It is Notorious November! Bridging the gap between fall and winter, November is a month of spiritual awakening. It is also the month that I landed on this planet. For these reasons, I thought it was the best month to premier my Using My Magic (UMM) Series. This is a series highlighting entrepreneurs, and their journey into using their magic to bring their dreams to life!

My first feature is someone who awakens my spirit. She is bubbly, optimistic, and her energy is contagious! And the icing on the cake is that she is a November baby too. I’m excited to introduce you to Samari Walker, owner of Ginger Galore.

​Ginger Galore (GG) is an all-natural health and beauty line, which includes products made from ginger to be used internally and externally. Samari specializes in herbal teas, face masks, and face scrubs. Many other products include lip scrub, lip balm, body scrubs, body butters, foot scrubs, detox bath soaks, and bath bombs. 

​For the record, I have tried her teas, scrubs, and body butters myself. They are legit! Ginn & Juice is my favorite tea. It is definitely a southern sweet tea with a spicy kick of ginger. I’m a repeat customer. I can show you my receipts!

Faith: What made you choose to start GG?
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Walker: For a period of time, I was getting sick very often. I started researching ways to build my immune system and I found “ginger tea.” I was not a fan of ginger at all and overlooked that option. Later, I finally decided to give ginger tea a try. I liked it! I added more ingredients until I had a recipe I really liked. I drank my tea every day and noticed I wasn’t getting sick. I didn’t get sick for a whole year! There was one instance where I  stopped drinking my tea a little bit before for a trip. I became really ill. As soon as I got back, I drank my tea and my cold was gone in two days. I gave it to family and friends who were sick and they had the same results that I did… they were back to themselves in as little as two days. It was then that I realized my recipe was special and the world needed it.

Faith: How did your other products come to life?

Walker: I began selling “What’s The Tea.”  Although I knew I had a great product, I didn’t want to sell only tea.  One day, I was riding in the car and the idea to sell beauty products with ginger being the base popped in my head.  It really felt like a light bulb just clicked on, and that’s when I decided to go full force and create GG.

Faith: Let’s talk about business. You ranked time management as most important when it comes to running your business. I definitely agree. Marketing was listed has your second most important process. Explain more.

Walker: I was never interested in marketing. Now that I am a business owner, I realize how important marketing really is. I had to learn all the dynamics. I have to be extra creative and think outside the box in order to reach all the different types of audiences. I am still not a fan of marketing but it’s definitely growing on me. I’m learning new marketing strategies every day and applying them. I read books to help me as well.  My favorite marketing book is Contagious by Jonah Berger.

Faith: Marketing may not be your favorite task, but I couldn’t tell. Your eye-catching photos of your products should snag all types of audiences. Who is one of your biggest entrepreneurial influences? Maybe even someone whose marketing style you admired?

​Walker: Nipsey Hussle was and still is one of my biggest entrepreneurial influences. Nipsey had really great ideas to market his music. 

He sold his Crenshaw album for $100 each! I was so motivated to build something of my own when I saw him start The Marathon store. I started watching his interviews. He made me realize that I could be the diverse and all-around person I always wanted to be. I began to understand that I could have multiple businesses just like he did. I always dreamed of being involved in many different things and start multiple businesses but I didn’t know how to do that and maintain a specific, non-contradicting image. Nipsey Hussle taught me that I can and will do it big! Rest In Paradise Ermias Joseph Asghedom.

​Faith: What has been your proudest moment thus far? 

Walker: My proudest moment was realizing I was really going to bring GG to life and on July 19, 2019, I did just that! I launched GG to the public. It was such a magical, overwhelming, and surreal moment in my life. I was so happy to have something I could finally call my own! I received so much love and support from all of my family, friends, and people I didn’t even know. I was shocked. The love was real and truly appreciated.

Faith: I know the feeling, and I am so happy that you received such an outpouring of support. You will continue to see this support because of the appreciation that you show! Knowing this, fast forward to one year later, where do you see GG?

