Author Archive

We all go through change in our lives, from the time that we are young. We learn how to adapt to change. There are stages for us to be able to recognize the changes that we are about to undertake.

Pre-contemplation stage is a stage where you know that you may need to change, but you’re not sure how. It can also be change that you have tried before, but you did not have enough will power to make the change happen. One may feel that change is going to happen, but you’re not completely sure what must change.

Some people will stay in this stage, until the universe steps in and makes external changes for us in forms of relationship problems, family pressure, and job loss. Then it’s a place where we are forced to make changes in our lives. Read the rest of this entry »

I wanted to share with you one of my favorite holiday traditions.

We all have people in our lives that we do not get to see, or spend time with as much as we would like to. During the Christmas holiday season is one of the only times throughout the year that we see some of dearest friends or family.

If you’re anything like me you like to try and make everyone feel special and find them something that they may enjoy, so that it creates a warm, lasting memory for them.

I love to give bayberry candles as a gift. True bayberry candles are handcrafted taper candles and the tradition goes back to the first settlers.

When the first settlers came to America, everything was in short supply. One of the things they needed was candles. Almost all of the candles were made of tallow (animal fat), which tends to smoke and give off an odor. Read the rest of this entry »

What is forgiveness? Forgiveness is a decision. It is the act of being willing to let go of your past and letting yourself move on with your life.

Some people view forgiving as an act of weakness, but it actually provides you with strength and freedom. When we hold on to grudges, hatred or resentment towards anyone we will ultimately do a great deal of damage to ourselves.

Forgiveness is about freeing yourself from what has happened to you. What we have to understand is that what has happened to us is in our past, and it will remain a part of our past, and that’s okay. But we are not living in the past. When we think about issues from our past and they still bring pain to us today, then we have not truly forgiven. Read the rest of this entry »

Many of us are not prepared to deal with emotional trauma. We lack the basic skills, or don’t have outlet, in order to release such negative emotions.

At one point or another during our lifetime we all experience intense emotional turmoil. We too often deny these emotions and store them in the recesses of our mind and body. We then move forward in our day to day life, not realizing that those emotions are just lying dormant – patiently waiting for an opportunity to resurface.

Unresolved emotions from every past situation in our lives continue to hold its energy and it carries certain intensity with it. Eventually, often at odd times, those emotions rise up again to the surface and then create a level of vulnerability and confusion in our life. Read the rest of this entry »

I was recently asked what the moon cycles are and why they are important to us. In our modern technological age we have lost touch with the natural cycles and patterns of the moon, and its powerful influence on our climate and natural patterns of growth.

We are all aware of the influence the moon exerts on the tides of the oceans, and our planet’s weather patterns. But the influence of the moon goes much further than that.

For example, for centuries farmers used their ancestral knowledge of the moon to ensure the best possible growth of their crops. Experience taught them that the lunar phases have a powerful influence over their crop yields. Subsequently, they planned their agricultural activities around these cycles. Read the rest of this entry »

Recently I was wondering where the concept of ‘spring cleaning’ came from and why we actually do it. Surely a good revamp or deep cleaning can be done with equal success at other times in the year?

I did a little digging and it appears the roots of the spring cleaning concept comes from the Jewish Passover tradition, which aims to get rid of any trace of chametz (food with yeast or other leavening). Only unleavened bread is eaten during Passover in memory of the flight from Egypt.

I can remember helping to clean out closets as a small child and my parents giving away any unusable clutter to charity. I can remember polishing candlestick holders and washing baseboards wood work and cleaning windows. Read the rest of this entry »

Many Christians are currently observing Lent. Have you ever wondered what is the religious tradition of Lent, and the role it plays in people’s spiritual life?

Lent is a time period, or a season, of 40 days devoted to soul-searching and reflection, as well as repentance and new beginnings. The six Sundays in this period are not counted because each one represents a ‘mini-Easter’, a celebration of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. Lent is a time of taking stock. Lent is also known as a time of fasting and depending on the religion it is also a time when the eating of meat is given up on certain days.

Lent originated in the very earliest of days of the Christian church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful re-dedicated themselves. It begins six weeks before Easter, which is known as Ash Wednesday. Read the rest of this entry »