Happy New Year Beautiful People!!!

I must admit, I didn’t remember my word for 2021 until creating a post to share in my notes on January 1st, 2022 while creating my best of 2021 reel. 

It dawned on me that I went through an entire year and didn’t give this word that came to me and in a flash, 365 days later didn’t focus on that word but lived in the essence of expanding. I went from not knowing what I was doing after having one of the craziest years in 2020, to piece it all together. Went from saying YES in January to call of adding to my Women's Wellness umbrella and becoming a Full Spectrum Doula to getting not one BUT THREE scholarships. Birth, Postpartum & Lactation Counselor courses, training, exams are all paid in full.  This is the part of the story when you forget about the how’s and just stay the course. Doors begin to open. This of course still required me to work and stretch my thinking and unlearn what I thought I already knew, and adopt new ideas of what is. And know at any point these ideas can change as you begin to grow more. I was releasing any ideas of control and embracing change. In the birth world and my journey. This then led me to more deep-seated healing. 

I began to remember things, dreams, discussions from when I was young. Then people close to me began telling me things elders, and ancestors have said about me. All part of my story that continues to unfold. Things that were affirming to who I was becoming. Names I've never heard of before in my own family. 

I sought out healers, guides and dreams became visions and became reality. 

One thing that no one ever tells you is how lonely this journey can be when you are trying to be obedient to the calling over your life. No one tells you how your tribe can’t come with you when you’re healing, surrendering, being stretched, and can no longer associate to things that seemed so at home and familiar before.  

2021 we chipped at so many layers. We peeled back scabs and the tears flowed down like rivers and it hurt yet we were baptized by it. Allowing us to accept that this was all part of the beautiful process of truly being free and blooming. 

In 2021, my word was EXPANSION. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to quit, to stop, to fade to black but something within me kept me going, kept me aligned, and kept me grounded. 

On the 1st of January 2022, I was sitting in my momma's kitchen and I thought what’s my word for this year. I closed my eyes and I thought okay this may take some time. I’m going to need a moment to meditate and pray on this. Or so I thought because instantly the word ascension came to mind. 

I was like ascension? Why that word? I thought. 

I thought isn’t that blasphemy. You’ll have to understand, I grew up Catholic in a Haitian household. Went to Catholic school from Kindergarten to 8th grade, we went to church twice a week. Once with the school as a class and on Sundays. Summers, I was sent to my cousin's French-speaking Baptist summer camp. I thought about this powerful word and it’s a strong association to Christ ascending into Heaven after His Resurrection. 

as·cen·sion

The root of the word ascension derives from the Latin word ascendere, meaning "to mound, ascend, go up."

Definition of ascending

1a: rising or increasing to higher levels, values, or degrees

b: mounting or sloping upward

2: rising upward usually from a more or less flat base or point of attachment

Now I can go on and on breaking down this word. In no way shape or form does it simply it. But I get it. It makes total sense with the direction I am going and I said okay God, I receive that. I’ve been down, stayed quiet, been modest, and played small for far too long. I’ve waited my turn and admittedly remained a bit dormant. 

With that, Village we are continuing to expand, to take up space in a real way and we are now unapologetically ASCENDING and taking things to new levels. 

Asé…ahhh and so it is. 

So I ask you what’s your word? If you haven’t thought about it yet. Thats okay. Its not too late. Think on it. Meditate, pray and ask for guidance on your word. It may come to you right away or it may not. Don’t force, just listen closely.

May this year be great!! I’m wishing you all blessings on blessings on blessings

XO

Abundance is Your Birthright

You are worthy of the good health, peace, wealth that you desire.

Abundance is my birthright ✨
Comment “Yes” is you’re claiming this over your life.

I remember when I first began adopting this new mindset. It slowly started happening in 2017. At least that's when I can recall BOLDLY accepting the assignment. I had been slowly stepping into my sense of self-discovery and leaping heart wide open into the wellness realm. Becoming certified as Integrative Nutrition Coach, I had already been making my own changes and supporting women since 2015 but in 2018 while taking a shower I heard a voice say you have to go to California. It wasn’t subtle either. I immediately hit my girls up and started planning to go for my birthday in February.

But as the universe would have it I wouldn’t go in February as I planned but would go as it was designed in May 2018. In LaJolla I had my breakthrough. I got the answers, the tools, the excitement, the confirmation. I feel like that trip was the anointing oil my spirit needed.

I had just left my corporate job of 11yrs a few months prior in March and I just kept stepping out on faith ever since.

When did you realize that abundance was your birthright?

