Tate

Seems like so many lives I’ve lived to bring me to a true life of service. To a belief in community purpose and giving of gifts. The realization that our gifts are for others. Deep in our soul we attempt to uncover the intimacy of our true nature.

A long story as a highlight reel. I grew up in a household where I didn’t feel safety. I had a father who used drugs and a mother who was very much the victim of abuse. I am the oldest daughter and I was my younger brothers’ keeper. I grew up feeling responsible for everyone’s feelings and strived to play the peacekeeper. I sacrificed myself in order to become a buffer system for unregulated emotions. As I got older I lacked boundaries and people pleased my way into feeling acceptance and validation. I had no idea the experience of real love or of self identity as I spent my time in deep observation of the environment I was attempting to adapt in to.

I left the house at 17 and began working in a barber shop braiding hair. This is where I experienced for the first time in my life the vulnerability and openness of barbershop culture. They spoke of trauma without shame. They allowed me to be open about my experiences and showed me where to see the silver lining. They planted seeds in me that set the rest of my life in discovery of my own psychology, along with the psychology of society. For the first time in my life I felt real acceptance, for all my darkness was validated.

I always felt called to understand why we are the way we are. I felt called to counsel and serve others who maybe hadn’t had the opportunity I had to be in a safe space. To help connect us with the unwanted parts of ourselves. I stood behind my stylist chair with the intention of making others feel what I felt being in the shop. The sacred space, where shame dissipated and truth could be held.
I moved to LA in my early 20’s set out to scale my talents in entertainment. I ended up in magazines such as Vogue and GQ. Now that story is of a whole other adventure, but the same principles I always had allowed me in to the creative spaces of many artists and entertainers such as Nipsey Hussle, 50 cent, Brent Faiyaz, Wale, and I even had the opportunity to braid Snoop Dogg. Although at the time these accomplishments seemed to make me feel purpose, something else was calling me.

I eventually burned out of doing hair and decided to shake my life up by selling everything and putting life into a backpack to travel the world. I spent about 4 years in and out of the U.S. traveling Europe, Australia and Asia. On one of my stays in NYC I had a horrible accident that fractured my face and left me not knowing if I lost my eyesight. I was put on medication and struggled with suicidal thoughts. I was so deep in depression until the day I finished my medication. All of a sudden the world went back to being tolerable. As my recovery continued I lost the ability to digest foods I loved, I suffered from hives, and blackout migraines. I figured I had head trauma but didn’t want to return to the doctor because of the side effects of medication. This sent me down my research journey of holistic health and medicine. I began fruit fasting and taking herbs. I became fully sober. I spent 3 years as a raw vegan and yoga disciple. I completely shifted my life and my perspective. I felt the dance with god, no longer a theory in my mind but a full experience of reverence.

Here I am today, a living testimony of the power of herbal medicine and faith. Excited to share, to give, and to inspire where I’m called.