Last June, I stayed with my friend Krishnan at his home in Los Angeles.
Living in his apartment was stepping into his inner world.
Altars in the common areas with photos of Indian saints. Texts and talismans placed where your eyes will naturally land. A book called Improve Your Vision angled just-so, practically begging you to pick it up. Cozy nooks with blankets ready for deep conversations over Krishnan’s famous chai.
Even his kitchen bore his playful signature: notes explaining which sponges should be used according to Ayurvedic principles, so everyone can help with washing up… and an acupressure mat covered in plastic spikes right in the busiest walkway. (You will step on it and leap in surprise. This is by design.)
Krishnan is an experience designer, and his home has been intentionally created to welcome, engage and playfully provoke.
And then, there was his cooking.
He made kitchari (my favorite!) and served it with spicy chutney, Indian pickles and fresh salad. It was deliciously comforting and nourishing, with just the right amount of fire.
But the best part was eating with our hands.
I had so many feelings about this!
I felt a little bit like a naughty child breaking the “don’t touch your food rule. But it was also like finger-painting in a bowl of pure, edible joy. I’d pinch a bit of kitchari, swirl it in chutney, and place it on my tongue.
Krishnan explained that eating with your hands creates a deeper connection with food, and your enjoyment is enhanced by the sensual experience. It forces you to eat slowly and mindfully.
Krishnan explained that eating with your hands helps you connect more intimately with your food. It slows you down and enhances the pleasure with presence.
He’s right. It changes the entire experience into a sensual delight.
Krishnan and I have been working together on various projects under the umbrella of Radiant IRIS, a creative studio designing immersive storytelling rituals that awaken collective imagination and spiritual connection.
We’ve been running experiments, both live and online, and spending hours of time dreaming and collaborating on zoom…for over two years. (And Krishnan was working on it with various others for eight years before that.)
Finally, we have a prototype. Finally, we have a pitch deck and a proposal for an event in Mt. Fuji, Japan.
The moral of the story?
Hang out with Krishnan!
Just kidding – although I do highly recommend it.
The real moral is this:
Some creations need time. They take slow cooking and hands-on exploration. They need to unfold at the pace of a comfortable conversation.
When you bring that kind of loving presence to your work, it’s absolutely delicious.
Speaking of friends I’d love for you to meet…
Did you download the free guide from my friend Eboni yet?
Eboni rocking one of her fab t-shirts
When Success Isn’t Enough: 3 Steps to Live the Life You Want to Live
This guide gives you three clear steps to:
- Recognize where chasing “more” has left you depleted
- Reconnect with the values you’ve pushed aside
- Begin taking action toward the life you actually want to live
Dr. Eboni isn’t leaving this open forever, and for good reason:
Authenticity isn’t something you can keep putting off. As Eboni reminds us, the longer you wait, the heavier the cost.
So if you missed it in my earlier email, or thought “I’ll get to it later,” consider this your nudge.
https://gift.yourunbecoming.com/steph
Yours in love and play,
Steph
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