Our Story
The Octava story begins with my daughter, Lauryn, who soon after birth began experiencing up to 10 absence seizures daily. These silent episodes left us desperate as we watched her struggle to breathe ... as she froze, her lips pursed and her face turned blue during each and every seizure. We still remember her eyes asking for help and we were (seemingly) helpless. After four years of countless doctor visits, the traditional (prescribed) western medications not resulting in substantive improvement, we decided to explore alternative medicine. After some searching we were fortunate to find a 6'5" bass playing German practitioner (unfortunately he made his transition a few years ago) who quickly diagnosed Lauryn and formulated an oral herb based blend that almost immediately reduced her seizures by 75%.
A year later, Lauryn was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Although benign, the tumor encapsulated her hippocampus (a portion of the brain that stores and recalls memories, the malfunction of which is often associated with dementia), necessitating surgery. After numerous opinions, with heavy hearts we agreed to the procedure, despite the serious risks; including the possibility that she may not remember her family, friends, or even how to speak. She was now 5. Miraculously, shortly after the surgery her seizures stopped. This experience solidified our belief in combining natural herbs and oils (eastern medicine) with conventional western medicine, "the middle path" and for us the beginning of a holistic approach to life.
Years later, inspired by Lauryn’s journey, we began experimenting with essential oils to create new products. Our first formulations were tested by Lauryn’s candid 5th-grade friends. Today, Lauryn, now in her early 20s, is a testament to resilience and success. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University, speaks five languages, and her influence is evident in our multilingual product packaging. Lauryn continues to inspire our quest for luxurious, elevated harmony, and remains a vital part of our process.
What is Octava?
We always believed that each person was uniquely different, as unique as their fingerprint. This belief was reinforced with the oral herbal mixture that although could work for many was uniquely suited to Lauryn. Clarity for us was discovered during a conversation with Master Drummer Dadisi Sanyika who told us that we were music. He said that we are each a unique body of music flowing with the rhythm of our own drum —our heart.
Our hearts beat faster and slower with the lyric(s) of our lives. In the presence of many hearts, (e.g. a concert, a sporting event, a family dinner) the combined excitement causes our music – the unified music to elevate often resulting in the miracle of shared laughter, joy and love. When our beat stops, so does our music, often slowing the music of those around us.
We wanted to find a way to measure movement in musical terms. The term “Octave” seemed appropriate. The company name “Octava” is the plural of "octave," a natural phenomenon regarded as the basic miracle of music. In Spanish, "octave" translates to the number eight, a symbol of infinity and endless possibilities.
The Octava logo, a stylized tuning fork, represents our belief that while we share many similarities, each of us is uniquely and beautifully tuned. Sometimes, we may not fully appreciate our tone, but it is our mission at Octava to help everyone "Trust their (uniquely beautiful) Tone." We believe that recognizing and embracing (y)our unique tone is the key to contributing (y)our best to the world. Like each note in an octave, every being contributes to the greater universal symphony.
At Octava, inspired by our own healing journey, our mission is to elevate others. By elevating harmony, a ripple effect is created that can positively touch everyone. Our community begins with you!