It’s okay if you were today years old. Now that you know, manifest accordingly 💫

Click on *Coach with Cathy coaching sessions are now OPEN for Fall! Offering you solutions to effectively implement the 4M’𝐬 into their lifestyle through 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, having an empowered 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭, ways to stay committed by honoring your body through 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 & nourishing your soul through 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩. ❤︎

“I’m here to challenge processes by doing the work. Leaning into my spiritual beliefs, my culture, ready to share some beautiful traditions for the first 40 days and beyond. Because postpartum is forever. ”

— Cathleen Benjamin

Oct 2020 I declared that in 2021 I would become a doula. In January, I registered for a scholarship, which I ended up not getting. Then I saw a chance to win another scholarship for a virtual doula training which I really wanted to take and a cohort I thought I really wanted to be a part of. Again I didn’t get the scholarship. I thanked God for giving the scholarships to those who really needed them.  Perhaps they were more “ready” for this work than I.

End of February, another opportunity came up to register for yet another scholarship with another cohort. This time I heard back and the email read congratulations!! I would start 12 weeks of training only a few days later for a full-spectrum doula training. After completing the training in early June I registered and received another scholarship but this time for level 2 an Intensive Postpartum Doula Training. I’m so dang happy and excited about this. 

I told my husband he can now refer to me as a scholarship baddie. 😂 

In Sept 2020, I said to a friend that I was considering becoming an IBCLC providing lactation support. But after that day the doula idea weighed heavily on me.  It kept ringing in my ear. “You should do this.” I resisted it at first. I didn’t understand why I would be called to do this. But then I remembered why not? Why not Be what you needed or wish you had for someone else?

“So I fasted and called on my ancestors.”

So I fasted and I called on my ancestors.

FWD to 2019 I became fascinated with birth. I would watch births all day long. In total awe. Some made me shout and give God immediate praise. Others made me cry. 

I found myself watching them over and over. Holding my breath. Feeling all the feels while carrying Baby Moon 🌙 completely fascinated by it. I credited it to be pregnant. But this was not something I was able to do in the past or ever.

The first time I almost assisted birth was in 2006 with my godson. I walked in just to greet my cousin but I was asked to stay. Before I knew it I was holding the mother of his child’s legs apart and telling her to push. I didn’t get to see the entire birth as I only stopped in to say hello so btw contractions I made my way out to let other families go in to greet the soon-to-be parents.

With all my births I felt like I was alone. No one who looked like me, in my corner to advocate for me, who I could talk to about my fears, my excitement, my regrets without judgment. 

No one to help equip me with the knowledge that would make me feel empowered to give birth wherever I decided to give birth whether in a hospital, at home, or birthing center. I turned to mom groups but some of the things were toxic, very judgy, mean even and packed with stories of trauma so I chose to disengage for my own mental health.

When I had my first child I had a bout with postpartum depression and just went through the motions. I learned about how serious it could get watching The Oprah Winfrey Show back in 2005. 

With Baby Moon 🌙  at almost 25 wks, I changed my OBGYN. It was very clear that I wanted a black doctor because even if you lived under a rock you by now read a story about the soaring rates of black maternity mortality rates and those ideas began to surface for me. The explicit and implicit biases when treating black women. So I did what I knew I had to do. Also, I desired to have more options that the hospital would not give me. So we thought about home births, we settled on a beautiful birthing facility over 45mins out of town to get the birth we desired. Hubby wanted a lotus birth. I wanted a water birth. Dreamed of it we got all the things but at 36weeks 5 days found out Baby Moon 🌙 was breech transverse and that our plans may be derailed. 

This time I felt safe and cared for and felt like they listened to me and my concerns. Even when I scheduled my c-section there was so much compassion on the other end of the line when the office manager called me to schedule my cesarean birth. 

Before the office manager, my Dr called while on vacation with her family, on a Saturday morning and her voice was so soothing I broke down. I sobbed so hard and loud and she just listened when I got quiet she affirmed me and spoke life over me. I don’t know that many have stories that play out like this. 

I want to make my future clients feel SEEN, understood, supported, and empowered.

This is the most beautiful and most sacred work that I am walking ever so empowered into. 

Now also a full spectrum doula in training I will be specializing in the sacredness and forgotten part of birth which is postpartum healing. I’m here to be part of the change I wish to see. 

I’m here to challenge processes by doing the work. Interpersonal work. Leaning into my spiritual beliefs, my culture, and ready to share some beautiful traditions for the first 40 days and beyond. Because postpartum is forever.

Leaning on my ancestors HEAVILY for this world I’m entering.

My healing, transformative journey has unleashed a wellness warrior and advocate and I’m here to help empower support love on some birthing families. 

Allow me to continuously re-introduce myself as your wellness advocate, holistic wellness accountability coach, and now full spectrum doula (in training). 

ONWARD!!! Let’s Grow