Step #1: Ask yourself who you were before the world told you who you should be.

Who are you when you have no responsibilities to anything or anyone? Who were you as a child? What lit you up? What lights you up now if you didn’t have to explain your worthiness to anyone?

“What did you do as a child that made the hours pass like minutes?” – Carl Jung,

What do people tell you that you are good at with no prompting from you? What do people ask you for help within their own lives…?

If you don’t answer these deeply important questions for yourself, don’t worry the world will answer them for you…

(just kidding, you should definitely worry about the world answering your life’s questions for you!)

Step #2: Forgive yourself.

The Earth isn’t an easy place to exist my friend. If you feel as though you have been living off track and are realizing in some ways that you have been looking for the answers outside yourself you are so not alone. I believe all of us will experience this in some way over and over again on this journey called life. This discord though becomes clear when you are not happy. Your emotions are the key to knowing when you aren’t listening to that deeper voice inside yourself. Listen to your inner conscious, form a trusting relationship with it. Emotions are here to help you, so stop running from them. Running from your feelings will cause you more discord down the line trust me. Stop and take a moment and forgive yourself though, we have all been there and life flows in a spiral, not a straight line. Life will continue to place the same lessons in each of our paths until life teaches us what we need to know. Take a deep breath, you are safe and you are a supremely powerful force, an integral part of the universe.

Step #3: Start wondering why you want what you want, or are doing what you are doing.

I’ve come to this realization. The only people I personally enjoy being around are people that are deeply curious about their deeper selves.

Really. What is motivating you?… Is it money, prestige, status, love, power? Is it anything that you think you NEED in order to be happy? Or is it that little negative voice inside you, or a big negative voice of someone or something outside you looming in your life? Because if any of this rings true you are on the wrong path, guaranteed. 

Are you looking to survive or are you going to school or taking that job that doesn’t feel quite right to fit in with expectations others have of you. Are you having another kid because that’s what you think you are supposed to do? Please don’t. We need people who are going to start taking radical responsibility for their actions and lives, people that do the best they can with what they have in alignment with who they are… not what the world falsely expects of them. These expectations aren’t real, and no one is grading the test you keep taking.

If questioning your own motivations triggers you, it’s a sure sign that you are probably out of alignment with yourself.

But if you want a path or a new environment that supports the person you truly are and want to become from the deeper desires within yourself keep going, you got this, and we need you.

Step #4: Look at the situations and people that elicit a strong emotional response within yourself and ask yourself why this is.

Do you have certain friends, coworkers, or family members that really get your goat? Do you question why the same situations keep occurring and wonder what did I do to deserve this? This is a strong key to realizing that you may be projecting your own insecurities onto these people that just really bug you sometimes. Hey no judgment though, I do this all of the time! Try and look at the situation from a birds-eye view. What is it about these people’s actions or personalities that throw you off? Why is that? Is it because something inside you wishes that you were more like that, or that things that seem to come easily to them don’t for you? Or is it because that thing they do that annoys you is something that you judge yourself for subconsciously? Remember…no one can make you a victim, the universe wants you to take a look at something in your own shadow from these interactions! Be honest with yourself.

Step #5: Listen to your inner knowing.

As a sensitive human myself I’ve learned how important it is for me to get some space, even if it’s just some mental space. Honestly, it is this need to listen to my own intuition that attracted me to this career in the first place. I knew I needed a safe environment to listen to my inner voice so I wanted to show the rest of the world how to create that for themselves.

*Read my article on empath environments here if this is interesting to you!

It’s this inner voice that should be the only authority in your life too. Often all of the messages from society, your family, and what your peers are doing get precedence over your soul’s voice. Make it a point to reconnect with who you really are deep down.

If you are looking for some fun ways to engage with your own subconscious check these out!:

-Create a Vision Board

-Write out your perfect day

Step #6: Remember the times that you didn’t listen to your inner knowing, what was driving you?…

Question that motivation intensely.

Do you remember a stark “wake-up call” in your life? Can you remember why you felt so out of control then? Try and look back and identify what was driving you. Often I’ve found for me in these situations, it was other people’s expectations of me or that I was trying to follow a paved path to things like “success” and “security” at the expense of who I really was as a person.

Maybe living through what’s going on right now in the world (my admiration goes out to you my friend) you may be waking up to some realities in your own life. Many people are re-evaluating their values now. Please ask yourself what still works for YOU, what doesn’t… and what never did. It’s your responsibility to understand your values and make your own decisions about your life consciously.

*Now I’m not talking about decisions that you have to make to survive. Trust me I know what that is like to feel pushed up against a wall. It’s more like when you make a decision like, to stay in a job that is terrible for your mental health for example, that you are aware of WHY you are doing it. It’s this exact awareness that creates the tiny bit of mental space that is necessary for you to shift that energy when the time is right and be aware of new opportunities that can eventually help you out of that tight spot.

If this sounds like you right now I see you. I believe in you and you are doing amazing trust me.

I’m talking about the decisions that we all keep making about our lives on autopilot without the light of our awareness. if you aren’t driving the ship who is?

Step #7. Get quiet.

Sometimes when I say “connect with your inner knowing” that can sound a little bit overwhelming especially when you are already feeling disconnected! I totally understand and this is not a time to add more judgments to yourself (see step #2). Be gentle with yourself. Maybe instead you could find a little space to either be alone or just be quiet for a little while or go on a walk by yourself. I’ve found that just this simple space often gives you more grace than you were expecting before you started out. You deserve some peace. There is A LOT going on around us that isn’t ours to take on all of the time.

Step #8: Go into nature

Our world is so disconnected from itself sometimes. But that isn’t the true reality… If you are feeling disconnected yourself try to find anywhere that you can connect back to nature. Do this as much as possible. Witnessing the majesty of the earth does something to your connection to your true self. It shows you that you are a part of the whole picture here, you are not a separate entity alone in the world. We are earth and earth is us.

Step #9:. Expose yourself to new ways of being

Often when we are operating under conditioned responses it can feel as though we are just running a program of our own lives.(hello Matrix…), Repeating the same phrases to ourselves (and others…), waking up at the same time every day, taking the same route to the same job. It can start to feel like perhaps we aren’t even alive in the truest sense of what aliveness even means at all.

