I'd like to share the inspiration behind these bracelets. For 30 years, I resided in a Southwest Florida town characterized by its manicured appearance. Everything in this town had been altered by human hands. Perfection was the norm, making it impossible for anything to remain natural. This artificiality was deeply unappealing to me. It felt fake, from the people driving overpriced cars to the ostentatious clothing worn to assert status.
This environment sparked my fascination with authenticity, especially the natural, organic, and handmade crafts I would find around the world. I saw beauty in rusted metal, peeling paint, and objects in their natural state of decay, I saw them as unique works of art that deeply resonated with me. The time-worn walls of Rome, bearing the evidence of lived life, were stunning to me. They were an inspiration for me when I had these sterling silver bracelets hand forged by a multi generational artisan named Jaime, that I met in Taxco, Mexico in October of 2023.
These bracelets symbolize our most authentic parts. The real and the raw. The parts we don’t want seen on Instagram. But for me…that's where the juice lives, it’s where living and falling and getting up again live…it’s the good stuff.
Click HERE to see our one-of-a-kind rustic bracelets.
]]>Yesterday, I had a conversation with one of my dearest team members. She was struggling to find a place to live, couldn't land another job that would cover her living expenses, and was about to end a toxic relationship. Her voice was filled with panic and desperation, and it broke my heart to hear her in pain.
As she shared her worries with me, I couldn't help but empathize with her. Her story was just another version of my own story, as I too am struggling to figure out my life after losing everything in the Marshal fire. I had to rebuild my handmade jewelry business from scratch, and it has been tough. Many pieces of jewelry had to be revised and sent back to India, and many pieces were not selling. I too am fighting the fear of failing and how I will survive if I do. I too have been doubting everything I have put my energy into to rebuild our business, especially my own abilities.
But as I talked with her, I realized that the wisdom I had for her was also something I needed to hear. When a door closes, it's a sign for making a change or going in a new direction. Each challenge can be an opportunity for growth and learning. And this growth is painful! We rarely love the feeling of sitting in uncertainty, even when we know we will “grow” from it. Gradually, she began to see that there are still many paths open to her, and she can walk down any of them.
I shared with her my own fears about life and how I try to navigate it with a perspective that gives me hope and sometimes even joy. It's not easy, and it's often not my first response, but in my heart, I know that opportunities often lie beyond the closed doors and the unimaginable challenges. My journey has been shaped by my biggest challenges, but it has also forced me to make choices along the way that have led me to a life full of adventure and challenging experiences that I use as my own personal buoy when I feel like I'm drowning in despair.
As we talked, I found myself opening up to her about my own struggles. I told her about the dark days I have when I feel like giving up and how I use those days as motivators to dream about what is possible. Because it is all possible. When we see beyond the closed doors and open up to new possibilities, the darkness fades, and light finds its way through the cracks.
So, my friend, if you're ever feeling lost or uncertain, remember that you're not alone. We are all facing challenges in life, but it's how we respond to them that shapes us. Remember that every closed door is a chance to pivot and grow, and our journey is shaped by the choices we make along the way.
]]>Our story begins with a small, home-based business in Colorado. For years, we've been empowering and uplifting marginalized artisans in countries like Indonesia and Thailand by bringing their fair-trade, handmade clothes and jewelry to small venues like farmers markets and festivals. But then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and everything changed.
Undaunted, we refused to be defeated. We had just returned from our annual sourcing trip in Thailand and Indonesia with new designs we thought would be part of the epic 2020 summer festival season. But as spring approached, we watched our summer schedule of 30 shows cancel one by one. We had a choice to make: park the business until next season and hope we had enough savings to carry us through, build out a Schoolie and live minimally, or put on our big girl panties and create an e-commerce business with all the merchandise we had just bought.
Despite having no marketing experience, product shots, or inclination for social media, we chose the third option. We knew we would be starting from scratch, but we were determined to make it work. And we did.
Our marketing efforts have managed to spread our reach across the country, and customers' positive feedback has fueled our drive. We are gaining traction, and we are placing a reorder for the few items that have sold well online. And here's how you know what you're doing makes a difference: Our primary tailor in Bali was so appreciative of our small reorder that she sent us the following message:
"Thank you for your help and still trusting me, giving me orders. Your order helps me, my staff, and my family during this pandemic. I cannot say anything, just thank you so much."
Your choice to support small businesses like ours has a tremendous impact. While the big box stores may survive with their deep pockets and financial assistance, small businesses across the globe do not. By supporting us, you are also supporting artisans in marginalized countries. And more than anything else, we want you to know that YOUR CHOICE MATTERS!
]]>Are you tired of the daily grind? Do you dream of pursuing your passions? Look no further than my own experience as an entrepreneur who built a business around my favorite activity: treasure hunting in artisan markets.
I knew that if I wanted to incorporate my personal values and lifestyle into my business practices, I had to prioritize what I wanted my life to look like. I wanted to feel free, to travel, and to explore. So I decided to focus on something I loved: treasure hunting in Thailand.
For months at a time, I traveled around Thailand, searching for unique and amazing artisan handicrafts. I was living my dream, exploring new cultures and countries, all while building a business around what I loved to do.
After attending farmers' markets for several years, I was inspired to start a festival business. I wanted to grow, make more money, and take advantage of the traveling opportunities that festivals offered. My unique experiences working in a festival business have given me a perspective that most others don't have, because I get to travel, have time freedom, and use my creativity to make money.
And if you're interested in handmade jewelry, I have some tips for you. My creative process for designing and crafting handmade jewelry is ongoing. I keep an eye out for trends and different styles that emerge, always looking for a different twist on things. To see what people like, I attend ecstatic and contact improv dances and take yoga classes. Observing what people wear when they dress up at festivals is also a great way to get inspired.
My goal is to combine natural materials, unique designs, and practical appeal that make my jewelry easy to wear. The creative process unfolds in the design studio when I have my available materials and craftsmen with me. If I can dream it up, they can usually do it. This makes creating jewelry exciting, and my only limit is my imagination.
So, what can you learn from my experience? Incorporating personal values and lifestyle into business practices is not only possible, but it can lead to an awesome career. Follow your passions, stay true to yourself, and don't be afraid to think outside the box. Who knows? You might just end up building a business around your favorite activity like I did. Your adventure awaits you!
