Welcome to a journey through time and space, where the ancient wisdom of astrology and herbalism intertwines to create a tapestry of healing and cosmic connection. For thousands of years, civilizations have looked to the skies and the earth for guidance and sustenance, finding profound insights in the relationships between plants and planets.
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Are you tired of your same old crap getting in the way of you taking your life to the next level? Do you find yourself continually complaining about the same things? Do you want to improve but the same old habits and behaviors get in your way?
Transformation can be difficult, however it is part of our evolution. We can witness it in nature all around us. For example, It is now Fall and the trees are changing colors and soon the leaves will fall to the ground. In the Spring, caterpillars change transition to liquid before transforming into a beautiful butterfly. Change can feel difficult however, in order for us to transition to the next level of our growth experience, it is necessary.
The first step to elevating our life is identifying what needs to change,
Step two: ask, “what is getting in the way of you being fully yourself?” Often it is a behavior or an emotion that is getting in our way.
Step three: reflect on the root of the issue. This can be challenging. Most of us don’t want to look at our core issues. However, by identifying this, you are shedding light on it, which then allows you to work with that part more deliberately as doing this begins to take the power away from that behavior over you.
Step four: consider what behavior you will do instead, when this old habit / behavior arises. Then do it.
So lets put these steps into practice. For this example I identify that when I get angry it causes the people that I care for and love to not want to be around me. This emotion is getting in the way of my relationships and I want to find another way to work with my emotions so I don’t scare the people I love away.
What is the core issue of this deep seated anger? When I was a young child I was separated from my parents and didn’t understand why. I began acting out and bullying. It began to be a way to feel control. Over time it got the better of me and I lost control and just pushed people away so I wouldn’t continue to feel hurt and abandoned.
I now understand where this behavior is stemming from, I can begin to come up with a plan to transform this old behavior into something new. For example, when I feel myself getting angry I will go for a walk to give myself time to cool down. Or I will take several deep breaths to allow myself to regain control.
Now it is your turn. What do you want to transform in your life to help you elevate and level up? Once you begin this new practice, it will take some time and consistency. However, in the future you won’t be able to recognize your self. You will identify that you are not being triggered the same way you were in the past. This is a great feeling. Especially when your friends and family notice the transformation and comment on it.
Stay focused and committed to this new vision of yourself.
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Ready to kickstart your week with some positive energy? Join me as we explore the power of intention-setting and how it can transform your Mondays into a magical start!
Do you ever wake up on a Monday morning and grumble as you get out of bed dreading the week ahead? You are not alone. Most of us feel that way, especially at the beginning of the week as we are counting the days till the weekend. Starting our week with this mindset will only bring us more frustration. So let’s take a look at an alternative solution. Intention setting.
There is a power in setting an intention. By focusing on the quality of the day you would like to have, and then visualizing the best possible outcome, you will begin to notice that your vibration begins to raise. You may even feel excited to get started.
What is an intention anyway? Recently, at a festival I overheard a conversation of a mother and her son at a prayer tree. The son asked what a prayer is. Immediately my ears perked up as I was very curious about what she would say. “Something you want” She said. She went on to explain further to help him understand the depth of his question. However, this is the essence of an intention. It is very similar to a prayer.
Steps to follow when setting a intention.
Step one: Be clear on what you are looking for. Like having a purposeful week.
Step two: Visualize what this looks and feels like. After you get a distinct image in your mind, hold on to if for a few moments. Then begin to feel this image in your body. Does it bring you joy? Inspiration? Motivation?
Step three: Holding this vivid image while feeling it deep in your body, continue to focus on to this image and the feeling it brings while breathing into it. Take several deep breaths, and at the top of each breath, believe fully the possibilities of what this vision looks and feels like. On the out breath let it go and then do this again a few more times.
Take a few moments to follow these steps for yourself. One of my favorite routines is to visualize my week ahead Sunday evening before going to bed. Then when I wake up, I then visualize the day ahead. I repeat this every evening and morning as I am falling asleep and waking. After several years of doing this, I have found that my days are far more smoother and my attitude is 100% improved.
Give it a try, and share in the comments how intention setting is working for you.
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Do you feel pulled in every direction? Are you over committed? Is the laundry piled up and dishes in the sink? With all that you have on your plate, it is normal to feel like you are unable to get away, unplug, and take time for yourself.