Try in some small ways to break up your patterns. If you are introverted and spend a lot of time inside your home and inside your own head, try and reach out to friends and get together in a group.

If you are extroverted and used to distracting yourself with plan after plan, set some time aside to just be with yourself and your inner voice. 

If you are interested in personality tests check this out.

These are all a great way to challenge your own patterns, or at least get some awareness around how you are showing up in the world!

Another amazing concept for dealing with your own de-conditioning is Human Design. Human Design and de-conditioning go hand in hand!

If you are interested in learning more about Human Design or your Human Design Chart check out the article here.

Step #10: Ask for help.

It’s also helpful to have an open dialogue with either one or a few people who know you well and that you trust.

I know for me there are triggered responses around boundaries. It’s really helpful for me at the moment to explain how I’m feeling to someone else not directly involved in the situation. Because I feel as though these moments come up a lot in my life, knowing that someone else knows my situation helps me to start to become more aware right when these things happen, instead of just reacting with upset emotions over and over again and feeling like I’m never getting anywhere!

Seeking professional guidance can also be invaluable. Having a neutral party to either bounce ideas off of or reframe tense situations for you is so healing to your psyche. This guided self-awareness can teach you so much more about yourself quicker than it can take just with self-exploration. Human mirrors can serve wonders!

I know the past year + have been really challenging, especially mentally and emotionally, for the entire globe. We all find ourselves acting out of fear and conditioned responses nowadays. I know for me as terrifying and destabilizing as it all is, I can be grateful at least for the space that the pandemic forced on me. I was personally able to disconnect from the paved patterns of my life and start thinking critically about how I actually want to live. I changed my mind on topics like, marriage, children, and work/life balance and these are hard-earned lessons that I will take with me through the rest of my life.

The forced meditation and exposure to real trauma and chaos in the world around me afforded me the realization (that my soul always knew), that each of us as sovereign beings that deserve to create a life that we love, no matter what… because life is way too short for anything else.

Think about your own life. Are you truly happy? What are the obstacles in the way between you and your dream life? Really ask yourself if any of these obstacles are either beliefs that no longer serve you or conditions that either society or any other “authority” expects of you… If so it’s time to look at these for what they are… deeply false ideas that do not serve your best interest as a creative being. Time to live your life from who you are. 

Let me know if you guys found this info on de-conditioning helpful. I would also love to hear how you think that this concept affects your own life or any lessons that you have learned in your journey so far!

Thank you so much for reading!

It is the design of an environment done completely online. It’s a less expensive way to have professional help in creating your space. Basically it revolves around simplicity in regards to upfront design fees and shorter turnaround times for you, the client. It is a real collaboration between a client and designer. Most of the work will still sit with the designer, however when design is done virtually the client does have a hand in the upfront setup of the process. All of the design communication is remotely done by phone, email or video calls which allows for maximum convenience and flexibility for the client. The client also has control over when and what they purchase for their space.

How does this process work…

Every designer is different! However my specific design process and services are outlined in my Welcome Packet that you receive upfront when working with me. Below I have outlined some specifics to give you an idea of what you can expect to find!

-After a client reaches out to me I will set up a “date” call with them. This is extremely important to me as both my client and I need to be a good energetic match for each other! I ask pretty in-depth questions of my clients and this is a great indication to see if we both are excited to work with one another.

-If my client decides to move forward with their design package I send out my “Welcome Packet” which outlines the following:

1. Basic timeline for a typical project: When clients can expect their deliverables and what I expect from them.

2. Their “Design Study”: In my case this includes gathering information from my client with questions and projects such as asking “What design styles/trends do you love/hate?” and asking my client to build me Pinterest board of their ideal vibe.

3. Then my favorite part of the whole process! My “insight” questions: This is where I like to dive as deep as I can into who my client is. This insight section includes questions such as, “what is your favorite quote?” and “what is your biggest dream in life?” Design for me is about deep feeling and connecting my client to the creativity within them. The insight section helps me with that.

4. My measuring guide: This is one of those points that a local interior designer would take care of on their own. But if tape measures don’t scare you, awesome, I make this process easy for you!

5. Design Deliverables: In my case you will receive a vibe board, final design board, floor plan (which acts as your installation template), shopping list (with links) and installation instructions for one flat fee!

6. Installation: Unlike local design, you can purchase items off of your curated list at your own pace! Just use the floor plan layout for your new environment I design for you! All of my clients are welcome to call or email at any time with installation questions!

7. Contract: I ask my clients to read, sign and send back our agreement before work commences. That way everyone involved is on the same page.

• You can measure and photograph your space yourself

• You can connect with the person you are working with! Just like local design, don’t just hire someone because they are a professional, shop around!

  Stalk their portfolio. This should be a fun experience.

• You know how to say what you like and don’t like about a space

• You would like to have a plan quickly within a few weeks to a month

• You can order products on your own and handle any returns/exchanges

• You are willing to hire tradesmen like carpenters and painters on your own

• You understand that different retailers and sources have varying lead times

• You understand that the world is changing and just like cancelling commuting where possible we can make our lives easier!

  You should go with a Local Designer if:

• you want them to take pictures and detailed measurements

• you would like to look through sample books (fabric, wallpaper etc.)

• you want someone to draw up construction documents of your space

• you want someone to project manage the construction work in your space

• you want someone to hold your hand throughout the process

• you want someone to have in person meetings in showrooms, at your home etc.

• you don’t mind waiting 8 – 10 weeks typically for custom upholstery and other goods
   

Common myths about online designers:

• They aren’t educated- I have a BFA in Interior Design as well as 10+ years of experience with traditional and online design, so not true. However I personally don’t think you should focus on someone’s background. There are great online interior designers and traditional designers out there who are not formally educated, some who are extremely famous and talented. So again. Date your designer.

• They are magic– Unfortunately furniture still costs money . I know it sucks, I personally also hate it (although I respect the artisans and artists that create for us!) . But I, just like a local designer, still need a realistic budget to complete the project. Feel free to ask me what typical things like a sofa may cost you. I will keep it real with you and never push the limits on this.

