it has so that I can create the products at Serene.

Kala: Do you accept custom orders? What has been your favorite product that you have designed thus far?

Niki: At this time we don’t accept custom orders. But we do hope to have this option available to our customers in the future.  Ideally we would talk with the customer and find out what his or her specific needs and desires are- stress release, invigoration, self love, etc.  We would also discuss things like skin type and possible sensitivities.  From there we would create a personalized product just for that customer.

My favorite creation is our Dead Sea salt scrub. The scrubs are made with salts from the Dead Sea which are amazingly therapeutic.  The salts are in a mixture of various oils including jojoba, grapeseed, neem, and vitamin E oils- all of which are incredibly nourishing to the skin.  I love rubbing the salt/oil mixture on my skin after a bath or shower and then rinsing off.  My skin feels silky smooth and super moisturized.

Kala: Serene Bath and Body is now releasing a new organic line called Persephone’s Wish. Tell us about this line.

Niki: I’m very excited about this new line! While the Celestial Farms line is an all natural line the Persephone’s Wish line is all natural plus the products are made with certified organic ingredients. It was important to me to give customers the option of buying organic bath products.  It’s taking the “all natural” to another level and really embracing the idea of living a more eco-friendly lifestyle.  The line currently has bar soaps and lip balms and we’ll soon be adding lotions, liquid soaps, and Himalayan bath salts. We also use 100% post consumer waste recycled paper printed with soy ink for our bar soap packaging.

Kala: Who is Niki Fountain? If your friends and family were to describe you in five sentences, what would they say?

Niki: I think the first thing people who know me well would say is that I’m goofy and fun loving.  I’m not sure goofy is a good thing but I definitely am.  They would say I like to laugh and I try to make others laugh as well.  And they would say that I will do whatever I can to make others happy and feel good.

Kala: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to connect more with their entrepreneurial side and start their own business?

Niki: The most important piece of advice I would give is that you need to find something you love to do whether it’s creating a product that people use or offering a service.  You have to truly LOVE doing whatever it is you are considering making into a business because there will be times when you won’t love it. Creating and running your own business is one of the most rewarding things a person can do. But it’s also one of the most challenging and demanding.  I have never worked harder or more hours in my life than when I started my own business. Not even when I was working 3 jobs and putting myself through graduate school.  When you own a small business you, as the owner, wear most, if not all, of the hats in your company.  So while you get the joy of doing what you love you also have to do the things you may not enjoy like being the sales person, being the advertising executive, being the accountant, and being the bill collector. So that’s why I say you have to truly love what you do because it has to be enough to make up for the less enjoyable duties.

Kala: Beyond your business here Niki, what inspires you? How do you Explore Your Spirit?

Niki: I think I’m most inspired by love and the generosity of people.  Those two things make me feel warm and fuzzy inside and make me want to be more loving and more generous myself.  One way I Explore My Spirit is by listening to your show of course! And reading the Bohemian Blog.  It’s so inspiring and exciting to hear and read about what others are doing to make this time on earth more purposeful and enjoyable.

Kala: It was a pleasure speaking with you Niki. Looking forward to experiencing more of your bath and body products and best wishes for your continued success.

Niki: Thank you Kala for having me. As always it’s been a pleasure spending time with you and your readers.

More about Niki Fountain and Serene Bath and Body…

Niki Fountain is a hydrogeologist who spent the first part of her adult life working in the environmental industry cleaning up chemicals that were released to the environment.  She eventually left the industry and took the knowledge and skills she learned in graduate school and in her job and applied them to creating all natural and organic bath care products.  She founded her North Carolina based bath care company, Serene Bath & Body, in 2005.  You can find her creations at www.TheSereneStore.com Readers of the Bohemian Blog can enjoy FREE SHIPPING in the continental US until August 31 2009 on purchases of $25 or more by using Promo Code BOHOBLOG at checkout.

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My one-of-a-kind Goddess jackets, cover-ups and coats are composed of sophisticated combinations of rich, elegant and exotic fabrics and trims, all appliquéd and carefully tailored into timeless, glamourous garments imbued with serene beauty and enchantment.

I specialize in creating luxury masterworks that fuse fashion and art. For the client that requires a special order, a brief but meaningful conversation enables me to incorporate my client’s distinctive style, colors, and symbols. The resulting work of art is meant not only to be worn or displayed, but to promote protection, hope, courage, and joy.

As my work has progressed, so has my interest in how ancient cultures used art and how that might relate to the art coming through me and its place in our world today. My fabric collage paintings are descended from the ancient Persian and Oriental concept that art should be used as a cultural tool to remind us of the beneficial power of Harmony and Beauty—the Divine effects of the creation of art.

