How did I get the name Purple Phoenix for my business?

I have visited a lot of places in the last 5+ years of being in business. My business name is often commented on and people love my logo. I love when I get to share how these things came to be and have thought about sharing it on my social media platforms many times. I guess today is the day.

Some of you may know parts of this story, but it’s best to start from the beginning.

Purple Phoenix Jewelry

I was in the depths of chronic illness and all the heaviness that comes with it, for many years. Unable to rely on pain medication, since if often made me feel much worse, I was searching for any and every way to work through the darkness and find some lightness in being. I did many different unconventional treatments to deal with the physical pain: functional medicine, integrative medicine, changed my entire diet multiple times, reiki healers, chiropractors, massage therapists, nutritional microscopy, and so much more. I also had a lot of work to do emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. And, as heavy as the physical pain was, it had nothing on these things. Talk therapy, reiki healers, meditation, yoga, facing my darkness head on (oof, that was rough) were many ways I used for this work, but I also needed to have some fun.

I did know that I wasn't giving into the illness. I have an amazing family, and at the time my children were very young. The support of my husband, children, family, and friends were worth not giving up for.

I began painting with a group of women and exploring my creative side. I very much enjoyed painting and the variety of colors I could work with always brought me happiness. Shortly after I began my journey with my creative side, I did a drumming journey with a shaman. If you have never experienced this, and have an opportunity to, please do.

In the beginning she explained that there are 3 paths you can take on this journey. You can go underground, stay on the earth level, or explore above. The purpose is that you find your guide(s) and they can help you to answer questions about your life path, or whatever it is that you’re looking to find answers to. I was very curious what my life path was and what purpose this illness had to do with any of it. To make this story as short as I can, I met many animals and faeries during my adventure, and they would often give me great advice, but when I would ask them if they were my guide, they would always tell me no. The best example I have is as I was huffing and puffing and climbing a mountain, the bear that was walking beside me asked me why I always choose to do things the hard way. He kind of chuckled and reminded me that I could fly. I literally had wings in this space and was using my little legs and feet to walk up a very high mountain. As the shaman began to play the drum faster and faster, which was our notice to start heading back the way we came, I began to get worried. I still didn’t know who my guide was, I still hadn’t found my purpose, or the reason for anything going on in my life. I began to feel like I felt in the “real world” and the excitement that I had about this experience began to quickly leave. As I was giving up looking and decided to head back, something large, incredibly powerful, and purple flew up into my face, and the excitement returned. I asked with enthusiasm “Are you my guide?” She kind of laughed and explained to me that I didn’t NEED a guide, that I already knew what I needed to know, that it was all already inside of me. I was incredibly confused and asked as I was still returning because the drum was beating so quickly, if she could just share something to help me understand my purpose in this world. As I was exiting, she told me that I would use my art to heal myself and in turn, help to heal others.

I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out how to use these few painting skills that I had just acquired to help anyone else and kept coming up with blanks. I talked with my family about it and my friends who would listen. Eventually, I kind of put the whole thing out of my mind for a while and carried on looking for ways to work through and come into my healing.

I signed up for a mala making class and began writing my mantra with the help of one of my favorite humans who asked me “What does it look like AFTER you’re healed?” I wanted to be healthy, to feel WELL, and to not have to keep searching for the HEALING. I began researching for stones that brought physical health, mental clarity and focus, benefits that included healing anxiety and depression. The day that we met to make our mala, I repeated my mantra while I strung the beads, and I was IN LOVE. Finding a way to incorporate my love of crystals and stones, learning about the healing properties of each one, and brining it all together in a beautiful piece I could use for prayer, mantra meditation, and wear!? It was perfection.

I began creating bracelets for myself with my newfound meditation practice and I found researching each stone intriguing. I made so many and decided to gift them to family and friends for the holiday. I included little tags to list some of the properties that helped me create these pieces just for them. They loved them and encouraged me to continue to make them and suggested even making a business from this newfound love of mine.

I was driving my oldest kiddo somewhere and we were talking about it. I had NEVER considered myself to be a creative person so to think that I would be able to have a business that is literally full of things I’ve created seemed a bit out of reach. As we talked about it, he said “Mom, you should totally do it and you know what you should call it?” I was at an absolute blank. He smiled at me and said, “Purple Phoenix Jewelry.”

It wasn’t long after that conversation that I was in a healing session with a dear friend. As she worked, I was visited by another Phoenix, this time with rainbow wings. She encouraged me to carry on, that I was on the right path, and I went home that day and painted what is now my logo that is displayed on my business cards.

Since the beginning I have always held space while creating jewelry. I often say prayers and blessings into the beads as they are strung. Over the years, I have taught myself how to hand-knot my prayer malas and use the hand-knotting technique for different lengths of necklaces, as well. Each knot is tied with a prayer, blessing, or intention and each creation is my meditation. It brings me healing and joy and then I get to send it out into the world full of healing, joy, intention, and so much love.

Creating jewelry has most certainly helped to heal me and there have been so many people I have met on this journey who feel the love and the healing in their pieces. As one of my beautiful friends and intuitive advisors said to me, I have found the perfect way to package up a lot of love and send it out into the world. That was the perfect reminder when I was questioning my path and feeling like there has to be more that I can be doing. I do believe there is more, but I know that jewelry will always be a part of my path.

I am deeply grateful for the support I have had over the last few years while creating and building my little business. Thank you all so much for being a part of my story and of my healing.