Category Archives: Uncategorized

Lughnasadh: Celebrate Your Skills

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When’s the last time you stopped to reflect on all you’ve accomplished? What you’ve achieved with your personal skills & gifts? Too often we fixate on what we have yet to attain.

Today, on this sacred Earth Holiday (named for the ancient Irish God of All Skills), take a few mindful moments to make a list of at least 3 (or 9!) things you do well. That’s “well” – not necessarily perfectly.

We tend to overlook the things that come easily to us, so be sure to include your most natural qualities & talents, not just the ones you’d had to work hard to develop. This list represents just a few of the ways you are sharing your medicine with the world. Put your list in a place where you will see it every day (on the fridge or on your phone perhaps.)

Now it’s time to celebrate & energize these pathways of medicine. For the next 3 (or 9!) days, reflect on one of these qualities or skills. Name it out loud. Energize a candle (a charm candle or tealight will do) with your appreciation for all you have achieved with this skill, your sense of accomplishment & your intention to continue to grow & share your gifts with the world. Set the candle ablaze & let your Light shine!

29-Day MAKE THE WORLD BETTER CHALLENGE

On Jan. 20th @ 9:08 am Eastern, the Sun enters the sign of Aquarius. Aquarian energy calls for world change, but we don’t need to be players on the world stage in order to answer that call. Often our greatest potential for positive impact can be found in our circle of family, friends & community.

Wanna change the world? I invite you to join me for 29 days. From Jan 20th until the Sun moves into Pisces on Feb. 18th, let’s surf this wave of Aquarian Solar power & make the world better. [Coming to this late? No worries. Join us! It’s never too late to change the world.]

If you'd like to join in, it's simpler than you may imagine. Each day, align your intent, open to inspiration & ask yourself: How can I make the world better today? Allow the answers to be accessible & actionable. It doesn’t have to be showy. Quiet actions can be profound. You don't need to pick something different each day, but Aquarius thrives on uniqueness, so be creative.

Reach out to a friend who’s been feeling down. Pick up some trash in your neighborhood. Take some canned or dry goods to your local food pantry. Pick a positive mantra to uplift your mindset. Add a heater to your birdbath. Let someone go ahead of you in line. Take the leap on that volunteer opportunity you’ve contemplating. Make one change in your household that lightens your ecological footprint. Register to vote. Practice patience with that irritating co-worker. Thank a loved one for their presence in your life. Add milkweed or butterfly bush to your garden plans. Learn something that broadens your perspectives or deepens your compassion. Pass this challenge on to a friend.

Give it 29 days. And remember, it’s been said that it takes 30 days to form a new habit. What will you do on the 30th day?

by Ananaia R O'Leary

Growing Corn

Many years ago, I read wise words from a Native American elder. Regrettably, I do not recall this wise man's name, but I remember his words. He told of the many young people who came to him, eager to tell him of their mystical experiences. He would say to them: "Do not tell me your visions unless they can grow corn."

Ever since reading this, I have taken this wisdom to heart. Dreams and visions do not have substance unless we utilize the power of these experiences to create positive, tangible contributions to our lives and our world.

The principle of "growing corn" has become an integral part of my personal journey and my teaching. I have come to know and love Corn Plant Spirit -- an amazing ally, who has been helping me spiritually grow corn and bring forth my authentic expression.

This year, for the first time, I am living in a place where it is possible to literally grow corn. No, not a big farm or field, simply a little strip of earth around my patio in my apartment garden with enough sun to fuel its growth. With the help of a spirit sister with green-thumb magic, 3 beautiful stalks of heirloom corn grew all Summer in my tiny garden.

Harvesting the ears of corn at Summer's end has been a joyful and magical experience. This multi-colored corn is stunning. A reminder of the beauty we add to the world when we grow corn.

by Ananaia R O'Leary

Reassembling Yourself

Shock and stress can cause pieces of your energy field to scatter. When that happens, it's time to reassemble yourself. This shamanic practice calls back scattered pieces that have become hooked outside yourself and supports reintegration and wholeness.

In stressful times, it is supportive to reassemble yourself daily. Doing this regularly helps your energy field maintain its cohesion, even when things are challenging.

