It was our great pleasure to collaborate with India Club and Community Foundation of Western Sydney and support their Multi-cultural Holi event. It was an awesome event with free food, coffee and colours for everyone. It was wonderful to see people of all ages, races, and walks of life attending and enjoying themselves.

Our founder Tiya Gorain gave a speech on ‘Why it is important to embrace diversity and celebrate multicultural festivals.’ Here is a transcript of her speech:

Hi everyone. Today, I would like to talk about the importance of embracing diversity and celebrating multicultural festivals like Holi.

As we live in a world where diversity is all around us, it is crucial that we acknowledge and celebrate it. Diversity makes our world a more interesting and exciting place to live in, and it is important to recognize and appreciate the different cultures, traditions, and beliefs that make us who we are.

One of the best ways to celebrate diversity is by participating in multicultural festivals such as Holi. Holi is a Hindu festival celebrated in many parts of the world, particularly in India and Nepal. It is also known as the “festival of colors” and it signifies the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. During Holi, people throw colored powder and water on each other, dance, sing, and share sweets and delicacies. It is a time when people come together, forget their differences, and celebrate the joy of life.

Participating in Holi is not only a fun and exciting experience, but it is also a way to embrace diversity and promote cultural understanding. By celebrating Holi, we are showing respect and appreciation for the Hindu culture and its traditions. We are also learning about a different way of life and gaining a new perspective on the world. By participating in multicultural festivals, we can break down barriers and build bridges of understanding between different communities.

Moreover, celebrating Holi brings us happiness. The colors and music of Holi create a festive atmosphere that is contagious. People let go of their inhibitions and embrace the joy of the moment. The laughter and camaraderie that come with celebrating Holi bring people together and create memories that last a lifetime. Holi is a time when people can forget their worries and celebrate life.

In a world where we often focus on our differences, it is important to remember that we all have something in common – our humanity. We all want to be happy, to love and be loved, and to be accepted for who we are. Celebrating multicultural festivals like Holi reminds us of this commonality and helps us to appreciate and celebrate our differences.

In conclusion, embracing diversity and celebrating multicultural festivals like Holi is important for many reasons. It helps us to understand and appreciate different cultures, promotes tolerance and respect, and brings us happiness. We should all make an effort to participate in such festivals and celebrate the diversity that makes our world a beautiful and interesting place to live in. Let us all come together and celebrate the joy of life. Thank you.

We are pleased to welcome the gorgeous and talented Mercedes Durante, who recently joined our platform as a Supporter & Volunteer. She is one of the Board of Directors of Positive Vibes Foundation (https://positivevibes.org.au) and the Head of The Hills Women’s Shed. She is also a First Responder at St John Ambulance and Past President of the local Rotary Club.

We look forward to working and collaborating with her.

I Didn’t Know I Could Create a Magazine Until I Actually Did It!

By Vanessa Finnigan

As I reflect on the last fourteen years in what is often called a ‘cut-throat industry’, I know I have done things a little different. This is mostly due to choosing sustainability over martyrdom! When you are committed to growth, you don’t tend to gain superficial self-worth from over-giving, or see it as a ‘Mother Theresa Badge of Honour’. In the spiritual arenas, I used to hear the leaders say, “give until it hurts. It’s about being selfless.” And yet over-giving is not sustainable physically or psychologically and can even hamper yours and others’ conscious evolution.

When you actually come from an authentic place of giving and receiving, you are being more of service, as well as kind to yourself and others. Sustainability to me means being available to support others joyfully and stopping when your body starts to ache. It’s about learning to recognise those early signs of feeling resentful or obligated, and then ‘recharging your battery’.

Actually creating a business in the way I do, has felt like a balance of the masculine and feminine energies (yin and yang energies we all have within). To get things off the ground in those early years, I had to engage my inner yang energy while also being in a gentle, creative cocoon at times. And to keep things flowing with more and more ease and creativity also involves yin and yang energy. My desire to create Holistic Bliss, was not about wanting to make a quick buck (even though it has been financially and holistically successful). But the success hasn’t come from working 15-hour days and being everywhere and everything to everyone 24/7. It’s been more about creating in a way that is sustainable and from a place of curiosity!

The sense of wonder, led to joyful investigations and ways of expressing myself, which generated the energy to bring it all to fruition. And that joyful investigation and connecting with new people, new places, new modalities, kept things fresh so I actually desired to keep running a magazine long-term too!

