Fall Equinox- A deepening into our own germination

Darksome Night and Shining Moon
Balance of the dark and light,
Hearken ye our Witch's Rune,
As we perform our sacred rite!

With earth and water, air and fire,
By blade and bowl and circle round,
We come to you with our desire:
Let all that is hidden now be found!

-Witches Rune by S.J. Tucker

For centuries the Fall Equinox (Mabon) have been a time where people would gather together and celebrate the summer days that are fading away, their harvest and all that they have been working on externally and internally. There were joyful waves of welcomes to the colder winter months ahead. They would share food, pull cards, read poetry, sing songs, share reflections, and dance around the warm light of a fire while burning the things they wish to leave behind. There is a potent continuous mirroring that seasons give to us from nature of death and rebirth and on this day of the equinox, we find there is equal parts day as their is to the night- an equality inside of the duality of shadow and light.

Within craft, it is believed that the journey is what will continue to keep us warm and that magic is ultimately the process of changing consciousness at will. So ultimately, to study oneself can then be the form of magic that they may have been looking for all along to form positive change. There is never judgment on the shadow and no belief that only light is what makes up life. Mabon is a soft open door to let a culture where there is a lot of critical judgments upon ourselves for that parts that aren’t the shining light, to step inside and notice that there is strength to be found in the areas that we try to hide.

In all of us lays the depth of shadow and I truly believe darkness in hindsight is a beautiful thing- it’s where seeds start to germinate. As these bad habits or troubles that accumulate in our psyche get brought to the surface and get celebrated and even honored, their is a veil that lifts from our sprit that was once binding us to our fears and repetitions. Centering of self actualization and personal freedom is found even a little more and new patterns, little seedlings of intentions, get to grow and take form in our realities. This is our own unique dance inside the wheel. This is our very own unique spiral dance.

Even If you aren’t planning to engage in a ritual for the equinox, taking a sweet pause to acknowledge the season’s changing is a valuable practice for reflection and gaining perspective. Today is a day to call in- a day to appreciate our many blessings and to spread that around as we remember this is a personal as well as collective experience. We get to gather and celebrate our harvests weather that is food from our gardens, the harvest of all the work we have brought into fruition, or even a combination of them both. The equinox can be a very personal holiday, so choosing what is right for you is important. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate and honor oneself and gratitude itself can spread quicker than wild fire.

Since this can be a very personal holiday, ways of engaging and celebrating the equinox can look look many different ways. Traditionally, adding to an altar, making a fire, making seasonal food, and sharing intention is involved. Decorate the altar with seasonal fruits, grains, flowers, acorns, and any parts of animals you may have. Baskets, yarn, seed pods, shells, and cloth are some other items you could add. When lighting a candle or making a fire, think about the shadow within that is the most present, show it gratitude, maybe even write it down and then burn it to seal the release. If you feel like weaving, with others or by yourself, you could weave/sow and while doing so, think of all the things you wish to weave more into your life. Maybe soak in some water, eat a nourishing meal, take a walk- any form of purifying yourself you wish. Lastly, celebrate. Celebrate because you are alive, living and breathing in this wheel of life.

