Our Story

Our Story — Where Earth Meets Sky

"What exists in the spiritual realm is mirrored in the physical world." — The Hermetic Principle

 

It began with an ending

I was laid off in one of the waves of tech layoffs that have become all too common these days. One day the work that had shaped my days was simply gone, and I was left with a quiet question: what now?

I've never defined myself by the work I do. A job was never my identity. But I've always known that who I am is tied to how I want to help people, in whatever capacity I can.

So I chose to see the layoff as a sign — a message from the universe. I'm still not entirely sure what it's saying. I've decided to let it guide me anyway.

Right now, it's guiding me toward creativity rooted in spirituality: making things with my hands, with intention, and using that craft as a way to reach out to others and offer a little guidance of my own.

 

Looking up, looking in

I've always been fascinated by spirituality and energy — and especially by Hermeticism, the ancient teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary keeper of wisdom.

At the heart of those teachings is the principle this brand is named for: as above, so below. What moves in the heavens moves in us. The cosmos and the body are not separate. The stars and the soil speak the same language.

The more I studied it, the more it felt like a map for my own life.

 

Everything by design

The deeper I went, the more one idea held me steady: nothing is random. We are each part of something far bigger — held by the same universe that turns the seasons and moves the tides. Even the endings. Even the layoffs. Even the days that don't make sense yet.

I needed that reminder. I suspect you might too.

It's going to be okay. You are part of something bigger, and you are always becoming.

 

Why soap

I wanted a way to carry that feeling into ordinary life. Not a lecture, not a course — something you can hold every single day.

Soap turned out to be the perfect vessel. Washing is already a daily ritual. It's the moment you pause, breathe, and come back to your body. What if that moment could also be a moment of intention?

So I decided to expand my knowledge of the chakras — the seven energy centers that run from the base of the spine to the crown of the head — and research which botanicals, scents, and crystals have long been associated with each one. Each one holds a different part of who we are.

 

Whatever today asks of you

Some days I need to feel rooted. Some days my heart needs tending. Some days I feel unheard, and I'm looking for the courage to speak a little louder.

I've learned I don't have to work on everything at once. It doesn't matter which part of myself I tend to on a given day — what matters is the intention to grow. Simply choosing to nurture myself is enough.

That's exactly why soap made sense to me. It's something I return to every single day, and each time is a quiet chance to choose again. I wanted to share that with others.

 

More than a cleanse — a practice

For me, soap stopped being something to use up and forget. It became a practice. I lather, breathe in the botanicals, and set one small intention for the day ahead.

I'm not finished, and I don't expect to be. I'm still learning, still improving, still returning to the practice. That's not a flaw. That's the point — and it's what I hope to share with you.

 

Guided, as we all are

Everything I create is made by hand, with the hope that it meets you right where you are. That it gives you a moment to remember you're supported. That it guides you gently, the way the universe guides us all.

Earth to body to spirit, and back to earth again.

As above, so below.

With gratitude,
Shih-Yu
Founder & maker, As Above Soap Below