In these complex times, with life moving at such a hurried pace, we all yearn for quick answers and simple solutions to life problems that really aren't all that simple. 'Life hacks' are more prevalent now than ever before. Feeling so overwhelmed with information coming from so many corners, it can be comforting to turn to specialists and experts who appear to have the skills to show us the way. But asking others to help us make important life decisions can actually leave us feeling more lost and confused than ever. Tune into this special episode with my very special guest, Mariyah Thompson, Biophilic Designer and Horticultural Educator to learn how honoring intuition can be the simple solution we're searching for to regain a sense of control over our lives and reclaim our own innate power.
In these complex times, with life moving at such a hurried pace, we all yearn for quick answers and simple solutions to life problems that really aren't all that simple. 'Life hacks' are more prevalent now than ever before. Feeling so overwhelmed with information coming from so many corners, it can be comforting to turn to specialists and experts who appear to have the skills to show us the way. But asking others to help us make important life decisions can actually leave us feeling more lost and confused than ever. Tune into this special episode with my very special guest, Mariyah Thompson, Biophilic Designer and Horticultural Educator to learn how honoring intuition can be the simple solution we're searching for to regain a sense of control over our lives and reclaim our own innate power.
About Mariyah:
Mariyah Thompson is a Biophilic Designer, Horticultural Educator and lover of all things nature-related. She was born and raised in Southern New Jersey where she learned the importance of nurturing intuition from her beloved grandmother. Mariyah is a graduate of Towson University (2020) and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Applied Adult Disability Studies. She credits the stillness she cultivated during the global pandemic for awakening a deep desire to "go deeper" within herself. She acknowledges her grandmother's passing - also during the pandemic - as a time in which she answered her heart's calling to pivot from her work in healthcare to her love of all things plant and nature related. Currently, Mariyah is the Manager of Residential and Commercial Horticultural Services at B. Willow in the Remington community of Baltimore, Maryland. Mariyah states frequently, "adding botanical designs to spaces across Baltimore and encouraging people to see themselves as a part of nature is what I love most about my work. We are one. I am so grateful to be in the position that I am, following my intuition, to do work that I truly love." Mariyah lives in Baltimore and spends most of her days celebrating life with her fiance, practicing meditation and yoga and "doing things that bring me joy."
Intuition As Inspiration And Initiation: Show Notes
Intuition, a profound and often elusive phenomenon, holds the power to serve as both a wellspring of inspiration and a catalyst for initiation. Rooted in our subconscious mind, intuition can guide us toward innovative ideas, uncharted paths, and transformative breakthroughs. It whispers, urging us to explore beyond the boundaries of logic and reason, and invites us to embrace the unknown. As a potent force of insight, intuition bridges the gap between imagination and action, encouraging us to trust our instincts and embark on journeys fueled by inner wisdom.
In this episode, I am joined by Mariyah Thompson, who studied Exercise Science from Towson University and is currently working at B. Willow, a bespoke plant boutique in Baltimore, to talk about the power of intuition. Mariyah shares how she managed to make a career shift into biophilic design from Exercise Science, why people get stuck on the judgment about what they should be doing, and the importance of biophilic design and nature exposure in people’s day-to-day lives in the workplace. She also talks about the benefits of celebrating small wins and what it means to have a mirror for yourself, even when there is no mirror. Tune in to learn more about this and other exciting topics!
Timestamps
[04:35] Mariyah Thompson’s background information
[05:36] How Mariyah managed to make a career shift into plants and nature
[08:05] The inner landscape that enabled Mariyah to realize that Exercise Science is not for her and made the change
[17:03] Why do people get stuck on the judgment of the outside about what they should be doing?
[20:26] The importance of Bioliphic design and nature exposure in people’s day-to-day lives in the workplaces
[26:28] The benefits of celebrating the small wins
[30:30] What it means to have a mirror for yourself, even when there is no mirror
[34:30] Does Mariyah have a journal practice?
[49:16] Mariyah’s trip to Mexico and how it opened her life
[57:12] The secrets to overcoming fear and living a more courageous life
[01:01:56] The practices that can help nurture the intuition of moving forward regardless of life challenges.
September 19 to 24, The Design the Life You Deserve Retreat that will be in Bacalar, Mexico.
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Mariyah Thompson:
I have spoken to myself and I've spoken to the sun, and I've spoken to my grandmother, my ancestors, I've spoken to my own heart and I decided to follow it. It alone. I took time to identify what was calling me, what I was having, like, great communication with, and that truly became like life itself.
Angel Shannon:
Hello, welcome to Healthy House calls with Angel. I am your host, Angel Shannon, giving you tips, tools, and holistic strategies to live a healthier life by intentional design. Join me as we explore the landscape of lifestyle medicine, offering practical tips that help you eat, sleep, move, and live better, and help you become fit and functional for life. Thank you for tuning in. Enjoy the show.
Angel Shannon:
Hello! Welcome back to Healthy House Calls with Angel. I am your host, Angel Shannon, founder and executive director of Siva Health and The Siva Institute, where we put mindfulness and compassion in action to help you live longer and live better, to help you change your life, not just your symptoms to help you design the life you desire and deserve. You know, at Siva Health and the Siva Institute, we say it all the time. Good health is so much more. It's so much more than a normal physical and the weight on a scale. Good health is also the sense of harmony, balance, peace, purpose, and fulfillment we feel in our lives. And that's what this show is all about. I have something so good in store for you today. You guys know I never do interviews on this podcast, but I had to do this interview.
Angel Shannon:
I absolutely had to share this point of light with you. My very special guest today, Mariyah Thompson, is that point of light. You know, have you ever met someone who is just so wise beyond their years? It's almost as if they've lived a million lifetimes. Well, that's my guest, Mariyah Thompson. She is living intuition as inspiration and initiation, and Mariyah's gonna share her very special story with you today about her own life design. I am so honored and pleased to have invited her into the studio to have this conversation with me and to share that with you. So without further ado, please meet my very special guest, Mariyah Thompson. Sit back, relax, grab yourself a nice warm cup of tea, and enjoy the show.
