Jo Essentially

06/01/2025

You know the drill—holidays are officially over, family members are back in their respective homes, the sugar high has barely faded, and bam! Everyone’s expected to dive back into work and personal goals with renewed energy.

Now this may be true for you. Or, perhaps you’re feeling torn between the need to still take things slow and the push to start the year strong.

If the latter rang true for you, you’re not alone because... it’s STILL winter. 🌨️ Nothing in nature is blooming right now—why are we expected to?

Every year we’re caught in this cycle of hustle when our bodies are still craving hibernation and reflection. As much as we may want to slow down, we’re also addicted to do-ing that getting still feels wildly uncomfortable and frankly, it’s the unknown for many of us.

But let’s be real: by February, most of us feel burned out, overwhelmed, and low-key mad at ourselves for “failing.”

It’s not failure—it’s misalignment. Winter is about letting go, resting, and quieting down, not diving headfirst into a marathon of goals. When we act out of sync with the season, no wonder we’re stressed and tired soon after the New Year.

Now, I’m not saying quit your job or ditch your goals (follow and know your own energy). What I am saying is that life feels so much better when you align with your natural rhythm—because alignment isn’t laziness, it’s wisdom.

That’s why I created ALIGNED. A 21-day journey starting 13 January. It will be an emergent soulful experience to help you continue to honor winter, embrace rest, and create space for renewal—without guilt.

You’ll walk away feeling grounded, connected, and renewed while being guided by the sacred magic of Black Spruce essential oil.

Link in bio to join us.

02/01/2025

New year. New you. New attitude. New (fill in the blank).

Yes, that’s all true.

But it’s also true that feelings such as uncertainty, overwhelm, or doubt may be alive too.

It’s easy to think something is wrong with us because we believe we *should* feel differently—more excited, more motivated, more “together.” Especially when scrolling through social media or looking around at the seemingly fresh faces and sparkly new beginnings (nothing against sparkly—I love fresh and sparkly!).

But let’s be honest. As we step into the new year, there’s often this unspoken expectation that everything, including us, should be shiny, new, and ready to go full speed ahead.

For some, that might be true. But for many, the truth is gentler: we are still in winter.

The cold invites us to hibernate, to reflect, and to move slower—especially after the hustle of the holidays. Nature isn’t in full bloom yet, and perhaps neither are we.

So wherever you are, know that it. is. ok.

Today, while walking on the beach, I was searching for guidance about something I’ve been ruminating about. Moments later, I stumbled across a heart (pictured here).

The message was simple: Love is always the answer.

So I’m sharing this with you, wherever you may find yourself right now.

Love is the answer.
Loving thoughts.
Loving perspective.
Loving what is.

I love you.

From my soul to yours.

16/11/2024

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁…happening next month!!

When we step into the wild, away from screens and endless to-do’s, something profound happens—we begin to remember.

The raw beauty of nature mirrors back the truth of who we are: free, untamed, and whole.

The wild spirit within—the one clouded by expectations, perfectionism, and people-pleasing—awakens.

Imagine this moment stretched across days, surrounded by the heartbeat of South Africa, and guided by the wisdom of the animals, and the untamed wilderness.

Two weeks left to say “𝗬𝗲𝘀.”

Will you (and a friend) answer the call of your wild before the year ends?

Dm with any questions.

Link in bio for all the wild and juicy details!

28/10/2024

A retreat isn’t an escape; it’s a homecoming to yourself.

When I think back to my recent retreat in Sardegna, Italy, that I attended with my incredibly amazing mastermind sisters, I’m reminded that journeys like these are not simply a break from life—they’re a sacred return to our truest self.

There’s something profound about stepping into a different land, where the energy, the history, and even the air hold a frequency that transforms you.

In new surroundings, a different field of consciousness that opens doors within ourselves is gifted, inviting fresh thoughts and deeper insights that just aren’t possible in the rhythm of everyday life.

And the real magic? The women who say *yes* to this journey alongside you. These aren’t just travel companions; they become soul sisters, reflections, and catalysts for a new understanding of who you are and who you can become.

