Have you been bringing JOY into your life with more intentional meals? I’ve been enjoying my morning bowl of berries. Raspberries seem to really be my favorite berry these days. They put a smile on my face and fill me with joy.
 
Let’s continue our journey of including more foods of joy in our lives, inspired by St. Hildegard.
 
Long ago in the mid 12th century, she recognized that there were certain foods that could bring us health through their ability to offer nourishment and healing which would bring us increased joy and revitalization. That wisdom was a seed planted that continues to flourish even in our current time.
 
Mint was one of the herbs that St. Hildegard recognized could promote health and healing. We use the name “mint” for a variety of plants that belong to the genus Mentha, including peppermint and spearmint. It can be used fresh or dried.

​Long ago, St. Hildegard recommended using dried mint in cooking to aid with digestion.
In fact, in our current times, mint is known to bring us health and healing in many ways. It supports the digestive system by stimulating digestive enzymes. Mint oil also has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help to relieve indigestion and other stomach issues. 
Additionally, it has been shown that mint oil can be helpful in relaxing the muscles of the digestive tract to reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Mint leaves also work as a relaxant, and they help to relieve chest congestion in people who have asthma. They’re also known to clear a stuffy nose and make breathing easier.
You probably have used toothpaste with a mint flavor, right? Mint freshens your breath and even can reduces bacterial growth in the mouth.
Many studies also recognize that mint may help to increase mental alertness and cognitive functions including memory.
And guess what? The aroma of mint can reduce stress, bring calm, and rejuvenate the mind. How wonderful!
So, let’s get going and add some delicious mint to our meals. I’m sure the aroma and taste will bring us more joy!

​One of the easiest and best mint recipes is simply mint tea.
 
Mint Tea
 
Of course, you can buy mint herbal tea at most grocery stores, but you can also make your own. It’s refreshing, tasty, and only takes a few minutes to make. Just check the fresh herb section in the produce aisle at your local supermarket, and I’m sure you’ll probably find some fresh mint.
 

1. Take a handful of fresh mint and steep it in boiling water for 5-10 minutes.
2. Strain and drink it warm or iced.
3. A little honey can be added for a sweet treat.

Another easy way to add mint into your diet is to make this yummy mint yogurt sauce. It can be drizzled over salads, fish, and fresh or roasted veggies.

Mint Yogurt Sauce
Ingredients

• 1 c. plain yogurt (Greek is best, but any kind could be used)
• 1 small garlic clove, grated
• 1 ½ T. olive oil
• Juice from 1 lemon
• 2-3 T. fresh mint leaves, chopped
• Himalayan sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

 
Directions

1. Mix the first 4 ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Add chopped mint leaves and salt and pepper to taste. Stir.
3. Serve immediately or chill to use later.

I hope you enjoy at least one of these delicious mint recipes this week and you feel invigorated and yet relaxed!
 
Want to awaken and nourish your creative, playful side to support your health and well-being?  Check out my FREE Creativity Bowl Practice here.

Have you been exploring the creation of an intentional space for eating in the last week?
 
How’s that going? What have you discovered?
 
Hopefully, you’re discovering how you’re more easily able to digest your food and be calmer and happier while eating!
 
Did you miss my last blog post about this topic? You can find it here: 6 Ways to Create a Joyful Space for Eating.

​Long ago in the mid 12th century, St. Hildegard recognized that there were certain foods that could bring us health through their ability to offer nourishment and healing which would bring us increased joy and revitalization. The wisdom that Hildegard shared about natural healing and nutrition was a seed planted that continues to flourish even in our current time.
The dandelion was one of the foods that St. Hildegard recognized would promote health and healing, thus bringing joy into our lives.
 
The Dandelion
Dandelions are members of the daisy family, and we see their sunny yellow blossoms popping up in yards everywhere in the spring. Although many consider the dandelion a pesky weed that invades your yard, it’s been used in traditional medicine for centuries.
 
The dandelion gets its name from the French name for the plant, dent de lion, which means, “tooth of the lion.” The tooth refers to the jagged shape of the green leaves that are seen on the dandelion plant.

​St. Hildegard on Dandelions
St. Hildegard shared that all parts of the dandelion are edible and recommended the flowers for a tea or wine. In her book Physica, St. Hildegard included a recipe for making salad out of dandelion greens. She recommended eating it with a dressing of vinegar and garlic. 
 
Health Benefits
Today, we continue to recognize that all parts of the dandelion are edible and can be found in herbal teas and supplements where they’re used as a natural remedy to support a variety of health conditions.
 
Here are just a few of the health benefits of dandelions:
 1. ​Reduces water weight- If you’re feeling bloated, dandelion tea provides relief as a diuretic. 

2. Promotes liver health – The dandelion root has long been considered a liver tonic that detoxifies the organ and supports healthy function. 

3. Soothes digestive ailments – If you suffer from indigestion, bloating, and/or constipation, dandelion can help relieve these symptoms. 

​4. Boosts skin health – Dandelion supports with the removal of dead skin cells which revitalizes the skin, especially helpful with acne or blemish scars. 
 
Dandelions are a wonderful addition to your diet this time of year, after the holidays, and anytime you’d like to support detoxification in your body.
 
Here are 2 easy ways to include dandelion in your diet. If it’s winter where you are, dandelion tea might be your best option now and when spring comes you can enjoy dandelion salad!

Dandelion Tea
 
Dandelion tea can easily be found in any health food store that sells herbal teas. It’s a wonderful detox tea. Simply bring water to a boil and steep the tea for 10-15 minutes.
 
Enjoy up to 3 cups of dandelion tea a day for 2 weeks to support detoxification.
 
In the spring, if your yard is flooded with dandelions, you can make your own dandelion tea.
 

1. Make sure the dandelions have not been treated with pesticides or other lawn chemicals. Gather flowers, leaves, and roots. Wash thoroughly.
2. Chop the roots into fine pieces and roast in the oven for about 2 hours.
3. Mix roasted roots and dandelion leaves and flowers.
4. Steep for 15-20 minutes. Enjoy!

Dandelion Salad
 
Once the dandelions start popping up in the spring, then dandelion salad is a healthy and nutritious one to enjoy.
 
Dandelions are quite bitter, but that’s part of why they’re a nourishing addition to our diet!
 
You can find dandelion greens in a well-stocked health food store in the spring, but also consider picking your own.
Be sure to look for clean areas only. Dandelion greens can absorb pollutants and other toxins. So, avoid picking them near roadways, public parks, or private lawns where they may have been sprayed with chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
Also, harvest dandelion greens from plants that haven't flowered yet. Once the plant flowers, the leaves can become more bitter.
Preparing Dandelion Greens for Salad

1. Wash dandelion greens to remove any dirt or debris.

       2.  Gently pat them dry with a kitchen towel. Use a salad spinner to dry.
       3.  Rinse a second time, if needed.
 
Making a Dandelion Salad
Make a simple dandelion salad by tossing the greens with a splash of apple cider or balsamic vinegar, some olive oil, and minced garlic. If you’d like, top with a few shavings of parmesan cheese or crumbles of goat cheese.
 
Bon appetit!
 
Want to awaken and nourish your creative, playful side to support your health and well-being?  Check out my FREE Creativity Bowl Practice here.

As we begin to open this gift of the new year of 2023, let’s be the champions of spreading joy in the world! In our own lives and in the lives of others. Discover more about how to do this here if you missed my last blog post. 
 
Going forward, inspired by St. Hildegard, I’d like to invite you to join me on a journey of exploring Nourishing Foods to Bring You Joy and Revitalization in the next several weeks.
 
Before I dive into sharing those foods (and recipes!) that can bring joy and revitalization into your life, let’s take a closer look at when and how we eat our food.
 
Reflect on where you typically eat your meals. What is your mood while eating? How quickly or slowly do you eat your meals?

Focusing on creating an intentional space and mood while you eat can bring more joy to your meals.
 
But how can we do this during the day? Especially if we’re at work or in a restaurant?
 
I offer 6 ways below to support you in manifesting joy while eating your meals in the coming days and weeks. 
 
 
1. Find a quiet space – Eat your meals in a quiet place as much as you’re able to. Put your cellphone aside. Turn off the TV. Choose a quiet location to sit. 

2. Sit and relax – Sit when you eat. Rest and relax as you enjoy each bite. Don’t grab your food and run. Don’t eat standing up. Sit and enjoy your meal.

