[Self Discovery] Manifest Mindfulness in Your Morning Routine

March 16, 2021Leave a comment

When I was younger, I thought the idea of ‘waking up on the wrong side of the bed’ was a silly notion; but thanks to 2020, I now know that one can wake up on the wrong side of an entire year. Not to say last year was pure chaos, dissonance and struggle – but, between COVID and quarantine, racial injustice, protests, the dissolution of the office of the 45th President, and three surgeries to recover from – I’d be remiss to think that I was in any way grounded in the present moment, nor efficient at using my time wisely.

Waking up and taking charge of your day is a powerful feeling; when the world feels out of control, doubly so. The fact of the matter is, the only thing we can personally control is ourselves; our mental space and mental dexterity, our boundaries and desires, our emotions and how we react. This year, I’ve recommitted myself to some necessary changes and have noticed my mindset shift by leaps and bounds, simply by implementing a solid, consistent and fulfilling morning routine.

Let’s start with something basic, but vital to this conversation: why should you create a dedicated morning routine? Besides being able to set the tone for your day, it let’s you control the clock and gives you some personal power back in your pockets. By choosing where we place our focus from the start of the day, we can both harness our potential energy and turn it kinetic, in addition to being able to attack the tasks at hand, schedule our time better and raise our productivity levels. I’ve honed in on some fantastic methods that have my mind, body and soul set right over these last few months and can’t wait to share them with you – so let’s jump into my morning routine!

Notoriously not a morning person, creating my morning routine literally took me 36 years. And it actually starts the night before; call me silly but I set the autodrip on our coffee pot and have it go off at the same time as my morning alarm – that way, the second I get up and at the day, there’s a fresh cup ready for me (because let’s face it, we all need caffeinated reinforcements!).

Then I head to the living room, get my essential oil diffuser kickin’ with an invigorating fragrance (more on aromatherapy later!), roll out the yoga mat and get down to business with Gaia. I’ve tried a few different yoga and workout apps for AppleTV, Gaia is hands down my favorite – probably because it’s so much more than just yoga; they really have things for the mind, body and spirit. Whether it’s an illuminating video on a variety of transcendental topics, diving into one’s meditation practice or browsing through their immense catalog of instructors and classes. Classes range from 10 minutes to an hour, at a variety of levels with instructors from every walk of life I’ve become quite fond of everything they offer, and even have a favorite yoga instructor (Tiffany Bush, you give me LIFE!).

Once I’m limbered up and a sweaty, happy mess of a human – I bust out a gratitude journal and my Animal Oracle Cards and take my metaphysical temperature for the day. I tackle ideas like what am I going to work on for the day, where in my spirit do I place my personal focus, and what tools do I need to become the best version of myself. One thing I’ve learned about gratitude journals, is that there is one for literally every personality – do you want one without dates, or with them? Do you want a full year of journaling or to jump in on a whim?

Keen on my personal evolution, I decided to splurge at the end of last year and am currently juggling between three different gratitude journals and three planners, that each offer something different and unique. To be fair, some I think are better for work life, like the Passion Planner, while others like the Writual Planner with daily, monthly and weekly Tarot spreads for self discovery are keen for those of us who have committed to the spiritual side of life.

Now, for the morning – I love setting my mind right by working with the Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal. The prompts are thoughtful and poignant, and if you’re like me and love a good doodle sesh – there’s plenty of space to both color, draw and explore. and jump in there a few times a week. Once I’ve given grace to the day, I’ll set up my Spirit Animal Oracle Cards, get into my Moonology Diary, and write a bit about how the card I’ve pulled relates to the moment.

The Spirit Animal Oracle: A 68-Card Deck and Guidebook: Baron Reid, Colette: 9781401952792: Amazon.com: Books — Animal Spirit Oracle Deck

The Wild Unknown on Instagram: “Holy 🌈🌈🌈! The archetypes deck has obviously landed at @solar_return 👽👽👽” | Wild unknown tarot, Wild unknown, Tarot decks — Wild Unknown’s Archetype Deck

Just like there’s a vast variety of journals and diaries, there’s no one right oracle, deck, Tarot Deck or runes stones. These things aren’t one size fits all souls; we each have a preference for what calls to us innately, and how the world resonates with us. Personally, Colette Baron-Reid’s deck is one of the most beautiful pieces of art I’ve ever owned. Each card is embellished with impeccable, incredible detail.

If you’re looking for something a bit edgier, Kim Krans’ The Wild Unknown has an incredible set decks – whether you want Animal Cards, Tarot Cards, or my personal favorite from their assortment – the Archetype Cards; plus, their journal is super fun and open form. Some people still have a preference for old school tarot decks, and I’ll use those some mornings as well. I have several different tarot decks of my own, from a Thoth Tarot deck (technically, two of them) to the Rider-Waite Deck, my Cat Oracle Tarot cards and the circular Tarot of the Cloisters. Just like the animal cards, there are also tarot decks for every person. Don’t worry if you found this paragraph confusing, I’ll dive more into Tarot (a true art and love of mine) at another time.

Last but most certainly not least, after set my intentions and tone for the morning; I give myself a few minutes locked in Meditation. When your brain more closely resembles a web browser with dozens of tabs open (a la, mine), meditation becomes a great way to settle into your breath and the present moment. Some days, I’ll take it to the shower or bath – others, I’ll go back to my Savasana and marinate in the moment. Meditation has been proven to lower blood pressure, increase circulation, and boost mood and mental health. Gaia has been a fantastic resource for guided meditations, as well as applications from Calm to Headspace.

