Queer Women Rising® with The Luxury Lesbian™ Matchmaker, Sophia Spallino

Sometimes, it takes a desert's stillness for us to hear from God. If you are feeling isolated and in pain, use this time alone to ask God, "What next? Use me where I am, however you please." This is what Jessica did. Now, she is helping women blossom around the world!

Meet my dear friend and celebrity makeup artist, Jessica Shakir! She has discovered how to live passionately and on purpose despite physical pain...and she is showing others how to live a beautiful life, both inside and out! She has the joy, peace, and love of someone who appears to have a "perfect life," but Jessica's world was turned upside down when her back problems became unbearable chronic pain overnight, and she realized she couldn't live her bicoastal life as a makeup artist on sets everyday.

Instead of sulking in the realization of all the things she "couldn't" do, she started praying about what she "could do." God has used her time of physical rest to build an incredible new career -- being a beauty coach! Jessica has a gifting to draw out each woman's beauty, revealing the innate radiance within every woman she coaches.

I cherished our time chatting together because she is a women of dignity, wisdom, and kindness that effortlessly flows from her heart. Jessica is the creator of www.MyBeautyBFF.com, where she coaches women around the world, both online and through workshops. She’s using her experience as a celebrity makeup artist for good, to influence women to love themselves the way God made them! I call her my "beauty bff" because she is such an encourager, always giving me the pep talks just when I need them in her Instagram videos…and if you listen to this show, you will get a pep talk right now!

In this episode, she shares how to live beautifully inside an out...and how to choose to walk in purpose rather than shrink back into the pain. Here are some topics that we discuss:

What it is like to work with stars?

How can pain and seasons of waiting be used for a bigger purpose

Helping others actually helps heal you

What is “Beauty BFF”?

The way the fruits of the spirit align with beauty

Feeling like you can never recover from a great loss -- a death, breakup, divorce, or a lost career?

Whatever is hurting you could be your fuel, but will you allow your pain to reveal your purpose? 

Meet Cherie Rickard, the host of the Podcast Radio Show “Real Girl Talk.” She’s also an author, speaker, medical professional, and a certified grief and empowerment coach! In fact, it was her dark season of grieving that led her to this life path of purposing to help others heal too! She is determined to live out loud and thrive in God’s purpose for her life. I call her my instagram mama because she is such an encourager, always giving me the pep talks just when I need them in her Instagram videos…and if you listen to this show, you will get a pep talk right now!

In this episode, she shares how PAIN REVEALS YOUR PURPOSE and how to choose to walk in purpose rather than shrink back into the pain. Here are some topics that we discuss:

How does grieving effect our relationship with God? 

Why you might not "be ready" to heal?

How could our pain be used for a greater purpose?

How does helping others aid in healing yourself?

What steps of grieving would you encourage others to prepare for?

“Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on God” ~Isaiah 30:15

We believe it’s our responsibility to share how God has healed our hearts, and although I have not experienced a loss like Cherie, I know what pain feels like. Truly, my greatest loss was the loss of "what I imagined my life would be like" -- the picture of marriage and a family I had in my mind being shattered by my divorce...and my healing came through picking up the pieces and teaching others how to heal too. I was only one step ahead in healing, but that’s all I had to be to inspire others.

That's all you have to do too -- be one step ahead. Put one foot in front of the other. You are strong enough to overcome!

Are you blocking your blessing? Get into receptive mode with this guided medition and forgiveness prayer. Your restitution is coming!

THE BAG IS SECURED. 

God already bought it.

But are your hands free to hold it?

Or are you clinging to bitterness?

ARE YOU BLOCKING YOUR OWN BLESSING?

ARE YOU POSITIONED FOR RESTORATION, BABY GIRL?

What is Restitution?

This is a beautiful word that describes what takes place when a child of God sees her season of restoration. Your day of restitution is coming. God’s promises to you will never fail.  It may take some time. It might look different than we expect. But if your heart is ready to receive and your connection to Source is undiluted with bitterness, your restitution will come. 

But Sophia, that relationship stole from me.

I lost that business opportunity that was supposed to be mine!

If it weren’t for _______________, I would have ___________________.

It makes me sick. I feel you. It’s happened to me too.

BUT I HAVE THIS HOPE AS AN ANCHOR FOR MY SOUL…

I believe people reap what they sow, karma, whatever you choose to call it. I believe that God doesn’t sleep. I believe your tears grieve the heart of God. I believe the Creator cares. I believe God keep promises even when our human perspectives can’t make sense of it at all. 

BUT…You have to be in receptive mode.

Are you clinging to “what should have been” instead of looking ahead?

…even when I feel my love, heart, time, and resources were “stolen”…

…even when the situation doesn’t “deserve” forgiveness…

…even when it doesn’t look like I’m getting what I think I am “owed”…

I choose forgiveness…I choose to let go and let God work. 

Let’s find forgiveness in our souls and check our hearts through meditation, prayer, and manifest restitution together.

Here are our guided meditation affirmations:

I am grateful for now.

I am grateful for breath.

I am grateful for all that has happened that has led me to now. 

I am grateful for now.

I am grateful for breath.

I choose to be present now.

Now is good. 

I am satisfied with this very breath. 

