EIDO
VOLUME 2
WOMAN A GUIDE TO INTRINSIC AWARENESS
Tips and tricks to hone virtue, be heard before you speak, and thrive stylishly
FEATURING: CHINYERE ADOGU BRIA BRYANT LINDA BANCROFT ADA EBHOMIELEN EIDO SWIMWEAR (SPRING/RESORT 2021)
BY TAYO ISHOLA
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Author s Note
Dear Friend,
Thank you for for joining me on the journey to the second volume of the Eido Woman journal guide to intrinsic awareness. Writing this through one of the most turbulent and unpredictable seasons we all have collectively faced as a result of the lockdown period in 2020 helped me reconnect with and hone some of the virtues you will find within these pages. The tools you would find are very practical, have been tried and tested, and these are principles I live by. Within these pages you would find my brand’s spring/resort 2021 collection in a series of editorial images photographed by Ada Ebhomielen and creatively directed by me. As always, all of the thoughts in this guide are from a conscious space, and do not intend to guide you into forming rigid ideologies, but seek to help you reconnect with your purest self and God within your vessel. Kindly enjoy it, pass it on, and keep living on purpose.
Tayo Ishola Creative Director / Owner - Eido Swimwear Founder- Wonder Woman Initiative Life Coach (Certified)
content
1. Love Stretches You 2. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable 3. How You See You 4. God In Woman 5. A Throne Built On Humility 6. The Joy Trick 7. They See You Before They Hear You
Through The Love-Lenses Of An Eido Woman
1.
Love Stretches You
Photographer: Ada Ebhomielen Model: Bria Bryant Swimsuit: Eido Swimwear ($115)
Love Stretches You The idea that love comes perfect is untrue, and our general understanding of love or the use of the word seems to be flawed. How is it that we profess love for a person in a moment and it morphs into hate with the passing of time? Does bitter water and fresh water come from the same source? Understanding what love is, will be one of the strongest pillars on the journey to deepening intrinsic awareness, because the human being was created to function as a love-being. We experience so much internal turmoil as we try to modify our behavioral patterns hoping we would match the love languages of those we care about somewhere close to the center of a desire they may not even fully intrinsically understand. The truth is that love speaks one language and has one voice, love is God, and God manifesting within our vessels. Imagine what the usefulness of gloves would be if we had no hands to fit into the gloves? Our hands give the gloves purpose and make their essence come alive. In this same way, God in us makes true love come alive in us. The journey to understanding this truth in its entirety is where the stretch begins, to fit into our love-gloves, we will need to unlearn, make modifications, and re-learn as is needed because all our lives we may have examined love through tainted lenses. For new possibilities to flow in as we begin to manifest the essence of who we truly are, we would master the stretch and go beyond our limits by consciously submitting to God’s greater good even when the ego seeks to get in the way. We must look past our flaws and that of others, which would take a lot of practice and patience. On this path, many will be blessed for what we have become, and virtue would have increased in greater measure, enough to take on more to fulfill our destinies and to conquer.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13 (KJV)
2.
Get Uncomfortable Being Comfortable
Photographer: Ada Ebhomielen Model: Bria Bryant Bikini: Eido Swimwear ($108)
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Some of the greatest people in the world can agree on one thing – The comfort zone is an enemy of real progress. Depending on what life has called us to, if it will be of any impact, it will always be birthed with a push and sometimes more. I remember my first time working with a fitness coach, I was almost certain he was sent from hell to break me and beat me down. He would make me squat and suspend my thighs in a chair-like position for minutes, and as I would begin to get comfortable in the form he would push me into a more difficult position and increase the time. Two months down the line, and I believed he was an angel because his tricks worked in very little time as I reached my desired goals. Sometimes, life brings us to this place even when we have resisted shifts unending, and it might take a rattling of our foundations for a resurrection of dreams that may appear dead. The chase for comfort is a killer of destiny, we must chase purpose until we find and align with the blueprint for our lives. The fulfillment of purpose is more in the giving than in the receiving and the former is uncomfortable, but should never be a deterrent.
"A sluggard's appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied." - Proverbs 13:4 (NIV)
3.
