So, you’ve burned through all the wax in your Sunrise. What now? Well, don’t toss it in the trash ! Here’s 4 fun and creative ways to repurpose your concrete bowl:

Plant Pot

Repurpose your Tsehai bowl into a stylish planter? You can plant succulents, herbs, or even small flowers in it. First, make sure you clean out any remaining wax and wick residue from the bowl. Then, add some potting soil and your chosen plant. You can even get creative with the arrangement of plants in the bowl, creating a mini-garden that will look great in your home.

Plus, having plants in your living space can be a great way to improve air quality and reduce stress. So, not only are you repurposing your candle bowl, but you’re also improving your overall well-being. It’s a win-win!

Altar

In the spirit of sacred living, we are always thinking about new ways to add more peace and intentionality to your home. One way to do this is by repurposing your Tsehai bowl into your very own altar. Add your favorite crystals, a few candles and maybe even a photo of someone that is no longer here that you wish to keep at the forefront of your mind…the options are endless. You decide what you want to display on your altar, after all..it’s your sacred life. 

Fruit Bowl 

Okay, so this one might sound a bit unconventional, but bear with me. Your concrete bowl can actually make a great fruit bowl! Simply give it a thorough cleaning and fill it with your favorite fruits.

The weight of the concrete will keep the bowl from tipping over, even when it’s filled with heavier fruits like apples or oranges. And let’s be honest, anything looks more appetizing when it’s displayed in a beautiful bowl.

Zen Garden 

Whether you practice mediation or just need to decompress at the end of your day,  creating a mini zen garden is definitely the move! Fill your bowl with sand, rocks, and other decorative elements like small statues or candles, and create your own miniature oasis of calm. The rough texture of the concrete bowl will add an earthy and natural feel to your zen garden, while the small size makes it perfect for any desk or tabletop.

Take a few moments each day to tend to your zen garden, raking the sand and arranging the rocks to create a sense of mindfulness and relaxation. Your mini zen garden will not only be a beautiful decorative piece but will also serve as a daily reminder to take a few moments to breathe, relax and find inner peace. Remember, we’re all about slow, sacred living here at Addis VIV. 🙂 

So there you have it, four fun and creative ways to repurpose your Sunrise bowl. Not only are you keeping it out of the landfill, but you’re also adding a unique touch to your home décor. And who knows, maybe you’ll come up with even more creative ways to use it in the future. The possibilities are endless!

THE BEGINNING

1984. My first trip to Ethiopia. My first time meeting relatives that are now my brothers and sisters…My first time meeting my maternal grandmother, who was and will always be my absolute heart. After years of only being able to talk for a few seconds whenever the phone lines in Ethiopia were up, I finally got to speak to my grandmother face-to-face and bond with her in person.

I was so confused and distraught by the environment as I pulled into the shanty-town like gates, yet by the time we drove off I didn’t want to leave because it felt like home and it was more full of life and love than any home in the United States.  But how so? So much was missing…I remember thinking why does my grandmother live here? She needs to come back with me! What about the glorious rich stories I heard of the latter years? The photos I saw of these beautiful homes and everyone dressed impeccably? The streets paved and lined with beautiful cars? I was too young to understand the impact of the 1974 Red Terror on the country and on the spirit of the people…

I was so young and so innocent and had no clue what it meant to live in a 3rd World country… I remember feeling guilty… It lasted for days… How could we have all that we have back home while so many live without? While, from the looks of things even my blood lived without? I think I spent the first two weeks staring out of the window of my uncles car in disbelief… My mother, pregnant with my brother back home in Oakland, CA would check on me every day and I would smile Big enough for her to hear it so that she wouldn’t worry about me. My 9 year old heart was breaking… Not for my family because I quickly saw that they actually lived wonderfully and were happy and had all that they needed. But for the children I made eye contact with every second of the day while zooming through Addis Ababa staring out the window…

These children looked like me, looked like us… I actually remember one day staring at a woman who sat on the side of the road with two children who was clearly famished and homeless… She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. I even yelled out in the car… “Look!” I made my father and my uncle look out the window to look at her and I said… “Isn’t she beautiful? I can’t believe how pretty she is!” They smiled and said yes… But I could tell by the silence that they were all too familiar with this beauty mixed with sadness…

I mean had she been in New York City she would be a supermodel with millions of dollars, fame and a big beautiful home for her and her children.  How could this be? How could it be that in one city this woman is homeless but in another city she could be a famous supermodel? What is wrong with our world?

I found out later that my family was a little worried about me because they could see in my eyes that I was lost in thought most of the trip…they saw that I was trying to process without really asking any questions.  To this day I still observe and process the same way: no one knows what I’m actually thinking or experiencing until I’m able to alchemize my feelings and integrate them with my final thoughts. At that point I feel safe to share.

By the end of the trip my entire being was full of light and bliss… I was excited!  I had a level of confidence I did not know I was missing.  I was so proud to be from this country.  The once frightening environment was now a dream land to me. So much freedom. So much joy and laughter, singing and dancing.  People feeding each other left and right. The little things were everything to everyone. What a gift I received on this trip.  I was humbled & uplifted simultaneously.

In the states I went to a private French school where absolutely no one looked like me and certainly no one’s homes mirrored mine. Up until that trip I felt so confused and sadly less-than at times.  But by the time we packed up our suitcases and joined a caravan of cars full of family and music heading to the airport to send my father and I off…I realized my riches.

