Jump Start Your Creative Mojo

Happy November my friends! Are any of you participating in NaNoWriMo? If you are, let me know and keep me updated on your progress. I'm gonna be your own personal cheerleader! Go you you fabulously writer-y you! This is going to be a big month for me so I won't have the time. Sadface. However,

I know the pain of staring at the blank page.

Or blog post text box as it were. I was having that very problem the other day and I kept getting more and more frustrated. Open blog post, write a sentence, open facebook, click on links, giggle at cute cat pictures, visit youtube, giggle more, open blog, write a sentence, twitter, Burn Notice on Netflix, rinse and repeat. Does that sound familiar to anyone else? Three hours later and you've written the hell out of three paragraphs. Three measly paragraphs.

Then I remembered I can create the mojo.

You're either in the mood to write or you aren't. Just because you aren't in the mood doesn't mean that all hope is lost. You can find ways to get in the mood. Put on some "Let's Get It On" and... well that's a different blog post. Everyone has things that get them in a creative mood, find those things. I have a list a mile long of things that help and generally by the end of that list you'll find me in my writing groove.

First thing is first. Mix it up.

If what you're doing now isn't working then it's time to try something new. Easiest way to do this: Change up your surroundings. I don't mean go write somewhere else, although that's not a bad idea, but I want you to create an atmosphere around you of creativity.

For me, this usually involves opening a window and letting the fresh air in. Burning a stick of my favorite incense, lighting a delicious smelling candle, and spritzing the room with whatever essential oil I'm in love with at the time. You can see how this creates an atmosphere of relaxation and focus.

Wear the lucky underwear or nail polish. Listen to that song that always makes you want to write. (Mine is Bon Iver - Re: Stacks. What's yours?) If all that doesn't work I move on to step #2.

Woman, relax thyself.

Sometimes you just gotta totally check out for an hour or two and then come back to it. Instead of trying to break through that wall, you go and take the scenic route around it. Taking a long, relaxing, bath can do wonders. It can allow you to soak in inspiration or clear your mind so that when you come back to writing it's with a clear head. Taking half an hour to be mindfully distracted can also help. Mindfully distracted? What is that you ask? It's being distracted on purpose. Instead of allowing yourself to be distracted while the entire time you're thinking I really should be writing... Go forth, seek a distraction, and enjoy every minute of it without guilt. Then go back to the writing when your brain is ready.

Ditch the distractions.

I know, this one is a toughy but you'll be happier if you don't have 3 gazillion tabs open in Chrome. Or even one. Completely close it and don't open it again until your writing is done. Facebook will not collapse without you, I promise. Phones too, don't think I forgot! Put your phone across the room and don't touch it no matter how many notifications you get. No TV either. If you're listening to music try making your own playlist instead of listening to Pandora, that way you won't be tempted to get distracted from your writing to change songs. Instrumental songs and soundtracks are even better to get you in the zone.

When it comes to writing, you've got to allow your creative self to guide you and she can be a demanding biddy who exacts payment in massive amounts of coffee and good music. Make her happy and you'll find it easier to get over those hurdles that stop you from writing.

Are you doing NaNoWriMo? What gets you in the writing mood?

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The Call of Whale Song

I have been obsessed with whales ever since the first time I saw Free Willy or maybe it was Ocean Girl, which was a pretty awesome show. It was about a girl who swam and talked to whales and considered them family.

I digress, but my point stands whale = awesome.

Whales are the largest mammals in the world and they all exhale through their blowholes. I've talked about the breath and how letting out a big exhalation can relieve stress. You've probably even done it unintentionally when you are frustrated or angry.

So many creation myths start with the sea and this has given the whale to be a symbol of creation as well as creating. Getting in touch with whale energy can help you to be more creative and embrace those energies that are around you. This is especially true if your creativity involves song or sound.

Whale teaches us to sing our song.

To discover our voice and use it. To communicate with it. In doing those things we also learn how to listen to it. To hear that inner voice that calls and sings to us. To be vocal inside and outside of ourselves with our gentle yet powerful song. Our song, our voice, is unique and beautiful.

With everything there must be balance. 

It might also be time to dive deep deep deep into the depths of the water, allowing it to engulf you and allowing you to dwell in silence. Aside from their song, silence is something that I also associate with Whale. It has the ability to dive thousands of feet beneath what we know of the world. When you think about it, it's a pretty amazing thought.

Dive deep into the waters, allow the silence to engulf you, and when the time is right, sing your song.

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Aromatherapy: Sweet Orange Oil

I go through phases of my favorite essential oil. Sometimes it's chamomile, oftentimes it's lavender, I am a huge fan of lemon and also of it's citrus-y cousin orange.

Cheery, energizing, wake-you-up sweet orange oil. 

