As the New Year begins, I find myself in a perpetual state of gratitude. I would like to thank everyone who has inspired, participated, contributed, and truly supported the vision of House of Citrine.

I know many of us began this past year by setting goals, resolutions, or intentions for what we would like to manifest throughout the upcoming year. If you are like me, the New Year begins with the best of intentions, but as the months progress, many of us become disengaged or lose focus. As a result, our motivation dissipates. While it is important for us to be forward thinkers (yet take the time to reflect on the year past), I feel it is even more important and vital to be truly present in each moment and appreciate the here and now with the practice of intention…

May we each take at least 10 minutes to quiet our minds in meditation before we begin the day (even 5 minutes will alter your reality) so we may then center ourselves with the goals we’d like to bring to fruition or the obstacles we wish to overcome. A mission to experience each new day with a raw and open willingness, a true fresh start.

I encourage each and every one of you to release and let go of that which no longer serves you. This includes clearing sacred space in preparation for conscious connections with others. Personally, grounding and presence are essential in transmuting and negativity I may have once been consumed by. Setting boundaries is crucial to my well-being and is truly vital for everyone.

Surround yourself with people who you admire, who share your visions, and who are making an impact in the universe in a positive way. Connect with those who will love you unconditionally and lift you up. Those closest to you should only enrich your inner sanctum.

Please remember that everyone deserves some quiet time to more effectively navigate through the hustle and bustle of life. I know firsthand how the noise of the city can overshadow and drown out my intuition. I find my truest relief in nature. To really ground yourself is to actively connect with the world around you. I know this, because each time I am in Sedona, AZ on the red rocks, or during a visit to the ocean, I feel my connection to the vast and limitless possibilities lying before me and become more conscious.

May you find what supercharges you and go there often. Find inner peace and rekindle the excitement of what is yet to come. In all things, carry gratitude in your heart as you come from an open place of vulnerability ready to receive life’s abundance.

So there it is, loves. These pieces of treasured reflections are precious gems I am honored to share with each and every one of you. Set a daily intention to see your yearly goals grow wings!

I wish you a year of health, abundance, blessings, light, laughter, and love.

Sima Morrison

Founder and Editor-in-Chief

P.S. As we move into 2016, I am also excited to announce we will be adding a new element to House of Citrine…

Starting next week, we will begin offering you weekly ‘Citrine Gems’ where individuals in the community highlight conscious living in their everyday practice and activism will be showcased. We are very excited about the new weekly Monday feature and trust these beautiful souls will inspire you as they have inspired us.

We had the pleasure to join Shiva Rose in her beautiful home and talk to her about her consciously chic lifestyle. In her off-white creamy dress, her long dark effortless loose curls, and her upbeat relaxed personality enchanted us.

The Iranian-American beauty has a cozy gracious warmth to her. She warmly greeted us with a rooibos tea with coconut milk and honey from her backyard. Yes, she’s a beekeeper. Shiva breathes spirituality, from her modern rustic home surrounded with Kundalini vibes, to the plethora of roses from her garden enriched in all corners and topped by whimsical crystals that decorate her earthy habitat.

A woman who has a profound relationship with the earth, a soul deep connection to her Kundalini practice, a hands-on mother, an activist, and working on her line of skincare - What can’t Shiva do?

What got you into health and wellness?

I always was super conscious of the environment and what I put into my body. As a child I felt at times like an alien because, I would become so distraught over seeing trees cut or the natural world destroyed. Later when I had severe life threatening auto-immune issues, I realized that I had to take my health, into my own control. I began to eat 100% organically, and live close to mama earth. These things led me to becoming healthy in spirit, body and mind.

What is "The Local Rose"?

The Local Rose is a holistic life style web site that proves you can be green and chic at the same time. I started it due to my desire to help our planet, celebrate artisans and people who are in harmony with nature, and as an answer from a call from the great spirit.

What is beauty?

One of my favorite prayers is Walking the Beauty Way by the Navajo people. It states

In beauty I walk

With beauty before me I walk

With beauty behind me I walk

With beauty above me I walk

With beauty around me I walk

This i feel is the ultimate beauty to see it reflected around us in little details and gestures. Seeing it in the trees or flowers or sweet people you may encounter throughout your day.

Beauty is also glowing from within from a peaceful state, food that is alive and using non-toxic products.

What do you do to get "centered"?

I go hiking in the mountains near where I live. I take salt baths with salts I make. I drink Living Tea and practice Kundalini meditation.

Share a line from your favorite poem:

I love Poetry! I’m half Persian and half Irish so here are two from each culture…

This paragraph by Persian Poet Forough Farrokhzad:

I will plant my hands in the garden

I will grow I know I know I know

and swallows will lay eggs

in the hollow of my ink-stained hands.

I shall wear

a pair of twin cherries as ear-rings

and I shall put dahlia petals on my finger-nails

By Yeats:

How many loved your moments of glad grace,

And loved your beauty with love false or true,

But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,

And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

What inspired your skincare line?

I have been mixing oils and making my own products since I was a teen. During a kundalini mediation I got a message about starting the line. It was a natural progression since I am ruled my the Rose and this is one of the crucial ingredients in the first product I made the Rose Face Serum.

Describe your perfect day?

A perfect day would be to wake up with my daughters, make a delicious breakfast, take a hike, then go on a picnic with some friends in Ojai or Big Sur.

Who has influenced you most in your life?

I grew up reading lots of novels and plays so I would say heroines in both fiction and non-fiction have inspired me. Many artists have also since they seemed to determine their own paths and were vanguards in terms of art, fashion, and philosophy. Women like Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keefe, Tina Modotti, Beatrice Wood.

How has your childhood experience shaped the rest of your life?

My childhood at least the first ten years was in the country side of Iran. This bucolic setting inspired in me a love for nature. Later when we were in the States, my American Grandparents made sure to take us camping every summer into beautiful places like Yosemite. This taught me that these places are sacred and sanctuaries to be protected. Having been exposed to a lot of trauma and challenges as a child has made me appreciate a calm, peaceful life. It also gave me an artists soul, and now that is being translated into the blog and products.

What is so special about roses?

Roses are the Queen of all Flowers. They have the highest vibrational frequency and can be so healing. They are anti-aging and anti-inflammatory for the skin and also open the heart chakra. They are my allies and I am so honored to carry their name.

What is your favorite product you've created?

My products are like my children I love them all! Since I make them by hand they truly come from my heart. Lately my Nectar Body Oil is giving me lots of joy. The ylang ylang and cardamom combination makes my soul sing!

Keep up with Shiva Rose on her Instagram, Twitter, and beautiful website!