I also feel connected to other cross-cultural ritualistic art, especially the mysterious power of the meditative “Tonkas” of Tibet and bur¬mese”Kalagas” of the 19th century, not just because they are also elaborately appliquéd and embroidered hangings of the mythological significance but because, like my work, they are conscious attempts to produce work that is, as André Malraux wrote in the “The Metamorphosis of the Gods”, “Sacred art—art that imposed the presence of another world.”

The central panel of each of my Spiritual Couture garments is made of precious, carefully chosen silks and brocades, velvets and satins, and special ribbons, embellishments and trims. Each is reinforced by the beauty, the rarity, and the uniqueness of the combined variations to imbue each garment with vitality, affirmation and ceremonial intent.

The act of seeing these embroidered mythological gardens come to life is itself a potent form of visual meditation. It creates a condition that is regenerative of our sense of our own possibilities and divinity. When these garments are worn, we can become the essence of The Goddess, and remember our true beauty and power. We can become the deep mystery of ultimate spiritual experience where concepts and explanations are transcended.

My creations are in the collection of many notable women including Elizabeth Taylor, Patti LaBelle, Shirley MacLaine, Oprah, Goldie Hawn, and Martha Stewart and are sold through Bergdorf Goodman in NYC  and my website  www.TheEnchantedWorld.com.

PATTI LABELLE on Amy Zerner’s Spiritual Couture-

“All of Amy pieces are simply divine! None of my words can adequately describe their beauty and uniqueness! It’s as if they speak to your soul! They are definitely healing garments, every time I wear one it is an uplifting experience. Amy made me a special entrance coat to wear on stage and I must tell you…every time I wear it the audience goes wild! I keep my back to the audience for about 5 minutes so that they can get a chance to take it all in. I def feel like a queen when I wear it! Her pieces give me a better understanding of how richly ornamented and special Joseph’s coat of many colors (Genesis) had to be. They are all poetic works of art!”

View Amy’s Spiritual Couture Collection here:
http://www.theenchantedworld.com/productshowcase/productshowcase.php?Subpage_ID=0&Section_ID=12

My lower- priced denim jacket Art-to-Wear collection is created for the customer who wants to display their individuality and interest in fine craft and nature. They are great to wear everyday, or for special occasions. The “enchanted world” on each jacket is richly appliquéd, embroidered, and embellished with beads, trims, and magical details. See them here:

http://www.theenchantedworld.com/productshowcase/productshowcase.php?Subpage_ID=0&Section_ID=11&Subsection_ID=18

In my upcoming blogs I will write more about my artistic process. Thank you, Goddesses!

Visit Amy’s award winning website: www.theenchantedworld.com

Listen to the interview with Kala and Amy Zerner and Monte Farber on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show.

The show airs on August 7th, 2009.

More About Amy Zerner and Monte Farber:

Internationally known self-help author Monte Farber’s inspiring guidance and empathic insights impact everyone he encounters. Amy Zerner’s exquisite, one-of-a-kind spiritual couture creations and collaged fabric paintings exude her profound intuition and deep connection with archetypal stories and healing energies. For more than thirty years they’ve combined their deep love for each other with the work of inner exploration and self-discovery to build The Enchanted World of Amy Zerner and Monte Farber: popular books, card decks, and oracles that have helped millions answer questions, find deeper meaning, and follow their own spiritual paths.

Together they’ve made their love for each other a work of art and their art the work of their lives, with over two million books in print in fourteen languages. Their other best-selling titles include The Chakra Meditation Kit, The Tarot Discovery Kit, Karma Cards, The Enchanted Spellboard, Secrets of the Fortune Bell, Little Reminders: Love & Relationships, Little Reminders: The Law of Attraction, Goddess, Guide Me!, The Animal Powers Meditation Kit, Astrology Gems, True Love Tarot, The Instant Tarot Reader, The Psychic Circle, Wish Upon A Star, The Pathfinder Psychic Talking Board, The Truth Fairy, Spirit of the Ancestors Altar Kit, Vibe-Away!, The Mystic Messenger, The Breathe Easy Deck, The Healing Deck, and The Ghostwriter Automatic Writing Kit.  More info at: www.TheEnchantedWorld.com

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On Explore Your Spirit with Kala’s Bohemian Blog, we continue to seek out the most talented and innovative designers of the 21st Century.   Join us this summer as we meet up with bright souls who do what they love and allow the rest to unfold as it should. On this path, we connected with Susie Holladay, who creates custom jewelry. Enjoy the interview here with Susie…  *~Kala~*

Kala: Hi Susie, Thanks for joining us here on Kala’s Bohemian Blog. This summer, we’re featuring Fashion and Design for the Body, Mind and Spirit.  I discovered your work via Twitter, which led me to your jewelry on ArtFire and Etsy.  I find your designs to be mystical and refreshing with unexpected introductions of inspired whimsy, which is delightful. Tell us, how did you begin making jewelry and what do you enjoy most about it?