Orange is the ultimate happiness-inducing oil, or maybe that's just me. I love oranges so it would be natural that I just love the smell of oranges too. It puts me in mind of orange groves and country breakfasts. Maybe that's why I find it energizing too!

I use a sweet orange perfume oil, which is a mix of a carrier oil, sweet orange essential oil, and a wee bit of alcohol, I like it way better than traditional perfume and it smells wonderful. 

Orange is great for bringing feelings of joy, it cheers you up, chases away the grumps and makes room for joy to rush in. It reduces fear and also helps you to rediscover your belief in yourself. It's also good for relieving stress and has even been known to lower blood pressure by a small amount. If those are things that you struggle with you can mix sweet orange essential oil with a carrier oil for a massage or to dab on yourself. One of my favorite ways is to put it in an oil warmer, which will dispense the scent through out your home. Because the scent is strong you only ever have to use a drop or two. 

If you aren't into the whole essential oil thing you can still add orangey-ness to your life.

I use Nivea Touch Of Happiness body wash, which is orange scented. You can also make potpourri out of orange rinds. You can either boil them in water and let the scent diffuse through your home, or dry them out and mix them with spices for a dried potpourri. There's also candles, lotions, bath soaks, and so many other ways to orangeinize your life.

What's your favorite way to use oranges? What's your favorite essential oil at the moment?

When using essential oils remember to do your own research, dilute the essential oil, and don't use if you are pregnant, nursing or have a medical condition. This is not a substitute for medical advice. 

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Raccoon Wisdom

I love learning about animals and what they can teach us on a spiritual level. I think that they hold a whole lot of wisdom in the way that they behave and act in nature as well as how they're portrayed in myths and stories.

Today we're looking at Raccoon Wisdom.

Since seeing Disney's Pocahontas I have been fascinated by them. I love their curiosity and the black masks over their eyes. They are really interesting animals. They embody the traits of dexterity, disguise, and curiosity. One of the really cool things about the raccoon is their ability to use their hands. They have very agile paws and can open a variety of things, which gives them the reputation of being little thieves, and they can be, because they take things that they find fascinating.

Raccoons are very curious and are always getting into things that they shouldn't. They love to explore and get into things. 

Raccoon reminds us to indulge in the ideas that we find curious or interesting.

Pick them up (metaphorically of course), feel them out, and see if it's something that you want to play with.

Raccoons have a black mask over their eyes and this allows us to look into the use of masks and disguises. We all have daily masks that we wear, ways that we act that are not being true to how we're feeling. You've heard the term, put on a happy face. Sometimes we have to do this. Raccoon helps us to acknowledge why we wear the masks that we do. How they protect us from the world and the use that they have in our lives.

This may also be the time to start wearing actual masks. It can be very liberating to hide your identity behind a mask, allow yourself to transform into something different than you are. Try wearing a mask while you dance, let your body become something else. 

Maybe hiding behind the mask you will no longer be afraid to be exactly who you are.

What masks do you wear? Do they help you or hinder you?

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Chakra Work: Throat Chakra

Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn't speak your truth? Where you remained silent? Do you have trouble speaking your real feelings or speaking up for yourself?

You might need to do a bit of throat chakra work.

The throat chakra is the 5th chakra and it governs our communication skills, creativity, as well as our ability to be authentic and express ourselves. Physically it's connected to our thyroid, mouth, teeth, and respiratory system.

This is where we hold our beliefs about who we are. When your throat chakra is blocked you'll have problems expressing your feelings or you might feel like your feelings and emotions don't matter so you won't often voice them. You might feel like you aren't "authentic" because you'll have trouble embracing the core of who you are. You also might lie because lying is easier than speaking about how you truly feel.

Have you ever used the "Oh, I'm fine, I'm just tired." excuse when you're really hurting about something? 

On the reverse side your chakra might be over-active, which means you gossip all of the time, you don't know when to listen, every conversation is about you, and you don't know that there are times when a little bit of tact to get your point across.

As with everything, you want to find a balance.

You can unblock and rebalance your chakras with oils, crystals, meditation, reiki, and a few other ways as well. You can use crystals like turquoise, lapis lazuli, and chrysocolla to embrace the qualities of an open throat chakra. You can hold 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 throat or make a necklace that hangs around your throat.

You can also experiment with essential oils like chamomile, which can help you speak your truth, geranium, which helps you express your self and myrrh, which will help you regain a sense of your own voice. You can make these oils into a massage oil and rub it over your throat. You can wear it while meditating or going about your day, you can put it in a bath, add it to candles or diffusers, or put it in spray bottles with water to anoint your space with, especially if you have a workspace where you get your creative thang on!

Do you feel like your throat chakra is blocked, open, or over-active?

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Smelly Stuffs: Sage

Let's talk about smelly things, good smelly things of course! Specifically the very cleansing, bliss-you-out smell of Sage.

Sage is my go to essential oil for cleansing my space of negative juju. 