Walker: In one year, I see GG really taking off. People will be ordering my products from different states. I am investing a lot of time, money, and marketing into GG. That includes creating new products every month and getting them out to be sampled in order to see what products people are gravitating to. With that being said, I also see me discontinuing some products and focusing more on what people really enjoy.

​Faith: I love that you are continuing to move forward by focusing on the products that your customers find most beneficial. That releases your time to new projects. Plus, you could always do a throwback release! 

Walker: Yes! A throwback release would be a great idea. Thank you so much!!

Faith: And thank you for being a part of the UMM series! Your story is inspirational, and I can’t wait to see you and GG grow! Before we say goodbye, do you have any encouraging words for anyone looking to start their own business?

Walker: The best advice I can give is to just start!  After you start, everything will fall into place and I mean everything!!  Also, trust and believe in yourself and your idea. God didn’t give you this brilliant idea for you to sit around and doubt yourself. Lastly, take all feedback as positive feedback!  Listen and contemplate on all the feedback you receive; you never know what ideas you can come up with.

Use your magic! You can check out more of Samari’s products by visiting her website. And don’t forget to enter the raffle for a FREE Galore Body Scrub! 

Faith Underwood

I recently celebrated my 1 Year Momaversary. The moment felt like it arrived quicker than I expected. However, I do know time is constant. Its pace doesn’t change, but the amount of work we place in each stride of time is variable. Yes, the footsteps, the left, the right, the tick, and the tock will always be a steady beat. But the amount of moves I make to the beat is always on me.

So, I decided to make as many moves as possible.

And it wasn’t an easy process. Many moments I found it very difficult to decipher the actions I needed to complete or even their timeline. After giving birth to my baby girl, creating and ordering the actions to once again become Faith felt impossible. And by Faith, I mean, the writer, educator, entrepreneur, and etc. 

Leave it to societal standards, miscommunication, hormonal imbalances, scarred tissue, trauma, and plain ol’ exhaustion to have you feeling like you have to become someone you never stopped being. It is like wanting to restore an older version of you when in actuality, you have a new reality, and you will never be that person again. 

Updates to the current version of me were in order. My priorities changed. My thinking was changing from the both of us to simply, us. A family. My days weren’t the same. So much newness comes with this territory. While adjusting to the newness, I thought I had misplaced my magic while overlooking the magic I was making all along. 

​

I’ve been gifted with magic from Mother Nature. Nurturing doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but I thoroughly find personal satisfaction in caring for my little one. From nursing to making vegan baby food, to reading and potty training, she has been one of the biggest blessings in my entire life. Also, through careful observations, I've seen some glimpses of her magic too.

Seeing the magic around me, I accepted that my choice was trading business and writing time for family time. And I made a valiant effort to not think about what I could be doing instead. I stopped beating myself up for being tired. Hell, I was, and still am, lol. I did my best and cherished my man, baby, momma, and village. In my thankfulness, I found my willpower.

It’s all connected. I needed my actions to reflect my goals and dreams. So, I changed my thoughts. I stopped succumbing to my emotions. I let some shit go and chose my battles wisely.

Next thing you know, the voices of my TRIGGER and RECOIL characters were gradually resurfacing. Their conversations were even deeper than before. I began to jot them down. But there was a new voice mingling in with the others. It was a new voice and stood out more than the rest of them. My baby’s presence enhanced the nurturer in me. This nurturer had something the world needed to hear. I thought it best that I use this gift to our advantage. 

Those same actions and timelines that were so confusing appeared clearly. I had a new project, one that was relevant to our new reality. With Imani by my side, we began using our magic to write a new story. It's filled with thoughts of love, positivity, peace, and thankfulness, all great thoughts to began your day with. It is titled Great Rising!