I release all bitterness. 

Now think of whoever you need to forgive now, and with every breath…let go a little more…Reflect love onto every being that has caused you hurt and pain. Breathe in and extend love. Focus on who you need to forgive and breathe out grace.

I forgive all,

even myself.

I forgive myself for not living up to how I imagined I would be. 

I accept me, where I am at. 

I forgive all,

even myself, especially myself.

I love all.

I love myself. 

God loves me. 

Physical loss is an illusion, so I choose not to feel loss, regret, or stolen from.

Choosing to sit in peace, in presence, in the perfection of what is…is my choice, and I choose love. 

All feelings of loss come from my misunderstanding and my physical self — for the realest part of myself, I realize, is my spirit. 

All is well with my soul.

I understand that what is for me, will come to me, is already with me, so I do not worry. 

I am at peace. 

I radiate peace.

I am at peace with myself and with all.

Restitution is mine, even if I cannot see it now. 

My physical perception is limited, but I choose to trust that restitution is mine.

Life unfolds as it should, so I do not worry.

What is meant for me is already mine.

I am joyful to know that of myself, I can do nothing; but with Spirit, I am  guided in all that I do.

I feel the weight come off my shoulders.

I release control to God.

Restitution is here. 

All is well. 

I hope you feel better now. Be strong and of good courage! 

THE BEST IS YET TO COME. RESTITUTION IS REAL. RESTITUTION IS YOURS.

Believe it: “The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole.” 

We go from glory to glory, Sister, so get your heart prepared for restitution!

I am here to affirm you with my words, play my harp to ease your mind, and create nostalgic sounds with makeup ASMR that will help you rest. You can listen to help you fall asleep or simply calm down if you’re feeling on edge. Sink into bliss. This moment of spiritual and self love ASMR is yours.

I hope listening to sounds that are associated with being a woman and self-care will help you embody your femininity and embrace taking care of yourself. You deserve to take care of yourself, in whatever way that looks like and feels good for you.

I love purposing to care for my appearance, so makeup relaxes me. I purpose to look lovely on the outside because on earth, we look at the outside when we look at each other. We get to choose how we adorn our earthly temples. I choose to use makeup in that way.

But what makes a women truly beautiful? Everyone can have their own definition and own their own story. But I think character traits are what make a woman truly beautiful. I think embodying femininity at its fullest is beautiful. To me, that’s someone who walks tall with dignity, being a strong force of love, and someone who leads with integrity…

A woman who is disciplined, and dedicated to walking in awareness — that’s a beautiful woman. Someone who purposes to possess the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, gentleness, self-control, patience, goodness, kindness, and faithfulness. That is my definition of beauty. 

Makeup is just a way to adorn our earthly shell. And it’s fun. So can we enjoy this moment together? 

Wonderful. Lean in and listen.

Angel Mariah's wisdom and intentional healthy lifestyle will inspire you to be the best version of yourself, mind, body, and spirit! We believe it’s our responsibility to bring light everywhere we go, to put smiles on the faces of those around us, and to share the unconditional love of God. 

In this show, we talk about eating life-giving foods and explore different types of intuitive plant-based diets, like vegetarian, vegan, and flexitarian lifestyles. Why? ...Because we believe there is a major spiritual component to eating! Intuitive eating is TOTAL FREEDOM. 

Lastly, we talk about honoring 8 secrets that are vital to a healthy lifestyle. We believe being disciplined in our spiritual and physical regimens is the way to lead a healthy, long, and peaceful life!

Feeling like a hamster on the wheel of life? You were born to do more than just pay bills and die. Life is meant to be enjoyed! If you feel rushed and overwhelmed, I created these self-care mantras just for you! I hope you take time to practice speaking these words over yourself because life is too short and your energy is too valuable to rush. Don't let one moment be wasted in worry. Take it all in. Embrace all of your senses and be present in all that you do. Don't rush life.

Have you started despising your season of waiting? Do you look around and see everyone else living the life “you should be living?” Feeling disappointed in God? Feeling like you see God bless others, but think to yourself “not me”? Feeling stuck or not "where you should be” on your ideal timeline?

Does this sound like the thoughts in your head?

It sounds like all of us at times. After all, we are HUMAN. But let's gain some God-perspective together!

Have you started despising your season of waiting? Do you look around and see everyone else living the life “you should be living?” Feeling disappointed in God? Feeling like you see God bless others, but think to yourself “not me”? Feeling stuck or not "where you should be” on your ideal timeline?

Does this sound like the thoughts in your head?

It sounds like all of us at times. After all, we are HUMAN. But let's gain some God-perspective together!

Want to be successful in every area of life, find new energy every morning, and not burnout? This episode is for you. FORGET ABOUT RELYING ON YOURSELF ALONE. You don't have to depend solely on yourself for creative ideas, focus, vision, or energy. Believe me, I have tried and struggled when relying on my own strength. "Hustling" works for a while, but eventually we burnout relying on our own strength. Listen to learn the secret of overcoming weariness and avoiding burnout!

Feel CALLED, but not "worthy"? This episode is for YOU...Because you must overcome the feeling of unworthiness to walk in your purpose. Let's retrain your brain to think positive thoughts to feel worthy and end imposter syndrome!