Category: Amazing - The Cowrie Shell Center

Cowrie Shell Center March 2014: Celebrating One Year In Our New Location!

4/2/2014

This is one of the very first pictures I took in the new space, after pretty much feeling settled into the first leg of the transition to a ninety something year old townhown on the very edge of Bedstuy Brooklyn, New York. Boxes well hidden, drape in lovely fabrics, candles lighting the way, aromatherapy keeping everything balanced. All of my necessities where I can find them, old and new client flowing in... #workspace #homespace #townhouse #CowrieShellCenter #newbeginings #ForwardEver #Gratitude #Dreamwalking #Ancestors #prayers #Divine #Creativity #Blessings

The early stages...Boxes well hidden, drape in lovely fabrics, candles lighting the way, aromatherapy keeping everything balanced.

First day, first client in the NEW space! Freeform Locs. A precious Lil Lotus Flower, #LocInitiation #naturalchildren #CowrieShellCenter..old and new client flowing in...her beautiful baby locs seemed to form instantly after I washed, conditioned and started to separate her hair! Her process was truly effortless!

Sacred hair and scalp care is necessary for all of us. The Ancient Blends Herbal Hair Conditioning Rinse does a lot more for your mind, body and spirit wellness.
#goodmood #mindbodyspirit #herbalrinse #benificial #cleansing #teamnatural #naturalhair #healing #soothing #herbalhaircare #scalptreatment

Another beautiful #BigChop #HerBlackIsBeautiful
I invite you to Come and Experience it for yourself at www.cowrieshell.com
And the journey continues...THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING A PART OF MY ADVENTURE! SEE YOU SOON!!!

Ancient Blends: A satisfied customer is the best business strategy...

4/2/2014

I had the pleasure of meeting this lovely lady at a Women's Empowerment big event last fall 2013. After sharing our healing practitioner journeys, she purchased a few items from my table including my Ancient Blends 'Morning Glory' Facial Oil Moisturizer
https://www.etsy.com/listing/88234640/morning-glory-facial-moisturizer
...READ her story as she recently shared with me:
'Yendys since meeting you, I've traveled to Kenya to start a new life experience. I took your moisturizer with me and it saved my skin! The climate was so hot and dry that the oil just absorbed right in and made my skin cells so happy! As I plan to relocate to Africa permanently, I'll need to purchase a large supply of your your facial oil. I'm in Manhattan today and I'd love to come out to visit your place. Perhaps you could seriously think about visiting Kenya and teachings us how to use the plants we are growing and to make some of the products for you. It will provide another industry for the beautiful Masai women and a few of the African people who still keep their ancient culture alive. We can also exchange knowledge about the plants, animals science, minerals and much more...Looking forward to reconnecting with you my spirit sister warrior.'

Be Courageous

11/2/2013

“If it’s both terrifying and amazing then you should definitely pursue it...”Erada

Unscripted Dialogue

11/2/2013

I reclaim my power right now.
I am listening to my body, mind and soul.
I take responsibility of my emotions.
I am aware of the energies I emulate and that which I intake.
I love myself unconditionally right now.
I am creating space to breathe.
I am the creator of my reality.
I am capable.
I am powerful.

Coral Reef Goddess By The Sea

4/21/2013

A divine memory stands out in my mind from my journey home to Barbados last October, 2012...My sistah/friend Elsiana and I were walking along the beach, doing a little exploring. We were beginning to feel hungry. So, we thought we would leave the beach to look for a market or a place to get some breakfast. On the path to the road, that's the moment when I saw the coral reef figure from the sea sitting in the sand, just a few feet from the edge of the water. I was in total awe of the shape of it. It instantly reminded me of an ancient goddess statue. I stopped to take pictures of it~of course! I wouldn't have been myself if I didn't nudge it a little to see if I could move it. I thought about bringing it back home with me...(imagine the look on their faces as I tried getting through customs with that big piece of coral reef rock...ahahahaa).

