ON Grace, Ritrual + "GATHER SACRED" WITH MALLORIE PREM
This Is Mallorie Prem, Founder of Gather Sacred. Mallorie will be sharing in Ceremony at Bloom 2016 this October. To join her and experience this year's Its Time To Bloom visit HERE.
Enjoy this beautiful introspection with Mallorie on Grace, Ritual + the essence of Gather Sacred.
What is your morning ritual to cultivate clarity and grace (self care must do’s)?
"For me, rising intentionally is essential in preparing my heart and mind for the day. My morning ritual, or sadhana, includes lighting incense and a candle, praying, and then a deep yin practice. I hold long postures to bring prana into the tighter crevices of my body, and to contemplate all that is happening within my heart. I follow my yoga practice with a 15 - 40 minute meditation, during which I cultivate stillness, silence and gratitude."
Who do you believe is your spirit animal and why? (optional)
"While I feel connected to the Spirit of the Bird, loving their songs, their wings, their symbolism, I feel particularly known to the Hummingbird. After I began studying the Peruvian medicine wheel, I came to understand Hummingbird wisdom in my meditations as grace and effort combined, an elegant exploration intended to draw forth the sweet nectar of existence. I began to call in this energy to clarify my dharma, or my soul purpose in this life, and I was gifted with a Divine experience with the Hummingbird in the rainforest. According to the ancients, the journey of the Hummingbird isn’t always easy, but it is guided by an internal knowing, a force that eases challenge and awakens life."
What is the true essence of “Gather Sacred”?
"The essence of Gather Sacred is the individual and collective remembering of our Divine nature, and how we come to know this true nature through ceremony and creative expression.
The word ‘Gather’ holds such a strong vibration: to gather all your internal forces, to gather in circle, to gather as a community, all for the purpose of deepening communication with Spirit. In meditation, I imagine inviting all my inner wisdom into my heart, illuminating my truest essence in the most expansive way. Gathering in circle is the macrocosmic equivalent, whereby we invite the truest essence of each individual into the collective to cultivate our Highest vibrations. I also imagine gathering the knowledge of the ages and combining it with the grace of the present, and it becomes visceral, how absolutely powerful we are.
The word ‘Sacred’ is everything. It is the vibration of pure creative force. To hold something as sacred means that you understand the Divine pulse that exists within it, whether it be a word, an action or a physical creation. When you practice Sacred realization, every breath, thought, movement, or decision become a prayer towards your Highest purpose. It is an honouring of our natural desire to create beauty and meaning in this life. To understand ‘sacred’ is to come closer to understanding the essence of God.
Gather Sacred is a space that honours this creative force, as we curate adornments that are beautiful to both the eye and the Spirit. We connect with artisans whose work is infused with ceremonious intention, and our collections express appreciation for art while also teaching us how to celebrate our inner experience. "
Name one muse that continues to inspire you?
"I could easily say you, Myrah, as you embody so much of what it is to live a sacred, creative and beautiful life! However, I will say that my muse is the ‘woman’, the creative force that exists within the feminine. In the process of creating our brand, I could feel the essence of what it was to be a woman, in the multitude of expressions that she takes. Each woman has a different ritual, and different modes of creating, nurturing and sharing her heart. She is the daughter, the sister, the friend, the mother, the wise woman, the teacher, the leader, the traveller, the goddess, the community-builder, the entrepreneur. A woman is doing and being, as we both pursue and naturally embody artistry. Artistry in the most traditional sense of the word, yes, but also in the forms of music, writing, herbalism, philanthropy, photography, and food alchemy. This energy inspires me, observing the vast and various ways the feminine expresses itself in each of us, and learning all the ways in which the woman has celebrated herself throughout history."
What is your daily ritual to stay connected and in the creative flow?
"My days are often varied due to my travels and various creative pursuits, but there are a few things I need every day to stay connected, creative and balanced:
- Yoga
- Nourishing food
- Remembering to pause and connect through good conversation and laughter
- Nature
What makes you feel Graceful and Victorious?
"My yoga practice (including a lot of pranayama), prayer, eating healthy food, being in nature, and most powerfully, pursuing the creative magic that comes through, even if it brings up all the fear. Moving past self-doubt through faith and meditation feels very transcendent and victorious! Also, the ocean. The ocean never fails to make me feel radiant!"
What are your rituals in regards to the New Moon and Full Moon phases?
"My New Moon Ritual is a time for deep reflection and connection to how I am creating my life. Every month I recreate my altar with a new intention, gridding my crystals, choosing a new flower essence, and drawing new oracle cards. The actual ritual process looks different each month, depending on the element or intention I am focusing on. Regardless, I journal about releasing the old and creating the new, and then I might have a sacred bath, host a fire, plant seeds, chant, or dance. Truly, whatever feels right. I close with a prayer for others and a lengthy Sage of my space.
My Full Moon ceremonies always look a little different. This is a time during which I reflect on the intentions I set during the New Moon phase, and discern the actions I need to take to manifest. This usually involves spending a large portion of the day outside, and then meditations under the Full Moon prior to journalling. I cleanse my sacred talismans, clean my house, and burn any stream of consciousness writing that I’d like to release."
What is your current Mantra, Prayer or Affirmation that you pull up for support? (when you feel lack, depleted or low)
"Communicating with God in multitudes of ways, such as in prayer, nature, song, or my yoga practice, supports me when I am feeling depleted or confused. Remembering the reasons we are here - to love, to heal, to express our Divinity - expands my heart and my faith in a higher purpose. Connecting with others in their joys and suffering, truly knowing what it means to experience life, brings an undercurrent of peace regardless of my circumstances."
What are you really excited about for 2017 and what were you grateful for in 2016?
"Oh my goodness! I am so grateful for the wild inspiration that came through this year. From being in a place of transition and inquiry to diving into my potential purpose, a vast universe of creativity opened for me that I am just learning to navigate. It’s been an incredible journey, and it has just begun! I am also so incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have been given to travel and teach yoga, and for the amazing people that fill my heart.
2017 is full of exciting plans and wild unknowns! The evolution of Gather Sacred is directed fully towards ceremony - education, gatherings, more artisanal connections… so much goodness! I am also co-creating a yoga retreat in Peru, leading my first yin teacher training in Costa Rica, and co-leading a 200 hour YTT in Alaska. I am blown away sometimes by the abundance in my life! While I have many plans, this is also a time for allowing the Universal Current to guide me. Whatever 2017 brings, I am certain it will be beyond my wildest visions."