Having sage simmering in an essential oil warmer or in a candle helps disperse negative energies in the room. This is especially good if there's been a lot of strife and chaos in your home life.

You can also get sage smudge sticks, which are usually bundles of sage and other herbs that you burn. When the herbs start smoking you slowly wave the smudge stick around your home, letting the smoke move around the space.

In its essential oil form (diluted with a carrier oil) Sage can be used for so many different things. If you have a migraine try rubbing a dab of sage on your temple and massaging it in (lavender works too!) close your eyes and spend a few minutes relaxing and breathing deeply.

Sage is also good for meditation, in ancient times it was used to help create a meditative or spiritual trance-like state. If you need a bit of a spiritual jump-start you might want to try working this into your spiritual practice to see if it can enhance your spiritual connection.

Allow yourself to breathe deeply and let spirit flow through you.

Sage is also a great oil to help with painful menstrual symptoms. You can make yourself a massage oil and rub it on your back or abdomen. One of my favorite ways to help soothe cramps (and you can do this with no oil at all or a different essential oil) is to make a hot compress. Take a washcloth and soak it in hot water. Wring the water out, apply a few drops of oil, and then press it against your lower belly. Cover the washcloth with a towel (right out of the dryer so it's warm too is extra soothing).

Taking a warm bath with a few drops of sage can help with cramps too, as well as help alleviate depression and headaches.

Remember to never use undiluted essential oil on your skin and this is not a substitute for medical advice.

Have you ever used Sage? What was your experience?

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Crystal Healing: Rose Quartz

I love self love because it's awesome and it changes lives. I also like stones and crystals, because well... also awesome!

One stone that really helps amplify those feelings of self love is rose quartz. It's like the Official Self Love crystal.

If you find yourself lacking in love, whether it's feelings of unworthiness or you just find yourself lacking an overall loving vibe, pop a piece of this in your pocket.

I've personally used this when I'm going through a hard time with another person. 

If you're fighting with a friend or loved one and you find yourself wanting to harness a little bit of extra kindness and compassion I definitely recommend this, especially if you are about to have one of those deep discussions or confrontations that could possibly turn into an argument.

Holding a piece of this stone or setting it on the table or in the room with you is not only a great reminder to act and speak with love and compassion but it helps soothe those angry, stress-fueled, vibes.

Remember when I was talking about coming unraveled? It is so easy to become frustrated with yourself when you're working on your stuff, that sometimes we forget to be compassionate and patient with ourselves and our journey.

Definitely add this to your Self Improvement Tool Box.

Have you ever worked with Rose Quartz? What effect did it have on your situation?

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The Wisdom of Turtle

A few days ago I was walking home from work in the morning after a few days of rain. I live in the city and I was walking over one of those bridge-thingies, ya know they aren't really bridges, just elevated roads with water that runs underneath them when it rains.

When I'm crossing that bridge-thing I always look down over the rail because sometimes there are ducks and I really like looking at ducks. That day I looked down and saw a turtle-disguised-as-a-rock moving underneath the shallow surface of the water. I stood there for a few minutes watching it move. What can I say? I enjoy turtle-watching.

I always like looking up the meanings of animals that cross my path, they're always good reminders to pay attention to some area of my life that I might not notice otherwise.

This is what Turtle Magic teaches:

Turtle represents motherhood, longevity, and awakening to the opportunities that are around you. Which is all sorts of perfect for me right here in this moment. I've been retreating into my shell a lot lately but over the last week or so I've felt myself emerging and I've felt myself awakening to my creativity again.

Turtles are ancient and have been around for so many years. They are featured in mythology in many different cultures. In the east the top of the turtle shell is seen as representing heaven and the bottom of the shell, earth. As an animal that lives both on land and in the water, Turtle is seen as connecting the two worlds.

In Africa the turtle is a symbol of the feminine sex organ and sexuality and to the Native Americans it is associated with the moon and menstruation. It is a creature steeped in feminine mystery. Turtle represents the primal mother that resides in all of us.

Turtle also teaches us about cave time, or in this case “Shell time”. We must look inside of ourselves and know when it is time to retreat, when it is time to hide within ourselves and let life proceed slowly. Turtle knows that it has all of the time in the world to get things done. When turtle turns up it is time to get in touch with your true self, your primal self.

Is there any Turtle wisdom that is resonating with you right now?

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Goddess Wisdom: Yemaya's Story

My spiritual path has always been rather Goddess-Centered. I remember a time when I was absolutely in love with Yemanya, or Yemaya, nearly a decade ago.

There was just something beautiful about her that spoke of comfort, of freedom, and letting go and with my turbulent emotions, she was just what I needed.

Her Story.

Yemanya is such a Universal Goddess. She originated in Africa and is now worshiped in Brazil as well as Haiti and Cuba in the Santeria religion. Who doesn't love a Goddess of the Ocean? A mermaid with pearls threaded through her hair.