The relationships born on these retreats - whether you know the women beforehand or not, go beyond friendships—they are bonds that continue to hold you, remind you, and inspire you long after the journey ends.

My experience in Italy was a profound shift. I returned home with new ways of relating to myself and the world, held by the deep honoring of love and energy of the women who shared that journey with me.

I know the power of retreats-as a participant and a leader. My heart still swells as I continue to reap the harvest from the decision to invest and saying “yes” to coming home to me-more, deeper, fully, completely.

If you feel the call to truly return to yourself, to awaken the spirit within, while being surrounded by soul sisters, let this be your nudge to listen.

I’m offering a retreat just like this in South Africa, 9-16 December to help you shift, transform, and remember the incredible potential within.

Ready to say “yes” to your own homecoming?

If so, click the link in bio for details or send me a dm to have a chat.

Only a few spots left!!

21/10/2024

Imagine returning home lighter, more resilient, and deeply connected to yourself than ever before. This journey is your chance to step into your wild spirit.

Will you answer the call?

𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 - 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬!

Link in bio for more information. ✨

Feel free to dm me with any questions.

25/09/2024

𝗝𝗼𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗱 - 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲

For years, I experienced joy in fleeting moments, always searching for it outside of myself, or the acknowledgement of working hard. What I learned was, the kind of joy that lasts, is not found in a moment or an external source.

It’s about *who* I am and how deeply I’m connected with my true essence. When I stopped living every moment of every day from scarcity and stories of “not enough,” I created space to *embody* joy—fully, deeply, and consistently.

I’ve never been happier in my life. I even moved through divorce recently with grace, ease, and a love that honored both myself and my ex husband. More on that in another post.

Not because I pushed feelings down, but because I know who I am. It’s a powerfully loving place to be that goes against the culture awarding productivity and self-sacrifice.

In my upcoming Illuminate workshop, you’ll begin to shift your consciousness and experience joy as something that comes from within. You’ll explore different pathways, free from old stories, and start to embody the climate of joy you’re meant to live in.

If you live in the Dénia-Alicante region, I hope you’ll join me.

Are you ready to experience joy that gets you what you want?

Link in bio for details and registration.

23/09/2024

I’ve spent so much of my life thinking fear was something to fight, something to get rid of. I mean, it’s easy to think of fear as the enemy when it shows up as tightness in the belly, shortness of breath, or the racing thoughts in my mind.

But what if…fear isn’t here to harm me? What if it’s a friend, simply trying to guide me back to my true path?

This idea brought me back to my family’s visit to Spain two years ago. We knew there would be a lot of walking so we decided to get my dad an electric wheelchair so he could explore all the sights with ease.

He had never used one before but it didn’t take long for him to get the hang of it—so much so that he started speeding far ahead of the rest of us on foot!

We often had to yell, “Daaaaad, tuuuurn leffffft!” down the cobblestone streets to make sure we all ended up at the same destination. 😂

It got me thinking—fear is a lot like us yelling at my dad. It’s not an enemy trying to stop me. It’s actually trying to get my attention, guiding me back on track when my beliefs (often) veer off course.

Much like we were shouting to help my dad make the right turns, fear is here to alert us when we’re taking action, or lack of, because we’ve bought into beliefs that aren’t aligned with our truth, like not being enough, accepted or worthy.

Are you speeding down a path, trying to outrun your fear, when all it wants is for you to slow down, listen, and realign with who you really are?

Like my dad who at times we had to run after so he would stop, we’d find him with a mischievous grin. 🤭 Ah, that inner child glow of feeling alive and vibrant with a newfound freedom he discovered through that electric wheelchair. I want the same for you when you remember who you truly are!

✨ In my Illuminate workshop this 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 28 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, that’s what we’ll be doing!

Join me in-person and save your spot now! [Link in bio]

From my soul to yours. 💗

09/09/2024

𝐈’𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐮𝐠𝐥𝐲.

When I was back home in the US last year, I went through old boxes and photo albums from high school.

Back then (funny to say that lol), we would exchange our school picture and write something on the back to remember one another by.

As I read the back of multiple photos, there was a recurring theme. “I’m so ugly,” said different ways, but all pointing to the same thing: I don’t like what I look like.

