A New York Swan in Holland
On a street in Amsterdam named after the last knight of Rome—the Keizersgracht, I met with James Mills, his partner Wayne, and their dog Daisy. It was evening in their home—a 17th-century monumental loft. The night light, just outside the windows, radiated a fairytale blue and I’m not even exaggerating. The couple invited me to host a sound ceremony that would mark their beginning as owners and caretakers of a canal house, four hundred years old. Old things, in the collective western, cultural imagination can bring to mind sprites, haints, and other uninvited ghostly things. When I brought this thought from my mind to my tongue, I was instructed, by the couple, on a new way of seeing old things. During their housewarming sound ritual, James and Wayne wanted to pay respect to the generations of people who took residence before them. Folks who were good enough stewards of the land and the building that it survived centuries and could now become the next chapter of their own life stories.
In this series, I’ve asked clients and collaborators to reflect on their work, their rest, and the meditative experiences we’ve shared. Here’s what James had to say…
Describe your work.
I’m the co-founder and Creative Director of the Amsterdam-based creative agency, Rigos Mills*. Our firm designs spaces—offices, retail stores, cafes and also does creative strategy for brands on how to present themselves to their clientele. I worked for large companies for most of my career and decided that I wanted my own studio to help guide brands through the creative process, which to a layman, can be daunting and confusing.
Is there a philosophy or guiding principle you live by?
My philosophy is basically that life is short, so be kind, honest, and brave. I had been working for large companies at senior-level positions in NYC for the better part of two decades....one day I woke up and decided that I wanted to do something new. I wasn’t happy or having fun and it started to affect my health and my relationships with family and friends. At first, everyone I knew told me I was crazy to quit my job and totally start over, but now they can see my vision—I choose what I want to work on, choose where I want to live, and also work the way I want to work. I’m not confined by any "corporate culture" and my partner and I can travel whenever, wherever.
What does wellness mean to you?
I see wellness as a balance between physical wellness and mental wellness. Coming from NYC, the mental wellness part has been a constant challenge. I was programmed from an early age to work 24/7. When I was starting my career, slowing down was seen as weakness. Having my own agency has forced me to look at this more closely and actually learn how to "turn off"—a new concept for me that I still struggle with. For physical wellness, I believe in moderation and the basics—get enough sleep, eat the right food and live quietly.
How do you get into a creative rhythm?
When we begin a new project I usually set an entire day towards creative. It’s marked on the studio calendar as "headphones on" which means that I will only be concentrating on creative that day. With headphones on, I’m listening to music which helps things flow a bit easier. I’m a big believer in books (we have a lot of books) and I’ll usually begin by pulling images, materials, and colors to start a mood board that will frame the overall project. We then, as a team and with the clients, narrow it down until we get to the final design and vision of the project. I’m a huge believer in collaborating with people; I see myself as the person who writes the outline...not the entire story.
How do you get out of a funk?
My partner calls me his swan—calm on the top but furiously paddling below the water. I’m generally more on the quiet side and when I get into a funk, I get quieter. I have discovered, especially through the pandemic, that what calms me down the most is reading; it takes me somewhere else. I read mostly biographies from people who lived in the 1930s to the 1950s. For some reason, this period resonates with me (past life?) and I love seeing how each person triumphed and overcame things.
What was the biggest takeaway from your sound ceremony with The Funk Refinery?
I think that it was the need to stop, breathe, meditate and center oneself. This is something that, since the ceremony, I have tried to work on. I do a breathing exercise with my trainer three times a week at the beginning of our session to help balance and center myself.
Is there a sound healing instrument that moves you the most?
The bowls are amazing! I was astounded by the vibrations that went through my body when we were doing the ceremony. I think that I was shocked to actually FEEL the sound and it created this great calm. It was a life-changing moment and I feel that the ceremony helped to ground us in our home.
Tools you can use:
Duster
Good Intentions
Incense or Smudge Stick
Seat Cushion
Tingsha, Bell, or Metal Singing Bowl
In traditional space clearing rituals, the focus is often on removing stagnant energy from a place. That energy could come from past inhabitants or current occupants who might be harboring (instead of releasing) tough emotions. When this happens, feelings like anger and frustration, for example, can, over time, turn into resentment, distrust, or misery. This stagnation can leave its mark on a space. If you’re sensitive, you can even feel it in the air when you walk into a room. What my ceremony with James taught was to not only recognize where energy might be stagnant but also honor and see where it flows easily—paying attention to the joyous legacy of place and showing gratitude for the good vibes left behind.
