Cultivating Authentic Home Style

The house has grown into a knowledgeable witness... It has provided not only physical but also psychological sanctuary. It has been a guardian of identity. Over the years, its owners have returned from periods away and, on looking around them. remembered who they were... Although this house may lack solutions to a great many of its occupants ills, its rooms nevertheless give evidence of a happiness to which architecture has made its distinctive contribution.

The Architecture of Happiness

Our homes  are a reflection of our inner state. If we can come to know this inner dweling place then perhaps we can learn exactly how to nuture its growth and wellbeing.

Perhaps we can learn what this inner home needs to THRIVE. When we listen in we begin to learn exactly what we need in our lives. Exactly what we want to surround ourselves with.

Although we are used to thinking of STYLE as a look or fashion, what if we looked at style as a FEELING? An energy we want to evoke?

Then we would begin to feel our way into the pieces we wish to bring into our space.

We might begin to feel what colours enliven us. We might begin to understand the textures that soothe us. We might just find that shape that calls us HOME every time.

add your expression and passion so it becomes yours. Say what you want to say with all your heart

Elizabeth gilbert

Although Gilbert is not speaking of creating a home space in this quote from Big Magic, this concept still applies.

Authentic Style is doing what you would do if there were no rules. Being honest about how you live and accessing what you are naturally drawn to. Creating a home that supports you and your passions - this creates a space that is unique to you.

If I had to define my own authentic style it would be a Cultivated Eclectic Fun: a mix of modern, rustic, bohemian with a dash of wabi sabi.

I like clean lines, but architectural details also touch my heart. I am a huge fan of bold colour + a mix of solids and patterns. Our current space is a mix.

To be authentic with your home style you have to embrace change and focus on who you are rather than what is trendy.

Journal Prompts:  What is your favourite space? Why? What changes would you make in your home if you knew they would work?

BE WONDERFUL

♡

LaToya

Exploring the Divine Feminine

Exploring the Divine Feminine

I SURRENDER

(to the open road)

DAY 1// a release + an expansion

comes with letting go.

not controlling the specific outcomes of each day. openning to new possibilities + inner guidance

at first it's subtle, but there is always new found awareness + trust in what life + spirit has in store.

I intend to let go a little more each day to make space for that which awaits me.. allowing the wisdom of the divine feminine to arise.  forever changed.

see you out there! .

reflecting on how letting go is showing up in my life these days for #sacredmooncycles with @lunarnourishment

WISE WOMAN

(been here before)

DAY 2// the wise one within

knows. she tells me to be still to hear her guidance. she teaches patience + divine love if i wil stop long enough to listen.

today i reflected on living my truth + what came was compassion for the journey + strength for the long haul

I have never really delved into the divine feminine but i feel the time is right to explore + nurture this aspect.

here is a bit of floral pattern play for today

MAIDEN (new beginnings)

DAY 3// fallen red flowers collected from the roadside

barefoot strolls on the grass+ maiden botanical mandalas

a dip in the creek where two gods met again for the first time (arrived + departed between rainfalls). she said be grounded

check in with the brow - connection to reality.

say a magic prayer + be open to hear the answers + ready to act when called

contemplating the maiden archetype as part of #sacredmooncycles a six day challenge hosted by @lunarnourishment  i knew i wanted to work with red flower petals when i woke today, but had no idea where they would come from. we went for a drive + right before we turned into our campsite we pulled to the side of the road + there was a tree shedding red flowers.

I decided to make one of my first mandalas on the grass. Then we headed to the river + zephyr met a boy named apollo.

MOTHERING (intuition + guidance)

DAY 4// mother uses her intuition + she provides direction through comforting reassurance.

yesterday after getting some busy work done we headed to the ocean, the water was calm in the cove we found ourselves in near the jetty. i love being near the water, but i am not usually the first to jump in, especially if it is cold.

but yesterday with the intention of mothering myself for #sacredmooncycles with @lunarnourishment i thought: the ocean is a mother... surrender + be held. I jumped straight in to my own surprise... allowing myself to float on my back + look at the sky. The salt water allowing me to relax + float with ease. I spent the rest of the afternoon reading rise sister rise (which i found at a shop just before we headed to the beach). I think spirit often speaks to me through books because with them i am quite an attentive listener... so of course after stating that i wanted to delve into the divine feminine this book found its way into my hands... haha when we were leaving the beach i found a white feather... feathers are my sign i am on the right track. Much gratitude for this life.

PRIESTESS (rhythm + ritual)

DAY 5// always exactly where i need to be.

today i found my diary for 2017 direct from the author + the artist at the belligen markets. This has all the moon phases for the southern hemisphere.

aligning + trusting

p.s. as i post erykah badu on + on has come the radio...Peace and blessings manifest with every lesson learned,

If your knowledge were your wealth then it will be well earned

If we were made in his image then call us by our names...

GIVING

(deep gratitude + appreciation)

Day 6 of #sacredmooncycles with @lunarnourishment

december has been a month of really focusing in gratitude so this day of giving was right on time.

I spoke my gratitude to my husband + son for being all they are + all that they do + for sharing this life. I also sent messages of gratitude to a few others to let them know they are appreciated.

to all the lovely souls i have have crossed paths with in this lifetime. each of you mean so much to me. thank you.

i really believe in each + every one of you. I trust that you are capable of reaching your dreams. I see the beauty in your story + your evolution.

so grateful to be here in this time sharing these moments + these possibilities

many blessings + thanks for all you do.

LOVE + LIGHT

be wonderful

♡

LaToya

DESIGNING (from the inside out)

DESIGNING (from the inside out)

she was on a quest to understand the nature of things (from the building blocks to construction). To rebuild the blueprint

at first she took this task literally - choosing a career in manifestation (from drawing to building). now she sees the cosmos within her very soul + how we are all a mirror for the world and the world our mirror.

the path is one of embodying the light in the here and now

a path of RADIANCE

(so many beautiful variations amongst us)

---

as a designer i've tended to create buildings from the inside out

i see how we also design our lives from the inside out

in this section of a building i am diagraming the many layers that i imagined to be working simultaneously as one walks through the spaces of a living archive (retrace. preserve. reclaim.) we are the living breathing architecture + our physical spaces are a reflection... .

this is a glimpse into how information gets sorted in my head... a remembering .

be wonderful ♡

LaToya

Resources:

interioralchemymovement (I AM) + the blueprint

Radiant Heart Music

O U R V O Y A G E (in gratitude)

O U R  V O Y A G E (in gratitude)

what if there comes a point when you have to let an old version of yourself go?

a point when you may not be ready for it.

a point when you are called to grieve that self that is ready to move on before you acknowleged it even exisited, before you were aware it was time to part?

a point where you leave an open seat for the emerging + evolving self to arise.

a point when emotions you never knew existed rise.

a point where emotions you once held close release on their own.

T H I S must be the point when higher self has stepped in because it heard your call. 

this point must be true surrender because you as you know yourself is not in control of the process.

+ you are grateful for this voyage.

BE WONDERFUL.

♡

LaToya

~ there are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm -

~ willa cather