LunarMusings

My Sacred Life Sunday: Rumi

My Sacred Life Sunday Project

"Dance, when you're broken open.

Dance, if you've torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance, when you're perfectly free."

~ Rumi

Gems along the path...

I found this quote by Rilke over at Maddie's little corner of the world. It spoke so deeply to me, that I had to post it here as well.

"You are so young, so before all beginning, I want to beg you
as much as I can, dear sir, to be patient towards all that is
unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves
like locked rooms or books written in foreign languages.  Do not
seek the answers, which cannot be given to you  now because you
would not be able to live them.  And the point is, to live everything.
Live the questions now.  And then perhaps you will gradually,
without even noticing it,   live your way into  the answers."


Live the questions.  Live. the. questions.  And then, live your way into the answers. 

All that is unsolved in my heart is asking to be embraced, not resisted.  It is asking to be lived.  And this quote lends a certain grace to this experience that I have been so desperately needing.  There is permission here, and there is acceptance.  Living the questions is just as potent and just as dynamic and gorgeous a place to be if it is given the same attention, engagement, and trust as we give living the answers.

Thank you Rilke.  And thank you Maddie!

Wellness Wednesday: Water part 1

Water.  What started out as a simple Wellness Wednesday post, now has snow balled into a list of different things that I want to cover.  Its not just the physical health benefits of water, but the spiritual, and the environmental issues that came up while collecting my thoughts for this post. I am going to explore all this over the course of several posts.

The numbers vary depending on what source you go to, but they send a significant message none the less.  Water makes up the majority of our physical make up.  Here are some numbers for you:

~ Blood is 83% water
~ Muscles are 75% water
~ The brain is 74% water
~ Bone is 22% water

Without water, we die.  Its vital to every single system in our body.  Drinking water daily maintains the healthy functioning of our nervous, endocrine, digestive, circulatory, skeletal, metabolic, respiratory, and reproductive systems.  (I actually think that I am missing one of them...)

Some of the tangible benefits of drinking water are:

~ Good complexion.  Water gives helps keep your skin clean, smooth, and pores smaller.  When we are well hydrated, there is a glow to the skin.  Blemishes occur less, and the skin cells are able to repair and reproduce more efficiently.

~ Regularity.  Water aids in digesting the food we consume as well as helping it move along the intestinal tract in a smoother manner.  People with constipation issues are usually dehydrated and don't know it.  Instead they take a laxative, rather then water.  But the problem with this is that the end problem which is the constipation is what is addressed with a laxative, and not the fact that lack of water in the system also made it difficult for the body to extract the available nutrients from the food as it passed through.  So dehydration also creates a malabsorbtion problem, which also leads to a compromised immune system, metabolic system and also energy levels.

~ Flush out toxins.  Water is a cleanser.  It lubricates, moves through, and supports the organs in the body like the liver, the kidneys, and the lungs and skin in ridding the body of toxins from foods and environmental pollutants as well as waste products from bodily functions.  With the accumulation of toxins in the body, we gain weight, retain water (which is a combination of water and inflammation from body processes), become lethargic, tax our immune system, and wear out the body which speeds up aging.

Thats alot, and its only the beginning.  Being properly hydrated can help prevent headaches, arthritic flare ups, long recovery time from injuries, autoimmune disorders, colds, infections, allergies... this list is endless.

Its important to note that our daily water intake has to be water.  That is, not ice tea, soda, gatorade and whatever other substitute we have available out there.  There are many ingredients in all of these drinks that further contribute to dehydration rather then replenish our bodies.  I am certainly guilty of this.  I know that many complain about the lack of taste water has.  I have circumvented this by adding a slice of lemon to my water, which brings with great nutritional value as well as acting as an internal astrigent, drawing things out of the body.  I will also drop a sprig of lavender or mint in my water bottles to add a little bit of yumminess to it.  So in the picture above you'll see a Brita Pitcher with my filtered water, and next to it a glass pitcher of filtered water where I normally have my lemon or herbs or both mixed in.  On this particular day though, I am out of fresh herbs!  :)

I have read that the best way to figure out how much water you should be drinking a day is to take your weight divide it by two and thats the amount in ounces you should be drinking.

