There's no place like home...

It has been the most stressful seven days ever.

This might not be a very well-known fact, but I hate change. I hate it with a passion. Change and I are not friends, we are mortal enemies. If I had my way, things just wouldn't change, ever. Yeah everything would be boring, but I like boring.

Who needs adventure anyway?

Forgive my dramatic rant, but the thought of change has me running down the street in the opposite direction screaming like a crazy person... er... crazier person. We're all a little crazy, let's just accept it.

Anyway, vendettas aside, I discovered I had to leave my apartment. my lovely apartment, of 7 years and 4 months. The place I call home, the place that became even more magical after doing Creating Your Goddess Haven last year. My haven, my sanctuary, the place uniquely me, the place that has held and protected me for years.

And I have to leave it.

My apartment complex was purchased by a new company a few months ago and since then they've been remodeling all of the units. Black/gray/maroon walls, studio lights, and concrete floors, did I mention a $200 hike in rent? So it is time for me to leave this unit and move into a remodeled one, or leave altogether, and I really don't want concrete floors.

I've been busily looking for a new place to live, feeling like my sense of stability and security has been smashed to bits, feeling so ungrounded, feeling resentful, scared, a whole kaleidoscopic of emotions that really don't feel good. I've done a lot to relieve the stress, gone through my list of helpers, crystals, aromatherapy, journaling. There were two things that helped the most. Breathing and self-talk.

Sometimes all you can do is breathe and tell yourself that it's going to be okay. 

So that's what I did and right now it is okay. I've found a new apartment, I move in a week from now. The complex is called Country Village (how perfect for me)! and it's beautiful. It's perfect for me in every way. I get to have my own balcony, there are trees and picnic tables everywhere, it feels like magic.

I was walking home from giving them my deposit and I got hit in the face with a butterfly. Literally, a butterfly hit me in the face. Yes, Universe, I got the message, thank you very much. There were butterflies everywhere on my walk home, and I took lots of pictures (The ones up above were taken by me). I've never seen so many butterflies all around me (Although the fact that I am usually asleep during the day probably has something to do with that). It was the most magical walk home and I knew that it was "Change" showing me that it wasn't so bad after all, a gift of tentative friendship, a peace treaty...

A reminder that transformation and change is beautiful.

I'm feeling pretty grateful for the space to change. For this gentle nudge to something better and more beautiful (even if it didn't feel gentle at the time). I am exactly where I need to be and I need to be exactly where I am. As I began to wrap myself in the chrysalis I felt terrified and restricted and now that I am begining to emerge I feel all of those things lifting.

In this moment, I am thankful for change. 

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Don't be afraid to be you!

Today I want to share with you free wallpapers for your iphone, ipad, or computer! The wallpapers are based off of my infamous rainbow-colored sheep with the green mohawk.

He's kinda the Blessing Manifesting mascot.

Rainbow sheep teaches us to stand out from the crowd, to be ourselves, to let our freak flag fly, and to be unapologetic about it.

Don't ever be afraid to be who you are.

So whoever you are, however you are, be proud and let it shine! 

You can get the wallpapers (in different sizes) on the freebies page!

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Getting Calm with Celestite

Over there on the left you can see a picture of my lovely Celestite. It's one of my favorite crystals, so I thought I'd share with you a little bit about it on today's Manifesting Magic Monday!

Celestite is a great crystal to help you connect with the Divine/God/Universe. If you read my post on Wishcasting Wednesday, then you know that connecting with the Divine is something that I am working on. Spiritual droughts are no fun.

I need to connect with Spirit.

Celestite is also a great stone for working with your Angels. If you'd like to connect with your guides and work with your angels, Celestite will help you access those realms. Try meditating while holding a piece of it and see if any messages come through for you.

Other uses for Celestite include dream-work. You can sleep with Celestite to help you have good dreams and also as a helper to assist you in remembering your dreams, or having prophetic dreams. Mine usually ends up sitting on my headboard when I'm sleeping and I sleep very well, which is great because I work 3rd shift, meaning I work at night, so I sleep during the daytime.

The reason I love this stone so much, is because it is great for stress and anxiety.

I get stressed out and anxious occasionally and Celestite, along with Amethyst, are my go-to crystals. Celestite brings deep peace and harmony when you are stressed out. It's great for calming strong emotions and soothing emotional conflict.

I usually have my Celestite sitting by my computer on days that I am doing a lot of Blessing Manifesting work. I tend to allow myself to get overwhelmed easily when I have a lot to do and I find myself reaching over to touch it occasionally. It really is beautiful and it helps!

