Meet Juanita Chase de Lamont | Artist, Activist, Entrepreneur and Mama

We had the good fortune of connecting with Juanita Chase de Lamont and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Juanita, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
As a socially conscious artist, entrepreneur and Mama, I wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that you have to give up on your dreams when you become a parent. My partner and I are both artists and I remember when we shared the news of our first pregnancy, we were asked by a family member if that meant we were finally going to get 9-5 jobs and “grow up”. Another member of our super supportive family asked if we were going to move back to the east coast now that we were expanding our family because it was time to “settle down”. I am here to tell every creative dreamer out there that you can be and you should be everything your soul is calling you to be. You don’t have to put your desire for a family on hold for a creative career and you don’t have to cancel your dreams when you have kids. I often share with other parents or wannabe parents that my kids are my muses. My son brought back to me the gift and love of writing, a long-forgotten passion of mine due to trauma at a young age. At 8 weeks postpartum, while nursing my son on the couch and editing one-handed, I completed my first play which I submitted to my first play festival and it was selected and produced for a full run! I went on to write two more plays that first year that were also produced and now I’m working on my first book. With my daughter’s birth in 2020, not only did she bring me healing, she also brought with her the idea for my business Pause Anywhere. This was 5 years after I closed my first business and hung up my entrepreneurial hat. Kids do not detract; they add to our lives and I want to help shift the narrative around this toxic idea that we have to wait until we have xyz to become a parent or give it up altogether. As parents, we deserve to pursue our heart’s desires, to offer the world our gifts and our children deserve to have fully-realized parents that are joyful, living in their purpose on purpose and not parents who are resentful or depressed because they’re living a life they hate for the sake of “doing what you’re supposed to do”. We can create the lives that we want and we make the world a better place when we do. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that my work may be slower with 2 little ones, but it’s stronger. My goals are more focused and more disciplined. I have clarity on what I want to create, on what I want to offer the world and what things are worth my time because I want to enjoy life with these small humans that I’ve created, they are my most precious piece of art. Life as a parent can inform our work, it can help us make the world a better place by coming from a more grounded and empowered space. We teach our children how to dream and become who they want to be by modeling that lesson for them. Live your life to the fullest with them. We do not have to choose between having families and our passions. What we do, is invite them all to the canvas as we paint the life of our dreams.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an artist, activist, entrepreneur and mother. I created and currently run 2 businesses, Pause Anywhere and Wisdom Through The Womb. Both are rooted in healing trauma, building resiliency and living an intentional empowered life. Pause Anywhere is a mindful company born from my own healing practices during my dark night of the soul journey 8 years ago. We offer tools to help people on their path of intentional healing and living via multi-sensory mindfulness cards, companion journals, self-tending bundles and mindfulness albums. I created Wisdom Through The Womb (WTTW) to empower survivor mamas (of sexual assault and previous birth trauma) with tools, support and resources to heal before, during and after birth so that they may have the peaceful and liberating experience they desire. Through WTTW and for survivor mamas, I’ve created a private FB group, I offer one-on-one mama mentoring throughout the perinatal period, I’ve written a conscious mamas guide and planner plus a corresponding webinar (coming soon!) and I also facilitate a Shamanic healing ceremony called Rite of the Womb. I’m currently cross-pollinating my businesses by creating a line of Pause Cards and Companion Journals for Mamas from fertility through early parenthood.

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.
I would start an ideal LA week with my bestie visiting from Washington DC by taking her to my fave vegan restaurant, Sage, in Echo Park. After we’ve had our fill, I’d take her for a stroll to walk off all that plant-based goodness on Sunset to visit some of the cute indie shops while we make our way over to House of Intuition to invest in some crystals, candles and books. From there we’d walk back over to Echo Park Lake and ride the swan boats as the sun starts to fade over the skyline of downtown LA. The next day we’d wake up early, stop in at Maury’s Bagel Shop in Silverlake to grab coffee and bagels with cashew cream cheese as we head to the beach with the whole fam! We’d spend the afternoon at Dockweiler Beach, which is my favorite beach to visit with 2 small kids because the parking is so close to the shore line and there’s never too many people. On our way home, we’d pick up Monty’s Good Burger, she has to try their milkshakes! On day 3, we’d visit our family’s community farm in Altadena, feed the animals and pick some fresh greens for lunch. Then we’d head to the nearby trails where we can do some serious hiking and catch panoramic views of the city. If we’re lucky, on a clear day, we’ll be able to see the Pacific! After a cat nap with the littles, I’d pass the parent-baton to my partner and uber over to El Cid or Los Globos to have a cocktail and dance the night away like we used to in college, maybe with a little less booze though!  If my friend happened to be here on a Sunday, we’d attend the morning service at our Spiritual Home, Agape, either in person or streaming and in the afternoon, we’d go to church again at Venice Beach for Ecstatic Dance LA. That in itself is a perfect Sunday! I think I’ll do a test run on this ideal week before she gets here. We are so lucky to have it all here in Los Angeles, the beach, the mountains, the fresh produce, the metaphysical shops, the indie clothing pop ups and so much yummy plant-based food!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shout out Southern California Counseling Center, it is a sliding scale counseling center in Los Angeles where I went when I hit rock bottom in 2014. Here is where I was seen, heard, helped and given the space I needed to heal. I don’t think I’d be where I am today without this resource and I believe all people everywhere should be able to have access to mental health professionals. I’d also like to shout out my main support system, my husband, Joshua Lamont, who has seen me through it all and believes in my dreams!

Website: www.pauseanywhere.com / www.juanitachasedelamont.com

Instagram: @thesnappiehippie, @pauseanywhere, @wisdomthroughthewomb

Linkedin: Juanita Chase de Lamont

Facebook: @pauseanywhere

Image Credits
Rabeka Spagnolo LaRissa Chapa Parker