Luxury and Abundance Redefined: Insights from Stars and Seeds
Luxury, in the modern sense, often conjures images of opulence, material wealth, and extravagance. However, there's a burgeoning movement towards redefining luxury, focusing on simplicity, presence, and connection with nature. Lara Charlotte is an astrologer and plant medicine practitioner. Lara shared her journey and perspectives into this redefined luxury, explaining the transformation from a high-powered corporate life to one deeply intertwined with astrology and the healing power of plants.
Lara’s Beginning
Lara's journey began in Aotearoa, New Zealand, where she grew up and later moved to Australia. She once thrived in the fast-paced corporate world, working in events and marketing while DJing on the side. However, a series of health issues in her mid-twenties, including a stomach ulcer and thyroid problems, prompted a radical shift. She sold everything and traveled to South America, seeking a new way of life.
In Peru, Lara experienced a profound sense of homecoming, which led her to immerse herself in plant medicine practices where she participated in things like ayahuasca ceremonies and worked closely with the native bobinsana tree. She spent years in the Amazon, studying under curanderos (specifically her long-term teacher Maestra Reyna Luz Edery Flores), and developing intimate relationships with various plants. This journey also deepened her connection with astrology, forming a unique blend of practices that now define her work.
Reyna and Lara
Luxury in the Modern World
In today's fast-paced world, luxury often means expensive cars, designer clothes, and lavish vacations. However, Lara's personal experiences have shaped a different perspective. She currently defines luxury as the quality of presence and the ability to be fully available for any moment. This redefinition shifts the focus from external possessions to internal experiences and connections.
Lara believes modern society's obsession with material wealth has proven to overshadow the true essence of luxury. True luxury is not about accumulation but about the depth and quality of our experiences. It's about balancing material desires with the necessity of living sustainably and harmoniously with the environment. Luxury can be found in simplicity and fulfillment. Lara emphasizes that the true essence of luxury lies in the depth of our experiences and the presence we bring to them. For instance, savoring a glass of clean water with full awareness can be more luxurious than mindlessly consuming the finest champagne. This perspective is one that we at Argos Destinations share, and at our core we believe in the power of experience to transform, heal and reorient.
Nature's Role in Luxury
Nature plays a pivotal role in Lara's vision of luxury. Growing up in New Zealand, she developed a deep appreciation for the natural world; an appreciation that became reinforced during her time in the Amazon. Through these experiences, she found that luxury can exist in the simplicity and beauty of nature. In her pursuit, Lara was drawn to plant medicine, sharing that her practice with various plant medicines have “helped to make a lot of space, heal physically, mentally, emotionally, adjust [her] habits and patterns, and create a relationship with life itself”. These plants have taught her to live more harmoniously with the environment and appreciate the interconnectedness of all life.
Through this relationship with plant medicines like ayahuasca, San Pedro, or Bobinsana, one can promote growth in their well-being and deepen their connection with nature. These plants offer profound insights and healing, fostering a sense of luxury that comes from within rather than from external sources.
Astrology and Luxury
Astrology can guide individuals in finding a more fulfilling and luxurious life. Lara explains that different astrological signs and placements influence our relationship with luxury. For example, Venus, the planet associated with beauty, money, and luxury, plays a significant role in our experiences of abundance and pleasure.
By understanding our astrological charts, we can align our lives with the natural rhythms of the cosmos. For instance, knowing the phases of Venus or the position of Jupiter can help us make better decisions about when to start new projects or focus on personal growth. Lara used the example of treating your astrological charts like someone sailing a boat. In the same way you would not set sail when the winds aren’t right, you should not begin certain projects when your own alignments are not right. Knowing how to interpret planetary trends and weather in your astrological chart can help you take advantage of strengths and minimize the effects of weaknesses.
Starting the Journey
For those looking to simplify their lives and find luxury in nature and simplicity, Lara recommends starting with daily practices that enhance presence and connection. This could be as simple as mindful breathing, spending time in nature, or practicing gratitude.
Creating spaces in our homes that reflect a simpler, more nature-connected lifestyle can also enhance our sense of luxury. This might involve incorporating natural elements, reducing clutter, and focusing on the quality rather than the quantity of our possessions.
Once you begin the journey, Lara advises focusing on the essence rather than the image. By cultivating presence and appreciating the simple, beautiful moments in life, we can all experience a richer, more luxurious existence.
Conclusion
Luxury, as redefined by Lara's journey and insights, is about presence, simplicity, and connection. Whether through astrology, plant medicine, or daily practices, we can all find ways to experience true abundance and fulfillment. By shifting our focus from material wealth to the quality of our experiences, we open ourselves to a deeper, more meaningful form of luxury.
If you have interest in learning more about Lara and her work, you can view the upcoming rituals she is hosting here, or view some of her upcoming retreats here.
ABOUT LARA CHARLOTTE
In 2012, Lara Charlotte she left a corporate career due to a personal health crisis and began a journey of soul remembrance, transformational healing, and devotional service.
Lara spent over five years training with traditional shamanic plant medicines in the Peruvian Amazon and is nearing a decade of consistent apprenticeship. She co-founded a retreat center in Peru, working with hundreds of guests on deep transformational processes. Trained to be trauma-informed, she creates mindful spaces that consider diversity, western mental health frameworks, and the ongoing process of personal awakening. Lara, a devoted lover of mythic realms, integrates various modalities to suit individual needs and has featured on podcasts and presented at workshops and trainings.
View Lara’s website here, instagram here, and substack here