After I stared at the water and sand sculpted divinity from the sea for a few more moments, I started noticing a few sacred symbols around her; like the two sticks making the image of a cross close by, then the coconut that sat reverently in front of her, her ample breast, her slender waistline, her wide hips and her opened womb. I also noticed that she sat in lotus position. I knew that these symbols were like gateways into a deeper reality about this coral reef goddess figure. Tuning into the symbols helped me begin to see beyond just the thing that I saw before me.

I was able to see the image of Divine Herself. She rose up out of the waters of the ocean. The sea is the Womb of the Earth Mother. The sea is the symbol of the Mother's sacred and magical blood. It is the primordial womb that gave birth to the universe when there was only the darkness of Chaos. From Her womb, was born night, and water, and eternity. From these were born light, and earth, and time. All life comes from the sea. Life on Earth began in the sea.
When we moved onto land, the sea came with us. It travels in our cells. The sea is the fluid which runs in our veins. The saltwater of the sea lives in our sweat, flows in our tears and bathes our sexuality. Mother sea purifies and rebirths everything that enters her. I felt so blessed to have found this sacredness on the beach that morning. It put a forever smile in my heart and in my womb.

When I was finally able to pull myself physically away from this auspicious find, we continue looking for food. That turned out to be fruitless as the market seemed like it was real far in the distance. The noon sun was starting to really beam down and kiss the island and we were much too hungry to walk any further...lol. So, we decided to head back to the villa to seek nourishment there. Throughout the rest of our few days on the island, I never really stopped thinking about the the coral reef goddess. I think about the statue often and yes, I still wished that I was able to bring her home with me. Hmmm...I did bring her home with me! I'm very happy that I took these photos. The memory of her divinity rests in the depths of my soul. I can always visit her there whenever I feel the need to reconnect.

Coral Reef Goddess and Yendys Nefer-Atum

#Instaphotooftheday #Afrosthebook #yendysnef

4/17/2013

I woke up and reached for my cell. I saw that I had one message. It was from my friend and longtime client Michael July, author of Afros: A Celebration Of Natural Hair (#Afrosthebook on Instagram). I saw this Instagram photo and before I could even read what he wrote, I noticed the number in the upper left hand corner...the amount of <3 that this photo had received so far...I think I saw about 886 likes! WOW!!!

Then I read his message to me:

naturalhairdoescare Michael July, Author of @afrosthebook, has the serious locbraid going on! #naturalhairdoescare #anuessentials #springhairaffair #tameyourtresstuesday #locstar #NHDCMen #NHDCHomme
" This photo was taken around 9pm tonight at Khamit Kinks. Someone just sent it to me and said I'm an Instagram hit. Lol"

I'd say you're an Instagram hit also Michael July aka Mayor of Brooklyn LOL!!!
After reading his text, I opened up my Instagram #yendysnef to see who posted the image. I found the #naturalhairdoescare Instagram site. I clicked the tab to follow the page of course, I <3 the photo, then added my comments .
I love that pic! I remember the first time I actually gave Michael that 'fishtail.' He liked it right away. We always do a 'hat check' after I'm finished just to make sure that his hat sits just right! Then we do a high five LOL. It's been his signature style since that day...
I'm sooo excited to see all the love that this style and image has received!

Read Michael's comment on that photo:
Via naturalhairdoescare: afrosthebook Thanks for digging the fishtail. It was created 6 weeks ago by Yendys Nefer-Atum of The Cowrie Shell Center For Natural Hair Care & Holistic Wellness. Yendys is an amazing loctician & afro-ologist who this month expanded into a new space that will offer even more services & products. Check out her site here: http://www.cowrieshell.com You will be beyond inspired! 

He's an awesome guy and his coffee table book Afros: A Celebration Of Natural Hair is now available at my place 'The Cowrie Shell Center For Natural Hair Care & Holistic Wellness' in Bedstuy, Brooklyn, New York. 718-221-2051

A sneak peek inside: The NEW Cowrie Shell Natural Hair Care & Wellness Center

4/12/2013

Learn About Foraging With Naturalist "Wildman"Steve Brill

3/7/2013

The 4-hour walking tour in Prospect Park begins at 11:45 AM, Saturday, March 16, at Prospect Park's Grand Army Plaza entrance. Call (914) 835-2153 at least 24 hours ahead to reserve a place.
For more insight visit: http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/

Prospect Park is a great place for foragers to celebrate the approach of spring. Like Central Park, this Olmstead-designed park features a variety of habitats filled with native and exotic plants. Cold-weather greens abound throughout the park. We'll find goutweed, which tastes like parsley, celery, and carrots; andchickweed, which tastes like corn-on-the-cob. Both sweet-sharpdaylily shoots, and chive-like field garlic, will be producing bumper crops in partially sunny areas throughout the park.