Have you ever worked with Celestite? What did you think?

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Making Amends With the Past

Happy Self Care Sunday my Dearhearts! As you know, Self Care is all about taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. There's lots of inner work we can do. Not all at once of course, and that's what this post is all about.

We have to acknowledge how far we've come on our individual journeys.

A lot of things have been on my mind lately. If you've followed my posts for a while you'll know that last year one of my friendships ended. The friendship really meant a lot to me, but at the same time she and I were very negative and destructive towards each other. It was a mess and had been for years. At the beginning of last year, perhaps the end of the year before that, I started to change. I really wanted to work on my shit. I wanted to stop being angry, mean, explosive, selfish, petty, abusive, and all of those things that I was. I wanted to practice forgiveness and acceptance. I wanted to give her the freedom to be herself without me constantly wanting her to be someone she wasn't.

I failed miserably. 

She wasn't in the same place, she was still angry and resentful with me over the past. I understood why, it's like hitting someone over and over again, each time telling them that you've changed, and then going right back to hitting them. I can't blame her for seeing me as the person that I used to be. Unfortunately that was something I earned. It made me angry and resentful that I was trying so hard to fix things and it wasn't making a difference. I spent days crying, feeling like a complete failure, wondering why my efforts didn't matter.

But it did matter.

Perhaps not to her, but it was a turning point for me. It was a time when I realized that I didn't want to be that person that I had been in the past. It wasn't enough for her, but it was enough for me. Instead of continuing the cycle of trying to fix things and being put down, I let go. I just stopped talking to her. No harsh words, no belittling, no fighting, I was as mature as I could be, something that was very new to me at the time. Believe me when I say that harsh words came very easily in that situation.

It's been over a year since I made this change in myself and I look back at the past often. I think to myself, Why couldn't I have changed my behavior sooner? Why couldn't I have noticed that my actions weren't healthy to me or anyone else? Why did it take me so long? Why, why, why?

It is happening now and that is enough.

I still struggle with the loss of that friendship, it is on my mind a lot. I want to reach out, to reconnect, but my intuition tells me that things haven't changed enough for it to be a healthy choice. I want, and need, so badly to let go of the shame of the person I was.

Today's Self Care Assignment is to acknowledge your journey. Acknowledge how far you've come.

I am far from perfect and it's still frustrating. There's so much that I want to be. I'm not there yet, but I've come so far. A year ago I was someone different. Five years ago I was someone different. I really like who I am now and I really like who I am becoming. I want you to feel the same way.

So even if you have work to do, and I think a lot of us feel that we do, accept that you've come far already. Bravely (if not fearlessly!) stepping on to the path of change and traveling your way down it. I am proud of you, and I think you are awesome for it!

What amends do you have to make? What things do you have to work on? How far have you come already?

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A Love Note from me to you, to you!

I love sharing notes of love with you and with everyone else as well! Please pay it forward and send this to those that you feel need to hear it. Spread the love! Let the ones that you care about know how much they are loved and appreciated!

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The Wisdom of Kuan Yin

Today's card-o-wisdom comes from Doreen Virtue's Goddess Guidance Oracle Cards. This was my first deck of Oracle Cards and I absolutely love them. I've always been interested in Goddess Spirituality. A lot of Goddesses are such strong female figures with amazing wisdom to teach us.

Kuan Yin teaches us compassion.

Her message is "Release judgments about yourself and others, and focus on the love and light that is within everyone."

Kuan Yin represents the power of gentleness. When we are gentle with ourselves and others we bring a sweetness to our lives.

Kuan Yin wants to remind us to be sweet in our words, actions, and intentions. Soften yourself. If you find that you speak harshly to others make it a point to soften your words. If you're usually overly critical of yourself or others, soften that as well. Take a deep breath, acknowledge your actions, and do what you can to show compassion in the situation.

If you have problems showing compassion, and I know I do sometimes, there's an exercise you can do to help. When you are around someone that you dislike, or find annoying, try sending them love. See a light shining within them and acknowledge that it shines within you as well. It really will make a difference in your interactions.

This Goddess wants you to release shame and guilt and begin the healing process. 

If you need to give forgiveness to yourself or someone else, do it. Acknowledge that there is great power in healing, in letting go, and in forgiveness. Stop being so hard on yourself, release your criticisms of yourself and others and allow things to flow around you without attachment.

What judgments do you need to release? How can you let more compassion into your life?

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I wish to go deep within.