]]>As a social worker turned jewelry entrepreneur, I have always been passionate about helping the underprivileged, underserved, and disadvantaged. That's why, when I started my own business, I wanted it to be more than just about making money.
Practicing fair trade principles and ethical practices has been an essential part of our business since day one. In this post, I will explain why fair trade and ethical practices are crucial for our business and the world as a whole.
At the most basic level, fair trade means paying fair prices for products in developing countries. But it's more than that. Fairtrade is about empowering people instead of exploiting them. By paying fair prices, artisans can grow their businesses, improve their lives, and become more self-sufficient. This, in turn, leads to better infrastructure, education, and opportunities for their families and communities. By supporting fair trade, we can help level the playing field for people born in countries that lack the same opportunities as us.
Ethical practices are another essential aspect of our business. We believe that there is a story behind every product and that we should be conscious of where and how our products are made. By supporting small businesses and artisans, we can help create unique products that make shopping fun and meaningful. Ethical practices also mean being mindful of the impact our business has on the environment. We use sustainable materials and packaging to reduce our carbon footprint and minimize waste. By promoting conscious consumerism, we can help reduce overconsumption and make a positive impact on the world.
Fairtrade and ethical practices go hand in hand. By practicing fair trade, we can empower artisans and support small businesses. By promoting ethical practices, we can create unique and meaningful products while minimizing our impact on the environment. It's a win-win situation. We can make a positive impact on the world while still providing high-quality products to our customers.
In conclusion, fair trade and ethical practices are essential for our business and the world as a whole. By supporting fair trade, we can empower people and create a more level playing field. By promoting ethical practices, we can create unique and meaningful products while minimizing our impact on the environment. It's up to us to make a positive impact on the world, and we believe that fair trade and ethical practices are the way to do it. Join us on this journey towards a better world, one product at a time.
]]>The fire stopped us dead in our tracks, leaving us with nothing but the clothes on our backs. Literally. Our home, business, art studio, and all our possessions were gone. And yet, I couldn't help but think that I had manifested it all. I kept repeating a phrase that I had said a thousand times before: "Things are not happening to us, they are happening for us."
If this were true, I wondered, what could all this be for? For a year, I remained open to the possibilities. I was sure that the fire was a sign from the universe that I was supposed to do something different. So I explored every opportunity, idea, and passion with only two goals in mind: To live where I love and do what I love to do.
These phrases helped me to clear away all the confusion and noise from my mind as I tried to figure out my life. We achieved our first goal when we saw a notice on the Marshal Fire Resource page that a cabin, way at the top of the mountain, was open for rent to a fire-affected family. No one else wanted it because we came from the suburbs, and many families had kids who needed to be closer to school. But we didn't. The nature around this cabin almost matched the images on my dream board exactly. ✅
After a full year of trying different things, one day I had an epiphany. I realized how much I loved Filosophy, and everything about it. Right then I made the decision to start again. Only this time I was going to make it into my dream company, the way I had envisioned it for years. Everything fell into place, and ten days later, I was in India building the new collection. ✅
What seems like the greatest tragedy in your life may very well turn out to be your greatest gift, but you won't know unless you are open to it. Just keep telling yourself, "Things are happening for me, not to me," and you just might find out what those things are.
]]>It was December 30th, and I woke up with a sense of excitement because today was the day I would get to cash in my 47th birthday present from my husband, to have a past life regression session. Out the door, I went dressed in my favorite pair of uber soft black, Athletica leggings, and my gray “Kail-in’ it” tank top, my cozy cream-colored fleece jacket that reminded me of wearing a sheep's coat, and my comfy pair of fuzzy Ugg boots. I felt in a rush that morning, so I grabbed my little leather purse, threw it over my shoulder, and ran out the door. I didn’t even bother to put on socks. Never could I have imagined the clothes I walked out in that day would soon be my only possessions in the world.
For years I have been obsessed with near-death experiences, and have been astonished at how similar each NDE person’s story really is. Listening to their accounts of unconditional love, peace, and telepathic communication with one another, I was eager to experience it for myself. And this morning, I was sure this past life regression session would assuage my curiosity about life on the other side and somehow I would better understand my purpose here on earth.
As I was deep in meditation, visiting my spirit-guide named Caroline, my father who had passed away when I was three, my favorite teacher and mentor Sandy, my grandma, and my dog Brutus, 10 miles away, my home, my business, and all of my art was burning to the ground.
After a three-hour inward journey, I returned to my car, turned on my phone, and was bombarded with dozens of text alert sounds erupting from my phone. Each one a message from my friends, “Are you ok?” “Did you have to evacuate?” “Did you get out safely?” I thought what the hell? I looked around, I didn’t see anything. There was no smoke, no alarms, no flash floods, no sign of any distress whatsoever.
So I called my husband to ask what the heck was going on and all he said was, “Babe, our house is on fire, I am standing at the top of the hill, and I am watching our neighborhood go up in flames.”
What?! What are you talking about?
He said, “We have to evacuate now, and I need you to meet me in Evergreen at our friend's house in the mountains.”
Startled and confused, I drove in a haze, straight to Evergreen to take refuge with our friends in their cozy mountain home; never realizing the trajectory of my life was about to change forever. All evening, we sat glued to the news, watching in shock as the flames engulfed our community. The scenes coming from the computer screen seemed more like a movie than my actual life.
As I watched the neighborhood burn, oddly, a thrill passed through my body. I felt a wave of excitement flood over me. I saw myself walking into the total unknown, an adventure like I had never been on before. This would be a reality completely unforeseeable, a path I had never visited in my mind’s eye. And all of a sudden I got really enthusiastic to take on a challenge greater than I could have ever imagined before. In a flash, I saw that I have been training for this moment for years. This would become a Ph.D. program for my soul. The only requirement to pass this course was total surrender. All I could do, at that moment, was have faith the universe would totally have my back.
I have always been spiritual, but thinking I could just let go of the wheel of my life, and gracefully allow things to miraculously unfold in their own time has never been my jam. My youth pastor Kevin would tell me, “Katie, I picture you in a cornfield, with a huge machete swinging back and forth saying to yourself, “I will find God’s will!” And that’s always been me. Willing and eager, yes, surrendered and patient, not so much.