Angel Shannon:
Hello, everyone. I have something so good in store for you today.
Angel Shannon:
I am so excited on this Monday morning. I am joined by someone so beautiful and so amazing. And as you all know, this is my very first time, inviting anyone onto Healthy House calls with Angel, my YouTube channel, and there is a good reason for it. So, thank you so much for joining us today. My name is for those of you who are new to Healthy House calls with Angel. I'm Angel Shannon, founder and executive director of Siva Health and the Siva Institute, where we put mindfulness and compassionate action to help you live longer and live better. And I have to say this, at Siva Health, we really do believe that good health is more than the weight on a scale and a good set of labs. We believe that health is also about the sense of balance, peace, purpose, and fulfillment you feel in your life. And that's what this episode is all about. I'm getting goose bumps just even talking about it because it's just going to be special. So, please welcome my guest, Mariyah. I'm going to allow Mariyah to introduce herself. And we're going to get started talking about something that I really deeply believe in, and that is intuition as initiation, intuition as inspiration and initiation. So, Mariyah, thank you so much. Welcome to the living room, um, the Siva Institute. Introduce yourself.
Mariyah Thompson:
Yes, I am so grateful to be here. Hello everyone, my name is Mariyah Thompson. I was born in New Jersey and have since relocated to Baltimore, Maryland. Initially, because I attended Towson University starting in 2016, and then I graduated December of 2021, with a major in exercise science and a minor in applied adult disability studies. And I currently, where I met Angel, work at B Willow, which, we are a plant shop and we do botanical arrangements and such. We're located in Remington. So I met Angel there on a lovely Saturday and I have been looking forward to this conversation, since, and in that conversation, Angel, how'd you get here, right? How did you get here from what you do or what your focus was, academically?
Mariyah Thompson:
And the truth is, I followed my heart and my heart was leaning towards greenery, Life and growth. And although, I was in the medical field prior to this and working with adults with disabilities, I decided I wanted to lean a little closer into Mariyah before she could try and feed everyone else. And I'm 25 years old, I had decided to take my time with this beautiful life, and I encourage those around me to do the same because it is the most liberating thing that one can do for themselves. So, I'm just so grateful to be here. Thank you for having me, and I pray that someone is greatly impacted by this. I think intention is very important and this conversation is extremely intentional, so I am just happy to participate.
Angel Shannon:
Wonderful introduction and you just set the stage for this conversation so beautifully, Mariyah, because there's so many things that I want to dive into. First and foremost, anyone who's listening knows that exercise science is an intense major. I mean, this is not just, taking a couple of courses. It is an intense major. Any of the sciences are intense majors. They are designed to weed out the folks who are not able to, you know, follow the path of clinical science. So to have graduated from Towson University, which is one of the a, a really, really good program, a really great university to have graduated from that and to have gone the distance through a clinical science program and then make the decision that this is not what I want to do, requires a really deep sense of self and awareness. So I'd like to say from the very beginning, we'll open the, the conversation up to at what moment did you realize that this is not what you wanted to do? That's the first question. But then the second question is, what was your, what was the inner landscape? What was that inner conversation taking place in your mind between what you had done and committed to and spent money for? What your parents probably told you you should do versus what was your heart was saying? What was that inner conversation like?
Mariyah Thompson:
Yes. To answer the first question, um, I think it's, it's so important for me to provide as much detail of like a perspective as I can. So one of the things, like I said, I, I'm 25 years old and I'm in no rush. And I think, what was impacting me and my decisions greatly for a point of time was time itself, the pressure of society, the pressure from parents or maybe partners or to be this, to do this now, right? Why there's no need to rush. So what's beautiful is I love knowledge. I, knowledge truly is power. And I love education. I will continue to educate myself on many different things throughout my life. But for a very long period, yes, my focus was the body and exercise, science and physical therapy and chiropractic. And I decided, yes, maybe this is a passion, this is something that I love, but does it have to be exercised or practiced now?
Mariyah Thompson:
And I took away the focus on the now it's not that it doesn't still live in me, or it's not still something I study or keep up to date with, but I decided, Mariyah, we're not going to rush the progression of this right now, because you've spent four and a half years on this, well, actually more, I went to high school, um, at like a trade school and my major was sports medicine. So I have a, my background, I've been in this since I guess what, like 14, I guess when you start high school. Um, but I took away the emphasis on right now there are so many other aspects of Mariyah that I have to build off of. And it's not that I am moving fully away from that side of myself, but just for right now, just for right now.
Mariyah Thompson:
So focusing on my intuition on the now, I have never seek a psychologist or like therapy. Um, but I have spoken to myself and I've spoken to the son, and I've spoken to my grandmother, my ancestors, I've spoken to my own heart, and I decided to follow it, it alone. I took time to identify what was calling me, what I was having like, and great communication with. And that truly became like life itself. I was focusing on other people's lives, specifically I guess their physical health in those many aspects. But I wanted to dig into me and life. I love greenery, like science. It all ties together. I see so many different, um, like crossovers or so many different lessons to learn from life itself to then apply to our bodies and our routines and our ways of thinking.
Mariyah Thompson:
So I simply decided that I wanted to explore a whole entire different avenue of myself and taking that leap was very hard. Telling people who expected such and such of me at such and such time, it was absolutely hard, but the most rewarding decision I ever made. I would say if I had to put a time on it, and it's hard to, but if I had to put a time on it, um, I would say around the start of Covid. So my senior year at Towson was sadly, um, switched over to remote, um, classes very quickly in March of 2020. And I was forced to spend time not forced. I was pulled to wow this isn't so bad. I get to be on my laptop at the park at the same time.
