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Moon Mind

9/30/2014

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In order to insure you get your Monday Moon Mind post in a timely manner, I'll now be giving you a Monday to Monday Calendar. Hope this helps you start your week off on the right foot!

Moon is waxing as we continue to celebrate the Divine Mothers during the auspicious Navaratri celebrations. This nine day/night festival honors the holy goddess trinity of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. As Navaratri winds down, we enter the final three days/nights of the celebrations, dedicated to Maha Saraswati- a goddess who is particularly close to my heart! The festivities culminate on the 10th day (Vijayadashami) this week, which honors Durga's defeat over the demon Mahishasura. The sacredness of this time period is explained more in my Navaratri article.

In light of this transformational time, I have been offering a 10 Day Self Care Challenge on FaceBook. You can still join. See my resources and inspirational posts in the feed and let them spark your self care practice. Remember, it's never too late to begin your self care practice! Little steps really add up! Jai Ma!

Monday, September 29th

Navaratri Day 6 and final day of the Lakshmi celebrations. Have you joined my Navaratri 10 Day Self Care Challenge yet? It's never too late to start your self care practice.

Today's Intention: Mind your overwhelm by going slow and by being intentional with your steps. This is powerful!

Moon transits its debilitation sign Scorpio, while in Anuradha nakshatra. The ruling deity, Mitra, provides increased awareness of fine detail, friendship and connection, as well as travel and adventure.

Mars moves from Anuradha into Jyeshtha nakshatra at 09:45 am CDT, signaling a shift for our action steps and motivations. Indra's prominence, as well as Mercury's, increases and we get both a heightened sensitivity with the mind/mental body, as well as need for greater control of the senses. We may see this in the coming days help us hone our path, our trajectory and our actions. Don't put too many irons in the fire; get focused and use gentle, yet firm, steps to get your actions accomplished. Be mindful that over-stimulation is likely and more easily possible at this time. Less is more.

As Moon moves into Jyeshtha at 13:22 CDT, these tendencies increase and Indra provokes our day through our senses. He is strong to say the least, the king of the gods; a thunderbolt is his weapon of choice. Essentially, he is the rain king, god of the rain and the necessities that come with this part of nature's offering. In the Upanishads, he is called the god of prana- our life force. Again, the importance of Indra is paramount for our life, well being and nourishment. Let this be a reminder for us today. Attend to your inner needs, sensitivities (Indra rules our senses) and find moments for radical self care. Need some self care reminders? Here are some tips.

Tuesday, September 30th

Navaratri Day 7 and the first of three dedicated to honoring Maha Saraswati. Have you joined my Navaratri 10 Day Self Care Challenge yet? It's never too late to start your self care practice.

Today's Intention: Release the harshness. Go slow, be gentle, and only attend to what matters most.

Moon transits Jyeshtha nakshatra through midday and starts our day with a powerful presence of Indra. Working intentionally with mental and emotional body are important. We may also feel an inner struggle between "good" thoughts and "bad" thoughts emerge. A battle for peace of mind? Remember your self care practice and go slow. Be gentle and check in with the 3 levels of awareness.

As Moon jumps into Sagittarius and Mula nakshatra at 13:13 CDT, the above reminders are just as pertinent; Moon suddenly gets a dose of drishti from Saturn as well. Nirrti and her adharmic ways emerge with a side of Ketu- the restructuring planet. Nirrti disrupts and uproots and she can bring chaos with her. Overwhelm setting in? It's important to be tending to slow and nourishing actions right now during Navaratri. If you are pushing yourself too hard, it will be especially challenging right now. Clear your plate and only do to the essentials. Let guilt, shame and other negative emotions release. You are enough. Consider this practice for the weeks to come.

Wednesday, October 1st


Navaratri Day 8 and the second of three dedicated to honoring Maha Saraswati. Have you joined my Navaratri 10 Day Self Care Challenge yet? It's never too late to start your self care practice.

Today's Intention: Move and be moved. Inspire and be inspired. Flow and go with the flow.

