Conscious Interviews | Le Harvest
About Phaedra & Seth
I met Phaedra and Seth in their most authentic essence. Phaedra was smiling and exposing her selection of consciously curated linen and bohemian clothing to a beautiful group of women attending a weekend retreat event at a Canyon in Malibu and in the meantime Seth was sitting down doing astrological readings that would bring ease and a deeper understanding of self.
I also had the pleasure of getting a reading from Seth and I must say it was beyond exact to my personality and current eventualities. The important thing about this entire story is that I got to connect with these extraordinary beings who are always trying to do good and bring conscious awareness to their close and online communities. Phaedra and Seth recently moved to Joshua Tree where they have delicately built a new home.
I was curious about their professions, their life in the desert and the inspiration behind their new home and decided to interview them.
What made you consider moving to the Desert?
We had been frequenting the high Desert for a couple of years in a row and totally fell in love with the spacious landscape and mystical, otherworldly energy of this place. The universe felt as though it conspired to bring us here. There were many moments of synchronicity that made it feel like we were meant to move here from Portland, OR.
Do you miss the ocean or the mountains at all? Do you feel the urge to escape from the Desert?
Of course we have our moments of missing water, but that problem is usually solved with a quick trip down the hill for a pool day in Palm Springs or a drive to LA or SD. As for the mountains, we have them as the backdrop so we don’t really miss those too much. I will say, having grown up in the Pacific Northwest I do miss the lush greenery and crisp air and I think Seth misses the autumn in Massachusetts.
What is a normal day like at your place in Joshua Tree?
There really is no normal day here. For me work ranges from styling clients, shooting merchandise, sourcing vintage, editing pictures, updating the website, doing site visits for interior design clients, furniture sourcing, social media management and on and on - you get the idea! Haha.
YOUR HOME SPACE
What cultures/styles inspired you at the time of decorating the space?
I would say our home is a mix of primitive, tribal, minimalist, wabi-sabi, with desert tones. Really just all of my favourite items thrown together. Seth and I both have definitely always gravitated towards Japanese zen/minimalism and recently I have this fixation on African elements. There is also a broad range of textiles from all over the world in here.
Did you fully plan the look and feel of your space or did you slowly build on it?
It was a bit of a mix. I planned it out in a space planner but also have slowly added layers to the space. I feel like it’s going to be an ongoing work in progress, is your home ever really done?
What do you believe are the main essentials that make a new space cozy and homie?
The number one essential for me is lighting. Having grown up in the dreary PNW, I am all to familiar with seasonal depression. To me, there is no such thing as cozy if the space is dark and gloomy. When we bought this house, the biggest factor for me was the triple glass sliding doors in the formal entry room. There is so much natural light in here at all hours of the day and nothing quite as magical as this room right at sunrise. I am also a total sucker for a fireplace and lots of sheepskins. I look forward to the weather cooling down and sitting in front of the fire on a sheepskin with a book, some tunes and a cup of tea.
YOUR ROUTINE IN JOSHUA TREE
What’s your morning routine like?
Wake up. Feed the dog. Make coffee/tea/cacao. Light incense and recite mantras on my mala beads. I usually then reply to work emails and try to get some content out on social media. Some days I will go with the dog on a hike. Other mornings (when I’m super motivated) I will go to barre or hot yoga.
What’s your night routine like?
Evenings are usually designated for family time. We are pretty traditional when it comes to our values. Seth and I typically cook dinner together and discuss our day at the dinner table. Then usually do a little bit more work, I clean up and then we curl up in front of the tv for a documentary or show. Evenings really are slow around here for us as we try to make sure to not take our work into the evening.
What’s your eating routine like?
Eating routine? Gah. This one is always changing - the one consistency is intermittent fasting. I really try not to eat after 8 pm or before 12 pm the following day. I strive to follow a 16:8 eating structure. There are tremendous benefits to fasting and I really don’t feel well when I am eating too frequently. I also limit sugar, dairy, gluten and grains whenever I can.
PHAEDRA
What is LEHARVEST? And what inspired you to create this business?
