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Mindful Living: A Connection of Mind, Body and Spirit
The wheel of the year turns to Samhain. Days are cooler, nights cooler still. What leaves are left are either evergreens or late fall colors. The smell of coolness and decaying earth sits on the breeze signaling a change in weather and pace of living. Cooler days seem to signal our bodies and minds to go at a slower pace, yet modern times have fall and Winter busier times of the year. Mindful living doesn’t have to be complicated. It is about being aware of the moments you are in and connecting to your authentic self. When you are connected to yourself then you can create a life that you…
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Communing with the Essence
Relating with Raindrops and Communing with Cups of Tea; The Ecstatic Dance of Life — Our mind is not the only part of ourselves that communicates. A hot cup of tea communicates; maybe through a warning indicating, “careful hot”, or maybe through a comforting warmth or a soothing relaxation, maybe it signals, “it is time for self”. It has been raining these past few days and the rain is communicating with my body. It is not always pleasant or soothing, sometimes it’s distracting and unwanted. Just like Nature, all of Life is communicating with us. Our past, our present, and our future communicates. Parts of ourselves we wish would go…
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Communing with the Essence
Communing Essence-ly — There is an opening, a space between mental chatter and unconsciousness or even sleep. It’s not a Void but I’ve confused it to be that many times. It is a deeply connected place where you and another, whether pen to paper, hand to tree, belly to water, heart to Soul, or footsteps to Earth merge into pure presence and the rest of the world seems to disappear, at least for those moments. In aesthetics this space is often called The Zone. In the Arts it’s coined as being in the Flow. Meditative studies can be a gateway into this realm, but so too can the full engagement…
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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…
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The Healing Embrace: Four Wonderful Reasons to Hug
Little feels more natural than embracing a partner or friend to show affection, offer reassurance, and simply enjoy the close presence of their spirit. Likewise, closeness with our children, who rely on our physical touch to thrive and be comforted, is second nature. This is because these embraces are healing to our bodies and minds. They feel so good not only because we deeply love and care for those we hold close, but because our bodies have a positive physiological and psychological response to this gentle physical affection. Here are four ways embraces benefit everyone involved: An embrace with your partner gets positive brain chemicals flowing: At the end of…
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Book Review – The Mindful Kitchen by Heather Thomas
Book Review The Mindful Kitchen by Heather Thomas 192 Pages Chockful of yummy recipes, “The Mindful Kitchen” is a vegetarian (not vegan) delight. Ms. Thomas introduces us to the concept of bringing Nature back to our food and Nature back into our eating. “You Are What You Eat” While this concept is about plant-based eating and/or eating mindfully, it is also more. It is eating to become a caring part of Nature through a connection with our food. Each Chapter – Eating for Vitality – Eating for Comfort – Eating for Creativity – Eating for Connection – Eating for Celebration is filled with lots of seasonal recipes, together…
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The Sober Pagan Reviews – Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Concentration Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol by Ruby Warrington
The Sober Pagan Reviews Sober Curious The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Concentration Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol by Ruby Warrington 240 Pages I can’t remember when I received this book. Maybe six months to a year ago. I haven’t been exactly sober or even remotely “sober curious” this past year so it sat on my shelf with my other recovery books. Once in a while, I’d dust them off – ya know, when I was dusting off all my other books. But I never cracked it once – not until yesterday. I read it cover to cover yesterday. First off…