• We have sat in and touched every piece we have pulled for you- Unfortunately I only have one butt. I pull furniture from vendors that I trust but the final verdict lies with my client. I cannot guarantee color texture or quality of any product. For larger purchases like sofas I often direct my client to local vendors so they can feel the pieces themselves!

• Good design is easy- Just like my advice to only do this work with someone you like, feel free to try your hand at designing your room on your own! A typical one room project for me takes about 12-15 + hours of work consisting of synthesizing your needs and desires, drawing plans, space planning, sourcing, and creating deliverables to communicate your new space. If this sounds like you don’t have time for this and would rather have someone you trust do this for you, I’m your girl!

In addition to my traditional interior design experience I have worked for a few of the biggest names in the online design marketplace for the past two years before starting out on my own. Through this experience I came right back to my roots, and have always known that the one on one connection and understanding of my clients is what produces the best results for them. I am so excited to have my own creative space in order to build up that trust and have the time and resources to make these interactions worthwhile for my clients.

Let’s be clear, I love the hands on approach to projects like picking out wallpaper and fabric samples and measuring and checking on a contractor’s progress. However I do think online design is breaking down boundaries both for the design industry and most importantly for our clients. I want to live in a world where design is accessible for anyone looking to put time and effort into their environment. Not be trapped behind a paywall of exorbitant fees and massive projects.

However…

Here is the most important point of all of this and something not every interior designer will tell you. The most important thing in hiring a designer to me is not are you online only, or are you local, are you a part of a huge corporation or a tiny studio or a one man band…

It is whether or not we are a good match for one another.

You should stalk your designer’s pinterest, facebook, Instagram, tumblr etc. and see if you resonate with what they love and work on. Reach out to them to just talk and see if you guys connect. I’m here trying to demystify the myth that Interior Designers are the end all. You should pick someone to work with that you actually like as a human being. Your home should reflect who you are, not the best version of your designer’s next Instagram post. Remember your designer should be working hard to realize your aesthetic, not their own.

I know that my process is intense and may scare off some potential clients and I am more than ok with that. People who choose to deep dive with me and discover what really lights them up, and focus on how they want their environment to feel are the people that I would like to work with and my clients feel the same way about me.

In that frame of reference my best advice to anyone seeking any design work is to date your designer. This can be an incredibly intimate experience and everyone deserves a designer that they truly connect with, so that in the end they will love their new environment!

Thank you so much for reading!

Love,

Catherine

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Interior Design can often be an overwhelming concept, and interior design mistakes are common. Especially when you are facing a brand new environment it can be hard to know where to begin! I want to empower you to create the environment of your dreams by illustrating some common interior design mistakes so that you can avoid them from the start!

When looking at creating a new space from scratch you may want someone to walk you through the process. If you are thinking about hiring a designer you should check out these posts too!

Whether you are starting over in a new space or something feels off in your current environment little tweaks and some foresight help to put you on the right path.

It is so easy to follow some of the main design “rules” without understanding the nuance of what makes a room up. It’s most often these little interior mistakes that can get past most people.
You deserve an environment that functions and supports you.

These home mistake “fix it” tips don’t take much effort from you, but they do make a huge difference in how you interact with your environment!

If you decide to keep making these design mistakes you can risk spending a lot of time and money in creating a room with things you love, but ruining the vibe with these mis-steps. Wondering why your space doesn’t completely work for you and I want to help you avoid that!

Design Mistake #1: Having one bulb to light your whole space

It’s really easy, especially if you have a space that is well lit during the day with natural light to neglect the lighting needs in your space! Make sure that even if you are lucky enough to have existing overhead lighting that you layer in different levels of light. A great way to succeed at this is to create different micro-environments in your room, and light them according to the tasks that you engage in. One hanging overhead pendant with one bulb is never enough. For example, you may have a sofa on one side of the room with end tables and lamps on a dimmer for evening drinks with friends, while also having a floor lamp by your favorite reading chair for your late night reads by the window. Having light sources closer to where you utilize it creates a more cozy environment and also is a lot more flattering for the complexion too! Putting everything on a dimmer is also a great way to introduce function into your lighting scheme, allowing you to change the mood as you wish!

Design Mistake #2: Too small of a rug

I call this poster stamp syndrome. As a designer this one mistake kills me the most, and in my opinion is the top interior design mistake! I cannot tell you how many times I’ve walked into a client’s home to witness this. Nothing will cheapen the look of a beautiful room more than a mis-sized rug. If you learn one design rule from this post make it this one! Rugs are very important, when you think about it other than the walls and the flooring, they take up the greatest amount of square footage in your space. This mean that they really set the tone for what you are trying to accomplish in the space, and need to be taken seriously!

Some easy rules to follow, plus an infographic below!

• Rugs should be as large as possible (leaving about 12” at least of space to the walls)

• The rug should be big enough so that all for your seating furniture front legs rest on the rug at least, even better if the furniture sits completely on the rug!

• The rug must be longer on one side than the largest piece of furniture touching it, which means:

-10’ sofa: 9×12’, 10×14’ and up

-9’ sofa: 8×10’, 9×12’, 10×14’ and up

-8’ sofa: 6×9’, 8×10’, 9×12’, 10×14’ and up

-7’ sofa: 5×8’, 6×9’, 8×10’, 9×12’, 10×14’ and up

-6’ sofa: 5×8’, 6×9’, 8×10’, 9×12’, 10×14’ and up

• It’s better to buy an inexpensive rug in the right size than an expensive tiny rug

• If you have a too small rug that you want to use layer it on top of a neutral rug of the correct size.

• Don’t put a rug on top of wall to wall carpeting!

Sharing musings and holistic design ideas, created by me, inspired by your inner intentions.

“Your vision will only become clear when you look inside your heart. Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside awakens”

— Carl Jung How to choose wood (or wood looking) flooring for your environment, worry-free. The real reasons why your friend’s home looks better than yours… How to intentionally decorate your shelves (with items that hold meaning for you) How to Uncover your Deeper Symbols How to choose art for your environment Inner De-conditioning Affects Interior Design How to layout your living room Are you, energetically, a Yin or a Yang?

…So the perfectionism aesthetic, isn’t a real aesthetic.

