Kysha Mitchell

There aren’t many days in my life that don’t include Women’s History Month. Why? Because like Black History Month, these are not one-time opportunities for reflection, learning and celebration, they are active verbs in my life and business.

Women’s History Month in the US began as a week in March which eventually Congress voted in 1987 to be a month in perpetuity. Jimmy Carter in his 1980 Presidential Message designating the week said, “…the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well”. Although I love learning about inventions, firsts and courageous stories of the past, there is a part of me (my calling) that feels compelled to recognize that today is tomorrow’s history; therefore it’s important to be about the business of inventing, achieving, leading, being strong and loving NOW. The thing is, this doesn’t call for anything monumental. It’s really based on OUR daily activities regarding women and as women.

You can’t help but reflect that it has been a whole year (give or take depending where on the globe you live)- an historic, chaotic, global-reset of a year, since the world as we knew it came to a halt. As the weeks became months, among the many things I (we all) dealt with was a profound mourning for an aspect of my calling and business that I hold dear. All of my workshops, Meetups, events, conferences and retreats were canceled. It felt like a huge part of how I LIVE women’s history month had been cut off. In the beginning of 2020 I had multiple beautiful gatherings. small and large!

What did you mourn most during 2020? Have you acknowledged it?

If you know me, you probably know I’m an extrovert. That means that while introverts across America were reveling in their newfound freedom from people (the folks in my household included), we extroverts were looking out of our windows crying into our beverage of choice.

While I think of gathering as fulfilling a big part of my mission – creating safe, powerful spaces for aligned community and transformative action– I learned that this value is not restricted to in-person events. It is woven into the very fabric of what I do and how I do it.

Is there something that you thought was lost or gone that has shown up in other ways?

When shelter-in-place went into effect for a large portion of America, we were in the middle of my 9 month coaching program Alchemy. There were many times when my clients struggled to find the time, space in their homes (doing Zoom in cars) and energy to show up to the coaching calls. In full transparency there were times when I just wanted to stay in bed instead of showing up to serve. I’M SO GLAD WE DID. There was a session where I suspended all teaching and coaching and we just talked through fears, tears and laughter,. About everything going on and how it was effecting us.

“I’m so glad I chose to say yes to Alchemy, I don’t know what I would’ve done without y’all throughout this!”

“With everything going on, I’m so happy that I am still moving forward toward my goal. I see how much it means to me.”

“Thank you for giving me this space to keep showing up, even when I don’t think I can.”

THIS. This is what National Women’s Month is to me. Not just achievements, broken glass ceilings and acts of courage but the inner workings of what goes into creating the acts that show up in our history books. This and my company values of

• Wholeness – To leave no parts of you behind on this journey of success. No matter how janky, broken or damaged aspects of your life seem to be, when accepted, integrated and loved, it forms the Whole and Complete YOU. Bring it ALL!
• Trust – Even when you don’t want to, when you’re exhausted, when everything around you is in pure chaos, trust in your decisions or Divine timing enough to simply show up and get your miracles.
• Community – If you’ve been to my events, you’ve heard me say, “Your vision should be to big to do alone”. This means seeking out and accepting support. It also means not going through shit alone. Let your sisters pour into you when your cup is empty; When it’s full, let the overflow quench someone else’s thirst.

Whew, can I get a hallelujah? Annnd, I’m not done. I want to give you a peek into my world to see how Women’s History month shows up for me personally. But that’s next week. Until then, comment and let me know what part of this spoke to you? How do you experience women’s history month?

In Spirit,

These are some of my favorite photos the from Jan 20th inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (Oakland, Ca♥ native), interlaced with fiery quotes from the inaugural poet Amanda Gorman (click on her photo for the transcript & video).

With each of these, slip yourself into the photo or substitute “I” for “we” in the quotes.

1. What are you being sworn into for this year?
2. Are you brave enough to be it?
3. How are you/will you use your voice?
4. Who are you supporting while standing in your own majesty?
5. Are you willing to step boldly into your future?

? FIRE, I tell you!

The Hill We Climb -Amanda Gorman (excerpts)

When day comes, we step out of the shade aflame and unafraid, the new dawn blooms, as we free it.
For there was always light.
If only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.

We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be
A country that is bruised, but whole, benevolent, but bold, fierce, and free

That even as we grieved, we grew
That even as we hurt, we hoped
That even as we tired, we tried
That we’ll forever be tied together victorious

It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit.
It’s the past we step into and how we repair it.

What spoke to your inner fire today? Comment below and let me know.

