Meet Amanda Joy Gilbert | Professional Henna art and Somatic Art Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Joy Gilbert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda Joy, what do you attribute your success to?
Courageously choosing love over fear has been the most important factors behind the success of my business Happy Henna and nonprofit Henna Crowns of Courage. Choosing love to take the courage to share an art that changed my life and literally an outlook into what is possible.

Henna became an active meditation for me to be more present. To slow down my movements, my thoughts and my breath. Through creating this art, I became aware of my feelings and the stories I was playing in my mind. I believe it takes courage to witness the dark hidden things inside of us, to be present with them and not run from them.

The art of henna became a Somatic Art Therapy tool that leaves behind a sacred intentional sigil stain up to 2 weeks on the skin. Seeing this sigil in the form of a beautiful art, scientifically can begin reprograming your mindset. Your inner light being brought forth to the surface of the skin as a reminder of your true inner beauty and strength.

I remember many moments in this meditation of applying henna on my skin, that I was challenged to reprogram my thought patterns to choose love instead of fear. To choose a positive thought instead of a negative one. I was encouraged to then take action towards this new way of thinking through creating a symbol of art on my skin that I would continue to look at for weeks after. I noticed that once the henna began to fade, that old story I would tell myself would fade as well.

This began to play out in bigger areas in my life. I began to become aware of how fragile this present moment is and how it really is the only thing we have. We are not guaranteed the next moment. I had dealt with anxiety and panic attacks in my life where I thought I was dying. I believe that our greatest tool to overcoming this fear is becoming present with it. It takes courage to listen to these fears and bring them into light. When we do, they aren’t so scary anymore.

I remember the day I decided to start doing henna full time as a business. This was a scary thing. I had so many thoughts come up that would challenge me to believe in myself. “what if no one likes my art,” “what if I don’t make any money doing what I love?” These thoughts would come to mind and as I sat with them, I began challenging myself to say the opposite. To courageously speak LIFE and LOVE into the story I desired to create for myself.

This played out as well when I began sharing this sacred art with cancer survivors. Their authenticity and rawness of having awareness of the fragility of life, helped me remember that you don’t have to be diagnosed with cancer to feel the shadow and fear of death. We only have this one life and I believe we should live it fully in love. Don’t let fear hold you back.

I know that the courage of choosing love over fear has instilled in my the ability to be a courage coach to so many through the art of henna. I have become a Somatic Art therapist through henna and empower others through the wisdom of being present in an active for of meditation.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What set’s my art apart from all henna artists is that I bring it back to its original roots of being a form of “blessing” instead of just “novelty” art. Every person who sits with me to receive this art will be guided through a ceremonial ritual experience, meditation. I will guide them to be intentional with this art as plant medicine that goes deeper than skin surface. I take them through an experience of meeting themselves in a powerful way and bringing their light to the surface. This will then become their prayer of what they are calling into experience and embody for the next week or two while the henna is on their skin. I have also been doing this art since 2010, so the experience, knowledge and wisdom I carry with this art is very professional. I teach and train others on how to use this art as somatic art therapy. I have online courses, meditations, and in person retreats.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love traveling through Eastown in Grand Rapids. There are many places to hang out, but one of my favorite places is Sacred Springs Kombucha. I don’t drink alcohol much so it is nice to have a place that feels safe to enjoy a Mocktail that is healthy for me. I also love to bring clients to receive henna here as well as Global Infusion for a tea or their famous chai late’s! My favorite food spot is Two Beards and Bistro

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a shout out several entrepreneur friends who had continued to encourage me on my path to freedom through art. Veronica Kirin. Also to my parents who raised me in faith, they have been great cheerleaders on my path. All of the cancer survivors I had crowned with henna.

Website: www.HappyHenna.com & www.HennaCrownsofCourage.org

Instagram: www.instagram.com/happyhennatattoo & HennaCrownsofCourage

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5cr0cAxlla9xaSnMFsJaPA

Image Credits
Adam Bird photography