I know that the design world can be a scary and very elitist place, unfortunately. All of the images out there seem “perfect” and as though they were created by people who know much more than you do. Everyone living in their shiny perfect lives (these shiny happy people! -REM) with the most beautiful amount of natural light and no evidence of a children’s toy, a single dog hair, or any real sign of life in sight! Just like all of social media and lack industries have bred us all to believe that we need things in order to be better people… They scream “HEY! Your home doesn’t look like these images!!!  (…that we had a professional stylist in as well as a photo production team in to shoot for this magazine,) so that must mean that you are not talented or special or smart enough to have a hand in creating your own space, pay us to tell you what is right!”

Pff Oh please! It’s all smoke and mirrors folks. Don’t be bamboozled. I’m telling you this because I do this for a living! The design industry exists to validate itself. Just like the Wizard.

Understand that the only true and deep design inspiration lies within the conscious depth and bravery of real people, not designers seeking repeated validation of their own egos.

All of the stores and social media continues showing you the “perfect chair” The “perfect design style” for the year that you are living in. All these things constantly moving away from each other in a flash flood of ideas and images.

This constant rat race of design elements reminds me of a quote from a client a famous designer once shared with her audience. The client told this designer before her project, “Make sure when designing my house that you are showing me the next best thing!” As if the designer could read the mind of the zeitgeist of the design world, as well as tell the future… of a subjective practice…WTF.

This statement hit me right in the gut and made me so sad for this client, seeking outside themselves for validation that they may spend a lifetime chasing and never find. Also the irony of these words! Her statement also meaning she wants the thing UNDERNEATH the best thing, which is exactly what you will receive with this sad yearning to be accepted in the design world (or the world at large).

This client sold her soul to this designer expecting her to carry her into the promised land of “THE PERFECT SPACE”. Poor thing.

The market exists so that you feel as though you aren’t good enough, but that is a blatant and bold faced lie!

Don’t put the world before your inner knowing.

We must start to treat design as an expression of ourselves, which is what it truly is, instead of allowing the system to tell us what is right, it’s completely backwards!

If you continue to try and chase an ideal of perfection, and the right and most beautiful type of design, according to other people, you will never be happy with your space.

When you learn how to trust yourself in all things you become the creator. You no longer put your happiness outside yourself.

…But if you follow your perfectionism and get sucked into the absolute black hole that are trends and trying to keep up with the folly of the design world (which again, is subjective by the way). You will constantly be chasing your tail!

When you decide that the locus of the universe’s perspective starts within you, trust what you love, and choose to express this inner knowing in your space you will always create a deeply beautiful space perfect for you and surprise inspiring to the world…

Overcoming perfectionism in all things will bring you great peace within yourself. Here are some things to think about below in regards to design (and perfectionism in general)!

How to Combat Perfectionism in Interior Design:

1. Realize that the only point of design is being creative, and the only new perspective can be brought forth through you, not by copying something that someone created again and again (often for themselves not even their client anyways).

2. Don’t feel as though you need to follow the crowd. Thats’s completely lame and you know it inside! The lemmings are all jumping off the cliff anyways. Don’t do it.

3. Question WHY you want the validation you think you will receive from the outside world when you design the “perfect” room.

   Let’s take a field trip!

   Take a look at any Vogue home video here on Vogue Living, don’t you feel like all these beautiful famous people looking for validation too, from YOU the viewer?

   You feel like this, because they are…

   They are saying, “LOVE ME LOVE ME”, another song reference…

   No one can give you the validation you are looking for, besides your inner self.

4. Really people. Take a deep look at the designers and stylist professionals when they create videos on instagram or YouTube. Can you get quiet within yourself and feel their desire for validation of “correctness” they seek from YOU the viewer? If YES shouldn’t this mean that these people may not know everything, maybe you can know something too?

5. Why do you want to be like everyone else? Really, why? Reflect on what makes you amazing, bring THIS into your environment.

6. Can you recognize that design styles or trends only start from people truly expressing themselves, and the constant repetition of these styles end up becoming sad and lifeless, until finally someone bravely creates something new from within themselves again. Within their own life, personality and experiences that are unique to them, expressed through them into their environment. And…… then we go around the merry-go-round again endlessly cloning this person’s taste! Blah so boringggg.

   Don’t you want to be a part of this true creative process and not the endless circle jerk?

7. Have you realized that people are so wrapped up in the drama of their own lives that they don’t have the time or the care to judge your design taste? There aren’t any design police, no one is questioning your design choices…

   This is your environment for God’s sake, no one else has to live here, who cares!

   Create for yourself!

8. Do you know that creating the “perfect” room will not bring you happiness within yourself?

   Only your alignment with your inner desires will bring you happiness no matter what you are looking for!

*Be sure to carry these anti-perfectionism affirmations with you into any new design project!*

Continue to follow your heart so that you do NOT fall into the ego trap below!

When you choose a designer only based on their own aesthetic, you are signing up to be a part of a trend in time. You inherently believe that someone outside of yourself can create a space that’s better for you just because you like the way it looks. Understand that you are not reacting to that person’s outward style, made up of all of the physical things that make up their designs, in reality you are reacting to the bravery that that person originally put forth by creating from within themselves. 

Beware of the designer that creates a space for you without knowing or caring who you are and what you want. They are using your home to bolster their own ego and search of their own misguided perfection and validation, and if you choose a designer based on their aesthetic only, this is what you are signing up for, since you too are using their taste for validation in the outside world through your space. 

The perfect mutually parasitic relationship. EW.

Do NOT give your power away!

Question your own intentions with design, and question the intentions of your designer. Your mutual goal should always be to bring your unique perspective into the light through the design of your environment,

not to sell you on perpetuating a particular aesthetic or the complete BS idea of perfection!

Let me know if you guys found any of these tips helpful for slaying your inner design critic.

I would also love to hear how you all view the design world if you are up for sharing!

However, with many of my clients, it either seems as though art is an after-thought, or we are caught pigeonholing their favorite piece into the wrong space!

Even if you don’t consider yourself an “artsy” person anyone can learn how to choose meaningful pieces for their own space, in alignment with their own innate aesthetic! Art is extremely personal like your taste in music or clothes and it really should never be outsourced to anyone else!

I want you to choose the pieces of art that you live with intentionally so that their magic can influence you in your home or another environment.