Blessings xoxox

Happy Equinox/ Mabon to you all

Water Prayer

Faith

an offering

Connection

Laying down, stillness sournding

Can you hold the hand of another and go into the depth of your mind

and as you breath the fullest breaths into the low belly

the mid belly

the chest

start to see yourself lift to the clouds

see yourself turn into a bird of flight

As you lift higher into the sky

look down and see

the city

the mountains

the homes

animals

the people

And as you flap your wings, blow air to them all

forming a protection

a circle that can hold them

Now watch as the clouds come in

watch how the waves start to stir

can you see the magic

can you see the waters getting pulled up into a sky

can you feel the waters of your own being

stirring and lift up to your eyes

and as the clouds cry down onto the lands

your own tears cry with them

and together they enrich the soil with dampness

nourishing

saving

replenishing the destruction that has been caused

And together, we offer

and together we save

Offer it all

the art of prayer is here

Wet the earths grounds with the ocean of your soul

let the mysticism take ahold

Together with all we rise

together with all we breathe

together with all we are

we are the answer

So offer

offer it all

trust it all

we are enough

this is the moment

together is the answer

This visualization is the prayer

as you continue to see

as you continue to speak

the words

the thoughts

they form together as one

they create the portal

they create the creation

so speak the words

see the rain

offer

and the gift will be returned

Don’t give up

the challenges are here to remind us of offering

the challenges are here to remind of us togetherness

oneness

unity

speak your words

dance

breathe

cry

It will be returned

and together we will rise again

Speak it

I offer

My tears are yours as I surrender to controlling

Let them soak into the grounds

I offer

This ocean of my soul

To bring peace to the roar

To feed the beast with love

I offer

To remember the power of your forces and my instincts

to remember that we belong to the earth

not the earth belongs to us

we are your children here to share your story

I see your lessons

So I say to you this

I feel you

I see you

I hear you

I feel you

I see you

I hear you

I do not fear you for I trust in you as I trust in myself

I return to loving you

because you are still the same piece of the earth that lets me live

and living in a world along side others with beating hearts

is the greatest gift there is

so here for you

I offer it all

For you

For them

For me

For the unity of life itself

I offer my tears for you now

Let them mix with the rains

as we relearn, together we rise again

-Chelsea

Water Retention- A PMS norm and how to work with it

There are many Premenstrual syndromes that woman endure and a main one that not all of us know about is water retention. This is due to a fluctuation in our hormones progesterone and estrogen. The kidneys, which are the filtration systems of our bodies, are told to retain the water and sodium as the blood breaks down the hormones. This can make some woman see a couple pounds extra during this phase and maybe even some puffiness in their face, hands, feet, and lower legs. I want to talk about some remedies to support this and overall PMS because these are major factors that have affected 3 out of 4 woman’s self love.

It’s really easy to be hard on ourselves while experiencing this symptom because well let’s be realisitc, body image has been shown to be a high importance in our culture. However, the way that media has presented this brings a false image of what woman go through in their bodies every month and instead of showing how to love ourselves through all transitions it teaches us to work against it. To aim for perfection in order for us to be desirable and loved. This falseness in my opinion has taken away true embodiment and self love and Instead of learning and listening, we start to ignore and push past what the body really needs.

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A lot of our symptoms can last anywhere from one to two weeks before we bleed, especially if we have other imbalances such as excess yeast, etc. Im finding with the right education and focus, we woman can become allies with our symptoms instead of letting them control us. They are here to make us listen more, just like the energy of a new moon. We feel internally which can show us where in our lives maybe need altering externally and then together, they all find balance. Reminding ourselves around the rising of self critical thoughts that this will pass plays a very big role here. Im talking about really being gentle with yourself like you were teaching your little girl how to love herself during awkward transitions.

If you are tired more, rest more and do lighter movement practices like yin yoga or walking. If you are irritable, be alone and try water coloring, cooking, and put some upbeat, soothing music on. Cravings? Try drinking more water a visualize a delicious and nourishing meal you want to cook for dinner instead of wanting the quick dopamine fix.

It all takes time, forgiveness and devotion and my hope is that we each can find this. May we all come back to curiosity instead judging in the moment. May we all continue together to find peace with our bodies and their cycles just as nature has its own. May we truly remember the simple remedies to support ourselves so we can pass this down to our daughters, and theirs. Our bodies have their own cycles that change like the tides of the ocean and we can fight against it or learn instead how to surf those waves of change and embrace the freedom we feel after it all.

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Avoid/Limit:

-Caffeine- Coffee is a known diuretic however it is also drying. This could make the water retention worse and could also cause more cramping when you start to bleed

-Skip sugars and baked goods

-Starchy vegetables

. Alcohol

. Nightshades (white potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, and bell peppers)

. Saturated fats ( even if you cook with coconut or olive oil, the moment you cook the oil it turns into saturated fat. This can cause to much dampness in your spleen and colon.)