As Moon transits through Sagittarius and Mula nakshatra, your morning may start with some chaos and confusion. Plan on extra time to get your self together and navigate your morning duties. What can we learn from the calamities? With Saturn's drishti on the Moon, we are given an open invite to slow down and only do what is absolutely necessary. See what can be simplified for your day, week, life. Clear your plate.

Moon moves into PurvaAshada at 12:32 CDT and Apas, the water goddess is enlivened, as well as Venus- the planet of jala, water. Her flowing ways remind us to sync up to the metaphors of water and its wisdom.

Today is a day for embodiment, getting physically active and getting the internal waters to flow more harmoniously. Sweat, perspire, glisten! Revive, rejuvenate and get embodied! Tend to your ojas and nourish yourself from inside out. Get creative, paint, sing, draw and dance! As our internal waters are intimately connected to our emotional body, be present to the intimate connection between physical body and emotional body today. Use a 3 level check in for harvesting your internal temperatures are.

Thursday, October 2nd

The final day and night of the Navaratri celebration! Day 9 and the final day of three dedicated to honoring Maha Saraswati. Even if you haven't joined my FB Self Care Challenge, remember that it's never too late to start your self care practice. Here are some tips to inspire your practice.

Today's Intention:
Do right. Be right. Live right. Get it right. Align with your integrity.

Moon transits Sagittarius and PurvaAshada nakshatra. This is a perfect time to be attending to your self care and inner nourishment, as the ruling deity of this lunar constellation is Apas, the water goddess who offers us the ability to rejuvenate and create ojas. Start your day off with a light Ayurvedic breakfast this morning. Stewed apple or pear with five cloves is ideal. Saturn's drishti on the Moon right now requests routine, regularity and simplicity in order for increased balance.

As Moon moves to the latter half of of this constellation, UttarAshada, at 11:22 am CDT, the Vishva Devas offer their wisdom for our day. These 14 "all gods" or principles of the Universe, make up the Vishva Devas. Dharma is their father (also the father of the Vasu Devas- who offer us wealth and shining, as well as jyoti) and Vishva is their mother. Sustainable success comes to those who honor the Vishva Devas. They are goodness, truth, determination, talent, time, enjoyment, firmness, ancestors, abundance, joy, pleasantness, sight, fame, and leadership.

Moon jumps to Capricorn at 17:00 CDT and receives drishti from exalted Jupiter and Rahu.

Debilitated Venus moves into Hasta nakshatra at 21:46 CDT and provides another layer of Savitr's awakening to us. Both Sun and Venus are now in this nakshatra, which offers light, wisdom, and awakening. It also means that Sun and Venus are very close in degrees which makes Venus quite agitated and overheated. Awakenings come through and with our relationships, as well as through creativity, the feminine and abundance. Watch out for sun burn in the process though! Use the Gayatri Mantra as the balm that soothes and heals. The dawning is here. You will likely be seeing the light in new ways.

Friday, October 3rd

Today is the auspicious day of Vijayadashami. The Navaratri festivities conclude today with a day of victory- the day that Durga defeated the demon Mahishasura. Durga's defeat over darkness is a reminder that we are each alive to overcome our own demons- to transform and transcend our shadows and to work with them in new ways. We are alive and full of shakti, life giving qualities from the Divine Mother, and we are here to fulfill our dharmic purpose! Use today to celebrate your self, your path and your steps of strength, grace and power.

Today's Intention: Pause. Breathe. Check In. Take three steps to anchor into your being. Invite in expansion.

Moon transits into Sravana nakshatra at 09:45 am CDT, Vishnu's domain. The Moon is now in the 10th tithi or Moon phase of Dashami- which is in fact ruled by the deified god Dharma. Vishnu is also connected to dharma, the passing of knowledge and wisdom in order to maintain dharmic purpose and one's life path. He protects and maintains wisdom and is like akasha (space) in that he exists everywhere.