I'd love for you to join the Tribe of Wishcasters! Every Wednesday we flock to our blogs, we answer a question, and then we all visit each other and leave a comment like "As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you as well." It's a great way to connect, to share, to find GREAT new blogs, and to bring our wishes one step closer to manifesting. Today we are asked: Where do you wish to go?

I wish to go deep within myself.

My spirituality has been very wonky lately. Usually I submerge myself deep into my spiritual practices around Autumn. That didn't happen last year. I'm suffering from a spiritual drought... and I miss it.

I know that if I do the work I can move past it, find my beautiful oasis of the Divine. The love, comfort, and pure joy. It's a beautiful thing.

I want to meditate regularly again, I want to practice yoga, I want to take long walks and have conversations with the Universe, I want to delve deep inside of who I am. I want to explore those hidden places that have yet to be discovered.

I really think I should change those "wants" to "wills".

Where do you wish to go this week?

As a side note, I have a little survey that I'd love for my readers to fill out. Filling it out enters you in a drawing to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card, an Oracle Card Reading, My latest ebook, or a Sacred Spirit Session. It's only 10 questions, so please fill it out if you have the time. :)

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What stresses you out and whatcha gonna do about it?

Mornin' Lovey! Today's post was originally going to be some cool wallpapers (for your phone too) but life got busy, so I'm sharing a worksheet page from my Emotional Awareness Workbook, which you get when you purchase a Sacred Spirit Session. Awesome stuff.

Anyhoo, this worksheet is about coming up with a plan for your stress. When you get stressed out which, let's be honest, it happens, you can either run around screaming "OH NOES! I'M SO STRESSED!" or...

You can do something about it.

As I write this (it's actually Monday morning, posting from the past to the future, for the win!) there's a whole bunch of construction going on right above my head. A few months ago my apartment complex got new owners and they are doing some serious remodeling on all of the apartments around me.

I happen to be so lucky (insert sarcasm) to work the night shift at my job, which means I sleep in the afternoons. Right in the thick of buzzing, poundings, and wall-shakings! Over the last few months I've fallen asleep to the sound of hammering, miscellaneous machinery, and the sound of breaking tile. Fun stuff. As I write this, I'm pretty sure they're using a jackhammer up above me. It's super loud, it's making me and my apartment shake, and it's stressing me ooooout.

When I say stress, I mean stress. I'm all panic-y about it. I want peace, quiet, and calm. I want sleeeeeeep. I want to stop feeling like the ceiling is going to cave in on me.

This is a Stress Creator. So what can I do? 

Aside from asking them to stop, which isn't very realistic, I can take deep breaths. When the noise stops for a few minutes I can stretch and release tension. I can dab a bit of lavender on my neck, allow myself to relax, get my super awesome calming crystals and make the best of it. Cause the apartments here are tiny so it's not going to last forever!

This worksheet has a section for Stress Creators such as apartment construction, and Stress Relievers like my crystals (I'm feeling my Celestite today).

I really want you to be aware of what stresses you out and how best for you to handle it. You'd be surprised at how helpful it can be to have a ready made list of de-stressers!

Download it here!

What are your de-stressing secrets? I'd love to hear them!

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The Magic of Yellow

Yellow is one of those colors that you either love or you hate. I personally like it, I think that is has a beautiful "personality".

Light yellow is my favorite and if I had my way it would be the perfect color for my house. (If I had one of course)

If you've read up on magical topics, then you know that Color Magic is one of the most basic forms of magic. You can use certain colors to decorate your living space, burn candles of a certain color to bring things into your life, or wear a certain color for a specific effect. It all creates a certain ambiance.

Colors have different vibrations meaning they invoke different thoughts/feelings/emotions. 

I'm sure there's a color that makes you feel warm, makes you feel safe, makes you feel calm, or makes you feel happy. Yellow is a great color for this. It creates a wonderful, light, cheerful, atmosphere.

Yellow is great for encouraging intellect, confidence, and communication. If you're trying to study for a test and need concentration then burn a yellow candle or sit in a room primarily decorated with the color.

Yellow also represents happiness, joy, and creativity. If you've suffered from burn-out and are ready to find your creative spark again, spend time with a light, airy, yellow to help you find your passion again. Paint a picture using yellow.

Think smiley faces, sunshine, and sunflowers. How can yellow not make you happy? 

This color also corresponds with the Solar Plexus Chakra. This chakra governs your individuality, your sense of self, and your power. Yellow stones like amber, citrine, and topaz can help balance your chakra and get you back on track.

Speaking of yellow, lemon essential oil is great for all of these things as well. It gives you a boost of creativity and energy, cheers you up, and helps you to embrace your you-ness.