Mariyah Thompson:
Right. I don't have to be in this box without any windows. I always felt in the academic setting, there isn't enough incorporation simply of nature. Like what we are a part of. And I learned very well in it. So surprisingly I excelled like through, um, the rest of my program that went great, graduated, but Covid really had me dig deeper into myself. I was removed from my friends. I unfortunately lost my great-grandmother in April of 2020. So from Covid, from Coronavirus, um, one month in. Right. It, I I didn't understand it. I sort of was a little frustrated with the medical field in a way.
Angel Shannon:
Right.
Mariyah Thompson:
So, a lot of digging into me started then. So I get what, maybe three years ago.
Angel Shannon:
You said a couple of things which, you know, and I, I'm going to, um, provide a little bit of context to tie into what Mariyah said is that we met at B Willow, which happens to be where she works and does amazing work. So I was there perusing through the plants, and I tend to be very sensitive to, uh, other people's energies and am very aware of when I am around someone who is doing what I call the work. And so, I listen very intently to the things that Mariyah says, because she is deliberate. You are deliberate with your word choices. You immediately said I was pulled. No, I began to think about, so you, you made that mindset shift that how can I see this as a blessing? How can I see the opportunity in this?
Angel Shannon:
Rather than see my life as being disrupted. Let me see how I can make this mental shift. And having made many mental shifts myself throughout different periods of my life, I know that the smallest shift can create the most fertile ground for growth and awareness and just building upon this tiny little kernel that is lying there. And when you said, I took away the emphasis on now, you know, we live in a society where, you know, behaviors, thoughts, ideas, things are very linear here in the western world in ways that they may not necessarily be in other parts of the world. I shared with you outside of our, you know, in other conversations we've had, I tend to be very drawn to Mayan wisdom, Mayan culture, and even traditional Chinese medicine where there's thought about circular, you know, seasons and things coming around full circle.
Angel Shannon:
And so here in the western world, we're very linear that if you do this now, then you should be doing something with it now, you know? Yes. Right. You've done this, now you've got this degree, so you should be using this now because what else would it be for? That's what you do. That's what you do. You know, and so it is a very liberating concept to think of knowledge gained as part of the cycle of our lives. It's an addition to your life who you are becoming. And I love that you mentioned this crossover, because folks who know me know that like my whole life revolves around like plants and growing things and whatnot. And there are huge metaphors to be gained from the botanical world sciences. Like you can write thousands of books on metaphors alone.
Angel Shannon:
What you're saying here is, this was not wasted time, this was not wasted money. This was not, oh my God. Here she goes. She didn't finish what she start. Here quotes for those who are going to say this on podcast, my fingers are in air quotes. Finish what she started, and then I think is the biggest hurdle for most of us to get over is that judgment on the outside about what we should be doing. And you know, that it should follow a linear half towards some predetermined outcome.
Mariyah Thompson:
Yes. I would definitely agree. And I have a very, uh, as you're explaining it I don't know that I it's ever been said that way, but that's exactly what it is. But it's a linear mindset rather than seeing life as, um, as cycles and seasons full of changes to adapt to. They're not bad things. Right. Sometimes when we see, uh, progress measured, especially when it's to be shared on social media or like loudly to the world in a way that people can easily understand, it is kind of like a line that they're showing and it's like, oh, your life's not like this. It's actually going to be this. Actually not that. And I, and I don't think I've ever been able to, uh, say the way I am saying today that it never made sense to me, and I couldn't understand why I, I didn't agree with that graphic.
Mariyah Thompson:
And it's because it's of how I see the world. And unfortunately Yes. in the western world, that is, I think people's perspective. So thank you for saying it that way. Wow. It's very true. Everything is in addition. Everything is an experience, whether it's good, bad in between, it is all a part of a greater purpose. And rather than allowing it to cripple you or make you give up, use it as a catalyst for change, as a catalyst to adjust, as an opportunity to see yourself in a way you haven't before. Which is scary. But you have to do the work. The joy is all in that.
Angel Shannon:
It's all in that. And when we were at B. Willow, you were sharing with me that your work there is in addition to, you know, the sales component and you know, folks like me who come in and may want to you know, ask about, you know, like for me, I wanted to start delving into building terrariums and things like this. But you mentioned a couple of other things, that there's an education component and that you work with, uh, business owners and, you know, there's corporate work that gets done. Tell me how you see, and I think I know the answer, but tell me how you see biophilic design, nature exposure, how that impacts, you know, what's the necessity of that now in people's day-to-day lives in the workplace, specifically for business owners and small business owners like myself who want to sort of incorporate that into their workspace and in their lives. Tell me a little bit about that. What's your belief and, and what calls you to that?
Mariyah Thompson:
I think one of the most undeniable emotions that most humans experience when they see greenery or, or leafs or anything that is growing that is life. Although I think when you walk into a green space, your mindset is sort of transformed. Some people have one singular office plant on their desk, and they go, it tells me to breathe every 30 minutes when I notice it. It's not talking to me. I talk to it, does it help to talk to your plants? But it changes my thing. It encourages me to look within and take a breath because they're simply living, they're adapting, they're growing, they're changing regardless of setting, whether that be the home, the office, the hotel, whatever the location may be, everyone. It gives a sense of home because it gives a sense of self because it is life itself.
Mariyah Thompson:
We are encouraged to see ourselves in relation with it. And I think especially yes. In these societies, yes, I work with like a lot of like larger companies, and it's like sometimes it really is just a simple necessary break in that like cycle or this like linear perspective of, and the cycle of productivity. Consistent, you know? It's important to check out and check in with yourself. I love that. I say that to myself often. I check out and check in. I sometimes sitting on my couch here alone will just stare at one leaf because I'm so grateful. It's like here, because it wasn't here two months ago. And in my head I sort of create a, that wasn't there two months ago. That is like how I view myself, right? When I look at myself in the mirror, I go, wow, you have a new Leap, Mariyah.