I know the art world can be scary and overwhelming, not to mention the prices of originals!

(*Completely worth it but for regular folks, I understand the fear level! More on how to navigate this later!)

I am someone who goes to museums for fun and deeply enjoyed my childhood art classes… but I do understand when most of my clients tell me “eh I’ll skip on that piece of art for now…”

But more often than not art is the most important piece in a room that ties it all together!

I’m here to show you that you have all the tools you need to choose the perfect art for yourself.

Thinking that you can ignore arts impact or “just pick something” for your environment is sadly mistaken and will have major effects on how your space feels.

By understanding yourself and what you are naturally drawn to you can intentionally find pieces that are perfect for you and reflect the ideals you wish to live with.

Discovering that the art world is here to inspire you even if you didn’t even engage with it before is so fun.

If you ignore this process and continue to pick things just based on their size or color instead of how they make you feel then you are really missing out!

When you look towards your own attraction or repulsion towards different pieces of art you begin to realize that you can do this, and even more important than that that you need to be the one to do this for your environment!

Ok now here’s how we find art inspiration… and then how we find art you like using your rules!

1. Here’s some of the best secret sauce… There’s a lot of deeper information held within what people take photos of. Think of your photo roll as the first gate of your taste. Look through all of them and see if you can start seeing any patterns…

   • Are there a ton of photos of your loved ones (maybe portraits are your vibe)

   • Are there photos of the places you love (maybe versions of your favorite landscapes are more your thing)

   • Are there photos of decor vignettes in your home (maybe still lifes are up to your alley)

   • Are there photos of nature and flowers (maybe something evoking nature is your thing)

   • Maybe one of these photos you took yourself deserves a special place in your home as it is!?

   • What colors keep showing up again and again

   • Can you start to feel the overall vibe of your camera roll as a whole… What are these feelings?

   Etc! – I recommend you start writing some of these details down for yourself as the guiding lines for this art journey.

   There are patterns in everything that you do, looking through your camera lens is a window into what you are attracted to. And what you are attracted to should be featured as the art you bring into your home!

2. 1. Do you have a Pinterest you save images to?

   2. Instagram?

   3. Reddit?

      Etc.

      Treat these image stacks (that you personally curated remember) just like your camera roll your job is to find the patterns.

      Focus on…

      • colors

      • themes

      • environments

      • subjects

      • symbols

      • any art you like in photos of other environments…

      Again, write these down. You are creating your OWN rulebook to the artwork that will be aligned to who you are on a deeper level!

3. Check out some local:

   • Art Faires

   • Art Shows

   • College Art Expositions

   • Museums!

     If you are not someone that already enjoys going to museums or events like these I implore you to try each at least once! If you are willing to expose yourself to new things you will find some things you really love trust me.

     I believe the more different art that you expose yourself to the easier it becomes to feel out what pieces are for you!

     When you are out in the world exploring all the creativity…

     Remember your personal patterns list

   • Are there any strong reactions you have to certain pieces?

   • If you Love something take down the name of the artist to research their portfolio later, or (IF PERMITTED) take a photo to start your own inspired collection

   • If you dislike something ask yourself WHY your dislikes are just as important as what you love since they show you the edges of your art taste.

   Doing this work trains your mind to start looking for what you love in new art allowing you to choose the perfect pieces to become effortless over time!

   Ok, now we know what we love…

   Time to start picking some art out!

1. This is (for normal human beings) probably the most important factor. Think about what you are willing to spend for a piece in your space before starting because we all have budget needs that should be heeded!

2. This is so important if you don’t know the correct scale for art PLEASE ask someone who does! Nothing ruins a space quicker than badly scaled art in an environment! I made this little guide here to get you started,

I want you to feel empowered to make better choices for your environment and show you a whole new world of choice for you within the vintage aesthetic!

I know that thinking about second hand and vintage pieces may freak people out. Asking themselves questions like, is it clean, how do I know if its in style or “cool”, how can I figure out if something is good enough quality?

The world of second hand objects and vintage pieces is a big one. It can seem intense if you are new to it. However, if you follow your gut you can make beautiful choices for you and your home. Remember that the best “designer” is your inner voice! Try and get quiet and just think about what you like, your heart knows what it wants.

I’m here with my special brand of design to share with you that you have the power within yourself. There are no rules. The entire design industry has made it their actual job to take away your power. Who knows what is best for their own environment but you?

Seriously… no one.

That is why I love thrift stores and second hand consignment shops! These are places, like an old book store that is divorced from the “rules” forced on you by design society and fake material goals. If you can be brave and actually trust yourself, second hand thrift stores are such great places for self discovery and deep engagement with a supportive environment for yourself!

(ps: so are used book stores…)

Although engaging with second hand furniture seems daunting, but trust me the plus sides are immense and you have the ability to do this even if you are new to this world!

By thinking outside of the box, you can create a space that brings you joy and healing, by using eco-conscious choices, without sacrificing style, you can actual create outside of the fake design box that gets jammed down our throats!

One of the best parts of this process is that you also don’t have to sacrifice your values for style.

If you ignore this world, and are too afraid to make your own design choices you are truly going to miss out. Vintage and second hand pieces have more soul and are better for your own alignment and the environment too.

If you stay stuck in the ever changing, anxiety inducing, interior design land of made up “correctness” instead of trusting yourself and allowing you to utilize new ways of looking at things, you risk not aligning your true self to your environment!

Get out there! Follow your heart! Explore, you can do this I believe in you!

I want to go over some of the amazing benefits of looking outside of the big box stores and closing the fast manufacturing loop in our overly materialistic society.

1.Eco-friendly living:

One of the most obvious benefits is that buying vintage and second-hand is the positive environmental impact of not buying new. You can save resources from manufacturing itself, as well as saving pieces from the inevitable fate of the landfill. Think about creating a more aligned eco-home. By continuing the life of any object you can feel good about doing your part to help the earth that we are all an intrinsic part of!

2. Often better quality/ at lower prices:

Surprise! Often older pieces are built with better making practices.The world has sped up to such a degree that we are all expecting instantaneous production. Guess what most often suffers with this expectation here… quality. If you are willing to put some actual effort into figuring out what you like, and look for it out in the world, you will be exposed to so many more things that exist outside the mass production cycle! Because second hand isn’t concerned with things like marketing data and narrative pushing, that money gets passed on to you. When you choose older objects as a liberated individual, you will save money.