Bring in more:

. Lemons - especially in warm water

. Ginger

. Cucumber

. Cinnamon

.Celery

.Buckwheat

. Lean Protein like salmon and white fish

.Bananas

.Probiotics

.Sauerkraut (small amounts)

.Asparagus

.Garlic

.Half raw and half steamed foods with drizzles of health oils

. Zucchini

. Avocado

.Berries

.Spinach

.Carrots

.Parsley

.Cilantro

. Apple cider vinegar in the morning with warm lemon water

. Exercise regularly- even walking and lighter yoga

.Stay hydrated



My favorite Herbs for PMS:

.Dandelion

.Chicory

.Lavender

.Horsetail

.Chickweed

.Red raspberry leaf

.Passion flower

.Nettle leaf

.Burdock root

.Lemon balm

.Motherwort

.Calendula

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Folk Recipe ideas:

.Cilantro Pesto: Cilantro, lemon, pepper, dash of salt, tahini, nutritional yeast, olive oil, splash of water, garlic (add dry nettle for a little herbal kick)

.Dandelion “coffee”: Dandelion root, chicory root, ashwaganda, shitavari, cinnamon, cardamon, coconut milk, and adaptogens (bring dandelion and chicory to boil then cover and simmer for a 10 minutes. Warm the milk on low with the spices then add then place into a blender. Strain the “coffee” mix into the blender and add remainder of ingredients, if you’d like a little honey as well. Blend until frothy and top with a little rose petals.

. Night time soothing tea: Red raspberry leaf, Passion flower, lavender, calendula, st. johns wort. -Add some warmed non dairy milk with nutmeg and honey for an extra sleepy kick

Qua Sha

The Qua Sha. This tool has become my newest obsession and i’m going to share with you why.

It never seems to amaze me the amount of tension we hold in our entire bodies from our head to our feet. With any form of anxiety our nervous system can send signals throughout the body, reminding our entire physical form of the way it was holding and where it was holding stress at the time of those emotions and traumas. After those signals, subconsciously we form into that structure once again, causing more stress, strain, and misalignment. This tool is a way to get into the nitty gritty and move the stagnation that traumas create.

It’s a gentle form of blood letting, a move of the lymphatic system, supporting skin and nerves. Our lymph is a system of attachment and muscle is the system of control. This is an opportunity to find health attachment and reclaim our birthright to choose. We get the chance to move what we hold onto that truly do not serve us and change the dynamics we have with our energetic and subtle bodies. The more I come back to these moments, I feel so good and in love with them as well as myself because I am making a choice to create something new for myself and devote to my wellbeing once again.

“Gua sha is the practice of using a tool to apply pressure and scrape the skin to relieve pain and tension. This action causes light bruising, which often appears as purple or red spots known as petechiae or sha. ... It may also be called skin scraping, spooning, or coining.” ( Stems originally from East Asia)

-Rokta Mosha - Blood- Let Out-

Here are some benefits:

Moves stagnation in the Lymph

Helps break away cellulite

Immune system booster

Pain reducer

Relieves muscle tension

Reduces innflammation

Tightens skin bringing more vitality

Stress reliever

I find that something small and simple like this can be powerful and effective. Improve the connection we have to our bodies, making us learn how we like to be touched and finding that deeper sense of softness and self love. Reminding us that this is our body and we have the right to find out whats going on and have every right to move it out. These beautiful vessels that allow us to live, they are not machines that can take constant beatings yet we all get lost in trying so hard to fit some box that society has told us to fit and when there is any sight of cellulite or aging, we give it to ourselves in a way that isn’t so soft. Instead we can learn to give ourself gentle toughness, exactly what a qua sha is, where the toughness comes from being consistent and devoted and the gentleness comes from the gift of self touch. A way to shake things off, the things that literally got under our skin can now move on for they do not serve us anymore.

A thing to remember about the qua sha is that it will not sculpt your body into something different. It will help remove air pockets and tension but your body is your body. Instead of an eagerness to change our physcial, this tool helps us form a relationship to accept and support our physical body for everything it is.

How to use:

The use of the tool is a scraping motion and there are so many different kinds that you could use. Some are Wood, Rose Quartz, Jade, and Carnelian. Each hold different properties like warming or cooling; grounding and smoothing. To use them, take the tool anywhere on your body and start a gentle scraping motion. You can intensify the motion through out and the goal is to get the spots red. Traditionally you’d want to scrape in one area for 10-15 minutes to really get benefits. I have found this to be true. This is another form of meditation and embodiment. Taking time out of the day to connect. Once or twice a week will help give you positive results and trust me, it will start to work fast. The body mimics nature and just as nature knows how to heal itself, so does your body.