I will never forget the emotions I experienced that first day and the last. I am so grateful for all of it… I am who I am because of this trip and the trajectory that it set me on.

I remember listening to Nipsey Hussle talk about how his life changed on his first trip to Eritrea with his father and brother…I could see it in his face and I knew exactly what he was talking about and what he was feeling. There’s nothing like smelling and touching the land that your ancestors come from…

I will never forget the emotions I experienced that first day and my last. By the time we had to head back to the States, I knew exactly why my family and others chose to live in Addis Ababa. No longer did I see distressed homes and poverty … rather all I saw was God’s pure joy and gratitude in the faces and homes of everyone there.

This trip was and is the gift that keeps on giving…I am who I am because of it and because of the trajectory that it set me on.

Black History Month begins on the continent. We are all chosen ones that come from a lineage, a history of richness and royalty… my story belongs to all of us.

**The first photo was my last day in Ethiopia. Everyone came to the airport to see us off… We were a cool bunch The last photo was taken in Spring 2022 on my paternal Grandmother’s porch… Surrounded by love and memories I’ll never forget.

Affirmations, prayer and music have long been a part of my morning routine, where I find my peace and grounding at the top of my day. During the pandemic, my morning practice was my saving grace. While some days it just took a few minutes to feel inspired, by mid-week, it began to take hours to find the balance of peace and strength to arise and face the day. But there was an unfortunate layer to this.

Amid an unprecedented pandemic, we found ourselves being faced with recurring themes of black death and injustices across all media platforms, resulting in a communal grief unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life.

Many of us sat in front of our screens in agony and grief for days upon days only to be shot in the face with another image, another sensationalized insensitive account of another INNOCENT black male being killed.

I remember specifically feeling helpless and traumatized by these constant horrific incidents that albeit we as black people are all too familiar with, were happening in a viral-like manner. I began to think of the mothers. The fathers. The children that are scarred for life by the premature deaths of their brothers, fathers, and husbands. And I eventually leaned against my kitchen counter and sobbed. Somewhat unconsciously I walk over to one of my candles sitting on the island, I light it and just stare at the flame. I think of their faces. I think of their mothers. I envision the men that were killed as somebody’s little boy…. I realize in that moment that I’ve been holding my breath, my fists are clenched and tension is the only thing keeping me standing. I exhale and say a silent prayer…

The moment I say amen to my prayer, I begin to become hopeful. Then I think…what if everyone has the same candle in their home, dedicated to protecting young black boys and men…? What if by lighting this candle we all become a link in a light-filled chain that inevitably surrounds them all… creating a circle of love, and a veil of protection…Spiritual Armour? Instantly my Spirits were lifted and I felt less helpless.

At this time, Addis VIV was a seed in mind and in my heart. Non-existent in the physical world. The only evidence of it was my unnamed candle bowl that radiated like the sun and gave me life at a time when so many were losing theirs. I knew at that moment, at the very least, I wanted to create one candle for everyone to share…it had to happen. I guess you could say this shared experience of darkness was the catalyst of me deciding to stand for our collective light…and find a way to bring it to others.

This is how the ‘Innocent’ candle came to fruition. Birthed during the pandemic in response to the senseless, racially motivated crimes against Black and brown men and boys around the world. I knew in my heart of hearts that the answer was right in our face.

We must become Guardians of the Innocent. And so it begins…
We. Are. Innocent.

CREATING THE INNOCENT SCENT

Before I knew the name of the candle I knew it’s essence…Innocence.

I knew the emotion I wanted to evoke: unconditional love. Whether I was meditating, cooking, or riding my bike I became obsessed with thinking about this…I would ask myself questions: “What is it you see when you look at young black boys, and men that you feel some don’t see? What is it you know about these men and boys that others don’t know?”

Innocence. Joy. Vulnerability. Sensitivity. Mysticism. Romance. Playful. Powerful. Fun. Kind. Generous. Silly. Brilliant. Creative. Reliable. Worthy. Lovely.

These were some of the words that came up for me… And ultimately at the core of each of these words was that undeniable innocence that we all embody. And so, I went on a quest to create a scent that matched all of these words, with Innocence, being the main pillar.

For me the citrus and grapefruit notes represent the vibrant and energizing essence of youth & childlike dreams. Sandalwood and Musk offer grounding energy, reliability, and represent power and creation. The combination feels sweet, powerful, mystical, playful, Godly. This was my inspiration…

MAY THIS YOUNG BOY HAVE A CHANCE AT BECOMING THIS MAN, MAY THIS MAN FEEL AS INNOCENT AS THIS LITTLE BOY. THEY ARE ONE AND THE SAME…INNOCENT.

WORK OF HE(ART).
I always envisioned a beautiful face, the face of a young boy with the warm glow of the candle light radiating through. I truly wanted it to represent the spirit of the boy. And then I decided I wanted to add the man to the same piece of art so that they could be reflections of one another. My dear friend and incredible artist Miles Regis is well-known for his depiction of black people in a whimsical abstract manner that forces you to ponder. As the images became clearer in my mind, his face came to mind as well. The second I called to share my vision he immediately said, “Done! I’m in.” He already had an idea of what the faces should be… it wasn’t long before we had our Innocent faces staring back at us.