#BEYOUROWN MEETS DEIRDRE LIGHT

With an insatiable appetite for what makes the world tick, Deirdre Light has delved deeply into many questions posed by evolutionary humans and has her own take on what makes us who we are. Herself included.

Married ultra natural perfumer for 28 years, Dee has been privy to an energetic world of high fragrance, deep pleasure, sensual aromatics and body awareness which has given her a unique insight into how bodies respond when listened to. An advocate of energetic healing systems and understanding the bodies’ unique fingerprints, her take on what is considered beautiful is different to most.

In the late 1990’s she co-established an essential oil mecca with her husband in Queensland’s desirable coastal destination of Noosa, and their Gorgeous Over Thirty Bunches of Real Roses In A Jar Double Blended Cream TM became one of only two Australian brands to grace the shelves of Hong Kong’s prestigious Joyce Beauty.

Now the CEO of a new ultra-natural skincare and perfume company, www.manifestooflight.com, Dee is here to turn the beauty world upside down; to liberate our human potential and unleash generosity and genius on a grand scale, without a patent pending, anti-wrinkle claim in sight. After nearly twenty years, her cult Rose Cream and Rose Serum, handmade by her husband from the finest roses absolutes in the world, are now ready to grace gorgeous bodies on a grand scale.

The author of the book, The Gorgeous Revolution, Dee’s provocative yet clear and compelling humour make her a sought-after speaker, to both male and female audiences. She may tread where others might not so prepare to be provoked and enlightened. These challenging times call for both.

Can you take us through your journey to where you are now?

I was born in conservative Melbourne, Australia in the 1950s and was a child of a well-known architect and a perfectly groomed mother trying to clone Jaqueline Kennedy. I had a well-balanced, loving childhood excelling at all things. I drove my mother nuts.

I used to stare out the window of our slow-moving car, wondering why I was here, and what clouds were made of. At the age of ten, I started dieting when my well-meaning Dad said,“Won’t it be great when you lose your puppy fat.”

Hence began a 23 year daily battle with the scales, which took up so much mental bandwidth, I can tell you what I weighed at each milestone in my life.

At 16, I was whisked off to Japan to spend a year as an exchange student (weighing in at 9 stone 5 pounds), I laid the foundation for what would come to be, my aesthetic mantra of beauty, pleasure, and illumination above all else.

At 20, I began my professional life as an Intelligence Officer with our Security Service which lasted 6 years and jettisoned me into a life few explore. Enough said, but that was a good time. I was married at 23, divorced at 26 and have followed my internal voice forever more. I have worked in advertising for an international agency, taught Japanese to 2,500 of Qantas flight crew, and searched the self-development horizons for likeminded people for thirty years. I don’t settle.

In 1989 I met my husband across the room. The rest, as they say, is history. Together we have explored universes. Bodies, emotions, energetic fields, aromatic landscapes (he’s a natural perfumer), parenting, and business…in the deepest of ways. We don’t settle.

In 1998 we opened our first apothecary in Australia’s stunning Noosa Beach, and so began our love affair with high-grade essential oils on a grand scale. Never one to hold back, I challenged Clive to make me a moisturiser that worked and our Gorgeous Over Thirty Bunches of Real Roses In A Jar Double Blended Cream ? was born. And so was The Gorgeous Revolution.

For years my husband chipped away at me with the highest grade Rose absolutes until one day I surrendered, to me, my glorious, curvy, soft-bellied self and out poured my story, the story of all women who have relentlessly held their self-love at bay, with rampant self-criticism. To be transformed for all time, to roll over, unhitch from the beauty grid, and soar, wrinkles and all.

For the Light doesn’t shine from a serial dieter nor botox devotee. It only shines when we walk through that doorway, naked, with only our heart to guide us, AND no airbrushing.

So, now I have two companies, one a training consultancy and the other a high-frequency natural perfume/skincare company, peppered with jewels. And both work in tandem with each other. I have recently begun speaking again after some hiatus and have found I naturally appeal to the millennials seeking something more than their fast-paced, anxiety driven days. We have started swimming the other way. Together.

What is a day in the life of you like?