You can take this tool anywhere and everywhere. Traffic, airplane…etc.

Where to purchase:

You can get them at some apothecary stores or online. If you are in the Northern California area, please come visit the school i’m studying at called the Dhyana Center. DeAnna has an amazing variety of the tools and a wonderful bliss spa where you can revive and rejuvenate.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. I hope you find the Qua Sha that is calling to you and make it a part of your weekly self care rituals. Blessed be <3

A Lifestyle of Yoga

I can’t seem to thank this practice enough for showing up into my life. More and more I see the reasoning of why I want to stay devoted to the core essence of Yoga. It goes beyond the beautiful postures that release stagnation and build strength In the physical body; it goes deep within my soul and mind.

Yoga was once thought of as a constant way of Self Study (Svādhyāya) to bring a being back to their higher state of consciousness; to go beyond the lower mind and it’s limiting beliefs. A place where the person can operate from truth, love, and most of all, expansion. What a funny thing consciousness is, I often think. How we humans have these spirits along with our genius minds that can do so much good for ourselves and the world but here we are, mostly standing as the root to our own suffering and pain. Then, we cause pain to others because we are in so much pain, how more often than not does this happen? My heart aches looking at the news everyday, filled with hate, crime, mental illness; separation and disconnection at it’s finest. Another is some of what social media starts to bring; another way to get on top, to make money, to build “identity.” We are beings that are meant to be filled with connection and compassion; to ourselves, to one another, and most of all the nature around us, so how did we get here?

Looking at my own life on ways in which I keep developing, I know that I can only control one thing, myself. The more I can learn of myself and contain within, the more I can give to others in a way that will mirror for them this compassion and understanding and in the end spreading more joy and authenticity. A lot of us didn’t receive that as children and let’s keep in mind not to then get attathched to blame because it’s not necessarily our parents fault, they were just going off of what they learned from their parents. It’s a chain, a domino effect, a simple repeated pattern on a pillow; it can continue to be copied or we can be the one to change the direction of this pattern, turning it into a quilt. How can we access this pain and suffering we have inside? The traumas layered in our blood, muscles, minds? What i’m learning is to see something so deep, we must be completely willing. Awareness is one of the biggest tools and the truth of Yoga can help us get there. The more we can slow down enough to realize what is going on, then we can start to attack what Don Miguel Ruiz calls the “parasite.” It takes a lot of focus, it’s dedication most definitely but the result of it is emotional freedom.

“Yoga, योग is derived from the root yuj "to attach, join, harness, yoke".” In other words, Union; union of the mind, the body, and the spirit. The practice mostly consisted on meditation, mantras, and rituals used by the Vedics. It was a way to bring ourselves beyond our “identity” and ego and back in connection to the divine. Here, try this: Think of a wild bull roaming havoc in a field where people live and raise their children. People of peace, wanting to love one another and build community. Yoga is the tool that can harness the bull and bring it into a state of more relaxation, calming the running madness inside. Now the bull can roam gently with the people, connecting to them and even being honored and admired by them. This is the same as our minds that feed off our emotions which then can create the disconnection. Most of the time we aren’t even aware of the chaos going on; the anger built up, the anxiety out of control, or the sadness that keeps us from finding relation to everything and everyone. We just get lost in the reactions that leave us feeling empty inside.

When we find ourselves in asana or even meditation, there is a bridge that happens that can take us beyond our limiting thoughts. We start to see that everything is a whole in the way it is and when we honor what we have instead of focusing on the lack of, we can then find more joy in everything we do. The way we move our body can be more enjoyable because it isn’t filled with expectations but instead gratitude. Our interactions with our loved ones or strangers become more pleasurable because we learn how to be present and also to not take it personally, how to put ourselves in their shoes and understand that they may be suffering themselves (compassion). We learn how to manage our life in a way that serves us to our higher self, knowing we are deserving of the pleasure the world has to offer and that we, our actions, our words, are all worth forgiving.

Slowing down, becoming embodied, these are ways I believe can help us heal. It’s a daily practice that needs much support and dedication and most of all, softness. If you fall out of it, if you find yourself acting from the “parasite,” you can know that isn’t the real you, you can forgive yourself and learn instead of sulk. This is a practice that needs vulnerability to know that there is no such thing as perfection. It is hard to admit we live with pain. It is hard to know we could be the one causing our suffering, but through a lifestyle of yoga we can become kind and understanding to ourselves and one another.