Feel free to donate! Cashtag: $InfiniteFaithPub

I have been making moves to bring this to life in my spare moments. In the spring I hope we will be holding this book in our hands. This book is truly a gift to my family. I'm manifesting through this book. It is already successful, I can feel it in my heart. And this is where it counts the most.

Faith Underwood

I've remixed what my momma taught me and made it my own.
I used her wisdom as the background to my life's song. Sweet melodies.
Yeah, I sampled her track and generated a whole new feel, and a whole different sound.
But the roots of my music were birthed through her, and the roots of her music were birthed through her momma, and so on and so forth. And my songs will be the musical foundation for generations.

We should want our children to look back over their past and feel peace. And I do not mean to give a child whatever they want, or buy all of the latest shoes and clothes...

What I mean is I want to help build a generation where their souls are at ease. A generation that is spiritually strong. A generation that won't be judgmental of others because they see others in themselves. A generation that knows the power of their words. A generation that simply will not sweat the small stuff.

​
So, I have to start with me. How else will my children know? I am passing down my valuables, my physical and spiritual treasures so that my children and their children know that the life they live all depends on the energy they generate. With every move, I ask myself, "What do I want her to see?" Me worrying? Me complaining? Or me cruising these waves of life? When a new bill pops up I could complain, I could say, "More money, more problems." But that is why I work everyday, to take care of my responsibilities.

The heavens grant us with opportunities for a reason. Our blessings are not random. We manifest them with our thoughts and words. A rushed and tired mind doesn't have the time to think things through. Therefore, at least once a week I try to reflect and meditate. I pray for the week ahead and give an offering to my faith. Strengthening my faith is definitely an exercise I hope to pass along.

Sure, my life's lyrics will be remixed with my children's personal spin, but they will know that I gave my best effort to surround them in love and peace in both smooth and turbulent periods of my life. Just as my momma did for me.

Bless up for the generations.
Faith Underwood

Be intentional.

Renew your purpose daily. Be transparent in what you want to achieve. Align your thoughts with your heart’s desires. Align your actions with your thoughts. And allow your spirit to guide the entire process.

Day to day we face emotional situations. One minute you’re up and the next you’re down, but somewhere in the mix there’s a part of us that want to constantly move on. It wants to constantly transcend. Your spirit doesn’t want to be bogged down. Your life source is fluid. Bending, flowing, and diffusing to higher potentials…

So, be intentional. Be intent in being spirit led.
​
Be intent in looking for the positives. Be intent on keeping your eye on what it is that you want. Because what you want is possible for you to have.

Intention & Effort

Your efforts will bring your intentions to life. ✨
Physical and mental exercises are the driving forces in sustaining an intention and manifesting your wants. One of my go to exercises is reciting mantras throughout the day. Mantras are words, statements, or sounds repeated to aid concentration in meditation. You can also use visualizations by forming a mental image of the intention.

Example:

Let’s say I my intention is to work out for the day. First, I must know that my intention is not merely exercising my body. Working out revives the body and improves my overall fitness. An increased fitness gives me more energy and with more energy I’ll feel better mentally. So, knowing this, throughout the day I may give my myself a constant reminder of my intention with a short mantra. “I will be healthier. I will be stronger. I will be fitter.” While reciting my mantra (aloud) I will visualize myself working out and feeling good. Once I add in a little will power, I’m working out in no time.

Intentions and Openness

Be open. Don’t let should’ves, could’ves, would’ves, or your past unsuccessful efforts block you from manifesting the things you want now. It is not your intention to punish yourself or worry about how you will make it. It is your intention to have faith that everything will work out for the best. Be open to have faith and the wondrous blessings it can bring to you. 

I’m Aiming for the Bless

Comprehensively, my life’s intention is to bless and be blessed. I know that the more I make improvements to myself, the better I can help the people around me. So, I am aiming to bless and not curse myself. We are not always accurate at hitting our targets every time we aim. However, practicing refines your efforts. And the better your efforts, the better your accuracy. 