But as I saw the flames on TV, I began to realize all the years of my hard work creating Filosophy, all my designs, and inventory, my favorite pieces of art I couldn’t bear to part with, my baby blanket, and my favorite handmade mugs, all disappeared in an instant.
This time I had no choice but to surrender.
At that moment, I realized the evidence of my entire life had been reduced to ashes. Single, stainless steel, labradorite necklace, and an eggplant-colored racer back bra, what I was wearing that day, were the only pieces I had left of my business.
I have nothing left to sell, no business to build, I have only this story to share. And the one thing I have learned so far… is that we are not alone. The world is really kind, the community is everything, and sometimes people whom you would never expect to care about you, reach out their hand, and help lift you up.
(to be continued...
It seemed as though we had a few options: We could park the whole business till next season and hope we had enough savings to carry us through, we could build out a Schoolie, live in the bus and travel, minimizing our expenses and shrinking down as small as we could or we could put on our grown up pants and try with everything we had to build an ecommerce business with all the merchandise we had just purchased.
]]>At the beginning of 2020, we returned from our annual sourcing trip in Thailand and Indonesian with COVID on our tails. We had just created and paid for the new designs, we thought would be a part of the Epic 2020 summer festival season. But as Spring approached, we were anxiously watching our Summer schedule of 30 shows cancel one-by one, week after week. By late spring we began to panic, wondering what we should do with the business… and how we were going to make a living.
It seemed as though we had a few options: We could park the whole business till next season and hope we had enough savings to carry us through, we could build out a Schoolie, live in the bus and travel, minimizing our expenses and shrinking down as small as we could or we could put our grown up pants on and try with everything we had to build an ecommerce business with all the merchandise we had just purchased.
The third was most intimidating because we knew we had no marketing experience, product shots, or any inclination for social media. Hell, even our website was out of date. We knew we would be starting from scratch, and it would take everything we had to make it.
And this is where this story really begins. I just had to put it all in context for you.
Our marketing efforts over the past few months have managed to spread our reach across the country, and we are gaining traction. Fueled by the continuous positive feedback we get from our customers, we keep going. And it’s because of this, and because of your choices to buy from small businesses like ours, that we are able to place a reorder for the few items we’ve had success selling online.
And here is how you know what you're doing makes a difference. This is a conversation from our primary tailor in Bali. She was so appreciative of our small reorder, I felt the need to share it with you.
Katie Moore: Hi Sakman! We just sent another purchase order. Could you please review and confirm with us.
We are adding this order to the other one. Also adding some length to the maxi dresses. Please let me know if you understand everything. As soon as you confirm please let me know. I will send you the money.
Sakman: Hi Katie The feet (first) order already start produktion,the length of Maxi dres i make as last time
Sakman: I Will cek your new order🙏Thankyou
Katie Moore: Yes. Keep the first one same. Just change the length on the long ones for the second.
Sakman: Ok Thankyou so much ketie 🙏
Katie Moore: Thank you.
Katie Moore: I can send money now if you confirm.
Sakman: For you help and still trust me ,give me order🙏
Sakman: Your order help me and my staff and my family in this pandemi🙏😭
Sakman: I can not say enything,just thanks a lot🙏
Katie Moore: Yes. We must help each other. Sakman I am a small business like you. I want to support you. I love the person you are and the work you do. I understand mistakes happen just please try to be careful.
Our business, like all small businesses across the plant have been devastated. Employees have been let go, finances are dire, businesses/suppliers are already out of business with many more likely to follow. I can only speculate that this small order put both her and her team back to work, if only for a short time. This income is likely to be used immediately to buy food and pay for necessities. They are surviving, not thriving. But everything makes a difference.
The big box stores will survive, they have deep pockets and financial assistance. It’s the small businesses across the globe who do not share those same luxuries. By supporting us, you are also supporting them. And more than anything else, I want you to know, YOUR CHOICE MATTERS!
I needed to feel some peace after stirring inside all night about the condition of our country, our politics and all the fear, hatred and division going on around me.
Fear seemed to have gotten the best of me lately because I have resorted to yelling and arguing with people I consider close friends, defending what I believe to be right, just and fair for our country.
]]>I needed to feel some peace after stirring inside all night about the condition of our country, our politics and all the fear, hatred and division going on around me.
Fear seemed to have gotten the best of me lately because I have resorted to yelling and arguing with people I consider close friends, defending what I believe to be right, just and fair for our country.
I feel confused how so many people in this country see bullying, disrespect, and lies as character flaws that aren't that big of a deal.
I feel my fear of living in a world where our basic needs are not met, where our life becomes all about survival instead of joyful living.
I fear living in a world where a self serving dictator gets to decide more about my life than I do.
One fear after another popped into my head as I sat on my cushion trying to relax. Then I clearly heard a voice say, “This is all a big movie.” I paused my thoughts a moment to listen to the sound of those words again. “This is all a movie and you're all acting out this drama to clarify your values.”
I had no sooner heard this voice than there was a floating sensation in my body. It felt like I was drifting away from earth, moving towards outer space so I could have some perspective.
Everything on earth became smaller, doll-like. I could see the “movie” we were acting in and all the characters playing their part. I saw it as a spiritual game and understood from that perspective, it was all part of our evolution in service of a much larger purpose.
I understood we are all reflections of one another. The things we “hate” in others are the same things we have and probably hate in ourselves.
When my self righteous, judgemental side comes bursting out, “fighting” for what I want, I need to remember that.
When I’m in the midst of judging and criticizing someone else, I think it’s key I see this in myself if I am ever to grow from this challenging time.
The lyrics for Peace on Earth by U2 came to my mind.
“They say that what you mock Will surely overtake you And you become a monster So the monster will not break you.” - U2
Like a spiritual messenger, I could see the truth in the message.
Instead of staying focused on my fears, I shifted my focus to gratitude.
I started thinking about my partner, my dog, my friends, my home, my business, my health, my surroundings, the clean air, the mountains, the water, the trees and on and on. I let my mind flow over the “reality” of my life and the hundreds of blessings I have.