In the practice we learn about:

Ahimsa (non-harming, love and kindness)

Stay (truthfulness)

Asteya (non-stealing)

Aparigraha (non-possessiveness)

Brahmacharya (maintenance of vitality)

Tapas (purification through discipline and devotion)

Santosha (contentement for all that is)

Saucha (purity)

Svadhaya (self-study)

ishvara Pranidhana (devotion to a higher power)

All these can help us evolve into more of a empowered, trauma free type of life that we can share then with the ones around us. Connecting us back to the divine and back to everything; nature, ourselves, and the ones around. The truth of our human nature is the want to feel valued, heard, and understood. We must find all of those things inside of us first and learn how to hold ourselves in our imperfections and hurts before being able to be of full service to those we love. We can help one another move past pain and suffering. We can connect back to nature and help her as she holds us everyday. We can learn new ways of helping our body that does so much for us. A yoga lifestyle is more than just a learning process, its a way back home.

“‘Yoga means:

• To Engage

• To Get Involved

• To Participate

• To Connect

Yoga is a process. It’s active. It’s the way you engage with the world to create harmony. Yoga is how we participate and create relationship.” (https://oneflowyogastudio.com/the-meaning-of-yoga)

Moon Wisdom - A helpful guide for your Ovulation phase

The moon, she shines bright with all of her force, gleaming down all of her wisdom, bringing nature to life. She brings the seeds to their germination, the animals to jump and mate, and the woman to her fullest potency filling up with a wild roar that can’t be contained.

For some of us, our cycle is linked with the new moon making our time for ovulation linked with the full moon. Even if it isn’t linked in that way, you can imagine and still embody the moons essence since it still is a bright and energizing time inside of you. A full moon is bright, opening, energizing, a yang type of energy. It brings activity to sleeping life. You may even notice that people seem either overwhelmed or sometimes frantic, maybe really energized or drained depending on their sensitivity- what is going on emotionally. Either way, it brings a loud energy that can’t be ignored, a illluminating light that brigs clarity, and like many other things, we mimic natures secrets inside of us.

Estrogen increases further to thicken the uterine lining and testosterone begins to surge driving desire. This then drops during ovulation. There is a rise in the FSH which is followed by the rise in luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates the follicle to release an egg. All of the hormone stimulation starts to activate the verbal and social parts of the brain which can help us be more sharp and clear with our communities, communication, and vulnerability. The bright moon is like the other side of a vanity mirror, when it shines it brings everything into clear vision, so for us, our awareness with our emotions and focus magnetized, making this a great time to dive into important conversations that you may have been pushing off to the side. Open the heart, open the part beyond our mind and dig deep. The light is now illuminating, bringing all of the hidden secrets of the soul out of the shadows.

The wildness, oh how will it want to roar this week. You may feel like a lioness in her fortress, looking for the prey to pounce on. The body naturally wants to mate and create but you my friend are too fertile to listen to that roar. Luckily there are other ways you can unleash this.

Sexual energy and desire is a beautiful way of manifestation and imaginativeness. It is a force and a way to be in pleasure with everything. It is creation and in creation there is creativity. Therefor, the excitement and sexual energy can be inspiration for projects like writing, cooking, art, and anything else in the realms of you. However, if you absolutely need to feed into the craving make sure to wear protection or engage with out penetration unless you are trying to get pregnant, then this may be your time to really explore with your loved one.

Since the moon shines like the sun, we start to carry that energy internally, giving us more energy to burn. We want to let the body easily metabolize and eliminate estrogen surplus. So warm liquids in the morning like lemon water with some ginger, cooling veggies in salads during the day, broths in between, and low sugar fruits for anytime of the day. Stick to lighter grains like Quinoa or Amarth and lower fat around this time. Also, eating mostly vegetarian would be a good choice so the focus isn’t so much on breaking down the proteins and instead allowing the body to use the energy in elimination. If you need your animal support, I suggest grabbing some local bone broth or having something light like Salmon. When we feel lighter through our diet, it is known for woman to be able to connect more to spirit and intuition.