Mariyah Thompson:
You have new synapses going on in your brain that was not there two months ago. And growth is to be celebrated. And I think in the corporate world from business perspectives, it's all monetary. Right? And I think having plants in the space and simply one coworker saying, Hey, Timmy, did you see the new leaf on the, on the plant in the windowsill near the bathroom? Yeah, I did. That simple. I don't know. Sharing that celebration of life is something I really love being a part of and I am grateful we have clients from some doctor's offices to yes hotels, to, fleet car companies, to design studios and make all of the, all the spaces have different intentions, but the gratitude is always the same for me when I'm present. And it means the world, uh, walking into space isn't transforming them. Schools even, transforming them into both helical Paradises.
Angel Shannon:
Yes.
Mariyah Thompson:
One of my favorite things in this life. And I'm grateful to be able to share those like perspectives and encouraging people to dive into themselves through my work. I never knew this is where I would be.
Angel Shannon:
Yeah.
Mariyah Thompson:
I am so grateful to be here and the people that it's allowed me to meet. None of it is accidental. I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. And I am so grateful for B Willow because this was like a dream job to me. I never thought and it's going great. I'm consistently learning, because it's life. It's ever changing.
Angel Shannon:
Yes. Right.
Mariyah Thompson:
I am always learning and being able to relate those different things from like Yes. What I know about like biology and building onto that is really cool. And sharing that with the world and in Baltimore.
Angel Shannon:
Yes. And you said something, a number of things because I have about 1, 2, 3, 4 monsteras, and you meet with monsteras when they're getting their new leaf, and they're starting to uncurl and whatnot. And when they're new leaves, they're, they're a brighter shade of green then the dark leaves, and they haven't gotten their holes yet.
Angel Shannon:
When I see an unfolding leaf, I am like, oh my gosh. And I love that you, you tie this metaphor into this is something here today that was not there two months ago. Think of the person that you are now, that you were not two months ago. And I'm thinking about folks who, like, one of the things that comes up for me is folks who are learning meditation, right? In the beginning, it is so hard, you know, it is so hard to meditate, right? Because you're just like, okay, what do I do? What am I supposed to feel? Or people who may be trying to lose weight, you know? And it's like they're finally making it around the track, and we have this propensity towards beating ourselves up. But it's like, wait a minute, do you realize that two months ago you were nowhere near where you are now?
Angel Shannon:
You were not the person who could even put on your shoes and tie them up and be willing to because you were you know? And so the fact that you are now a person who gets up in the morning puts on their sneakers. I call 'em sneakers. Some people call 'em running shoes, put on your running shoes. Right. You are going to the track, and regardless of whether you made it all the way around or not, you are not the same person you were two months ago. The fact that you can sit on that cushion for one minute is a miracle, you know? And those metaphors come alive to me through the lessons, as you said, in the garden in plants.
Mariyah Thompson:
Yes.
Angel Shannon:
And growth is to be celebrated.
Mariyah Thompson:
Absolutely celebrated. That is something I find. So I know, you wanted me to express some of my, uh, like my practices. I even speak to you this morning. I often wake up to, of course, I have a lot of plants and the curtains, they're never closed. They're all actually just like all to the side, including in the bedroom. And so I wake up to the sun every day. I wake up to the birds, I sleep with my window open. And that alone, in that moment when I open my eyes, I am grateful to simply have the privilege to be awake. And I think not only awake as in awake from my sleep, but present. So one of the main things that I do simply in the morning is celebrating that I am present within myself, seeing little moments as opportunities.
Mariyah Thompson:
Yes. Simply putting on your shoes or trying it out. A new recipe for breakfast. Um, incorporating more, uh, berries when you, instead were using brown sugar. Yes. Incorporating little things. You have to look at yourself in the mirror and practice whether there's a mirror or not. Always being able to create one, having a mirror to see yourself in and celebrating those times all is to be celebrated. And I think saying it this way, I'm telling you, it's all making me realize how much of an emphasis my, my life I place on celebration. I sometimes will get balloons. My fiance, we love balloons, will get balloons, and we have a balloon pop.
Mariyah Thompson:
And they float around until they go away after two weeks. But it's to be celebrated, love for yourself is to be celebrated. The sun is to be celebrated. It's just all to be celebrated. So one of my main practices in my day-to-day life, something I really encourage people to do is have these little celebrations. Right. Have these little celebrations of growth. Not only every three hundred sixty four, sixty five days on your birthday, the day you were placed on this earth, but also just because you walked two miles instead of 0.5, because two months ago you weren't doing that. Now you are, everything is to be celebrated. And I encourage everyone around me to do that. It changes at all.
Angel Shannon:
And as you said, I'm wondering if you can go just a little bit deeper when you say a mirror for yourself, even when there is no mirror, what does that mean? What does that look like? How do you see yourself when there is no mirror? What is the mirror?
Mariyah Thompson:
So as I was saying before, like check out and check in. People, my friends may tease me, like I said, I was zone out. But what I'm really doing is I'm looking at myself the way that I was in this circumstance, or the way I responded to this, or what I felt when this person was around, or just being able to always check out and check in that mirror, is that I am checking in with myself. I often have a lot of mirrors around me, which is funny, but even in the spaces that they are not having the ability to dig in despite maybe that physical representation of eye contact with yourself. I think is when you really know that it's you. All of it is you. The power is you, everything you need. One of my favorite pieces of jewelry, it's always on my right wrist, right here. It says, all I need is within me. And it's true.
Angel Shannon:
Yes.
Mariyah Thompson:
So the mirror is me. It's me. So when I look out, it is reminding me to look in. Yes. Why did this person do, why did this frustrate me? Why this? Why does this happen? Nope. When we look out, we're actually, I want to look in. So all I need is within me. So creating that mirror, having that level of self-awareness, and just staying in touch with your, your center. I think a mirror can be anywhere. It's everywhere.
Angel Shannon:
It's everywhere.
Mariyah Thompson:
It's your life.