All of a sudden I could feel the heavy energy and fear lift. I could feel my vibration rise and a sense of peace flow over me. The contrast was palpable.
In that moment, I saw I could “play the character” in the movie of my life, knowing it was an opportunity to clarify my values without taking it all so personally.
Perhaps, anger and hatred is presented in our lives so we can decide what we stand for and how we will respond when we are faced with it.
Maybe we need division to feel a sense of urgency to create community and unity.
Maybe we need a revolution to know we want peace.
Maybe we need to experience the darkness in order to find the light.
]]>I discovered labradorite is the stone of transformation. This stone is a companion stone when you’re in the midst of a huge change. It’s a stone to support you during a time in your life when you say, enough is enough, I’m ready to do something different. That’s when this stone becomes very valuable to you.
]]>For about 3 months now, I’ve been wearing these labradorite earrings non-stop. I've been drawn to the look and the grounded feeling they give me and to the understated color of grayish gold, so earthy and bohemian.
I discovered labradorite is the stone of transformation. This is a companion stone when you’re in the midst of a huge change. It’s a stone to support you during a time in your life when you say, enough is enough, I’m ready to do something different. That’s when this stone becomes very valuable to you.
This stone will help ground you and strengthen your intuition, after all, you'll need your intuition if you’re going to be really successful in life. Your intuition is your rutter and your internal spiritual guide. So, if this stone can improve that skill, then I’d be wearing it.
Here are a few of my favorite labradorite pieces. Like I said, I’m wearing these earrings non-stop. I sleep in them and I shower in them. They aren’t even tarnishing from the water. I basically never take them out. I don’t know if they are ACTUALLY helping me transform, or if it’s just a coincidence, but I am transforming.
Here is a link to all the labradorite we have right now.
Now, I want to hear about your journey. I can feel you out there, supporting me, supporting the business, rooting for our success. I would love to hear where you are in the process of your own personal transformation. I want to hear your stories, your struggles and successes. I am reading everything you post and responding. I am here.
---------------------------------------------------------
Some of you may know, I’m in the midst of my own personal transformation. I’m changing the way I eat, work, sleep, and do my practice. I’m finally meditating consistently, and I guess to sum it up, I’m actually "doing the work.”
You’ve probably figured out by now, just knowing what to do doesn’t really make the difference, it’s actually showing up on your proverbial mat that makes shit happen!
Don't get me wrong, this transformation is not and has not been smooth sailing, far from it in fact. But this time I’m doing it consciously. Meaning, I’m aware of what’s necessary to be done and I am also taking action on what’s necessary for me to experience life at its highest level. I’m exploring and manifesting a life beyond what I thought was possible.
To train for this, I commit to certain activities, like eating foods that give me energy, intuitive yoga journeys involving plant medicine, and a daily meditation practice. This connects me with my higher self, it provides me with divine guidance and visions to help me along my path. It’s no different than a high performance athlete who trains, takes supplements and uses whatever tools necessary to reach their highest physical potential. I do it to reach my highest spiritual potential because what I care about most is living my soul purpose.
Filosophy | Freelosophy became part of my journey in helping myself and others find their path. It's my passion, and what I spend most of my free time thinking about, even when it scares me.
When you are on your path you know it because you feel alive inside. You may be working hard, endless hours even, but you don't mind because what you're doing brings you joy. It gives you energy. Doing soul discovery work is what I was born for and what I’m really here for. I’m here to live at my highest potential, so I can help you live at yours. Let me know how I can help you on your journey. I’m here for you.
With all my love,
Katie Moore
]]>Have you had this kind of conversation with yourself before? The one that scares you because you know the difference between quitting and winning comes down to a moment’s decision. You see how tired you already are, but you know you are nowhere near the end, and you worry all your work could be for nothing. You start to get caught in the “what if” scenarios of your life and find your mind spiraling down to where a shopping cart and some cardboard boxes under a bridge are your new living quarters. I know this fear well.
]]>I knelt on my yoga mat in the dimly lit room at 5am for my morning ritual practice of meditation and movement. I had a deep feeling of gratitude and peace inside as I began to meditate. The candles were lit, the incense was burning on my makeshift altar made from a couple of old wood crates double stacked with my favorite books in them. My Buddha statue sat on top of the crates, wrapped in a pink mala, staring back at me as if to bestow all the wisdom in the universe. I didn’t know it yet, but apparently I needed some wisdom on this special morning.
I felt my emotions rise in gratitude as I scanned my mind for the incredible blessings in my life. My unimaginably supportive partner, my loyal and loving friends, my beautiful and stable home all felt like huge gifts bestowing joy and love in my life. But as I moved my attention to my heart, to really feel into what I was feeling, I immediately began to sob. An emotional well of tears began to release the very moment I turned inward.
I could feel fear arise.
This fear had the flavor of dread.
It was about working so hard on something without knowing the work would pay off. I looked at the hundreds of miles left in my ultra marathon and I wasn’t sure I could make it to the end. It was an uncomfortable uncertainty of not knowing how this would all play out.
As I got quiet, all I kept hearing was the sound of my friends voice saying, keep going. Keep going, get up and keep going.
Have you had this kind of conversation with yourself before? The one that scares you because you know the difference between quitting and winning comes down to a moment’s decision. You see how tired you already are, but you know you are nowhere near the end, and you worry all your work could be for nothing. You start to get caught in the “what if” scenarios of your life and find your mind spiraling down to where a shopping cart and some cardboard boxes under a bridge are your new living quarters. I know this fear well.
We say we want a meaningful life and we want to experience life fully, but what I think we mostly mean is that we want to enjoy all the great adventures in life like bungee jumping and world travelling, not extreme poverty, dependence, or sleeping under a bridge. We will gladly take a ride on top of the wave, but we’re not interested in the soul crushing falls.
But how can we expect to ride the wave without ever falling off the board. These falls are a gift. They carry the texture of grit. We don’t want to rob ourselves from the gifts these experiences bring. They will most likely prove to be more valuable than a perfect wave ever could be.
It’s during these raw and uncertain times we get to decide who and what is in charge of our happiness. We get to decide if fear rules our decisions or if we will choose faith. We get to see our real character up close and personal and have a little heart to heart with who we think we are.