So I'd love to know, how do you feel about yellow? What's your "happy" color?

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With Arms Wide Open

Good morning my gorgeous Lovies! Today you have a very important self love assignment. There are so many things that you can do to make your life better, to add sprinkles of joy into your day. However there is a very important thing that can ruin it all for you.

Not believing that you deserve it.

If you don't believe that you deserve to be happy or that you deserve to be taken care of, then you're unraveling any work that you could do before it even begins.

Most of us are probably used to giving. We give our love, our time, and our feelings, we are the Nurturers. We need to own our needs. We need to take responsibility for the fact that yes we want things, and yes, sometimes that conflicts with what other people want from us, but at the same time, that doesn't make our wants or needs irrelevent.

It's not a sign that you should disregard what you need, what you want, or what will nurture you.

I really want you to believe deep down in your bones that you deserve to be loved and cared for. Wrapped up and comforted. You do not have to do it all, you shouldn't be expected to, and as for your needs? Honor them.

So here's your little Self Care Assignment for today. I want you to throw open your arms and I want you to say "I am worthy. I am deserving."

And I want you to believe it. Really really believe it. Then pick today to do something nice for yourself. Extra points if you don't feel guilty about it!

Love,

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Meditation With Loran's Heart

Hello there sweetie! Today's post is from a very special guest: Loran from Loran's Heart. Here's why I adore her. I first met her on the Goddess Circle last year. She was running a weekly Self Portrait/Journaling prompt project and I enjoyed jumping in, becoming comfortable with taking my picture, and answering really insightful prompts that made me think. It was an important part of my journey, I really admired her Buddhist inspired wisdom and it inspired me to research Buddhism myself. Today Loran is going to tell us a little bit about her thoughts on meditation.

There are as many kinds of meditation as there are people.  It can be complicated or better yet, simple.  Science has been able to document the beneficial effects of regular meditation.  I’ve discovered a few benefits from my own practice.

What are those benefits????
Leads to a sense of calm.
Enhances the immune system.
Increases serotonin level and influences mood and behavior
Helps reduce stress
Ultimately attain enlightenment

Almost always the first thing anyone says about meditation is:  “I can’t quiet my mind!”  

The important thing to remember is that the mind chatters, processes, and thinks thoughts.  Efforts to stop the mind are futile.  The trick is to watch the mind without attachment to see where the story line is headed.

For instance, you light a candle and sit.  You think I must be quiet now and you are for a second.  Then you start wondering what to fix for the next meal and whether or not you have the ingredients and if you have to go to the store that means taking a shower and doing your hair.  Oops.

Return to sitting.  One of the easier beginning techniques of meditation is to count the breath.  Count the breath in ten times.  Count the breath out ten times.  Count the space between the in and the out breath ten times.  It gives the mind something to do and it helps train you to focus on one thing, the breath.  If you can, spend a few minute focusing on your breath without counting after the three cycles of ten.  If your mind wanders, gently bring it back.  If you lose count, start over.

The most helpful advice I think I can give is to love yourself while you are practicing meditation! 

Don’t beat yourself up if it’s difficult.  You can sit in a chair.  You can lie on the floor.  Five minutes at a time to begin with is fine.

Subtle changes, slowly, over time

Did you know that when Sharon Salzberg tried to explain low self-esteem to the Dalai Lama that he did not understand what she was talking about?  Can you imagine it?  No concept of self-loathing, negative self-talk or harmful behavior?

By Sharon Salzberg

"What do you think about self-hatred?" I asked when it was my turn to bring up an issue for discussion. I was eager to get directly to the suffering I had seen so often in my students, a suffering I was familiar with myself. The room went quiet as all of us awaited the answer of the Dalai Lama, revered leader of Tibetan Buddhism. Looking startled, he turned to his translator and asked pointedly in Tibetan again and again for an explanation. Finally, turning back to me, the Dalai Lama tilted his head, his eyes narrowed in confusion. "Self-hatred?" he repeated in English. "What is that?"

All of us gathered at that 1990 conference in Dharmsala, India-philosophers, psychologists, scientists, and meditators-were from Western countries, and self-hatred was something we immediately understood. That this man, whom we all recognized as having a profound psychological and spiritual grasp of the human mind, found the concept of self-hatred incomprehensible made us aware of how many of us found it all but unavoidable. During the remainder of the session, the Dalai Lama repeatedly attempted to explore the contours of self-hatred with us. At the end he said, "I thought I had a very good acquaintance with the mind, but now I feel quite ignorant. I find this very, very strange."