Field Garlic (In the photo)
Field garlic leaves are best from September through April, before they get tough and coarse. The bulbs are mild in the winter and early spring, and especially most spicy from mid-spring through summer

We'll also be finding garlic mustard galore. This foreign invasive species produces garlic-flavored leaves and horseradish-flavored taproots. It also contains nutrients that reduce the risk of both heart disease and cancer.

The first tiny leaves of wild parsnips, growing alongside the skating rink, will clue us in to the location of the large, sweet roots. The same species as commercial parsnips, the wild version of this European biennial adds way more flavor to soups and stews than its domestic forerunner.

And the abundant, green, fragrant twigs of sassafras saplings will let us locate roots you can use to make your own wild root beer, or a sweet seasoning.

The first shoots of Japanese knotweed will also be up. This invasive plant tastes sour, like its relative, rhubarb, so it's great to make bland ingredients more exciting, or to contrast sweet fruit.

On the first tour of Prospect Park in 1982, I got lucky and discovered a huge stand of curly (yellow) dock growing along the lake. The same plants are still alive and well in the same location 3 decades later! The sour leaves, full of vitamin A and iron, are delicious raw or cooked, and the root is a major liver detoxifier and tonic. Its relative, bitter dock, grows throughout the park. It's as delicious cooked as it's awful raw!

In an area of loose, recently overturned soil dwells a wonderful stand of burdock, with roots that taste like a combination of potatoes and artichokes. Usually very difficult to weed, the deep taproots grow in unusually soft, rock-free soil here.

A Sunny Afternoon In February

2/15/2013

I left the city behind me today... spent the afternoon in Prospect Park. I collected rocks, and sticks for making new wands...

hmmm...I'll know it once I see it. Looking and breathing.

I welcomed new life...tiny daffodils bulbs with their flower stems making an early apperance.

...I caught the sun playing in a stream of melting snow.

I give thanks for beautiful days and friends to share them with...heading back to work now, all charged up and feeling great!!! (Thanks for these photos Key ;-))

HAPPY NEW YEAR TRUNK $ALE

1/30/2013

YOU'RE ALL INVITED TO A HAPPY NEW YEAR TRUNK $ALE...!!!
On SUNDAY, FEBRUARY, 3RD 2013 FROM 1PM TILL 7PM

In Honor Of The Fourth Principle Ujamaa In Kwanzaa Nomics.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) Means To Build And Maintain Our Own Stores, Shops And Other Businesses And To Profit From Them Together In Order To Care For Our Lives, Our Families And Our Communities.

So We Look Forward To Seeing You At:
Judy's Place Restaurant
342 Macon Street & Marcus Garvey Blvd.
Bedstuy-Brooklyn, NY

Three Amazing Vendors Present:
An Exciting New Year Trunk $ALE featuring Amazing, Unique Handcrafted Items...

FASHION: 'ABEOKUTO ENTERPRISES' BY AMMA
ONE OF A KIND DRESSES, SCARVES, HATS & MORE...see her designs on Facebook

JEWELRY: 'DESIGNS BY LINDA'
UNIQUE NECKLACES, EARRINGS, BRACELETS, WAISTBEADS AND [email protected]

NATURAL CARE: 'ANCIENT BLENDS NATURALS' BY YENDYS
ORGANIC, PLANT-BASED HAIR CARE AND BODY CARE PRODUCTS; HAIR OILS, GELS, SHAMPOOS, HERBAL TREATMENTS, BODY BUTTERS, SOAPS, AROMATHERAPY AND MORE...www.cowrieshell.com