We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Neelou Malekpour a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Neelou, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Finding my path to my current career was not rational or linear, at all. I received my undergrad degree in English lit with an emphasis in creative writing because I LOVED to read and write. Then for some reason, I went to law school – I hated every minute of it and wanted to quit at the end of each semester but I graduated three years later. Soon after, I started a career in peacekeeping, working at the United Nations, which I was very passionate about. I’ve always wanted to help people, in a real tangible way but at the time (I hear it’s different now) the advancement opportunities for women were extremely competitive, somewhat shady, and I was uninterested in the politics there so after a few years I left.

Subsequently, I chased society’s definition of success – I worked in finance, in the non-profit sector, I did events…I was kind of all over the place but in my personal life, I was always on a spiritual path. Constantly learning, growing, getting certifications, and deepening my personal practices. After years of trying to find my place in the corporate world, I started SMUDGED. While it became successful quickly, it was not nearly enough to pay all of my bills or provide the quality of life I was accustomed to. I took a huge risk anyway and quit my job.

I will always remember the day I resigned. I felt inspired and elated, followed by the worst emotional hangover I’ve ever experienced. Giving up the comfort of a steady paycheck triggered fear, self-doubt, worry…all the anxious things (and still sometimes does). I was utterly destabilized. But transformation and big change can never come from a safe/stable place. Risk is an essential part of personal growth and evolution.

It’s been almost 5 years now since I started SMUDGED. So much good transpired and I have zero regrets. I’ve come full circle, with the release of my first book, The Art of Sacred Smoke – back to what I love most – wrting.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Energy is real. And my work is all about attaining and maintaining a high vibrational frequency through daily acts of ritual.

SMUDGED started as a tribute to my grandmother. She taught me all about smudging with Wild Rue to dispel the “evil eye” and how to be responsible for my energy, and the vibration I put out into the world. When I was a kid we did many rituals together and as I grew older, any time I was in a funk, or needed the energy in the room to feel different, I would burn Wild Rue – it changed my mood instantaneously (and still does)! Through travel, and immersing myself in various cultures, the rituals I practiced and the list of herbs I burned grew as I learned more about plant allies.

My intention is to unite people energetically and raise the collective vibration by first, being responsible for my own energy and what I put out into the world. And then, by creating tools and sharing practices that support personal transformation. I am committed to sustainable/ethical business practices. And all of our ingredients and products are sourced mindfully. We do our very best to respect the abundance Mama Earth provides – especially with packaging and in how we source our raw materials.

Right now, I’m most excited about my first book, The Art of Sacred Smoke, which is available for sale at your favorite bookseller. It’s the culmination of more than 20 years of learning, practicing, and teaching. May it bring peace of heart and peace of mind to all who read it.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, creativity equates to freedom. It’s the most exhilarating part of running SMUDGED. Disconnecting from the very rational, business-oriented side of my brain and creating space for creative flow feels euphoric. And so much of my work is about magic. Creativity at its best – whether that’s literature, music, art, or a ritual beneath the Full Moon – in its most elevated form, is a kind of magic. It opens up our consciousness to beauty and unconditional love. It allows us to connect to Universal Energy

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I would love to see younger people (well, all people really) support artists and creatives in the same way we embrace celebrities, makeup, and tequila lol. Don’t get me wrong, I love pop culture. I also find it interesting when so many people are willing to spend hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars on injectables, extensions, lashes, and IG ads while carrying the belief that art is expensive/extravagant and only for the rich.

Separately, some governments are SO supportive of artists and people in creative industries – this is especially true in Europe. Take Germany for example, the German government embraces artists in a way we don’t in America. They believe that a rich cultural life not only contributes to the quality of the lives of German citizens but that it also adds prestige to the community as a whole. As a result, Germany provides billions of dollars to artists – subsidizing their housing, healthcare, and living expenses. Instead of procuring employment as a means to an end, this communal support allows artists to simply exist and create. I would LOVE to see the US follow suit.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.smudged.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smudged.co/
• Other: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/664510/the-art-of-sacred-smoke-by-neelou-malekpour-illustrations-by-louise-androlia/