We live near the beach, so a spritz of rose water, some rose serum and a cup of tea in the garden (yes, truly!), followed by a walk along the beach. Our children have left home, so we have the space to pace our lives at whatever speed is required. After 30 years, we are on the same wavelength, so living and working together every day is pretty much a seamless affair. I travel often, orchestrate production timelines for our creative stable of jewellers who house our perfumes, I write, I speak, I read, I cook, I samba, I meet with our accountant, our partners, our team and finish the day with wine. And Adele.

What was the concept behind launching Gorgeous Revolution?

That we are gorgeous just the way we are. That embodying who we really take embracing our body and listening to its internal language, it wasn't a walk in the park. We only show up as we really are when we drop all the untruths around beauty, and radiate from a surrendered place, with ease, grace, and pleasure that is palpable.

How is Gorgeous Revolution funded, is it bootstrapped, self-funded etc?

The Gorgeous Revolution is self-funded, although our perfume company, Manifesto of Light has a list of private shareholders who have been with us for nearly ten years. All clients who believed in our work and trusted us to fly, however long it took.

Can you tell us more about your brand DNA and ethos at Gorgeous Revolution?

The brand DNA is simple. You can only radiate light when you totally accept and embrace your body, your gifts, your heritage, your bigness. Then you can be that which transforms the room, bringing others with you. Via invitation, not force. Everything comes down to slow pleasure, quiet touch, rich presence, simple living and deep connection to self and others.

Can you tell us how you are on a mission to “change the beauty world from one of narcissism and competition to one of generosity and glorious, strong, unwavering self-love?”

There IS no Plan B. I am compelled, in the nicest of ways, to liberate women, so unite not compete, so each of us can have our day in the sun, as whole, strong glorious women, at home in the bodies, with strong boundaries in place. Can you just imagine what the world would look like then, and how our men might show up when we energetically teach them that power doesn’t come from the force but from potent presence? And deep listening.

It took me a long time to get here, we don’t have that luxury anymore. It’s time we turn the tide on the monolithic beauty world and reveal our true selves as never before. It takes time to complete appointments all week. Let’s put our energy elsewhere now!

And I’ll do it via my book, one podcast at a time, speaking engagements, events…wherever feels right to go.

Can you highlight 3 tips to help us to celebrate our uniquely beautiful bodies more?

1. Stop weighing yourself and throw out your scales.
2. Ask your body what it wants to eat, notwhat you want to eat. You will be utterly surprised at the difference.
3. Talk to your body with grace, kindness, nourishment, presence, and compassion. And for God’s sake, buy beautiful underwear.

Who does the team involve behind you at Gorgeous Revolution?

I do the writing and speaking, but my team of like-minded partners have invited me onto their social media platforms making my life so much easier! I’m technologically challenged.

Where can you see yourself within the next 3-5 years?

I see our perfume company expanding into other partnerships, I see us travelling globally, holding events with our partners, and also holding online gatherings. I see us building our own home with simply sustainable practices in line with the Earth. I see myself welcoming our first grandchild. 

I see myself speaking, writing, consulting, co-creating, collaborating with like-minded millennials from all over the globe. I see myself surrounded by high-frequency aromas, jewels, crystals, good food, dance, beautiful fabrics, and generous giving. Circulating funds where they want to go to create more expansion and lightness in the world.

What strategies do you have in place when looking at the expansion of Gorgeous Revolution?

Simply listening quietly. Following what feels light. Following the internal vision, I have with a knowingness that doesn’t waiver. When I am still I listen, I receive the instructions, then I jump into action and do. Usually followed by a nice glass of pinot.

Can you tell us what areas you have struggled in professionally?

Initially, patience. It has taken us 30 years to finally be seen. The most challenging thing is to never water down, nor compromise your vision, but whatever ever is required to put food on the table and keep the telephone on.

Some days I simply don’t know how I lasted. I have always found a good cup of tea does wonders. And a catch up with a best girlfriend, and a loving nuzzle from the dog. Seriously!

Have you ever had any other mentor? If so how has this benefitted you to grow?

My most robust mentor has been my husband. There is nowhere to hide from him. So I have had to face my own demons, my own fire, my own resistance and receive, receive, receive. So far, so good.

What outlets do use to market Gorgeous Revolution?

I am currently on several social media platforms and am thrilled to be supported by Peta Kelly at www.theearthessco.com.

There is no marketing plan per se, my book 'The Gorgeous Revolution' is now finding its place via speaking invitations, and word of mouth is travelling very fast. As I speak, Manifesto of Light is also brought into peoples lives. Nothing is hurried, nothing is forced, all we do is an invitation to something bigger, something deeply pleasurable and deeply expansive. People arrive now, I don’t have to go looking. Just as you did!