Yemaya is a Yorubian Orisha, or Goddess of the Ocean who is the mother of all. She is the source of the water that gives life in West Africa. She is a protection Goddess and also resides over fertility and creation. She is a fierce protector of women. When you're going through a hard time that has a lot to do with emotions, this Goddess is a great one to learn from and to seek comfort with.

Some legends say that after being raped, Yemaya decided to end her own life. She threw herself from the top of a mountain and as she did fourteen Orishas, or Gods, emerged from her body and sacred waters gushed from her womb, giving the gift of water to the earth below, creating the seven seas.

What she teaches us.

Yemaya teaches us that things are always changing and that through those changes compassion and gentleness allows us to create and transform through the process. She encourages us to seek the Divine Mother within ourselves, that strongly protective, infinitely loving, aspect that is inside of us all and to turn it inward.

Yemaya reminds us that like surfing the waves, timing is everything. When opportunities present themselves, you must be ready. Embrace the rhythm of the tides and allow it to wash away your doubts. If you feel that it's time, don't hesitate, trust your gut.

Connect with Yemaya

Yemaya is often depicted as a mermaid or as a woman standing among the waves crashing on the shore. You can connect with her by holding a seashell up to your ear and hearing her echo. Visit the ocean, walk through the waves and allow yourself to be cleansed and comforted by her embrace and her gift to all life.

You can wear the colors blue and white, especially skirts, allowing the material to swish around your legs. Embrace the sensuality of the every day.

Singing, dancing, and drumming are also ways that you can connect with Yemaya. Anything that raises a happy, positive, vibration around you is perfect. There is one song that I've loved forever by SpiritSong Drummers and this one is perfect too!

She is associated with the moon, white and blue flowers, cowrie shells, pearls, and mermaids.

Journaling Prompts

What are you waiting to give birth to?
What's waiting to be created?
How can you recapture your creative power?
What part of your life needs a wave of new energy?

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Citronella and Creepy Insects.

I am really creeped out by mosquitoes, incredibly so. I'd rather have spiders crawling all over me than see one mosquito on my arm having a cocktail of Domineeblood. Ew. Gross. Double gross. I never kill insects if I can help it, but mosquitoes make me so slap happy I can't really help it.

It's summer-time and that means mosquitoes and that means it's time for the secret weapon.

Citronella essential oil.

Citronella is famous for it's mosquito repelling properties. Citronella candles are basically a summer must-have, it has a pleasant smell, it's easy to find, and it works.

I work overnight and a few times a week I walk to work at 9:30pm, prime time for the creepy-crawlies to attack me with their blood-sucking terror. Not only does it repel mosquitoes but fleas as well.

I've taken to wearing a body spray made out of citronella essential oil and I am happy to say that it works. I haven't had one itchy mosquito bite since I started wearing it. The only drawback is that the effects do not last long. It's best to respray yourself every half hour or so if you're going to be outside. If you're not a fan of the smell, you can blend it with lavender, which is also a mild repellent and smells yummy.

Wanna know what else works? Catnip!

If you want to be covered in kitties and repel the blood suckers, well there ya go! To use these essential oils for your bug repelling needs, here you go. (Remember to test essential oils on your skin before using them, sometimes your skin can have a negative reaction)

Repellent Spray
Get a little spray bottle, add about 2oz of water and then 10-15 drops of citronella and 8-10 drops of lavender. Spray this on yourself every 30 or so minutes when you're outside.

Repellent Lotion
I always keep a bottle of unscented lotion on hand. Squirting some lotion in your hand and mixing it with a few drops of oil makes for a good carrier in a lot of aromatherapy recipes.

You can also add drops to a diffuser or a candle to repel a small area around you.
Remember to be safe with essential oils, make sure they aren't going to negatively affect your skin and never use pure essential oil on your skin without mixing it with something first!

What's your secret to repelling the bloodsuckers?

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Summer Solstice

This Friday marks the first official day of Summer, or the Summer Solstice. It is the longest day of the year, when the sun reigns as king in the sky.

It's a celebration of light.

A celebration of heat and passion and sunshine and sweat trickling down your back as the sun shines on you.

I love the celebration of the seasons and marking the changes as the wheel of the year turns.

You can celebrate the season of summer in so many different ways. Go outside and spend time in nature, enjoy the sunshine upon you, the sun that nourishes all of the things that you see and gives them life. The energy that you feel buzzing and vibrating through you and the things around you, is the energy of summer. The heat radiating from the pavement, the shadows created by the sunshine through the trees, the warmth of the soil beneath your feet.

Noticing those things, those simple summertime things, and appreciating them, is a great way to celebrate.

Go outside and go on a nature walk. Spend time playing outside with your family. Go camping or swimming. Show your appreciation for Mama Earth and all she gives us by spending some time with her.

How are you going to celebrate summer?

