Meet Eliza Day | Writer, Speaker, and Intuitive Guide

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eliza Day and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eliza, how do you think about risk?
I think that any decision we make in our lives is entwined with risk. The idea of playing it safe (of playing it small) offers the illusion of certainty and control, but in reality such a decision also risks the possibility that we will never get what we really, truly want because we were not brave enough to ask for it. I work with people through periods of transition and transformation, encouraging them to boldly lean into the unknown. When we engage deeply with the unknown, we risk everything. Everything we have, everything we’ve built, and everything we believe ourselves to be. But it’s in the act of risking everything we have yet known that we discover the full potential of what is available to us. Either way, there is risk. We risk never knowing who we are and what we are capable of in favor of our comfort zone, or we risk everything we’ve ever known in favor of discovering what else is possible.

Personally, the most rewarding experiences of my life have also come hand in hand with danger. In a strange way, I think the closer we are to loss, the closer we are to life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I discovered a gift for intuitive work during a particularly challenging and directionless period of my early 20s, and it offered a guiding light not only to me, but to those I would read for, so the work really took on a life of its own. In 2022 I decided to devote myself to it full time and managed to build a significant following and a successful business structure in 30 days of focused effort with minimal expectations. That first month is still my proudest to-date. There’s something really beautiful about the early stages of creation, everything feels sort of experimental and low-pressure. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was.

In contrast, I would say what’s been more difficult is the challenge to maintain and build upon that initial success. It’s tougher sometimes to access that same experimental curiosity and playful risk-taking once you’ve found something that works, because you have more to lose. But, change is growth, and growth is life.

I’ve learned a lot along the way, but one of the most significant lessons has been that in order to be loved, we must allow ourselves to be seen. This can, at times, be an agonizing experience, but I’ve also come to understand that whatever we fear others may see when they look at us is only what we secretly think about ourselves. When I carry myself with love and respect, I am met with the most loving and respectful versions of other people. When I carry myself with shame and judgment, I am met with shame and judgment. To present oneself to the public is to gaze into a powerful funhouse mirror, it’s not for the faint of heart.

My work is grounded in the belief that the greatest power we have is the story we tell ourselves. We do not always get to decide our circumstances, though we can influence them, but we do get to decide what we do with them, how we allow ourselves to be shaped by them, and how we weave them into the story of our lives. I believe that we are each the hero of our story and that the journey of life guides us to the strongest, bravest, wisest, most vulnerable and loving versions of ourselves if we choose to rise to the occasion instead of sinking into despair. My role as a guide is to be a beacon of hope amidst the crashing waves of life, a reminder of the greater story at play and of your power within it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There’s a little family-owned spot in Ktown called Myung Dong Noodle House on 7th and Irolo that I have an emotional attachment to. It’s intimate and casual, the food is great, and there are usually 3 generations of the family sitting or working together. If you’re in Ktown, you’ve gotta try an Einspanner latte. I like the one form Memorylook, or the vienna black from Yeems. I’d also have to take them to WiSpa for a scrub and some sauna time. And maybe follow it up with burgers and fries at Cassell’s and a comedy show at Dynasty Typewriter with a bucket of popcorn.

For day 2, we’d grab coffee from Dayglo in Silverlake, their signature drinks are on the pricier side but they’re delicious, creative, and such a novel treat. Then we’d get breakfast tacos at HomeState in Los Feliz and take a stroll around the nearby boutiques and then have a little sunbathing time at Barnsdall Art Park. For dinner we’d head to Kismet Rotisserie, and after we’d catch a comedy show at the UCB.

For day 3, there’s a little spot called Sushi Vegan in Santa Monica I like to get takeout from and we’d take it to Will Roger’s State Park Beach for some sun and some views. If you’re up for the drive, Malibu Lagoon State Beach has stellar birdwatching, and it’s an especially beautiful place to catch the sunset. I feel like visiting Erewhon is an LA rite of passage (for any number of things), but I most highly recommend the vegan soft serve.

For day 4, we’d grab breakfast at Courage Bagels and hike to Griffith Observatory (I like the Fern Dell trail) and head to Prime Pizza downtown (get the pepperoni).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my partner who challenges me every day to be the bravest, truest, and most loving version of myself.

Website: www.elizaday.love

Instagram: @elizadaylight (https://www.instagram.com/elizadaylight/)

Other: TikTok: @elizadaylight (https://www.tiktok.com/@elizadaylight?lang=en)

Image Credits
Dimitra Skouras