What an opportunity this can be to test ourselves at our limit. To put our hands to the fire and observe who we become when we are pressed to figure it out. How else will we know if all the hours on our mat have worked? How can we ever know our abilities if we never have to test them in the real world? It’s just not enough to study all this spiritual stuff, we have to suit up and play.
Practice is over, it’s game time.
This game becomes an incredible motivation to answer the questions: What are we going to create? Who do we want to become? How can we use this moment to grow, evolve and expand our current version of ourselves?
I am sure we are bigger, stronger and more creative than we ever imagined and as one door closes, another opens. Which door are you willing to walk through to grow and expand your current reality?
Our souls know what we need, we just need to listen to the whisper of our intuition. Sometimes it speaks softly to us, nudging us in the gut. Sometimes it leaves clues in books, conversations, and repetitive signs. Sometimes these insights come from random calls or unexpected encounters that we alone could never orchestrate.
Expect these signs and then take action. Lean into your intuition and trust it as your guide. Follow your joy and watch for the many opportunities to come. Know the universe has your back and keep fucking going.
Game on!
]]>I had been fantasizing about living in another country for a year and took my job dissatisfaction as a cue to take action towards my fantasy.
]]>If you want to walk the path of your soul, follow your intuition, it already knows where you're headed.
It was 2008, I was living in Naples, Florida working as a family therapist, studying Buddhist meditation, but felt unhappy at my job. I wasn’t doing what I was good at and it gave me a level of anxiety and dissatisfaction strong enough to decide I was going to quit. I had been fantasizing about living in another country for a year and took my job dissatisfaction as a cue to take action towards my fantasy.
It was a Friday night at Unity church when I was setting up the shrine for our Buddhist meditation class while my friend Charlie was there setting up the chairs. Our casual conversation that night would change the trajectory of my life forever.
I had been playing around with the idea of living in another country for a year to experience a cultural immersion like the one I had 10 years prior in Argentina when I was a college exchange student in Buenos Aires.
I knew I wanted to travel for a year, get out of the rat race, discover who I am and figure out what I really wanted to do. I just wasn’t sure where I wanted to go. But the simple conversation with my friend Charlie, changed everything.
He told me about a place in Thailand where the cost of living was so cheap people could create a lifestyle totally different from the ones we have in America. He described artisans selling their handicrafts at huge markets and the amazing food on every corner. He said he stays there for months at a time to unwind, dream, and create and could not wait to get back. All I noticed was my gut saying yes..yes..yes to his every word.
I raced home from meditation to read more about this town and sometime that night, I knew Chiang Mai, Thailand would be my next adventure.
It was this decision, this intuitive hit that became the first seed in the garden called Filosophy.
There was nothing rational about it. I was walking away from a career I loved, from my mom, whom I knew would probably die in the nursing home alone while I was gone and everything that was familiar to me.
But had I not followed my intuition, Filosophy would have never been born.
You know when you get a vision or a flash in your mind’s eye, showing you your life, like a scene from a movie you totally want to be living, but it seems way outside the norm of your current reality? That’s what was happening to me.
First, it was like a wrything sensation in my gut telling me something was wrong and I knew I had to quit my job. Then there was an excitement in my body when I thought about the possibility of creating a new life, a new adventure, and a new beginning.
I was open and ready for direction, but did not know where to go, until I experienced the surge of excitement while talking with my friend Charlie. It was as if he was laying cookie crumbs on my life path before me and I knew I had to follow them.
Have you had a sensation like this?
Maybe it’s a seemingly unimportant conversation like the one I had, giving you clues about your soul path. When we follow the clues, we move towards our purpose. When we ignore them we feel depressed, stagnant, frustrated, and unhappy.
The problem is, we can’t connect the dots from these crumbs until we are looking backwards.
But following our gut and our inner knowing leads us along the path, you might even say it forges the path into reality.
Moving towards experiences that bring joy is a sure fire way to ensure movement in the right direction, even when it makes no sense to anyone else. To create a masterpiece of your life, you must be willing to paint it over and over with your own colors, textures and ideas, even when no one gets it. If you try to copy the masterpiece someone else painted for their life, you will feel flat, uninspired and constantly in the hustle.
Joy becomes the most significant clue for us to follow.
When we listen to our intuition guiding us towards our joy and passion, we discover a path so fulfilling it feels effortless, generating a satisfaction so strong we want to share it with others.
I would love to hear about your intuitive hits and how they have guided your life. What inner knowing did you follow that led you to places you never imagined you’d go? Share your experience with us so we can all grow together.
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I stared at all the containers on the counter and realized this was a reflection of what I’m tolerating in my life. I started asking myself, why do I keep things around when they no longer serve me, and why am I afraid to throw things out? The fridge became a perfect reflection of my life, it showed me why I am exactly where I am.
]]>This morning, as I sat in front of the glass fireplace for my meditation, my 6 month old puppy Milan caught a glimpse of her reflection in the glass. She started to growl at herself, hackles up, posture tense. I giggled as I watched her react to her own reflection with a combination of suspicion and curiosity, she was either ready to fight or flee.
But then I remembered a Buddhist teaching about the mind.
It explained how everything is a projection of our mind. Everything. We are watching our lives unfold like a movie on a screen. We think it’s real, fixed and is what it is. But we are actually projecting that movie from our minds. It’s like the dog, when she viewed her reflection in the glass, she totally thought she was looking at another dog coming at her. She thought it was real, and she started to react. We do the same thing with everything around us. We view our reflection in the glass, (which is how we perceive the world) and often see a threat staring back at us, (we see enemy, poverty and lack,) we react to that experience as though it’s real. We don’t realize the reflection isn’t real, but rather it’s a manifestation of our mind.
This is where transformation really gets interesting.
If we can get a clear picture of the way we currently view the world, we can start implementing hacks that will help us change the way we choose to see our lives. If we did this, our life would change.
We can recreate our reality. I understood this, maybe for the first time, after listening to Regan Hillyer on the Mindvalley podcast. She said if you want to change your life, you can’t just dream about things getting better, but you must actually change your tolerance levels to reflect a life you want.
