interview

Can you define the moment your heart decided it was time for a career change?

I’m not sure it was a single moment.

For many years, I was ignoring the gentle urging from my heart to try something new. I was chasing acting dreams and put my heart and soul into making that dream a reality.

I was really invested in it as a career choice and despite having a university degree in journalism couldn’t really see past my childhood acting dreams. Deep down, I always felt as though I was waiting for someone else to give me a break or an opportunity. I felt like I gave away my power every time I stepped into a room to audition.

It gradually wore me down and while I wanted to act mostly because of the creative expression, I didn’t feel very creatively fulfilled as mostly I was cast in TV ads or badly written student films.

I did do some really fun projects and don’t regret my decision to pursue that career path when I did, but the level of satisfaction I have now with creating my own line of organic Sacred Skincare and Self Care Ritual tools (compared with being a disillusioned and slightly naive aspiring actor) has been incredible and fulfilling on so many levels.

For me it was a gradual letting go of something I fiercely wanted to make space for something new to grow and flourish.

I handcrafted my own products for many years before launching Alyssum Alchemy, often balms to soothe my own dissatisfied soul, but I also made handmade gifts for family and friends. I found aromatherapy to be a lovely self nurturing and creative hobby to nourish me on multiple levels and felt very empowered when coming up with blends and ideas unlike the very disempowering entertainment industry.

In practical terms, what first steps did you take towards designing a new career?

I suppose educating myself over a period of years about natural skincare and aromatherapy was a major step as it was something I had always been interested in.

Working in the industry for almost 10 years (while waiting for my big acting break to come along) meant I was fully immersed in the industry. I knew what customers wanted, what kinds of products were popular, why certain ingredients were used in various combinations, as well as understanding the often overlooked safety of essential oils.

What daily practices allow you to bring creativity into your work and life?

Yoga really helps me to come back to myself and step away from the busy-ness of my brain and the distractions that abound in life.

It helps me to bring some quiet and stillness into my day, check in with myself to see where I’m at and helps to clear the slate to allow the creativity and productivity to flow.

Sometimes a change of routine can also help inspiration to flow.  A few days out of Sydney somewhere quiet and leafy, or a retreat somewhere can help to get new ideas to spring forth.  But for me ideas and creativity isn’t really the challenge, it’s actioning them where i struggle.

I’m a big ideas person, and often get overwhelmed with all the things I want to do as I also never seem to have enough time to do it all.

I find I’m most creative when I’m not suffering from overwhelm, so stripping back my to do list to the bare minimum and try to make space in my day for self care it so important as I balance motherhood and running a business.

I also do my best to weave ritual into my day as often as I can.

Be it my morning cup of tea, choosing an oracle card when I begin my day, choosing which fragrance to wear or burning incense when I tidy up or do chores.

They are always ways to make the mundane more magical and special.

What practices do you use to manage your inner critic as you forge your own path?

I’ve always been rather stubbornly optimistic and ‘glass half full’ even during those hard years when I barely got any acting work, I have a strong sense of faith that everything will work out in the end, so that really helps now that I’m forging into new territory, mostly on my own without a guidebook.

I try to practise gratitude as much as a I can and try to see the world (as well as myself, other people and any challenges I encounter) as much as I can through my heart space, (rather than my headspace which is all over analytical critic) it’s like a lens of compassion and understanding.

My entire skincare line has been infused with gem and flower essences which help to encourage feelings of compassion and support feelings of self worth so just through my daily practise of using the Rose Radiance Facial Nectar or Face mist I am supporting myself to be more positive and forgiving toward myself.

Define the purpose of the work you do now – has it evolved over time or did you always know?

My goal with Alyssum Alchemy has always been to encourage people to make time for daily sacred rituals in their lives.

Because we are all on the go all of the time, whether its mentally or physically, it’s often hard to stop and simply be.  We fill our spare time with scrolling and our days are so jam packed its no wonder that by the end of the day we feel devitalised but not necessarily fulfilled.

I wanted to create a line of intentional self care ritual products people could use to weave mini self care rituals into their busy days and routines, whether its spritzing their pillow with something to help them fully surrender, let go from their stresses and sink into a deeply restorative sleep, or nurture their skin with potent yet gentle skin loving botanicals which have been infused with multiple levels of energy healing.

I knew from the beginning I didn’t want to use terms like ‘anti-aging’ or ‘anti-acne’ or any kind of negative wording, so instead my products have affirmations on the back of the bottle and really positive language to support women in their self love journey.

I really think the daily skin care routine can be transformed into a self love ritual with the right intention and and beautifully crafted products.

What really helped me when I was feeling unfulfilled in my acting career was the little self care rituals I did at home with my oils and homemade remedies.

I felt like I was taking my power back and at the very least had full control over my own healing rituals. Then I became a mum and had a really tough few months navigating that new path and found again I reached for the self care rituals to anchor me back and support me.

It was kind of an ‘a-ha’ moment when I saw myself going down into a dark shadowy hole of negativity, and then consciously making the decision to gently lure myself back into the light again with sacred daily rituals.  It was then I knew my entire product line (many of which at this point had already been formulated just not officially launched yet) would be all about encouraging self care and self love and permission to pause as part of a sacred daily ritual.

Name the top thing on your current ‘stop doing list’?

I really try not to focus on what I need to stop, rather I try to shine a light on what I’d like to be doing more of.  For me that’s cultivating more simplicity and space into my life.    

What was the best investment you made in yourself last year?

I always try to go to at least one retreat a year as it really fills my cup. Last year I went on a couple, one was just for me and one was with my hubby.  Bringing my husband along to a yoga retreat as the only man was mildly amusing but mostly fabulous and ended up being a really lovely way to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary.

We attended a couple of workshops as well as did yoga twice daily and ate wonderfully nourishing food all in a little eco sanctuary in the middle of the bush for 4 days. It was the first time we’d had more than a night or two away from our son Flynn after 3 years of being parents so was a really nice way to reconnect.

Finally, if you could give one piece of advice to your 18 year old self upon finishing school, what would it be? 

I really love the quote “What is it you want to do with your one wild and precious life?” by Mary Oliver.

I think that’s a pretty good question to ask any 18yro (or even 38yro!).  Also I wish I had learned to listen to my heart and intuition earlier (rather than letting my headstrong ego guide me) about what would actually bring me joy and fulfilment all those years ago.