ORTAVIA TAYLOR

A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE

Taylor Ortavia

rtavia Taylor is a mother, grandO mother, minister, business owner of

Healing and Zen Experience, and founder of Votus Voice of the Unspoken nonprofit organization. She has merged her calling as a preacher with her career as a massage therapist to provide wholeness and healing to the mind, body, and spirit via prayer, empowerment, and touch. Whether praying for healing or deliverance or helping men, women, individuals, and families get beyond abuse by assisting them in rediscovering their true identity in Christ through her nonprofit,

Ortavia lets her light shine. She regards her faith as solid and challenges everyone to live and walk out their faith boldly.

What is one issue or concern you feel needs to be discussed, and what can you provide as part of the solution?

I feel domestic violence needs to be discussed more because it’s happing so frequently, and nothing is being done. They may bring it to the news, and just like that, it’s gone. I share knowledge to assist people in identifying red flags, gaining the bravery to speak up, connecting them to safe spaces, and empowering them to reclaim their confidence and independence ( because the fear of not being able to survive keeps you stuck).

What life lesson did you learn the hard way?

I learned the hard way that everything that looks good is not good for you.

When you lack something for so long, and it appears with the qualities you desire, it is easy to overlook the red flags. Like I always say, every choice you make has a good or bad consequence.

Tell us about one life experience you felt significantly shaped you into who you are today. Being in an abusive relationship and surviving shaped my life to be who I am today. (1) most people don’t make it out, and (2) because I understood who was behind the operation, I was able to increase in faith and prayer to discover the enemy’s strategies to defeat him and help others do the same. I was able to reclaim my purpose and walk with the courage and confidence that God intended for me to develop into the warrior that I am.

Fear, shame, and regret have paralyzed many from embracing their life purpose. What advice would you give to help someone overcome this obstacle? I once was living in a prison of fear. I allowed the negative thoughts Satan was feeding me to isolate me. I was afraid of succeeding. From a little girl, I was always thinking of ways to be successful and how I would own property, multiple businesses and schools. But because of the thoughts I was receiving, I began to self-sabotage, thinking I was not qualified as I didn’t have a high school diploma but a GED. Then I came across 1 timothy 1:7- For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love power and a sound mind. Also, Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Those scriptures shaped my path to a better future. Although I had many failures, I’m on the right path with a new successful massage practice fulfilling God’s purpose in every session. I pushed through by standing on the promises of God in faith, trusting His leading every step of the way. I became intentional in my pursuit of purpose.

Is there anything else compelling you would like to share? Remember, silence and secrecy allow negative experiences to control your life. Be Bold! Be Open!

www.healingandzenexperience.com