Talking about Travelling The World with Danielle Ashe

WOMAN RISE MAGAZINE: INTERVIEW WITH DANIELLE ASHE

Hi Danielle can you tell us about yourself?

I was born in Chicago, IL and raised in a suburb about 40 miles south of the city. My cultural heritage is African American. Both of my parents were born in Chicago and their parents were born in the United States as well. I've noticed that most African Americans don't know much about their African heritage because it's been lost along the way, I'm planning to get a DNA test once I get back to the U.S. to find out where in Africa my ancestors are from and to learn more about my lineage. It's so important to connect to our roots and develop a strong cultural identity and I hope to inspire others to do the same.

Currently, my lifestyle is traveling the world, teaching yoga, and hosting retreats when I find opportunities to do so. I'm currently in South Africa and have been living here for five months now. I have recently embarked on an entrepreneurial path and am in the process of building an online business that will allow me to be financially free and location independent.

What are your passionate about?

Wow this is a big question, but a great one. I am passionate about so many things! I'm passionate about stepping more fully into my power to create the life that I want by discovering and living my divine purpose and sharing my unique gifts and talents with the world while inspiring others to do the same. I'm also passionate about the power of connecting to nature, healing and holistic health and wellness and the effect and connection that social, emotional, mental, and spiritual connection has on the physical body physical health.

I'm also very passionate about bringing ancient wisdom back into modern life. Many of us are disconnected from these insightful practices and the knowledge of our ancestors such as astrology, rituals, yoga, tantra, and the list goes on and on!

I'm also passionate about music and it's ability to communicate and convey ideas, emotions and healing through sound vibrations. I love expressing myself through music, I've found it to be a cathartic and healing practice.

You quit your job and decided to travel for a living, what were the circumstances that underpinned that decision?

I found myself with two degrees and a job that I was grateful for, but something was missing. I felt depressed, drained and unfulfilled and unsatisfied, yet I was unclear about exactly what was missing from my life or what it was that I really wanted to pursue career-wise.

Another one of my passions is yoga and I received a scholarship and completed a yoga teacher training while I was working my full-time job.

I had just attended a healing retreat in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica and while there I stayed at a yoga studio/hostel. I really loved Puerto Viejo, the hostel, and the people there. During my teacher training, a thought came to me that I could teach yoga and travel, so I reached out to the owner of the yoga hostel in Puerto Viejo to see if she needed any help and the rest is history; I've been traveling for two and a half years now!

I'd been fascinated by the ancient wisdom and indigenous cultures of South America for a while and had the intention to travel to become fluent in Spanish and learn more about the indigenous cultures there for 10 years but was afraid to travel on my own and wasn't sure how to make it happen. It took me almost 10 years to gain the courage and to find a way to travel/live abroad.

Which countries have you visited so far and what have been your experiences?

I've taken short trips to many countries before I quit my job to travel but since I quit my job I've been to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Prague, and South Africa. And I'm heading to Berlin, Germany in two weeks! My experiences have all been positive, each country has something amazing to offer!

You spent a lot of time in Costa Rica, tell us about it? (the environment, the people, the food, the employment/business opportunities ) why did you leave? do you plan to return?

Yes, I've spent a lot of time in Costa Rica, about 12 months in total. Business opportunities can be tricky, especially for someone who is not a Costa Rican resident (as well as for people who are Costa Rican for that matter). While I was there I was doing different work/trade opportunities and was living mostly off of savings which was a wonderful experience. I also taught yoga and created and hosted wellness retreats for people from the United States to offer them the opportunity get out of their daily routine and comfort zone to have space to connect to nature and with one another.

I've only spent time on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica which was a truly transformative experience. I really thrive mentally, physically, and spiritually there and consider it my second home.Culturally, it's an interesting place because there's a large afro caribbean population there so it has this beautiful laid back, beachy, rasta, surfer, jungle vibe.

My lifestyle there consists of teaching yoga, studying herbs, forging food, getting around by bike or walking, bathing in the ocean daily, enjoying the lush jungle, and eating fresh, healthy organic foods, what more could a girl ask for!

I left Puerto Viejo because I wanted to continue my travels but I miss it very much an look forward to returning there and settling down towards the end of this year.

You're currently living in South Africa, tell us about it? (the environment, the people, the food, the employment/business opportunities ) Do you plan to stay there?

South Africa is an amazing country, it is everything because so many cultures have a large population here, plus it's huge and expansive. Traditional and modern, African and European, every type of nature scape that you can imagine. The nature is definitely next level here, some of the most beautiful natural landscape I've seen thus far in my travels. The people are incredibly aware and intelligent here and the music the pulse of this country has much better taste in music then the United States in my opinion. I love South Africa and will definitely come back.

However, it's not without it's challenges;there's a major shortage of jobs and a high gap between the haves and have-nots. Tension between races is still high seeing that apartheid ended not so long ago.

Capetown is diverse and full of nature feels very European or San Franciscan and Johannesburg is very urban and has more of a New York vibe and Durban has more of a beachy tropical vibe and has a large Indian population.

As an entrepreneur do you think it's important to travel and/or have international links?

Absolutely! When I started traveling the world opened up for me I began to think creatively on a global scale expanded. Seeing the way that people live and/or do things in different countries, cities, etc. gives one a more broad perspective on life and it's infinite possibilities. Things that I had never even thought of, things that I didn't even know that I didn't even know were revealed to me. In my meeting and connecting with other people, especially with my fellow travelers I've built a global network and established meaningful connections with so many people from all over the world, many of whom I plan to visit in the future.

What advice would you give someone who is considering leaving their job to travel the world?

If you're considering it, you must do it!

Try to find a source of income that you enjoy and will support you while traveling (ideally something that will bring you passive income or something that offers you location independence).

Stay present! Believe that the right people, places, and opportunities will ALWAYS present themselves to you at the right time, and they will! Trust that the higher power (or whatever you believe in) is conspiring to serve your best and highest good!

Pack light ;) Take what you truly need and the rest will find you.

Infinite love,

Danielle