Life & Work with Isabel Bagsik

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Bagsik.

Hi Isabel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The journey to my role as a Creative Healing Guide was led by curiosity, introspection, and community support. What really kicked off this whirlwind of fully diving into my creative leadership was being part of my last job’s first round of layoffs in April 2023. In the moment, there was definitely charged energy of the uncertainty of income, but the other emotion that popped up in my chest surprised me: I was excited. A clear sign that this is the time to actually sit down and work on the fantasy I’ve only journaled about and said to myself. To take my 10+ years of designing experiences and holding space for others in the realm of creativity, cultural identity, and wellness and actually pursue this full-time.

I’ve been holding space and designing experiences ever since I was a kid, but it was in high school that started my leadership practice as a student leader and eventually president of a community service club. My goal was never to get a title, but because my “why” was so strong and apparent: to make a change in my community and have a deeper contribution to share these community service opportunities to the rest of the campus. This clarity to my “why” no matter what I ended up doing, continued to guide me into positions of leadership, even when I couldn’t see that possibility for myself.

In college, my passions were diving into the world of design and deepening my understanding of my cultural identity through the Filipinx American clubs on campus. As I combined those interests together, I was naturally inclined to want a more involved role in sharing these passions as a student leader for the next three years. As I entered senior year, presidency was a responsibility I didn’t want to claim as I didn’t think I could handle it. Yet the outgoing co-presidents called me into their apartment late one night to convince me to apply as co-president. They witnessed a leadership quality about me that they trusted to pass on the org into my hands. So I said yes.

Fast forward to pursuing passion projects and collaborations with soul-aligned creatives, organizations, and thought leaders, and I’ve had experiences that continue to affirm my gifts that others have sought after. So how much more can I do when I don’t just reserve developing workshops after a 9-5, but as my full-time life purpose? And that is what I am here to do through Unconventional Bliss as a Creative Healing Guide: to guide others to also claim their creative genius that is inherent within them; it’s just a matter of remembering those gifts.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Challenges of a creative overlap with challenges of a solo entrepreneur: imposter syndrome, self-doubt, time management. Along with financial uncertainty. I moved through these challenges with internal work as well as with community support. Reminding myself of evidence, proof that I’ve done this type of work before and successfully, rooted me in my confidence. Journaling also allowed me to release any doubts festering within and get it onto a page, and once I start writing, I am able to process in real time that it’s not as scary as I think it seems. I’ve also been in creative group cohorts and in creative programs with supportive mentors and classmates that see something in me that I sometimes forget. Pursuing entrepreneurship still is a huge learning experience, and the library has been an amazing free resource to give me some landing place and a sense of relief for things like building up my financial education, especially in the intersections of women, women of color, and self-employed folks.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Filipina-American Creative Healing Guide who is energized by soulful conversations. After 10+ years of space holding, event organizing, and designing across diverse industries, I am crafting heart-led experiences and projects at the intersection of creativity and wellness. I’m here to guide you toward remembering your inherent creative gifts from a place of rest and ease.

My mission is to cultivate our birthright of self-love, rest, and empowerment through intimate community gatherings and creative storytelling medicine for BIPOC women and LGBTQIA+ creatives, healers, caregivers, and disruptors.

Currently, I am guiding an intimate group of creatives through a group program, Unearthing Creative Wisdom, a space to release the blocks and stagnant energy to open the floodgates to intuitive flow from a sustainable, rested, and pleasurable foundation. I also hold Creativity Labs, which are 1:1 sessions with me to tap into your creative wisdom with personalized, patient guidance through a decolonial, trauma-informed lens. Through Creativity Labs, you’ll receive intimate one-off support by an experienced Multidisciplinary Creative Director to navigate your blocks and uncover what will guide you back to creative ease.

I know what happens when I am disembodied from my life purpose, which is creating, but I also know what it looks like to be on the other side of that hill. I also have a deep connection to my intuition and my guides and am able to use oracle cards and meditation to tap into them for guidance and messages. I understand the need for holistic care and wellness: connection with nature, connection with each other, connection with spirit. I believe that everyone has the ability to be a creative changemaker that uses their innovations to heal and connect others while dismantling the current systems of oppression and the toxic concept of “profit > people”.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
There are so many things! The musical sound of laughter from loved ones (especially when I’m responsible), the excitement when I see a light bulb moment occur on a client’s face when we move through a challenge, decadent vegan ice cream, the healing medicine of the ocean, long embraces of my elders when I visit them in the Philippines, live music, a unique piece of treasure I uncover while thrifting, a bargain book sale, scent of cookies or cinnamon rolls baking, Maruya (Filipino saba banana fritters), romcom books and movies, joy within others.

Pricing:

• Unearthing Creative Wisdom, group program: $699 | https://unconventionalbliss.com/group-program
• Creativity Lab, 1:1 sessions: $111 | https://unconventionalbliss.com/creativity-lab

Contact Info:

• Website: https://unconventionalbliss.com/
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/unconventionalbliss
• Other: https://unconventionalbliss.substack.com/

Image Credits
Portraits by Midori @sanctuary.studio Rest of the images by Isabel Bagsik @unconventionalbliss