Today we’d like to introduce you to Christie Rafol.

Hi Christie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I am at the precipice of a new chapter in my career– as a small business owner– but like so many others, it is an endeavor born out of a desire to do things my way. At the root of it, being a creative entrepreneur is a response to the things I’ve experienced both in my personal life and my work experiences, as well as an expression of how I can impact and change my own corner of the world.

My professional background is as an architectural designer in high-end residential, which honestly is not as glamorous as it sounds. I worked for a lot of high caliber firms in New York (GRADE, MR Architecture, and March & White) and I came up at the height of the “hustle culture” where burn-out was “cool” and not getting paid for overtime equated to devotion to your craft and drive. I remember desperately wanting to be one of those “30 Under 30” success stories before burn-out, a long term relationship break-up, and the pandemic came and kind of wiped the slate clean for me.

I entered a long period of self-reflection and healing and that came with a lot of questions– of myself and my life choices and of society as a whole. But what’s interesting about the idea of being where I am today, is that it really is a return to who I was when I was younger. The tools that I have explored as healing modalities as an adult, such as breath work, meditation, tantric yoga, astrology, tarot, crystal collecting — all of these were seen as “taboo” in my very Catholic family and even by mainstream society. I have always felt like a late bloomer (still haven’t quite bloomed yet) but a quote from astrologer Chani Nicholas that really resonates with me is that “sometimes we are late bloomers because the world needs to catch up with us” and now all these things that I was told as a child I couldn’t explore or was touted as being too out-there are now the cool things to know about! That being said, the career and creative journey I am on is now about living in alignment to who I am/who I always was and not being afraid to step into my internal power.

My day job is still as an architectural designer, but I have pivoted into commercial work where I now get to work with amazing brands in the traditional retail, medical-retail, and wellness/health space. It’s been an amazing experience to work with so many forward-thinking and experiential brands (Vuori, Peachy Botox, Tend Dental, Oula Health to name a few) and it has really reinforced my personal belief that people are not just looking for products to stand behind, but experiences and communities they can really see themselves in.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Looking back, things have taken what I consider to be “its natural course” but in no ways has the road been smooth. My biggest blessing in life has been the incredible support system I have in my family and chosen family, which leaves me and my mind to be my biggest obstacle. It requires so much belief in self, the willingness to not know all the answers, the bravery to fail, and fortitude to walk where no one else can meet you.

Even just before sitting down for this interview, I had a meltdown about finances and had to panic-dial a friend to ask her “why did I choose to embark on this journey” and she reminded me to trust in the vision and the path.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I am building The Thiiirds as a community and resource for the creative, curious, and critically inclined. There are a lot of brands out there now that are co-opting the idea of “personal wellness” but for me, personal wellness is really just the first step in helping society progress as a whole. It is when we find alignment with ourselves that we are able to help others.

The Thiiirds’ mission is to support, connect, and educate individuals looking to create better futures and realities through educational workshops, creative experiences, and alternative healing modalities. These offerings are an invitation for people to awaken their inner creativity through radical imagination and to empower them to take action to find alignment in their own lives. I plan to contribute to sessions with my own background in Sound Therapy, two-stage Pranayama Breathwork, and art workshops (I am a natural ink/watercolor artist), but I am also looking forward to doing collaborations with other like-minded individuals willing to share their own gifts for the betterment of humanity.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?

I think most people that know me and my work might call me an “over achiever” but I actually have struggled with high-functioning depression, basically since my teenage years. With all the strides in recent years that have relieved the stigma of discussing mental health openly, it is still a tender topic that isn’t always addressed on a deeper level beyond “go to therapy,” “do yoga” or “journal about it.”

Much of my desire to create space for others to explore their inner world in community comes from my own experience in having to navigate so much on my own and in the dark. I went to therapy for the first time over 15 years ago when I was in college and I still remember the shame I felt when I told my mother I was seeking help– but I am so glad that society has moved into a time where support is more readily accessible to people who are looking for it. I have evolved so much in my healing journey and part of The Thiiirds’ mission is helping people see that there are so many ways to find support– through the arts, through alternative healing modalities, and most importantly, through community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thethiiirds.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_thiiirds/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/christie_just_adds_water/