Vishnu's broad and expansive nature provides awakening of awareness and consciousness. The symbol of Sravana is three footprints, signifying Vishnus three steps as he traversed three realms- earth, sky and heaven. Use the symbol of steps to solidify your path today. Take an action step to secure your dharma and your path. Expand your thinking of what is possible. Invite in hope, gratitude and the blessings of the Divine Mothers to illuminate your path. Need some help with your steps? Re-visit my 13 Steps for Returning Home Creative Ritual for a few reminders about self care and tending to your needs gently.

Symbolically, the three level check in is another way to connect with Vishnu's three steps. Don't forget to check in!

Saturday, October 4th

Today's Intention: Re-visit, restore, re-listen. Notice what is re-emerging and re-awakening within you. These are vital messages for your journey.

Moon moves into Dhanishta at 07:48 am CDT and the Vasu Devas are enlivened. The Vasu Devas bring resources to us- wealth, prosperity and the ability to shine. The Vasus originated from jyoti (light) and therefor bring us illumination. The eight Vasu Devas are born of Dharma and Vasu and they help us manifest on the material plane of existence.

Continue to use the gifts of Navaratri today and take a dharmic action step. What can you do today that furthers your path and helps you materialize your purpose?

It's a big day for Mercury! The planet of communication, creativity and commerce begins its 21 day retrograde motion today at 11:59 CDT. Contrary to much of the hype and lore around Mercury retrograde, it isn't the crisis that you might expect. Jyotish takes a milder approach to Mercury retrograde. Read more about why retrograde Mercury can be a good thing. Retrograde planets are moving like the nodes Rahu and Ketu, they are asking us to re-visit and re-evaluate details we may have jumped over. What a gift! When in life do we get a do-over or a rewind button? Mercury retrograde is our chance!

This retrograde Mercury cycle lasts until October 25th. Pay very close attention to the nuances and details that will be arriving in the coming weeks- especially because this retrograde cycle occurs during a two week lunar and solar eclipse cycle. This is a very important time to be working directly with our shadows, our illusions. This is intensified because Mercury is moving back towards Rahu (our shadows/demons) in Virgo and will return to this sign (its sign of exaltation) during this transit. Did you miss some important information last month? Look for clues around perfectionism, the critic, purity, your standards and your judgments. These details hold important clues about your shadow work. Use this to inform your action steps and make new decisions that will restore more balance and harmony in your life. This theme of balance will be more apparent as Mercury re-enters Libra on 11.04.

Moon moves to Aquarius at 18:43 CDT.

Sunday, October 5th

Today's Intention: Keep it simple. What wisdom do you gain with your simple, basic steps.

Moon moves to to Satabisha nakshatra at 05:34 am CDT, inviting in Varuna and Rahu to our day. Varuna is the ultimate critic, and with his thousands of eyes, he sees everything. He notices the wrongs of our actions and polices us. Are we aligned with Natural Law? Or are we going against these universal principles? His punishments and suffering will let you know.

Now that Mercury is retrograde, the critic is a theme for us to revisit (see yesterday's update for details) and invite into our lives for greater awareness and exploration. The critic can even arrive in binary thinking patters (is this right or wrong?) and can paralyze us from moving forward effectively and efficiently. Satabisha days remind us to keep life very simple, very aligned with nature and her rhythms, and to trust our inner wisdom.
A three level check in will help you get to the here and now.

Today, cultivate a relationship with your critic and invite it to tea. What does it need and want? How does it serve you? Not serve you? Ask it to share its wisdom with you.

Monday, October 6th

Today’s Intention: Take one step at a time. Take each step with intention. Keep your commitment to grounding, while finding your balance. But keep moving.


Moon moves to Purvabhadrapada nakshatra at 03:12 am CDT, inviting in Ajaikapada and another level of Jupiter into our day. Moon is receiving drishti from Mars while it transits Aquarius, which offers charge, action and increased fire.
Purvabhadrapada is connected to tapas and penance. Ajaikapada is a form of Shiva, lord of the dance, and reminds us of our human capabilities- balancing struggles, challenges and obstacles as we move forward in life.