That may seem backwards a first, but for me it’s the concept that finally clicked. Everyone else, like Tony Robbins, and all the other personal growth teachers, speak of raising your standards. But, another way to phrase that concept is to look at what you tolerate. Your life will be a reflection of what you tolerate, not what you want.
I started looking around the house, messy countertops, dirty carpet, clutter and piles of boxes stacked high up in the dining room. A to be sold pile. I opened the fridge and looked at at least 10 different containers of food that were old and needed to be thrown out. Two weeks old cut apples, a tiny bit of a 3 day old salad, a tangerine with mold on it, jars of dressing, mustard, and pickles that had been there since we moved in over a year ago, it was clear I have a pattern of scarcity. I have a hard time letting go of things even when they don’t serve me, even when they are rotten and need to be thrown out.
I stared at all the containers on the counter and realized this was a reflection of what I’m tolerating in my life. I started asking myself, why do I keep things around when they no longer serve me, and why am I afraid to throw things out? The fridge became a perfect reflection of my life, it showed me why I am exactly where I am. Regan said, you can’t be in scarcity and abundance at the same time!
Excited about my new revelation, I grabbed the laundry because being organized is now one of my new identities. The pile of clean clothes laid strewn on the couch, ready to be folded. These were my favorite tanks and yoga pants I wear, over and over each week. I noticed most of my shirts were from goodwill. My favorite long sleeve top, which I had found on a trail, had dirty pit stains, and all the shirts were pilling.
I asked myself, if I were to think with a millionaire's mind...would I be tolerating my wardrobe to look like this?
Painfully, I separated all the old, stained, pilled clothes out from the rest, and made a commitment to only wear clothes that reflect my millionaire mind. I own a clothing company for goodness sake, I could at least wear my own, new clothes.
All this came serendipitously this morning like a message had been hand delivered right to my door. You see, I’m in the process of my own complete transformation. For me, there is no more time to read about it, I have to actually implement.
I have a huge goal that I have been afraid to go after for years now. I am going to change every area of my life: my fitness level, my bank account, my business and my home.
My intention is to create a schedule | routine | habit pattern that will set me up for this transformation in every area of my life. I will use the visions I receive and the information that comes downloaded to me during my mediation to guide my path.
I will structure my days with intense focus so that I am able to disrupt my set point, the state I currently live in, to a new set point that more accurately reflects the life and person I want to become.
I want you to join me on this journey if you feel that now is your time for a transformation. Let’s do this..step by step from the beginning. I am going to take every teaching, seminar, book and video I have ever seen, all my therapist education, and all of my experiences to transform my life. Would you like to join me in this transformational journey?
]]>I either have to get a job, and work for someone else's dreams, or I have to turn my life around and create mine.
]]>I always thought I was being guided, I just didn’t totally believe my thoughts were 100% reliable. I’d meditate, get into a very relaxed state, then practice automatic channeling. I have filled volumes of journals from these channeling experiences, most of which I have never even gone back to read.
When I channel, I hear a voice in my mind, and I just write down exactly what I hear. I can also ask a question, and I receive a detailed response. Because of these experiences, I assumed the one responding was my spirit guide or my higher self. But for the longest time, I was never 100% sure it wasn’t just me hearing my own thoughts.
Not until I had to totally surrender, did I know for certain I was being guided. Normally, I travel all summer to festivals, selling handmade, fair trade clothing and jewelry.
But since my festivals were all canceled due to COVID, I was home learning online marketing to generate e commerce sales. For the past 10 years, all my income has come from 5 fast and furious months of festival sales. Now, I was in deep trouble, as I had no idea how to sell online. This time, I only had my faith to guide me forward.
I felt the tightness in my chest as I watched the money in my bank account go down and down and down. Still, I was not in my red zone yet. I was sure I could turn things around with some online marketing training. I figured there would be enough sales online to coast me through till the next season.
But that’s when I got the email….
It was my accountant. He said I owed $10,000 worth of taxes and I had to start paying immediately. We had the best season, in the history of our business last year, but I’ve NEVER had to pay that kind of tax before! Somehow it usually all got zeroed out in the end and I rarely owed much of anything.
But not this time. This time I had to pay, and I knew I didn’t have it.
I had $7,000 left in my account, and I owed $10,000. I didn’t have an income per say, except for the few sales, trickling in online.
In a single moment, I decided, with every cell in my body, I would turn this around. I was no longer willing to half ass my life and be a victim of my own circumstances. Right then and there, my transformation began.
It became clear to me in my mediation, I was to use my own transformation to help others attain theirs. Step-by-step, I would share everything working for me as I transform. I would be a guide for others so they could transform as well. I want them to be able to feel the realness of my words when I say, if I can do this, so can you.
For the past 25 years, I have wanted to help people figure out who they are, why they are here and what their soul purpose is. Not knowing another way, I became a psychotherapist. But that wasn’t playing full out for me. I wanted to be a transformational leader, I just never felt worthy enough to do it. But last week, I had a major breakthrough, completely unblocking a feeling I held of unworthiness. Now, I literally feel unstoppable. Besides, I have nothing left to lose.
I decided to follow this vision with my whole heart and change my business focus, from a fair trade, clothing and jewelry company, to a personal transformation company who also sells clothing and jewelry. We create unique and comfortable styles, for people who prefer, an off-the-beaten-path-lifestyle.
I knew if this were to work, I would need to use every single tool I’ve ever learned, in the hundreds of personal development books I’ve ever read and all my life experiences. I would need to integrate all of them with a total commitment and a fierce determination to see my own transformation through.
When I surrendered, and jumped in with both feet, I could feel my guides, more real than ever. I could feel their excitement for me, like they have been waiting for me to fully commit to this passionate vision I’ve had for the past 25 years.
Now, I am putting this whole project on autopilot and letting my guides take the wheel. I am building habits and routines each morning, which are in alignment with what I have learned as the most effective methods for creating success and abundance in life. I have systems in place for support, like a 6 week Lifebook course that will have me write out in detail, my beliefs, my vision, my why, my purpose and my action plan in all 12 areas of my life.
I’m tracking the exact actions I’m taking so I can share this journey with others. My goal is to help as many people as possible with their own transformations.
