Story & Lesson Highlights with Ashley Joseph of Mesa/Phoenix

Ashley Joseph shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Ashley , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Watching Saturday morning cartoons on YouTube from the 90’s with the original commercials and my boyfriend although he can get dragged in my art projects sometimes, but I think he enjoys it!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ashley but you can call me AJ. My brand is unique. I upcycle clothing, my specialty is hand painting designs. I also dabble in home decor as well. I’m a DIY queen. I show and teach people how to use what you have and amplify it! Your outfit and how you present yourself to the world is the first thing people see. A fabulous outfit is your non verbal greeting to the world.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My dad was remodeling our house. He had an home improvement business at the time. Our house went through extensive renovations. There was a time when it was time to paint my room, and he picked out the colors for me. I told him no and I expressed I didn’t like those colors, which lead him to let me redesign my own room. I created A checker board pattern on one wall. Found a butterfly stamp to put in between each box. My whole room was purple and green. I was 10 and made my vision in my head unfold. I knew Then I could create anything that came to my mind.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
In the past anytime I got hurt. I would Create something amazing. I could Transmute my emotions into art because it was much easier for that to speak for me.

As I got older I was introduced by a friend (Kiera) to a lady on IG Imani aka TheHoodhealer back in 2018/2019 and it woke something up inside of me that’s always been there. In 2023 I began to vocally share things I’ve experienced and overcome and in 2024 I created a dear diary series that allowed me to share my messages with the world while also displaying my art and editing and that’s the moment my pain exuded power

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
That God is everywhere. The Sun, the moon and the stars. God is in us. The Bible has helpful passages but it goes far beyond just the book.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Energy. I can feel an transition happening before it even happens, and witness it unfold before my eyes. Energy has no words. It’s silence is the loudest part and if you’re moving too fast you’ll miss the answer or ignore it because you need the words to confirm what was felt.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.ashleyjosephdesigns.com