Today we’d like to introduce you to Cortney McMahon.
Hi Cortney , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi I’m Cortney. My husband and I relocated to the Tennessee Valley area in 2015. I took a few years to assimilate to Southern culture and in 2021 I started my small business “Stars of the Morning Light” (SML). That has grown into a full spiritual resource platform for anyone seeking higher consciousness and empowerment. I participated in a couple of events to promote SML and met others, like me, who were dissatisfied with how local events and/or fairs were operated.
So in 2022, I founded New Earth Energy Market (NEEM) which has blossomed into a coalition/community of small business owners and volunteers that are committed to healing others and the earth. We understand that authentic change happens within individual connections and encouragement. NEEM is committed to slowly changing the worldview of what a healthy economy is by demonstrating how a community can co-create an environment and atmosphere of positive relations through fair-affordability, inclusivity, education, and awareness. The coalition continuously helps relieve the world of greed, competition, and jealousy by trusting themselves and the authentic energy of Togetherness. Each member of NEEM is here to establish, maintain, and thrive in their small businesses as a community/coalition who hosts events, festivals, and supports one-another through teamwork in-person and online.
Our next Festival is on November 7, 2026, in Ringgold, GA. Come visit us and share in the experience of NEEM.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wish the readers could hear me giggle. No, it definitely has not been smooth. NEEM started with three minds coming together to organize a holistic fair, but when the rubber hit the road as they say, two of them disappeared. I followed through with my commitment to host the first event. Difficult to say the least! I knew five other holistic practitioners and had 20 booth spaces to fill. Along with almost zero social media knowledge on how to promote. Yet, I understand that creation is the energy of our freewill. So, if I want to experience something for myself and others, I must express my will through creation. Not easy but worth every moment.
Apparently, many people were impressed by how the event was run and how it felt. Both vendors and attendees agreed that our event was highly unique in how the energy flowed. Truthfully, I didn’t understand what they meant because I was too busy to notice, but it was clear people wanted our events to continue. A committee was formed later that year, and we co-created the first festival the spring of 2023.
As the coordinator, I learned a great deal throughout the 2023 process and the Core of NEEM started to form. There was a pause in 2025 as a death in my family took time away from NEEM, but another volunteer stepped up to coordinate an event in March 2026. After such a long pause of coming together as a community, we all sought to help develop NEEM grow more in the public eye and encourage other small businesses to join us. We created more of an online presence and networking opportunities. The committee aka The Core contributed to laying the foundation of our mission, vision, and values.
NEEM began as discussions about inflated booth fees without guarantees and is now a community of people connecting, thriving, and sharing. I understand why so many say that our events and festivals are “different.” It took me a while to appreciate the long-lasting magical effects of our events. I had to step outside of the role of founder and director to experience what others do, and I can confidently say that New Earth Energy Market is living up to its name.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I guess that depends on who you ask. If you were to ask any of my subscribers on YouTube or Patreon.com they’d say I’m known for teaching higher consciousness education and Akashic Records Readings. If you asked anyone locally, they’d say I bring people together.
I guess both are right.
My small business is Star of the Morning Light where “Ancient Knowledge meets Modern Mastery.” I specialize in teaching how to gain full conscience awareness through the application of knowledge from ancient texts, past readings by Edgar Cayce, and Akashic messages. With various healing modalities and readings, I help others remember who they are so they can live their most authentic lives.
All my work focuses on individual and community development either online or in-person. I know that positive change happens with encouragement, trust, and witnessing it. This is why the tagline for New Earth Energy Market is “Teamwork to usher in the New Earth.” I do my best at being a living example of authentic self-acceptance and expression, so that others can witness and trust they are accepted as well.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
You might get a kick out this story. I think it highlights how I have always been focused on doing whatever it takes to bring people together. It was the summer of 1985, and few weeks away from my fourth birthday. My family was moving into our first house. My mother was busy cleaning the kitchen and unpacking as furniture and whatnot were being hauled in. I noticed there was a group of kids playing next door in the front yard. I asked my mother if we had any snacks I could bring them. Yes, for some odd reason I knew it was costumery to bring an offering when meeting people for the first time. She said no. I begged for her to get me something and she yelled back that there wasn’t any food in the house. It’s moving day! She tried to explain that I didn’t need to bring them anything because I was a kid, but I didn’t believe her. I noticed though how she placed the Flintstone Vitamins on the shelf above the sink.
I waited until she was upstairs and no other adults were around. I quietly slide a chair over to the sink, claimed up the chair, and snatched the vitamins. I put them in my pocket and replace the empty bottle. I walked next door and greeted everyone. “Hi I’m Cortney. Would you like some candy?” We ate the entire bottle of vitamins, and I made a good impression, so I thought. After learning everyone’s name and all of the Flintstone evidence was gone, my mother came running out of the house screaming for me. The bottle was in her hand. I was in trouble! She then asked the kids if they ate what I brought them, and of course they were honest. I was sent home and my mother had to tell each of their parents what their children had just consumed.
I had two questions for her: Why did you have to tell the other parents? That’s when I learn about the side effects of too much fiber, which my father thought was hysterical. And how did you know I took the vitamins? With a winning grin on her face she said, “you forgot to put the chair back.” She will tell you that was the day she learned I grew tall enough to reach for things, and I learned why “take as directed” matters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://newearthenergymarket.com/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newearthenergymarket/?__pwa=1#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naturalearthmarket22
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@starsofthemorninglight
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/starsofthemorninglight