Weight / 2 = amount of water in ounces

An easy way to get a glass in, is to just have one by your bed waiting for you when you wake up in the morning.  It gets all the body systems going, and gives you a head start.  And then of course, carrying a bottle of water with you everywhere you go.  But this is where things get complicated, and another post will be forthcoming on the issues regarding bottled water.

There is alot being written on plastic bottles leaching toxins into the water we drink.  There is also the issue that we are all buying bottles of water every single day, creating mountains of disposed plastic bottles that are just suffocating our planet.  One of the things that helped with this was the cool Nalgene  bottles we have all been totting around, but these are plastic too, and some are ok, but some are not.  Again, I'm not going to go into that here just yet, but I encourage you to do some research.

I have opted for having a water filter bottle at home so that I can drink the water I have coming out of my faucet.  And I have purchased glass water bottles to carry with me.  They are reusable, and no danger of leaching chemicals into my drinking water.  So its good for me and the earth.

I have purchased these Aquasana bottles, and they are a good size, but the plastic cap isn't very durable.  I have had some of the plastic shave off of the inner threading.  Very odd.  But Voss  bottles its water in similar bottles with better caps, so I have opted to buy a few of these and reuse them.  You can usually find these bottles of water at fine or gourmet food stores, like Bristol Farms, Pavilions, Whole Foods, or Wild Oats.  Unfortunately, I only know of local sources.

There is so much more going on with water for me lately.  I have been dreaming about water.  Ritualing in water... the energy in water transports us. The Fall season is governed by the energetics of water. There is all the work that Dr. Masaru Emoto has done with water.  So... this will all be part of the next few installments of Wellness Wednesday!

I do want to thank all who have participated in the last week.  I am thrilled at the response and all the amazing wisdom that has been shared already.  The amazing Leah  created this badge for us to place on our blogs to reference back to the Introduction to Wellness Wednesday.

If you are part of Wellness Wednesdays or would like to join in, let me know I will add you to the link list on my side bar, and you can follow the badge link to the original post to grab the code for your blog.

Blessings to all of you and be well.

My Sacred Life Sunday: Autumn Equinox

Its the first day of Fall.  I have been waiting for this day for what seems like forever.  Some internal clock in me has been longing for the shift, the mark point where the weather allows me to warm up, wear more, and retreat a bit.  I feel like I have been in the heat of the Summer fire since summer of 2006.  We skipped any semblance of Winter here in Southern California, and when it began to cool off here right before Spring, I left for India and baked in the heat there. 

Agriculturally, the Autumn Equinox marks the second phase in gathering up the harvest of the year (for the northern hemisphere).  For Pagans, Witches and those whose spirits consciously cycle with the Earth, it also signifies that time to give thanks for all that we are reaping in our lives.  Whether it be actual food or more etheric personal milestones, the seeds we took the time to plant at the beginning of this year are coming up to be picked, named and given thanks for. 

I always resonate deeply with the other energetic of this season.  And that is the turning within.  The darkness begins to grow now, until the Winter Solstice.  The land begins to rest and compost or nourish itself for the planting season that takes place in the end of winter/beginning of Spring.  And spiritually, after going through the process of pruning back all that is no longer needed, or all that needed to die in order to reap the harvest of our intentions, we rest.  We retreat.  Nourish, give thanks and reassess where to go now after this cycle of growth. 

It always feels perfect for me as well that this season starts several weeks prior to my birthday.  I tend to take it all as very significant and ripe with symbolism.  It helps me along in the workings of my soul. 

