As 2025 draws to a close and I reflect on the past 12 months, I am in awe of this wild and wonderful life Paul and I have created. It is incredible what can happen in a year.
We began the year creating custom formulas, hosting practitioners in our sanctuary space and walking these sacred lands patiently waiting for spring. We redesigned our logo and packaging, printed thousands of jars and distilled hundreds of hydrosols as the flowers began to bloom. We created beauty in scent, form and through the lens of many cameras.
As summer arrived, we relaunched our website and debuted our new packaging. I got certified as a sculptural face lifting practitioner with Abi Maeve and Yakov Gershkovich and opened my private practice. My world was forever changed as I experienced an entirely new understanding of the mind/body/spirit connection.
In September, I was invited to assist at the second SFL seminar, where my practice deepened immensely under the guidance of Abi. I was introduced to a new perspective on self care, one of ritual, repetition and an embodied understanding of emotional anatomy. My face taping routine began to yield results and I felt years of grief, disappointment and concern melt from my face and body.
Autumn was filled with emotions ready to be released, making way for a deep spiritual awakening I wasn’t expecting. The essence of falling leaves felt palpable in every way.
The holidays brought a festive spirit, for the first time in a long while I felt immense joy and celebration for this time of year. I decided not to hustle, but to create artistry in every day, in every campaign, in every post. Many gatherings were attended and I am reminded once again of how special our community truly is.
As I navigate the terrain of the new woman who is emerging, I intend to spend the winter tending to my inner world. The rains have cleansed my soul yet I feel the year of the snake is not quite finished. There is still one last layer to shed, a few final entanglements to release that require full and honest surrender.
In the midst of my tender share here, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for you. If you’re following along and reading this now, you know that what we do here at GARA is far more than skincare. It’s a journey we’ve taken together, both personal and metaphysical into the garden of our hearts. Thank you for sharing your love, showing your support and giving life to our creations. Words fall short of the appreciation we feel for you.
We wish you all a peaceful winter that will yield an abundant and fruitful new year 🕊️