One of the many things I like about writing blog posts, guest or otherwise, is that there is usually an opportunity to create a learning moment.  It’s not something I can explain other than to say that it’s an uncontrollable urge.

---

Loran is a travel guide on the spiral journey of life. Her business, found at Loran’s Heart, is filled with journaling prompts, nature photographs, and inspirational products to help others grow personally and spiritually. You can find Loran on Facebook and Twitter.

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Love Note of Forgiveness

I love sharing notes of love with you and with everyone else as well! Please pay it forward and send this to those that you feel need to hear it. Spread the love! Let the ones that you care about know how much they are loved and appreciated!

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Topsy turvy everything is upsy-daisy!

Today is Oracle Thursday which means I pull a card from one of my decks and share its message with you. Today the card is The Topsie - Turvets from Brian Froud's The Faery's Oracle. The Topsie - Turvets represent...

Change of view point, fresh viewpoint, new ways of seeing.

These little guys show up when you need to look at something in a different way. When you're confused about something they'll flip things upside-down and spin them around a bit, so that you're so confused that you come out the other side with clarity you didn't even existed!

Confusion equals growth because it gives you the opportunity to figure things out.

When you're confused you need to try to see things from a different point of view. This is the gift of confusion, it leads to truth and it leads to clarity. It will give you the opportunity to ask the right questions, see if your assumptions are incorrect, and to take a step back from the situation so you can really see it.

It's like standing on your head, sometimes you need to do it.

I'm sure when you were a kid you'd hang upside down, on monkey-bars, doing head-stands, or just hanging off of the couch or the bed so that the world flipped. Remember how everything looked so different and weird? You'd feel like you were in a magical world where gravity went bonkers. Do that with your problems.

Let go of your attachment to how things are. This is the most important part. Look at it upside-down, side-ways, spin around in a circle 'till you're dizzy. There are so many ways to see a single situation! If you're stuck on something look at it differently, ask someone else to look at it for you.

What are you going to look at in a topsy turvy way? 

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Joy is like a one night stand.

I'd love for you to join the tribe of Wishcasters. Every Wednesday we flock to our blogs, we answer a question, and then we all visit each other and leave a comment like "As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you as well." It's a great way to connect, to share, and to bring our wishes one step closer to manifesting. Today we are asked: What do you wish to jump into?

I wish to jump into joy.

You see, I have many relationships. For example, for a long time Anxiety and I were best friends, attached at the hip we were. We still hang out from time to time, but not as much as we used to. Depression and I have one of those relationships where you break up and then get back together a few months later, you know the type. We get together less often now, but he's still around. Happiness and I are getting acquainted, hanging out more and more, I quite like her. Joy however...

Joy is like a one night stand.

We get together, have a great time, and then joy leaves. I don't get too attached, after all, what's the point? It won't stay.

Honestly, I never ask it to, never expect it to. I don't allow myself to immerse myself in that relationship. I want to change that. I still distance myself from "happy" emotions. It's still new to me, still something that I am discovering. A path that is overgrown with foliage but one I am excited to try to navigate. I'm still afraid to let those emotions really get to me, afraid that Depression and Anxiety will show up and snatch Happiness and Joy away.

I wish to jump into joy, jump into emotions and allow myself to have an experience with them, feel them fully, immerse myself in them, and not be afraid of them.

A live-in-the-moment kinda thing.

Happy wishing!

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The Voice of Truth + Free Worksheet

Today I am sharing with you a worksheet that will help you to tap into your inner truth. So often we pull ourselves down with negative thinking, we drown in it, until we are unable to see the truth of what's really going on. It's a viscous cycle and one that often leads me to depression. Once you make the choice to change that, to be proactive, to do something about it, things get a little easier.

This will help you listen to your truth.

In this worksheet you will write out a negative thought that you are having. I'll give you an example from my own worksheet.

"Negative Thoughts: My business is growing too slowly. People don't really like me or care what I have to say, they're just being nice. I'm never going to make a difference or change anyone else's life. I'm just pretending I do. None of my friends of family support anything that I do. Why do I even bother?"

That's pretty harsh right? It's also completely fabricated and totally untrue.

"Voice of Truth: Six months ago I had no products to sell and now I have tons and people like them. My readers comment on my blogs and share their thoughts. I have tons of facebook fans who let me know that I inspire them. I have a friend who I can bounce ideas off and who encourages me all of the time. People wouldn't tell me I was making a difference unless is was true. My heart tells me I am on the right path."

