We talk passion, purpose + living in magic with The Session founder, Alice May Redmond
Tell us about The Session, how did it all begin?
2020! The year that we either woke up or stayed stuck, right?
I lost my primary income due to COVID, but was intuitively diverting from my Samantha Jones PR dream I had in my head since moving to New York in March 2019. For years I have had the inner-knowing that there was a greater purpose for me than severely burning out every quarter, and still trying to make rent each month. I have grown being a natural-born healer, but in the more casual context of being the friend everyone would go to for consolation, words of advice, or just genuine, heart-wide-open love and understanding. Compassion, openness, acceptance and connection have always been at my core. So as soon as the world looked like it was beginning to crumble, it was time for me to step up, and step into my purpose.
That is The Session, healing ourselves on an individual level to in turn heal the collective. I guide and support those ready to awaken to their soul-aligned life purpose, release the debris of past trauma and pain, and transform that to their greatest power.
For all those who don’t know about The Session, how would you best summarise what it is and how it can work for you?
The Session is a space for anyone ready to change their direction in life, to walk the path of their dreams. It is a complete transformation that taps into our innate uniqueness as an individual through Eastern and Western interpretations of learning and healing. Astrology, Human Design, Numerology, Reiki, Neuroscience, and some heart-open talk-therapy filled with smiles, tears and laughter, moulds into a unique experience that elevates your soul.
It is easy for us to become trapped to our conditioned mind. The self-limiting beliefs that chain us to doubt, fear, frustration, shame and the rest. We were all born here for a reason, exactly as we are, experiencing exactly what we were supposed to to open our eyes to our purpose and passions. Life is supposed to be light, we are supposed to feel good, to live in magic, and that's what I LOVE to do. Show people how easy and little time it takes to shift your energy, to feel into that and become the best version of yourself. Because it is that version that will radically change your inner and outer world.
Everyone’s toolbox for optimum wellness looks different, how do you find it best to go about advising clients on how to feel good?
Achieving optimum wellness is a deeply personal journey. It's a treasure chest of tools that resonate with you on a deeper level, relevant to the moment you are experiencing. I often say to my clients, your self-care / self-love practice may not look the same each day, and it definitely won't look the same as the person next to you. I believe this is so important to honor, especially as we try to navigate a hyper-saturated wellness market where marketing campaigns try to convince us we are doing everything wrong and the cure is as simple as one sip of a trending tea to take all your pain away.. (not quite?!) Wellness is to know oneself enough that oneself knows exactly what it needs to feel good regardless of how that looks.
For me, some mornings I wake up and sit in a 30 minute meditation practice, other mornings my soul is saying, "Sister, it's time to blast some 80s disco funk and shake it out". If I need to release, scream and cry, I will do Taryn Toomey's The Class and get exactly that. Or maybe I just need to go down to my local coffee shop without my phone and have a 10 minute conversation with the barista whilst revelling in the love of my life: fresh espresso.
Difference is beautiful, individuality is essential.
What would you say have been the most positive learnings for you since launching your business so far?
How important it is to value yourself correctly in business, to allow for abundant expansion and positive momentum! I have spent a lot of my time uncovering my most authentic version of self through Lacey Phillips Unblocking work, and it has taught me the power of self-worth, value and money as an energetic. As a spiritual consultant, doing tonnes of energy work, it really takes it out of you and I noticed myself falling in the same patterns of working hard but not having a business or financial model that truly reflected the meaning and allowed for me to keep expanding. Women in business inspire me beyond belief. We are truly coming out to embrace our masculinity and warrior woman essence, and this is how we can act to reflect that. Standing unapologetically tall in our worth and speaking that with clarity and conviction.
If you had to choose one ritual throughout your day that helps keep you centred, what would it be?
Moving my body for me is essential. Whether a high-intensity cardio hour, Vinyasa or Yin Yoga practice, or some simple breath-work like Kundalini to circulate fresh energy into my body and move out the stagnant. It is time I am away from my phone which is a blessing and so important to reconnect back to ourselves.
What would you say to other small businesses at the moment and are there any that you would love to hero?
You have started this for a reason, with passion, with purpose. Life is never linear and nor will its aspects such as business. It is meant to be fun, it is meant to challenge you, it should light you up and stand for something.
UGHH YES! My sister Ashley Rucker's not-for-profit Therapart, alive to shine healing on the world through the art of dance. This woman and I have been on a parallel journey with our passions and to have the undying support and dual understanding of the journey process is a blessing I will never take for granted.
Finally, what does your idea of an ideal Sunday look like?
Sunday is my most sacred day, even just writing about it gives me angels bumps all over. Isn't there just something so truly magical about Sunday's? The energy is special. This is truly the day for Alice. Whatever I need to nourish, reset, rejuvenate, reconnect. A slow but meaningful start, coffee in the sunlight, body movement of some kind, great music, and lots of gratitude. Perhaps a park picnic with soul family. Sunday - wow. I love Sunday.
To view Alice’s work, head to her website: https://www.alicemayredmond.com/