3. Take time at lunch – Make lunch a meal where you slow down, sit, and enjoy it even if you’re at work. Make it a healthy and good-sized meal instead of something quick on the run. 

4. Slow down – Slow down to savor and fully chew each bite. No more big mouthfuls swallowed as quickly as possible. Chew slowly and enjoy all the flavors and textures. 

5. Give thanks – Offer your gratitude for the meal you’re about to eat. For the hands that prepared it, for the farmers that grew it, for the divine life force that runs through it. 

​6. Rest and walk – If you can, rest for 5-10 minutes after a meal and then go for a short walk. Allow your body to digest your food and be energized from the meal. 
 
I encourage you to pick 1 item from above to focus on this week and see what changes arise for you during your mealtime. (If you like, add the others during this coming year)

Join me in the upcoming weeks as I share Nourishing Foods to Bring You Joy and Revitalization.

Happy New Year 2023!
 
Here we are at the beginning of a new year. A clean slate that offers us so many possibilities!
 
What do you want to do this year? What do you want to create? Can you envision it?
 
As we enter into this gift of the new year of 2023, let’s see if we can be the champions of joy in the world! In our own lives and in the lives of others.
 
Let’s ponder for a moment. What is joy exactly? And how would we spread it?
 
When we think of the word “joy,” we might picture people who are laughing and smiling, without a care in the world.  And, yes, that is joy!

​But what is joy in our everyday lives when maybe we do have concerns and worries? And how can we spread more joy to others on a day like that?
 
Let’s brainstorm some ideas together.
 
We can spread joy every day by sharing…
 

• A smile or a hug given to another
• A short note or text to tell someone you’re thinking of them
• A compliment
• Your interest, by asking a question
• An expression of gratitude for what you appreciate about a person
• An act of kindness such as holding the door for someone or letting them go in front of you in line
• A warm greeting with a twinkle in your eyes
• A small gift given in love – a flower, a cup of coffee, their favorite dessert, something that made you think of them

 
What else comes to mind?
 
Joy can be quite simple, yet it has potent, life-giving energy!
 
As we are spreading joy to others, let’s not forget about bringing joy to ourselves too.
 
Think of something that brings you joy. A simple pleasure. Something that puts a smile on your face and makes you feel warm and happy inside.
 
What brings you joy in your daily life? A warm cup of tea? A delicious and healthy meal? A favorite song?

Maybe it’s a hug or smile from a loved one? A breath of fresh air from outside? Reading a book? Being active – running, walking, dancing?
 
Or maybe you enjoy working on a creative project? Going out in the snow? Accomplishing the next steps of your goal? Your dog or cat curling up next to you?
 
Inspired by St. Hildegard, one of things that brings me joy is eating simple, nutritious, and delicious food. You may be familiar with the recipe for Joy Cookies  that I often share during the holidays. They bring me joy!
 
So now, guided by the wisdom of St. Hildegard, I want to share with you more nourishing and healing foods (and recipes!) that are meant to bring joy, revitalization, and healing into your life.
 
Stay tuned and keep an eye out for upcoming blog posts on Nourishing Foods to Bring You Joy and Revitalization.

Join the Bring Spirit to the Holidays Community Forming Now. 
  
I carry peace within me,
I carry within myself
the forces that strengthen me.
I will fill myself
with these forces' warmth,
And I will feel
how peace pours
through all my being
when strengthening myself,
through my striving's power,
I find in me
peace as strength.

• R. Steiner

​Imagine carrying peace within yourself and finding it as strength in your life. What a treasure!
Wouldn’t inner peace as strength be wonderful this holiday season instead of overwhelm and exhaustion?

​Instead of all the crowds and noise this year, I invite you to go inward and pay attention to the wisdom of your dreams and the language of your heart. Discover peace as your strength.
Join me and the community that’s forming for the sacred nights. Sign-up now for “Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge” so you can start with us on Dec. 24th.   Find out more here.
 
This 13-day journey will absolutely change the way you experience the holiday season! 

​Starting on the 24th of December through the 6th of January, I invite you to work with one meditation inspired by St. Hildegard of Bingen per day. As you do this work, you’ll also pay special attention to your dreams and write down what you remember each day. You’ll notice if there are any connections between your dreams and the questions asked in the meditations.
Through this journey of meditation and journaling during this sacred time, you’ll come away with a sense of peace and fulfillment as you digest the year that has passed. You’ll be ready to go forward into the new year with sacred guidance and momentum. You’ll discover inner peace as strength.

Don’t miss this opportunity. It’s only offered this time of year!
Register here. “Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge.” 

As winter draws near, Mother Earth breathes in. Her energy moves further and further inward, drawing back what streamed into the cosmos during the summer.
Outwardly, she grows quieter. We can see that the plants seem to rest and the animals prepare for the cold months ahead. The snow brings a blanket of stillness to the earth.
In this darkness of winter, the Sacred Nights of Dec. 24th – January 6th offer us a moment of stillness, of inner quiet. A space in between our usual days and weeks in the year. 
These sacred nights are honored in many cultures. They can be viewed as a time for an inner journey to fan the flames of our own shining light in order to illuminate the darkness.
Join the community that is forming and sign-up now for “Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge” so you can start with us tomorrow on Dec. 24th. 

I encourage you not to miss out! Join the community forming now and sign-up for “Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge” so you can start with the community tomorrow on Dec. 24th.   

​Your soul has messengers that speak to you in your dreams at night. They speak of the secret wishes of your soul.
 
They want to be in communication with you. Are you listening?

Join us and get started with dream journaling this winter. Register here for “Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge” so that you can begin on the 24th with us! 
 
When you’re dreaming, you step out of the daily demands of life, setting aside fear and anxiety, and you awaken to the deeper aspect of your true being.
 
Your dreams are a field where adventure and possibility exist. Where healing and reconnection exist. Where the great wisdom of your ancestors and spirit guides resides. Where you can renew and readjust to follow your inner compass.
 
Dream expert, Robert Moss says, “We need to dream, dreaming is the way that we connect with the deeper universe. It's our way for direct experience of the sacred. It is the safest and most common everyday way of entering an altered state of consciousness...”
 
Have you ever had an inkling that your dreams have a message for you, but it’s not quite clear?

Pay attention to this as your soul’s messengers are working to communicate with you. It may be the key you need to unlock a puzzle in your life. The deeper longings of the soul speak to us through our dreams.

 But what if you don’t remember your dreams well or don’t seem to dream much at all?
 
How can you awaken to this portal to your soul’s deeper desires?
 
One of the simplest ways is through dream journaling. In dream journaling, you open the door to the messages that are meant for you.

In your dreams, the ego of your day life rests. You let go of attachments to other people’s perceptions or expectations. The wishes and longings of your soul bubble up.
 
Journaling about your dreams will support you in accessing these longings that arise in your dreams. It’ll help you to…
 
​1.     Remember your dreams – By recording what you remember and feel when you first awaken after a dream, you’ll be stepping through the doorway to a deeper understanding of the messages that are waiting for you.
 
2.     Understand  – By keeping a journal, it gives you an opportunity to review and contemplate what you’ve written later on. This will provide a deeper understanding of what’s being communicated to you.
 
3.     Bring clarity– As you start writing down your dreams and pondering them in your waking life, the messages of your soul will become clearer. You’ll become aware of patterns that hold meaning for you. You’ll be strengthened by this higher connection and more clearly understand what you are meant to manifest from the messages in your dreams.
 
Now is the perfect time of year to begin dream journaling! As the temperatures drop and the air gets cold, all around us life slows down. It’s a natural time for rest, reflection, and quiet.
 
Turning inward in the quiet and stillness of the cold of winter and tuning into your dreams can bring clarity to your soul’s longing, particularly for the coming new year. You’ll discover answers to questions you have and find support in manifesting your soul’s desires in the new year.

I invite you to join me during the upcoming sacred nights of winter to jumpstart your dream journaling practice. Find out more here. “Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge” beginning on December 24th. 

Start your dream journaling practice this winter and watch the magic start to happen!

When it’s cold and blustery outside, I like to warm my home with the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg by making a batch of one of my favorite recipes - St. Hildegard’s Joy Cookies.  And it never fails….as the smell of spices floated through the air, my beloved family appears and gathers around me in the kitchen. Gone were any feelings of sadness or loneliness and in their place are feelings of joy and happiness as smiles, laughter, and conversation fill the room while we eat the warm cookies right from the oven. 
Once again, St. Hildegard has touched my life. She’s always an enduring inspiration to me! 
 
