⚱️Grief is a testament to love
Just be with it
Dear friend,
I’m writing to you from my favorite coffee shop again! Can you believe it’s about to be September? I started to see tree leaves turning yellow! What’s the weather where you are?
a quick note before we go too far, this letter may be truncated by your email provider. Please open it on a browser or in the Substack app for the full experience <3 lots of images this time!
Are you ready for New Moon in Virgo? It’s next Monday 9/2! As we step away from the chaos and into a space of stillness, this celestial moment offers us a chance to reconnect with our innermost truths and rejuvenate our strength and integrity. Do we have any areas of self-betrayal? It’s a powerful time to recenter, reassess our moral compass, and commit to living in full integrity.
❤️ SEEDS:
🌱 I embrace the process of change, allowing myself to realign with my core values over and over. I live a life of authenticity, integrity and purpose.
🌱 I carry strength and resilience within me, ready to navigate any conflicts and foster repair as I practice a love ethic.
🌱 I trust in my abilities and creativity to flourish in new environments; I am fully capable of successfully establishing my business anywhere I go.
🔮 ALCHEMY TURNS PAIN INTO POWER
The sun began its descent, casting a golden glow over Sunset Park. It was the perfect backdrop for my latest Alchemy Portrait session with a dear friend Shen Lu.
As the light faded and the colors of the sky deepened, I knew I was witnessing something truly special.
I asked her if there was a soundtrack for this photoshoot, what would it be? She said: "Splendor in the Grass by Pink Martini".
So please enjoy a slideshow of the images we created that day!
We met in our late 20s in New York as two migrant dreamers fighting for freedom and expression. Over the years, we've witnessed each other hustle in this big city, tell heart-felt stories, navigate a foreign land and try to find belonging.
Super proud of her for all her achievements over the years. Recently she finally got her green card via EB-1 （I always find it funny that the legal name for this visa is called Alien with Extraordinary Ability）! Hope she is enjoying the light after this grueling immigration process. She deserves a big celebration!
This session was unique for another reason.
It wasn't just about capturing a beautiful image. It was about capturing a glow of self-love and transformation after deep inner work.
Through Alchemy Portraits, a unique combination of body work, somatic coaching and photography, we delved deep into the essence of her being.
During our somatic coaching sessions, we revisited old wounds, gave comfort to the wounded child within, faced reality head-on, and envisioned a future self filled with self-love and confidence. The photo session was a chance to embody this new version yearning to be seen.
It was a process of alchemy, turning pain into beauty, fear into courage.
And as I clicked the shutter, I could see the transformation happening before my eyes. The light danced around her, illuminating her in a way that only the setting sun could. She radiated a glow of self-love and acceptance that was truly breathtaking.
It's moments like these that remind me why I love what I do. To witness someone stepping into their own light, being seen and loved for who they truly are, is a gift beyond words.
To transform, are you ready to sacrifice your doubts, insecurity and low self-worth?
Bye, "I'm not good enough!"
Bye, "I can't pull this off!"
Bye, "I want to hide."
Thank them for being a friend for so long.
Thank them for protecting us for so long.
They can rest now.
In her love letter to her self, she wrote,
"You are learning and growing, however painful it is. it’s ok to be insecure and it’s ok to make mistakes. No matter what you do, you are worthy and deserve love. I'm so excited to see you on the healing journey. I will always love you unconditionally and be there for you. "
Here's to growing pains.
Here's to holding grief and moving on.
Here's to chasing the light, both outside and within, and truly seeing the beauty that lies in all of us!
👀 Read the full photo blog with more photos and better layout here
⌛️ Catch me and send me an inquiry for SOMATIC COACHING or PHOTOGRAPHY services on sunsetstudio.love
I will be in New York till 9/17 and Hawaii till end of December. Somatic coaching sessions can be booked virtually.
“Multimedia Love Letter” Course will be out soon too! Click here to be added to the waiting list~
🌱 UPDATES
I found my home a pair of sweet caretakers while I’m away in Hawaii & beyond! The way they loved the place as much as I do gives me peace of mind. Thank you to those who helped spread the word! When I moved here two years ago, I envisioned creating a creative sanctuary and cozy home for big-hearted people to find healing in this big busy city. It’s a place for migratory birds like me who crave a sense of comfort after weathering storms. It’s a playground to remember your desire and appreciate beauty. Hope it keeps growing ~
I photographed a monthly Grieving & Weaving event in Greenwood Cemetery for NPR. If you are based in New York, check out their Death Education program!
“A big thing with grief is moving through it both mentally and physically,” Gatto says. “And that's exactly what we do here. We bring something that is maybe heavy on our minds or our hearts. And then we work with our hands. We work with it, and we work together.”
A death educator and a knitter walk into a cemetery — it's "Grieving & Weaving", NPR
I got to hang out with some tattoo artists experimenting with new ways of space making and community building.
“We visually decorate the entire shop together,” Sklaw says. “We try to keep it super warm and super inviting. I think we really go for this idea that you should have stuff to look at while you're getting a tattoo, because it hurts.”
'A real shift in the vibe': The tattoo industry is changing - NPR
Nice to catch up! Till next time~
Warmly,
Meng