Count Your Blessings In A Pumpkin Patch

Happy Halloween or as I call it, Samhain! May your day be filled with more treats than tricks. This is traditionally a day of Spirits and honoring those that have passed before us.

Which ties into appreciating what we have, while we have it.

How often do you take a step back from your life? I mean really take a step back, with the intention of looking at your life from a detached viewpoint?

Most of the time we don't step back intentionally. We step back when life forces us to step back. When something bad happens and we think back to how good we had it. Or something changes and shifts and we realize how happy and blessed we were before. There is a lot of truth to the old saying "You don't know what you have until it's gone."

It is time to count your blessings. 

Each week I like to pull a card to give us all a little bit of direction and wisdom. This card is Ghost of the Pumpkin Patch, from the Oracle of Shadows and Light and it is quite fitting for the season as we descend into the darker part of the year.

Take a look at your life and really see it for what it is. Take the time to count your blessings, especially the ones that you overlook on a daily basis. Those things that, small as they are, if you didn't have, you'd miss their presence.

Things and even people, become so familiar to us, so part of our every day, that we take them for granted. The familiarity with them breeds blindness to what amazing gifts surround us. This card reminds you to see the abundance that's all around you. The pumpkins, so to speak, the average and ordinary that become the extraordinary when we no longer have them.

Nothing is too small to be appreciated.

Appreciate those things like the fit and texture of your favorite shirt. The way that your shoes fit. The smell of your favorite candle or perfume. The color of the curtains in your living room. The taste of your favorite food. The calm before the storm that is the holiday season. All of these things are little blessings that deserve to be acknowledged and appreciated.

What little blessings are you thankful for? 

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Catching up!

Hello my beautiful peoples! It feels like it's been forever since I sat here and tap-tap-tapped out love notes and stories for you. I know that technically October's not over so this little ol' blogging break of mine should still be in effect but I like breaking rules. I'm a blogging rebel. Rawr. I've missed blogging so much and it's definitely ignited, or re-ignited, my passion for it.

What have I been up to this month? Epic Self Care.

I started this month wanting to take the time to step back and really figure out my direction, personally and professionally, and it has served its purpose. I feel clear minded, ready to go forward and make magic happen. I have a feeling that things are going to be beautiful.

I've spent my time painting. Cuddling with my best friend's little kitty. Hours spent laying on the floor with pillows, listening to music, and putting together a Gone With the Wind puzzle.

Simple soul nourishment. My favorite kind.

Not only have I spent time withdrawing inward, but I've also been expanding outward and opening myself up to new experiences and to blossoming in ways that are scary and lovely at the same time. I'm embarking on a new relationship, which is a scary thing in itself, but I find myself opening up spaces that were formerly closed up tight. It's a brand new journey.

Be Legendary.

I just love that and now it's hanging on my wall where I can see it every single day. It's a good reminder. So is that "find your own magic" bit. I want to live by every single thing on that wall hanging.

I've consumed a lot of tea. My favorite tea Sleepytime has soothed me and comforted me every single day. Especially when curled up with the book Ready Player One which was one of the best reads I've had this year, which is saying a lot as my current book count for 2013 is 94.

Round it all off with the fortune:

You make people realize that there exist other beauties in the world.  

Story of my life! I love it. I've also been taking the time to do some actual work. It hasn't been all lazing about around here. I started working on the 2014 Self Love Planner + Workbook and I'm 20 pages in. I think it's going to be beautiful and nourishing and helpful and I'm hoping to release it in late November or early December. Keep your fingers crossed!

I've also been thinking and dreaming on the idea of my very own Online Community. I'm so excited to see where that journey takes me. Right now I'm thinking the Spring or Summer of 2014. I really want to make sure that it is the best offering I can give you.

My dream is for a gathering place where we can share our journeys, talk about self-help and self-improvement, share resources, and create a safe haven for real and soulful conversations and connections.

Where has your October taken you?

I'd love to hear from you! I'd love to know what you've been up to and creating and dreaming. I'd love to hear your feedback! What do you think of the Soul Sisterhood? What things would you like to see? What would make it something that would interest you?

Let me know!

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Self Care is Essential For Introverts

I know, I know, I'm supposed to be taking a blogging break in October... but... I just can't help myself sometimes.

So along with this whole blogging break thing I've been trying to unfurl my wings a little bit.

I've decided to try dating.

Talk about energy vortex. Draining, draining, draining. I am an introvert. An introvert gets their energy from being alone. Solitude and quiet gives us a chance to rest and replenish our energy so that we can be bright and shiny. Extroverts are the opposite, they get their energy from being around people and going out. That's what makes them feel good.