I have a huge vision I want to create within the next 3 years, or sooner. I plan to go from having an almost failing business, being flat broke and 20lbs. overweight, to owning a transformational retreat center with financial abundance and a fit athletic body, I feel proud of.
The main difference this time, is I have everything on the line. My WHY is more compelling than ever before. I either have to get a job, and work for someone else's dreams, or I have to turn my life around and create mine. This time I am all in, 100%, totally committed to this vision.
I don’t have it all figured out just yet. Yesterday was day 1, of my personal transformation project. So far, what I have, is a FB group where I can invite people to join me on this transformational journey. I will use the space to post about what’s working for me, and help anyone in the group to make their own changes, step by step.
What I need are partners, cheerleaders, and supporters to share this journey with and to hold myself accountable to. I am giving my word here, at the highest level of my integrity and committing to changing my life. I want you to witness me in this transformation, so I may serve the world I came here to serve.
I was staring out the window of my partner's giant jeep, tears streaming down my face, wondering how I am going to create a breakthrough in my life before I run out of money and lose everything I’ve worked so hard for.
Our camping trip in Crested Butte was over, and I finally had a moment to think about how in the world I was going to create the life I've been talking about for the past 20 years. I’m 45! If not now...when??
In my previous life, I was a family therapist. My days consisted of helping juvenile delinquents and their families communicate more effectively to reduce recidivism. That felt meaningful to me...but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do.
I wanted to create a space for people to have real transformation. A place where they could learn, grow, connect and experience authentic relationships in community. But deep down, I have always been too scared to go for it.
I felt as though I couldn’t teach about personal growth or spirituality until I knew everything on the subject. Can anyone relate?
But even after years of studying, I still didn’t feel like I was ready.
You know that feeling?
It’s the unworthy feeling, grounded in childhood memories, of sitting alone at lunch and feeling left out, not enough, not accepted. Well...that feeling has never left me, I just got good at covering it up.
Staring out the window, I asked myself, what could I do to have a breakthrough that would help me go for my BIG dreams?
Frustrated and fed up with my own bull shit, I got an idea...
I thought about having a conversation with the most popular, beautiful girl in school. I wanted to see if talking with her could shift something in me. Maybe give me some perspective.
I audaciously sent her a message on Facebook.
I asked her if we could have a conversation about our experiences in school so that we could learn from one another and hopefully, it could help me have a breakthrough.
She immediately replied “you are amazing!” Two hours later, after 28 years, we were on the phone.
We listened to each other's struggles growing up and we went from strangers to old friends within a few hours.
She shared her experiences of growing up with a mom who dictated how she looked, and what she did. She said she was always trying to make everyone else happy and didn’t even know what she wanted.
And then she addressed it... “I didn’t think you were weird, just artsy and creative. I always admired the people who were so unique.”
I sat with that...I’m not weird, just unique...
All this time, I’ve been holding back, feeling not enough, not worthy when all along, I was just “unique."
I tell you all this, because I want you to know we are in this together.
So what is holding you back? Who do you need to call to have a breakthrough? What do you need to do, forgive, let go of, to get yourself one step closer to creating what you came here for?
I took the first step yesterday… will you take one today?
I would love to hear what you do…
Love,
Katie
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Our dogs are the perfect teachers to help us understand what freedom looks like.
Dogs have no issue letting other dogs know if they don’t dig their vibe. They don’t worry if they'll be liked, rejected, or even attacked. They simply honor their feelings, and they deal with the consequences.
Just this morning, I drove up to the mountain to take my dog for a hike, But for some reason today, she was not into it. She repeatedly jumped on me to stop and look at her. Her face and body language pleaded for us to turn around. So we did.
But what if that had been me with a friend? I considered what I would have done in that situation? Would I have been able to honor my feelings without self reproach and never ending apologies?
No matter what they are doing, dogs are totally present. They chill when we are working, pull the leash to smell everything when we’re walking, and joyfully stick their head out the window when they're riding in the car. Being present allows them to be open to anything that arises, and relaxed enough to enjoy whatever they are doing in every moment.
I am always amazed when I see my dog Milan comin’ in hot to a group of dogs she doesn’t know at the park. She races in, totally confident, and lets everyone know she wants to play. Most of the time they will engage with her, but sometimes they growl and bark at her to back off. She never growls back, she never takes it personally, she just keeps on trotting, looking for the next dog to play with.
Milan loves to play with everyone! Her puppy energy is electric and she bounces around, trying to engage anyone who will give her a moment of attention. She is excited, curious, adventurous. Her favorite thing is to run outside the boundaries of the dog park, into the open space, where the cows roam, just to satisfy that curiosity and sense of adventure.
Her spirit inspires me to look for ways I can feel this same sense of play in my life. I have started going on unleashed adventures with her, walking on top of fallen trees and climbing rocks just to see if I can. I get a new perspective when I do, and a feeling of being a child. I let my adult self take a back seat, and I let the child in me go wild. These adventures remind me to look for new ways I can explore life, and see things from a new vantage point.
Dogs offer their love without conditions. It doesn’t matter how much money we have, what kind of house we live in or how we dress, our dog always loves and accepts us exactly as we are.
Freedom is having that unconditional love directed towards ourselves. Knowing who we are, what our purpose is, and what we need to feel alive and joyful in our life is paramount to experiencing unconditional love. Loving unconditionally means accepting all parts of ourselves, even when they look different from everyone else.
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For years Christians lived in fear of openly revealing their religious beliefs. To deal with this, they drew a curved line in the sand “)” as a subtle symbol of their faith. It was only when a person of the same faith showed up, and recognized the symbol, that they would complete the drawing of a fish with another curved line like this “(”. This symbol helped them to find one another and feel safe.
2. Authenticity draws people in like a magnet.
Our external appearance, our words, and our energy are sending messages into the universe about who we are. Make sure you are being who you want to attract.
Several years ago, I found one of my soul sisters in a cafe in Thailand who became part of my soul family. I was immediately drawn to this woman because she had on a very unique mandala necklace, and I felt compelled to make a comment. This mandala, she told me, was a spiritual tool she used in meditation. Right away, It seemed like we had a lot in common.
