We recently connected with Zuri and have shared our conversation below.

Zuri, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I have worked on to date would be my trilogy, lotus the poetry book, ep & documentary. Meaningful because I feel like we all have a story to tell and in our story lies our success story. We often focus on the negative of what happened to us and although we do have to overcome a lot as human beings, we forget the individuals we get to become. My trilogy told my story in the ways I believe myself to be gifted. With performing arts, writing, speaking and ultimately freeing myself from the burden of what I’ve had to endure. I transmuted the pain into art and into self-expression and liberation and love.

*trigger warning*
But if you want the actual story, I grew up in a family that lacked a lot of love. Love was based on conditions and the role you were meant to play. I was abandoned emotionally by both parents and physically by my father. I wasn’t told that I was loved on a consistent basis, maybe if I were going away on a camping trip or college tour. I was bullied by my own brother for my weight and shamed for it by my mother who thought I should always do an active extra-curricular like sports to keep me as slim as possible. When I stayed with my grandmother, she would weigh my cousin & I on the scale each morning. I developed a terrible depression and anxiety that I still face today. I self-diagnosed because my mom thought if I were to actually see someone and be diagnosed, that I’d have a hard time getting jobs. I spent most of my time in my room, on my computer because I so badly wanted to be invisible, hidden. I hated when attention was on me because I always thought everyone was judging me and my appearance. I used to imagine myself becoming an ant so that I wouldn’t be noticed. I was so tired of being noticed. In college, I hit my lowest and lost 40 pounds because I stopped eating. I was ashamed and remember crying in the shower in my dorm like, a lot.
After that, I experienced some powerful truths about myself, about life & who I could be, what I could become. I knew I only had two options. To live or to die. Literally, to live or to commit suicide.
I chose life.
I chose doing the hard things that I was trying to avoid. I chose to quit the friendships and relationships that weren’t for me, to quit running, to actually dare to like what I saw in the mirror, to have confidence in my appearance, to love who I was despite the role I was meant to play, to stand up for myself and to those who tried to keep me small. I chose to keep going, but it’s a decision I make each day. Some days, I don’t want to. Some days, I choose to be lost and to make decisions that don’t serve my highest good, but every day, I try again.
My trilogy is about that evolution. When I decided to choose life. The Lotus flower is a symbol of perseverance, as it grows from mud. I chose the Lotus to represent the person I am as a result of my upbringing. If you’re interested..

the poetry book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09CL18DYJ/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1638810774&sr=8-1

the ep: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiJKpjb3QA4kIVnQUoOMLeuQsCTbcG5c-

the documentary: https://youtu.be/yFpAN9CXUNA

Zuri, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Andrené, but I go by Zuri. That name came from a psychedelic trip and I was asked what my name was. I immediately said Zuri and all I can say is that it came from my soul. Zuri was the part of me that creates and I create from my soul. My soul is gentle, peaceful & aches to help, to assist, to serve but in a very meaningful and fulfilling manner. I do currently work for a non-profit organization where I lead an after school program for children. In the time I’m not working for them, I choose to explore my creative talents and my spirituality.

I started a business, Diamond Kitchen Creations, in early 2019. I had been cooking since the age of 12 for my family of six, cooked each Sunday for the Sunday dinners my friends & I held in college and decided that my love and skill for it was good enough to open up shop. Since opening, I’ve catered baby showers, super bowl parties and Thanksgivings, I have meal prepped and hosted bake sales and sold plates. I don’t have a specific type of food I like to make, just a lot of it! My instagram handle for this business is @diamondkitchencreations

I initially began my LLC, The Poetic Mystic, as a spiritual shop, selling herbal teas, offering readings & other spiritual tools. As I worked, I found myself often getting burnt out from doing one thing and started a new project. Doing this, I learned I had many different talents and enjoyed things I had never given a thought to. For example, after shooting my documentary, I realized how good I was at it and how much fun I had. This recognition wasn’t only from me and that project led to me working on another – a docuseries to gain awareness for the disabled. I love to use my hands to create things like crystal jewelry, candles, my herbal teas and paintings. Initially, with the influence of the pandemic business boom, I wanted to make a lot of product and figure out how to work from home the quickest. What I realized was that I did not enjoy this, I didn’t like to be rushed, I didn’t like creating the same thing over and over and that I wanted my business and my products to be more sacred. So I sell whatever I create that I deem worthy of selling and keep some things for myself. I want whoever receives my products to receive healing, the same way I found healing by creating it. The instagram handle for this business is @thepoeticmystic

Outside of cooking and handmade creations, I am a singer and writer. I write and perform music and I have also written and published my very own poetry book. I wouldn’t say I developed a love for singing because it has always been within me. If I had to choose my passions from everything I’ve done and continue to do, it would be cooking & singing. My “artist” Instagram is @zurimusic

If anything, I’m most proud of myself. I cannot be defined and I always lose myself in thought when I try to think of who I am in just a few words. I decided on “I am that I am.” I am multifaceted and I’m proud to be able to show up in so many different ways & they all still be authentically me.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My only goal is to free myself and help others do the same. “Free myself” refers to the mental shackles that keep us from being who were meant to be. Taking back the power of creative expression and using it to help not only ourselves, but the world. There’s a reason that music is the universal language. Most of us find ourselves listening to and even enjoying many different genres because it speaks to our soul. Something that we so desperately need if we want to see change. My goal is to save the world and if I can’t do that, I’d like to die trying.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Liberation is the most rewarding aspect of being a creative artist. Being able to live in my own truth and my own authenticity is something that is huge for me since I grew up with everyone else’s thoughts and opinions being imposed upon me. All I ever wanted was freedom and the only thing that brings me freedom is to create from my soul. Doing something untainted by the hands of someone or something telling me what I should or need to be doing. Creation brings me the ability to just be. And that brings me peace.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thepoeticmystic.com
• Instagram: @zurimusic/@thepoeticmystic/@diamondkitchencreations
• Other: https://thepoeticmystic.my.canva.site/ the above link holds all of my links (there’s a lot!)