Find out more here about “Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge” inspired by St. Hildegard  LINK.  Sign up soon so that you can begin on the 24th! 
 
In the mid 12th century, St. Hildegard recognized the health benefits of many herbs and spices. It was then that she shared a basic recipe for ancient biscuits or cookies that are commonly called “Hildegardplätzchen” (Hildegard’s Cookies). Today we might call them "Cookies of Joy" as she said they lift any melancholia, open your heart, and bring you a sense of cheerfulness and joy. Something we all could use these days! 

​There are two powerhouse spices that St. Hildegard included in her Joy Cookies: nutmeg and cinnamon. Common, everyday spices, you may think. Yes, they are! And yet, they’re filled with health-giving properties.
 
Nutmeg
In her book, Physica, St. Hildegard recommended the use of nutmeg for its healing powers.
“Nutmeg has great heat and good moderation in its powers.  If a person eats nutmeg, it will open up his heart, make his judgment free from obstruction, and give him a good disposition. 
…It will calm all bitterness of the heart and mind, open your heart and impaired senses, and make your mind cheerful.  It purifies your senses and diminishes all harmful humors in you.  It gives good liquid to your blood, and makes you strong.”                           -Hildegard von Bingen, Physica -1153AD

​Benefits of Nutmeg
If we take this seed that was planted by St. Hildegard long ago into our current times within natural medicine, we see that nutmeg is known for many health benefits including the following:
·      Supports a Healthy Brain – nutmeg contains myristicin and macelignan, natural organic compounds that have a stimulating effect, supporting focus and concentration and also protecting the brain from degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s
·      Eases Pain and Swelling – the essential oil of nutmeg helps to relieve muscular and joint pain resulting from injury, strain, or chronic inflammation such as arthritis
·      Improves Circulation – the potassium within nutmeg relaxes blood vessels, controls blood pressure, and improves blood circulation
·      Boosts Immune System – the minerals in nutmeg such as potassium, calcium, iron, and manganese help fight against bacteria and disease
·      Cures Insomnia – nutmeg has a high content of magnesium, a mineral that reduces nerve tension and supports the feeling of relaxation
 
Cinnamon
The second powerhouse spice is cinnamon. Cinnamon has been used for hundreds of years as a natural medicine. In Ayurvedic treatment, it’s often used to treat respiratory and digestive problems.
 
St. Hildegard enjoyed cinnamon as a healing spice long ago, sharing that it was good for sinus issues.

What is Cinnamon?
Do you know? Cinnamon is harvested from the inner bark of a tropical evergreen plant where it’s peeled and laid in the sun to dry. It curls into rolls which we know as cinnamon sticks. These sticks are ground into a powder form to become one of our favorite household spices.
 
The distinct aroma and flavor of cinnamon that we recognize are due to the oil in the inner bark which is very high in the compound cinnamaldehyde. Scientists believe that it’s this compound that’s responsible for cinnamon’s powerful effects on health.
 
The Benefits of Cinnamon
There are many health benefits of cinnamon. Here are just a few:
1. Anti-viral and anti-bacterial - The essential oil of cinnamon that contains cinnamaldehyde has antiviral and anti-bacterial properties. 
2. Lowers blood sugar- Cinnamon is known for helping to manage blood sugar, working in a way similar to insulin.
3. Supports brain health – Recent research indicates that cinnamon may support the health of the aging brain, possibly reducing the risk of such conditions as Alzheimer’s.
Why not warm your home right now with the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg by making a batch of St. Hildegard’s Joy Cookies? 
 
And if you’re wanting to extend your joy this holiday season, check out the challenge below that I am hosting during the holidays.
 
I want to warmly invite you to join me in a deeply meaningful and rewarding experience from the warmth of your home by participating in Bring Spirit to the Holidays for the 13 Sacred Nights of Dec. 24th – January 6th. As a spiritual community, we’ll explore together words of wisdom from St. Hildegard that can support us today, bringing nourishment to our souls.
 
Find out more about the spiritual community coming together for “Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge” here. 
As we join together in this sacred experience through the 13 Sacred Nights,
you’ll ….
 

• Feel deeply nourished and have a sense of inner peace and joy within your soul
• Gain deeper wisdom and meaning from this past year of 2022
• Discover the divine messages that give you direction, hope, and purpose for your life’s journey as you imagine the year 2023 ahead
• Connect with other spiritual creatives who will join and support you on this path of discovery

 
Starting on the 24th of December through the 6th of January, I invite you to work with one meditation inspired by St. Hildegard of Bingen per day. As you do this, you’ll also pay special attention to your dreams and write down what you remember each day. You’ll notice if there are any connections between your dreams and the questions asked in the meditations.

 You’ll be joining me and others in this spiritual community who are engaging in this same practice of inner work during the Sacred Nights. You can share your experiences and listen to others share theirs. 
Through this journey of meditation and journaling during this sacred time, you’ll come away with a sense of peace, hope, and joy as you digest the year that has passed. You’ll be ready to go forward into the new year with sacred guidance and momentum. 

I look forward to seeing you soon! In the meantime, why don’t you make yourself some of St. Hildegard’s Joy Cookies??  Here’s the recipe  that I use, based on St. Hildegard’s original ingredients, but adapted to our modern times. They’ll start filling your home with joy this holiday season.
Learn more here about “Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge.”    Sign up NOW! 

As the holidays approach and the year 2022 comes to a close, are you wanting to experience connections with others in a conscious community?
Are you longing for a meaningful experience during the holiday season?
In this darker time of year, in the midst of the season of winter, we naturally experience a yearning to move inward and experience inner peace and deeper soul nourishment. We feel the rhythm of Mother Earth who is breathing in to nourish and renew. We too can turn inward.
This year, I warmly invite you to join me to participate, as spiritual community, in Bring Spirit to the Holidays for the 13 Sacred Nights of Dec. 24th – January 6th and explore together words of wisdom from St. Hildegard that support us today. Find out more HERE. 

As we join together in this sacred experience, you will ….

• Feel deeply nourished and have a sense of inner peace within your soul
• Gain deeper wisdom and meaning from this past year of 2022
• Discover the divine messages that give you direction, hope, and purpose for your life’s journey as you imagine the year 2023 ahead
• Connect with other spiritual creatives who will join and support you on this path of discovery

As these sacred nights approach, I remember warmly the dear friend and mentor that St. Hildegard had in her life. He supported her in following her divine calling, even when she felt like she couldn’t!
This beloved friend, a monk named Volmar, was the first person to validate St. Hildegard’s visions as divine experiences. He recognized her rare spiritual gifts and became a good friend and mentor for many years in her life.
St. Hildegard often doubted herself and her abilities to share her gifts with the world. When she turned to her teacher and friend, Volmar, she shared her self-doubt, and he strongly encouraged her to write about her experiences.
Over the next 10 years, she shared her experiences in the text that would become her visionary work, Scivias, and Volmar became her secretary, writing down the words she dictated. ​

​Volmar, St. Hildegard’s friend, confidant, and secretary, was in her life for over 60 years! It’s clear that St. Hildegard greatly valued and appreciated her dear friend who supported and encouraged her.
 
We see how the steps on our journey are a little easier to follow when we have someone in our community that supports and encourages us. We don’t have to do it alone!
Join me and our spiritual community this year in Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge from Dec. 24th – January 6th and explore together the wisdom that St. Hildegard offers us today. Discover more here.  
 
Starting on the 24th of December through the 6th of January, I invite you to work with one meditation inspired by St. Hildegard of Bingen per day. As you do this, you’ll also pay special attention to your dreams and write down what you remember each day. You’ll notice if there are any connections between your dreams and the questions asked in the meditations.
 
You’ll be joining me and also others in this spiritual community who are engaging in this same practice of inner work during the Sacred Nights. You can share your experiences and listen to others share theirs. 
Through this journey of meditation and journaling during this sacred time, you’ll come away with a sense of peace and fulfillment as you digest the year that has passed. You’ll be ready to go forward into the new year with sacred guidance and momentum. 

Don’t miss this challenge. It’s only offered this time of year!
Find out more here about “Bring Spirit to the Holidays: 13 Sacred Night Challenge.”   Sign up soon. We begin on the 24th! 