How You See You
How You See You One day, as I was preparing to sort fabric that needed to be used for a project, one of the pieces I selected resembled blood-orange. I examined the piece of fabric under fluorescent lights and was convinced of its color until I took it into sunlight to reveal its real color - I stood almost dazed because it was the color 'red', not 'blood-orange'. This moment immediately took to me a story I had read in the Bible, in Mark chapter 8; Jesus had just healed a blind man’s eyes and He asked the man what he could see, to which the man said “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” Mark 8:24 (NLT) The story did not end there, Jesus touched his eyes one more time until his sight was fully restored, and he began to see men for their true appearance. Sadly, this happens with us too, many of the people we have given access and authority to define us cannot see clearly even though they may have 20/20 vision. They may judge from limited information they have about us, or they see through various filters of wrong programming. Three questions we must ask ourselves: • Have we allowed others define us our entire lives? • Do the opinions of others construct our decision-making patterns and motivations? • How and when did we allow this weakness gain so much control? As we begin to examine the patterns that led us here, we may begin to find that many of our insecurities began with words of doubt, fear, bitterness, strong biases, and anger from people we interact with. Unfortunately, many of the people that speak over us negatively are likened to the blind man in Mark chapter 4, not having the ability to see us for who we really are. It is important to discard a lot of these negative words from our conscious and subconscious mind, and a key step to identifying them is being aware. To understand and reveal our authentic identity, we must start within and there are four pillars to build upon as we reconnect with our true essence. These four pillars are beauty, courage, light, and wisdom. This is how I like to define each pillar: Beauty - A state of being that is pleasant to both the owner and the receiver, and it is measured first in virtue before aesthetic complements it. Courage - The willingness to accomplish a goal even in the face of opposition. Light - The absence of darkness resulting from the presence of truth, insight, good vision, hope, and the presence of God. Wisdom - Having access to good understanding, engaging and honoring principles of truth, exercising the will to choose what is right in all situations. In order to take back control of who we are, we must keep building upon these pillars and exercise the right to discard the false projections and filters we allow others cast over us, as well as the ones we put on ourselves.
4.
God In Woman
God In Woman
We should study the nature and structure of womanhood whenever we are in doubt of miracles and how they happen. There is something about womanhood that makes the perfect template for creation, renewal, and reformation to take place. One thing I have observed overtime is that suppressed voices usually encapsulate a light and glory that darkness is afraid of. If all of humanity would subscribe to the patterns of the woman that God reveals systemically, we will be able to live out our full potential. The woman is a system, an intentional revelation of dimensions existent in God that shows us how creation takes place, one we can apply to many areas of life. The woman who taps into the identity of God within operates as a treasure-gate, and a key catalyst for the change we have needed in our communities and nations.
5.
A Throne Built On Humility
Photographer: Ada Ebhomielen Cover Model: Chinyere Adogu Kaftan: Eido Swimwear ($148)
A Throne Built On Humility
Thrones function almost as a system of legislature, the guiding principles being the purpose for which they exist - That purpose is not the exaltation of self but for the service of a people, one of the benefits that comes with is the authority to rule over the affairs of people, ideally to bring them into their own purpose and fulfillment as well. This is an honor, what keeps us in cognizance of that honor and helps us focus on the goal to serve is humility. As we remember the call to serve in whatever capacity, whether as a business owner, a leader in the home-front, or a policy maker, we have been chosen and given seats that will influence the lives and well-being of many, humility keeps us in alignment with the purpose at all times. The throne built on humility will guide us into letting others go ahead of us sometimes, it will require sacrifice that can be ego-stinging. Humility allows us submit to vulnerability, remembering that we are fallible, can make mistakes, and that the ownership of our flaws and shortcomings is not humiliation. The culmination of these principles will help us lead with integrity, transparency would not be a problem, we can build trust as we seek to foster relationships that will help our purposes thrive, allowing room for growth. The world needs more leaders that would take a walk alongside their followers and less dictators, and humility will allow for the empathy we need to rule and seat successfully on the thrones we have been mandated with.
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.� – Matthew 23:12 (NIV)
6.
The Joy Trick
Photographer: Ada Ebhomielen Cover Model: Chinyere Adogu Top & Skirt: Eido Swimwear ($50, $60)
The Joy Trick
One of the toughest things we might ever have to do is to remain joyful amidst a situation that signals gloom and discouragement. I like to think of joy as a technology, one that our adversaries might not have or know how to operate successfully. To experience dominion and not be swayed out of the place of peace, we will need to hook up to this technology and know how to operate it. Joy is a dimension existent within the human spirit and can go dormant if we do not engage it. Two key features for a beginner user of this technology are laughter and songs of praise or worship to God. It is a very simple principle and does not require much thinking, just obedience. Whenever we feel our attention strongly being pulled to feel negative emotions, we can use these two features by listening to a praise-song with a beat that can enable us start what I refer to as a one-man-dance-off. To take it further, each time the urge to laugh comes in the middle of this exercise, let the laughter flow without restrictions. The more times we do this, the more joy we will experience, the stronger, healthier, and more at peace we would be.
