It was about two years ago. A new friend, who would later initiate me in many of the magical and mystical practices of the 'modern witch', sent me a message 'Hey, do you want to hang out and play with cards?' I knew what she meant..... Oracle cards, Tarot cards. I hadn't worked with them before and I didn't fully know what journey was about to begin. Of course, I said 'sure.' I remember all the cards splayed on the ground. “Your intuition will guide you” she said. “Sometimes a card will feel magnetic, or it's like an itch that you can only relieve by picking the card that's “calling” to you.”
Over the next few years we would gather, just the two of us, or with other dear sisters, to 'play.' At first it seemed like a daunting process. Is this my “fate” being fortold by the cards? How many grains of salt do I take with these “readings?” Years later, I remember consulting the cards on behalf of a friend and student of mine. She asked about her work place. She wanted to know if she should leave her current job for a new one. Sometimes when we pull cards the answer seems SO incredibly clear. There is an 'aha!' moment where we say 'Some part of me knew this, and this helps confirm it.' I pulled three cards and they all foretold of upcoming romance. It was a LONG stretch to interpret the cards to be connected to her original question. We kind of shrugged and said “well, it could mean ~this~ or ~this~ but I don't feel 100% sure.” Life is full of mystery afterall, isn't it? She even said, 'This is funny, because I have been single for a very long time, and I feel totally content and happy single.' This is where the concept of 'time' and allowing something to come to you in 'unexpected' and 'different ways' comes forth. About two months later she wrote me. “I met someone, through my workplace! The cards fortold it! The cards don't lie!” So, how do we best interact with the cards? Your intention/question must be very clear in your mind. I have been shuffling through an oracle or tarot deck and feeling a bit unfocused and the cards just. wouldn't. shuffle without sticking and feeling quite akward. A sister who was with us that night asked “Were you feeling focused when you were shuffling the deck?” I wasn't, and it showed. The way you ask the question is also very important! Instead of asking “When will I meet the love of my life” it is more appropriate and revealing to ask the question “What do I need to focus on to meet the love of my life.” It is most powerful to ask about the possibilities that are before you, what you need to focus on, potential outcomes,... not a concrete 'yes' or 'no.' This is based in the belief system that the future ahead of you is not completely pre-determined and that there are many potential timelines that can occur based on our actions. In essence, be focused, ask your question with the potential outcome in mind, and be open to the insights you recieve to reveal themselves in unexpected ways. Everyone can interact with the cards/runes/ogham and receive incredible insight. I can't tell you how many times I have been completely blown away by the the cards that I've pulled. Or the times a card 'jumped' out of the deck and after completely shuffling it back in again because I didn't feel 'ready' to set my intention it was pulled once again. Also keep in mind that having a friend or someone who works with the cards pull on your behalf can also be quite powerful. Happy playing.
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I can't tell you how many days I rolled out my yoga mat, sat down, and just did a few forward folds. I believe some days call for this type of restoration and relaxation but I'd venture to say that most don't!
Admittedly, some days I practiced for 20 minutes and some days (confession time --->) I barely got through my baddha konasana. But here's the thing,... I rolled out that yoga mat every day and gave it my best. What kicked off my daily yoga practice was structure. To sustain a daily practice we can find power in direction! This direction gives us a reason to practice and allows us to see our progress. It also allows no room for laziness or being indecisive. We notice if we aren't following the structure and aren't being disciplined. You can ask yourself “Do I feel okay not adhering to the yoga practice that I agreed to?” This is not a matter of being a good or bad yogi. It's a matter of self accountability and svadhyaya aka self study. While in Bali in 2014 I met an Ashtanga inspired yoga teacher, Anthony Scott. My partner at the time and I took a morning class with him, every morning, for 6 days. In just these 6 days I realized how do-able it is to get up and practice yoga every morning. Perhaps it wasn't easy, but it was possible! We learned several different sequences that could be practiced together or in parts. Ah, the structure. Practice daily and here are the yoga poses to practice,...every day. This beginning of a new chapter is most powerful when begun with a yoga teacher who can direct you on proper alignment and give you yoga poses that you wouldn't necessarily choose to practice yourself. If you don't have a yoga teacher near you then you can search yoga sequences online, pick a few, and practice daily. However, be aware that it is easy to only chose the poses that you like! Working with a yoga teacher also lends an extra bit of accountability. When your teacher asks “How's the practice going?” what do you want to be able to say? I'd venture to say that EVERYone has the time to commit 10 minutes in the morning to a structured yoga practice. Or, hey, perhaps another form of movement! The key is to commit. Pick or be given a sequence and practice. Every day! It's simple, and yes, you can do it.
What does sisterhood feel like to you?
How do you nurture connection between yourself and your sisters? In this interview with The Nitty Gritty Guide we explore how belly dance brings women together and bring light to some of the myths surrounding this (em)powerful art form. Interviewed from left to right: Amanda Carson of HummingBird Rising Abby Myers of Naked Elfe Kate Bee Moon of Shamanic Endeavors No, really.
What's stopping you? Most of us can default and say 'fear.' Fear of not succeeding, fear of change, fear of not being in control. So maybe you have pinpointed one or more of these things that's stopping you. What then?...We inquire. As a human you have met many challenges. And you will meet many more. Whether small, or large, I truly believe that they are there for a reason. "The Universe in Conspiring for you" So here it is. A self inquiry process. A way we can dig down and deep to uproot that which does not serve us. Self Reflection Process What is the perceived challenge? *Visualize this in your mind and feel* Where do you feel this 'challenge' in your body? What does it feel like? (Shape, color, sensation) What are my limiting beliefs around this challenge? (Leave equal writing space in this section for further writing later) Are these beliefs based off of past experience? Projections? What do I want/what is the result of resolving this challenge? What is the opposite of this challenge? What are 3 (small) steps/actions I can take daily/this week to move towards that which I want? Visualize what you want in detail. How does it feel? What are 3 actions I can take this month to move towards that which I want? Write next to your limiting beliefs the positive beliefs that will move you towards that which you want. What is a daily affirmation that you can derive from the above? Say it, daily. |
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