Which methods are you using to build your own support network? 

Again, I simply set the intention, and let go. Might sound 'woo-woo,' but it’s not. I have spent years honing my internal voice. That’s what I listen to. I only say yes to invitations that feel right, and am happy to also work gratis with others to exchange skills, and share the stage.

What do you believe are the common misconceptions about the definition of 'beauty' how are you using your platform and voice to educate people more on diversity?

Beauty has not a lot to do with physical form, but how we emit light. It’s the light that inspires us, lifts us. Attracts us. Not the staged physical form.

Contrived beauty born of cosmetic surgery, ‘enhancement’, botox, implants, injecting comes from a place of being ‘not enough’ and it shows. Somehow we know that there is something missing, something lacking. So we compete, on a never-ending quest to be better, smoother, slimmer, tauter, shinier than the rest.

When we throw off all those false shackles, move our hips to the rhythm and ignite our fire, find our voice, and retrieve our pleasure state, then the light that radiates literally transforms everything. My book and speaking events are the best way to delve into this.

What would you like to see changed for millennials in business?

That they relax a little.That they try not to do it all perfectly at once. ie..be the perfect businesswomen, the iconic mother, the sexual Goddess and the conscious yoga mum fuelled by reishi mushroom lattes.

That they are not here to save the world but to listen, to not take on others anxiety, to cooperate, form communities, and above all to be real. Their genius comes from being present, living outside the box, and being able to connect across the planet. And above all else, they need to cook!

What is the best piece of business advice you have received to date?

Listen, listen, listen. But it is the hardest to practise!

What is the number 1 critical lesson you have learned in your career so far?

To move to the beat of my own drum. To be me, to not be afraid of showing up, again, and again and again. To contribute, not compete.

How do you create an evenly balanced work and personal life?

Easy, I just say ‘no’ when I am out of wack and rest. I’m from a generation that can switch off our phones!

A seminal point in your career so far?

Writing my 30,000-word book 'The Gorgeous Revolution,'three days in a hotel room after being woken up at 1am in the morning with clear instructions!

What gives you ultimate career satisfaction?

Being heard. Being received. Seeing that I can make a difference in others’ lives. Watching it all unfold better than I could have imagined ten years ago.

What challenges have you seen to have been presented during the growth of Gorgeous Revolution?

I have often said I have been screaming in a snowstorm. Those others couldn’t hear what we had to say, that people weren’t ready for what we offer. Patience, the ability to regroup, to slow down to trust, to flip 180 degrees if necessary. Also to never take rejection (after rejection) personally!

Which other leading entrepreneurs and pioneering game changers do you also admire and why?

I have always admired Oprah, for obvious reasons. When I was at home with two small children she was my daily dose of heartfelt common sense, humour, and chutzpah to keep me sane.

The most influential game changer would have to be my husband, Clive Newland, I am continually amazed at the concepts he sees, the duty of care he takes with his perfumery, and the expansive vision he holds for the planet. Just quietly.

I also love my girlfriend Cherilyn Hewish who has grown her own label www.zephyrloungewear.comfrom her kitchen table to 130 outlets in Australian and NZ. The day she invited me to be her muse was the day I surrendered to my love of a good frock. I had just turned 60. Now I’m off to Portugal in 2019 for a photo shoot with a very talented German photographer. Anything is possible!

What is a good article or book you have read recently?

I always love 'The Invitation' by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. Gets me every time.

Top 3 go-to Podcast channels?

I really don’t know! I don’t listen to any but have a feeling that’s about to change. However, I really just love silence, most of all. Or Ed Sheeran and Carol King, or Adele.

How do you define success?

Being able to do what you love with people you love and using all your skills, and expanding as you do. A never-ending unfolding!

What does #BEYOUROWN mean to you? 

It simply means to be me. All of me. And to see the largesse in each of us so we can all celebrate our small parts in this giant jigsaw puzzle and cheer each other on as each of us unleashes our light. In our own way.

Finally, What can we expect from you both and Gorgeous Revolution?

 More collaboration with millennials, more speaking, more idea sharing, brainstorming, more co-creating to literally bring heaven to earth. I’m just getting going.

 

www.beyourown.org