Baker Allie Kingsley - Gracefully you: finding beauty and balance in the everyday

Gallery Books

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Copyright 2019 by Jenna Dewan

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First Gallery Books hardcover edition October 2019

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Interior design, lettering, and illustrations by Jane Archer @psbellanyc | janearcher.nyc

Interior photographs by Cory Tran

Jacket design by Emma A. Van Deun

Jacket photograph by Koury Angelo

Jacket illustration by iStock/Getty Images

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019944815

ISBN 978-1-5011-9151-0

ISBN 978-1-5011-9153-4 (ebook)

To my little fairy,

EVIE.

May you always know your magic.

it is not only

time

which heals the soul:

it is presence

and patience

and faith

and creativity

and silence

and solitude

and breathing

(just breathe)

it is reconnecting with the things

which feed your soul

the things which bring you back to your soul.

for it was you who wandered

but you are coming home now.

APRIL GREEN

f rom a very young age I felt mystified by and drawn to the idea of finding a connection to something bigger than myself. My parents were neither religious nor spiritual. They didnt teach me to believe in a higher power or anything along those lines. Yet I still felt it was my calling to discover the magical presence in the universe I knew existed.

When I began dancing at age five I felt my first inkling of this powerful presence. Id walk onto the stage and something behind my eyes would changethrough dance I could throw myself into a foreign mind-set, channeling an energy that was beyond my own. I had a strength, confidence, and fierceness onstage that was different from how I felt in my day-to-day life. They used to call me Little Tornado! Dancing gave me an immediate link to something I could feel. It was my passion that showed me how it felt to be connected to something bigger than myself, and this magical feeling has stayed with me throughout my life. When Im dancing for myself or performing for others is when I feel the most connected to the energy. I feel lit up from the inside, completely in control, and very much in the flow of life.

When I was twenty-one, dancing on tour for Janet Jackson, I developed a friendship with the on-tour masseuse. We spoke at length about spirituality, which I was interested in learning more about and which she was well versed in. At the end of the tour, the masseuse gave me a beginners book on chakras. It was my first introduction to the centers of energy that live inside us. I felt an immediate sense of dj vu, as if I was remembering something I have always known. Learning about the seven chakras instilled in me an insatiable curiosity regarding all things spiritual. I spent years devouring book after book, visiting Reiki masters, energy healers, and angel workers. I would lie on crystal beds in Topanga Canyon, participate in ceremonies led by shamans, and experiment with traditional spiritual medicines. I was constantly exploring, in search of a way to experience the same magic I was able to feel when I was dancing, but in all aspects of my life.

My curiosities led me on a life-changing trip to Peru for a charity organization I had been working with. I spent time deep in the Amazon with a tribe, living as they did. I found myself in awe of and inspired by the way the groups members connected to life, which was through nature. It was in stark contrast to what I was used to, even though Ive always considered myself a nature lover. For most of us, we go on a hike and we pass by a tree or a flower and we think, Wow, thats pretty. The members of this tribe stop and pay respects. Theyll say, This tree is special because it is used for this and that. And that flower over there has great healing properties. It can be used for this and that. For them, there is no passing by anything in nature without acknowledging its relationship to us. This way of being opened my eyes and brought me to a spiritual turning point. I always considered myself someone who respects and appreciates the science and beauty of Mother Nature. But it wasnt until I stepped out of my mind-set and spent time with this tribe that I understood that in order to achieve a deep connection with ourselves, we also have to connect deeply with nature.

Returning home from Peru, I felt a strange combination of conflicting emotions. On one hand I felt extreme culture shock at being back in the hustle and bustle of my regular life. On the other I felt protected by a buffer, having been cocooned by the soothing sounds of the birds and a peace that only exists in a secluded jungle. The very next day after my trip, I had to present at the American Music Awards in Los Angelespretty much the antithesis of where Id been. After my glam team put the final touches on my hair and makeup, I stepped into a glittering dress and turned to face a mirror. I gasped, taken aback by the shock of my transformation. I hadnt even taken a shower three days prior to arriving back home. Just when I had adjusted to living the sweaty green plant life, boomthere I was in a dress with a plunging neckline, about to hit the red carpet. And thats the balance that works for me. I dont want to live forever in the jungles of Peru, nor do I want a sparkling Hollywood life all the time either. I believe you dont have to be 100 percent this or that. You can be in touch with nature and connect to a spiritual presence while also shopping for manufactured moisturizerinstead of rubbing saffron on your cheeks. Its all about balance.

When it comes to living in that flow of energy we all love and strive for, to achieve the feeling of Im so grateful and joyful and life is supporting me, Ive learned that ultimately it all comes down to a few simple things: the personal bond you have with yourself, the relationship you have with nature, and your connection to a greater presence. With this realization I stopped questing outside of myself for what would make me feel connected and started going inward. I now know that when you stop searching outwardly and start looking and working within is when you learn who you truly are and understand what it is you need and want in order to live your best life. I fully understand not everyone has the ability to pack up for Peru in search of self-expansion (or interest in doing so). Knowing this is what inspired me to write this book. Ive been fortunate to have access to people and places that have encouraged me to open up and have taught me a great deal. In the chapters ahead I look forward to sharing this with you. Moving forward, youll find a collection of rituals, meditations, recipes, mantras, and more that I use to connect to myself, to loved ones, and to the energy shared by us all. My hope is that each page will make you feel lighter and brighter, ready to take on anything that comes your way with positivity and grace.