REASSEMBLING YOURSELF

Traditionally, this practice is done with a rattle. If you don't have a rattle, you can improvise. Create a rattle by putting a few small objects, such as beans, small pebbles, rice, etc., in a small container like a jar, pill bottle, etc. I once reassembled myself, in a pinch, with a bag of jelly beans. Get creative!

Instructions:

  1. Notice your state of being.
  2. Focus on your intent to call back any pieces of your energy that are willing to return at this time.
  3. You don’t need to track, direct or "go get" the energies. Simply hold your intention gently.
  4. Begin to rattle steadily with a pace and rhythm which seems natural and comfortable to you.
  5. Allow your rattle to be a messenger, carrying your intention to the realm of Spirit, creating a carrier wave which calls stray pieces of your energy field home.
  6. As you rattle, you may sense pieces returning. Breathe deeply and continue to rattle as you welcome their return.
  7. Rattle until the process feels complete.
  8. Breathe and rest mindfully as your energy field re-integrates these reclaimed parts.
  9. Notice your state of being.

by Ananaia R O'Leary

Easing Shock with Star of Bethlehem Flower Essence

When we're experiencing shock, Star of Bethlehem is a powerful plant ally. When taken in flower essence form, the energy of Star of Bethlehem deeply permeates our energy fields to soothe and stabilize our systems.Star of Bethlehem brings ease and comfort to the places in our psyche which have been recently disrupted and to the deeper places where we hold the memory of past shock. This beautiful plant ally helps to strengthen our capacity to be calm, centered and resilient in the presence of intensity,

Flower essences provide a tangible way to connect to the spiritual energy of plants. Unlike essential oils and tinctures, they do not contain physical plant material. They are water infused with the energetic pattern of the plant (along with a little bit of alcohol as a preservative.) A few drops of the essence under your tongue or in your drinking water delivers the spiritual essence of the plant to your energy field. Star of Bethlehem flower essence is available in most health food stores locally or online. Bach Flower remedies are an established brand, but other options are also available.

Stressed? Sedate Triple Warmer

sedating triple warmer

When we get really stressed, our Triple Warmer meridian goes into overdrive, fueling our fight-flight-freeze mechanism. Sedating the Triple Warmer meridian can help us calm down, release tension and reduce fear and anxiety.

Please Note: the arrows in this image indicate the flow of the Triple Warmer. To calm it down, you want to brush the meridian in the opposite direction. So start at your temple and end at the fingertip of your ring finger.

Here's how you do it:.

1. Place your right hand flat on your left temple.

2. As you inhale, sweep your hand firmly and steadily along
the triple warmer meridian (pictured above) to the tip of the
ring finger on your left hand, exhaling as you release the
energy through your fingers.

3. Repeat 2 or 3 times on your left side as needed. (You can
do this 4-5x if needed)

4. Repeat on the right side.

from Energy Medicine by Donna Eden

Celebrating Samhain

pumpkin-free-image

As the sun sets this evening, the sacred Earth holiday Samhain (pronounced "sow-en") begins. The veils between the planes of consciousness thin, intuition is heightened and the realm of Spirit feels closer and easier to access. After the trick or treating is done, take some time to tune to these deeper currents. Light a candle to honor departed loved ones. Use your favorite cards or runes to divine for messages from your Higher Self & Spirit Allies. As the season of harvest draws to a close and we head into the fallow time of the year, allow that which no longer serves you to shed away and take stock of what will sustain your transition to your next cycle of growth. This is a time of mystery, but - like each day of the year - it is also an occasion for joy. Mull a cup of cider, roast some pumpkin seeds, enjoy a candy apple and celebrate. Samhain blessings!

When You’re Feeling Down, Look Up

Ever notice that, when times get tough, we tend to bow our heads & forge ahead, eyes lowered, chin tucked, jaw set? This posture compresses our upper chakras: Crown, 3rd Eye, Throat & Heart. Constricting these vital centers makes it more difficult to access the grace, inspiration & clarity needed to find solutions & a smooth pathway forward. Next time you're feeling stressed, relax your jaw, lift your head, look to the sky & welcome luminous possibilities!

by Ananaia R O'Leary