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)
7.
They See You Before They Hear You
They See You Before They Hear You Appearance is seed for perception, and while you cannot totally control how you are perceived or should you make that your mission or focus, it is important to be aware that if we would find favor in the eyes of a generation that is so visually inclined, we would help them see us. The beauty in this is that we will have more than just our appearance to offer, we will offer value and virtue, but we will be approachable so we can really reach those we are called to. Every time I design a piece, I am thinking about the heart of the woman who would wear it, and that her power is first in her voice being heard, but I am also conscious of the fact that she will be seen before she is heard. The goal is for her to command attention, exude grace and style when she shows up, and with that in mind, I think of patterns, colors and structures that would amplify that. Any tree that appears beautiful but yields bad fruit should be cut down, we must always remember that the virtue we carry within is needed to reach our world, but externally we should not choose to hide or make ourselves appear smaller.
REDEFINING LUXURY THROUGH WHOLESOME CRAFTMANSHIP
www.eidoswimwear.com/p/eido-luxury @eidoluxury
Ada Ngozi Ebhomielen Special Education Teacher Photographer
Through The Love-Lenses Of An Eido Woman
Through The Love-Lenses Of An Eido Woman I got to work with Ada on the set of an Eido Swimwear shoot, images from that shoot are what you see as you flip through the pages of this volume of the Eido Woman journal guide. I noticed as she photographed each model, there was so much passion in her movement as she would drop on the floor in an instant from shutter to shutter to get the perfect shot. Observing the grace with which she communicated and directed each model’s movement into what I call winner-poses, it was almost impossible to not want to hear what inspires and motivates her craft.
Tayo: Photography allows you influence how people are viewed, what helps you push for authenticity on that journey? Ada: Before a shoot I find myself planning every single detail, but when I am on set everything goes out the window. I allow the moment dictate what my view-finder finds and I let go of controlling every single thing.
Tayo: How did photography find you? Ada: I started photography in 2011. I was at a point in my life where I was trying to find myself and spending time looking at photos and magazines got me interested in taking photo, so I got my first camera and my journey began.
Tayo: What's your ideal pathway to finding balance in work and personal life? Ada: I am honestly still learning to balance a career, business and family, but I find strength when I meditate, talk to God and have some alone time.
Tayo: What role does faith play in your ability to stay focused in your craft? Ada: It plays a role 100 percent. I am at a point where I talk to God constantly about everything.
Tayo: Where can readers of Eido Woman find and connect with you? Ada: You can see links to all my work on www.adaebhomielen.com, www.avalonistudios.com and Instagram @adaafrizion
Eido Woman
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Eido Woman
Photographer: Ada Ebhomielen Model: Linda Bancroft Top & Skirt: Eido Swimwear ($50, $50)
Eido Woman
Photographer: Ada Ebhomielen Model: Linda Bancroft Swimsuit: Eido Swimwear ($115)
For years, clothes have served as a symbolic representation of a particular quality or concept within society. Our goal is to channel the right messages to the communities around us through creativity and the movements we champion with Eido Swimwear and The Eido Swimwear Wonder Woman Initiative. Eido Swimwear being constructed for the woman who is intrinsically aware of who she is, we believe that this awareness springs up from deep within the soul and we exist to show what that looks like.
‘Eido’: An ancient Greek word that means to be intrinsically aware or discerning.
www.eidoswimwear.com www.wonderwomaninitiative.org 561.855.0949 Social: @eidoswimwear @wonderwomaninitiative
EIDO
VOLUME 2
WOMAN
A GUIDE TO INTRINSIC AWARENESS
Tips and tricks to hone virtue, be heard before you speak, and thrive stylishly
FEATURING: CHINYERE ADOGU BRIA BRYANT LINDA BANCROFT ADA EBHOMIELEN EIDO SWIMWEAR (SPRING/RESORT 2021)
BY TAYO ISHOLA