Before Holistic Bliss was born, I was a pretty quiet person who tended to avoid being in the spotlight. I had been in the healing field my whole adult life and desired to be part of the collective change. I was not expecting the magazine to facilitate me in the ways it has, allowing me to step into more of who I really am and be ‘seen’ more than ever before. And without directly setting out to achieve it, I also became a facilitator of others in this area too.

Being seen doesn’t mean you have to do a selfie every day or dance and sing on Tik Tok to share your messages on social media! What if it was about showing up in ways that feel authentic to you?

It’s also not a competition in terms of, ‘let’s see who can stay in business the longest’. You can create and close down as many business projects as you like and still be living the dream (your dream). You’ve also got to be able to dream the dream, live the dream and be prepared to let it all go too if required. To me, that’s true freedom!

And in the process of becoming a pioneer of newness, the gifts of growth along the way make it a rich and deep experience. And that energetic translation of your unique frequency into the creation of a business comes about mostly from staying in your own lane, while feeling connected to others and tuning into the bigger picture unfolding in the world.

Through floods, bushfires, major grief and loss in my family, the GFC, global unrest, awakening and more….Holistic Bliss has kept serving the community in Australia and overseas and created itself as a healing modality in and of itself!

Thank-you to all who have and continue to contribute to it!!

www.holisticblissmagazine.com

http://www.vanessafinnigan.com.au

Summer is a season that is closely associated with fashion and wellness. As the weather warms up and the sun comes out, people tend to shift towards lighter and more breathable clothing that not only keeps them comfortable but also looks stylish. From flowy sundresses to breezy skirts and tank tops, summer fashion offers a variety of options that cater to different tastes and preferences. In addition to fashion, summer is also a time when people focus on their wellness.

The longer and brighter days during summer provide ample opportunity for people to spend more time outside in nature, which has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve mood. Sunlight exposure also boosts the production of serotonin, a hormone that regulates mood, and can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Summer is a season of abundance, with fresh produce, blooming flowers, and warm weather all contributing to a general feeling of positivity and vitality.

‘Summer Sizzle’ – our Feb 2023 Fashion Issue in collaboration with Sakhi magazine (https://sakhi.online/) is dedicated to the season of abundance and positivity.

Supported By:

Eesha Boutique

(https://www.eeshaboutique.com)

Artantana Handmade

(https://www.instagram.com/artantana_handmade)

Light Antana Photography

(https://www.instagram.com/light_antana)

Louise Veronica Fashion Styling

(https://www.facebook.com/louiseveronica.89)

Bani Thani Boutique

(https://www.facebook.com/Banithanisydney)

VikiLinks

(https://www.facebook.com/VikilinksAustralia)

The purpose of our fashion features, photoshoots, online magazine issues etc, is to empower and uplift women through fashion and make them feel confident about themselves. Another purpose is to provide a platform for women in the fashion & beauty industry to showcase their talents, skills and products.

Meet young and talented dancer and budding entrepreneur Sanjana Koti, who recently joined our platform as an artist & entertainer.

“Hello everyone I am Sanjana, an Indian Classical Kathak dancer with more than 10 years of experience from India.

I have recently moved to Sydney and my passion for dance continues to stay with me. I will be conducting Bollywood Fusion dance classes for adults at the One Dance Studio at Mascot, NSW.

I believe dance has no boundaries and is for everyone from all walks of life to enjoy, this is me bringing my passion, experience and love for all Indian dance forms to you!

Bookings can be made via the mobile number or email provided on the poster. For more information please leave a message on the number provided and I will get back to you shortly.” – Sanjana.

“Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind.”

It is the season to be jolly. Check out these empowered beauties with brains in their christmas outfits. ‘Merry Christmas’ – our Dec 2022 Fashion Issue in collaboration with Sakhi magazine (https://sakhi.online/) is dedicated to the festive season.