Exercise focus. Due to the hormonal shifts, you have more energy to start to burn, fire energy. Connect with yourself and try to get involved in some hot yoga, barre, dance, or what ever else is calling that will make you sweat. I also suggest taking the time to be in natural light and outside. It can enhance the pituitary gland and help with the connection to the intuitive side of our being.

Here is a playlist I have made for some more sensual, fun movement practices. :)

Now I want to share with you a recipe, a tea blend I have made that helps a woman just feel even more embodied and in their sensuality. It includes an herb called Shatavari (asparagus racemosa) and this herb is beyond delicious in so many ways for the woman. It is considered a yin tonic and can fill the body with more feelings of compassion, kindness, and a calmness all around. Shatavari is known as the herb “woman with 100 husbands,” because there is a sensuality that arises when we drink this herb due to the comfort and support it has for the woman reproductive system and uterus health all together. The natural ways of a woman is to be wild in all of her essence. To truly feel, being fully embodied in her emotions and pleasure. I do have to add that I would avoid this while bleeding due to the excess dampness in the body around that time. Especially if the blood flow is heavy and dense, try to avoid and have something more like Sheppards purse, mugwort, raspberry leaf, or yarrow. If you have trouble finding herbs where you are at local health stores or herb rooms, try ordering from Mountain Rose Herbs, they are a wonderful company based in Oregon.

This tea will burst your taste buds, wildness, and heart wide open:

Herbs

Shatavari 1 Tablespoon

Dried Rose 1/2 Tablespoon

Dried Orange Peel 1 tbl

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Spices

Cardamon 1/2 tsp

Cinnamon 1 tsp

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Remaining

1/4 Cup Hempseeds

1/2 tbl Ghee

1 Dates soaked for an hour

1 tsp honey

Place herbs in a pot of water and simmer for 15-20 mins- then strain

Put the tea concoction into a blender with the hemp seeds, only enough liquid to cover at first. Blend till smooth then add the rest of the liquid and remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth.

If you would like to add a chocolate twist, when blending, add 1 tbl of organic cacao powder.

Nourishing the Seeds - Guide for the menstrual phase

“To be able to shed what no longer serves me is like compost for my soul. My spirit becomes enriched with nutrients and ideas that fuel and ignite my drive for what’s becoming. Here I sit with myself, the moon, the stars, and feel the embrace of rich soil with-in me like a seed being watered; growing, blossoming into magnificence.”

Do you remember the beginning? When your body became a portal of intention in a deeper and more potent form? When the ancient wisdom of the moon became a part of you as you became a deeper form of her? The feeling of being able to live in phases with her transitions that can bring so much light and darkness to our reality? A potency that is as rich as soil indeed.

I recall being disconnected, afraid, confused, and slightly frustrated at my moon cycle as a young girl. What a chore I would think it was. I never would see the beauty of what this wisdom was inside of me. Instead I would become so fixated on when it would end so I could stop dealing with it. There even was a time where I completely lost my cycle for an entire year due to malnutrition, leading up to a handful of health issues. When I think back at those times in my life, I just smile and surrender into the emotions of gratitude for the connection Ive been forming with my bodies wisdom in these present times..

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When I rekindled this flame of passion with the beauty of being a woman in all of her wild phases, I came into myself more than I ever have before. The lesson’s I would learn during the cycles of my moon, I can’t be grateful enough for. I found my truth and birthed a seed inside of myself that brought so much pleasure, insight, and creativity that I was endlessly filled with love and abundance. She, that sheds what no loner serves and starts to nourish every inch of my insides; she helps me manifest my reality. She that knows how to get me to reconnect to the earth, the rhythm, and the art of slowing down enough to feel it all.

To fully understand this part of ourselves goes beyond just the typical routines of rest and journaling. Since our cycle supports us women in so many forms, i believe it is our duty to work with her and nourish ourselves on and even deeper level. Here we will take a look at our food, exercise, daily routines, and even romantic endeavors so you, your sisters and daughters, can have a true love and union with your bodies, the moon, and all the wisdom it all holds.