I am releasing.  Getting ready to shed all the layers that I kept on while moving through the last 2 years.  Its been a long cycle for me.  And I am ready to go within, evaluate, and rest.  I will turn 36 soon.  And its a year that will promise to be auspicious for me.  I feel it already.  Much is happening around me and in me to usher in this new cycle.  It has the markings of much movement.  And today, right now, I'm not at all afraid of that.  I am grateful for the lessons, the turmoil and the journey.  I am also grateful for this time before hand. This darker, quieter time, to rest, cave a bit, and allow the colder weather to slow me down enough to really savor the respite.

Have a beautiful Fall Season... or Spring if you are on the other half!

For other Sacred Life Project writers go here.

My Sacred Life Project: Day 18

My Sacred Life Project
Day 18

This is my bed.  My very messy, filled with way too many pillows and blankets and sheets bed.  My windows are still open, as they have been throughout the house all through Summer, but last night it rained.  Rained...

It was cold and I snuggled up to the sound of the water falling, and welcomed the beginning hints of the turn of the season.  It was such a great night sleep, and an even better morning.  I didn't want to get out of bed.  Just being there, covered, cold, but warm, with the softness all around me and my delicious pajamas...  Such a divine morning.  I was completely immersed in the comfort, the quiet, the safety, and the cocoon.  My cocoon.

An amazing way to usher in a day.  A gift.  It felt like a deep bow. 

*Our lovely Carla at Zena Moon has completed her 31 day Sacred Life Project and is now creating Sacred Life Sundays.  I am going to continue with doing this on a weekly basis, as a daily post has proven to be a bit more then I can chew given the other things I'm invested in.  But this has been and continues to be a beautiful practice that I look forward to continuing.

Blessings,
e

Wellness Wednesday: Dry Brushing

I am so excited to be starting the first day of Wellness Wednesday!  There have been so many ideas that have jumped up to be written about in the last week.  It has been hard choosing one to start with.  Part of the inspiration for starting this is the Lunar Work I have begun doing this month as well as the amazing process Carla has led us on by starting the My Sacred Life Project .  The act of being conscious everyday for those moments that connect us with spirit has been and continues to be a profound practice in presence as well as gratitude.  It has really opened my eyes to how much Sacredness permeates my life. 

I wanted to have the same experience with those things that I do for my self that maintain and promote wellness. As often when my life becomes overwhelming, or I become immersed in a new project, my wellness habits tend to be pushed to the back seat.  I want to bring this practice of self care to the forefront of my consciousness in order to increase the amount of attention and care I place in this area of my life, while also affirming those areas where I am already doing a great job. 

My intention is for all of us that are participating is to share those things that we do.  We all hold a tremendous amount of knowledge and having a place to share that will add to our community as well as support all of us in continuing to impower ourselves in caring for our bodies, mind and souls.  I also am in the process of visioning a way in which we can organized all of our posts in one place and create archives that we and others can peruse for information.  More on this in the coming weeks! 

One more logistical thing before I dive in!  As many of you know, I have recently received a new MacBook Pro!  Which is different then the PC laptop I was working from.  On the old one, I had Photoshop Elements which I used to edit and add text to images.  Because I don’t have that on this computer (mac) yet, I am unable to create the badge I want to have for Wellness Wednesday. And the old PC did its final death kick a couple of weeks ago!  So, this will have to wait, unless one of you lovelies would like to contribute your skills and computer to creating a badge for us/me!  I have an image I want to use, it just needs text and resizing. 

Ok, on to the topic of today!

I have been dry brushing on and off for the last 6 years.  Like most things, I go through periods of intense consistency and long stretches of sporadic action.  But its something I always come back to as it provides me with benefits that I immediately see and feel, and it really fills a craving my body has.

Dry Brushing is whole body exfoliation using a dry natural bristle brush.  The benefits of dry bushing are as follows:

~Removal of dead skin cells.
~Cleanses and unplugs pores.
~Increases the ability to absorb nutrients.
~Increases circulation through the skin cells increasing better metabolic processes.
~Stimulates healthy and faster skin cell regeneration.
~Nerve endings are stimulated and rejuvenated.
~Makes it easier for your body to "exhale" waste products through the skin.
~Massages the Lymphatic system, thereby boosting the immune system.

