UNAPOLOGETIC. UNASHAMED. UNIQUE.
Who is Lili Wilson?
Bio cheat sheet in bold. :-)
"I AM. I am Spirit. I am a WOMAN. I am a LOVER. I am a MOTHER. I am a DAUGHTER. I am a SISTER. I am a FRIEND. Nurturing and supporting my TRUE self, loving myself, and being surrounded by family and friends that reflect the support the love I have for my true self is THE number one priority in my life. It is my foundation."
Lili Wilson, Founder of the Beautiful Dawn, LLC, M.Div, 200 E-RYT, hails from GENERATIONS of leaders, preachers, teachers, and seers scientifically traced back to Africa. She is a unique, spiritual leader, that pulls from varying perspectives to shape her views of the Divine, and how Spirit works in and through us towards living lives of purpose. Her Universal kingdom views are the fruit of a Spiritualist great-grandmother that had a church, a great grandfather that served as pastor to baptist and apostolic churches simultaneously, as well as her immediate parental influences.
“i found god in myself
and i loved her
i loved her fiercely”
― Ntozake Shange
Born and raised in Washington, DC to pastors of an Afrocentric church in historical Anacostia, in southeast Washington, DC., Lili was always taught about who she was in terms of African heritage, and that she could do all things from a spiritual perspective. She was taught that GOD was not out THERE but in all of US, and that she could do all things through Christ that worked in her.
Always an honor student, Lili graduated at the top of her class at an inner city public high school in Washington, DC. She then graduated with honors from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Three years later, she earned her Masters of Divinity on an 85% to full scholarship for all three years at Candler Theology School at Emory University.
"I’ve been gifted from an early age, with spiritual insight, esoteric knowledge… I’ve warned friends about things I saw in dreams, communicated messages from deceased loved ones, and felt a “call” to “help people” at an early age. Preached my first sermon at the age of 20, was licensed to preach at 23. Ordained at 33."
Over the next several years, Lili took her time figuring out what her "help" to people would look like. She returned home to help her parents in ministry, serving as youth director. She later stepped into a role with more responsibility, as church administrator. Simultaneously, she spent a couple of years doing music, writing and exploring her creative artistry. She also traveled and recorded as a background vocalist for several gospel artists. But somewhere along the line, Lili came to a point that she calls a U-TURN.
"I went to seminary school, and that is where I began to question why I was a Christian in the first place. lol Of course they say don’t let seminary/theological studies take Jesus from you, making you a religious skeptic with questions of the faith. But the Jesus I had originally was a revolutionary anyway, and I was always taught not to take the bible literally, and to embrace other texts. But not until I was away on my own, did I grow in my revelation of these concepts... I started to see so many similarities between other “Jesuses” and mysterious divine figures. It wasn't until I was away, that this notion of a universal truth, really began to take root."
Always bold, and different, Lili didn't totally EMBRACE it because it was easier to try to fit in. But now, she became more determined than ever to live and walk in her UNAPOLOGETIC, UNASHAMED, UNIQUE self. The birth of her daughter in September 2013 was an extra PUSH, as she wanted to be an example of authentically living life with purpose, passion, and freedom. Creating a healthy distance from situations where she had dumbed-down herself, her voice, and her beliefs, she pursued her vision. In May 2014, she "came out the closet," with a few blogs, testing the waters so speak. IamLiliWilson.com was a launching pad, before she even knew exactly what she wanted to do. At least a blog could help her get clarity, and that it did. In April 2015, Lili initiated her brand, The Beautiful Dawn, a lifestyle brand and blog that inspires young ladies and women to live genuine, bold, passionate lives. She completed 25 hours in yoga and mindfulness for children that same year. In 2020, Lili became a full-fledge yoga instructor, earning her RYT 200 certificate.
"I'm blessed to have experienced so much. BUT I ultimately wanted to be my 100 percent authentic self, and this required a moment of definition. Where I REALLY delve(d) into who I am. To bring some of those spiritual notions that aren’t so “popular” in Christian arenas to the forefront. To distance myself from the gospel industry and the church a bit. Not separate or totally remove myself, but to create a healthy distance where I make CLEAR my varying perspectives. I dance on the edge. No, I'm not REBELLIOUS. One cannot REBEL from a system he or she does not belong to. I'm CLEAR. I'm a student of the Divine in ALL forms. I'm ready."
QUICK FUN FACTS:
Lili has been singing and composing since the age of 2. First song: "I can do it by myself"
Lili has been called spoiled, but she doesn't believe it.
Lili aspired to be a preacher and football player when she was younger. Don't laugh.
With her church choir, Lili won national competitions, recorded a cd, traveled, and toured, and the choir participants were a median age of about 12.
Lili was a bully at church, and took her friends offering money and candy in exchange for friendship.
Lili LOVES to travel. At 10, was involved in a DC-Kenya Exchange, where she got home-sick/PHYSICALLY sick.
Lili loves Hello Kitty and has tried to FORCE-FEED that love to her daughter.
Lili had a tenure in the gospel industry. Was featured as a soloist on a couple gospel cd's, and recorded and traveled with a few top gospel artists.
Lili wanted to be from Japan SOO bad, and hang out in Harajuku with all the cool girls. She only visited/took pics with them.
Lili co-hosted a preachers kids conference for a few years, which culminated in our board assisting with a popular "MEGA conference" in Atlanta.
Lili used to go on auditions. Disney's Mickey Mouse Club and Annie (broadway) were two that loved her voice, but didn't favor her non-chalant attitude.
Lili was SOOO obsessed with fashion that at one point, had a list printed out of all the designers, committing many of them - and their collections - to her memory.
MY MISSION: To inspire women to live bold, genuine passionate lives of FREEDOM and FUN.
My PASSION is for:
Challenging the status quo in terms of what "normal" is, which has been a source of oppression for many.
ALL things love, for self and in relationships... to help those that want it, and don't know how to tap into the love that has already been invested in them.
Preachers kids. The lost, the confused, and the bitter. The sad and the lonely. Those in ministry, as well as those that left the church, never to return.
Spiritual skeptics and seekers (in the Christian arena in particular) that still like church, but want the freedom to ask questions, study and to practice faith how they choose without feeling hypocritical, or like an outsider.
GIVERS. By profession, by nature or both (i.e. ministers, moms, social workers), that have forgotten to value their voice and their desires. Those that don't know how to say no. People-pleasers. WOUNDED HEALERS. Those that abuse themselves and allow abuse in the name of all things holy. Whew!