Pada means foot. It is essential to remember slow, simple steps again today. As Ajaikapada dances, he balances, one foot raised, and one foot firmly grounded. There is a certain purpose, a direct gaze (drishti) and a strong commitment that one must have to keep this sense of balance and grounding simultaneously. These are your reminders for today. Slow, steady steps, using great commitment and purpose as you move. Intention will be a poignant reminder as well. Since Ajaikapada is a Rudra, there is immense strength available here. At what costs are you willing to move forward? Lighten your load, it will make it easier to dance through life.

Moon moves to Pisces at 19:25 CDT, joining Ketu there. Moon receives drishti from debilitated Venus, Sun and also Rahu, as well as Jupiter from nine houses away. This will intensify our experience over the next few days leading into the full Moon. More on this in my upcoming Moon Mind Calendar and Full Moon Wisdom article.



I'm offerings 25% off my entire webstore today through Sunday at Midnight! Use my Navaratri gift to purchase mp3's, workshops, and sessions in my webstore! Use code Navaratri25 at check out to redeem.




Taking it day by day this week... I'll be posting each day of the Moon Mind Calendar as they occur! Thanks for your patience.




Need some extra guidance and clarity? Schedule a session with me.

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Self Care 101

9/29/2014

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Ask yourself: "What have I done today that feels nourishing, supportive and inspiring- for my well being, my joy?

If you can answer this question, then you are well on your way to working a conscious self care practice into your life.

Self care comes in many different shapes and forms, with many different activities and choices falling under the label "self care". The purpose is always the same, however- to deepen the nourishment, support and care you give yourself. It is learned behavior though. Sometimes we have to learn new ways of taking care of ourselves, or we may already be doing many self care practices, but we may be simply unaware of them!

Self care is vital for our lives and our well being. I consider self care to be the #1 priority of every being- even if it feels impossible or fleeting!

Here's how to start your self care practice:

1. Start Small. If you don't already have a self care regimen in place for yourself, remember to start small. Savor a cup of tea quietly, listen to your breath for 5 minutes each day, walk barefoot in soft grass, or take a warm bath. These can all be small, yet meaningful ways to nourish yourself.

2. Put Your Self First. You can't give to others if you don't first give to yourself. If you are wearing yourself ragged, you will be giving to others from a very fragile and sensitive place. It will likely be with agitation, frustration, fatigue and even stress. Not ideal for you- or your relationships. I think of self care like the mantra we hear on airplanes: "when the oxygen mask falls from above, assist yourself first, and then the person next to you." Make your needs a priority.

Because self care is not a one-size-fits-all reality, and individual needs vary, we have to be willing to adjust and re-adjust our needs and priorities along the way. I consider self care a practice- like a yoga practice or learning a new skill. It's a practice that is ongoing, life long, and requires constant attention and intention. Some days will be easy, other days will feel impossible. If you can do one thing (at minimum) every day that nourishes you, then these baby steps can really add up! This can be the momentum you need to embrace self care more rigorously.

Use my reminders below for strengthening your self care practice and get nourished!



10 self care ideas to inspire your process:



1. Pause and listen. Set a timer if you need to, but pause every hour or so and listen to your mental body, physical body and emotional body. At minimum, pause and listen once a day. I consider the 3 level check in step number one in our self care practice. How can we know what we need if we aren't cultivating a relationship with our mental, emotional and physical bodies? They each have different needs and it's vital that we know what they each need for daily nourishment. Listen up! Need a reminder about the 3 level check in? Find resources on my blog.

