Where did it begin?

Where did it begin?

“Q. What is creativity? A. The relationship between a human being and the mysteries of inspiration.”- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Where did it begin? Did it start with that spark of joy that I felt as a child, when I looked down at a brand new, untouched, blank journal? Or with the feeling of peace that a smooth writing pen filled me with? Did it begin with my love for words, for writing, for creating? Did my years of collaging for fun, then for therapy, then for healing ignite the fire? Did cutting paper, lettering, sticking stickers and gluing pictures into scrapbooks and keepsakes for years to come stir that small…….I keep asking myself, where did it start? Did Lava and Light begin with bracelets, at the start of this insane time of our lives; where words like quarantine, remote, socially distanced, masks, and self isolation became a part of our everyday conversations (virtual conversations I should add), or did it actually begin long before I saw myself as “creative”?

For years I stated, “I am not creative at all!” “I have no creative talent”. I forever, easily identified as not talented at all, not in any way, shape or form. There were years of I can’t. It wasn’t until I realized that it wasn’t that I couldn’t, it was that I wouldn’t, things began to change. Slowly, slowly change.

Like so many during the pandemic, it started as a way to fill my evenings with something other than mundane house work. I found myself on mat leave, living out long, boring days at home alone with my children, while my husband worked and family and friends were forced to stay inside, I stared out the window as these gray, dreary, end of winter groundhog days passed by.. I envied those who could still go to work, while simultaneously feeling guilty about not appreciating each and every moment I had at home with my children. I didn’t want to say it, didn’t want the words so cliché, so expected to pass my lips. “I need something for me.” Ugh! But so be it…first felt in the restlessness of my legs, to the tingling of energy in my arms, the bubbling up instead my chest, up through my throat chakra, momentarily stuck before finally being released…”I need something for me!”

Insert lava stone bracelets made with healing beads, diffused with essential oils. Beads. Glue. String. Scissors. Essential Oil. Wine.

Evening after evening, after the kids went to bed, I would spread my beading supplies out in front of me and create. It started with bracelets that represented the chakras throughout our body. The 7 beautiful coloured beads, one for each pool of energy along our spine, were enveloped between black lave stone beads. Root. Sacral. Solar. Heart. Throat. Third Eye. Crown. Healing. It moved from chakra bracelets to creating personalized bracelets and then it got a name.

Insert Lava and Light Jewelry by Katie DaSilva. Beads. Glue. String. Scissors. Essential Oil. Wine.

I am a teacher, through and through. That is my passion, my love and my calling. I never thought I would need anything more career wise than teaching. I have known, without a doubt, my whole life, that I was meant to be a teacher. What I didn’t realize was that there are a hundred ways to be a teacher and there is room for me to expand past the classroom. What I didn’t realize was that you could have more than one calling. I didn’t realize the infinite possibilities that the world holds when you stop saying I can’t. When you stop saying, not me, and instead why not me!

In order to teach, there must be knowledge. Prior knowledge, wisdom, information. In my path to learn more about the 7 chakras in a human’s body I stumbled upon the idea of manifestation. (Don’t worry, I can feel your eye roll). Yes, I had read The Secret. Cool. Neat concept. Yes I believed thoughts turned into words turn into actions. But manifestation? Not for me.

It was the beginning of January in Winnipeg, Manitoba. And 2021 none the less. Things really couldn’t get any worse. Thanksgiving had been cancelled. Christmas had all but been cancelled. Cold, dark, long days. Covid. Isolation. Numbers. Politics. Vaccine. Isolation. Quarantine. Stay at Home Orders.

Politics had ripped families apart. Opinions tore through relationships. Bridges were burned. Talk of better times, of simpler times. Negative. Negative. Negative.

But these little voices kept creeping it. “This can’t be it”. “Remember that article about manifestation?” “Remember the secret?” Oh, not for me.

Positive thoughts. Trusting the Universe. But maybe, maybe, why not me?

As my curiosity grew, I started to explore the topic more with podcasts, books, coaches and free training sessions. I dove down a rabbit hole that I had NEVER imagined myself going, yet here I was. And then it was an opening in my chest, a desperate plea, a knees to the ground, hands in the air cry. THIS CAN’T BE IT. This life, this average life in unprecedented time, a time that we are shocked that we are living through. The “time in history” that is making it painful to get up everyday. THIS CAN’T BE IT. Maybe there is more?

Maybe, life isn’t suppose to be one struggle after another. Maybe it isn’t suppose to be hard.

Insert vision boards. Pictures. Scrapbook. Glue. Scissors. Affirmations. Wine.

I started waking up happier, more excited for the day ahead. More positive. More optimistic that there must be better times ahead, but that I had to take control of what those better times looked like. No one could do that for me. All the outside forces in the world can not dictate my everyday emotions, feelings and experiences. I started to regain purpose past being a mom, a wife and a teacher. While these roles were the roles I dreamed of playing, I began to realize that your dreams don’t have to end at 34 just because you so called “reached them”. Could it be possible to build a new dream?

Insert journaling. Books. Learning. Reading. Quotes. Pens. Notebooks. Wine.

And so my dream of growing Lava and Light Jewelry to Lava and Light Lifestyle emerged.

One day in early March I was walking my two dogs, listening to a manifestation podcast. I was feeling inspired and motivated. I was buzzing with an energy I hadn't felt before, like an electrical current was running through my body. I thought to myself, okay universe I need a sign. Tell me I am not crazy, tell me I can do this. Tell me that there is a place in this world for me and my idea. In my mind, I said, "If this is the right direction for me, I want to see a lotus flower". This is 100% a true story (my sister can vouch for the immediate phone call that followed!). While walking my two big dogs on the side walk, I was about to pass a man with a very small dog and in order to avoid the barking interaction that was enviably going to happen I made my way onto the street to bypass the parked cars. Sure enough, there, right before my eyes was a lotus flower car decal on the back of a sparkling white SUV. I did a quick double take to be sure of what I just saw, and kept walking. I didn't feel shocked, I felt peace. It was powerful and reassuring. This life that I am dreaming of can be for me. The universe is clearly telling me, yes YES! Go for it! This is your next path, this is your next journey! Embrace it.

My dream for Lava and Lifestyle is to offer a space for dreamers. For those who need to learn to dream again. For those need to learn the power that they have in their own life. A space for vision board building and journal writing. For guided prompts and meditation. For manifestation workshops. For mindset coaching. Oracle card reading. Journey planning and path finding. Bracelet creating. Chakra healing. Healing. Healing.

I am at the very beginning of my path to Lava and Light Lifestyle. I am learning more everyday. I am meditating, manifesting, dreaming and believing. I don’t know exactly where this will take me but I am beyond excited to find out.