About Anna Michielan
– Anna learned to accept the local culture and integrate it into her daily life. She’s a strong believer in personal growth and spirituality and encourages women to empower their feminine side and connect with their true selves.
I came to Bali in 1981, and Bali embraced me. It changed my life.
When I came here to live, I asked myself, “I live on the island of the artists, so, what is my art?” That’s how I started making jewelry in 1994.
As an Italian, I have good taste, and learning about crystal properties gave me a different outlook on them. So, I combined the look and the healing properties together and created my own style.
I didn’t invent anything new though, it’s what Hindus and Buddhists do for meditation. I was doing a course on meditation with a Balinese high priest for 4 years, and I integrated all I learned about Balinese practice into my crystals, my meditation, and my yoga.
The biggest challenge of running a business here is accepting the local culture.
If you come here expecting to run your business as you do in the West, there’s no way. You have to work on acceptance. Sometimes in the morning, I do the offerings. I ask gods for protection, for guidance, to show me the way, and they do!
I have a very strong personality. I know what I want and I get it. In 1996 I found myself being a single mom with nothing, and I had to start from scratch. I rolled my sleeves up and started working hard, and this is the result. At that point with two broken hearts, I thought what was the most important in my life? It was my work, my son, my personal growth, and my spirituality.
I’m focusing on these things instead of, “oh, I have to find a new boyfriend! “
Women are getting stronger and stronger. Being a woman doesn’t mean being beautiful, dressing nicely, makeup, getting rid of wrinkles, and all that stuff. It means empowering your feminine side and listening to your gut.
Go and connect with your true self, find your voice, and express it.
Listen to yourself.
What is your life all about? What is your role? What are you here for?
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