Im here to say that you will have more to give, and the energy to do more as a result of giving yourself the time and space you need to take care of yourself. Sometimes, when I am going in too many directions, it can be difficult to pause and reflect on what self care means for me in the moment. What I have found is that I first need some space to consider how to best show up for me. Often this begins with brewing a cup of tea and sitting on my porch and listening to the wind chimes for a few moments. (Back in the day when I was a single mom working 60+ hours a week it would be locking myself in the bathroom.) Once I have found some space, I can take a few deep breaths, and ask my inner wisdom how I can best offer myself self-care. This can sometimes look like walking barefoot in the grass, taking a hot bath, or reading a book. Some days this can mean 15 minutes and other times, a few hours.
Steps you can take to get past the guilt and begin nurturing yourself:
1. Remind yourself that you are worthy to take time to yourself
2. Find a quiet space where you can connect with your heart and take several deep breaths
3. Ask your inner wisdom what it needs here and now to feel nourished and cared for
4. Gift yourself at least 15 minutes (or more) and set clear boundaries to those around you to not be disturbed
5. Be present and do at least one of the things your heart guided you towards
Feeling guilty when you are pulled in lots of directions is normal. When there is too much on our plate, It can be hard to remember to care for ourselves. I am here to say that if you don’t do it no one will. You deserve to take at least 15 minutes to yourself today to nourish yourself. Step one, for many is the most difficult part. Remind yourself that you ARE worthy! You deserve the time and space to connect with yourself. The most effective way I have found to do this is to take several deep breaths in a quiet space. (Even if it is the bathroom.) Step three can also feel a bit challenging at first. When I first began deliberately connecting with my hearts wisdom, I would place one hand on my heart and the other on my solar plexus when taking deep breaths. Using a “I AM” mantra can also help us connect to our heart wisdom. I AM worthy. I AM of loved. I AM enough.
Setting clear boundaries to those close to you can cause guilt. However, without setting these boundaries you are not protecting this important time to nourish yourself. Remember that by being clear on this you are also modeling for others how to ask for this. If we have little ones, we may feel like we can’t do this. When My girls were too young for me to step away for “me time”, I would be sure I put them to bed early enough that I could relax, unwind, and recharge. The chores could wait. Caring for me could not. Often I hear many say that it feels selfish to take time for themselves. If this is you, know that you deserve this precious time.
By following these steps you will feel more connected and grounded in your authenticity. As you nurture and care for yourself, you will find that you have more energy to show up and be even more present to those around you.
Share with me how it felt to give yourself “me time”. Did you feel resistance at first? If so, how did you overcome it? Were you able to connect with your inner wisdom? After doing the activity that your heart asked for, how did you feel?
For more tips and tricks towards elevating your essence and living a more authentic and purposeful life, follow me on your favorite social media, and sign up for my email.
My mother was a yogi and a vegan before I was born. At that time there wasn’t much research around plant based proteins, so in order to ensure I was getting all the nutrients I needed she cooked me eggs.
As I grew older family and peer pressure got to me, so I started eating meat and dairy. I didn’t understand then how these foods affected how I felt. For several years I had a “normal” American diet.
It wasn’t until I was in my mid 30’s that I removed dairy from my diet. I was getting vertigo regularly and recognized this was a contributing factor. Once my girls were living on their own, I found I would naturally not eat meat. Since this was my foundation, it was easy to fall back on. I never really craved meat and just didn’t add it to my meals very often. I still ate fish and eggs.
For the better part of the past 15 years I have eaten this way. From time to time I would enjoy a bite or two of a bbq brisket or bacon something or other. However, it was rarely a meal. I really didn’t enjoy how I felt after eating meat and usually avoided it.
Until I went on a keto diet. In 2017 I started a desk job where I was tethered to the phone. It was also a very emotionally exhausting job, so I found after my shift I was a vegetable. I didn’t move during the day and I was too tired to move in the evening. I gained a lot of weight as a result. I tried juicing, going gluten free & vegan…nothing helped. Even when I was motivated to get 3 mile walks in 3-5 days a week, I wasn’t seeing a change. So, I decided to give keto a try. Not eating meat or dairy was a challenge on this diet. I still avoided dairy as vertigo is not fun. However, it just became easier to add meat. Mostly fish while cooking for myself at home. When going out to eat I would eat red meat or chicken to break the monotony. After a year on this diet I was VERY happy to have lost the majority of what was gained. Once I got to a comfortable weight, I decided to go back to my preferred way of eating….vegetarian with fish and eggs, and no dairy. (Unfortunately, due to a injury last year before the cold weather, holidays, and festival, I gained it back and am on that weight loss train again. SO frustrating!)
