WRITERS TO KNOW: ASH ALVES
ASH ALVES
Born and raised in Birmingham, United Kingdom, Ash Alves is a writer and Spiritual Life Coach of Jamaican and St. Kitts descent. Ash’s fascination with the human emotional experience and belief that nothing we do can be separated from spirit, guides her coaching practice and commitment to helping others on their healing journeys. In addition to leading Warrior Reminder, a safe space and community for cultivating self-inquiry, Ash just published her first book, A Warrior’s Reminder, inspired by personal affirmations that empowered her during difficult seasons.
SHEER: Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you're from.
ASH ALVES: My name is Ash Alves, born and raised in Birmingham, United Kingdom. I am a third generation Caribbean-Jamaican and St Kitts descendent. Before I identified as a writer, I always knew that I was supposed to do something meaningful in the world and be in service in some form. I have also been passionate about transformative justice and have spent years committed to social change. I am a highly sensitive person who enjoys going on walks, journaling, and listening to music. I love having intimate conversations about things that matter.
SHEER: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer or did it organically happen for you?
AA: My love for writing emerged while going through a dark place in my life and wanting an outlet to express myself. Through writing, I discovered the power of using words to heal. I found solace through writing- it became so natural for me. It was something organic for me. It was never an intention of mine to write. I think that’s what makes this journey so exciting and meaningful for me because there’s still so much to learn and explore.
SHEER: Where do you draw inspiration for your work?
AA: I am inspired by life itself. I am fascinated by the human emotional experience, how pain, suffering, joy, and love give life meaning and how our experiences shape who we are. I am the most inspired to write in moments of solitude where I have the opportunity to explore my inner world and decompress.
SHEER: What led you to become a spiritual life coach and how do you balance this work with your writing?
AA: I love having conversations with people and offering advice on the difficulties they are experiencing. I have always been considered the ‘wise friend’ so giving advice has always been second nature to me. I wanted to bring my writing into conversations so becoming a coach fits how I want to assist others. I decided to become a Spiritual Life Coach because I loved how it encompasses traditional life coaching with spirit and universal understandings. I don’t believe you can separate spirit from anything you do- spirit is within all of us. Spiritual Life Coaching helps people to see outside of their pain, their reality and see how they fit into the larger plan. Spiritual Life Coaching helps awaken your inner alchemist and I think that it holds people accountable for doing the work required for their healing.
Being organised has helped me to balance my writing, coaching alongside running my organisation, Warrior Reminder. Another way that I keep everything together is by making time to decompress. Moments of solitude helps me to stay grounded so that I am able to give to others from a place of fullness not lack. I also set boundaries for myself about how many clients I see in a week. I make sure to leave room for flexibility. It’s not always easy- sometimes things go out of balance but for the most part, I have been able to create a good medium.
SHEER: When did you decide to write your book A Warriors Reminder and what was that process like for you?
AA: The book was born from a compilation of journal entries. In 2017 I began writing affirmations and words of wisdom for myself to revisit whenever I was having a difficult time. In 2018 I began sharing my writings online and noticed that people were resonating with them. I always wanted to write a book at some point in my life but I never knew what that would look like. Once I realised that people were interested, I thought, why not put them in a book? The words helped me so I wanted to give people access to something that can assist them in their healing journey. It took me over 2 years to complete the book. There was a lot of learning and research I had to put into figuring out how to create a physical book, plus trying to figure out what I should and shouldn’t include but aside from that, I enjoyed the process of putting it all together.
“My love for writing emerged while going through a dark place in my life and wanting an outlet to express myself. Through writing, I discovered the power of using words to heal. I found solace through writing- it became so natural for me. It was something organic for me. It was never an intention of mine to write. I think that’s what makes this journey so exciting and meaningful for me because there’s still so much to learn and explore. ”
SHEER: What are some common misconceptions of healing and self-actualization that your work helps to address?
AA: I hope that my work helps to clear up the notion that healing is about ‘positive vibes only’. Life is full of contradictions and complexities. I hope that my work reminds people of the importance of self-compassion and doing the inner work. There’s no light without darkness and part of healing is about being willing to look at the undesirable aspects of self and our lives. Healing can’t take place without doing the inner work and whilst we work on ourselves, it’s important to humanize ourselves throughout the process.
“I decided to become a Spiritual Life Coach because I loved how it encompasses traditional life coaching with spirit and universal understandings. I don’t believe you can separate spirit from anything you do- spirit is within all of us. Spiritual Life Coaching helps people to see outside of their pain, their reality and see how they fit into the larger plan. Spiritual Life Coaching helps awaken your inner alchemist and I think that it holds people accountable for doing the work required for their healing. ”
SHEER: What keeps you grounded?
AA: My relationship with the divine keeps me grounded. I know that I am loved and not alone no matter what life throws at me. I have practices in place that keep me grounded such as, journaling, meditating, reading, and going for walks. My upbringing is another thing that keeps me grounded - knowing where I came from and how far I've come. Reflecting on my past reminds me that everything will eventually work out for your highest good.
SHEER: What advice do you have for someone looking to embark on their journey of healing and self-awareness but is unsure of where to start?
AA: I would say a great opening is going to therapy. A licensed therapist will be able to reflect to you any blind spots and will offer you a space to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Another piece of advice I would give to someone who’s embarking on their healing journey is to take time out for self-reflection. Journaling is an excellent tool that helps you to explore the depth of your inner work and allows you to discover the roots of your pain. Journaling helps to explore what is required to make a change in your life.
SHEER: What do you hope will be the lasting impact of your work?
AA: I hope that my work inspires people to do the inner work, to go within themselves, and not be afraid to face themselves. I hope that my work reminds people that they are powerful and can transform their lives, heal the landscape of their thoughts, body, mind, and soul. I hope that my work awakens people to their true divinity.
Check out more of Ash’s work below.
Photography by Nabila Wirakusumah
I first stumbled across Nia Winslow’s work, totally by accident, and there was a piece titled “Secret Keeper” which I couldn’t believe was entirely paper because of the intricacies and detailing of the bobos and barrettes that took me back to my childhood. While digging deeper into her catalog I was shocked to realize her art is entirely collage and paper-based. The level of detail and intention behind her work is so incredibly impressive and even more so once I learned she was self-taught and only started making art in 2019!! Nia’s collages connect the Black and African diaspora by portraying our shared experiences from the seemingly mundane to the more poetic while simultaneously using unique strips of paper to also highlight we are not a monolith and to honor our diverse range of cultures.