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Blessing Manifesting's Meditation Challenge

I came up with the idea last year that it would be awesome to have little monthly Life-Improving challenges but then life got in the way and I got busy.

Sometimes it's hard to make changes and we need a little bit of an extra push to start making good things happen.

That's why, for the rest of the year, I want to run  (free) monthly one-week challenges designed to encourage you to make your life awesomer. More awesome.

Awesometastic.

So far, I have Meditation (this month's challenge), Take Your Picture week, Body Movement, Seven Days of Play, Art-a-day, and maybe some other things will come to me.

Any other week long challenges you'd be interested in?

Starting June 23rd we're having a Meditation Challenge, you can sign up here! I have a confession to make, I am not a huge fan of traditional meditation. Sitting still, in complete silence, doesn't do a lot for me, but there are other forms of meditation and I want to share them with you.

Meditation can be more than just sitting in quiet or chanting 'om'. If you don't like meditating or you feel intimidated by what you think meditation should be, then this challenge is for you!

I like to use guided meditations as well as nature sounds and spiritual music to meditate to. Every day for a week you'll get a meditation reminder e-mail as well as links to my favorite (free) guided meditations around the interwebz AND an invite to a Facebook group for extra accountability.

Want to know more?

I hope you'll accept the challenge!

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I Found God in Myself

You can buy this print here

What do you find worth loving about yourself? Do you see any part of yourself as worthy of admiration? What part of you is Divine?

There comes a point in life when your thinking begins to change. When you realize that all of those things that you used to hate about yourself really don't matter. You realize that you are part of something great and big and lovely and worthwhile.

That turning point is different for everyone. Maybe you become a parent. Or you meet someone who really loves you and helps you to discover that you're worth loving. Maybe you just get tired of the self-hate and feeling not-good-enough.

Have you reached that point where you see something miraculous within yourself?

It's odd but I don't remember the exact moment I started to love myself, to see myself as something more. It was a gradual process, my thoughts about myself changed. My feelings about myself changed and I realized that I was seeing myself as part of this beautiful whole. I was no longer a part from it, no longer alienated from it. I started to see that I was part of God (the Creator/Goddess/Universe/Great Spirit/ect). I was a piece of that. It's like a big puzzle. You might think that the smallest piece doesn't matter but when you finish the puzzle you notice the lack of it, the incompleteness. You realize that the teeny tiny piece matters and you are that piece, you make it complete, and all of those other pieces, they complete you too.

“I found god in myself and I loved her I loved her fiercely” - Ntozake Shange

I encourage you to find that spark of Divinity inside of yourself. To recognize it, to accept it, and to keep it close to your heart. 

There is something miraculous and celestial about you. All of those things that you admire about the Universe dwell within you. 

They are part of you and you are part of them.

Do you see yourself as part of God? When did that moment happen for you? Is it easy for you to hold onto your divinity or do you forget sometimes?

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Numerology Fun! Your Life Path Number

I've always been fascinated with things like astrology, numerology, palmistry, that sort of thing. I'm not one of those that reads their horoscope every day to find out what's going to happen, but I do find it interesting!

I think Numerology is fun, mainly because it's the only kind of math I can do without hurting my brain. Dominee and Math do not a happy couple make.

What is Numerology?

Numerology is the study of numbers in relation to one's destiny. Adding up the numbers in your birthday, or in your name, carry a certain significance. Numerology is based on Master numbers, which are the numbers 1-9 as well as the number 11 and the number 22. Each of these numbers has a specific meaning.

Discover your life path number

You discover your Life Path number by simplifying the numbers in your birthday and then adding them together. Each time you get a number bigger than 9, you add the two digits together (so that the number 13 turns into 1+3=4) to get a number smaller than 9. (Eleven and twenty-two are the exception!) Here's an example.

Life Path for December 28th 1977
December = 12. 1+2 = 3
28 = 2+8 = 10. 1+0 = 1
1977 = 1+9+7+7= 24. 2+4= 6
Add up the final numbers: 6+1+3 =10. 1+0 = 1!
The Life Path Number is 1!

Here's another demonstration of my own Number.

So now that you know how to calculate your Life Path Number, let me pull out my crystal ball and tell you what it means for you.

Number One

Number Ones are natural leaders who love the spotlight. They're bold, confident, ambitious and used to things going their way. They aspire to be successful and are highly motivated. They can sometimes be too heavy handed in their quest for the spotlight. They are very independent and logical thinkers.

Number Two

People with this number tend to want to be part of a pair. They're always in relationships and feel complete when they are with someone else, especially a soulmate. They are extremely loving and very sensitive. Harmony and balance are important to them. They struggle with being too self-sacrificing and giving too much of themselves.

Number Three

They are all about being the performer and entertaining those around them. People with this number make great writers, musicians, and actors. They embody excitement and tend to be charming and unique. They tend to wear themselves out easily because of their busy and energetic lives.