In this month of November, the cool autumn wind sends the leaves swirling about on the ground. We can see the holiday season approaching on the horizon.
One of the greatest and simplest things we can do for ourselves this time of year is to be grateful. Each and every day.
When we’re grateful for the many gifts that we’re given each day, we experience joy and meaning in our lives. 
“It is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes              us happy.”   Brother David Steindl-Rast
Sometimes it’s a struggle to feel gratitude. Especially when the challenges in our lives and in the world weigh us down. 
 
When you struggle in finding a feeling of gratefulness in your heart, I encourage you to read these incredible and touching words by Brother David Steindl-Rast on gratefulness. They are so inspiring and uplifting!  I turn to them again and again at this time of year.
 
Let’s all take one moment to stop and be grateful for this one special day that we have been given as a gift. 
 
“You think this is just another day in your life. It’s not just another day.
It’s the one day that is given to you.
 
Today.
 
It’s a gift.
 
It’s the only gift that you have right now. And the only appropriate response is gratefulness. 
 
If you learn to respond as if it were the first day in your life and the very last day, then you will have spent this day very well. 
 
Begin by opening your eyes and be surprised that you have eyes you can open. That incredible array of colors that is constantly offered to us…   for pure enjoyment.

Look at the sky. We so rarely look at the sky. We so rarely note how different it is from moment to moment with clouds coming and going.
 
Open your eyes.  Look at that.
 
Look at the faces of people whom you meet. Each one has an incredible story behind their face. Not only their own story, but the story of their ancestors. All that life from generations and from so many places all over the world…. flows together and meets you here. Like life-giving water if you only open your heart and drink. 

A gift that millions and millions in the world will never experience.  
 
So, I wish you that you would open your heart to all of these blessings and let them flow through you. That everyone whom you will meet on this day will be blessed by you. Just by your presence. 
 
Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you.
 
Then, it will really be a good day! 

Watch the video with narration by Brother David Steindl-Rast here.  
https://gratefulness.org/grateful-day/
 
 
I invite you to take a quiet moment right now. Identify 3 things that you can be grateful for right now in your life. Hold that feeling of gratitude for the great gifts that you’ve been given. Then step back into your day carrying with you that deep feeling of gratefulness. 

Try this at least one time each day. A moment of gratefulness. And see what happens! 
 
“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
― Meister Eckhart
 
Interested in more? I invite you to become a member of my Healing Library to discover songs, mantras, and guidance for free. 

Are you able to access and follow your intuition easily?
 
Or do you struggle with tapping into your higher self, your true self, to follow your intuition?
 
Today’s color exploration will help you connect more deeply to yourself – your intuition and your higher self. It’s a color that aids us in spiritual awareness and awakening.
 
If you’re just joining me today for the first time, we’ve been on a color journey for several weeks, and today is the 6th in this series. If you missed the first ones or would like to do them again, you can find them here, #1, #2, #3, #4 #5. 

​By now, if you’ve joined me for the last several weeks, you’ve experienced how color has a powerful impact on us each day. It can shift our mood and our feelings on a difficult day and even aid in healing.
 
So, let’s begin our color journey today. Remember, no special skills needed; no judgment of your exploration. Just creative fun and play!
 
You’ll need to get out some paper and either crayons, colored pencils, or paint. Once you have what you need, let’s begin!
 
The Color Red
We’re going to start with red again today. You can place your red on one side, making sure you leave some white on the paper. You decide if you’d like a stronger or lighter red today.
 
Red is a color that contains unlimited energy and power. It has great strength. Think of the red of flames in a fire. It’s a color of courage and passion. Red is grounding too and can bring enthusiasm and excitement, and maybe even a little bit of danger!
 
A deep, strong red on your paper will activate the power of red. A light, subtle red will bring a gentler warmth and energy.

​Adding the Color Blue
When you’re ready, bring blue to the white side of your paper and then move it across to meet red.
 
Remember from last week, blue creates a sense of tranquility and serenity, like the gentle waves of the sea. It brings a sense of peace and calm. It’s cooling and protecting.
 
Red and Blue Create Violet
Now, move the blue right into the red, allowing it to become violet.
 
As you work, notice how the red and blue balance each other.
 
Continue to explore and play with the color and see how violet arises. You can create many variations of violet, even on one paper.
 
A deeper purple or blue violet can be created by bringing a stronger blue.
 
A red violet or even magenta can be created with more red and less blue.
 
Try a few different colors of violet on your paper. Which one speaks to you today?

When you’ve transformed the entire paper into violet, take some time to let your eyes gaze upon the color.
 
The color violet can aid you in accessing your higher self. It can help you to value who you are in the world. It can also help you in seeing this in others.
 
What did you experience with each color separately today?
 
And what about when they worked together?
 
When you’re done today, set your artistic creation aside, but I encourage you to return to this one again to gaze upon the color violet when you need to connect to your higher self!
 
Want to awaken your creative, playful side to support your well-being and your creative dreams?  Check out my upcoming course Master Your Creativity, starting again this November!

 Are you struggling with trying to create a balance in your life?

A balance between work and recreation? Or between activity and rest?
 
Or maybe you’re seeking to find balance in social activity – do you often have too much or too little?
 
Or maybe there’s another area in your life where you long for a little more balance.
 
Today’s color exploration will support you in bringing balance into your life wherever you may need it.
 
If you’re just joining me today for the first time, we’ve been on a color journey for several weeks, and today is the 5th in this series. If you missed the first ones or would like to do them again, you can find them here, #1, #2, #3, #4.

​Color has a powerful impact on us each day whether you’re aware of it or not. Color can shift our mood and our feelings and even support healing in our bodies. 
 
So, let’s get going on our color journey today. No special skills needed; no judgment of your exploration. Just creative fun and play!
 
You’ll need some paper and either crayons, colored pencils, or paint. Once you have what you need, let’s jump into the colors red and blue today.

​The Color Red
We’re going to start with red today. You can place your red wherever you’d like today, just be sure to leave some white on the paper. Make it a strong, deep red color.
 
Remember from our previous explorations that red is a color that contains unlimited energy, heat, and power. It has great strength. Think of the red of flames in a fire. It’s a color of courage, passion, and sensuality. It draws new opportunities and prosperity into your life.
 
Red is grounding too and can bring enthusiasm and excitement, and maybe even a little bit of danger!
 
Take a moment to soak in the color red before you move on.
 
Adding the Color Blue
When you’re ready, take out your blue. Bring your blue around or near your red in any way that you’re able to. Have blue embrace red.  
 
Let your eyes experience the blue as you work. And call to mind again that area in your life where you’d like more balance.
 

Blue creates a sense of tranquility and serenity, like the turquoise color of the sea at the beach. It’s very soothing to the mind and body, bringing a sense of peace and calm.
 
Blue is a color that’s cooling and protecting. It brings you back to your center and encourages independence. It’s a color that can help you with communication and give you confidence to speak up.
 
In this color journey, blue can help bring balance to red, like rain will bring coolness in the air on a hot and fiery summer day.
 
Now let your eyes gaze upon the confident power of the red and the calming mood of the blue.
 
Allow the colors to work their magic, offering you the gift of balance in your life.
 
What did you experience with each color separately today?
 
And what about when they’re next to each other?
 
Reflect on your experience and when you’re complete, set your artistic creation aside. We’ll remember it next week when we move to the color violet.
 
Want to awaken your creative, playful side to support your well-being and just have fun?  Check out my upcoming workshop "5 Steps To Mastering Your Creativity", starting  on October 9th

​What’s in your life right now that’s longing for some change?
 
Maybe it’s a habit that no longer serves you.
 
Maybe it’s a relationship that needs a shift.
 
Or maybe there’s something new you’d like to bring into your life.

​Consider what needs a change or transformation in your life at this time – either physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually.
 
Choose one. Sometimes it’s easy to create a whole list of things that need change! But for today, just choose one.
 
And sometimes, we like to stay in our comfort zone and not change anything. Well, for today, I want you to think of something, at least one thing, that longs to change. Maybe it’s small.  Maybe you’ll add a little more time in nature each day. Maybe you’ll check on a friend once a week. Maybe you’ll commit to time alone for self-care once a week.  Whatever calls to you, pick just one, even if it seems like a small change.
 