Susie: Thank you Kala.  I’m delighted to be here.  I have always enjoyed being creative, whether it is music, sewing, painting or gardening.  My introduction to jewelry making came from my love of “rocks”.  It doesn’t matter what kind either.  I can see beauty in the plainest stone.  I’ve collected rocks for years and used them in various ways. I gradually began to want to make something “pretty” to wear and I was hooked.  It has been one of the most satisfying endeavors I’ve undertaken.  Each piece is unique and special.  When I work I seem to go somewhere else and become completely at peace.  Hours can pass without realizing it!  Usually when my stomach growls I know it’s time for a break!   The thing I enjoy most about jewelry making is the creative aspect of it and the peace within that comes from each experience.

Kala: When viewing your work, I was immediately attracted to one particular piece, this beautiful amethyst bracelet which was described as a bohemian design, of which I am now the delighted owner.  What was your inspiration for this piece?

Susie: The amazing thing about this bracelet was the fact that as I was working with the stones I actually had you in my mind which caused me to give it the name of bohemian after your blog!  I never dreamed you would be the one who would buy it!  I guess this is a perfect example of how the Universe works.  I couldn’t have been more delighted when you found it!  It truly was meant for you.

Kala: I love that too, so synchronistic! I am delighted that you are a fan of the show and the blog and had made this piece with me and the blog in mind! I had no idea, I saw your general Tweet sharing your work and went to look and fell in love with this bracelet. I agree, the Universe works in many powerful and mysterious ways and it’s so fun to watch it all come together.

Looking at all the stones you use in your designs Susie,  I see that you work with Sleeping Beauty Turquoise in some of your designs. What are the unique properties of this turquoise?

Susie: These turquoise stones are world famous.  I did some research on them and found that they are highly prized and some of the best turquoise available!  The one’s I have are just like they were when they were mined back in the 70s.  They have no need for enhancement or stablization which is unusual these days.  Turquoise is such a wonderful stone and treasured by many cultures.  It is the stone of longevity and prosperity.

Kala: Do you connect with the gemstones when you work with them? Do you have a design in mind when you begin or do the stones lead you to the design?

Susie: Yes I do connect with the stones.  I just love to handle them.  Sometimes I have an idea in my mind but usually the stones have the final say about it.  It’s amazing how things come together!

Kala: You’re a musician, artist, jewelry designer and love to travel. How have your travels inspired your designs?

Susie: Just being in nature and different cultures seems to inspire me to try different things!  I just love the wonderful designs in nature.

Kala: As a creative person, you’ve found many outlets to share your talents with the world. How do they differ and how are they the same when you are expressing yourself?

Susie: I guess music was my first real passion.  I love people and this allowed me the privilege of connecting with them.  I love bringing joy to others and letting them know just how special they are.  The pleasure and satisfaction of bringing joy to others is always in my heart.  I am older now and seem to be less active in the world and I am finding jewelry making is giving me another outlet to connect and hopefully bring happiness to others in a different way though my desire remains the same.

Kala: Your work is beautiful with the introduction of copper in many of your pieces. I have to wonder if you are connecting to past lives in Egypt, as several pieces you have designed include spirals and sacred symbols and appear to call forth an ancient energy. What inspired you to use copper in your creations?

Susie: It is interesting that you bring this up.  I do seem to have a special connection to spirals and sacred symbols.  I have often wondered if I might have been a musician or artist in another lifetime in some ancient culture.  I am very interested in ancient symbols.  A few years ago I became fascinated with indian symbols and began painting them on rocks.  In jewelry designs, especially copper, I love to use lots of spirals and coils in the designs.  Copper is such a warm and wonderful metal and is used by many people for health benefits.

Kala: Do you accept custom orders? What has been your favorite piece that you have designed thus far?

Susie: Yes, I would be glad to do custom orders.  I will do my best to fill any request.  If I find I can’t do it then I will gladly give a refund.  To date I guess my favorite piece would be the Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Necklace but it’s really hard to say for I like them all.

Kala: I love the work you do with freshwater pearls. There’s something so light and soothing about these pieces. Pearls seem to embody the essence of every woman. What do you feel when you work with pearls and can you describe your inspiration regarding this particular piece…

Susie: I love to work with pearls.  They seem to embody all that is feminine….. graceful, beautiful and lasting.  I think every woman should have a string of pearls!  This necklace is especially interesting.  The pendant is rather unusual in that it can represent something different to each person.  I can see a dolphin, a seal, and a cross in this pendant.  Someone else might see something different.  The small freshwater pearls with the purple quartz seen to combine land and water.  The pendant was the inspiration in this piece and I just worked from there.