She told me she drew it, and had it made into a pendant, while she’d been traveling the world for the past 2.5 years, discovering herself.
I knew, right in that moment, I wanted to know her and we have been friends ever since. I became part of her purpose and she became part of mine.
3. Authenticity makes work feel like play.Doing what lights you up, and sharing your gifts with others, becomes your purpose. If you are living in alignment with your values, and serving people you care about, then you will be doing what you came here to do, no matter how big or how small the job looks to someone else.
So what does your side of the fish drawing look like? What does pure joy look like for you? What are you doing when you lose track of time, and forget to eat?
By answering these questions you will be able to discover your hidden gifts, your unique nature and your reason for being here. This will turn an ordinary life into an extraordinary one.
]]>It can be scary to live differently, but the reward is freedom...
and freedom is everything.
When I jumped off the cliff and into an unconventional life, it was out of rebellion not passion.
I was 30, and had been sent home from my job as a family therapist for wearing a low-cut blouse.
I rebelled. Not only did I go home that day, I quit and moved to Thailand for a year with my partner. Living abroad showed me that I was not cut out for a “normal” job or even a “normal life.”
Have you ever felt like that? Like your life was not meant to look like everyone else's? Like you just had to do it your own way, even if that was a far jump from the norm?
The unconventional way is the creative way.
Since my days in middle school, when I was wearing men’s suit vests from goodwill, airbrushed clown shoes I’d found in Key West, and wore my hair feathered, I’ve always been an odd one. Can you relate? All that “unique” style ;-) was brought into the business, and it became Filosophy.
My designs are an expression of my vibrant personality. My business is calling from the free spirit inside me who wanted to write her own story.
We create for women who love fabulous bohemian vibes that combine earthy gemstones and leather and for the wildly active women who thinks that less is more. We design for the artist who loves a special detail on a pair of pants that gives her a sense of play. We make the pieces that will catch your eye and get you excited.
Everything here is unique.
Filosophy’s clothes and jewelry will show the world the inner you: the goddess, the dreamer, the adventurer, the artist, the woman who knows what she wants.
Then you can take it from there!
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When you are trying to figure out your passion, sometimes the clues show up at a really young age before anyone has a chance to tell you it’s a bad idea. Like my mom. She would say, “God damnit Katie….you want what you want when you want it!” But I think that intense drive to go after what I wanted helped me to make my dreams reality.
]]>When you are trying to figure out your passion, sometimes the clues show up at a really young age before anyone has a chance to tell you it’s a bad idea. Like my mom. She would say, “God damnit Katie….you want what you want when you want it!” But I think that intense drive to go after what I wanted helped me to make my dreams reality.
As a kid, life was really messy, and sometimes violent at my house. I would retreat to work at the ice cream store. That’s when I learned that passion and enthusiasm could sell anything. My goal was the banana split, and anyone remotely confused with what they wanted got the ultra enthusiastic sales pitch. If they bought, I won. If they didn’t, I’d try again with the next customer. This worked out well for my boss Sal, who used to be a banker, but decided to quit his job, open an ice cream store, become a hippy, and go anti corporate America. He grew out his hair and beard so long he looked like Charles Manson. I liked him though, because in the evenings, he would let me do my homework at work while he moped the floors.
Pursuing your passion when you feel like you can’t pay the rent, feels like taking the nuts off your ice cream sunday because you are on a diet. But paying the rent from a job that makes you miserable is like never allowing yourself to have the ice cream in the first place. I know that practical people, like my partner, the data guy, will say. I’m a hippy dippy who lives in la la land, but come on people, we have to do what lights us up or we are going to die unsatisfied with the life we led, then wish we had done it all differently anyways.
When my “was-band” and I started Filosophy, I had NO CLUE about running a business. There was no business plan. I had no idea who my customer was, no place to sell a product and no idea what a product line was. All I knew was that travelling around the world and shopping at artisan markets lit me up and I wanted to start something that would have me doing more of what I loved and less of what I didn’t. By creating a company that sold artisan handicrafts from Thailand, I knew I would HAVE to return each year to buy more. Travelling and shopping artisan markets were built into the framework of this business, all things I love, and the selling part...well that’s just the cherry on top. And this is how Filosophy was born.
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Filosophy was born out of two people's need to exercise Freedom and Independence in their lives. In the beginning we were not thinking about concepts like fair trade, or social justice. We were just wondering how we could put our lives in America on hold for a year, to live in another country without working. We wanted to feel alive again and inspired to grow and experience another culture, another perspective, another us.
We asked ourselves to consider what life would be like outside the bounds of our traditional working life in America? We pondered what we would be giving up in exchange for what we might experience. We dreamt of having time to read and meditate and prepare meals and spend time learning things just because we were curious. Those fantasies put into motion a string of events that led us to quit our jobs and to move to Thailand.
In the moment we did not know how we would do it, but the universe if funny that way. When you are clear with your intentions, doors open. Then it's up to you to stand on the edge of the cliff, say your prayers...then jump. #timefreedom, #giveupyourdayjob, #travellifestyle, #filosophyjewelry, #freelosophy
]]>I would love to tell you that traveling to Thailand and designing jewelry there is super sexy. That I have a big design studio to create walls of treasures with all my ideas, but the truth is, that when I arrive in Bangkok, it's not sexy at all. I work in a tiny little cramped space, reviewing sample after sample, of all the designs that my artisans have created.
It’s only after months of sharing concepts, and ideas back and forth, that the artisans come up with a smorgasbord of choices for me to pick. That’s when my job begins! I need to transform their ideas into jewelry you would love to wear; changing this and tweaking that, to get it just right. I need the designs to be unique and communicate a natural vibe, with a subtle, yet creative feel to them. I am looking for that “look” that stands out from the rest, yet falls perfectly in trend with what we are doing these days in our bohemian, Colorado, festival world.
This day was full on, all day in the 95 degree heat with 100 % humidity. Very quickly I am trying to decide which styles stay and which ones go. Since color is my absolute passion, I have a hard time saying no to any great style when the right colors are combined to delight my sense of art. When I nail a new collection, I burst with excitement, knowing that when you come to see me next summer, these pieces that I’m designing now, will blow you away as well.
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