Hold that one change you’d like to make in your mind as you begin our color exploration today.
 
If you’re just joining me for the first time, we’ve been on a color journey for several weeks, and today is the 4th in this series. If you missed the first ones or would like to do them again, you can find them here: Color exploration #1, #2, and #3.  
 
Color has a powerful impact on us each day whether you’re aware of it or not. Color can shift our mood and our feelings and even support healing in our bodies. 
 
So, let’s jump into our color journey today. Let’s explore and play! No special skills needed; no judgment of your exploration. Just creative fun!
 
You’ll need some paper and either crayons, colored pencils, or paint. Once you have what you need, we’re going to move into yellow and red again today. And then on to orange for the first time!

​Starting with the Color Yellow
If you’ve been joining me for the last couple weeks, you’re very familiar with this color! Today, you’ll begin with yellow again, but this time golden yellow if you have it. If not, lemon yellow with a touch of red will also work, but the golden yellow will bring the most vivid color experience.
 
Take your blank white paper and bring some golden yellow right to the middle of the paper. Move the golden yellow color out in curves, like a sun that is shining from the center. Watch as the paper comes to life. Continue with golden yellow until it has covered the entire white paper.
 
Spend a few minutes gazing into the golden yellow. Soak in this bright and warm color.
 
Remember, yellow is a color that is stimulating and expansive, like the bright sun of summer. It can help you think clearly and quickly. It’s excellent for self-expression and creativity and can inspire new ideas.
 
Now, let’s move on to the color red.

Adding the Color Red
When you’re ready, place red right in the center where you started with golden yellow. Recall once again that one area you’d like to change. Hold that in your mind as you continue.
 
Remember red is a color that contains unlimited energy, heat and power. Think of the red of flames in a fire. It’s a color of courage, passion, and sensuality. It draws new opportunities and prosperity into your life.
 
Red is grounding too and can bring enthusiasm and excitement, and maybe even a little bit of danger.
 
Red and Yellow Create Orange
Now, move the red out from the center in curves again, as you did with the golden yellow, allowing the yellow to become a strong orange.
 
As you work, notice the transformation that arises. Notice how the warm yellow is energized with power and strength from the red. Notice how the golden yellow changes.
 
When you’ve transformed the entire paper into orange, take a moment and gaze at the color. Bring to mind again that one change you’d like to make. Contemplate how it is now and how it can change like the golden yellow with red into orange.
 
Orange is the color of change and transformation. It’s a color that helps us bring emotions to the surface that need to be cleared or released.  
 
Orange can bring support in transforming fear, loneliness, and depression. It helps to improve vitality and awaken creative energy.
 
An infusion of the red within the yellow, orange brings optimism, enthusiasm, courage, and determination. It’s the color of movement and change.
 
Take a few moments and let orange work its magic for you.

​When you’re done, set your paper aside and consider the following:
 
How did you experience orange?
 
How did it affect you?
 
Was it different from the yellow and red? If so, how?
 
Return to look at your color exploration of orange as you begin to make the change you want to this week. It’ll support you!  

​This is the 4th in a series of 6 color explorations I’m sharing in my blog posts. Join me again next week, and we’ll move on to a new color for some more fun!
 
 
Want to awaken your creative, playful side to support your well-being and just have fun?  Check out my upcoming workshop: "5 Steps To Mastering Your Creativity", starting on October 9th.

 Feeling a little drained after a long week?
 
Lacking motivation and confidence to move forward in your next steps?

Today’s color exploration will be perfect – you’ll be rejuvenated and energized. You’ll receive a boost of motivation and confidence.
 
If you’re just joining me today for the first time, we’ve been on a color journey for several weeks and today is the 3rd in this series. If you missed the first ones or would like to do them again, you can find them here: Color exploration #1 and #2.  
 
Have you noticed how the last color explorations affected you? How did they help you shift your state each time?
 
Color has a powerful impact on us each day whether you’re aware of it or not. Color can shift our mood and our feelings and even support healing in our bodies. 
 
So, let’s jump into our color journey today. Let’s explore and play! No special skills needed; no judgment of your exploration. Just creative fun!
 
You’ll need some paper and either crayons, colored pencils, or paint. Once you have what you need, let’s jump into yellow and red today.

The Color Yellow
If you’ve been joining the color journey for the last couple weeks, you’re already familiar with this color. Today, you’ll begin with yellow, but in a different way. Take your blank white paper and bring some lemon yellow right to the corner of the paper. Move the yellow paint out from the corner in curves, like a sun that is shining from the corner. Watch as the paper comes to life. Continue with the yellow until it has covered about 1/3-1/2 of your white paper.
 
Spend a few minutes gazing into the yellow. Soak in the bright and joyful color.
 
Remember, yellow is a color that is stimulating and expansive, like the bright sun of summer. It can help you think clearly and quickly. It’s excellent for self-expression and creativity and can inspire new ideas.
 
Yellow can help you let go of negativity and tension, bringing optimism, laughter, and inner strength into your life.
 
Now, let’s move on to the color red.​

The Color Red
When you’re ready, start with the red in the opposite corner on your paper from the yellow. Make it a strong, deep red and move it out from the corner, life fire flames toward the yellow.
 
Allow the red to just come to meet the yellow, not mix or blend.
 
Continue until all the white on your paper is gone and yellow and red meet somewhere in the middle.
 
Take a moment and gaze at the color red.
 
Red is a color that contains unlimited energy, heat, and power. Think of the red of flames in a fire. It’s a color of courage, passion, and sensuality. It draws new opportunities and prosperity into your life.
 
Red is grounding and helps you experience a strong sense of self. It brings enthusiasm and excitement, and maybe even a little bit of danger.

The Color Red Moving Toward Yellow
Let your eyes experience the red moving toward the yellow. A passionate enthusiasm directed toward the joyful sun.
 
Now let your eyes see the bright, clear yellow color face the confident power of the red.
 
Allow the colors to work their magic, offering you a surge of energy and confidence, motivating you to get active and take your next steps.
 
What did you experience with these 2 colors one at a time? And what about when they met each other?
 
Reflect on your experience and when you’re complete, set your artistic creation aside. We’ll remember it next week when we move from yellow and red to orange.
 
Want to explore your creativity further in just 5 minutes a day? Check out my CREATIVITY BOWL PRACTICE.

​Were you feeling energized, yet centered, in your color exploration of blue and yellow last week? I hope so! If you missed it, you can join the fun and find it here. 
 
Today, we’ll dive into an exploration with blue and yellow again, but in a new way. You’ll discover how you can use color to bring harmony into your life.
 
So, let’s get ready for a new color journey, and play! No special skills needed; no judgment of your exploration. Just creative fun!
 
You’ll need some paper and either crayons, colored pencils, or paint. Once you have what you need, let’s get started.
 
Starting with the Color Yellow
Take your blank white paper and bring some lemon yellow right to the center of the paper again, just like last week. Lemon yellow, not golden, is the best one for today.
 
As you allow the yellow to radiate out on the paper, experience again how yellow is stimulating and expansive, like the bright sun of summer.
 
Remember to stop before you get to the edge of the paper. Leave some space that’s still white.

​Adding the Color Blue
Then when you’re ready, work with your color blue from the outside in. Allow it to embrace the yellow and experience how the blue brings tranquility and protection.
 
Pause for a minute and enjoy the blue just coming up to meet the yellow, bringing a sense of balance within you – energized, yet centered and at peace.
 
Blue and Yellow create Green
Now, it’s time to let the colors blue and yellow dance together. Let blue move into yellow’s brightness and let yellow shine into blue’s darkness.
 
Continue blending the 2 colors to your heart’s content. You may decide to leave some pure yellow shining on a part of your paper or some calm blue in another part but allow the rest of your paper to be a playful exploration of GREEN.
 
There are many greens in the world. How many can you create on your paper?  Forest green, grass green, spring green, blue green and more. Have fun!

Green is a color that helps to bring harmony to any situation. It can dissolve aggression in relationships or sooth a broken heart. It can help you release issues from your past or bring revitalization and healing to your body. Green offers hope and abundance, like the plants that sprout from the ground every spring.
 
