During that conference, everyone around me was overjoyed while worshipping God, but I was a complete mess! My soul was torn between helping those struggling (be they refugees or women in need), working with my new love of henna tattooing, and trying to financially survive. In 2016, I went to a worship conference in Los Angeles, California. Henna Crowns of Courage taught me to stand tall and be confident!” – Amy Blunt “There are no words to express or explain the emotions that took over during my crowning. It wasn’t until I felt I had lost everything, couldn’t find a job that was fulfilling and I knew I had to find my purpose. However, I never thought it would take me to such great heights as it has. Henna was allowing me to accept peace for myself. Reminding you of who you truly are, which is a goddess, which is powerful, beautiful and courageous. The root word for henna (mehndi) in sanskrit means “Inner Light.” Revealing yours in most beauty. What you are going through now will soon fade just like this tattoo. It is meant to be temporary to remind you the everything in life is temporary. Representing protection, blessings, self love and beauty. This ancient art form is more than just novelty on the skin, it has a deeper meaning rooted back 5,000 years. Being able to take this art anywhere with me to bring me back into the meditational space to bless my body and love myself again. I had dealt with anxiety most of my life, I found the one art form that could calm my anxiety. Tears filled my eyes as I let out a sigh of “letting go.” By applying this henna design, I felt I was able to overcome the anxieties that had come with life. I was captured by a stillness I never felt before, I was present within myself, my breath had slowed down to lay a thin straight line, the coolness of the cold paste with essential oils comforted my body. The moment I sat down, was the moment that changed my life forever.įor an hour straight, the art brought me into a meditational state. One night, I asked to bring a henna cone home with me. Breaking all CULTURAL boundaries, RELIGIOUS affiliations and brought women together to celebrate beauty and community. I began to notice it on my Nepali friends, my Middle Eastern refugee friends, my Eritrean friends and Sudanese, all used this sacred art form. I remember the first time I saw the art of henna, it took my breath away, I had felt like I had done it in a past life. Feeling like I entered into a different country every time I visited a new family made a far greater impact than I could imagine.
I knew I had to become uncomfortable to find comfort within myself.Ĭoming back to the states, graduating from Kuyper College with a degree in Intercultural Studies, Religious studies and TESOL, my passion fell in the hands of Refugee Resettlement.
Spending two years in Hungary at a bible school made up of 60 students from 14 different countries all in Hungarian translated to English, I was quickly pushed out of my box and started to understand many other world views. After graduating High School I chose to leave everything behind to find my spiritual calling in life. I had dreams of being a missionary or working in the Peace Corps since I was a young child and I had this urgency to travel the world. Having dealt with intense panic attacks and anxiety, I knew I had to change my life.
As we left the exhibit to head home, Isabel looked at me and said, ‘This is the first time I actually feel beautiful.’” – Isabel Oppenhuizen’s father, DaveĬhoosing Love over Fear – Anxiety is real. She had a confidence I had never seen in her before. “When Isabel’s Crown was finished and she looked at herself for the first time, her face glowed. Joy, before we jump into specific questions about your organization, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Joy Gilbert.