The Menstrual Cyle:

After coming from the luteal phase, when we are most in tune with our intuition on what is no loner serving us in our lives, we now get to birth those seeds of intentions which we discovered. Dreams at night start to get less intense as the veil has completely now opened. Don’t be afraid of the shadows that lay in your spirit. Those are the parts of ourselves that need to be seen in order to birth light. The shadow holds power. Allow them to drain out of you with the nectar that is pouring out, thanking them for what they have taught you.

This time is potent for our intuition and getting clear on what we want to manifest and due to hormone levels dropping quickly, it creates the greatest communication between the two brain hemispheres. We are fertile with presence. She is here to ask, are you happy with what you are doing in multiple areas of life? How are you spending your time? Is what you think you want still feeling good at this moment? Slow down, she says. Listen & hear the whispers that lay inside your vessel and from there start to create your destiny.

The wisdom learned during this time nourishes the seeds that will grown and blossom into magnificence. Allow yourself to turn inward to journal and reflect without fear of what may come to surface. Gather under the moon as she shines her wisdom on you, even if she is fully in darkness. Light a candle and create a ritual for yourself, embrace fully the seeds being formed at this time. Remember that even the darkest of nights, shine with the purity of light.

Exercise:

Be gentle. You are soft at this time, so allow yourself to slow down. Keeping yoga light, restorative, and gentle. Lay with the bolster in Childs pose, allow yourself to be healed and cradled. Kundalini and yin yoga will support the cycle in a sublime way. Try to limit inversions except for supported ones like legs up a wall, hips on a block with legs up, or having the bolster laying in line with the spine. Warmth and weight on the belly for the final rest. Stay low to the ground. This is also a great time to go on light hikes to truly feel and be inspired by nature. We are so sensitive at this time to receive messages from the things that don’t speak.

Food:

This is a time to connect with healthy fats, proteins, tons of leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, and keep the glycemic levels at a low to help your blood sugar at a level while adding antioxidants and fiber into the diet. This does mean to try and keep the alcohol, even wine, at a minimum especially in the beginning of your phase. Also, try to limit chocolate and sweets until later in the cycle. Think soups, stews, oats, kale, avocados, sweet potatoes, and tea. Think grounding & wholesome. Warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cumin, cardamon, turmeric are all extremely supportive. Some of my favorites to have during this time are:

Savory oats with almonds slivered on top

Green Juice

Sweet potato and root bake on a bed of arugula and other seasonal greens

Homemade chai (Grab recipe below)

Bone broth (My absolute favorite while on my cycle- Grab recipe below)

Romance:

This is a time for you to choose on if you want the love making or if you would like time alone. If you want to engage in sex this week then go for it with a full bottle of passion with candles and groovy tunes around. If you want to take more time for yourself, ask for the space from your beloved. Such a sweetness this time is. No matter which direction we choose it’s like honey for our lusty flame.

Rituals:

To bask in a body of water is where we birth our ideas and nourish our seeds truly. She is so therapeutic for all sides of us as woman. The water starts to nourish us, helping us find complete relaxation so the mind can stay clear and focused.

To help make this bath even more special I would say start by lighting some candles and then fill the tub with essential oils such as lavender, orange and cedar. Then start to sprinkle in some flowers, bubbles, and some therapeutic salts. Here, they will all gather and come into union for you to bask in, get lost in, and dream in. Let the warm waters sweet caress warm your abdominal and pelvis area and give you permission to find complete surrender.

Another ritual to add in is journaling under the stars with candles, tea, and reflections and questions to ask thyself. To be in our authenticity, we must embrace the cycles of darkness and light. To see our shadow sides is seeing our light, so can we use this time to truly see and work through these sides of ourselves. Here are some questions you may want to journal on:

What are your plans for this year?
Who are you allies and how do you connect with them?

Are you living in the present of what you truly enjoy?

What fuels your passion like the never ending flame of love?

What act of self love are engaging in clearly this month?

What part of myself is causing dis-harmony in my life?

Here we stand, connected with the stars, the moon, and the tides. We woman shift with all rhythms of life. We nourish our seeds and nourish the seeds of others. We are a portal of life and death, so can you see your magnificence and embrace the wild that lives inside of you.

*If you are a plant mom- save your bleeding from a diva cup and place it into a safe vessel. Mix with some water and use it to nourish your plants soil. They completely thrive from it.

xoxox

Chelsea