Introverts get the bad reputation of being the anti-social weirdo that's hiding out in their parent's basement. That's not a true representation (most of the time. No offense to my weirdos). I've been called a hermit and a shut-in, but the truth is, I like hanging out with people (really I do!). I like enjoying another person's company... in doses... when it doesn't cut into my time for me. This doesn't mean I'm abnormal or that anything is wrong with me.

What it does mean is that I have to pay attention to my energy and what I can give to other people. The past week, I've been thinking about self care and how it relates to being an introvert. When I honor my introvert and do the things that nourish that part of me it makes an amazing difference in my life. No more feeling run down and stretched thin and drained when I don't need to be. Here's what I've learned about self care + introverts.

Learn to say "no".

This one is hard to learn but it gets easier with practice. Remember that you don't have go out or meet up or hang out. If you aren't feeling it, don't do it, and don't feel bad about honoring those feelings! Work on saying "no" and saying it right away. If someone invites you to something and you don't want to go, say no! Don't say you'll think about it. Chances are you'll feel guilty about making them wait for an answer so you'll just suck it up and go and wish you were home reading the entire time. That's no fun for anyone.

Be aware of what you need.

Know when it's time to take a step back from immersing yourself in the company of others. Learn what signals your mind and body are giving you when it's time to schedule in some "me time". You might start feeling tired and overwhelmed from social situations. You might get anxious about losing time you want to spend on non-social activities. It's okay to honor those feelings and be flexible with what's going on around you.

Learn what recharges you. 

As I've said before, self care is different for everyone. It's that thing that you do that takes care of you and makes you feel good. What things make you feel better after you've expended your energy with other people? What fills up your inner reserves? Do those things. Spend time with your best friend or partner. Spend time alone. Spend time in quiet solitude or jam out to music. Do the things that pull you back together and inside of yourself.

Don't compare yourself to extroverts. 

Extroverts make it look easy don't they? They are the social butterflies that love attention and conversation. They go out all of the time and they make creating new friendships look as easy as breathing. I'm over here like "I replied to four e-mails today and talked on the phone for 10 minutes. I'm worn out, where's my cave?" Don't stress the fact that you aren't that person that makes the whole social interaction thing look like a breeze. There's nothing wrong with you and  there are other introverts out there just like you and they're awesome too. 

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? What things nourish your introverted energy?

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Sanctuary + October Blogging Break!

Are you signed up for the newsletter? In one of the last issues I talked about how I had decided to take a blogging break in October and focus on creating stuff, like this month's Monthly Challenge and the 2014 Self Love Workbook + Planner. Obviously I've made it three days in and hello... Blog! I love it too much to stay away. P.S. Have you noticed the new look?!

I also felt the need to take a step back, figure out if I'm going in the right direction, on a personal level as well as a business one. It's a mix between Strange Brain Territory and Re-calibrating myself. Navigating growing pains are tricky business I always say.

I keep asking myself: What do you want?

On a deep level. Forgetting fear and putting aside what I think I can or can not do. What do I want? That's a really important question and one that we should be asking ourselves all of the time. While also keeping something else in mind:

You are allowed to change your mind.

We are forever blossoming and withering, growing and transforming, and in each stage of that process, our needs change. I'm learning that's okay. What I needed or wanted six months ago is not necessarily what I want now. So I'm taking time and space and deep breaths and asking myself that question. What do I want? Then I'm sitting with the answers. Or getting peeved with my brain because it's coming up with Error 404 because it just doesn't know. That happens sometimes. 

Every week I try to pull a card for you all. I ask the Universe what I need to remind you or what you need to know. This week had me pulling cards for myself from Oracle of the Mermaids and this one popped up and it couldn't be more perfect. Maybe it will help you out too.

Privacy, inviolate personal space, respected boundaries and taboos. 

"There are times when you need to declare to the world, this is my time and this is my space.

For you, much time has been given to others, to caring for them, to looking over them, to watching for them, to loving them, bandaging, soothing them, satisfying them, feeding them... and now it is your time.You have the right to unviolated time out, time alone, during which you can be your whole self. 

It is time to declare your boundaries as sacred."

Why yes, yes they are. So the rest of the month I shall honor my need for a lighter workload, for time to lounge about and discover how I'm growing this time. To take time to cherish and love all over Blessing Manifesting even if I'm not blogging. I'll still be posting affirmations and inspiration on social media, as much for you as for me. All of the affirmations and self love tips serve as reminders for me too. Hopefully you'll join me this month as honoring your boundaries as sacred.

Are your boundaries sacred? When was the last time you took time for yourself? Do you feel like you have "personal space"? I'd love to hear from you!

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