In Spirit,

If it isn’t already.

This is what so many are feeling right now. On the dawn of the United States’ presidential election, the energy is high and nerves are frazzled. Folks are finding themselves arguing with family members, deleting people from their social media feeds, getting caught in Trump car rallies across the country and feeling fearful not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

Let me be real with you…

I make it a point to not spend much time on public channels when the energy is this high, yet I’ve found myself completely out of sorts lately.

• Forgetful
• Distracted
• Not getting along with technology
• Emotions on a rollercoaster

Not my usual. Ok y’all, since I’m being real-real, this could all just be related to peri-menopause lol! Except that during a prayer & meditation session on Sunday, I got this hit:

Nothing is wrong with you. You have opened yourself up to a higher level of feeling, listening, aligning with your truth and serving. That comes with being more attuned with the energy around you.

#mindblown

It isn’t just me! We have been more still as a society these past 8 months than ever before (in our lifetimes). It has opened us ALL up to MORE:

• More of our inner selves
• More of our desires
• More of our shadows
• More of that which connects us all as human beings

It is a lot. And we need to acknowledge the beauty AND burden of it. I have a suggestion for a time such as this – especially for this week:

Pause to give yourself what you need.

As many pauses as it takes. Once in the morning, once every hour or whenever your body tells you to. I don’t care if you are in the middle of a meeting, in the restroom or need to pull over while driving. Make YOUR needs a priority this week.

Does your physical self need deep breathing or a stretch? Does your emotional self need to yell or cry? Does your mental self need music or meditation (a break from thinking)? Does your spiritual self need a prayer partner or to put your feet on the earth?

My happy place is with my plant babies. You can bet I’ll be spending the day repotting and pruning between coaching sessions.

I’m challenging you. If you are down to give yourself what you need this week, whenever you need it, comment below with a simple:

I CAN AND I WILL

In Spirit,

Breonna Taylor.

Stop talking, working, moving…

STOP AND FEEL.

Feel the

Shock

Betrayal

Sorrow

Rage

Grief

Pain

Hopelessness

Disgust.

Now what?

BURN IT DOWN.

Pervasive and entrenched racism

The joke that is our justice system

Incestuous politics

Institutions of health based on illness

An insidious educational system

Broken capitalism.

Burn these paradigms down and

BUILD IT

The f***

BACK UP

RIGHT.

Burn and build. It all begins with each of us. Choose to be emotionally healthy. Don’t push it down, ignore it or dissociate; honor Breonna’s (and so many others’) memory by feeling. You can set fire to the things that don’t serve the whole with informed voting, getting involved and personal responsibility. You can build by supporting people, causes and businesses that align with your values. This includes supporting and investing in YOUR DREAMS. I have 2 questions for you:

1. What paradigm in your life will you set fire to?
2. What are you building?

Me? I am torching the outdated models and beliefs of what women should put first in their lives and what determines their success. I am building a movement of women living empowered, joy-filled & wealthy lives!

In Spirit,

Photo credit https://www.wsj.com/

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863.

I grew up in Berkeley, California where we’ve have held a Juneteenth celebration (which regularly falls on Father’s Day) since I was a teenager. This gathering was a ritual for us. Today, alongside the thousands of people who celebrate this commemoration every year, there is an explosion of recognition for June 19th, 1865; the day the news of emancipation finally reached the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas.

In and through all that we’ve experienced in the world these past couple of months, we’ve somehow found ourselves at a juncture where the media, corporations, social platforms and people everywhere have decided to use Juneteenth to honor, celebrate, connect, (placate, manage guilt) and take action in this time of Global Reset and Black Lives Matter activism.

I have many feelings about this and many things I could say. As I’ve been doing in abundance lately, I choose stillness. After being still I realized that I could focus on all the ways our recent circumstances have made a mockery of freedom OR I could choose to focus on the ways I am free in this moment…

I am free to kiss my remarkable husband as I leave our home

To receive a bear hug from my (all of a sudden taller than me) baby boy

To kiss my daughter’s adult cheeks

To have an inspired conversation with a friend and mentor

To sit on a public bench with snacks and a thought-provoking book

To laugh on a chat thread with my inner circle of powerhouse sisters

To feel loved, supported and respected to support and guide clients who are thriving even in the midst

To move my body at will in healthy and energetic ways

To make money doing what I love and in my zone of genius

To look out at this view as I write this message

To breathe

To breathe

To breathe and fight and shine in honor of those who cannot

What is your form of freedom in this moment? Comment below or in my group.

In Spirit,