COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH ALISON CHUANG
Alison aka @tea.and.the.valley dwells close to the mountains & the sea where the jacaranda tree blooms. Naturally a leader, Ali holds the community close with her full moon tea sits, impeccable food & warm presence. She is hilarious, masterful & straightforward.
Her home is a hearth. Where children are born, elders visit & fragrant incense burns.
Her space is cozy, immaculate & full of treasures. Her knowledge & wisdom is expansive. We are delighted to share our first community conversation with Ali from Haena, Kaua’i.
HOW DO YOU REMAIN FREE?
You know...this was a harder question to answer and put into words than I thought it would be. Mostly because freedom, to me, is such a personal sovereign space that cannot be spoken for. Freedom is what moves me to live and create my daily life. It does not necessarily have to feel happy all the time, but open. It has to feel open to the flow of living and finding my center no matter what’s going on around me.
WHAT IS YOUR PATH TO VITALITY?
My path to vitality is in the journey itself. Everyday feels so alive, even if it’s a hard one. Being grateful for anything that comes my way, and understanding it as an opportunity to discover and grow, is key to feeling vital. When in doubt, be grateful......xo
DO YOU BELIEVE IN COINCIDENCE?
Yes! If coincidence is magic, I believe 100% !!
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOURSELF?
I love that I think things are funny even when they’re not. I love that I get to live out my best life in my underwear. Like, all day long.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE?
This isn’t a quote, but it is a share from one of my very favorite writers and dreamers. I encourage you to read some of his stuff as it is so relevant to these expansive and unusually mysterious times..... “you might come to see that forward movement is no longer possible in these moments, and the way to go was never forward anyway, but awk ~ ward : into the blackness of catacombs, into the darkness of sanctuary, into the riven cracks signed with the pen of the trickster, into the heated compost, into the position of a prostrated man who knows that when the storm roars the only thing left to do is to be still. In that stillness, entire worlds churn.....” ~bayo akomolafe
WHAT WAS YOUR LAST REALLY GOOD IDEA?
oh my goodness ! I’ve had so many of them, but let me see.... I guess it would have to be hiking out to one of my very favorite ridges that overlook the Na’Pali coast, and then camp there on a full and new moon night. The full moon would light up ridge lines in such soft and dreamlike tones and the ocean would glitter its magic. The new moon would host those very special end of summer, beginning of fall constellations that would make their way across our vast and spectacular night sky. What do ya think? Good idea??
SHARE A STORY ABOUT COMMUNAL BATHING--
My daughter Ginger Lei had a sleepover with ten of her besties. They wanted to take a drive to the cold pond and night bathe. I think the moon was waning because it was dark! We splashed around, jumped into the pond from the big rock, and got ourselves clean and chilled. Then we went home, sat around the tea table, sipped hot tea and talked about everything teenager~ish. Then they all took turns massaging each other!
WHAT IS YOUR MOST BELOVED EXPERIENCE WITH WATER?
my most beloved experience with water was five underwater births at home xo.
HOW DO YOU ENGAGE WITH WATER?
Our family has been drinking water from a very special spring for as long as I can remember. My partner gathers it every other day and it is a major part of our soul nourishment. We engage with water with total reverence and gratitude. It is a very sacred part of our lives...
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE FALL SEASON?
I look forward to the transitioning star constellations of manaiakalani to makali'i and ka hei hei o na keiki. Fall is the season where a lot of my night adventures begin.
SWHAT ON & ON PRODUCTS DO YOU SHARE & WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU KEEP IN YOUR PRIVATE STASH?
I have a wooden community board that sits on my kitchen counter. It holds a beautiful hala bowl filled with angel cards, an antique glass piece of my grandmothers that I use to hold incense, a recycled ON & ON vessel for flowers, and some of my favorite serums for anyone to use.
Trending now on the board is the Heart of Gold Harvest Moon oil serum, Max & Me Circle of Protection body oil, and Wooden Spoon Herbs moon time magic drops. Vintner’s Daughter and In Fiore have also made their way to this sharing space.
My private everyday stash in the shower is Julisis silver or gold face wash, Under Luna shampoo and conditioner, In Fiore Kashmir body balm, and the very best frankincense body wash made by yours truly......ON&ON.
Bathroom shelf private stash is Vintner’s Daughter serum and essence created by my beautiful friend April, La Tierra Sagrada jojoba hair treatment oil and Julisis when my skin feels like it needs some of the jubilee from the man himself.
Thank You ALI!
ALI'S ON & ON FAVORITES