Maker: Lori Menna Business: Cosmic Collage
Product/Service Description: Custom Digital Artwork, Logos, Branding, Artwork Licensing
Q: Can You distill you business vision down to 3 words?
Visual Medicine Codes
Q: What was the inspiration for your business?
Nature, Spirit, The Human Experience, Cosmic Connections.
Q: What part of starting your company did you really enjoy?
The response of people who are inspired by my creation. The feeling of being able to create a visual component to accompany someone else's feelings, visions and experience in the this life. To see that the sharing of my work has lead to a worldwide reach and the feeling of that connection across the planet is what is feeding the creativity to begin with. I imagine the creative energy radiating from my heart, through my hands and wrapping around the earth.
Q: What aspect of doing business have you felt challenged by? and how did you overcome it?
People often use my work to promote themselves and feel that there is no exchange necessary without realizing that this is my livelihood, it's what I use to support my family. People also often do not credit my work and copy my ideas. I have learned to shift my perspective and practice staying in gratitude for my creative gifts. I know that my ideas and concepts are fed by a collective consciousness though it is still a daily practice of mine to let go of my grasp of possession and ownership of material things, including my artwork which I sometimes question- is it even mine?
Q: What help did you receive that was crucial to your strength and momentum of moving forward in your business?
My partner of 9 years who is helping me to raise my children who are 11 and 9 years old. He holds a space for me and all that I am that I cannot even begin to describe.
Q: What is something that you learned that was an AHA! moment for you?
This is great question. I have been in so many plant medicine ceremonies and though it has opened me to other worlds and inspired so much of my artwork, I think the most powerful "AHA" or healing moments came to me while participating in not only breakthrough therapy, but learning how to facilitate it. The concept that all of our struggles and all of our conflicts are within. Everything just comes back to your relationship with yourself. Everything.
Q: When feeling stuck creatively or in life, what is your personal practice for rebalancing?
I don't often find myself stuck, the opposite actually, sometimes I have too many ideas, too many projects, too much creative energy. That I have learned to balance by not be on call for anyone ever, resting without guilt, moving my body, surfing, reading, walking in the jungle, watching birds (this is so inspiring for me). Marveling at the world around me. How can you not marvel at the world around you?
Q: Do you have a new product you are excited about for 2021?
OOOOOH- yes! I have a collaboration with Kelley Chapman of Manakai Swimwear. Sustainable swimwear made from recycled fishing nets with my prints on them! I also just finished a Deck with Hayhouse in collaboration Yasmin Boland of Moonology! Many more exciting things to come. I have been working on my own Oracle Deck, but it won't come out for another year or so.
All in Divine Time.
Q: Can you give a word of inspiration for other dreamers starting out?
Do not get discouraged when things feel like they aren't falling into place. Keep your focus forward and that day will come where you feel that all of the pieces of the puzzle are finally starting to fit.