​Dry, brittle, and dehydrated are the branches of the Rose of Jericho. To the unknowing eye, it looks like a curled up dead plant in the dry season. Like just another organism that failed to exist. Yet, the unknowing eye is wrong.

The symbolism of this flower is resilience

I speak about resilience a great deal. This is because I’m constantly reminded that it is a quality that is needed for my survival. Coasting in life is easy when things are happening according to planned. We don’t question our survival. We bloom. Happy with our water, soil, and glorious sunlight. But when we feel like we’ve lost control of our situation, which is something we’re really never in control of in the first place, we tend to question our survival.
 
What about when the rainfalls are too heavy, and your soil is saturated with water. Your roots can’t take in anymore. Or strong winds knock you over, uproot you, and you’re tumbling to an unknown place. What happens if you end up in the desert? Blown around by hot air and sand. Drained by the sun. Scorched and in desiccation.
 

The unforetold circumstances of life can and will topple us. They will push us to our absolute limits. However, there is one act in life of which we always maintain control. That is the decision to quit or fight through.

​In this garden of life, I choose to be a Rose of Jericho. A flower than can withstand being buried by desert sands for decades. And when the dunes blow away and unearth this plant, it rides the winds in hopes of reaching a desert oasis or feeling the desert rain. Then it can once again bloom and spread its seeds to create more resilient life.

​I know my trials are not over and there are more obstacles ahead, but I am thankful for finding the desert rain. I am happy that while I ventured through a dry patch in my life I was able to see that love from the people around me was my true oasis. Not a mirage or a hallucination. Real love from real people. Now, it is time that I usher in new resilient life.

Last month I received hella messages from all over telling me that I was going to undergo a transformation. Normally, I wouldn't speak so candidly of my serious spiritual revelations. I don't like to get too personal on the net... people have a habit of trying to dress me in their perceptions, but I don't wear knock-offs.

Moving on. 

Observation
 
There was a distinct universal message being transmitted to me from different sources, but first I had to open myself up to observe.​

Observation is deeper than looking and seeing. Through alchemy seeing is reinvented as observation. Observation is far more intricate than seeing as it includes attention, learning, noticing, and perceiving. Through observation, you discover patterns. Patterns that can help you. Or hurt you. You may find patterns that you need to introduce into your life more. Or you may find patterns that you should eliminate from your life. There’s knowledge in patterns. If researching sacred geometry is one of your habits, then you already know this.
 
A habit that you should pick up is to observe the patterns in your life and decipher their code. Figure out if they help or harm you. Find the message. No, all messages aren’t told. Some have to be found because they are treasure. Limitless and infinite. Nonexpendable treasure. A gift so great is hidden deep. It is a reward. And it is yours. #GetTRIGGERED and go get it. 

Listen and Observe
​
How do you earn this ever so wondrous reward? You listen. And you listen carefully. Listen and observe. I titled this blog, Listen Carefully, because when we listen we hear everything. Listening, to me, requires more concentration. We can see a lot, but we’re not always observing. However, we hear everything around us. Our brain and spirit does on many levels. Whether you can recall everything you’ve heard depends on the reality you choose, but we always hear.
 
If you listen to the radio, then you know that if you are too far away from the satellite, or if too many stations cross signals, then you will hear static. It is the exact same with your life.
 
If you are too far away from your spirit, you will hear static. And if there are too many frequencies around you, especially ones that are not transmitting on the same level as you, then you will also hear static. Frequencies represent levels of energy (from people, places, and things). And static represents fear, anxiety, rampant/random emotions, and etc. I’m talking about straight-up distortion of the signal you really need to hear. The one that lives inside of you. The most honest signal. Your spirit. Tune into the right station. Turn down the stations with the most static. Listen Carefully.

The Big Message

So, what was that big message that I received? Align by design.

Being in alignment is much like being balanced. Life flows better when things are in order. Of course, everything is not always in order, but how you carry yourself during these periods is what you take with you.