Here’s how to energetically cleanse and restore your own home, studio, or atelier:
Bring out the feather duster
Before you get all metaphysical, tidy up! If you’re stuck and find cleaning difficult, see if there’s room in your wallet to hire a professional. Toxic energy likes to hang out in dust and befriend clutter. So grab your feather duster and free yourself from items hanging about that no longer like you. Donate, recycle, or trash them. Who needs objects sitting around throwing shade?
Do nothing without intention
Get in touch with your why. Make it known by quietly speaking it aloud or, if inclined, by screaming from the rooftop. Your intention could be to usher more peace into your home, or to create room in your studio for vulnerability and untamed expression, or you may simply wish for your place to remain cozy and attract friends and family for gatherings. Whatever your intention—know it, claim it, and make it clear. I often repeat a scripture, poem, or quote that reflects my desire.
Light it up
Open some or all of your windows. I do hope you have windows! Light incense or a smudge stick. The plants, woods, herbs, and resins used in these materials are sacred gifts from the earth that have been employed for centuries in rituals the world over. The aromatic smoke is believed to cling onto undesirable energy and carry it away—hence the open windows, since you’ll want that energy to exit the building. For safety, hold your incense or smudge stick in a container that can collect the ash.
Stand still, then sashay
Take a moment to ground at the main entrance of your home or studio. Stand still at the front door. Breathe in the aroma of the incense or smudge stick and exhale completely. Enjoy a few breaths in silence before repeating your intention aloud, a small whisper also works. Walk (or sashay) in a clockwise direction throughout your space, breathing and repeating your intention. Let smoke fill the corners, crevices, inside of closets and drawers, as well as every room you enter. A feather (or vegan substitute) can be used to waft the aromatic smoke as you travel through the space.
Take a seat
Find a quiet corner. Take a seat on your cushion. Your incense or smudge stick, can hang out safely nearby, in its proper container. Take 5 minutes or more in silence. During this time, you can turn your awareness back to your intention or simply focus on your breath or the sweet aromas filling your space.
Close the ceremony
When you’re ready, signal the closing of the ceremony by ringing a metal singing bowl, bell, or tingsha. Allow the sound to resonate while you close your windows and extinguish the incense or smudge stick. Your space is now energetically cleansed. How does it feel?
Try this space-clearing ceremony when moving into a new space, when beginning a new project or whenever you feel creativity is blocked.
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*Rigos Mills is a creative interior architectural agency known for its personalized and collaborative approach to creating innovative yet timeless commercial, retail, and private spaces.
About James Mills: With his distinct creative imprint on global brands including Theory, Helmut Lang, Club Monaco, J.Crew and Urban Outfitters, James Mills now extends his visual merchandising, store experience and interior design expertise into a comprehensive consulting service. Conveying a wide range of aesthetics rooted in his fine arts background, deep appreciation of classic and contemporary design trends, and extensive international travels throughout Europe and Asia, he imbues each project with a spirit and style juxtaposing traditional flourishes with modern, eclectic touches like contemporary art, cutting-edge lighting, and the unpredictable, whimsical use of materials.
About the Author: Malika Ali Harding designs mindful experiences that fuse contemplation with poetry and sound. She believes that creativity and meditation are a power couple and when integrated can amplify both your vision and your purpose. A favorite proverb, “iron sharpens iron,” encouraged her to feature instruments made of precious metals during each of her sessions. Malika is certified in sound therapy through Shift Meditation, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Howard University, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the American Film Institute Conservatory. She launched The Funk Refinery to help take the pressure off of taking a seat. She can assist with planning mindfulness-centered events for brands, sound ceremonies for major life occasions, or simply guide you, moment by moment, in the beautiful practice of stillness.
About the Illustrator: Chantal deFelice is an autodidact with a penchant for observant wandering and gentle exploration. Her artwork takes many forms— ink drawings, illustrative paintings, experimental soundscapes, immersive layered video projections— but through it all loops the interconnected wonder of nature, science, deep time, mollusks, and a fascination with the concept of “place”. She is currently a nomadic tumbleweed, working on both independent and collaborative projects in the U.S. and abroad.