Kala: Who is Susie Holladay? If your friends and family were to describe you in five sentences, what would they say?

Susie: I think they would tell you I am a very optimistic person, always trying to look on the bright side of things and that I value my family and friends and can be counted on to lend a hand when they need me.

Kala: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to connect more with their creative side?

Susie: Just begin.  Find out what really interests you and experiment.  Don’t be afraid to try.  Something will come along that will grab hold of you.  Life is a journey so fill your life with things that give you happiness, then you will be able to share that happiness with others.

Kala: Beyond your artistic creations here Susie, what inspires you? How do you Explore Your Spirit?

Susie: I love to listen to the view points of others and studying things I’ve never known.  I have an avid thirst for knowledge and understanding.   I try to keep an open mind and heart and have found by looking inward we already have the answers.  We only need to seek.

Kala: It was a pleasure speaking with you Susie. Looking forward to seeing more of your work and best wishes for your continued success.

Susie: And thank you Kala.  It has truly been a pleasure being here with you.   So many of us look forward to your podcasts and blogs.  I learn something new every time.  You are an inspiration to so many people.  Keep up the good work!

More about Susie Holladay…

Hi, I’m Susie Holladay and I love rocks!  My husband and I have spent many years traveling out west looking at all the natural wonders available to us.  The first part of my life was spent in music which has been a passion all of my life.  Now I am taking it easy and just enjoying life.  I have had various jobs over the years from substitute teaching to being a post master relief in our local post office.

My husband retired in 2000 and I worked on for another 6 months.  One morning I woke up and just knew I was ready to quit too!  I haven’t looked back since.  From our travels I have developed a deep love of nature and rocks.  It was only natural that I would eventually make jewelry which I absolutely love to do!       (Discover Susie’s jewelry at ArtFire and Etsy.)

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Even as a small child I loved to play with rocks. We had a big pile of them out behind our house that I would sit and play on for hours. I daydreamed about what I would do when I grew up. I even plotted my escape from that tiny town in the middle of nowhere. I didn’t realize it then but in all of those hours I spent on that rock pile, I was feeling and drawing on the energy of those stones.

Many years later I earned my Masters Degree in geology where I spent the majority of my days (and as a graduate student many a night) with rocks and minerals. As a geologist you are expected and required to know, in painstaking detail, a multitude of physical and chemical properties of rocks and minerals. While I enjoyed this on some level I knew my attraction to the field had to be deeper. Sure, it was interesting to know how different minerals formed; to understand how water moved below the earth’s surface so that we could access it for drinking purposes; to find fossils and consider the theory of evolution. But I knew for me there was more to it, a deeper calling.

One day, years later, I found myself standing in a bookstore reading a book on crystals and gemstones. To my surprise the book didn’t come from the science section of the store. This book was talking not about the physical properties of crystals gemstones but the metaphysical ones. It was then that I understood my calling to the field. It was important for me to have the science background, to understand the physical nature of rocks and minerals but to combine that with what I was learning about the metaphysical.

Since that day many years ago I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to take my knowledge and experience with both the physical and metaphysical properties of minerals and gemstones and apply that to a metaphysically-inspired bath products line called Celestial Farms (found at TheSereneStore.com) where crystals are actually added and embedded to all of the products.

Watch for upcoming guest blog entries on some of my favorite gemstones and their metaphysical properties, including which gemstones are best for certain situations and how to properly prepare them for use.
More About Niki Fountain….

Serene Bath & Body was the vision of its owner and founder, Niki Fountain. As a young woman, Ms. Fountain, like many girls her age, found herself with a poor body image and did not treat her body with the love and respect it deserved. Through the years she was able to overcome this and realized that everyone, especially young women, needed to learn to care for and respect their bodies. This eventually inspired Celestial Farms. The inspiration was one of creating products that would help young girls and women learn to love their bodies and treat them well by using high quality products that nourish the body, the mind, the spirit and the soul. Serene Bath & Body became an LLC in 2005. Ms. Fountain earned her Masters Degree in Hydrogeology and has a professional background in developing and perfecting soaps. She spent two years in a university laboratory as a hydrogeologist developing soap formulations to be used to “clean-up” chemicals that had been spilled into groundwater. She has been applying this experience and knowledge ever since while working in the environmental industry, cleaning up sites that have been contaminated with chemicals. She has since taken this knowledge and experience and applied it to developing and perfecting formulations of soaps for people. Additionally, being a geologist, she is intimately familiar with crystals and gemstones and both their physical and metaphysical properties. She uses this knowledge while creating new formulations that include various combinations of soaps/lotions with the appropriate crystals to obtain an array of desired outcomes (relaxation, invigoration, etc).

Watch for an upcoming interview with Niki on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show in February 2009.

More info at: www.theserenestore.com

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