Lifestyle
The Shaman’s Recipe For Energy Cleansing
Since the beginning of time, people of all cultures have used prayer, sound, smoke, salt, water and sacred intentions to bless their homes and create peaceful environments.
The tradition of clearing the energy of a home can be found in ancient tribal customs, folklore and modern spiritual practices. The idea is that our homes hold energy which affects how we feel.
Clutter can make a room feel cramped and uncomfortable, while negative energy can make a home feel uninhabitable. Human emotions, thoughts and actions, including conflict, illness, sadness, stress, violence and even the presence of certain visitors, leave energy imprints and residue in our homes.
Removing these energy remnants from your living space can greatly improve the happiness and well-being of those who live there. This practice is both a personal spiritual practice and a way to care for your loved ones.
You may be familiar with smudging as a traditional cleansing method, but there are many other traditional ways to purify a space using natural elements, sacred sound, fragrance and focused intention.
A shaman in Colorado once taught me a wonderful energy-cleansing recipe. I have been using it for years and find it an excellent alternative to traditional smudging with sage or other herbs.
Put Your Phone Down, And Start Living!
I was blessed to be born before the arrival of the Internet and smart phone technology.
It was a time when kids were playing outside all day, and we often did not want to go home, because we were having too much fun.
It was also a time when people still connected with each other in person, and on a deeper level. It was a time when we lived life in a much simpler way.
Since then the rise of digital technology, smart phones and social media seemed like it happened overnight, and everyone was instantly hooked, including myself!
It was exciting, because information was now ‘just a tap away.’ Communication was faster and easier, and you could ‘connect’ with just about anyone, anywhere, anytime.
But then social media and smart phones came along, and before we realized what hit us, it began to gradually cripple our ability to focus, to truly connect, to be present in the moment, and to be in touch with our spiritual nature.
To make matters worse, we started comparing our lives to others: friends, enemies and idols… only to diminish our sense of self-worth.
Last weekend, I was playing the board game Monopoly with my teenage son and his best friend. His friend seemed unable to put his phone down and pay attention to the game. I asked him why, and he said it was because he was addicted to knowing what others were doing, and that he didn’t want to feel “left out.”
When To Act On A Fantasy, And When To Let It Go!
How many thoughts do we have per day? Nobody seems to know for sure and the experts don’t agree, but they all seem to concur that it is ranges somewhere in the thousands. We also have many daydreams and fantasies that cross our minds on a daily basis.
Many of these thoughts and daydreams we would never share with our mates, friends, or family.
Many of us never act on our fantasies, for various obvious reasons: we want to stay married, or we want to stay in the same job, or we fear failure should we attempt something new and different. Some of us may even fear that we could end up behind bars in extreme cases.
There is a considerable difference between reality and fantasy. It is true that sometimes our fantasies should be left in our minds, unspoken or not acted upon.
Most of us are very grounded and would never act on most of the ‘mini movies’ that we let roll in the back of our mind.
Watching the news there are many people that do extremely horrible things and can’t control their desire to act out their evil thoughts. We see many divorces, and more and more single people, because many just can’t stay committed to one person.
But we can also take our imagination and fantasies to a positive place when it comes to getting healthy, starting a new job, trying a new hobby. It all starts with a thought and it is up to us to act on it, and be proactive. Continue reading
Everyone Is An Artist
Art is a powerful form of self-expression. It allows us to communicate complex emotions and spiritual concepts through various mediums such as the visual and fine arts, music, dance, acting, creative writing, and so on.
When we are being creative we connect with the subconscious part of ourselves. This can be a powerfully healing experience to help us process and integrate our thoughts, feelings, beliefs and life experiences on a deep level.
When we are children, we don’t have any preconceived ideas about art. If you observe young children, you’ll see this very clearly. They don’t worry about how ‘good’ an artist they are. Most kids just see art as a form of play. They love to draw, or paint, or color, and are typically pretty thrilled with their creations.
