Why Multicultural Aromatherapy? A Business and Wellness Journey
Welcome to Multicultural Aromatherapy Wellness Studio! It is only fitting for the first blog post to document my journey. My wellness journey began after I had to start working from home part-time online because my diagnosis of fibromyalgia made it difficult for me to maintain my Customer Service agent position at a local bank. I started working for the school board as a bus driver so that I can care for my asthmatic son (breathing treatments 6 times a day) and to rest in between my bus run when my fibromyalgia was flared up. Besides, I needed the insurance to cover the $20,000 average cost a year (2002 statistic) to treat my fibro. Not only did I take a 75% pay cut and turned down a lucrative management position, I also gain more expenses with the FM (fibromyalgia) diagnosis. Starting a home business where I can control my schedule became a necessity. I have been a Bible educator in a missionary work that I had been engaged in for years. But how was I to use these skills and have the confidence to expand my business?
I volunteered in the FM support group for a number of years. I even participated in a research study that my doctor was spearheading at a local hospital. When I overheard some support group patrons talking about a fibromyalgia documentary being filmed by this doctor, I wanted to know more. When I asked about participating, I was met with the "only professionals" was in the film. Chick, you don't know me! Boy, was I perturbed! So, I ended the conversation with, 'here's my phone number, would you just ask him'. I wasn't even home long before I heard the phone ring, and Dr. Patrick Wood was on the other end excited that I wanted to participate. "Only professionals" eh? My support group patrons call me "Fibro Famous" because I had the privilege of being a part of the international video project, Show Me Where It Hurts. This gave me the confidence I needed to become a consultant for CEOs.
Business Journey
Fibromyalgia Resource Fair - Aromatherapy Products Display
In 1992, I was a direct sales representative for Home Interior's & Gifts. I began with the intention of decorating my home at a discount while earning money at the same time. (This journey will be chronicled in a later post.) I went from direct sales to business coaching. My mission was to "diversify and elevate" the business of direct selling. African Americans were underrepresented in that industry and business people didn't think that direct sales was a "real business" . This topic will also be chronicled in a later post. The clients that I attracted were natural product developers. It was because of them that I learned about toxic ingredients in skin and hair care products which led to my own journey of clearing toxins out of my home and beauty products. My coaching/consultant organization, The Multicultural Direct Selling Alliance, offered expert advice and mentoring services to company owners in the direct selling industry. I met many wonderful people that also assisted me in my health journey; Marguerite Wright of Moms Herbs, certified me in herbal therapy so that I can manage my FM with alternative methods. Chanelle Washington of Indigofera, Leesha B of Inky Loves Nature, and Jasmine Lawrence of Eden Body Works helped me to clean up my personal care products, a necessary step in FM management. One of such clients, Lisa Burke of Likisma Aromatherapy, was the beginning of my aromatherapy journey teaching me to manage my pain by using essential oils. Trisha of London (UK), an aromatherapist on Likisma's staff, apprenticed and mentored me for several months which started my education. Now that I had a taste of aromatherapy, I couldn't let it go!
Aromatherapy Journey
In 2008, I changed the name to Multicultural Aromatherapy becoming the first Black owned Virtual Aromatherapy School in the USA. (Research is still pending on the first African American Aromatherapy School in the world.) I wanted my courses virtual so that I can reach more who did not have the opportunity to learn in person but wanted the in person experience with live classes. As I dived into the Aromatherapy world, I didn't see many people that looked like me. I came across Cha Roberts of AromaEducators on a NAHA (National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy) directory, but she was it! I had to make a decision: Was I to hide my identity like many of my business partners because of fear of other groups not purchasing my services? Or was I to fully embrace my heritage and allow people to decide for themselves if they want to work with me or not? Well, you see the path I chose.
Many people may wonder why even be known as "the first African American" or "Black owned" anything? It can be described in a poem that I wrote many years ago that is still relevant today:
"It's a Blind Nation and they can't see
It's more than our race that's killing me
It's a Blind Nation and they can't see
Their eyes are clouded to reality
Do they see the achievers of our Nation
Do the see the positive side of our Creation
How many times are we in the spotlight
For positive attention we have to fight
Maya, Martin, Malcolm, Mandela, Me
We're not apart of the slave mentality
We don't have chains on our minds
To our successes, we're not blind
For this nation's blind and they can't see
That not all of us are killing me
It's a Blind Nation and they can't see
Open your eyes to reality"
If we don't share it, who will? Working in the school system for 23 years, I have seen the demise of our youth, especially black youth. Many come from homes and neighborhoods with few positive examples unable to see beyond the future. This is why many of us haven't quit or retired so that we can help inspire the future generation. Lord knows, it's not for the money! That's why we have these "side hustles". We stick around because we have to show the next generation the possibilities. But, how was I to be open about my culture and be inclusive to other nationalities? Therefore, Multicultural Aromatherapy was coined as a term to include all cultures and ethnicities in Aromatherapy while remaining open and honest about who I was- an African American Aromatherapist.
In a recent Podcast interview with Melissa Holman of Aromatic Chat, somehow I poured out the fact that I was a 4th generation business owner. Melissa has a way of bringing to surface what has been lying dormant for years. It was that moment when I realized the magnitude of that statement. My father was born in 1945, and his father, Dale Easterling and grandfather, Pete Easterling dug wells, made sugar cane syrup, and ranched livestock in the late 1800's to early 1900's. Imagine these Black men doing business with all races of people in rural Covington County, Mississippi! This Black History moment in my own family served as the example for me, my sister, (Sheena Easterling, owner of Red Carpet Salon & Spa), my brother (Rodney Easterling, owner of Boots Signature Dishes, LLC), my cousin, (Renee Easterling, owner of The Perfect Gentleman's Club) and other relatives who own Barber Shops, DJ services, even DTre creating Hip Hop music (TicTok & Bop Challenge) to spearhead our own businesses. We're that 4th generation of Easterlings from Mt. Olive, Mississippi! Paw Paw would be proud!
So, I hope that my work in the aromatherapy world and the volunteer work in the Fibromyalgia and Natural Hair/Products communities have served as the spark to inspire others to define their role as they contribute to the growth of aromatherapy.
Red Carpet Salon & Spa Hair Elixir, Boots Signature Dishes, LLC, The Perfect Gentleman's Club