Supported By:

Glam Gloire Makeup & Beauty

(https://glamgloire.com)

R J Mehrok Boutique, Makeup & Styling Services

(https://www.facebook.com/R-J-Mehrok-Boutique-Makeup-Styling-1794363417492202/)

Light Antana Photography

(https://www.instagram.com/light_antana)

Eesha Boutique

(https://www.eeshaboutique.com)

Artantana Handmade

(https://www.instagram.com/artantana_handmade)

The purpose of our fashion features, photoshoots, online magazine issues etc, is to empower and uplift women through fashion and make them feel confident about themselves. Another purpose is to provide a platform for women in the fashion & beauty industry to showcase their talents, skills and products.

Meet our featured beauty with brains Shivani Parekh, who recently joined our platform as a Skincare & Haircare consultant.

Shivani is an international student who is pursuing her degree in Bachelors of Commerce and is based in Sydney & Melbourne. Alongside her studies she has been able to kickstart her skincare & haircare business known as the ‘Brown Beauty Secret’ which runs on a mission to transform the ordinary, ‘Be Brown Be Flawless’ is her motto, because that’s what makes you beautiful and attractive!

Even though faced with a lot of challenges including being an international student, paying university fees, studying fulltime & juggling work to pay the bills, she never came up with an excuse to not do it, when it came to pursuing her dreams of starting her own business in the Beauty Industry.

She developed a passion in this field as she believes in educating others about the importance of skin health and customised solutions to address skin’s & hair’s nutritional needs to look healthy and beautiful.

Shivani also specialises in ‘Acupressure Facial’ which is an unique way of doing facial that helps increase cutaneous blood flow—supplying blood to the skin—and increases lymphatic drainage giving an instant boost & glow to the skin.

Through her expertise she has been able to help hundreds of women to regain their self confidence & self image and helping them attain their optimum level of inside out beauty.

Your skin tone is a representation of your roots! So be proud and own it – is the mantra behind Brown Beauty Secret.

Brown beauty secret is proud for its natural & chemical free plant based services.

Vegan Skincare & Haircare is one of the best skincare that BrownBeautySecret focuses upon, providing all natural solutions to Pigmentation/uneven skin, Dark circles, Blemishes, Pimples/Acnes etc.

Feel free to check out their instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thebrownbeautysecret

Your Problem is You
By Hallie Avolio
(https://sassyhealthy.fit)

Money isn’t your problem, but it’s an easy excuse.⁣
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Time isn’t your problem, but you convince yourself that it is.⁣
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Your partner, friend, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, co-worker isn’t the problem, but it’s easy to point fingers.⁣
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Your problem is YOU.⁣
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YOU.⁣
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You are the problem.⁣
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You are the problem, yet, more importantly, you are THE SOLUTION.⁣
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The thing about changing your life, evolving, expanding… MANIFESTING…⁣
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It’s scary!
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(If you say it isn’t you are lying to yourself.⁣)
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Status quo, comfort zone, playing it safe, that is the real place you should be scared of. Not the change, the growth, STEPPING INTO YOUR PERSONAL POWER.⁣
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Why do you hold yourself back?⁣
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Why do any of us hold ourselves back?⁣
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Because deep down we don’t love ourselves enough to believe that we are worthy of living a life that truly lights us up and creates such a sense of joy we cannot believe how magical it is.⁣
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We’ve been told that we can’t have this.⁣
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Don’t be too proud of yourself. Shhhh…we don’t want to make others feel bad. Keep it to yourself if you are so excited, everyone else doesn’t need to know your business.⁣
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IT’S TIME TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.⁣
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Living a life you love is your birthright and it is everything you imagine it could be and it’s possible and it is AVAILABLE TO YOU.⁣
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But you have to stop creating your own problems.⁣
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You have to stop making excuses.⁣
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You have to step up for yourself and DECIDE that you are ready to lead yourself to your personal power, your personal expansion, your personal destiny.⁣
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If you want to be limitless, BE LIMITLESS.⁣
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That is the magic.⁣
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I know you only half believe me. And that’s OK. I also know you are going to marinate on this because it has already stirred something in your subconscious that is ready to be set free.
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you are limitless⁣
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When you are ready to admit it and move, I’m here for you.
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This conversation continues…⁣
⁣

Addiction

By Anthem Sandoval
(https://www.facebook.com/anthem.hill.7?mibextid=LQQJ4d)

A few years ago my husband was in the hospital after getting diagnosed with cirrhosis. He was only 30 years old.

Addiction will take everything from you.

I lost jobs, friends, respect, time, relationships, my sanity, and almost my life.

