Meet Mahogany M

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mahogany M. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mahogany below.

Mahogany , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I have found my purpose by spending time with self, getting to know self, having hard conversations with self, taking care of self, and truly embracing all that I am. I am constantly finding my purpose because I am always getting to know myself. I just turned 30 over the summer, and it’s been an ABUNDANT and incredible summer-one that is a real and raw reflection of my purpose. To create safe spaces that center Sisterhood, Joy, and Care, to frolic, to indulge, to travel, to build community-to have beautiful and abundant experiences. This summer has been a testament of all of the “No’s” that I have received, difficult decisions that I have had to make, times of isolation, uncertainty, and fear. This deep sense of purpose is the reward of fearlessness.
In college I created my own major, I started off studying Education-then I saw the limitations within the education systems, I switched to English, but failed my first British Literature exam because I didn’t care about ‘Ode to a Grecian Urn.’ I literally said aloud, after flunking the test, “I want to create my own major,” and I did. When I created my own major, ‘Teaching Women of the African Diaspora,’ I was often asked, “what will you do with that?”

I’m doing just that. I’ve done just that. Fast forward to the year after I graduated, I attempted graduate school to study Pan African Studies because all of my mentors were dope Academics. I learned early on, that was not my lane. At that time I was deep in community, I had co-created a middle school age girls program around the Celebration, Liberation, and Motivation of Black Girls. I didn’t care to theorize about problematize, I wanted to create spaces that felt good, that inspired others and allowed me to be inspired. I left graduate school.

Since then, this pattern of choosing alignment and purpose has lead to more complex choices and unique blessings.

That has gotten me where I am. Having the courage, sense of self, and honestly the confidence to leave situations and spaces that do not truly serve me. I’ve had to face the shame and embrace the hustle and self work to get me exactly where I am destined to be.

This summer, I hosted a women’s retreat around Sisterhood, Joy, and Care. Over 50 folks attended a day of sound baths, yoga, yummy eats, intentional workshops, and abundant goodie bags with intentional care items. I originally wanted an intimate group, around 20 folks. But I received an overwhelming amount of interest forms., I knew I had to be brave and expand. 60 folks registered, then I had to say-okay no more! 🙂 This successful retreat is a reflection of years of hard and intentional work. I has successfully curated spaces for other institutions, this time it was time to do it for me and my community. It was time to truly center MY purpose. And I did. It felt so good.

It’s been hard! But it has been so rewarding, amazing, and powerful. I feel excited about my future, because I know it’s going to be so good and special, simply because it’s rooted in my unique and special purpose.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a journal designer, I also journal in real life. I create journals around Black Womanhood, community, and things I find cute. My journals are designed to be a safe and warm space to get to know self through reflecting, releasing, affirming, and manifesting all that’s yours! I want others to have a relationship with self, which is a journey that journaling has led me through. My brand, The Sis That Journals, celebrates authenticity and deep care, abundance, and feeling good. I feel that in this intense world, living authentically is the most radical thing that we can do.
Living authentically has made me feel so proud of where I have gotten. Because when I receive or experience a cool opportunity, I have received it because it was uniquely mine, there are no hidden terms or conditions.

Through The Sis That Journals, I’ve been able to partner with some incredible community folks, expand my reach with my journals-having my products at local bookstores, plant shops, museums, online shops, and the Muhammad Ali Center.
I host workshops around the relationship between Journaling + Self. I curate retreats and workshops around Sisterhood, and safe spaces for youth that center creativity and community building.
When I am not hosting events or working on new journal designs, I am at home listening to a good playlist, drinking coffee and having a little treat, oh and journaling. 😉

My journals are available on Amazon under The Sis That Journals, so folks can get started on their self-journey one journal page at a time. I’m also available for virtual coffee and community building: mahogany@thesisthatjournals.com

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Strong sense of identity
2. Build community
3. Understand and embrace that you are deserving of goodness
I’d tell folks to get to know self, don’t be afraid to be alone, follow your unique path and interests, and embrace your unique quirks and gifts. I believe we all need one another! I’d encourage folks to find their tribe-and the tribe may vary and shift, but at least try to find your people. Find folks that support, encourage and motivate you, and that you can reciprocate that care.
Most importantly, I think we all should know and live in the fact, that life can and should be good! That is not being ignorant that life is complex, but embracing all of it. And still choosing moments of pleasure, joy, and mundane magic. To me that looks like traveling and enjoying all of the delicious eats and vibrancy, or when I’m not able to travel, simply making home feel good. I like to light a candle and have some coffee in my favorite mug, little things that make me feel good.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I love a juicy and intentional collab! I am always looking to work with like-minded folks that center wellness, community, collective care, journaling, womanhood, travel, and creating events that are accessible, and fabulous! 😉
I have hopes of expanding my retreat experiences. If folks have wellness practices, retreat spaces, and resources to support that work, please reach out.

I also love plants and good food, so anyone that has recipes, plant tips, or cafes I need to try-you reach out too!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: TheSisThatJournals

Image Credits

Destinee Germany, Terrance F. Humphrey, Zakia Holland