Hey love, I'm Jasmin Ariel.
I give A LOT OF F*CKS about helping womxn and non-binary beings of color move from stuck, scared and suppressed within themselves, to secure, ecstatic and SEXY* AF!!!
*(SEXY to me is when it's Safe & Easy to (e)Xpress Yourselves)
GET TO KNOW ME BETTER!
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My Story(ies):
When I was young, I was a really shy Black girl struggling with low self-esteem.
I remember being a disassociated 8 year old, writing "Jasmin is a bitch" on the bathroom wall in my elementary school. 🙁
But creating something, anything, made me feel less invisible and alone.
So, I used to engage in a variety of art-forms like writing poetry, singing, dance and crafting to fully express myself. In creative expression, I found my sanctuary.
In my early 20s, however, I felt so lost, dejected and disconnected from myself, I stopped creating.
I struggled with my sexual identity. I didn't know if I was bisexual, queer, or curious and I didn't feel safe exploring those feelings with anyone outside of my romantic partner.
But I was also extremely dissatisfied in my long-term romantic relationship, unhappy with the person who I was when I was with my partner as well as disappointed with them as my chosen companion.
I started shrinking myself to keep the peace in my partnership. I accepted and participated in a lot of toxicity because at the time I didn't think I could do or that I deserved better.
In 2018, the year I began my first business, I contemplated un-aliving myself.
Ironically, I had just returned from my first sexy solo vacation to the Caribbean, but I wasn’t happy.
I wrote this poem called, "Confession" and after I wrote it, I was so scared I might harm myself, that I called my family for support.
Since then I've continued to struggle with ideations of self-harm and extreme self-isolation due to feelings of abandonment and unhealed childhood trauma, until I worked through many of my triggers in therapy.
***
I KNOW what it’s like to battle with insecurity, imposter syndrome and low self-esteem, feeling miserable, depressed and lonely in life.
I ALSO KNOW what it’s like to develop a resilient, unconditional love of oneself to feel powerful, pleasurable and at peace in life. For example:
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For my 28th b'earth day I did my first nude photo shoot as a self-love gift which transformed into a yearly ritual for the next 5 years.
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In 2021, I self-published my first book detailing my self-love journey under an artistic pseudonym.
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In 2022, I wrote and performed my first queer poem, publicly sharing online that I identified as queer.
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In 2023, I attended my first Pride parade in Mérida, México as a proud and out queer womxn!
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And now I have elected to conduct my business and artistic endeavors under my birth name, Jasmin Ariel. No more code-switching nor implicit, indirect hiding under a pseudonym. I want the world to know me as I know myself!
I DECIDED that I wanted more for myself and for my life!
I have so many ambitious dreams that demand I am my healthiest self in order to realize them.
So I DID (and am doing) THE WORK.
I've been to therapy (and seeking to return again soon).
I've enlisted the support of personal coaching.
I've studied mindfulness, conflict resolution tools and more and I started to put into practice all the knowledge I've received over and over again until it has transformed into deeply embodied rituals, intimately ingrained in my mind, heart and soul.
This transformation (my holistic gleaux up) hasn't been easy nor has it magically made everything in my life better —
…and yet it kinda did.
By choosing to become better within, I opened myself up to greater and more outward opportunities in the world (like using my art to hold space for and serve as the medium through which other Black girls and womxn could also feel seen, celebrated and beautiful).
BUT FIRST, I learned to see myself as successful for simply existing as I am, before and irrespective of any external achievements or validation.
Every day, all day, no matter what,
I love who TF I am and who I am is dope AF!
And if I’m capable of leveling up in my relationship to and about my life, then honey chile, so you are you! 😉💜
However, my journey is not done!
I’m still learning and evolving. And the more I learn, the more I realize:
I'm like Buzz Lightyear. What you may see as flying is just me falling with style.
But oh how stylishly fly I can be! ;)
***
So, if any of my testimony appeals to your spirit;
if you are yearning to partner with an imperfect yet impactful sista-friend-ally who 'gets' where you've been and where you desire to go, then come werk & play with me.
Let's welcome more peace, power and pleasure into your life!
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