Then I watched it start to slowly kill my husband. The suffering he endured because of his liver giving out was horrific. I still get a panicked feeling when I’m in a hospital. The memories and the trauma of going through something like that with him still haunts me.

There is such a glamor associated with alcohol, with the party world in general. In rehab the first few days, it’s all about telling your story, the wild parties, epic nights, the way the world would sparkle when the drugs started peaking.

In the beginning it does feel glamorous. I remember being 21, wearing my little skirts, feeling on top of the world. We would take shots and I’d feel like a different person. I wasn’t shy and awkward anymore I was outgoing and people liked me. The drugs would make me feel loved and connected. For the first time I felt comfortable in my own skin. That time in my life was incredible.

After awhile though, I stopped being able to control it. I didn’t want to give up that feeling, the relief, and go back to feeling anxious and exhausted all the time. I started drinking during the week nights. Then I started drinking at work, filling up soda bottles with hard liquor. Doing harder drugs whenever I could get my hands on them.

A week into rehab and all those glamorous adventures would fade and the truth about how addiction had destroyed us would come out. It’s like those movies where the man is lost in the desert and sees this mirage of a beautiful oasis. He starts desperately running towards it only to find that there is nothing but sand and death in front of him.

I kept running towards what I thought was relief but in reality was actually killing me. It’s all an illusion. You feel like you are getting to a better place but you are only destroying yourself. You cannot use on a regular/daily basis without serious consequences. One day you wake up and can’t get out of bed without a fix and the road back is a long one.

I love the quote about healing out loud to help those who are suffering in silence. It’s why I started to talk publicly about all this. It’s been 15 years since this monster came into my life. I know millions of other people are struggling themselves or watching someone they love go through it. We have to talk about it. We have to end the stigma so people feel like they can come forward and get help.

I don’t want anyone to have to go through what I went through with my addiction or my husband’s addiction and liver disease. It’s a dark cloud but when we tell our stories we help the light come through. Don’t be afraid to get help, to be open about what is happening, you are not alone.

Mental Wellness/ Positivity Series

Look After The Golden Goose
By Emily Gowor
(http://www.facebook.com/emilygoworpage)

Several years ago, I reached out to one of my mentors for support. At the time, I was feeling burned out and stressed in my work and I needed a way to make things better for myself.

During our call, he said to me: “You need to look after the Golden goose!”

I asked him what he meant, and he pointed out that I hadn’t been taking care of the most important thing in my life: myself.

In other words, I hadn’t been looking after the goose that laid the Golden eggs.

… and he was right.

I had become so busy doing everything I thought I needed to do and so focused on what people needed from me that my personal cup was empty.

He explained that it was unrealistic to expect myself to perform at my best when I wasn’t giving myself the essential support I needed.

We identified the non-negotiable habits that I needed to reintroduce into my life: those little behaviours, treats, and treatment that fuelled me from within.

At the time, this meant reorganising my calendar for the week to allow more creative time, getting more support with my health, and remembering to work outside my home space to get more inspiration (e.g. cafes).

The conversation with him was a reminder that for me to be in my fullest capacity for those around me, I also needed to honour the laws of fair exchange within myself. This meant taking care of my wellbeing first and foremost, especially when it seemed like the hardest thing to do.

In his words: “You are violating the law of give and receive with yourself.”

Perhaps you are reading this message at a time when you also need to prioritise taking care of the Golden goose.

If so, then ask yourself these questions:

What can you do today to support yourself?
What do you need to change in your life in order to do your best work?
Who do you need to hire in order to help you move forward?
What do you need to do regularly in order to be energised?
What do you really need right now in order to shine at your fullest?

Whatever it is for YOU, make a commitment to yourself right now to give that to yourself.

Schedule that time off, go out for that morning tea break, start your early morning walk by the water, or even hire a coach or mentor.

The commitment to your dreams and purpose first begins with your commitment to yourself – and the more you nurture that relationship with yourself, the more you can share your gifts with the world.

REMEMBER: Look after the Golden goose.

Why?

Because personal flow is everything – and your wellbeing is not just an option, it’s the foundation for the rest of your life.

Thanks to beauty with brains Emily Gowor for participating in our Mental Wellness/ Positivity Series. Would you like to participate too? Check out the details:

https://empoweredbwb.com/2021/05/05/mental-wellness-positivity-series/