Number Four

This one is like an architect. They are organizers, they build things in a practical manner and they enjoy order. They have a very strong sense of what is right and wrong and rarely see anything in shades of gray. They use a logical and practical step-by-step approach to everything. They also don't give up easily. Strong, stable, and reliable are also words to describe them.

Number Five

Number Fives are hit by wanderlust. They love to travel, meet new people, and have new experiences. They are adventurers and wanderers with an insatiable curiosity for the world around them. People with this number attend the school of life. They are free spirits and love to express their creativity. They have difficulty with discipline and finishing what they start.

Number Six
Sixes are extremely caring and affectionate and always ready to stick up for the little guy. They want to help and heal those that are in need and give comfort to those around them. They are very nurturing and they fill the role of caregiver easily. They are friendly and kind but have a tendency to interfere and try to help too much.

Number Seven
People with number seven are sensitive. They tend to be worriers and do best when they are given their solitude. They are spiritual and intuitive and great at giving advice. They are introspective and tend to contemplate the mysteries of life and the Universe. They need to find the balance between being a loner and surrounding themselves with nourishing people.

Number Eight
Eights are good at managing. They are good with money and finances and accumulating material things. They are leaders and great business people and can balance ambition and compassion. They have the potential to change people's lives and improve the world around them. They have a good head for saving and investing.

Number Nine
Nines are spiritual people who do best in the role of humanitarian. They are selfless and patient and they make good healers. They seek inspiration and to inspire others. They have a strong need to make the world around them a better place. They can struggle with feeling disappointed in themselves when they don't reap the results they want. They find satisfaction in giving to others.

Number Eleven
Number Elevens are like Number Twos but twice as much. They possess intuition and are good at inspiring people. They sometimes come off as shy and withdrawn but they feel deep connections with others.

Number Twenty-Two
Twenty-Twos are similar to Fours. They carry great weight and responsibility on their shoulders. They are master builders and are great a rallying around a cause and making it happen.

Which Number are you? Does it fit with how you see yourself or is it radically different?

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Spring Cleaning Tips!

So it's Spring, and with that comes to mind this wonderful thing called Spring Cleaning. You might start groaning at the thought of it, or you might be like me and be running through all of the exciting projects that are just waiting for you. Like washing the walls. Don't look at me like I'm crazy! Washing the walls with a bit of scented water is one of my favorite "chores".

I want to share with you some ideas and tips on how to start Spring Cleaning on a good note!

Big vs. Little

Some people will tell you to tackle the big tasks and get them out of the way and others will tell you to start small and work your way up to the big stuff. I say, figure out which strategy will work for you. You know yourself better than I do! I tend to do better when I start with the big projects first. For example cleaning out closets or rearranging cabinets gives me that sense of accomplishment and pride to push me through the little projects afterward. But if you get overwhelmed easily then start on those little projects and make small steps toward the bigger ones. It's all about knowing yourself.

Get rid of things you don't need.

When I moved last year I got rid of a lot of stuff, and I can't tell you how good it felt. It's hard to let go of stuff, especially when you've had it for a long time. Ask yourself these questions. Do you really need it? Are you really going to use it? How many times have you used it in the last year? Five years? Can you live without it? If it's something sentimental are you able to hold that memory without keeping the item? Is it worth it?

Let go of letters and mementos from past relationships, if those relationships weren't nourishing to you. Let go of those things that you plan on fixing or using someday but you just never get around to it. Donate the stuff you don't have a use for!

Do some decluttering.

Sometimes all you need is a good round of decluttering to make your home sparkle. Go through each room and get rid of broken toys, organize books and magazines, get rid of that pile of junk mail, or organize your dvds. If you're bad at organization check out pinterest for great and creative ideas. Beating the clutter is half the battle.

Go Digital.

Spring clean your computer and your phone! Get rid of old apps, programs, and photos that you no longer need. Make more room on your hard drive by getting rid of files that you aren't using. Organize your remaining files and photos into folders instead of having your desktop look like a war zone. (Guilty here!)

Get Spiritual with it.

I believe with my whole heart that energies linger in our homes and we need to cleanse our homes of negative energies every now and then. It's good to have a nice atmosphere, a clean atmosphere, and that's where sacred space clearing comes in. The best way to do this (for me) is to open every window in the house and let in the fresh air. Then I use a smudge stick (which is usually a bundle of sage and/or other herbs) or my favorite incense to go around the house, letting the smoke cleanse the space. Sage is purifying and the smoke from the sage cleanses the energies of your home. You can also cleanse the energies with sound, especially drumming, it breaks up the energy, and prayer works too! I definitely notice a difference afterward.

Goddess Haven.

One of my all-time favorite e-courses is Leonie Dawson's Goddess Haven e-course. It was huge in helping me come out of a depression that had left my apartment looking like something out of Hoarders. I absolutely love this course and heartily recommend it! It helps you prioritize, get organized, and create a space that you'll love.