If you have joined me in the past, you’ll also remember that one of St. Hildegard’s contributions to the world was the idea of viriditas. Translated as “greening power,” viriditas can be described as the divine life force that lives and breathes within all living beings. This force is full of vitality, moisture, and fecundity, able to bring creativity and healthy abundance into the world. It makes all things grow, expand, and thrive. We experience it in the dynamic growth of plants in nature as well as our own sense of health. 
St. Hildegard’s thoughts on viriditas, or greening power, can help us expand our experience of the color green. Gaze at the green on your paper and see how it grows and thrives with a healthy life force.
Take a few moments and let green work its magic for you.

When you’re done, set your paper aside and consider the following:
 
How did you experience green?
 
How did it affect you?
 
Was it different from the yellow and blue? If so, how?
 
Contemplate which color resonates with you the most right now? Why do you think that is?
 
This is the 2nd in a series of 6 color explorations I’m sharing in my blog posts. Join me again next week, and we’ll move on to a new color for some more fun!
 
Want to awaken your creative, playful side to support your well-being and just have fun?  Check out my upcoming workshop Workshop - 5 Steps to Mastering Your Creativity, coming this October. ​

​Feeling a little tired or drained? Need to be energized and nourished?
 
I want to invite you to a journey with color over the next 6 weeks. Just follow my blog posts and join me. You’ll feel relaxed yet energized after each experience!
 
We’re surrounded by color in our lives every day. Whether there are colors that are pleasing to your eyes or ones that are not, they’re everywhere – in nature, your home, stores, your clothes and your food.

​Have you explored or played with color before? Have you ever considered how much color affects you? 
 
Even though we may not be aware of it, color has a powerful impact on us each day. Color can shift our mood and our feelings and even support healing in our bodies.  It’s almost like color has a secret power.
 
Color can help you to feel calm and peaceful within or it can energize and excite you. It can give you strength and courage or it can open your heart to feel love and compassion. 
 
So, join me on a color journey, and let’s explore and play! No special skills needed; no judgment of your exploration. Just creative fun!
 
You’ll need some paper and either crayons, colored pencils, or paint. Once you have what you need, let’s dive into yellow and blue today.
 
The Color Yellow
First, take your blank white paper and bring some yellow right to the center of the paper. Start with a light, lemon yellow color first, if you have one. Start to move the yellow paint out from the center in a circular motion, like the sun radiating out. Watch as the paper comes to life and consider how it is making you feel.

​Allow the yellow to expand but stop before you get to the edge of the paper. Leave some space that’s still white. We’ll be bringing some blue there soon.
 
Spend a few minutes gazing into the yellow. Soak in the sunny joyfulness.
If you have a golden yellow color, you can add a little to the center and let it warm and radiate into the lemon yellow.
 
Yellow is a color that is stimulating and expansive, like the bright sun of summer. It can help you think clearly and quickly. It’s excellent for self-expression and creativity and can inspire new ideas.
 
Yellow can help you let go of negativity and tension, bringing optimism, laughter, and inner strength into your life.
 
Take a moment and allow yellow to work its magic for you.
 
The Color Blue
Then when you are ready, pull out your blue. Working from the outside in, bring blue to the white part of your paper on the periphery outside of the color yellow that you have. Work in a circular motion again, but this time embracing the yellow. Don’t blend with the yellow, just come up next to the yellow to rest.
 
Let your eyes soak in the blue as you work. 

Blue creates a sense of tranquility and serenity, like the turquoise color of the sea at the beach. It’s very soothing to the mind and body, bringing a sense of peace and calm.
 
Blue is a color that is cooling and protecting. It brings you back to your center and encourages independence. It’s a color that can help you with communication and give you confidence to speak up.
 
The Color Blue Embracing Yellow
Take a few moments to let your eyes experience the blue next to the yellow. A calming color encircling a stimulating one. A lively one expanding from the center but hugged by the one on the outside. 
 
Allow them to work their magic, bringing a sense of balance within you – energized, yet centered and at peace.
 
How did each color affect you, one at a time? And what about when they were together?

When you’re complete, set your artistic creation aside. We’ll remember it next week when we move from yellow and blue into green.
 
Want to awaken your creative, playful side to support your well-being and just have fun?  Check out my free training: "5 Steps  To Mastering Your Creativity".

​When we look outside in the summertime, we can see Mother Nature in a state of expansiveness. Gardens are overflowing with vegetables, trees have crowns full of green leaves, and bees are buzzing around multitudes of blossoming flowers. It’s a wonderful time for you to move into expansiveness too.
 
If you have been feeling contracted or withdrawn from the world, you can shift it. As you do, you can become more deeply connected to the divine, your inner wisdom that guides you, or intuition, and your purpose in life.

​The Crown Chakra
It's the seventh chakra, or crown chakra, that gives us the ability to access these higher states of consciousness. It’s the source of our connection to the divine energy of creation and to our higher self. It helps us to experience that we’re one with everyone and everything in nature.
 
The crown chakra is located at the top of the head and slightly above the head. It sits like a crown, opening upwards. It’s like a bridge to the universe, giving us access to higher states of awareness. This chakra is a doorway that can take us beyond our limitations to connect with the true nature of life and experience a sense of purpose, abundance, and joy.

When this chakra is in balance, you’ll feel unity with others and the world. You have a sense of the deeper meaning of life and feel a deep sense of peace. You’ll trust in the flow of life and synchronicity. You’ll experience the Divine within you and within the world. 
 
You’ll know that your crown chakra is out of balance if you feel disconnected from others and from worldly matters. You may feel lonely and lack a sense of direction. You may also feel detached from spirit. This may result in anger, depression, or flightiness.
 
The crown chakra can become out of balance or blocked in many ways. If we have been fed lies or misinformation, this can cause blockage. Another way is when we haven’t been allowed freedom of thought. And fear is yet another factor.  
 
Bringing Your Crown Chakra into Balance
Let me share 3 ways to help you bring your crown chakra into balance so that you can move into expansiveness to connect with the divine and your higher self.

1. Learn something new. Find a topic of interest and take a course or read a book on it. This keeps your mind open and engaged with new ideas.

2. Sit in silence. It’s so rare for us to be in silence. Relax your body, slow your breathing, and enjoy the quiet. 
3. Speak affirmations to yourself to help shift any negative thought patterns. Here are helpful ones for the crown chakra:
​I honor the Divine within me.
I seek experiences that nourish my spirit.
I seek to understand and to learn from the experiences in my life.
I trust my intuition.

Chanting a Mantra for the Crown Chakra
Want to deepen your work? I invite you to join me in chanting a mantra that is associated with this chakra. This can help you to bring further awareness and healing to this chakra, supporting you in connecting to the divine and feeling at one with all that is. 
 
To help balance the crown chakra, we can call upon Brahman. Brahman is not to be confused with Brahma, the Hindu deity. Brahman is without a beginning and without an end and yet is within all. Brahman is cosmic spirit and infinite consciousness. The universal principle and eternal truth. 
 
Brahman is the divine source of everything that exists and does not exist.  Brahman is genderless and yet has a dual nature that encompasses both male and female. The male aspect known as Purusha, “that which fills,” and the female aspect known as Shakti which means “energy” or “dynamic force.” 
 
You can find the Healing Brahman Mantra in my Free Healing Library and chant along with me.
 
Interested in more? Check out my How to Bring Life to Your Chakras, 7 Healing Mantras guidebook here. 

When it’s in balance you see clearly and understand what you see. You can perceive and interpret visual cues. You have perspective on events and ideas. You’re open to new ideas and can be quietly reflective. You trust your intuition and inner wisdom, able to discern what is for your higher good.
 
Here are 3 ways to help you open and balance your brow chakra through engaging your creative side.
 
1.    Notice and appreciate the beauty in the world. Since the brow chakra is about seeing and perspective, taking time to see the beauty all around you in the world will help to bring balance to this chakra. A walk in nature or visiting an art gallery are wonderful possibilities. Allow your eyes to soak in the colors, shapes, textures, and patterns that you see.
​

​As the brow chakra is related to vision, the eyes and perspective, sometimes a blocked brow chakra can arise out of something we’ve seen, shame we feel (inward vision), or being told something that doesn’t match what we see.
 
You’ll know if your brow chakra is out of balance, as you’ll notice you struggle with seeing a different perspective. Things won’t make sense to you. You may be confused and have challenges seeing things clearly. 
 
That’s a good time to explore these 3 ways to bring balance to your brow chakra.
 

