Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marshn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Marshn, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I’ve experienced resilience in my life as an energy that can be embodied and a path to walk down through turbulent times, led by gratitude. Many aspects of my life have involved different lessons in suffering. Just the same, many aspects of my life have involved different lessons in beauty and unity. I’ve often been referred to as a romantic and these terms, ‘resilient’, ‘romantic’ and ‘grateful’ could likely be used interchangeably. Resilience is not something I’ve always felt in the present moment. I’ve fallen down many metaphorical wells that I struggled to believe I’d make it out of. But therein lies the key to overcoming and sustaining. Belief. I’ve had a strong propensity for belief since I was a child. Forever pondering the mysteries of life and what else could be ‘out there’.. In the darkest depths of my experiences, when it was hard to even see myself, the only way I’ve known to cope was to imagine what sort of beauty and love might still be out there just waiting to be discovered. Possibly even looking for me. I would start by accounting for every lovely sensation, comfort, and encouragement I’ve already experienced and can vividly recall. Sometimes I write them out, sometimes I close my eyes and re-imagine them. This is my evidence that there are experiences out there worth living for, seeking out, and working towards. Once I’ve done this I can prioritize making more time and space for them in my life. Eventually creativity takes over and I begin to start sensing potentials again, signs of life and development can be seen in everyone and everything like moss on rocks. For me, knowing that there is eternal beauty in the culmination of all and having daily practices to tap into that knowing have cultivated long-term resilience in my life. As well as embracing excitement over anxiety when exploring the unknown. Often the most rare and ethereal gems are found from within “the murks of the sultry abyss”.
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?
Hello readers! Thank you for taking the time to tune into my funky little frequency. I am a multi-disciplined creator with over 20 years experience currently specializing in bold, otherworldly, mixed medium paintings, drawings and mural work under the name Miss Marshn. My creative style is a blend of everything I admire and that inspires me while drawing structure and style from my roots in graffiti and tattooing. I took on the name Marshn 2 years ago to begin to heal and celebrate the fractured parts of my being I felt I’d lost touch with. My hope is that my story and the more playful manner in which I often choose to express it resonate with anyone that’s experienced dis-ease from alienation in their own life. You are not alone and you are still whole even when you feel broken. The journey of re-embodying your full authentic self is thrilling, expanding, and fulfilling. I hope to inspire introspection, nostalgia, curiosity and exploration through my work and collaborate with other creatives to bridge gaps between culture and communities. Bringing a sense of unity to the greater collective through the celebration of diversity and being multi-faceted. And speaking of nostalgia, if you’d like to experience my work in person I will be part of the group show Nostalgia celebrating art of the “Cool S” at &Gallery in Tucson, AZ opening November 9th. All other upcoming events and updates will be shared on my instagram as well as my website!
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?
This is a fantastic and very thought provoking question. The first quality I can speak to is passion. Or desire. However you choose to look at or label it. Whatever it is that burns in your heart or mind willing you to get up and start making decisions. Identify and become familiar with those. This is what I’ve found drives the greater pursuit and gives you fire. So then you have to learn how to channel that fire and give it direction. This is where the skillsets of dedication come in. The self discipline/mastery necessary to bring these passions and desires into physical reality. That can look like turning dreams into goals and determining what you’ll need to learn and adapt to along the way. Setting the intention to remain committed to your passions even when the road may twist, turn and disappear completely. And for this, the greatest piece of knowledge we can obtain is the belief that our unique journeys are all inherently necessary. This inspires resilience against all odds and the ability to co-exist amongst diversity.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I don’t read books all that often, however the book that’s resonated the most time and time again so far has been The Tao of Wu by RZA. From an early age I remember being drawn to ‘kung fu movies’ because the characters seemed almost super human with their abilities and wisdom and through continuing to listen to Wu-Tang in my adult years I discovered the Shaw Brother’s movies. Namely ‘The 36th Chamber of Shaolin’. RZA’s references to acquiring self mastery through unlikely sources and practices like San Te and being inspired to then create and bring the 36th chamber and practices of the Shaolin monks to the people, like the message of Wu-Tang gave me a greater vision for what I could accomplish with my passions. And the type of people I might be able to accomplish them with. An all encompassing view on life through stories that are at times equally entertaining, relatable and devastating. With brilliant mantra like quotes sprinkled in between. I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite nuggets/quotes from the book:
“Forces in the world will tell you you’re a victim—of your family, your race, your past, your history. Don’t believe them. They don’t know you. Look inside and find your true self. It’s there. Give it a name.”
“Confusion is a gift from God. Those times when you feel most desperate for a solution, sit. Wait. The information will become clear. The confusion is there to guide you. Seek detachment and become the producer of your life.”
“If you live through defeat, you’re not defeated. If you are beaten but acquire wisdom, you have won. Lose yourself to improve yourself. Only when we shed all self-definition do we find who we really are.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://missmarshn.weebly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missmarshn/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissMarshn
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