I had to undergo a change, but in order to change, I had to find a catalyst. I only found it because I listened carefully for instructions and observed. I know what I am taking forward with me. And I am thankful for this transformation.
 
Align yourself by designing a new and better mindset that will allow you to do more observing and listening.
 
Faith

It’s Not a Quick Jog. It’s a Lifetime Journey.
 
Don’t Run! Walk. Take your time. There’s a long road ahead of you. Some think the road of life is treacherous. There are so many obstacles. Love, heartbreak, birth, death, wins, losses, up’s, and down’s. Do you ask yourself, “why can’t I catch a break?” The truth is there is no break from life… If you are not alive, then you are dead.
 
We often find ourselves needing to catch our breath when we are rushing. We’re rushing to get that big check, we’re rushing to find that perfect mate or get married, we’re rushing to work, we’re rushing to get that perfect body. When we rush we have less time to think. Our bodies are under duress, and we open ourselves up to more mistakes. More wrecks! More emotional turmoil! More anxiety! More physical ailments!
 
I know this. I am still that person from time-to-time, but I used to be that person all the time. I was a person with no control of my pace. I was running and always out of breath. Dizzy. Lost. No feeling of stability. So, I rushed. I rushed to find stability in jobs even though I knew they weren’t my true calling. (I know we have to do what we have to do sometimes, but your career should not drain you of your energy and your will EVERY DAY.) I rushed to find love in relationships where red flags were present from the jump! I rushed in my diet. Eating food on the go. Fast food! Food that negatively impacts your health, and fast!

Eventually, I had to stop running…
Eventually, I had to breathe deeper…
Eventually, I had to see clearer…

​
​In comes Balance. With balance comes Clarity. With clarity comes Intuitiveness. With intuitiveness comes Transmutation. With transmutation comes Spiritual Awakening.

Spiritual Awakening - Spiritual Awakening is seeing all truths. Not just yours. It is driven by awareness. You will look into each situation through all perspectives. You will put your power behind your passions. This is a transcending state. Obstacles won’t knock you down, but elevate you a to higher plane. Your pineal gland will be clear of debris so your third eye can see! You will be ever evolving and not afraid of change. You will feel light and happy. Your peace will be your top priority. I know. I am here.

I can tell that I am healing.
Because I am choosing to live an incomparable life.
I am freeing myself of comparisons, and accepting myself as a one of a kind individual. I am understanding what progress is to me and not measuring it against the progress of others. I am recognizing that my steps must not be the same steps as my colleagues, or of my parents. My steps must serve me and get me to my destined destination. As long as I get there and help others along the way, I’m good.

These parts of me can’t be compared to those of another. They are not better and they are not worse. They are unique and beautifully crafted to be prized by me and shared with others.
 
I can tell I’m healing. I process things a lot differently. I’ve dug deep to get a better grasp of my emotions. I know what things I do to hurt me. I know what things I do to hurt others. Knowing is clarity. Clarity is knowing.
 
I vibe better with people who share this same frequency. With people who frequently remind themselves that it’s ok to whole-heartedly be themselves. With the powers that be constantly telling you what's beautiful and what’s smart, you have to remind yourself not to fall for it. To remain true to you.
 
And love… we’re in a world where more than a billion types of love exist. Love feels different to everyone. So, how do we build a lasting love when our individual loves are matchless? We compromise. We learn their love and they learn ours. Because knowing is clarity. Clarity is fueled by communication. Honest communication blesses a relationship. And partners in a blessed relationship that lasts will know that the union is incomparable to the relationships of others. A relationship’s journey doesn’t have to be the same as anyone else’s.
 
Living an incomparable life is changing me. It is changing the way I view myself and how I am connected to the world around me. Although, sometimes living this type a life can be lonely, I still prefer it. I know some people won't understand it because it's different. It requires struggle on another level, but I am healing, and I feel stronger. That's what matters most to me.

