We had the pleasure to interview the owner & founder of Happy Society, Shani. What begun as experimenting and creating products for loved ones has evolved into a brand focused on offerings to elevate everyday rituals from botanical spacial mists to tea formulations. Shani speaks to making room for ones self through slowing down, daily practices that ebb & flow and where Shani looks for her inspiration.

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What’s your star sign? Virgo

Where are you currently based? Geelong, Victoria

In your own words can you tell us what you do? I run a small business from start to finish called Happy Society that creates natural home, body & lifestyle products to enhance your everyday routine & rituals.

Can you tell us a little about Happy Society & how it all began? It all began back in 2015, I was ready for a change & had the opportunity to start fresh which I’m forever grateful for. I always had a lot of fun making candles & potions for myself and friends so it started out as a hobby & evolved over many moons into what it is today.

Happy Society places an emphasis on 'slowing down' . How does that translate into your personal life? I’m getting better and better and taking my own advice but I know life is fast paced & sometimes its so easy to forget ourselves. Slowing down for me is giving myself permission not to have to do everything right now, not conforming to the way society makes us think we need to work & that we need everything now, always make room for yourself in your day however or whatever that may be. Inviting that feminine energy of nurturing myself into my daily life has been really important, taking a morning bath, lighting a candle, putting on some music & lighting some incense, stretching, reading a book, or simply just sitting outside with no phone & no distraction are my faves.

There is something quite ritual based about your brand, do you have any certain rituals that are non negotiable on a daily basis? My rituals change from day to day and mood to mood but a morning coffee outside (weather permitting) in a non negotiable to start my day, I always have a candle or incense lit during the day while I work and then a quick house tidy up / cleanse at the end of the day with candles lit, oils burning & music playing to ease into evening down time.

What are you currently working on & towards? I’m currently focusing on expanding my tea offerings as this is something I really enjoy making & I get to work with my sister who is a nutritionist & formulates the blends with me. My long term goal is to be able to open up a healing community space in Geelong accessible to everyone.

If you were to give your younger self a piece of advice, what would it be? Stop trying to live up to other peoples expectations.

On the flip side, what was the best piece of advice you have been given? It’s not advice I’ve been personally given but I love this quote by Iggy Pop: "They say that death kills you, but death doesn’t kill you. Boredom and indifference kill you.”

Where do you look when seeking inspiration? Everywhere! Traditional & Holistic medicines & their philosophies are a huge inspiration for Happy Society, they connect us back with the natural world & ourselves, they remind us how powerful the mind & our own innate ability to heal ourselves & each other really is.

What are you currently listening to? Babeheaven for some soothing vocals, Tourist while I work & Dorothy Ashby are on heavy rotation!

Words by Natasha Bruce

Image via Happy Society by Natalie Jurrjens