What tips and tricks do you have for settling into your morning and manifesting what you need for the day?

Let me know in the comments below!

[Self Discovery] See The Stars Align, And Know It’s All For you

October 7, 2014October 7, 2014Leave a comment

I wasn’t raised religious, nor have I ever considered myself the religious type but as far as my families go that’s a relatively recent development. My mom’s Grandmother was a devout Christian Scientist who didn’t believe in the use of Western Medicine; she was Type II Diabetic and had her legs amputated without any anesthetic. On my dad’s side, my Jewish Grandmother’s family fled to the United States from Lithuania in fear of religious and socio-political persecution. My mom was raised Lutheran and my father had the first Bar Mitzvah in Corvallis, Oregon. But after college, they both shifted to the belief system that they were ‘scientists‘ and that I wasn’t going to be raised in a church, or a temple, until it was my choice.

Growing up, my bedtime stories came from books of African and Native American folk tales; to boot, I was always encouraged to question everything. The older I got, and more I understood the world – the more I was mesmerized by the magic of the everyday. Between the repeating geometric patterns found deep seeded within Mother Nature – like with crystals, foliage, seeds and animal spots, the use of irrational numbers such as Pi and Phi in everyday life, Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity paired with the plausibility of hidden (‘God’) variables – it was easy to slip into seduction with spirituality.

In middle school, my first Tarot book and deck was handed down to me. By the end of high school, I’d been given three decks and now am the proud owner of five. In high school, and thanks to the help of my best friend, I dabbled in and around Wicca and was champion of my fair share of events that cemented those feelings down to my core. Through various seances and meditations, I was granted brief yet unprecedented access across and into the next dimension of life and my perception of ‘reality‘ hasn’t been the same since. Thanks to gifts from friends, some treasure hunting and assorted road trips to Zion – my crystal and gem collection has grown considerably, as well. And now that I’ve moved in with Danny and our Catripod-mate Gio, we have two of the most beautiful shrines I’ve ever seen in the apartment. It’s easy to lose myself in each single piece, let alone their big pictures; and every time I do, I walk away feeling so intrinsically blessed for the life I’ve worked for.

Tonight being a Full Moon, and a Total Lunar Eclipse at it’s a wonderful time to reminisce about the last twenty eight days, and the intentions you set during the new moon; it’s also an excellent night to get out your crystals and let the moonlight wash over them. Starting early this morning at 2:15 AM PST, the eclipse will commence and we’ll be treated to an unprecedented second Blood Moon of the year. While April’s Blood Moon brought somewhat tumultuous changes into our lives and unruffled truths that we might not have wanted to confront – tonight’s will bring resolution and resolve. And remember, the effects have both been around for several days prior and will linger for a few days after. Give yourself a few moments of reflection and meditation on who you’ve become over the last six months, and then focus your thoughts on your active evolution towards that goal; it’s a beautiful thing.

As for the light show we’ll be receiving from above – the reason the moon manifests into a reddish hue is due to the Earth’s positioning. Because the Earth rests precisely between the Sun and Moon, the only light that reaches the Moon has been bent around us by the atmosphere. By scattering the blue light, the Earth’s atmosphere emits a red hue that causes the moon to appear red. If you happen to be seated on the opposite side of the planet, don’t fret – there’s a live stream just for you.

[Self Discovery] Set Your Intentions With Energy from the New Moon

September 24, 2014January 20, 2015Leave a comment

Earlier this week, we gracefully glided through Summer and into Fall with Tuesday’s Autumnal Equinox and tonight, there’s yet another celestial transition as the moon silently shifts between phases and lands in Libra. On a celestial level, New Moons signify that the Sun and Moon are in the same Zodiac house; on a more personal note – they also mark pivotal moments and serve as catalysts for fresh starts and new beginnings. They’re the perfect time to finally attune your intentions and focus your energy on where it’s deserved in your life. Libra, the 7th symbol of the Zodiac and an air sign ruled by Venus – the Goddess of Love and Beauty, is characterized by two scales – a nod to balance and equilibrium. With the New Moon entering Libra, it’s a time for internal harmony and tranquility, as well as a time to focus on the relationships in our lives – whether they’re romantic, business partnerships or familial.

In the past, on Full Moon nights I’ve set out my crystals to absorb the energy from the moon’s rays – but tonight, instead of harnessing moon’s energy – I’ll be zeroing in on my own. As the New Moon dawns, it’s a chance to reflect over the past four weeks and rebuild, refresh and renew your dreams. On a personal level, I’ll be focusing my own energy on my intentions for the next month, diving into my soul and forging my own passionate path. Between my projects for Disney and my work for The DJ List, I’ve started to feel my own dreams take a backseat to the work others are placing in my hands. I have a wedding to plan, a few business plans to craft and websites to code – there’s so much to do, that I’ve skirted away from doing anything. More and more, I’ve felt the need to reevaluate my priorities and get back on track and this New Moon couldn’t have come at a better time.

Since part of the preparation of the New Moon is to hone in on intentions, to focus mine I’ll be getting my arts and crafts on – but you know, in an adult type of way (e.g. with beverage in hand!). You might think scrapbooking is a thing of the past, but it’s a wonderful way to conceptualize your dreams, plan your passions and forge forward where you didn’t think possible. If you’d like to take part – find a calming space in your residence and clear it of any mental clutter, and then craft an alter of your own for the evening. Grab a candle or some incense to cleanse the area and if you have any crystals or gems, this is the perfect time to harness their energies. This is all about what you aspire to be and the person you’re working so hard to become – so snag a journal and some pens, magazines + glue /tape, and have at it!