Story & Lesson Highlights with Stephanie Gunther of Brooklyn

We recently had the chance to connect with Stephanie Gunther and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
On days I’m not taking aura photos, I’m either working in a fine art studio for a sculptor here in Brooklyn or touring and writing with my band, Desert Sharks. I have so much gratitude for where I’m at in this stage of my life with most of my time being devoted towards creativity, That being said, the only way I can pile this much on my plate and not completely burn out is through daily disciplines that include some flexibility to them. My senior cat, Willow, is great at keeping my sleep schedule in line with her preferred breakfast time. I’m not a coffee drinker but I am a morning green health drink devotee, and I swear that focusing on supporting my immunity in that way has helped me in every single area of my life. I’ve also tried to incorporate some type of movement or mobility into my daily practices. During the Covid-19 lockdown, I turned to yoga videos on YouTube which helped my mental health immensely. Ever since, I’ve been making the effort to put at least 5 minutes a day towards stretching and moving my body. I also need to highlight that rest is a major necessity. With everything that’s been going on in the world, in my personal life and collectively, it’s become so apparent how important it is to listen to and tend to our bodies. If I’m exhausted, I rest. I will skip a day of certain disciplines and try not to beat myself up over it. At the end of the day, I’m usually either watching tv and lounging with Willow, journaling, or reading in bed. I have a daily gratitude practice where I text a friend and tell her all the things I’m grateful for from that day and she responds with the same from her day. We met in a class and became accountability buddies almost 7 years ago and have been texting ever since. It’s such a special way to end the day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Stephanie – a musician, writer, and aura photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. I travel around the East Coast taking aura photographs with my business, Twelve Month Aura and tour the world with my band, Desert Sharks.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
It’s interesting, when I look back at my childhood I see that I was 100% myself at such a young age. I wrote songs, was obsessed with animals, created art, got lost in my imagination – all things I still do and cherish. My mom often says I was determined, independent, and stubborn from the start. Of course, exposure to societal norms and my Catholic upbringing created some programming that I’ve been working to undo, but I think that journey has honed my self-awareness and shaped who I am today. I’m grateful for my experiences as they’ve taught me to stay open, ask questions, and embrace all parts of myself.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
As much as we may try to avoid it, our lives will include suffering. The death of loved ones, relationships ending, job loss, and upheavals are universal to the human experience. During the Covid-19 lockdown, I faced one of my darkest times in relation to my mental health. I’ve always had anxiety issues, but I was experiencing seemingly unending daily panic attacks for over 2 weeks straight. I could barely eat or sleep. Something had to change. I left my job of 8 years that had all the things society said I needed to be secure like a 401k, health insurance, job stability, etc. A few months later, my 9 year romantic relationship ended and over the next 6 months each of my 3 senior cats passed away. I was heartbroken and absolutely floating with no idea of how I was going to pay my bills or survive. I listened to a couple podcasts that really changed my perspective. I decided to approach each day from a place of gratitude instead of fear and only focus on what would make me happy in that moment. Little things like choosing to play music while I cooked or keep my hands busy with crafting helped me to relax and surrender. I told myself to trust that whatever was on the other side of the suffering would be worth going through it. That was such a potent lesson, because on the other side of that pain was the life I’m living now. I love the work I’m doing, I love the music I’m creating, I have a new senior kitty named Willow, and am in one of the healthiest relationships I’ve ever had. I know that there will be more hard times in the future, but I’ve also learned that we don’t evolve without friction. Sadness and pain are unavoidable, but they also hold the potential for great change, wisdom, and growth.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think my closest friends would agree that what matters most to me is compassion, playfulness, and honesty. I’m not a surface level person. When I connect with you, I want to go deep (shoutout to my Scorpio moon). I’m also a pretty silly person in general. Laughter is the common thread that connects all of my relationships. There’s something so beautiful and vulnerable about letting your guard down and really letting yourself laugh so hard you could cry. I’m a very compassionate person, and I highly value that in others. Whether it’s with animals, community care, interpersonal relationships, or broader causes, I tend to let my heart lead the way. Communication and honesty are also the backbone of connection in my opinion. I want to be honest about where I’m at with the people I love and offer them the safety of showing up just as they are in return. Also, I have to give a nod to creativity in all forms. It’s what fuels me and brings me so much joy.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
As I move into my 5th year as an aura photographer, the continuous awe and excitement it brings me shows me that I’m on the right path. If you’ve ever taken a photo with me, you’ve seen firsthand how I geek out and get so excited to talk about your aura. Each photograph is so unique and I absolutely love seeing how readings validate the energy people are experiencing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.twelvemonthaura.com
• Instagram: @twelvemonthaura