FULL BLOOM: Event Recap
Houston: A City for Healing
2020 welcomed an unexpected return to Houston. Initially the uprooting was destabilizing as I struggled to release my grip on rigid timelines I had set for myself. Yet the extended time elsewhere was a necessary shakeup that I now treasure. Delaying my return to NY by four years prompted an unraveling of my linear understanding of growth. Experientially I needed to learn that within the perceived misdirection there is information that cannot be missed. Visuals of stepladders were replaced with seasons. Rather than restless striving to control checklists I found stability in the cyclical nature of the earth held perfectly in place by its creator. Overtime every area of my life experienced increased vibrancy when I chose informed movement vs. misaligned pursuit.
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I then began to realize that my experience was not an isolated incident. Themes of physical and spiritual healing were common in Houston, globally renowned for its medical center. And it struck me how this city, often referred to as "Space City" was actively serving as a launching ground for creatives who were being healed and equipped for the next venture. It's incredible the way in which our roots soak in the culture and the origin story of the communities we plant ourselves within. Curating spaces that enable communal vulnerability are important to me, and I wondered how I could invite others into this explorative space. Thus "Full Bloom" a women's wellness event was born.
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The POST served as the perfect venue, honoring Houston and creating a space for collective healing. The flow of the evening included a panel of health practitioners and holistic creatives, spoken word presentation, meditative sound bath, guided journaling and group picture on the roof overlooking downtown Houston. Panel topics included honoring women's intuition, finding natural rhythms and embodying confidence.
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Cultivating Spaces of Vulnerability
Nourishment of mind, body and soul served as the focus of Full Bloom. Upon entry attendees added an adaptogen from a curated menu to their latte provided by Eden Plant, our generous event partner. Healing drink in hand, each ascended to the third floor absorbing the vibrant POST ecosystem including a flower arrangement workshop in progress on the floor below. The event location was tucked behind an open stair case allowing partial visibility to passersby, creating a simultaneously intimate yet fully immersed location. It was fitting to dialogue how to maintain clarity amidst chaos while hearing the subtle buzz of visitors underneath the mic'd panel members.
A beautiful moment was learning that the charity dinner occurring on the ground floor was able to hear the sound bowls reverberating off the concrete walls. Essentially the entire west side of the POST was bathed in calming frequencies. An illustration of how personal healing naturally overflows to those we interact with.
Bringing a Vision to Life
Concise mood boards serve as flexible guides, allowing both the conscious and unconscious mind to engage creatively in a project. Some ideas emerge with clear intention, while others reveal themselves serendipitously. There is joy in unexpected discovery amidst the creative process.
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For instance, I realized the purple flowers depicted in the middle image were literally growing in my backyard. Similarly, I smiled when Gabbi, a panel member, sent her headshot, which strikingly resembled the image of the women kneeling in a stream. Moments of synchronicity underscore the power of a clear vision. A loose framework encourages further creative play.
Creating Intuitive Resources
Weaving a thread of visual cohesion transforms an event from a fleeting experience to a dynamic ecosystem.
Thus the journaling trifold created for guests featured calming color, organic lines, and thought-provoking imagery that mirrored the Full Bloom ethos.
Gathering Experiences & Emotions
Constantly absorbing, we are accumulation of many things. Gathered colors, sounds and experiences seep into every creative venture.
Personal travel destinations from the past year included Copenhagen and Mexico City influenced the visuals and feel of the Full Bloom event.
Above images feature the massive flowers blooming at Museo Tamayo in the Petrit Halilaj RUNIK exhibition, the colorful manifesto dancing on the welcome walls of Antara and relics from the Rosenborg Castle. In Mexico Petrit's art reminded me that from disparity we can find hope as we craft
our personal narratives. In Copenhagen, the city's rich history inspired me to consider ways I could adopt a morenfluid, regal version of womanhood.
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I also featured a new health modality I explored this year. AO Scan technology enables frequency attunement, exemplifying the nuanced sensitivity humans carry. This impacted the guiding statement of the event: Women are incredibly intuitive forces that absorb the world around them in a unique way. Unconsciously this collection of empathetic interactions creates a weight that needs intentionally released. Our bodies give insight into our internal landscape, kindly reminding us to explore buried emotions or unpleasant experiences.
Inviting Genuine Collaboration
There's something deeply fulfilling when an idea is so fully realized that those experiencing it for the first time can instinctively grasp its purpose. When people connect with the vision seamlessly. Above screenshots of posts shared by guests following the event.
Finding Joy in Creative Expression
It is a joy to bring together ideas that started as personal musings and late night dinner conversations to transform a space for an evening. Pinterest boards were printed. Abstract concepts realized. New friendships formed. What an honor to create an experience that is referenced as an impactful marker in one's life. When we operate in our intended design we are freed from comparison and uncertainty. Grounded in the essentiality of our uniqueness we can share ourselves with confidence. Thank you for letting me share a piece of myself!
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In harmony,
Callie