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. ❤︎

“The sacredness and realization that “there is a breathe of life within my womb”. I wish I could’ve just skipped to this feeling. But it’s so much more powerful that I got through the stages.”

— Cathleen Benjamin

To my mommas maybe this may resonate with you. 

When I found out I was pregnant with Baby Moon 🌙 I went through stages what I call the 3 S’s. I went from being scared, to secretly knowing I had a blessing inside me, to understanding my blessing and holding it extremely sacred.  

S:1

If you’ve been following me I had a scare back in September. I had an unusual pain in my abdomen area. Had an event that morning and throughout the event kept noticing the pain get stronger and stronger. At one moment my husband looked my way and I put my head down cause I wanted him to continue his workout but next thing I knew he said let’s go we’re going to the ER. Something on my face must’ve gave it away. At this point I could barely walk to the car. Thought maybe it was something with my uterus. I knew eventually I wanted more children but something in me said this is it not going to happen. I thought all the worst thoughts and just kept crying on the way to the hospital in excruciating pain. That silent cry with tears just flowing. That day I never shared this with anyone except Kurt but spirit was w/ me. A healing mantra come to me and I silently repeated it with tears in my eyes. I felt an image in a white robe following me to the X-ray room as they wheeled me away from Kurt. They said it was kidney stones. To this day I never passed the stone. 

End of January I found out I was pregnant. I was like no way! There is no way. Immediately started freaking out frozen in fear. Like are we ready? We have so many “plans”. We just sold our condo and just moved. Physically I was immobilized. I had no motivation. Completely stopped doing anything business wise, no posts, no checkins w/ my team, friends. Everything stopped. Went in complete panic mode when no one was around. I stayed in bed for hrs crying, overthinking. I felt like I was walking on eggs shells in the beginning. The anxiety about carrying to term, about being ready (than) or again or oh shoot I prayed for this months ago, now I have this what do I do now set it and didn’t allow me to fully embody and enjoy the moment. The revelation that once again I’ve been blessed. I had my pastor pray for and over me because I was losing it. He said all the right things and that has kept me carried me through all the scary what if thoughts.  I had a talk with myself to snap the heck out of it. Than it took me back to that time in September and said God Im surrendering all my fears. Thank you 🙏🏾 

S:2 

Culturally being of Haitian descent you don’t share before the 2nd trimester. Which is technically the “safe zone” I waited until about 13/14wks because I wanted to enjoy this and hold it now that I was finding my groove again. My fears subsided. I was excited. I wanted to just hold this for me Kurt our kids and family. My favorite reaction was wow. As I was (am) wowed daily by the wonders, the grace, the miracle of carrying Baby Moon 🌙 wondering what is to come and til this day just wowed by how blessed we are because this was actually a manifestation. 

S:3 

The third “S” is magical. The sacredness and realization that “there is a breathe of life within my womb”. I wish I could’ve just skipped to this feeling. But it’s so much more powerful that I got through the stages. I have been put on an assignment to eat, drink, sleep take care of myself, my mind, my body prayerfully carrying to term another beautiful creation of God. In all its miraculousness, in all the great wonders of the world I have been granted the beautiful duty to add more light into this world.  I couldn’t be more happy, broke wide open yet guarded at the same time. What gift and assignment could be greater, more challenging, more rewarding than this. Jesus I can’t wait to hold Baby Moon 🌙

#EmpoweredbyCathy

📸: Kurt Benjamin

My daily routine consists of morning prayer, devotionals and being still before rising and than starting my day and I’ll be honest I drifted a bit, as I do many a days when I am connecting. In this prayer, I professed surrendering it all.  Like all of it.  Let’s be honest sometimes it’s just more than we can handle.

I than received a text message from one someone who I call my spiritual sister whom I’ve been thinking about reaching out to lately but for some reason it hasn’t happened but she’s been on my mind and I’d send Light her way anytime Id think of her. It was a text from her saying the spirit came to her, my name came up and she had sent a prayer up for me 🙏🏾 but what grabbed me in her note and prayer for me the word surrender was there. 

Later that morning as I went to burn some sage I pulled a card from my Universe Has Your Back, by Gabrielle Bernstein deck as I was getting ready to do a quick meditation and this card pictured was the one I picked or picked me. I immediately text my spiritual sister and we were both moved by it.  When you know, you know. It always astonishes you no matter how much you already believe. When the spirit is sending a message to you it will stop at nothing to make it crystal clear what is needed. You have to be open and paying attention i order to receive. 

My meditation afterwards was MIND BLOWING. Like I can’t even talk about it. LOL

I didn’t know if I wanted to share this but I know there are people who are struggling, people who are searching and looking for answers, for solutions for a way out of no way. I can’t stress enough how so many things have shifted, like mountains (whether it was people “in the way of”, things, situations, finances) moved in my favor because of fasting, deep prayer, being still, not giving up (because faith without works is dead), asking the universe, God, The Most High for what I want and if it be thy will be done. Meditating doesn’t have to be long even for 5 mins a day, journaling, getting clear of what you want, writing it down, believing it’s possible and going for it!! Sometimes drifting away even from the ones you love for a moment to reconnect and align with your center, your core has been transformative because that’s what’s needed to clear out the noise. 

Friends don’t stop seeking, aligning, asking, and doing the work. It’s not a one shot deal. 

Today I read if you don’t do anything else talk to God, Allah, universe. Some of the other things you like dare I say yoga, eating clean, exercising daily, drinking more water are not enough.  I’m here for the #fitsouls, not just the fit bodies, but for fit minds, fit spirits that reflect our highest selves.  Yesterday was reminder, a confirmation.  I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t advise you to do some reflection on what it is you believe you are called to do.  The BIG stuff, the scary stuff.  Your purpose awaits you. People are looking for their purpose when your purpose is waiting on you to activate that light inside of you. #surrendering is your compass.