3. Step out of mass produced rat race:

Along the same lines, the design industry is built to feed you a sense of lack. Constantly pushing the narrative that there are people and things that know better and are better than you. It’s a crock of BS. Liberate yourself from this viscous advertisement cycle and step into the second-hand world. These pre-loved pieces have an actual story to tell you. No one is going to judge you for thinking intelligently about your environment. I actually would argue that you will impress people more with your space if you step outside of the replicated cookie cutter design styles of the moment! (although pleaseee don’t re-design your space to impress others, in fact…don’t do ANYTHING to impress others). Embrace the “cast offs”, allow yourself to connect with your inner voice, and allow yourself to widen your perspective and feel the attraction, and follow that.

4. Get aligned with your actual style easier, because there are more varying pieces:

Another great side effect of vintage furniture shopping is there is a wider variety of things for you to look at! This is the perfect environment for you to discover what your own personal design aesthetic is! If you are new to the design universe check out my post on what a design aesthetic is here! Because vintage and second hand shops aren’t tied to the specific styles of right now and show you objects from all of the past time frames, you all of a sudden have access to a much wider range of objects in one space. Quiet the voice of “I’m overwhelmed now, there’s too much,”, I get this, but all you have to do is tap into what you are consciously attracted to, start there. Keep doing this, over and over. Before you know it you have stumbled upon your own aesthetic, with instructions direct from your soul.

Similarly to #4, because there is such a variety of pieces available in one space to you, you can figure out what you like at a faster rate! Compared to the internet, or shopping in individual big box stores, it is hard to separate out the things that you don’t like. This is because everything is new and expertly presented to hook you into a purchase… These are the spaces that get confusing for new design experiencers, and people unfortunately often don’t realize this on their own. But when you are in a second-hand shop it becomes a lot clearer what objects you love and what objects don’t belong in your aesthetic! Start here and you can carry what you learned about yourself into the more curated spaces, so you can continue to make decisions that are in alignment for your aesthetic. And not just sold to you as the “correct” or “only” style with loud ads and flashing lights.

Just like #5 because second hand and vintage spaces aren’t trying to sell you something specific, you don’t have to fight against what is being sold to you. You can focus on your inner voice because there is no competing agenda!

Relax and open your perception!

When you slow down and think about making conscious choices from a more aligned space inside you you cannot make a mistake!

I personally have always loved second hand and vintage shopping. The excitement of actually having variety across time and quality was always exciting to me. It creates a space of real agency, and you can make purchases in alignment with some of your higher values as well. Win/ Win!

Let me know if you guys found any of these tips helpful. I would also love to hear how you shop for vintage and second hand pieces if you are up for sharing!

Thank you so much for reading!

BEFORE. Found on the corner of the street in LA

AFTER. With a little imagination and elbow grease!

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”

— Nelson Mandela

• If you would like to read some of my own random journal entries go to •Musings•

• If you are interested in more Interior design, deeper self, wellness, or psychology posts…

• If you are looking to see more post like these in general you should join the community by signing up below!

I would love to connect with you deeper!

Love,

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March 5, 2021 Catherine Rose

*Disclaimer I am not a human design “professional”, but I am a Human Design (and esoteric subject) enthusiast! I love systems like this and I try to understand everything on a deeper level.

I think everyone is searching for the answers. I love personality exploration and depth psychology and I’ve found this system that really resonated with me on a deep level. Human Design for me is a new perspective on some of the other personality systems like Myers Briggs or the Enneagram. I think all of these systems hold much wisdom and I recommend everyone look into each and see which resonates with them. Actually, go and find me some new ones and tell me where to find information about them!

Human design is a bit like your horoscope because it uses your birth date time and location to assess your energetic map or circuitry.

The human design system shows you what your energetic DNA is… It is just another gateway to understanding yourself on a deeper level. But I know firsthand that the chart can be difficult to understand at first glance so I wanted to go over the basics when you are just starting out! I’m going to break down each of the sections of a chart and how you can further explore your own!

As a 4/6 Projector, I’m easily obsessed with systems like this. Within the first couple of hours of finding Human Design I deep dove into my own chart and really unlocked some subconscious patterns within the first couple of days for myself!

I think everything can be used as a tool for your individual growth. Less because a particular system or teacher or therapist has all of the answers… and more because all of the answers are always already within you. 

Your ability to use thought forms as a jumping-off point to assessing more internal knowledge about yourself can radically change how you operate in your life and give you the insight and tools to improve your life and the life of those that you intimately interact with as well. Your openness to learning and holding space for new ideas is the foundation for expansion and evolution. We never stop learning and should always be seeking to deeper understand ourselves and the world around us. 

If you look into Human Design and it doesn’t resonate with you, totally fine (great actually because you know yourself) But I would tell you that there are many other systems out there that you may like to take a look at instead (especially if you are planning on making a big life change or starting a design project!)

Here’s my article on personality and Interior Design, if you are interested in other systems!

If you are interested in uncovering your inner creativity through exploring your inner depths (through subjects like this), you should check this out!

Your Human Design Chart Breakdown…

*disclaimer I am not a Human Design professional, these are personal insights from my own exploration. I am open to correction if I’m off base on anything.

feel free to correct me or just strike up a conversation with me! I love discussing these concepts!

So first step. We need your chart! I used this website here.

You type in your info, specifically your birthplace, date, and time. (similar to a birth chart in astrology)

And your results will be a chart that looks something like this:

Now I get where people go what the heck is this, what’s going on?!

This is the spot where people often say cool but I can’t read this thing so I’m going to move on…

Here’s where I would like to help you out!

I’m first going to go over the separate parts of the chart, and then how they work, then how I started looking into the specific meanings in my own chart:

If you used the website listed here

…you will see a section to the left that says Chart Properties

The Chart Properties are as follows:

1. Type:

• Generator- (70% of the population)(open and enveloping aura have a defined sacral center)

• Manifestor (or a Manifestor Generator)- (9% of the population)(closed and repelling aura with defined throat)

• Projector- (20% of the population)(focused and absorbing aura with an un-defined sacral center)

• Reflector- (1% of the population)(resistant and sampling aura, completely un-defined energetic centers)

*more on this here.