Our skin is the largest organ we have.  Many of us don't really see the skin in this way and therefore overlook the importance of it.  The skin is considered the largest eliminative organ in our bodies, often considered the third kidney, or third lung.  It breathes and perspires as the kidneys and lungs do.  And day by day we hinder this process through the environmental pollution that sits in our pores, the lack of sufficient hydration we provide for our bodies, and the processed synthetic chemicals via soaps, lotions and beauty products that we slather all over ourselves, wearing clothes made of non breathing synthetic fibers and dietary deficiency that serve to block metabolic and circulatory processes.

Its recommended that you dry brush before you shower or bathe.  I tend to do it  this way most, but I will also on occasion dry brush vigorously and then slather yummy organic coconut oil or shea butter all over and just moisturize all day.  (more on moisturizing in a later post) 

When doing any type of rhythmic massage or brushing activity over the skin it is important to always move towards the heart.  This helps the flow of lymph move in the right direction.

Beginning at the feet and moving up towards the torso, one foot and leg at a time, you want to work in slow rhythmic and even pressured circles.  The natural bristle brush will feel a bit harsh the first few time you do this.  Your skin will become accustomed to this and over time it will feel incredibly invigorating.  You want to be gentle around the breast area, and avoid the nipples.  When doing the abdomen, its important to brush in the direction of elimination, or the flow of "traffic" through your large intestine, so you want to brush up the right side, across the upper abdomen and down the left. 

There are smaller and more gentler brushes for the face as well as silk gloves.  Here in Southern California I have seen them at Wild Oats, Whole Foods, Mother's, and Henry's Farmers Market.  I think that all of these except Mother's has stores located throughout the US.  You can also go to the Hair Doc Company online and order brushes there.

Be well, and please visit the other wonderful Bloggers participating in Wellness Wednesday.  You can find the links on the right hand column of this page.

My Sacred Life Project: Day 17

My Sacred Life Project
Day 17

Today has been long.   Had a full day of clients that I wasn't ready for, as I had very little sleep last night.  But I stumbled through my day, and tried to be grounded in the midst of my rawness.  I got home this evening and walked past my main altar.  I realized how I hadn't even regarded it today as I had been spending the day in my Stories and not in the present moments and what they had to offer me. 

So I grabbed a candle, ran the bath and just turned off all the lights in the house.  The candle danced warmth and comfort into the space as I slid into my hot bath allowing it to wash off my day.  I really didn't do any of the things we do in a bath tub, at least not in terms of the business of washing.  All I did was lay there.  I leaned back, closed my eyes and let myself be in the Womb of the Mother.  Back to my Sacred Makings... back to the Ocean.  The Water. 

I'm a bundle of emotions today, but in here, I didn't have a release.  It was more of a pause, a stilling.  Deeper then the layer of feeling and emotion.  It was just this very simple awareness of my existence.  The boundaries of my body, the way the Water held me intimately, the flickering light sending coded messages to my soul. 

I'm finding that these days, I HAVE to find these moments.  I'm needing them now, and it gives me a reprieve from the stirrings inside. 

This also brings up another issue.  This blog, as my life, is a commitment to deeper and truer transperancy as time passes and as I grow.  But I am also aware that there are boundaries that need to be respected where others are concerned as well as my souls bounderies needing its own solitary space to work things out without dispersing the energy contained in a given situation.  I say this, because I am aware that my sharing of my messiness can come off as cryptic.  I am learning how to convey my story/my truth in such a way that is completely responsible, and completely about me. 

I find it healing and such a surprising blessing that there are those out there that are connecting to this process of mine through their own, without sharing the details, but allowing our souls to do the speaking, the murmuring that occurs across space and time.  Its miraculous and defies words. 

I am grateful.  Grateful for community, grateful for solitude, grateful for baths, grateful for the ride that Love takes you on while throwing out your agenda, grateful for Sisterhood, grateful for Art, grateful for all of you who come here and reach out and connect with me, and share of your life with me and the rest of the blogging community, and I am grateful for the promise of a new day.