Sure, that could’ve been a teenage thing. It could be written off as harmless. Toss it out as something that all the kids said, but didn’t mean. Let’s even assume we’d grow out of it.

Did we though?!

What if… we didn’t grow out of it but grow IN to a belief system that supports and validates that once harmless statement?

This isn’t just about external looks. It’s about a belief that grabs hold of our psyche. It creates a lack mentality that gets reinforced through comparison, media, cultural and societal upbringing, etc and eventually becomes accepted as fact that seeps into other areas (business, money, love, family, etc) of our life as we grow older.

In all honesty, I used to look back at those photos and just laugh at how silly we were writing what we did.

Now, and I can’t speak for anyone else, I read those and feel sad for the misunderstanding of how I saw and believed who I was at such a young age.

That’s the girl who I used to betray and abandon for so long trying to be like everyone else. Or, who I thought I should be.

Now she’s the most important relationship I nurture in remembering who I am. Why? Because she also holds my most greatest expression of joy and freedom. When she knows I won’t betray her, she feels safe. And when she’s safe, so am I.

If any part of this story hits home, what if the biggest betrayal wasn’t how we saw ourselves back then, but how we continue to see ourselves now? Is there an old story that you’re still allowing to define you? If so, for how much longer?

From my soul to yours.

06/09/2024

I’m thrilled to announce my upcoming IN-PERSON workshop, 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 ✨

I’ve missed teaching in community, in the flesh, and my body is already buzzing with excitement for those that are in the Dénia-Alicante region and feel a nudge to say YES to themselves. ❤️‍🔥

Details and registration in bio.

13/07/2024

Hello beloved friends!

Are you or someone you know ready for a soul nourishing, heart expanding, life changing adventure???

I'm so excited to be co-hosting the Sacred Safari Sojourn!

Do you feel a deep calling to reconnect with your authentic self, to break free from the constraints of daily life and rediscover your inner fire? The Sacred Safari Sojourn is your invitation to a transformative journey that will change your life forever.

This is more than just another vacation.

December 9-16, 2024​
​South Africa's Timbavati Private Nature Reserve

Explore all the details of this magical experience here
https://jenniferwestcoaching.ck.page/sacredsafarisojourn

If you feel called to this and have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

​Let’s jump on a call to connect🌟

Do you feel a deep calling to reconnect with your authentic self, to break free from the constraints of daily life and rediscover your inner fire? The Sacred Safari Sojourn is your invitation to a transformative journey that will change your life forever.

25/03/2024

As long as I’ve been doing the work to continually expand and evolve as my true essence, sometimes it’s still easy to sometimes tell myself, “It’s not making a difference.” Or, “I feel the same.”

Especially having grown up with the American mindset that change means “bigger, better, more improved,” so if it’s not blatantly obvious to me and others, it’s not working.

Well, the other day I was baking cookies. If you know me, you know that if I don’t have the exact ingredients on said recipe, I’d look for something else to make. I’m not one to wing it in the kitchen because historically, the outcomes were not favorable, much less edible. 🫣

Yet, when I noticed I didn’t have all the ingredients for this particular cookie recipe, I just jumped into action with what I did have and decided to experiment with different ingredients.

Let me just say, unfortunately the cookies are freakin’ phenomenal!! I say unfortunately because I can’t stop eating or baking more of them. 🤭🙈😋

How is baking cookies relevant to my own evolution? Because in the past where I would have just stayed in my safety zone and chosen not to bake those cookies, I improvised without a second thought of my usual M.O. clouded in judgment, fear, or worry about the outcome, or even failing.

It may seem trivial - it was just baking cookies. And, it’s also in the everyday mundane activities where we get to witness our own growth of breaking patterns, and stepping out of our comfort zones with ease and trust.

Pay attention to yourself in the every day. Watch for the miracle that you are praying for. You may already be her.

From my soul to yours.

08/03/2024

Happy International Women’s Day

To the woman that birthed me into this world
To the women who birth love, passion, compassion, and forgiveness and creativity into the world

You are enough
You are worthy
You do matter

Today and everyday, we celebrate!!