2. Strategy:

*more on this here.

3. Not-Self Theme:

• Generator- Frustration

• Manifestor- Anger

• Manifestor Generator- Frustration + Anger = Impatience

• Projector- Bitterness

• Reflector- Disappointment

4. Authority:

The Authorities are:

SOURCE

5. Profile:

ie. my profile is 4/6: The Opportunist/The Role Model

These profile numbers also color your design and personality planet numbers like 52.6, the .6 tells you that that gate (or number) has the character of The Role Model in this case (but these numbers changes according to your own chart):

1. The Investigator – You study things deeply, you love to research and get to the bottom of things

2. The Hermit – You hold back and wait for the right moment, or call

3. The Martyr – Learning by trial and error

4. The Opportunist – Your relationships within your network

5. The Heretic – Creative rebel, you can network easily with strangers

6. The Role Model – You live through three phases first you learn by trial and error, then you integrate, and then you share your wisdom with the world

SOURCE

6. Gates:

Look up each number that is circled or connected to a defined gate for yourself.

Check out this site here that explains each gate and its meaning!

7. Channels:

Gates are listed in pairs when you are looking them up like 30/41

Check out this site here that explains each channel and its meaning!

8. Definition:

If you have multiple definitions in your chart it is important to know where these connections are located and also if they are connected to your

inner authority or not.

Sometimes multiple definitions can create tension between the character of the defined channels. 

**Be wary of defined gates (numbers) in undefined centers! These themes can become troublesome since you are susceptible to conditioning (outside messaging) in the energetic center that that gate calls home. I have found this to be true for my own circuitry personally!

For example, I have a split definition which means that I have a fully connected (colored in) channel in two spots in my chart. The first one is from my Ajna to my throat, and the other is from my solar plexus to my root which then connects another channel from my root to my splenic center.

The channels I have defined are:

17 – 62 (the gate of opinions + the gate of details = the channel of acceptance)

and

30 – 41 (the gate of the recognition of feelings + the gate of contraction = the channel of recognition)

+

18 – 58 (the gate of correction + the gate of the joy of life = the channel of judgment)

What this means to me personally is because my Ajna/throat channel is not connected to my inner authority (solar plexus/ Emotion) that there is no real power in this channel. I have a propensity for giving unsolicited advice that doesn’t help anyone because that person has not asked for it!

Oops, guilty as charged.

Now my channel connecting my solar plexus to my root holds my true power, which is the ability to understand my own emotions and pull my energy back to witness. When I operate out of this place, I feel as though I am really connecting to my personal power (since this channel is connected to my Authority)

When channels are completely filled in they become fully formed aspects of us.

It’s important to understand that what color your channel is colored matters as well… it lets you know whether or not that space is conscious or unconscious for you. More on this in #10

8b. Half Defined Channel

When a channel is only half colored in, it means that you are defined in the gate that the channel starts… but that the energy is searching for its completion

(the gate on the other side of the half-open channel).

9. Energetic Centers

Head- Inspiration, Anxiety, Mental Pressure

Ajna- Conceptualization

Throat- Communication, Manifestation, Action

Heart- Ego, Will Power

Sacral- Sexuality, Life

G-Center- Self, Direction, Love

Splenic- Intuition, Instinct, Fear, Immune System

Solar Plexus- Emotions, Feelings, Nervousness

Root- Life Fuel, Pressure, Stress

SOURCE

9a.Definition in Energetic Centers

9b. Un-Defined Energy Centers and (De)conditioning

Each energetic center shows up negatively sometimes when it’s un-defined. It’s important if you have un-defined centers that you are aware of these tendencies and work on using your Authority and Strategy to get into alignment with your energetic blueprint:

Be warned the Un-defined centers may be saying…

Head- “Am I trying to answer everyone else’s questions?”

Ajna- “Am I trying to convince everyone that I am sure?”

Throat- “Am I trying to attract attention?”

Heart- “Do I have something to prove?”

Sacral- “Do I know when enough is enough?”

G-Center- “am I looking for direction and love?”

Splenic- “Am I holding on to things that aren’t good for me?”

Solar Plexus- “Am I avoiding truth and confrontation?”

Root- “Am I in a hurry to get things done so that I can be free of the pressure?”

SOURCE

10. Red and/or Black

If you received your chart from the link HERE,

you will see certain aspects of your chart colored in black or red or a mix of both In this specific chart:

Red denotes your Design (or subconscious pattern)

-White: which means they have no definition for you

-Red: which means that they have an unconscious  definition for you

-Black: which means that they have a conscious definition for you or…

-Striped black and red: This means this channel has both conscious and unconscious definitions for you.

10b. The planets in Red vs. Black

You can see on either side of your chart a list of planets with a corresponding number. 

There’s a Red Design list and a Black Personality list.

The first thing to know here is the planets’ correspondences or basic meanings. (These are just basic I would recommend looking up all the meanings!)

Sun- Your Identity, personality, expression, or purpose

Earth- Soul, grounding, balance

Moon- Emotions, drive

North Node- “north star” destiny, direction, future

South Node- Past, past direction

Mercury- Expression, and communication

Venus- Love, pleasure, and values

Mars- Assertion, immaturity, mutation

Jupiter- Authority, knowledge, law, protection

Saturn- Maturity and discipline

Uranus- Awakener, unusualness, expansiveness

Neptune- Spirituality, magic, illusion

Pluto- Rebirth, regeneration, the truth

Your black numbers represent your conscious personality that you have and correspond back to…
• The main number corresponds to the gate of that number… (see gates #6)

Your Red numbers represent your subconscious design that you have and in the same way, your personality does, corresponds back to…

• The main number corresponds to the gate of that number… (see gates #6)

It’s fun and helpful to compare and contrast your Design numbers (gates) and your Personality numbers (gates). Write them all out for yourself in order and see if you can realize for yourself where the conscious personality themes show up in your life, as well as if you can hold space for the unconscious design themes too! It’s the reconciliation of these two themes within you that can really help the productive development of you!

