The Beauty of My Soul

by: Marsha Campbell- Spiritual Midwife

And just like that, it became clear! The idolized idea of love and the many languages associated with it- Soul Mate, Life Partner, Twin Flame, Kindred Spirit no longer took precedence of my being, and I was ok with that! The façade was no longer a mystery.

I have always been fascinated with the essence and the art of love. As a little girl, I thoroughly enjoyed watching cartoons that ended with the power of love; And even more so as an adult, that feeling became more pronounced.

The feeling of having an out-of-body experience due to the energy of love elevates me and makes me believe that someday, I can find that kind of love. I crave a good romance movie, you know, the ones that leave you crying, I mean like sobbing, as if you were lovestruck; while in your mind, thanking God that no one else was there to witness this breakdown.

I often find myself daydreaming of being swept away by someone who truly loves and sees my entire being. That desire became my mantra! I just knew the right guy would walk into my life and become my “Power of Love. “Having such a strong need to be loved, I began sending emotional signals all over the place. The last thing on my mind was thinking that the signs I displayed would be misread and reek of desperation. As a result, along with that desire also came the “misfits. “I was surrounded by individuals who exemplified the “idea of love” to get close to my light/aura. Still, after a while, the lack of authenticity always reveals itself.

The repeating cycle of this daunting experience left me feeling insecure, doubtful, and futile. I despised feeling less than worthy! For deep down, I know I am called for greatness, so why is it that no one else sees it and values it? Am I not enough?... I found myself questioning my thoughts and energy patterns- am I giving off the wrong vibrations? Do I want this external validation too severely? These questions led me to go even further within myself, and that’s when I realized that a shift was needed. I needed to reconnect with myself more holistically. I needed an emotional, mental, spiritual, physical revamping. I am a firm believer in prayer and confirmations, so I started praying for clarity. I went into a series of mediation, love affirmations, and nature walks as a way of my quieting the noise. I knew I needed to be still, for my desire to connect with the vibration of love I wanted to receive required me not only to see it but to embrace it and become one with it as well.

I had to learn how to show up for myself, but most importantly, show up for myself with an open heart. On this path, I often felt like procrastinating and bottom-line settling, settling for who I was, and giving up on who I was destined to become. However, during those times, I would ask myself, “Now, whose energy are you carrying?” thus reminding me of the value that lies at the end of my “love” journey.

My not-so-healthy experience with love, and the continuous desire to be externally recognized. The longing to be loved has such a desire that I failed to understand that I was the portal. And little did I know that this was all a part of my soul plan. The many cries over the “heart-filled” romance movies, and my outer body love experience desires, were just steps in my unlocking my soul’s portal, the one thing no one else’s love could have done. And just like that, it became clear! The façade was lifted.

I was able to find love in the beauty of my soul, that sacred place that lights me up, even when no one else sees me. My area of connection to my creator, source, and authentic “I Am” self.

My desire to dance with the rhythm of unconditional love activated the power of my soul.

My soul’s beauty is an unselfish river of love that flows with the curves of forgiveness and gratitude, as “HER” light sparkles on the banks of this world.

What does your Soul Beauty look like?

Writtten by Carletha Geter

It is that time of the year when women garnished in white with lace or satin, as flowers adorn the altar and bouquets are in full bloom; the 3-tier cake waiting for the first taste as the band prepares for the first dance. And as the door opens, that moment the bride will look at her groom for the first time. The moment when her companion stands waiting dapperly in his custom suit tailored just for him; in red, maybe orange, or even purple, a color he requested to compliment his bride’s color palette. If asked, our groom would say he took center stage, second of course to his bride. That is the aww of wearing a suit made by clothier Shannon Woods, or his pseudo would refer to him as Dapper Shan of Fashion House 47 in Newnan, GA. A clothier whose vision is to ensure the groom and his ensemble are dapper, a task he does not take likely or without reservations. Creator of the Dapper Shan Clothiers, where custom suits meet his extraordinary vision, Shannon’s love of fashion took over the fashion industry in his hometown and, by word of mouth, reached as far away as New York City. Dapper Shan has always had an eye for style; going back to his high school years where you could catch him in a suit and tie then casually in slacks, accompanied by a shirt and tie, one of his mottos has been “ you are your business card.”

Dapper Shan’s unique style is that no two suits are ever the same. As he adds a special touch to make each claim just for you, from embroidered tailored shirts jacket linings to fit each client’s taste, whether it be a photo of a loved one, a unique pattern the clients chooses or a quote; it is unique to the groom on his special day. When I asked Dapper Shan who his muse was, without hesitation, he said none other than Dapper Dan, the iconic 1980’s haberdashery from Harlem, NY. who, with his sense of creativity and style within the emerging hip-hop community, placed him on the map as a superb clothier.

As an entrepreneur in this industry, it is not for everyone, but it was an easy decision for me. There is a level of freedom that comes with being a boss that you do not get working in corporate America; once I got a taste of this freedom, it was hard for me to go back to corporate America. Dapper Shan states, “It is rare to find people who share your goals and want nothing more than to see YOUR vision come to life without first wondering what they get out of it.” Building his brand has been trying at times, which he attributes solely to building a team with people who are 100% sweat equity-like he is. Before becoming a clothier, Dapper Shan owned Woods & Company photography studio, which provided wedding, high school, and family photography, a very lucrative profession, where he could highlight his ability to have regular meet extraordinary yet again. However, although Woods & Company Photography was lucrative, this was not where his passion lay. With a slight pause, he began to detach himself from photography altogether, referring many of his clients to other photographers, making the transition to clothier easier. “Every once in a while, I will pick up the camera to see if I still have it.” Dapper Shan has several quotes that he lives by, but only one piece of advice to offer anyone looking to be a clothier; “be consistent, be persistent, never give up, and being told NO isn’t

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It’s that time of the year again. The Detroit Charity Auto Preview Show. Impact Detroit Magazine is giving you a peek at what was happening at the auto show this year, 2022. But, of course, you missed it if you were not there. as always, Detroit did not disappoint. The show was fantastic; Nile Rodgers & Chic were the musical guests. We have a few photos of the guest in attendance. Browse through the images and see if you see anybody you know, then be so kind as to let them know you saw them in Impact Detroit Magazine at The 2022 Detroit Charity Auto Preview Show.