Angel Shannon:
You know, again, and those of you who are listening in, I know, just, I know you're, you're thinking what I'm thinking. Like, I can see why Angel asked Mariyah to be her very first podcast guest because I usually just do, you know, informational podcast, educational. But this is why I invited Mariyah to have this conversation in my living room of the Siva Institute because her wisdom runs so incredibly deep. It runs so incredibly deep. And what she's talking about is this self-awareness. Mariyah, what you're talking about is, is setting the space and the practice of continual self-awareness and gratitude and marrying those two practices together. Gratitude. I opened my eyes in the morning and the gift that it is just to be present, not running through my mind of all the things I need to do. Not going through my mind of everything someone said yesterday man, I need to respond to that email and all this, but just opening your eyes and beginning the gift of this day from a place of centered gratitude is life-shifting.
Angel Shannon:
It really truly is. I mean, it is life shifting and you don't need any money to do that. You don't need a special ear to do that. I mean, there are lots of products on the market to, you know, set up reminders and all of this. But I'll tell you, when you make this an internal practice when you make this an internal practice, it just literally becomes reflexive. It's like blinking and as you said, it's always about me. Not from a self-centered place, a narcissist place, but it's checking in with how did I respond to that? Why did I respond that way? What's being triggered inside of me? What's happening? Where do I need to go deeper? I'm curious about whether or not you have a journal practice.
Mariyah Thompson:
I absolutely do. I have been writing since I feel like I could. English was so, I love science. Yes. And I've always done well in that area, but English has always, ever since I was a little girl, if I was supposed to fill up a page, I'd build up three. And it's because whether I knew it or not in that time, I always knew how to talk to myself. And I was never ashamed to do so. I was never ashamed to overexpress and over-communication. I think often people, they think of journaling. You can encourage someone to journal and they'll say, what do you write about? What do you do? You write about your present self. You're checking in with yourself. There are so many fluctuations, so many people we encounter on a day-to-day, so many changes.
Mariyah Thompson:
And I find journaling as my escape, my another form of a mirror, another form of checking in with myself. And, so every day for three years, I journal and they didn't have to be prompted. Sometimes they were but often it was me answering own questions in my mind. Mariyah, this is what happened today. This is what you said to yourself in that moment. This is what you felt looking out and in looking out. But then back in, how could, how did you like truly feel? Yes. Where is this coming from? Where are there any blockages? What can we address here? Kind of always just being aware. I think journaling allows that physical practice. If you can't. I did not always wake up, and I was never, not always grateful for the sun or simply grateful for my, my heart and my breath.
Mariyah Thompson:
It started with the physical. So since I was a little girl I've just been writing, then later, was focused on poetry. I'm working on getting this up and back running, but I had a website called Sol Searching. So, s o l searching. So Soul in Spanish, son. Do you get what I'm saying? soul searching. And I would share all of my poetry there. That actually was a minor. I almost took up Towson instead of disability studies. So, journaling, my notebooks, and I, they're me. We're best friends. They go with me wherever I go, whether that's to work and I'm simply journaling for three minutes on my break. Or whether I'm very intentionally waking up to witness to sunrise and journaling on Federal Hill. It depends. Right. And understanding that it doesn't always have to be prompted, because once you get started, it's just about being present. That is enough. And just write, just talk, talk.
Angel Shannon:
Yes. I believe in journal practice with my whole heart, with my whole heart. I started out, you know, when I was a kid, we call them diaries. I had this little blue diary with a little padlock and key and I tell people all the time that journal practices for you, it's for you. This is not writing. Um, you know, the bestseller, if this is not writing cover story for the New York Times. This is for you. You get to decide if it's bullet journaling on your break, if it's, you know, the narrative entries, it's totally up to you. This is the place where you get to do you and be you. You can write as little or as much as you want. But I'll say that I feel like it is the fertilizer for one's life. Like it is truly the two, if you want to do that, growth, work.
Angel Shannon:
And nourish yourself in any meaningful way. I just can't think of any more potent place to do that than in the journal. I really don't. And if you feel brave enough to go back and read some of your entrance, coz a lot of people will say that, that, oh my gosh, I don't wanna go back and read. And I feel like if you can sort of conjure up a little bit of willingness to go back, it will become the celebration of all celebrations. Because as you said, you are not the same person that you were when you started that journal. Or even two days ago, two hours ago. Or, and I'm all about free stuff. Journals are free. You can go to the dollar store and get a notebook for a dollar, and then this is free stuff.
Mariyah Thompson:
It really is
Angel Shannon:
Good work for yourself.
Angel Shannon:
You know, and it applies to everything. I mean, even for my patients who are newly diagnosed with diabetes and they're just feeling so guilty or so overwhelmed and how did I get here? Yes, let's start a journal so that you can see yourself growing so that you can process and get past, I mean, we talk about horticulture and biophilic design. We have to trim away some of these dead leaves here, right? Sometimes we've got to repot this plant. Oh my God, I don't want to take it outta that pot. Please. We've got to cut away some of this stuff. Counter practice is our way of ruining some of this stuff that's really not helping this plant at all.
Mariyah Thompson:
Yes. And that is one of my favorite things to do is to reflect on my journaling. And, um, I wasn't always comfortable doing so. Yes. Recently, Saturday when I went to the park after I got off work, I found myself overwhelmed with tears reading the things that I've grown from, entries from 2018, a very different time in my life. 2021. Right. A week before I met my, my now fiancé, the things that I was speaking, the things I was hoping and praying for the blockages I felt. I look now and they're all built seeing journaling as fertilizer. It has blown my mind. I have a lot of metaphors. Analogies, but that one Wow. It truly is. Right. It's absolutely the fertilizer.
Angel Shannon:
Yeah.
Mariyah Thompson:
You have to look back. You have to look back to look forward.
Angel Shannon:
You have to.