What's your best Spring Cleaning tip?

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Make Your Own Affirmations

In case you didn't know, I love affirmations. I post them daily on facebook and twitter because they have been one of the tools that have really helped me deal with my "stuff".

Affirmations encourage positive self-talk.

True story. One of my main problems back in the day was the way I talked to myself. I was verbally abusive to a lot of people, but mostly to myself. I'd call myself fat, ugly, and tell myself that no one was going to love me, ever. I was so stupid for every mistake I made. I should've known better, done better, been better...

Affirmations woke me up to a whole new way of speaking to myself. I know that some people think affirmations are lame, and that's totally okay, but for me, they triggered a wonderful change in myself, and I love sharing that with everyone else. I love encouraging people to make that change. I love showing people that you are allowed to think good things and it feels good.

I think that a lot of people are turned off from affirmations because it doesn't feel real or authentic or they can't believe it. Some affirmations are a little out there. "My body is finally catching up with the skinny person that lives inside it." I've seen that one and it makes me raise a skeptical eyebrow and go "No thank you."

Wanna know a secret?

Affirmations don't have to be all light and lovey-dovey. Don't get me wrong, I like those, and I use those, but that might not be your thing and some days it's not my thing. I'm just as likely to say "Today I overcome all of my problems and everything goes my way." as I am: "I am totally going to kick this day's ass and it's going to freaking rock."

Speak your affirmations in your own language.

Look in the mirror and tell yourself what a kickin' ass and takin' names badass you are. Tell yourself that you are going to rock this day. That you are going to get massive amounts of shit done and not freak out. That you are epic and you pwn all (that's gamer speak). Of course I've never been known to dance in front of the mirror telling myself how I'm the most fabulous, lovely, shmexy, person I've ever met, nope, not me at all.

You don't have to change who you are to change how you talk to yourself.

You don't have to turn into some sort of enlightened guru to connect with yourself. As long as what you are saying feels good and is positive in your interpretation then go for it ya know? Make it colorful, make it fun, make it truth.

What's your favorite positive thing to tell yourself?

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The Power of Positive Thinking

I'm a pretty happy-go-lucky person and I also deal with depression. I know both sides of the coin, how it feels when everything is amazing and how it feels when everything sucks.

Even when it sucks... 100% of the time it gets better.

That's positive thinking for ya. It may take a little while, but it works. I've run into people that think that positive thinking, affirmations, that kind of thing, is just so fluffy bunny. Which basically means you're all airy-fairy, head in the clouds, nonsensical kind of person.

Some of the critics even think that positive thinking is dangerous because it makes you break from reality and it gives you unrealistic expectations about life. If you wish hard enough for a pink fluffy unicorn, and a castle in the sky, and lots of money, then gosh darn it, it's going to happen and if it doesn't happen then poor you, that's going to crush you and destroy your life, no more positive thinking, it's dangerous!

Positive thinking has to be based in reality.

I think that's where the misconceptions come into play. We're not all sunshine and lollipops all of the time. There needs to be some level of self awareness when it comes to positive thinking. You have to know when it's time to do shadow work, and dig deep into the sucky stuff, and you have to know when it's time to let the crappy stuff go and focus on the positive.

Imagine that you had someone following you around all of the time telling you how much everything in your life sucked, how much you sucked, how nothing was ever going to go right so it was pointless to even try. How would that help you? How would that be nourishing? It might open your eyes to something that you needed to change or work on, but at the same time if it goes on day in and day out it's going to break you down.

Now imagine the opposite. you have your own personal cheerleader following you around telling you how everything is awesome, and you can do anything, and life is just fantastic. Now that's a little bit nicer, right? But what if this cheerleader tells you that you just have to believe anything and it will happen? Believe that you can have all the money in the world and it's yours if you just believe. You don't have to work for it, just want it bad enough. Do you see where the dissonance happens?

Positive thinking is the bridge between what is and what can be. You have to seek balance.

It's based on believing in yourself and your abilities in a realistic way but in a way that also looks on the bright side. It's about having faith in yourself and giving yourself a pep-talk. Positive thinking gives you the space to quiet the doubts so that you can see what you're really made of. It's the umbrella that stops you from getting soaked by the rain, even though sometimes you have to cast it aside and get a little wet.

Know what you're capable of, and also believe that you might be capable of a whole lot more!

What are your opinions on positive thinking? Do you think it's a load of hokum, as Sheldon Cooper would say? Or do you find that it works for you and your life?

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Animal Magic: Seal - embracing playfulness and creativity!

Seals are sea mammals that spend most of their time in the water. They are most often found in the Arctic and Antarctic which is why I wanted to talk about them today, I dunno about you but I'm feeling kinda chilled and so ready for Spring to arrive!