The Voice of Truth is the only one that matters and the only one that you should listen to.

Download the worksheet here.

What's your truth?

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Oh What A Tangled Web...

See that picture right over there? What's your reaction? Are you thinking 'Oooo, that's so beautiful.' or is your immediate reaction, 'Omfg, where's the spider!? KILL IT.'

Spiders have a pretty bad reputation, yet they're also pretty magical.

Spiders are not as dangerous as they are portrayed in the media. Experts agree that spider bites cause an average of less than three deaths a year and those are usually from an allergic reaction to the venom and not the venom itself.

Dogs cause more deaths than spiders each year, yet rarely do we jump up on chairs, screaming, and wielding brooms when we see them.

Most spider bites cause the minor irritation of a bee sting or a mosquito bite. Even the bite of the black widow has a 1% mortality rate. With the progress made in anti-venom, spider bites are rarely deadly, although some can cause serious tissue damage. Spiders can be dangerous, yet so can all of earth's creatures.

When Spider creeps into your life it's worth noting that it means more than grabbing the nearest can of bug spray and a battle cry of "kiiiiiiiilllll iiiiiittt!"

Spiders are master weavers. Through out history this has linked them to weaving the threads of fate and creativity. Spider teaches us to maintain a balance between the past and the future. Everything you do now is being woven into the tapestry that is your life.

Spider teaches us to look at the bigger picture, not just what is happening right now. When we only focus on one part of an issue, and not everything surrounding it, we often miss a lot of the wisdom that is being taught to us.

If spider has come into your life you should think about the following: Is it time to start weaving your dreams into reality? Are you embracing your creativity? Do you feel as if you are stuck in a web? It is time to acknowledge that you are the weaver of your threads. You hold the power. You are the master of your own fate.

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Getting Physical With Self Care

Last week we talked about Self Care Routines and I did a quick outline of the different categories of Self Care. Today, we're going to explore a little further and chat about physical Self Care.

Physical Self Care is anything that you do to take care of your body. 

Think about all of the amazing things that your body does on a regular basis. Just think of how many steps you take in a day, in a week, in a month, and a year.

Your body is amazing, but it does need a little maintenance and a little upkeep. You can't just keep going and going and expect your body not to break down. Believe me, I've experienced it first hand and it isn't pretty. Let's talk about the basics of physical Self Care.

Nutrition
This is a big one and pretty complicated as well. Like a lot of things that I talk about, you decide how you are going to tailor your nutritional needs to fit your lifestyle. To some, it means a completely raw or vegan diet. To others it means incorporating as much fresh fruit and veggies as possible. To others, it means passing on ice cream after dinner and trying not to eat too much fast food. Every time you take the time to make a nutritious decision you make a difference.

• Drink water. Most of us are dehydrated and dehydration leads to tiredness, aches and pains, and other health issues. So drink it up!

• If it's bright green or colorful, eat it. Fruits and veggies are a must have. These give you essential vitamins that you need to be healthy.

• Try making your own meals and experiment with cooking. It can be fun!

Movement
I'm not going to be an exercise drill sergeant but it's something that you need to do. It's good for the body and good for the soul. There are so many ways that we can add movement into our lives and do it in a fun way.

• Take a walk. The number of things you can do while walking are limitless. You can take nature walks, meditation walks, walks with friends and family, you can brainstorm while walking, listen to loud music, endless possibilities.

• Go swimming. Swimming is such a beautiful activity. If you have joint issues or pain issues the water is the place you want to be. Exercising in water takes a lot of the pressure off of your joints and muscles, not to mention water has amazing healing properties in itself.

• Dance, dance, dance! I'm a huge fan of dancing, mainly because you get to do it however you want to do it. Dance in your living room like Beyonce, do a belly dancing routine, try out zumba, dance while cleaning!

Sleep
Never under estimate the power of a good night's sleep. Most scientific types agree that the amount of sleep you need as a functioning adult is anywhere from 6-8 hours a day although some could use a little less or more depending on the person. Getting too little sleep (or too much) isn't good for your health.

• Try to allow yourself to wake up naturally as often as possible. I understand how hard this one can be, especially with kids, but boy does it feel great.

• Take a nap every now and then. I love just drifting off on my couch, knowing that I don't have any pressing things to attend to. It is complete and utter bliss.

• Sleep outside. Camping, napping on your porch, or sleeping in bed with the windows wide open feels magical and is so good for you. Fresh air, for the win!