Chanting a Mantra for the Brow Chakra
 
If you are interested in further activation of your brow chakra, I invite you to join me in chanting a mantra that relates to a Hindu deity associated with this chakra. This can help you to bring deeper awareness and healing to this chakra, supporting you in seeing clearly, understanding what you see, and trusting your intuition.
 
To help balance the brow chakra, we can call upon the Hindu god Shiva who is often depicted with a third eye of wisdom. He sees beyond the obvious with clear perception and shows what is truth. 
 
You can find the Healing Shiva Mantra in my Free Healing Library and chant along with me.
 
Interested in more? Check out my How to Bring Life to Your Chakras, 7 Healing Mantras guidebook here. 

Have you taken time to unwind and relax this summer yet?
 
If not, I invite you join me and dive into an experience of the color blue. It’ll bring you right into the mood of summer!
 
Imagine for a moment…
 
A gentle breeze caresses your face as your bare feet sink into the warm grains of the golden sand with each step you take along the beach. You gaze dreamily out to the turquoise waters of the sea that sparkle under the light of the sun. 
 
A swooping arc of a seagull nearby captures your attention as it caws and flies into the distance where the sea and sky melt into each other in a mesmerizing weaving of azure and turquoise.
 
Close your eyes and imagine you’re there on the beach seeing the beautiful blue of the sea and the sky for a few moments.

​When you open your eyes, pause for a moment and check-in. How do you feel?
 
The Calming Color of Blue
The incredible beauty of the color blue can carry us away to lands of warm waters and clear skies. Blue creates a sense of tranquility and peace for us, soothing our minds and calming our bodies. A wonderful space for us to find our inner self, our deeper thoughts, and our authentic voice.
 
The Throat Chakra
Blue is also the color associated with the throat chakra and can help us bring the throat chakra into balance. It can help calm fear, improve your communication abilities, and give you the confidence to find your voice and speak your thoughts.
 
The throat chakra is located in the throat area that includes the neck, jaw, shoulders, and also ears. It’s the center of expression and the source of your speaking, listening, and ability to express yourself authentically. 
 
When your throat chakra is balanced and you speak your truth, it’ll be experienced as authentic and compassionate. 
 
You’ll also be able to listen deeply to others, giving them an experience of being heard and understood.

​When your throat chakra is overactive, you may feel overwhelmed with emotion. You’ll be very talkative, arrogant or engage in manipulative behavior. When your energy in your throat chakra is low, you may feel shy or reticent and not want to communicate openly with others, afraid of the response or judgment. You may shake or stutter as you speak OR be unclear in your words as you speak before thinking. You may also act in passive-aggressive ways.
 
Chanting a Mantra for the Throat Chakra
To help balance your throat chakra energy, I invite you to join me in picturing the color blue (back at that beach, if you’d like!) and chant a mantra invoking the goddess Lakshmi. This can help you to bring awareness and healing to the throat chakra, supporting you in finding your voice in self-expression and in communication with others.
 
The goddess, Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of abundance, wealth, and beauty. She can support you in your efforts to speak your truth with compassion and to listen deeply to others, bringing abundance to all. 
 
You can find the Healing Lakshmi Mantra in my Free Healing Library  and chant along with me.

After chanting, sit for a moment in silence and allow the sound to continue to reverberate around you like the gentle waves of a turquoise sea.
 
Interested in more? Check out my How to Bring Life to Your Chakras, 7 Healing Mantras guidebook here. 

Are you feeling a little off or uncomfortable in your body? Have you been ill or suffering in some way recently?
 
Every part of our body has a vibration. Every organ, tissue, and cell. When these are in harmony, then we have our health and well-being.
 
If disharmony arises in some form, there is a loss of well-being, and we may experience discomfort, illness, or disease.

​We can harness the vast potential of energy that is available through sound (created by vibrations) for our own healing and well-being. It can open the gate to a universal energy field that is far greater than ourselves. And then we can begin to vibrate at a higher level, leading to harmony and health.
 
Are you ready to reap the benefits of the power of harmonious and healing sound in your life?
 
When we bring the right kind of sound into our lives, we can align ourselves with vibrations that encourage health, happiness, and unity. They can help you to shift from discomfort and illness to healing and well-being.
 
As shared by Deepak Chopra,
“The body is held together by sound, and the presence of disease indicates that some sounds are out of tune… primordial sound is the mysterious link that holds the universe together in a web that is the quantum field.”
I invite you to explore this vast potential of healing energy through sound with me. Let’s call upon the Hindu god, Krishna, to support us. He’s the deity that plays divine music on his beloved flute. 
As Krishna plays melodies on his flute every day, he holds deep gratitude and love for the plants and for the sacrifice of the bamboo that allowed him to create his flute to make beautiful music.
 
As the harmonious sounds float through the air, they reach Mother Nature who responds with love. The lakes and rivers rise, overflowing onto their banks. And the plants glow with the vibrancy of life - luscious green grasses, ripe juicy fruits, and sweetly fragrant flowers. The birds begin to sing, and the peacocks dance. As the divine melodies float in the breeze, they warm the hearts of all who hear.

​Join me today and let’s chant a mantra that invokes the energy of the Hindu deity, Krishna, to warm your heart with harmonious sound, allowing it to flow through you in whatever way you’re in need.
 
First, take a moment to bring attention to your fourth chakra, the heart chakra, that is located at the center of the chest. It’s related to the element of air. 
 
We can use our breath and movement, within the air, to feel deeply connected with all that is around us, harmoniously exchanging energy with it. When your heart chakra is in balance, it flows with love, empathy, and compassion for yourself and others.

​Now, go and access the mantra Om Kleem Krishnaya Namaha here,  and let’s chant together!
 
Through the chanting of the mantra, invite the breath of the Divine to flow through you whenever and however it’s needed. 
 
For who are you and who am I, but the Divine? You too can open to receive the breath of the Divine through your being and, in turn, create harmonious and divine sound out in the world. 

If you feel called, place your hands over your heart while you are chanting. You can picture any pain that you may be experiencing in your life at this time. And after chanting for a while, slowly move your hands away from your heart, moving your arms up and out towards the heavens. Keep chanting as you do so and imagine the pain leaving your heart and being surrendered to the Divine.
 
Then, place your hands over your heart once again. Ask yourself, who or what do I want to send my love to? Feel love in your entire being for them. Keep chanting as you do so. While still chanting, move your arms outward and imagine extending your love to them.
 
After chanting, sit for a moment in silence and allow the sound to continue to reverberate around and through you.
Om Kleem Krishnaya Namaha
 
Interested in more?  Become a member of my Free Healing Library and get access to other audio recordings .

​Are you feeling a little lethargic today? Moving slowly? Here’s a way to shift your energy and feel rejuvenated.

​First, take a look outside your window. What can you see?
 
Summer’s all around us in its glorious splendor. What beauty in this season!
 
The warm sun shines down upon the bright colored flowers. The warm color of yellow radiating out into the world.

If you are interested in deepening this work, I invite you to access the Healing Durga Mantra in my Free Healing Library to further support you in balancing your solar plexus chakra. You can join the Library and access the Healing Durga Mantra audio recording here. Join me and chant the mantra while picturing this warm yellow radiating from your solar plexus.
 
 
“Your radiance shines in every atom of creation.”   Rumi
 
 
Feeling rejuvenated and energized from the color yellow? I hope so!  You can access more creative activities here with the Creativity Bowl. 

​Summer is showing us its glorious splendor. What beauty! The lush green crowns of the trees sway in the breeze while raindrops gently fall bringing moisture to the earth. The birds are happily sharing their melodious songs with all, and the gardens are starting to explode with little sprouts.

​What plans do you have for creativity this summer? Any yet?
 
Summer’s a wonderful time to dive into creativity!
 
As the natural world around us explodes with vibrant life, our energy also expands. A perfect time for creativity and play!
 
You’ll feel a part of something greater.  And you’ll feel energized and alive.
 
What’s calling to you? Maybe you like to move in dance. Or paint or draw.
 
Maybe you like to write poetry or songs. Or maybe you become creative in your garden or kitchen.
 
Whatever it may be, summer’s a wonderful time to dive in and play. 
 
As you play creatively, you lose track of what’s outside in the world – the news, daily tasks, worries, and fears. Your thoughts of that part of the world dissolve, releasing any stress you’re feeling.
 
You feel fully alive. And joyfully engaged. 

