-
Mindful Living: A Connection of Mind, Body and Spirit
The Wheel turns towards Lughnasadh (August 1st) and in the United States the Midwest is in the height of Summer. Vacations and day trips are scheduled to make one more summer memory before the grind of school and school related activities becomes the primary focus of many for the bulk of the year. Gentle buds and blossoms have given way to the hearty heat loving plants and flowers. Solace can be found under shade trees, in creeks, pools and water parks. Those who live in accordance with nature often split their days to rise early to work outside then afternoon rest and work later in the day as the heat…
-
Mindful Living: A Connection of Mind, Body and Spirit
As I sit down to write this article for Midsummer, we are blessed with a beautiful warm sunny day in central Ohio. Birds are singing, crab apple blossoms are on the tree and there is about 30 seconds of ideal blissful mindfulness. Then the children screech as they realize the creek water is still icy cold and the dogs begin to bark when they realize the electric company has workers across the backyard. This scenario is typical to anyone not living alone who wishes to practice mindfulness and meditation. Photography, social media, YouTube all show these ideal studios with perfect surroundings to perfect our practice. Most of us cannot…
-
Living the Oily Life
Lemon Oil Lemon oil is another extremely versatile oil. It is suggested as one of the 1st oils for someone starting their foray into essential oils and it also happens to be another favorite of mine. It can be used topically (on the skin), aromatically (inhaled) and internally. Topical application is a great quick pick-me-up or can help brighten a person’s day. When using citrus oils topically caution needs to be practiced when the area is exposed to sunlight as it can cause sun sensitivity. Lemon oil is great in water to break up the boredom with just drinking plain water. It can also be mixed with peppermint…
-
Mindful Living: A Connection of Mind, Body and Spirit
As we journey through the wheel of the year, we are going to connect that journey to our mindfulness practice. Our goal will be to explore ways that mindfulness and meditation can be woven into both our daily and magickal practices. This turn of the wheel brings us to Beltaine and the astrological sign of Taurus. Beltaine represent the warmth as Summer Returns and fertility rites; as well as a fae connection. As Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus it represents love, beauty and money. Together this is an excellent time to explore love, beauty, passion, prosperity and the fires of creativity and rebirth. Our mindfulness practice makes us…
-
Mindful Living: A Connection of Mind, Body and Spirit
As we journey through the wheel of the year, we are going to connect that journey to our mindfulness practice. Our goal will be to explore ways that mindfulness and meditation can be woven into both our daily and magickal practices. This turn of the wheel brings us to Ostara and the astrological sign of Aries. Together they represent newness and potential that is shown to us by the sprouts, blossoms and buds that being to awaken. Aries lends a drive and determination to the atmosphere that encourages moving forward and reviewing our goals, resolutions and plans. Our mindfulness practice makes us aware of the shifts in energy as the…
-
Living the Oily Life
Oils: The Basics Plants have been around since the beginning of time and their benefits have been harvested, but not to the extent they are known now. The essential oil industry over the past several years has boomed as people started to look more toward non-traditional and less Westernized medicine. If it has worked for millennia, why not now? Oils can be distilled in multiple ways. Typically there are 2: Steam and expression. Steam is the most common way. Heat is used with a combo of gentle pressure and this combo causes the essential oils to be released. The oil lays on top of a layer of water…
-
Mindful Living: A Connection of Mind, Body, and Spirit
Welcome to Mindful Living: A Connection of Mind, Body, and Spirit. Here you are invited to explore, collect knowledge and learn how to implement mindfulness in your life. The benefits of mindful living are a deeper mind, body and spirit connection, as well as learning to see yourself and the world around you without harsh judgment. The previous article discussed how to take small mindful moments throughout the day. This began weaving a practice of mindfulness into your life. No matter where you are in your practice, I want you to take three slow deep breathes and give yourself a moment of gratitude for being open to mindful living…
-
Book Review – The Little Book of Tibetan Rites and Rituals by Judy Tsuei
Book Review The Little Book of Tibetan Rites and Rituals by Judy Tsuei Publisher: Ulysses Press Publication Date: March 22, 2022 144 pages Tibetan Buddhism is a centuries old religion that many are running to find books, websites, videos, and anything else they can to learn how to incorporate into their daily lives. “The goal of the Five Tibetan Rights, – and generally all Tibetan philosophy – is to live in a state of relaxation, a natural state in full presence of our potential.” This book is perfect for anyone. There is a brief history on Tibetan Buddhism and the rites at the beginning which is nice as…
-
Mindful Living: A Connection of Mind, Body, and Spirit
(Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash ) Welcome to Mindful Living: A Connection of Mind, Body, and Spirit. Here you are invited to explore, collect knowledge and learn how to implement mindfulness in your life. The side affects of mindful living are a deeper mind, body and spirit connection, as well as learning to see yourself without judgment. One of the most important skill sets to mindful living is observation without judgment. Learning to simply see the situation that you are in without pulling in past experiences, expectations, other individuals thoughts or opinions or coloring the situation in any way takes practice. The next step to observation is to…
-
Book Review – Sacred Symbol Magic: Harness Their Power for Mind, Body, and Soul by Sarah Bartlett
Book Review Sacred Symbol Magic Harness Their Power for Mind, Body, and Soul by Sarah Bartlett Publisher: Weiser Books 128 Pages Published: 4/19/2021 All cultures have created symbols drawn from nature, geometry, and mythology that hold meaning, power, and magic. Learn their secret language and you’ll learn to promote a loving relationship with the Celtic knot, wear an Egyptian scarab to enhance psychic protection, and let butterflies promote good health. The All-Seeing Eye, pentagram, bee, labyrinth, lotus, mandala, Buddhapada, Om, the Sator Square and the Unicursal Hexagram are all symbols of spiritual growth. In “Sacred Symbol Magic,” Sarah Bartlett gives practical ideas for using fifty symbols to empower…