Le Harvest is a lifestyle brand/hub where I sell slow, ethical fashion and housewares ranging from vintage to independent labels with a shared ethos. I also offer personal styling services and interior design. It’s basically all of the things I love in one place.
What makes you thrive and you find yourself investing most of your days on it?
Travel. Travel keeps me inspired and thriving. Also a regular yoga practice.
Is there something you’d change about your business?
I would ideally like to hire a personal assistant so I’m not juggling as much!
SETH
When did you become interested in astrology?
I had my first astrology reading when I was 28, about seven years ago. My girlfriend at the time was really into astrology, but I had never really explored it. While we were living in Amherst, MA, she gifted me with an hour-long reading done by a local professor, who was also an astrologer. His reading was extremely accurate and I was immediately hooked. I met up with him, asked him how he learned to read charts, and immediately began studying both Western astrology and Jyotish.
Why is Astrology relevant in todays world? How do you think knowing your astrological chart can be beneficial to someone?
I believe astrology is relevant in every era, though one could argue that it is even more relevant at a time when the spiritual dimensions of life are largely ignored. This is undoubtedly the state of the world today, and as a result, many people are feeling really lost. Astrology offers in my opinion the ultimate road map for one’s life. The precise planetary configurations at the exact moment of one’s birth reflect the archetypal themes that shape our lives and define who we are at the soul level. Not only can astrology reveal deep insights about who you most authentically are and the purpose of this particular lifetime, but it can also forecast what is to be expected to unfold in your life at any given period of time. Both of these are extremely invaluable forms of self-knowledge that can allow you to live with greater authenticity, insightfulness, and wisdom. To add to this, there are many other practical uses for which astrology is employed, such as selecting auspicious dates for conducting certain affairs, determining appropriate remedies for challenging karmic situations and health ailments, providing vocational guidance, analyzing the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, and much more.
There are different astrological charts, can you tell us more about the different perspectives?
There are two main systems of astrology practiced in the West today: the Western system, which most people are at least vaguely familiar with, and the ancient Indian system, which goes by the names of Vedic astrology, Hindu astrology, or Jyotish. The two systems calculate an individual’s horoscope differently. The Western system has traditionally used the tropical zodiac, whereas the Vedic system has traditionally used the sidereal zodiac. Both zodiacs are, of course, mapping out a full, 360-degree belt of constellations that surround the Earth in a complete circle. However, no circle has an exact starting point; the point at which we should begin to count the first sign from, or where the astrological year begins (i.e. zero degrees of Aries), is rather unclear. Thus, the two systems have differing conclusions about how to calculate that starting point. The Western system counts zero degrees Aries from the Vernal Equinox Point, the moment when the Sun aligns with the celestial equator, roughly around March 20th every year. However, even though the Western system says that point is zero degrees Aries, if you could see the constellation directly behind the Sun at that moment, it would no longer be the constellation of Pisces. This is due to a phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes, in which the Sun’s Vernal Equinox Point appears to drift backwards through the zodiac at a rate of one degree every 72 years. Currently, the actual Vernal Equinox Point is around 6 degrees of Pisces. The sidereal zodiac is more observational in the sense that the calculations are based upon where the planets actually appear to be in the sky against the backdrop of the zodiacal constellations. This system uses a fixed star as the zero degrees Aries point - i.e. the point where the the zodiacal belt and astrological year begin. With all of this taken into consideration, there’s currently about a 24 degree difference between the calculations of each system. As a result, most individual horoscopes appear quite different when switching from the Western system to the Vedic one.
BOTH
What would be an ideal day where you can express your passions?
I think my ideal days are when I feel like I’m growing and making progress towards what I suppose you could call self-actualization. If new insights come to me, or an opportunity to offer guidance to someone arises, or life delivers some new experience that opens my mind or connects me with kindred spirits, I feel deeply fulfilled. It could be a difficult day full of challenges and work, but if it feels in alignment with where my greatest growth lies, it would still be an “ideal” day. Generally, though, having free time and the space to tune into my inner world is very important to me, and such spacious days aren’t always abundant in my life right now. I love waking up with an open day ahead of me with the freedom to be spontaneous.