Other ways to Self Care:

You NEED time for your body to relax. This is not just something that you want but can't find the time for. It's as important as nutrition, sleep, and everything else that your body needs to function at its highest ability. Don't just see sore and worn out as a way of life, take steps to fix it.

• Baths are a great way to relax and unwind.

• Massage is another great way to be kind to your body. You don't even need a professional self-massage is a great way to bond with your body.

• Wear clothes that make you feel good. Honor your style. Wear what makes you feel beautiful.

• Don't be afraid to be sensual. Embrace your sexuality, by yourself or with a partner.

What are your physical Self Care Tips? I'd love for you to share them!

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Tell Unworthiness and Criticism to Shut Up

I love sharing notes of love with you and with everyone else as well! Please pay it forward and send this to those that you feel need to hear it. Spread the love! Let the ones that you care about know how much they are loved and appreciated!

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Breaking Dawn and New Horizons

Today's Oracle Card comes from The Oracle of Shadows and Light and it has deep meaning for me. Last week was amazing and full of so many ups and downs. I finished and released an ebook and I started my coaching practice. I did all of this while I was on vacation from my job. As you can imagine between proof-reading, editing, making and scanning all of the art, technical difficulties, uploading, creating new webpages, marketing, ect, I didn't feel like I had a vacation at all!

I went back to work on Friday night (I work the night shift) where most nights I work in the Pet department of a large store, where I have to lift up to 50lb bags of dog food. Not all that glamorous but I enjoy my job most of the time!

Tuesday was my night off. I usually do the bulk of Blessing Manifesting work on Tuesday and Wednesday night. It is my time of uber creativity and magic-making. I have a routine that works for me and allows me not to feel burnt out. So I sat down Tuesday night and guess what?

Nothing happened. Not a single thing. There was no magic to be found.

I sat there wanting nothing more than to fall asleep when I had a huge to-do list to start working on. I tried to force myself to write and I just wasn't feeling it. I didn't feel like doing anything. I got extremely frustrated. I was wasting and squandering precious working-time. I was going to be stressed out the rest of the week. I just had to get over it and  do the work.

I ended up taking a very long nap instead.

It felt really good. I allowed myself to realize that it's been a big week and it's okay to take a break, to listen to my body, and to take the rest that I need. You can't ride waves like that forever, there's an ebb and a flow and I need to ebb sometimes.

So onto the message of today's card. Violet Angel: Breaking Dawn

The Violet Angel appears when something new is on the horizon. She waits for you to become aware of all of the beautiful things that are just waiting for you. When she appears it is a sign that changes you have been waiting for are just around the corner.

There have been times when you've lost your spark and your physical body has been exhausted. It has been a long dark night of the soul but the worst is over and the best is on the horizon. It is a faint gathering of energy but it is on the way. Your energy will flow again. Your spirit will blossom.

You are on the verge of a new day.

What new beginnings do you see blossoming in your life?

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What I Wish to Experience

I'd love for you to join the tribe of Wishcasters. Every Wednesday we flock to our blogs, we answer a question, and then we all visit each other and leave a comment like "As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you as well." It's a great way to connect, to share, and to bring our wishes one step closer to manifesting. Today we are asked: What do you wish to experience?

I wish to experience a beautiful, magical, life.

This means something different to everyone. This is what it means to me: Above all else I want to experience powerful, meaningful, friendships, whether they be online or offline. I want to delve deeper into my love of nature and photography. Being close to nature is magic and I am so glad that the weather is finally cooperating. I want to soak in my spirituality. I've been feeling a disconnect over the last few months and I am ready to once again experience that feeling of fullness and contentment. I want to experience the things that bring me joy and for the things that don't bring me  joy, I want to acknowledge that they bring me wisdom.

What do you wish to experience?

Happy Wishcasting!

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Sweeping Into Spring with a Free Worksheet!

Hello Sweetums'! I'm formulating a new plan for my Tuesday Topic. I'm thinking free goodies every week, cause I love making things and I love sharing! So let's do this!

Today I am sharing with you a worksheet that I made just for you! It's called "Sweeping into Spring". Let's get started on setting our intentions! Download here!

Share, share, share away! Print it off and give it to your kids, it would be fun for them too!

What I am sweeping out of my life:
Self-doubt. Negative, mean, people that disguise themselves as friends. Giving myself to those who don't give to me. Bad choices that don't allow me to feel nourished.

What I'm sweeping in:
Belief in my business and myself. Lots of new dreams that WILL unfold. More connectedness and conversation with my online tribe. Believing that I have something great and beautiful to give to the world. Positive energy and love to myself and everyone else. Great, solid, friendships.

