As a licensed psychotherapist with a deep reverence for religions and practices within the African/Black diaspora, I created Sacred Bijou Soraparu to reap the therapeutic magic of cultural and creative expression that we should avoid suppressing to live more authentically, while simultaneously honoring my Louisiana roots from New Roads in Pointe Coupée Parish to New Orleans. 

Bijou is the French word for jewel and Soraparu is one of the most sacred streets in uptown New Orleans. What once stood a church is now the home of an elder, my grandfather, whose wife of sixty years has ascended. I would often witness broken spirits frantically pace up the midnight green hue steps of my grandparent’s double shotgun onto their front porch, desperately seeking healing from two spiritually gifted beings rooted in unwavering faith. Soraparu street symbolizes groundedness in a community that has strengthened my bloodline for five generations. A street that is paved with the blood, sweat, and sacrifices of my ancestors. Not even gentrification can erase the energy that I feel from my bloodline on Soraparu street.  

Sacred Bijou Soraparu encompasses a vibrant and maximalist energy that shifts away from conformity and within liberation. I enter a sacred space to hand-craft each piece, which encourages a deeper connection to spirit, and opens a pathway for you to acknowledge and explore your own cultural roots. 

If you consciously decide to adorn yourself with Sacred Bijou Soraparu, be sure to wear your consciousness with confidence. Asè o!