Today we’d like to introduce you to Anastasia McGowan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Anastasia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I guess I set out on this path last year, I was so fed up with where I was working and super unhappy and emotionally and mentally I was not in the best place. I’ve always been a spiritual person, into meditation, crystals, and being aligned with my higher self, but I kind of lost that. One night I had a sort of epiphany and I realized what I wanted to do with my life, it was one of those “the answer was always right in front of you” kind of moments. I enrolled in West LA College for kinesiology, and I realized that I want to be a physical therapist and then eventually go to massage school as well, I really set out on a path of rediscovery, I eventually quit my job and found a way less emotionally demanding job, and things began to fall into place. I felt freer and had more clarity than I had in while, I started The Crystal Muse on Instagram, where I talk about crystals, give spiritual tips, and just try to answer questions people might have about metaphysics or spirituality, I even started a YouTube where I made videos on various spiritual topics, started my own blog website as well. This year was just about following through and being consistent and just opening myself up to what the universe has planned for me. I help my friend Heidi of Stoned by Heidi Jewelry who makes her own custom crystal jewelry and does farmers markets, I modeled for a conscious clothing brand called Cosmic Shift, and then in November of this year I started my own business Nana’s Apothecary, an essential oil spray line.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s definitely been interesting, I’ve had setbacks and honestly, I feel like I’ve been playing catch up for the last few years, always having plans and ideas but nothing ever really panning out. I went to college as a business major straight out of high school because I was just trying to run away and not deal with certain things and I wanted a distraction and college seemed like the perfect one, especially one out of state. My nana passed away before my senior year of high school and my living arrangements after her passing weren’t ideal so as soon as I could I left California. Being who I am and where I am now, I realized that I went through exactly what I needed to, those experiences woke me, really rattled my cage a bit and allowed me to realize what I’m willing to accept not only from myself but others as well, and I’m tired of settling, I ended coming back to California having not finishing college, only did two years, and I was so stuck on majoring in business that I never gave anything else a thought, it was my default setting in a way, when asked what I wanted to do I still said major in business and open a bookstore, I never had any intention of going back to school for business and I don’t think I really snapped myself out of that until last year, it just felt better to say than “I have no f-ing idea what I want to do” and it really isn’t any better, we as people are definitely worse off if we just settle and never try to figure out what our hearts are guiding us to do, I’m trying to thrive and flourish in this world not just live in it.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Nana’s Apothecary story. Tell us more about the business.
Nana’s Apothecary is an essential oil line dedicated to my sweet nana, Yvonne, she was my best friend and a strong woman who supported all my interests and she is the reason I am so spiritual. I wanted to create a product using essential oils and as many natural herbs and flowers as possible that can be used as a natural air freshener but also as a mood elevator! I don’t know what really sets my product apart from others yet, I’m just trying to be as authentic and as genuine as I can be while offering a natural alternative to harmful air fresheners, I have asthma so alot of the times I can’t use the store-bought sprays because they are so harsh and strong, so I guess this started out as something I did for myself and I decided to share it with as many people as possible.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I consider myself pretty fortunate, yeah, I’ve had setbacks and ups and downs but overall I am very lucky in the sense of the kind of people I have around me, my parents are amazing and beautiful people, I have a wonderful boyfriend who is so laid back and so supportive it’s crazy, and I have the most amazing friend Jessie, who is always willing to help a sista out. I definitely lucked out with the people in my life, the universe is definitely looking out for me.
Pricing:
- Rose Spray $12
- Sage Spray $12
- Lavender Spray $8
Contact Info:
- Website: thecrystalmuse.net
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecrystalmuse/
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