I don’t feel good when I eat meat. This is my primary reason for cutting it out of my diet. Recently, I decided to hire a personal trainer in hopes of turning myself around. One of the benefits of her program is a meal plan. This was exciting as I began eating recipes I normally do not. I get stuck eating the same healthy things mostly due to my lack of meals planning. I just want to make something quick and easy and not mess around with making a meal too often. I also kinda hate leftovers. When she originally sent the plan it was gluten-free and vegan. This was unintentional on her part. However, I was excited about eating new things and discovered after two weeks of eating this way, I liked how I felt. It was a nice change.
The past few weeks, I have gone back to my normal smoothie, salad, fish and egg diet mostly because of lack of time. (Two festivals to help plan, prep, and attend). There isn’t anything wrong about how I eat other than I feel better with cutting a few things out. I have been wanting to clear my fridge of the produce and eggs before going back to exploring the provided meal plan. I love my roasted vegetables but the current provided recipes don’t include them. Yes, I could modify….but that just takes more effort then I want to spend. Sounds silly, I know. Lol.
Working with a coach has been fabulous! However, I have found that I still get in my own way when it comes to having the motivation to “move more”. I eat super healthy (most of the time), and don’t consume too many calories. I just don’t get the movement I need to get to a healthy weight. Also, it has been about a year since I have felt strong, which I really miss.
Now that I recognize the difference I feel with an alternative diet, I am ready to get back to it. I get bored with food easy, and need quick prep or I won’t do it. Also, as I am focused on living a chemical free lifestyle, I recognize how polluted store bought plant based meat and dairy alternatives are, which is annoying.
“My body is a temple and I will only allow things in that serve my highest good.” This is great in principle….the reality is that this is really hard and takes a lot of dedication and focus. Remembering to love myself enough to say no, is super difficult most of the time. So, I keep this as my goal and highest vision for myself. I want to be the best version of me. Always.
I say all of this to help me stay focused and accountable. Soon I will be enjoying a camping trip with my family and will most likely be eating some things I shouldn’t. My goal upon returning is to find some quick prep vegan cookbooks to help give me the variety I need to stay the course. I’m looking forward to finding some recipes for chem free alternatives to meat and dairy. Store bought substitutions won’t do.
Any and all suggestions are welcome. Also hit me up for an evening walk. I need more movement in my life and find it difficult to self initiate this for some reason.
Today is the first day of Gemini. Hello Mercury, you speedy winged trickster! Mercury is the ruler of my chart as he rules my ascendant. So, I hold a special place for Hermes. While I was doing my decan ritual, the thought occurred that it would be fun to do a blog about this. This isn’t a new thought, as I have been pondering doing a podcast for good while. This time was different. As not only did I have the thought, also the “how to” came to mind. Typically, I park my ideas for when the time is right. Or I think “maybe I will have time to do that later,” which rarely comes. Recently, I have had some fun playing around with posting short social media videos, which didn’t turn out horrible….but I feel a bit self conscious doing that. Mostly due to not wanting to take the time to go do my hair and throw on make-up for the purpose of a video. So today it occurred to me that I can do an audio blog. Almost as good as a video, without having to take the extra time to do myself up. A win – win situation!
(more…)The ways of the Divine are infinite. Everything is Spiritual. Everything has a Spirit. There are many names of the Divine. As well as many paths. As soon as we step out of our “head space” and into our “heart space”, we are connecting to the Divine within. When we open our eyes to the present within a heart open space we are consciously within this connective space.
Connecting to the Divine is done within this special space. Some of my favorite activities are dance, shamanic journey’s, drumming, and sacred art. I call this play. I greet this play with great respect and awe. Ancient Indian culture had a Sanskrit name for this, Leela. They felt that Divine play was important enough to give it a special name and attention. In this blog I will talk about my experiences of this Divine play.
Leveling up in our everyday life can be a challenge. We want to make changes, but may not have a clue where to start or which direction to go. In this blog I will address a few of these issues. I will share a few of my favorite life hacks that I have stumbled across over the past several years that I have benefited from. I hope you find them useful.
A few random words about life in general