So putting it all together…

If we are reading your Design (red column of planets), your moon represents your emotions, and your gate number is 30. You look up this gate and it says: “Gate of Recognition of Feelings is the energy to recognize feelings that are pushing for change. Once recognized, the emotion to change is conceptualized into action that will relieve the pain or sadness and create real change”. – source and your decimal is a .3 which denotes The martyr line 3 which faces the world through trial and error.

This basically means that subconsciously your emotional self, through trial and error, will guide you toward recognizing your own feelings so that you can then take action towards real change!

*The more you learn about your subconscious design the better you can integrate it into your personality, becoming the best version of yourself.

11. Big Arrows:

In your chart floating up around your head are x4 larger arrows.

A. Arrow #1 top left = Digestion (includes food as well as digestion of new information)

– If your arrow is pointing toward the right: Active digestion, you enjoy routine

– If your arrow is pointing to the left: Passive digestion, you take life as it comes (and should eat intuitively)

B. Arrow #2 bottom left = Environment (what kind of environment suits you best)

– If your arrow is pointing toward the right: new experiences serve you

– If your arrow is pointing to the left: consistent steadiness serves you

C. Arrow #3 top right = Awareness (how you view the world)

– If your arrow is pointing toward the right: right-brained creativity

– If your arrow is pointing to the left: left-brained logic

D. Arrow #4 bottom right = Perspective (your manifesting power type)

– If your arrow is pointing toward the right: General Manifestor (you manifest from the general idea or feeling of things)

– If your arrow is pointing to the left: Specific Manifestor (you should find the exact thing that you want before trying to manifest anything)

12. Small Arrows:

Now on your chart, there will be small arrows floating around your numbers in your design/ personality lists. These arrows indicate that whichever gate they are located at (the number) that that gate is held either in its exalted or detrimental state.

• an up arrow denotes exalted (positive attributes) of the gate it’s next to.

• a down arrow indicates detriment (negative attributes) of the gate it’s next to.

13. Asterisk *

If you have an asterisk next to one of your numbers this denotes an emphasis in both an exalted and detrimental state of that particular gate for you. To me, this means that this gate is especially important that you understand for yourself as well as how it’s connected to the rest of your energetic circuitry!

14. Cross of Incarnation

Everyone has their own specific cross of incarnation. Each cross has a different meaning. It reflects your life’s trajectory. I would recommend looking up your specific Incarnation Cross online for more specific insight! This Cross is not “fate” it can just be a theme for your life. There are four gates (numbers) listed next to your Cross of Incarnation that are important!

This PDF is extremely helpful in looking up your Gates further!

Here is my own incarnation cross as an example:

“The Right Angle Cross of Service (17/18 | 58/52)

Your Cross brings four logical energies together. The leading energy is opinion. With opinion energy, there is a great drive to correct and organize things so you can live a healthy, longer, and more joyful life. You serve people through the logical energies of guidance, organization, and correction. There may be a drive to feel as if you are a healer, but it is important to understand that you are the guide and each person must take their own steps to truly heal.”

Source

15. Godhead

“Look for the gate of your Personality Sun to find your Godhead and its theme. This archetype is what keeps you from recognizing how deeply conditioned your perceptions are about your life. Where you can get into trouble is taking the conditioning to its distortion and thinking that your Godhead is THE God.” -SOURCE

This site lists the Godheads and their themes.

16. Mandala

The human design system also corresponds to the hexagrams of the I ching mandala (which plays with the themes of yin and yang or duality… more on the yin-yang HERE), pictured below. Each gate or number corresponds to its numbered hexagram shown in the wheel below. The hexagrams or set of lines are made up of split lines (yin) and solid lines (yang) energies.

PS…I’m still learning the significance of this but I’m a sucker for a beautiful mandala so here you go!

Ok, we’ve gotten through a lot of the main concepts in Human Design here to get you started!

I would strongly recommend if you have just looked up your own chart that you take some time for yourself to discover how your circuitry is all connected. Human Design is meant to be understood as a whole and not as all of these many, separate, parts. It’s all about how everything is connected to each other! (and to the circuitry and auras of those around you!)

If I was you and just starting I would use this framework and do your own write-up, hire a friend to do it for you, or strike out on your own and start to make sense of everything yourself. Use all of the sources I’ve listed here for more context!

If you start on this journey I can pretty much guarantee that you will discover some awesome things about yourself!

My personal takeaways…

I’ve been a lifelong seeker and enjoyer of systems like Myers Briggs… to the temperaments… as well as my horoscope etc. I’ve found great verbiage for describing how I feel about my experience from each one (if you are interested in these other subjects check out this blog here!).

However, when I found Human Design I felt as though my energy and how I reacted to the world finally made sense. As soon As I found Human Design I spent countless hours (and still am haha) pouring over these concepts and trying to figure out what it means to me personally. Now don’t get me wrong… I hold the sovereignty and true worthiness of the individual above all things. Including following any outside teacher or system. And I will never support believing anything or even listening to anything that doesn’t resonate with your deeper self.

But in regards to having a conversation around energy usage, I found this concept to be deeply healing for me. 

Learning where my authority was, as well as where my defined channels were, very quickly helped me to synthesize my knowledge of how I feel as an Empath in the world and why I was holding on to my abilities to understand others as a sense of worthiness. I was using my natural gifts as a crutch to feeling good through others and getting feedback from the outside world without consulting my inner authority first.

A recipe for my personal energetic disaster!

This was just one specific example of an epiphany I had within Human Design! There were many more, including some regarding my partner’s energy which is really fun.

I’m grateful to Human Design for giving me an awareness of this pattern in my life.

I can tell you, with confidence, that this concept can help you discover new depths within yourself. I know for me it has really dovetailed quite nicely with my other spiritual and intellectual inspirations and I feel as though it has come into my life at the perfect time!

I hope that this intro helped you too!

Let me know if you guys found any of these Human Design Distinctions helpful. I would also love to hear about your personal discoveries within this framework!

…Or if you took my advice and started looking into this for yourself!

Thank you so much for reading!

✦If you would love some personal help regarding your own

Human Design chart reach out to me at the button below!✦

And you… When will you make that long journey into yourself?

Rumi

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