Since Seal is primarily a water dwelling animal this tells us that much of what he represents is going to involve the realm of emotions. 

Seal's message to us is to listen to our inner voice and to embrace our imagination. Learn to play, to dance, to move gracefully through your surroundings. Think of the balance between survival and rolling joyfully through the snow. Don't get so caught up in survival or the day-to-day, that you forget to do a few twirls in the water... err... you know what I mean. Live in the moment and enjoy it.

Swim with the current. Release negative feelings, fear, and anxiety. Review the ebb and flow of your thoughts.

It's around the time when we start missing the sun, missing the warmth of the rays on our skin, Winter is the time to reflect and embrace the darkness. Seal reminds us that there must be a balance. Allow your imagination to take control every once and awhile, let go of the heaviness. Allow yourself to have big dreams and to run after those dreams.

You can meditate with Seal to help your dreams become vivid and more significant. If you need to be inspired then take some time to do a Seal meditation. Imagine yourself swimming under the sea with Seal, all of the endless possibilities opening up before you. The beauty of the water, the snow, glaciers, the feeling of the water rushing over your body.

Journaling Prompts:

How do you allow yourself to be creative?
Do you make time to be playful or are you a serious sort of person?
Do you allow yourself to use your imagination or do you find yourself firmly planted in reality?
Imagine that you could do anything or be anything, write about it.
Are you able to allow yourself to be quiet and listen to your instincts?

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I Adore Amethyst!

As I struggle this week with anxiety, I find myself turning to my crystal healers. I love crystals and stones. At the moment celestite and Amethyst are the ones that I find myself being drawn to.

Amethyst is a great stone for keeping calm and healing anxiety. 

Aside from Quartz Crystal, Amethyst is one of the first crystals that I ever worked with and I think that it's great for beginners. If you are just starting out on your crystal journey I definitely recommend you get a small chunk or a tumbled stone to play around with.

Amethyst is probably one of the most popular crystals today. It is a beautiful purple color and is very easy to recognize, as well as find, in shops. Amethyst is an extremely powerful, spiritual, and protective crystal. It is wonderful at blocking negative energy and promoting a peaceful environment. It's also a great assistant at healing problems with addiction.

Amethyst balances highs and lows and promotes emotional wellness. It dispels anger, fear, and anxiety as well as alleviating sadness and grief. It will help you come to terms with grief and heartbreak as well, so if that's something you are dealing with you should find an amethyst pendant to wear close to your heart.

Amethyst will also help you to have sweet dreams and relax you. If you suffer from nightmares or restless sleep you might try putting a tumbled stone in your pillowcase or on the headboard of your bed.

How I'm using Amethyst

I've been sleeping with a chunk of raw amethyst on the window sill right above my bed. So far the anxiety has been kept at bay when I'm falling asleep and through dream time.

I have my daily ritual of reading in bed before I go to sleep. If the book is not keeping my attention anxious thoughts begin to creep in. I take the amethyst, lay down, sit it on my heart, and take deep breaths while I repeat to myself "Everything is going to be okay." Score one for positive thinking.

While taking a relaxing bath, which I do every day because it's part of my self care routine, I sit tumbled amethyst around the edge of the tub to create even more relaxation.

I also carry tumbled stones in my pocket! As you can see I really love amethyst and I think it helps me to keep my grasp on sanity and not run around my room yanking my hair out.

Do you like amethyst? What's your favorite stone? 

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How I Talk To Goddess

One of the tools that has been so important to me getting my life together has been writing. It has helped me to manage my depression, it has allowed me to dig deep spiritually, and it's always been my way of working through the big stuff.

My Journal is a book of conversations. 

Conversations with my demons, conversations with my inner wise woman, and conversations to and from my Goddess.

I allow Her to speak through me. When I need advice I just allow myself to write and eventually the answers I need at that moment come to me.

Sometimes it's just an overwhelming feeling of comfort as sweet words pour onto the pages, soothing my heart in just the right way.

My Journal is prayer written on paper.

When I need help I write down what I need and somehow the solutions seem to find me, or I discover them. When I am feeling grateful it allows me to express it and be thankful.

A few years ago I was going through a terrible time. I'd rush to my journal and write down a plea for the pain to stop. Within those pages, as I wrote out my agony and the tears fell, the pain would subside.

My Journal is my place of healing.

When I write, I don't just write I transport myself to a safe place, mentally and emotionally. Most of the conversations in my journals take place after I write the scene. Sometimes I imagine myself sitting next to Goddess on a warm sandy beach at twilight with the moon reflecting on the surface of the ocean. I write down the scene in as much detail as possible, along with details on how Goddess looks to me. It puts me into a semi-meditative state which instantly calms me.

If you want to delve deeper into your spirituality then start a journal.

It allows you to document your spirituality, connect with yourself and your God, and figure out what works for you.

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