So, what happens along the way that we become so self-conscious about our artistic endeavors? It seems to me that at some point most people have had ‘the artist’ within subtly discouraged or silenced. Whatever the case may be,suffice it to say that life takes over at some point and being creative artistically takes a back seat.
“I was never very good at it anyway,” or “I just did it for fun,” are common remarks I’ve heard from people. But what’s wrong with not being very good at something? Especially if it’s fun? Moreover, the benefits of spending time being creative are vast! Art Therapy is growing in popularity and more studies are being done around this modality. Continue reading
My Mother’s Prayers Still Carry Me
I still cry when I hear that beautiful song Mamma by Claudio Villa.
Growing up on a small island in Central Italy, I remember my mother’s daily prayers and all her sacrifices. Those examples have always followed me. They are still my daily support and strength.
I cried today in church as well, while singing the Ave Maria. My lovely mother Margherita passed in the early 90s and although she is not with me physically, she is here in my heart, supporting and guiding me from above. She has been my spiritual guide since my first girl was born and I named her Margherita too.
I always loved my mother’s name, which in Italian is the name of a flower known as “Daisy” in English.
It was during that very difficult pregnancy that my mom came to me for the first time. She spoke to me and I knew her when she walked into my room. I smelled her perfume. She loved the Vele Al Vento fragrance and I that way I knew she was there for me.
Being almost 40 years of age, going into a first pregnancy was scary. I had many medical problems. It was a difficult time and I needed her so much, and she was there for me and always reassured me I was having a beautiful baby girl.
Yes, I did not need the ultrasound to confirm this, she had already told me! When I held my bundle of joy, my first words were: “Grazie Mamma per la mia piccola Margherita,” meaning “Thank you Mom for this lovely flower.”
The Best Crystals For A High-Vibe Work Space
With everything going on in the world, I have found myself keeping my crystals closer lately. They have become part of my daily routine rather than something I reach for only now and then. If you feel more stressed, scattered, or overwhelmed, having a little extra support nearby can feel so comforting.
Work can be draining in so many ways. Deadlines pile up, emails keep coming, meetings fill the calendar, and sometimes the people around us bring difficult energy into the space.
Even when you enjoy your job, the workday can leave you feeling mentally tired and emotionally worn down. Some days move smoothly, while other days feel heavy from the moment they begin.
That is one reason so many people enjoy bringing crystals into their workspace. Crystals can offer a simple way to create a more peaceful atmosphere while helping you stay connected to your intentions. They are often used as reminders to pause, take a breath, and come back to center when the day starts to feel chaotic.
Many people believe certain crystals can support focus, confidence, motivation, and emotional balance. Keeping them on your desk, in your pocket, or near your computer can help you build a workspace that feels calmer and more supportive.
Even small rituals can make a difference. Seeing a crystal beside your keyboard may remind you to slow down. Holding one in your hand before a meeting may help you feel more steady. Over time, these small moments can help shift the way your workday feels.
Letting Go Of Toxic Love
I have been reading for many years for a lady who is one of my dearest clients. I just love her to pieces. But I did not love the situation she was in with the man in her life, and neither did she. But it took her a long time to come to terms with him.
She was raising their child, while she worked and paid all the bills. Meanwhile, he did as he pleased and did very little to contribute to their home or their relationship. Neither did he make any effort to support her and their child. He has substance abuse problems. When he drinks he uses foul language and doesn’t exercise good judgment. Most of all he isn’t a good role model for their child.
He basically just drank and smoked, while he lay around all day. “And on top of that he eats me out of house and home!” she used to say.
“So he eats all your food, doesn’t work, gets to live for free, while contributing virtually nothing?” I asked her many times. I think she eventually had an “aha!” moment when I asked her this again the other day, because recently she told me that she had asked him to move out, and it felt like a breath of fresh air!
She didn’t feel like anything was holding her back now. She is going to start a new chapter in her life and she feels a weight has been lifted off her shoulders.
She was originally afraid of making this change, because they had been together for so long – over 15 years. But she said then she finally realized, “He changed, and he was taking advantage of me, and I allowed it because I thought he loved me, but he is not longer that same person I met.”