Mariyah Thompson:
Amazing work. It's so good. It's amazing
Angel Shannon:
It's amazing Work. You know, we say, oh my gosh, I want to get my degree in this. Or I want to be memorized one day, or I want to, you know, whatever it is that we desire. They're seeds, they're spoken words that we put out into the ether, into the universe. We put it out there. And then what are we doing to nurture it? What are we doing to help it grow and manifest and blossom and bloom?
Mariyah Thompson:
And that's continuous practice.
Angel Shannon:
Yes. That's continuous practice. So, Mariyah, I want to end this part of the session on more contextual matters. And I want to offer our listeners just a quick break to come back and join us for the bonus episode in just a few minutes. Where I would love the opportunity for you to share your awakening story, the story that you shared with me, of your trip and then that sort of, that moment when the world of intuition opened up for you. Knowing that you were on the path. So folks, go ahead and get yourself, you know, put the, put the teapot on. Grab a refresher of your cup of tea. Mariyah and I got are going to come back for the bonus conversation of this episode of Healthy House calls with Angel, where we're gonna take a deeper dive into this concept of intuition as initiation.
Angel Shannon:
So come right back to us in just a few minutes. Thank you so much for tuning in.
Angel Shannon:
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Angel Shannon:
Thank you so much, Mariyah again for joining me in this episode of Healthy House Calls with Angel. As I promised to our listeners, we are back for just a little bit more conversation. We are gonna go in deep now to talk about intuition as initiation. You shared this story with me of your trip to a place that you and I both think as very special to Mexico and what was happening and what happened and what opened up in your life in that moment.
Mariyah Thompson:
Yes.
Angel Shannon:
So I'm gonna leave and make that, and I'm gonna set this stage for you to share your thoughts.
Mariyah Thompson:
Mexico holds a very special place in my heart. I've been there a total of three times. Once with friends, once with two of my closest friends. Um, the second time with my fiance and the third with my cousin. Um, during my second trip to Mexico, that was 2021. I had unfortunately just been given news that my grandmother, who Juanita Thompson is her name, a beautiful soul, a beautiful energy that impacted me in so many ways. And I had the privilege of being, very physically close with her my entire life, up until she went not earth side in July of 2021. Um, and right before that trip, uh, my father, he was very honest with me and told me that she likely would not make it through the weekend. I had a very challenging decision to make.
Mariyah Thompson:
And all I did was speak to her. She wasn't at the time, due to her health, speaking with everyone, with me being located in Maryland. There were times that my father would call me and say, Hey, I just need you to take a trip down here. I I just need you to come coz she's only talking to you. She was only talking to me, in some of those final days, and she told me, you have to go, don't hesitate. That is where you're supposed to be and I'm gonna be where I'm supposed to be as well. She was referring to Mexico. She was sick in New Jersey. She was telling me to go. I did not want to. But she said, I'm gonna be exactly where I'm supposed to be. And I was frustrated. I won't lie, you know, she's so beautiful. You become selfish almost, right? Nonetheless, I went. I Listened to her. I went, I was having fun for my friend's birthday. Um, my fiance and I were swimming and I was called by the wind, I swear, fell to simply look up.
Mariyah Thompson:
And she was right there and she was telling me that she was exactly where she was supposed to be. And without anyone giving me a phone call, without anyone confirming anything, I found myself becoming the water I was swimming in. I released so much in that moment and everything that she has instilled in me on this earth, through her words, through her, through her practices, through her actions. I swear I became it that day. In that very moment, in that corner of that pool in Mexico alone, everyone was looking at me so worried. Because I was zoned out. I was not there. I was with myself. I was with her. Um, I felt drawn to the waves. I don't know if I decided to walk to the beach alone for confirmation.
Mariyah Thompson:
I think that's what it was. I'm like, Ugh, I see you in the sky. I feel you in this water. I need non -hlorine water. I need to go touch the wave. And that was my answer and energy from that moment on, I have come to understand transcends through any and everything. You have to pay attention to it. You have to have those conversations. You have to be present. And that is the way that she lived her life was present. Oh my gosh. She followed her intuition over any and everything, including my grandfather sometimes. Oh, they're best of friends. but it was in that moment that I became everything she has taught me, it all made sense. Intuition was there my trusting of myself. And It wasn't confirmed until Monday evening. But I already knew the answer, knew. And my father found that very odd, but very beautiful. And he still, we still have that conversation, but it was that moment.
Angel Shannon:
And you know, foremost, Mariyah, thank you so much for sharing this because it is very tender when the a person that we love so deeply is not physically here for us to touch. But what I love about, when you and I had this conversation prior to this recording, you very much feel your grandmother's presence here. You very much see her here. You very much know that she is with you in all ways. And there is no sense of, I just didn't detect then, and I don't detect now that there's ever a sense of loss of her because there was so much conversation that you had even you shared with me that you had even had like recordings of your conversations today.
Mariyah Thompson:
I listened.
Angel Shannon:
Yeah. And you know, we have all these sort of snappy sayings. Follow your gut, trust your gut and whatnot. And it, and it all sounds good, but this is real stuff here about following intuition and the blood gates that open up when you really do choose yourself, when you, you trust that there is some guidance coming to you from a place of wisdom of Yes. Love of empathy, of kindness, of benevolence, you know, and not needing. This is something I admire so much in you, Mariyah, is that you are not looking for that outward validation. And you know, for folks who are listening, this is not like, you know, overnight kind of stuff. This is a lot of work that has to happen. And like, planting a little seed, it has to go through some dark earth, you know, to get over the other side to flower and bloom. So I'm not suggesting that this is just, you know, like, oh, she's just born this way or whatever. I mean, this is stuff that has been work over the years that you've shared with me. And I know from my own experience. But when you can get to a place where you really know that you are right where you're supposed to be.
Mariyah Thompson:
Yes.
Angel Shannon:
That everything is happening for your greater good in some way and that you are okay with not seeing how this is gonna unfold.