I think I am about to bounce back...
And that can mean a few things depending on the person.
I could be waking up from a deep slumber... or about to close these curtains...
I stay flirting... ;)
but still, I think I'm about to bounce back.
Have you ever felt like something amazing was about to happen,
​just submerged in this bliss of an "I can make it/I can do this" - ish moment?
Yes! For a moment, you believed!
You felt like you'd make it no matter what! No matter what came. No matter the pain.
Just ready for whatever, then here came... whoever... talking that shit.
Asking if you're sure about this.
Asking you to do it their way...
Asking you to hear what they say.
And what they say is what everybody is saying.
But you never wanted to do what everyone else is doing.
So, you keep pursuing the goal at hand, but a little bit more cautious...
Because they doubted your plan.
Their doubt became yours.
You just inherited their closed doors.
And in exchange you get to remain close.
You get to toast to staying in the same place and doing the same things.
And they'll be the Tails to you, Sonic.... getting all your missed rings.
I'm about to bounce back like Sonic after a spin charge.
Right before the dash.
Holding the down arrow and pressing on the C button.
Don't let them hold you back.
Don't let them stop you from touching... your dreams.
You've been reaching for a reason.
Reaching towards the sky and stretching.
They know once you've stretched you won't be on their level.
That's why we must surround ourselves with people who only want better.
But not just better for themselves...

Sometimes we have to go through things.
We have to go through cycles.
We have to hold different titles.
We have to be other people.
Just to notice how regal...
we really we were from the beginning.

Pass on your open doors.
Pass on on your scars.
And not your sores.
Pass on what has healed.
And not wounds that you allow to remain open.
Pass on your hope and motivation.
Show people how to bounce back.
You know, like in rotation?

We get higher, we get hired.

I'm bout to bounce back.
I'm bout to go shake sum on an island.
I'm bout to wake up every day smiling.
And a million and half people can tell me I'm wilding.
But I WILL NOT.
I won't stop believing. In me. Ever. Again.

Believing in my worth.
Believing in my love.
Believing in my mind.
Believing in my faith.

Before a bullet leaves a gun's barrel, Before it travels through the bore,
Before it escapes... There is a RECOIL.
Best explained by (as the textbooks say) "Newton's Third Law"
[I've have yet to research who may have really discovered this, but anyway]
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Sometimes there is a jolt, a setback, a push before we are launched.

But it's time to bounce back.


Faith Underwood

Lately, I've received one constant message. I’ve had three conversations from several people that shared a connection. Essentially, the main topic was God. I took it as a sign to reevaluate my relationship with the spirit of all spirits.
 
There is something about being close with your spirit. That something can be described as an irreplaceable feeling. Especially if your spirit is fulfilled. A fulfilled spirit is close to God, the highest spirit.
 
So, we can’t forget God. We can’t forget about the heavens. They are too important to forget. They are connected to us. We can’t mentally be without, but often we are. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes it slips our mind, sometimes we’re busy, and just haven’t found time… for devotion.
 
For those conversations, those meetings, those reflections, those directions….
 
Whether you go to church, attend mosque, visit any other temples, or meditate to talk to the God within, let it be known that devotion is a necessity.  
 
Devotion is a space. A public and/or private time that needs to be managed and revisited daily. It is a never-ending cycle. It is a spiritual recycling center. It is where you take all the energy attached to you and refresh it while you interact with the highest spirit.
 
What I feel to be most important in my life right now is the action of upgrading. Recently, I‘ve upgraded my vision board by removing obtained goals, and adding new goals to achieve. And now that I think about it, I see that devotion requires upgrading as well. My devotion has evolved from religious to spiritual over the years, and with each upgrade it fits the newest version of me, but it is not something that happens automatically. It requires dedication and awareness. It requires you.
 
Ask yourself if you are as close to God as you need to be. Upgrade your devotion. Rejuvenate your faith. Renew your visions and dreams. And love you at every step.
 
As always, I’m sending you peace and blessings.
 
​-Faith