How I Reclaimed my Rhythm + Discovered My Indigo
The story behind the color that influenced my soul
The journey to my soul began in 2017 during my first “eat, pray, love” while studying yoga and backpacking in Thailand. However, the thread to “indigo” wasn’t full circle until a few years later. My spiritual journey began when I took a life JUMP from the corporate world and shifted my lifestyle completely. I had this deep inner knowing that I had a different purpose in this life.
I remember one day sitting at my corporate work desk saying “I don’t want to feel like this anymore! I am unhappy and this is not what life is about.” My health was fumbling, I wasn’t in balance, I was choosing poor coping mechanisms, making poor decisions and my self care and love was non-existent. I had to make a change. So, I did.
It was a deep spirit calling and draw to Koh Phangan, a remote island in Thailand, that cleaned and cleared a new path for me. I felt oddly called to this place. Knowing my health and lifestyle was not in check, I began looking into yoga teacher trainings as a means of a detox and personal reboot. I always knew I felt well after attending a yoga class, but I really didn’t know what I was about to get myself into.
I put in my 2-week notice and a few weeks later, I was on a flight to Thailand for a yoga teacher training. I wanted a place to catch up, heal and cleanse. I wasn’t even planning on becoming a teacher! I was purely going with the flow, trusting the process and letting it all align as it was supposed to - a full surrender. It wasn’t until the end of my month-long yoga teacher training that I knew that guiding others to unite the mind and body was a piece to my calling. I had a feeling that helping others connect with their mind, body and soul would actually help me. As an act of service to others, it would also hold me accountable to live a more mindful, intentional and compassionate life myself.
My soul was inspired during my first trip. Not just in the many layers of what yoga offers, but the experience of solitude and travel that empowered me. I had begun the path to seeking the self. In my first month, I learned so much and truly felt I had found a puzzle piece to my purpose and offering in life. Through this new spiritual connection, I began to notice my surroundings more. There was beauty all around - nature, creatures, good vibes… and the color indigo, which only resonated with me on a subconscious level at the time.
The true integration of Indigo began a few years later during my second trip to Thailand, while roaming the markets of Chiang Mai. I unexpectedly stumbled upon a market filled with this unique and beautiful natural plant dye, Indigo. I felt like I was in a sea of inspiration. I noticed, but didn’t explore the plant dye until several years later.
During the COVID pandemic, my interest in fabric dying was sparked. I leaned into my curiosity and creativity during this time and began making dog bandanas and matching face masks to bring joy to my community. Everyone was digging the vibe. So, I continued to create and before long, this new Indigo dying practice evolved into a spiritual and meditative practice for me.
Oftentimes, I find that my greatest adventures, journeys and moments of solitude inspire and bring about a sense of clarity, creativity and connection. That is precisely what I want to share with others.
Trusting Your Indigo: An Indigo Method
It is more than a natural plant dye with ancient roots to cultures in Asia, India + Egypt. It is a color that symbolizes the color of wisdom + intuition. It’s the color of the third eye (Ajna Chakra), the space between your eyebrows. The power of the color indigo resides in its representation of awareness and allows for deep focus during meditation. It guides with an ability for planning the future with clarity and can even bring about a love of rituals.
Trust your gut, they say? But how? I lived a good portion of my life doubting and overriding my own inner Indigo - my wisdom and intuition. I couldn’t seem to make a confident decision and deep down knew I wasn’t loving myself. I made poor decisions and put my validation and worth in other people’s hands. I struggled making choices. I didn’t know how to connect with my body, suffered from painful thoughts, depression, anxiety, addiction and let false narratives lead the way. Once I was on this path into the spiritual and holistic wellness world, I began to understand how to locate, listen and trust my inner Indigo. Through my travels, my studies in both western and eastern philosophies in yoga, meditation, breath work, conscious living and life-coaching - my own DOGMA belief was formed.
It is a path founded on the principles of adventure, nature, compassion, connection, creativity and the intention to savor life’s grand adventure.
Practice + Play
I have been hosting Indigo dying workings since 2017, offering a range of modalities, and have always enjoyed the connections it sparks. Creativity is a deep expression of my soul. It’s not just a chance to allow my inner child to embrace the power of play, it is the practice of letting go of the thinking mind and to encourage my authentic self to be in the now. Allow my to be the first to tell you - there’s a light-hearted tone that is invited in with this method. The practice becomes play, and play becomes the practice. A happy spiraling effect that embraces flow without no judgement, overthinking or desire of perfection. In my own fun with indigo dying, I began to take the journey of indigo as a form of inner connection and meditation. The experience alone can be powerful. And let’s be real, our experiences in life are part of our grand adventure, whether it’s planned or unplanned.
In my own personal practice, I play and leverage the creative avenue of indigo as one of many forms of meditation and inner connection. From designing the indigo style to prepping and dying, the entire process is a chance for me to let go of expectations and to let the creative flow evolve and spiral as it’s suppose to. I drop the thinking mind and allow the creativity to run through my body and heart.
When I offer workshops, I offer this presence of play and practice, while encouraging attendees to embrace their own moments of being in the now, creating and tapping into their own good vibes.