Mariyah Thompson:
And trusting yourself. Right. Trusting yourself in those moments. I had a friend say to me just last week, Mariyah, you live so fearlessly. No, I am not without fear. Yes. I am not without fear. Yes. Fear is present. I'm a human being. I do a lot of work. But I am a human being. We are all human beings. There is fear. There may be fear present, but it's deciding and trusting yourself that you're gonna, go, do, fulfill, whatever, where you are, where you are supposed to be because you trust yourself. Trusting yourself, trusting that inner voice, knowing how to hear it. Knowing where the different things that you can do to be present to be still . That that's how you know. Yeah. That's how you overcome the fear. The fear is present.
Angel Shannon:
Yes.
Mariyah Thompson:
I don't live fearlessly, but it does look that way. Yes.
Angel Shannon:
Yes. Credible.
Mariyah Thompson:
I'm persevering past it.
Angel Shannon:
I love that you make that distinction because again, we have all these snappy little sayings that look good on t-shirts and things like this. And let's make no mistake about it. We are human beings living very human experiences. And it is very important to know that, you know, even with all the work, with all the meditation, with all the self-care and all this kind of stuff, you are gonna wake up some days being absolutely terrified to move forward. But it's gaining the skills and the change to move forward in the face of fear. To befriend this fear to say, hi, fear. What are you here to tell me? Is there something you want me to know? Okay. I hear you talking. Let's just keep going forward into the day. And I love that you said about plants or plant friends that they're just here living, you know, they have no idea if there's gonna be a fire. They have no idea if there's gonna be a drought, whatever the case may be. They're just living their lives.
Mariyah Thompson:
Doing their things. They're trusting themselves and growing in the process
Angel Shannon:
And growing in the process. Yeah. And growing in the process. I'll share one quick story, which is that I had always wanted to learn how to swim and just had, you know, they had a part of me that just didn't have, the skills, I guess to know the rotary breathing and all that kind of stuff. Um, there was some fear of the water drowning, all that kind of stuff. But I got to a point in my life where I was like, enough is enough. I really do want to enjoy the fullness of this planet, knowing that the earth is 70. Is it 70% water somewhere is around 70.
Mariyah Thompson:
It's 75.
Angel Shannon:
Yes. 75% water. So I need to befriend the earth, you know, beyond just the, the, the soil. But, you know, learning to swim and whatnot. So I started taking these swimming lessons and learned how to swim and, and whatnot, in a pool. But I will say this, the first place that I felt joint to the water where I became the water, as you so beautifully, was in Mexico, in Tulum. And I let go of every single bit of, well, did I let go? Or did, I don't know what happened, but I know one thing.
Mariyah Thompson:
You allowed it to come with you. You put it in your backpack and you, and you jumped anyway.
Angel Shannon:
Yes. So to say that there's a special, my mother always says, you find your place in this world. You find your place in this world. You know, your place, your essence, your, the place that calls you alive. And I will always say that Mexico, in many different ways is that has been that place for me. I'm open to finding other places, But that Yucatan, uh, region really does, does feel very much like home for me in many ways, as does my environment with my plants and all too. So Mariyah, if you can share as we wind down, just maybe a few practices that you would suggest as it relates to those who want to live closer to the earth or awaken intuition. Um, maybe those who may be feeling in their lives. Like, you know, I'm sort of just living this should life, I'm just sort of like doing all the things that I've been told I should do. But I'm feeling a little uncomfortable. What practices would you recommend for really nurturing that, that feeling, um, falling forth, that intuition or guidance about the steps and folks, I wanna say this, regardless of age, regardless of what stage or age you are in your life, let's tune into that.
Mariyah Thompson:
I love how you're saying regardless of age, right? Seeing this as a continuous practice, a continuous process. I'm 25 today, but in 10 years time, by our time I'll be 35. Right. And life will continue on. But there are a few things that stay with me. Like we've mentioned, in depth journaling, absolutely simply celebrating the little moments. But one I feel the largest things that I've done to kind of realign. I often do this at least three days a week, three to four times a week. But truly is simply getting, um, a yoga mat, a blanket, anything. And going outside and simply spending time with the sun. Spending time with the light. It helps you understand that you are the light, you become it. What we view is nature. We are nature. We are one spend time in it.
Mariyah Thompson:
Whether it's one day, one season, uh, this spring you may find yourself spending 10 minutes coz you're not comfortable being by yourself outside. Oh no. Everyone's looking at me journal on this hill, everyone's, oh God, it's hot. Look at the bugs. Right? That 10 minutes in one year, that next spring, spring 2024 will look like you laying flat for three hours and practicing breath work. Right. So often I'm not always journaling at the park. Some days I don't feel like writing, you know, like, that's okay. Simply placing my hand over my heart, placing my hand on my, uh, my womb. I find a lot of power in breathing deep there. I encourage people to breathe deep in moments of frustration. They will come. Moments of sadness, moments of confusion, breathing deep. You may not always be able to put your hand on your chest in your, in your stomach or lay flat, but you can close your eyes.
Mariyah Thompson:
And you can listen to the wind. Right. Its wind traveling through this system, which is beautifully crafted. Of course. I admire it so much beautifully crafted. There's so much power in that alone. You don't have to spend hundreds, on books. Uh, reading is very valuable. Yes. But just knowing that everything that you need is already there. Hmm. Simply stepping outside. Simply stepping inside right with yourself. Um, that starting there, everything else flows from there. You find your passions right? You find the things that calm you down, uh, that make you comfortable. Whether that's picking up colored pencils or practicing a yoga blow. Um, you'll find all the little other forms of meditation and, digging deep. I feel like once you simply start paying attention, paying attention to your breath and that wind, that that, that simple process, that is the first thing that we're, we're born with, right. That I think a lot of people don't, uh, resort to or, or cough or help enough, right? just being able to one moment. One moment, and just breathing. Right. If you're in public or telling your brain one moment, stop. Yes.I definitely encourage that. Everything else comes from there. The breath powers it all.