Download here!

What are you sweeping in and out of your life?

P.S. If you like this you should check out my Spring Blessings ebook, which comes with a book of worksheets as well!

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Solar Plexus Power Magic!

Namaste!

Today we're talking about chakras again. You can read about the Root Chakra and Sacral Chakra if you're interested in knowing more about them as well. Today we're learning about the Solar Plexus Chakra!

The Solar Plexus Chakra
Color: Yellow
Location: Right above the navel

The Solar Plexus Chakra is the third chakra and is found right above the belly button. Emotionally, it governs your personal power, pretty much how you feel about yourself. Your willpower, self-esteem, your sense of self, all of those things are tied up in your Solar Plexus.

When your Chakra is balanced you'll have a good sense of your own value and worth. You'll be confident in the things that you do and you will know exactly who you are. You'll believe that you are successful and you will trust in the belief that you hold greatness within you. You are pretty sure of your place in the world.

Emotional signs that this chakra is blocked are negative emotions, anger, frustration, low feelings of self-worth and self-esteem. You might be letting your fears of rejection and unworthiness overwhelm you. People who have a blocked solar plexus chakra are also more susceptible to abusive relationships. They let others have the power because they don't know how to embrace their own.

If your chakra is over-active you might have severe anger issues, holding onto grudges, habits of bullying and violence towards others. To start dealing with those issues you have to do deep work on many levels and working with chakras is just one of them.

A few ways to heal those imbalances are with crystals such as citrine, sunstone, and rose quartz. Rose Quartz will be good for anger issues and holding onto grudges and the sunstone will help you tap into your power. You can place the stones in your receiving hand (usually the left one) and while breathing deep, let their energy flow through you. You can also lay down and meditate with the crystal placed over your chakra.

You can also experiment with essential oils such as basil and clove, which will help invoke courage. Ylang ylang will help you let go of jealously and anger. You can wear these oils while meditating or going about your day, you can put them in a bath, add them to candles or diffusers, or put them in spray bottles with water to anoint your space with.

Does your Solar Plexus feel balanced? What issues do you struggle with?

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Self Care Routine, got one?

Mornin' Lovies!

So we know what self love is but how do we incorporate it into our lives? We develop a routine of it. We perform actions of self care that bring us to a deepening of how we feel about ourselves. Today I ask you the question:

What does your self care routine look like?

Mine has become very ingrained into my daily and weekly routine. After the hectic days at work I take a hot bath with lavender oil and bath salts. I frequently allow myself to wind down with a trashy romance novel before bed. I spend a few hours every other day playing World of Warcraft with one of my friends and just relaxing. I walk home from work and listen to meditations. Each one of these things nourishes me on some level.

Physical Self Care
Physical Self Care is anything that you do to take care of your body. When we think of all of the things our bodies have been through in our lifetimes we can't help but feel the need to pamper ourselves just a little. Your physical self care practice can include things like massages, eating healthy, adding movement into your life, and slowing down when your body says slow down. This also encompasses getting medical attention when you need it and getting enough sleep. Don't forget  sex! Orgasms are a great for the body! ;)

Psychological Self Care
This is the time that you take to spend time with yourself, for yourself. Check in with what you are thinking and feeling. Write in your journal, read something silly, make time for self-reflection. Notice where your journey is taking you. Say "no" to demands on your time that drain you. Treat yourself right, end the self-hate and the criticism.

Emotional Self Care
Ah, emotional needs. These ones are tricky and finicky but with a little practice we can learn what we're going to need, when we're going to need it. I know when I am approaching heavy emotions. I know what my triggers are, and this allows me to be prepared when they hit full force. Come up with affirmations, be social in ways that feel good to you, allow yourself to cry or scream. Find things that make you laugh, know how to divert your destructive emotions into something that can heal you.

Spiritual Self Care
Everyone is spiritual in different ways. Pray, meditate, walk in nature, do the things that bring you close to Great Spirit by whatever name you call him/her. Allow yourself to be grateful for the things that you have. Take time to sit in contemplation. Have spiritual experiences, this is different for everyone, find what it means to you. Serve, or give, in a way that is meaningful to you.

Business Self Care
Practice self care in your work by managing your time and making sure that you don't get burnt out. Take breaks and don't overwhelm yourself. If you can ask for help, ask! You'd be amazed at the support out there if you just ask for it. Know your limitations. Strive to balance your work and your free time to something that is nourishing to you. Some of us feel better when we work more and some of us just need more free time, and that's okay. Do what you love.

What does your self care routine look like?

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