Today we’d like to introduce you to Shan Bryant.
Hi Shan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The Birth of Shan-Girls’ Heart
Shan-Girl’s Heart was built out of finding the light in the cracks of chronic illness and depression. I am a soulful creator with healing hands and a visionary heart. Using a mixture of intuition and divine guidance, I channel my journey of chronic illness into vibrant purpose through written accounts of my self-healing journey and crafting one-of-a-kind gemstone jewelry to guide other chronic illness sufferers on a self-healing path. Specializing in the art of the mala, Shan-Girl’s Heart is a heart-centered, safe-space, where meditation and intention-setting is taught as a new way of life.
My self-healing journey began in 2013, when depression and seizures were running my life. I voluntarily stepped down from a 20 year career as a Stage Manager in the Entertainment industry to focus on reducing stress in my life and focus on healing. In the decade to follow, the roller coaster of coming to terms with the stuck trauma in my body led me to make a very important decision – fix the trauma and release the chronic pain and watch the seizures disappear. I put my head down and started to work. My full time job became journaling what was going on in my body and noticing the triggers around me that were contributing factors. As I didn’t shy away from my shadow side and looked at the good, the bad and the ugly, I started to see my story so clearly. My body had learned responses from decades of trauma, going back to being the two year old child, whose dad was shot and killed to save her life. After chronicling all the traumatic things that had happened to and around me, I was able to start to work on how each of these events showed up in my body as chronic pain and dis-ease.
I began to explore various metaphysical healing modalities to self-heal, did lots of talk therapy, where we treated the whole body: bio/psycho/social and most importantly, I heard the calling to start a healing jewelry business that centered around connecting one on one with others where they were at on their healing journey. I began designing custom pieces for clients, building a heart-centered online shop, teaching mala and mindfulness workshops and writing intention-infused books, blending mysticism, mindfulness, and meaning into every bead, post, and project. I found purpose in my pain and ultimately, found healing. I like to say, I’m not just selling pretty jewelry, I’m weaving modern calm (meditation & self-healing) from ancient tools (mala) and teaching people, who are stuck in a bed, like I was to reclaim their power and live their best life.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! In the past decade, I have struggled with depression, anxiety and going through menopause heightened this. As I chose to face each trauma and identify where it was stuck in my body, I tried to look at it through the lens of an observer, so as not to relive the trauma; however, as a human being having a human experience, there were many times, that my trauma was triggered by an event and flooded back to me, like it was happening now. In these moments, it was important to honor my feelings and allow them to pass through, using one of the healing modalities I possess and practice. Leaning on a daily mala meditation and setting an intention for healing has been one of the biggest keys to rewiring my brain’s neural pathways and telling my body a new “safe” story to allow healing.
Starting a business from scratch, especially a jewelry line, to which I had no experience, until three years ago, wasn’t always a smooth road. Going from living a pretty stagnant life in the bed to making jewelry by hand every day and then getting out and doing big shows, where I am lugging my own stuff was a challenge and tested my physical limits. There are still days I need to ask for help – something I’ve gotten very good at doing, but was a biggest obstacle for years.
I do not drive anymore, so asking for help getting anywhere to shop, to shows or having clients come to me was a challenge in the beginning, but I am so blessed to have a wonderful friend and show partner, Nancy Abramson, who has taken on being my person. She sees my dream and is up for helping me in any way possible.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am best known for my custom mala’s. A mala in an infinite string of 108 beads used as a meditation and intentional setting tool. I make one-of-a-kind pieces for people, based on their medical history and what they are wanting to manifest in their lives. I teach at retreats, lead group intention-setting practices that focus on healing ourselves and the world among a variety of other master classes around self-healing with gemstone jewelry.
I am most proud of the clients that come back to me and say, “I can feel the difference in my body, mind and spirit when I use my mala versus when I forget to use it.” I hear all the time the difference I have made for others and that is my goal. I am also proud to stand for marginalized communities and that when people meet me, they know they have a safe space to land. I have been through so much in my life, that it affords me the opportunity to connect with a wide-variety of people and meet them where they are at.
What sets me apart from other jewelry designers is that all my pieces are one-of-a-kind, unless it is a commissioned piece for a retreat or organization for tithing purposes. Every bead I string comes with the following intention infused in it: “May the wearer have peace, ease, good health and abundance”.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Sunni VonMutius challenged me to make my first mala and what I created started my healing journey. She or her husband, Kirk O’Connor-VonMutius drove me to appointments every week for five months to ensure I had the support I needed.
Nancy Abramson has become “my person” and best friend through my self-healing journey. She has been a cheerleader, a driver and the reason I get out of my house and do shows all over the state of Florida now. Her constant positivity has seen me through my worst days and highest highs and is always my first call when there is something to process or celebrate.
Tracy Rickard, Mindy Leishman, Sunni VonMutius, Jan Edwards & my Dream Builder community have been amazing mentors and supported me as I’ve grown and they have invested a lot of time, money and energy into me, to ensure I always get back up.
My mother, Elaine Trudeau, who gave me life – not just physically, but really, each week, we talk, she gives me life. She makes me feel like I can accomplish anything. She calls me her little superstar and makes me believe it.
My wonderful kid, Sin Reinhard, who shines so bright in the world now, as a Lighting Designer/Master Electrician in NYC, but for years was my care-giver and #1 cheerleader and fan. They cooked, cleaned and drove me places. They sat by my side in hospitals too many times to count, not allowing fear to take hold and rule our lives. They are my light!
And lastly, my partner of 33 years, Steven Reinhard, for without whom I would not be here. He works seven days a week to support our family. He makes sure I make it to every doctor’s appointment, eat when I can’t get out of bed and he makes me laugh through every trip to the emergency room. He’s seen me fall, over and over again and cheered me every time I got back up. He’s my jewelry photographer and IT specialist and he’s always there to do the hard stuff.
I am grateful to have this type of supportive community. I wouldn’t be thriving without them.
Pricing:
- Handmade Bracelets – $20-$35
- Handmade Necklaces – $50
- Handmade Malas – $125-$200
- 2-hr Bracelet-Making Masterclass w/ supplies (gemstones) for 10 – $444
- 3-hr Mala-Making Masterclass w/ supplies (wood) for 10 – $555
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shangirlsheart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shangirlsheart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550604115474
- Other: http://linktr.ee/shangirlsheart25
Image Credits
Nancy Abramson, Steven Reinhard & Denise Maybee