It’s part of our nature to be creative, as human beings. And being creative brings us back to our true nature. 
 
Inspiration to Get Started
 
Need a little inspiration to get started? If so, access my Creativity Bowl Practice here  – so simple and easy to get you on the path to creativity this summer.
​

​Need a little more support? I invite you to join me in calling upon the goddess, Saraswati.
 
Invoking Saraswati, Goddess of Music and the Arts
 
The goddess Saraswati, reigns over creativity, wisdom and knowledge, music and the arts. She can inspire our creativity in life and support us to find our creative expression in whatever way it may desire to flow forth - dance, yoga, drawing, painting, singing, and in all aspects of our daily life.
 
Saraswati supports human beings to ignite the seeds of creative expression within themselves. Whether it be an idea, thought, dream, song, artistic piece or passion, a new impulse comes into being!
 
You can join me HERE in chanting a mantra to invoke the goddess Saraswati. She’ll help us to bring awareness to the second chakra, the sacral chakra located in your lower abdomen. This is a place where we can access our creative nature.

Sara meaning Essence, and Swa as One Self comes together as The Essence of One Self. In the word Saraswati the meaning becomes, “One who Leads to the Essence of One Self.”  
 
Saraswati, the one who taps into the deepest essence of who you are and your gifts to the world that are needed that can flow through you and out into the world.
 
Find the Healing Saraswati Mantra in my Free Healing Library  and chant along with me.  

​Access the Creativity Bowl here.
 
And may you join the energy of summer and expand out into the world with wondrous creativity this season! 

​Do you have days where you feel frazzled and not very grounded? Your anxiety seems to rise into your throat, and you don’t feel very safe or secure at all.

​I know I have times like this on occasion, and I open my toolbox to support myself with a powerful mantra when this happens.
 
And in a very short time, I’m able to dissolve any anxiety or fear and feel grounded again almost as if I have roots reaching down into Mother Earth. Breathing a deep sigh, I feel secure and at peace.
 
Let me share with you how I came to discover how powerful and useful this tool is.
 
When I was about 10 years old, I remember one warm and sunny day when I sat at a table in my house and opened up a box of clay. I pulled out a wet, cold lump and began to work with it. It wasn’t long before the coaxing and caressing of my hands brought an elephant to life!
 
First one elephant. 
 
Then another. 
 
Then another. 
 
And then I had a whole herd of elephants!  The strength that came through their powerful legs, long trunk and amazing ears seemed to resonate with me.  
 
In celebration, I decorated each precious elephant with sparkling glitter of silver and gold. And, oh, how I adored my collection of elephants for many months!

​Later in my life, as an adult, my love of elephants came back to me. I was sitting in a mantra class at the University of Creation Spirituality. My teacher, Russill Paul, was describing the Hindu deity Ganesh, a deity with the head of an elephant and the body of a human. I was completely captivated! 
 
Their power and strength seemed to call to me once again.
 
Guided by our teacher, we soon were learning the chant Om Gum Ganeshaya Namaha.   The words started to become familiar to my mouth as I repeated them again and again, their power resonated within my whole body. It became alive and energized!
 
We were invited to move, if inspired. Soon, I felt the spirit of this great creature, the elephant, with its power and glory fill my body. Its powerful legs and the way they moved their long trunks. Even their amazing, huge ears!

As I returned to my daily life, I discovered that I could call upon this powerful image of the elephant and this sacred Ganesh mantra to support me. So, soon I began teaching it to others. It helped them in feeling safe, secure and grounded in the world during the times that fear and anxiety rise up within.
 
Its energy helps to bring focus and healthy activation to the root chakra at the base of the spine. This is the chakra that supports us in being grounded or rooted upon the Earth. It’s the Foundation of Life and the Mother Earth energy within us.
 
I invite you to explore the movement of the elephant, as an animal in all of its glory. Take some time to look at photos of elephants or a film that shows how they move.  Watch how their large legs carry them on the earth, how their trunk helps them engage, and how their huge ears serve them. 
 
Close your eyes and imagine what it is like to be an elephant upon the earth. How to move, travel, eat, and interact. Open your eyes and begin to move like an elephant if you feel inspired. 
 
And then I invite you to join me and chant the mantra Om Gum Ganeshaya Namaha to activate your root chakra, clearing any blockages. This will help calm any fear, leaving you grounded in safety and security in your life. You can access the Ganesh mantra in my Free Healing Library here.

We shine brilliantly knowing that we are safe and secure at our foundation. From here, we can grow within the eternal Light of the Divine to become all that we were meant to be!
 
Interested in learning more about healing mantras? You can access many here in my Free Healing Library. 

​The courage that St. Hildegard had in the 12th century is truly an inspiration to all of us today. She felt that God was speaking through her in the many powerful visions that she experienced, and she soon felt called to share them with others.
 
Yet, St. Hildegard often doubted herself and her abilities to share this with the world. She lived in a time where women did not preach, speak publicly, or write. Certainly not on controversial topics such as visions from God!

​One of her greatest visions she had, at 52 years of age, was when she was called to leave her home of 40 years and build her own abbey.
 
At the time, she was living at the convent at St. Disibod along the Rhine River. She experienced a vision where she saw a place on a hill where the river Nahe flows into the Rhine that would be dedicated to the name of St. Rupert. At that location, St. Rupert’s church had stood centuries before, but Viking invaders had destroyed it in the 9th century.
 
For St. Hildegard, it was the perfect place to build her own abbey. The inspiring work of St. Rupert in the 7th century fueled her commitment to move forward with this project.
 
And yet, she was faced with many obstacles along the way.
 
The monks at St. Disibod strongly objected to her leaving. The monastery had profited well through the years from her presence as she had risen to become a leader in the community. The women who came to join the religious community at that time paid a dowry. Additionally, those who came to visit brought gifts including valuable property. To have many sisters leave with St. Hildegard meant that the monks’ financial support would too. 

​Yet, St. Hildegard persevered. She felt she was being divinely called to create an abbey that was separate from the monastery at Disibod.
 
Soon, as often happened with St. Hildegard, she fell ill. She laid in bed without the ability to move or speak.
 
During a visit from the abbot at her sick bed, he became convinced that her illness was a sign of God’s displeasure with the delay in fulfilling his will that was communicated in her vision. So, at that point, the move was approved and supported.
 
When her health returned, St. Hildegard moved with approximately 20 nuns and her friend, Volmar, from Disibodenberg to the new location that would become Rupertsberg. There they moved into the old and decaying buildings that were still standing on the Rhine.
 
Even though finances for restoring the existing buildings were uncertain, workers were hired. St. Hildegard oversaw every aspect of the project, even as she worked alongside the builders and artists. Rupertsberg would have every detail needed for self-sufficiency including a mill, gardens, stables, a chapel, infirmary, dormitories and more.

This incredible project took years, even as St. Hildegard entered into her 6th decade of life on earth. But soon, her perseverance and courage were rewarded as the vision of Rupertsberg reached completion. She felt it was truly a place that could manifest the Power of the Living Light and could house 50 nuns on the property.
 
St. Hildegard later wrote a song, O Jerusalem,  that honored this new creation of the Living Light and the respect and even kinship she felt toward St. Rupert who lived centuries ago.  We can imagine that St. Hildegard, in her song, was drawing a comparison between her abbey and the Holy City of Jerusalem awaiting its rebuilding in heaven. 
 
But, St. Hildegard’s work was not done yet. She continued to encounter obstacles even after the opening of Rupertsberg. The early years were quite difficult ones. Some sisters even left. Still, she persevered with the passion she had for the project.
 
And then at the age of 67, marching forward, she even created a second abbey!

St. Hildegard is truly an inspiration to all of us today to find our courage to manifest our visions and persevere through the obstacles that come into our paths.
 
What are you being called to create in your community? New solutions, new ideas, and new ways of thinking are needed in our world today.
 
It is possible to manifest the vision that you’re being called to create.
 
Even through obstacles!
 
Remember the strength and power of St. Hildegard, and you can find yours too. Let the words of St. Hildegard echo in your mind as you take your next steps forward, “God created me… God is also my strength… Through God, I have living spirit.  Through God I have life and movement. Through God I learn, I find my path…” 
 
The Divine is always there to support us on our paths! 
 
Interested in more support to manifest your creative vision for the world, sign up here for my FREE training "5 Steps To Mastering Your Creativity".