Blessings to all of you,
e

These Are The Things I Want To Do This Fall Meme

I was tagged by the lovely Leslie to participate in this fun Meme.  The idea is to link to things I want to do, see or read this Fall, only the trick is that you don't know what I am referring to until you follow the link.  "Its like a little treasure hunt!"  And I love treasure hunts! 

So the rules are fairly loose.  You can alter it a bit to fit your own "To Do" list for Fall, and when you get yours up, leave a comment here so others can check out your list.  To keep it going tag another 5 Bloggies!

So before I go into my list, I wanted to just share the photo above.  Many of you know that the contents of this image  is not new here!  Its becoming a bit of a vice.  And this weekend instead of comfort shopping for clothes or having a pint of ice cream, I went out and threw down over $100 on hair and face products.  I swear they should hire me for marketing!  I think that I am actually ashamed to tell you how much the 62 oz bottle of Sap Moss Shampoo cost me.  So I will hold that kind of confession for the Aveda Addicts Anonymous meeting...

Ok, on to my list of things I want to do this Fall!

~ I want to curl up and be inspired, moved and opened by this.
~ I am going to go here and learn this.
~ Attend this annual magic.
~ Becoming more of a girly geek.
~ Growing.
~ Continuing.
~ Indulge.
~ Meeting him for the first time... again.
~ I want to continue remembering how I felt here and continue to allow dreams to come true.

Ok thats my list for now!  Falalala!!!!  So I tag:

Maddie
L.B.
Darlene
Leonie  (Spring)
Bella 

My Sacred Life Project: Day 16

My Sacred Life Project
Day 16

Its Saturday, and I'm back to messy.  Deep in thoughts, and letting the stirrings within help me find some path I can walk on.  My To Do list has been left neglected, those dear hearts that are waiting for my return phone calls  (and you! LeFabulous You... it was so yummy hearing your voice for the first time!  I will call you soon!), an errand that I just postponed...   I've retreated.  And I think thats ok.  Its nurturing to me right now to be home.  To take walks around my neighborhood. To have large pockets of silence and solitude.  To cook. 

I have spent a good part of the day cooking.  I love to cook.  I love the practice of chopping, slicing, preparing.  Its such a beautiful meditation filled with textures, smells, colors and the anticipation of the delicious masterpiece at the end of all that fun.  I find it to be so therapeutic.  Grounding.  So today I cooked. And it was lovely.  I even had myself a glass of yummy wine while listening to soulful tunes on my Ipod. 

I'm so grateful for my kitchen space, and all of my cooking tools, my cutting board, my knives, all the light that comes into the room, and the time to just dwell there.  And of course the Bounty.  Such gorgeous and nourishing Bounty. 

Jai Ma.

My Sacred Life Project: Day 15

My Sacred Life Project
Day 15

I was reading through some notes that I have taken down over the course of the last year or so from various interviews with the speakers in The Secret.  And one of the things that caught my eye again were the questions of where do I place my attention? Where do I place my attention on a consistent basis?  What do I focus on and attend to on a regular consistent basis?  Where my attention goes energy flows.  I bring into my life where my attention resides.

I thought about this as I lit my sage this morning to clear the space for my meditation.  Where is my attention, especially when I'm not thinking about it.  When I tune back into present moment, what was my mind working with, obsessing over, ruminating about?  I create those things without even intending to.  Without going into details, I had a quiet but potent shift internally yesterday, only to recieve the external results of that soon afterwards.  It felt like it came from left field, and yet, it didn't.  My attention shifted.  How I storied the situation shifted, so the story itself changed. 

I am feeling very conscious of where my attention is these days, how its changing.  What I am spending my energy on, my time on, is shifting.  My ideas are coming from a different place, moving into new more expanded possibilities, or realms of existence.  I want to cultivate this as much as I can. I want to choose second by second how my thoughts create my reality, and not let my mind play in the fields of fear and self doubt. 

Its a good day today.  And its going to be an even better weekend!
Blessings to you all,
e