We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alexandria Sciarappa. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alexandria below.
Alexandria, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
One of the many beautiful gifts given to me by my Mom is my Optimism. She has taught me and more than anything modeled for me that there is always something to be Grateful for and that there is always something to Appreciate. And I find it really is true; What We Appreciate ~ Appreciates.
I am definitely known for my ability to find the Silver lining or what I like to call the “Rainbow Lining” of a situation. After a storm I always look for the rainbow. The awe and miracle of it. For me when I find the Beauty, when I dare to see the miracle, when I see the transformation of a situation I am connected back to Spirit ~ back to my Higher Self.
So it is in my nature to always “Dare to Believe” ~ dare to believe Beauty is unfolding even when it seems like it cannot be seen at the moment. And for all of this I am incredibly thankful to my Mom who has always dared me to believe in myself, my gifts, and all that I am ~ just as I am. It is my wish that I continue this beautiful legacy of Optimism and pass this on to my own Children.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I feel so blessed to get to do what I do and the path I am walking. I am a Flower Essence Practitioner, Plant Spirit Ceremonialist in Training and Homeschooling Mama. My business is called My Grandmother’s Flowers as a nod and prayer to the lineage and legacy that has brought me to this Path of Beauty.
Essentially I am a weaver with the Flower Spirits and Spirit Realms and inspire people to step into the Beauty of their Hearts so that they can then radiate ~ Their Beauty ~ Their Heart ~ Their Vision. One of the main ways I do this is with Flower Essences. Flower essences are vibrational remedies that you take under your tongue throughout the day. What’s so beautiful about them is since they do not hold any physical matter of the plant and only the energetic properties they are really accessible to anyone from children to elderly and even animals. They work on an energetic level and can be extremely potent and powerful. Flowers innately hold the codes of Beauty. They are their own beautiful meditation unto themselves ~ and they attune us to the Beauty of our Heart.
Everyday my Heart is so full and I am so grateful that I get to introduce and bring Flower Essences into people’s lives.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Discipline ~ I know this word can sometimes activate people especially people who may be more wild and free. And believe me I am a wild and free type. However, I have found that when I lean into more discipline into my day to day I actually find more Freedom. To me discipline is this form of dedication, determination and devotion all in one in practice. Choosing to show up and to give a rhythm to what you are wanting to call into your life. Discipline allows for there to be a container and a focus of something and because of that the results Bloom.
Optimism ~ This is a beautiful gift I inherited from my Mother. Optimism is essential in my life. It’s also innate for me and a big part of who I am. To me Optimism is choosing to have Faith in Life ~ to have Faith in Myself. It’s Daring to Believe. Daring to Dream. It brings you into your imagination of what ~ could ~ be. Of what beautiful things ~ could ~ bloom. And where our attention goes energy really does flow.
Heart ~ More than anything I always try to act from my Heart. I lead a Heart~full life. Which means tuning into my Heart and hearing and seeing what she has to say. She has never let me down and always leads me to a place of more Beauty. I also find that leading with my Heart takes a lot of courage. So yes Courage of the Heart.
Advice I have for people early in their journey is to really develop your own discernment ~ your own gut read ~ your own intuition. Get clear on who you are. Get to know yourself more deeply. What are your core values, what are your gifts, what lights you up, what activates you and why, what are your default patterns, what are your dreams and wishes. Find a skilled practitioner and read books about this to help you. The more you know who you are the more clear the path is because you know where you stand ~ this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easier it can just mean there is more clarity. This alignment can lead to more flow. It also weaves more clarity on who you might want to study with in choosing a teacher or a certain area of focus. Getting to know yourself is not complicated although some people may make it out to be. I love this summed up quote by Einstein: “Make things as simple as possible, but not simpler.” And of course one of my favorite ways to get to know myself and to continue to peel back all the layers is with Flower Essences.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
As a homeschooling mom that also runs my own business I feel I am very familiar with the waters of overwhelm. Truthfully I try to prevent overwhelm by knowing and understanding my own energy patterns/signatures and having a rhythm that works for me and my family.
What does that mean?
Well for me in my current season of life I have learned it is vital I have these 5 components everyday. For most of you this may appear basic, but for you mothers out there you might agree that getting to just one of these everyday is a huge celebration and accomplishment.
1. Rest ~ Get enough sleep ~ I function best when I’m in bed by 9:30 pm/10:00 pm
2. Water ~ Drink enough Beautiful water everyday
3. Movement ~ Whether this is a family dance party for 15 mins or a walk through the neighborhood or working out. Moving the energy in my body is vital.
4. Greens ~ Making sure I am eating enough greens everyday. I function so much better when I am intaking a huge green smoothie; my body feels revitalized.
5. Sunshine ~ Getting outside and getting some sun or being in the green spectrum of nature.
In addition to the above vital points for me I have a daily, monthly and seasonal rhythm I weave for me and my family that I have been developing over the past decade. This allows space for me to be fully in my muse form, other times to be more household “productive”, and other times to be resting. These rhythms are also something I am always weaving and reweaving because of our interests and how the seasons of life change. I am now at a point when I leave the house I don’t have to pack snacks with me or have changes of clothes for my littles. Which allows for more freedom and impacts our rhythm.
However, overwhelm can appear because life is unpredictable. And if you’re a mom you know this well from those rare days where everything seems to be going well and you have checked all your boxes and you’re feeling so great about life. Then it happens out of nowhere ~ the dreaded kid tantrum. Instantly you are thrown front and center with more lovely lessons of patience, self control and artfully managing your blood pressure at will. It’s then very easy for the rest of the day to be a wash to recover from said tantrum. And the cloud of overwhelm moves in and wants to rain on the party of moving through the day with ease. So here are the things that help me the most when I am overwhelmed:
1. Slow Down ~ stop ~ pause ~ breathe (I know it sounds corny and can be hard to do, but when I do this it does work)
2. I do one of the following or combination of the following to help me slow down with intention: work with flower essences, have tea time in the garden over a fairytale with my kids (stories are soothing balm for the heart of all ages), take a salt bath with flowers, sit in my garden preferably in the sun, start weeding my garden, dance and listen to music that helps me move my energy, talk with a trusted friend that knows how to hold space, listen to an inspiring podcast, pick up an inspiring book, take time for myself to journal what is coming up for me, ask for help from my family, book a session with a trusted practitioner.
3. Then I love to write up a things to do list and just brain dump everything and circle one thing I can get done that day that will help me feel less overwhelmed. And I tell myself it’s ok to do just this one thing and not anything else.
Everyone is different and everyone’s energy system looks different so it’s finding what works for you and what allows for that recalibration. Some people loathe things to do lists and it overwhelms them more, but for me it anchors and grounds me so all the things are not swirling in my head. For me when things seem overwhelming even though it can seem counterintuitive it really is an opportunity for me to slow down and get quiet somehow. And for me connecting to Nature is one of the most accessible ways to do this and one of the reasons I love working with the Flower Spirit Realms so much. Overwhelm really is an invitation to get to know yourself on a deeper level and spend time with yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mygrandmothersflowers.com
- Other: Vimeo: vimeo.com/mygrandmothersflowers
Image Credits
Ryan Miller Alexandria Sciarappa
