ALEXIS WILLIS

About ALEXIS WILLIS

It’s simple: my shrine is minimalist, merely decorated with royal blue and the blue of water, clear stones, as well as white flowers to represent purity because I have been spending the past year letting go. Resilience for me is going past the shield of strength in order to be receptive of Life’s beauty. The gold lace and brocade reminds me that my inheritance is joy and love and not jealousy and fear.

When I contemplated what to fill and decorate my shrine with I had several ideas. Thinking about the women in my family, women of color, and what they’ve had to overcome (which includes my mother who spent most of her life battling drug addiction), I started to realize that even though tough circumstances shaped who I am today, I still had power to write my own story: a story that isn’t just based on tragedy or trauma. My life now is based on receiving the good things ( I reflect on being adopted by my Italian mentor at age 18). Those good things that I know come from God.  I didn’t want to stress about artifacts and decor because How often do we unnecessarily hold on to things or ideas that no longer serve us?  I’m at a place in my life where I am letting go. Even my studio is becoming more minimalist. I’m learning to navigate life with joy, contentment, and simplicity. So my shrine is simple. The dark blue is royalty, the lighter blue is similar to the color of the wings that I dance with. Watch this brief video of me dancing in worship and the divine feminine.