Angel Shannon:
Yes. Everything that inner wisdom. And I love what you said. Everything that I need is already within me. You know, it's already, it's that first thing. It's the life giving key as we call it, in traditional Chinese medicine, whatever you wanna call it. I know one thing. It is all ready there and everything flows from there. So there are million courses that can help you write out goals. And there are lots of books you can read. I will tell you wherever you go, there you are. And there your breath is too, right in your center space. And as you said, it is wonderfully crafted. If you want to get a, a little book on anatomy and sort of look at this whole system, it really is beautiful.
Mariyah Thompson:
And that's one of the many, one of the many processes, but it's it's one of the first.
Angel Shannon:
Yeah. Because it really does soothe the mind. Calm down, that overactive nervous system, that reactive space, it will silence those inner, those saboteurs, the inner critic, the doubter, the fearful mind, all of that kind of stuff. So I 100% agree it is good medicine. Really good medicine. And just being out in the sun as your symbol is powerful.
Mariyah Thompson:
It charges you up. Your battery.
Angel Shannon:
Yes.
Mariyah Thompson:
That we already, or may not already be aware of.
Angel Shannon:
Exactly. Mariyah, I will say this, your family, your friends, and this wonderful fiance that you have, are blessed. They are blessed people to have you as their friend, as they are as his fiance, as daughter, sister, and cousin. They are blessed. And I too am very blessed to have met you. I mean that with my whole heart. I am really looking forward to growing with you, um, physically, mentally, you know, to doing work. Those who have the gift of you being their co-worker at Bee Willow for being an employee at Bee Willow. They are so, so fortunate. Thank you for the work that you are doing here in Baltimore. You are gonna do amazing things in this world. You really, truly are. And I, I'm just so, so grateful to watch you blossom and bloom in this world. I really, truly am. It is a gift. Thank
Mariyah Thompson:
Thank you for being a part of my fertilizer, my microbes community.
Angel Shannon:
Yes.
Mariyah Thompson:
I'm so grateful that we have intersected, but I don't believe that this is the first time our spirits have. I'm so grateful.
Angel Shannon:
You're very welcome. Those of you who happen to be in Maryland, treat yourself, treat yourself to a field trip day to B. Willow in Baltimore. You will not regret it. It is one of the most beautiful spaces of healing and, and horticulture that you will find. I truly believe that. and stay tuned coz Mariyah and I are gonna talk about some ways in which to integrate more teachings on how to live healthier and happier with house plants, um, at Siva Health and the Siva Institute. So stay tuned for that. Mariyah, once again, thank you so very much for joining me today on this podcast. Be well, and be good to yourself. And I know you will never, ever be afraid to be amazing.
Mariyah Thompson:
I'll never, ever hesitate. You're very right. You're very right. Thank you so much.
Angel Shannon:
Wow. Wow. That was an interview of all interviews. I am so deeply grateful for Mariyah Thompson joining Healthy House calls with Angel. I am so deeply grateful and honored, honored by her inspiration, her motivation, her honoring her own intuition. I am so deeply honored to have had you, Mariyah, as a guest on Healthy House Calls with Angel. And doesn't that interview just leave you feeling so inspired? Doesn't it make you feel motivated to start living from your own heart space to start designing a different rhythm for your life? Doesn't it? Doesn't it just make you feel so warm inside? I know it does for me. Every time I talk with Mariyah, every time I re-listen to this interview, as I've prepared to get it ready for the producers and my audio specialists to get it ready for production, I just get this warm feeling all over again.
Angel Shannon:
And I truly believe that every interaction, every encounter with another beautiful spirit on this planet is such a gift. And speaking of designing a new rhythm to your life, I have a special announcement to offer to you. I have
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Again, travel on over to the website. I'm not gonna say another word about it. I want you to see for yourself what's in store for you and what is possible for you at the Design The Life You Deserve Retreat taking place September 19th through the 24th. It is a five-day journey to renew, refresh, and reinvent your life. Check it out at angelvshannon.com. Click on retreat and you'll get to read all about it. Do hurry. Check this out. This is a small, intimate retreat. It is intentionally a small and intimate gathering of professional women who are ready to really renew, refresh, and reinvent their lives. We've already taken registrations. Those over-water bungalows that you're gonna see on the website have already, you know, we've got several registrants ready for those bungalows. They go fast. They go very fast. So check it out, angelvshannon.com/retreat - it is a five-day journey to renew, refresh, and reinvent your life. If you've got questions about the retreat, use the link at the bottom of the page and send me a message. Send me a note. Tell me, Hey, listen, Angel, I am interested in this retreat. I am inspired, I am motivated, I am ready to start living from my heart space, but I've got a question I wanna ask. Send me a message. I will happily get on a call with you happily set up a Zoom with you, and happily discuss whatever your question may be so that you can decide whether this is the year that you start designing the life that you deserve. Whether this is the year that you start feeling more inspired, more connected to your heart, feeling connected to your own inner guide, inner wisdom, inner sage, as we call it, whether this is the year that you renew, refresh, and reinvent your life.
Angel Shannon:
If you've got questions about that, use the link at the bottom of the page. Go ahead and send me a message. I'll be happy to clarify for you. I hope you've enjoyed this episode. I hope it leaves you feeling inspired and motivated to start living longer and living better. I hope it has been helpful for you. As I say at the end of every episode, be well, be good to yourself, and never ever be afraid to be amazing. Take good care. Bye-bye.
Angel Shannon:
Thank you for tuning in to Healthy House Calls with Angel. I hope today's episode leads you feeling inspired, motivated, and empowered to live your best life by applying the practical tools of holistic lifestyle medicine to eat, sleep, move, and live better. Please don't forget to subscribe wherever you receive this podcast. Check-in for show notes and share this podcast with friends. If you'd like even more tips in your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter, Healthy House Calls With Angel . Until next time be well and be good to yourself and never, ever, ever be afraid to be amazing.