2. Self Care Journal. Keep a "self care journal" and record the steps you are taking each day to care for yourself. Record your 3 level check-ins in your journal and any steps you've taken each day to care for yourself. This can include movement, creativity, food choices, rest and meditation, using healthy boundaries, breath awareness and your 3 level check ins- and anything else that you are using to intentionally and radically care for yourself. This journal can be that thread throughout your self care practice of what's working and not working for you. What do you do a lot of? What are you neglecting? Here are some questions to consider for your SCJ:

How have I nourished, supported and cared for myself today? What actions expressed my commitment to self care today? What steps am I committed to for my own well being this week? What boundaries are nourishing me or where might I need to re-commit to them? Where might I need to make some adjustments in my self care practices? What am I learning?

3. Nourish From the Inside Out. Eat simply, eat at regular meal times, and eat slowly in a quiet setting if possible. Nourish yourself from the inside out with delicious and wholesome meals. Now that it's fall, it's time to gently cleanse the body, according to Ayurveda. Need some new simple recipes? Here are my three favorite recipes for nourishment- using the Ayurvedic detoxification principles of Shaka Vansya Ayurveda.

4. Get Embodied. Move your body and get embodied. Whether it's walking, running, a ride on your bike or a stroll through the woods, move your body. Dance, stretch and do yoga. Move the prana in the body and get your system energized. Then do a 3 level check in and see what the response is within you. Need a reminder about the 3 level check in? Find resources on my blog.

5. Beyond the Body. Caring for your physical body in terms of self care is essential. Just remember that self care goes beyond the physical body and also must include the emotional body and mental body as well. Are you tending to your emotional body needs and your mental body needs in your self care regimen? Are you addressing healthy boundaries in you self care practices? Have you been re-evaluating your mental body messages? Are you working directly with the emotional body and the felt senses? Make sure your approach to self care is well rounded. You may need help with these pieces so check in with a coach, therapist or councilor if you need extra support.

6.
Healthy Boundaries. Pay close attention to your boundaries. Listen to how you feel when you are with others. What sensations arrive physically, mentally and emotionally? What feelings and thoughts arrive? Be aware of how your relationships effect you. Do they nourish? Overstimulate? Exhaust or support you? What relationships are worthy of your time and energy- which ones should be restructured or let go? Healthy boundaries are a basic step in getting your needs met and getting the nourishment you need in your life. Use them as a vital self care tool.

7. Ask for Support and Express Your Needs. Are you piling your plate too high? Are you feeling burdened and heavy with responsibilities and general overwhelm? Remember to seek support, guidance, and ask for assistance. Don't self isolate and don't keep your needs to yourself. Who and what are the trustworthy support systems in your life? Call upon them, invite them in, anchor with them. Seek the abundance of support available to you and your life, but don't go at things alone and martyr yourself. If you don't feel like you have the support that you need, it may be time to call in a new team of resources. Find a trustworthy therapist, coach, counselor or mentor to get the process started. Seek answers and solutions.

8. Get Inspired and Go for the Joy!  D
o something new that inspires you. Try a new class, try a new cafe or recipe, or simply take a different hiking trail today. Be curious and explore while getting out of old ruts and patterns that might be less than fulfilling. Remember that this can be simple and doesn't have to be a move to a new state or an exotic vacation in paradise! Do activities that bring you joy, recharge your batteries and inspire you- but do it daily if possible. Walk in the woods, write poetry, dance, draw, journal, play with your animal companions, cook nourishing foods, do yoga. These are moments of radical self care!

9. Reflect and give gratitude. Openly express your gratitude to your self and others. This can be an essential ritual for experiencing more nourishment in your life. What are you grateful for about yourself? What qualities are you proud of in yourself and in your life? What can you applaud yourself for accomplishing each day that serves your well being? Celebrate yourself! And celebrate others! Expressing truthful gratitude to others can be a balm for their hearts as well as your own. Speak honestly and kindly to others and remind them why they are so special. I consider this an essential ingredient for life and love.

10. Work it like a job! Consider self care to be your part time job- or full time job! Nourish yourself daily and always be moving towards greater nourishment for your self and your life. Take baby steps or leaps, but remember that what you do today will provide sustainable nourishment and well being for your future days. Your steps really add up! Above all, do what you love, and love what you do, your life depends on it!


As you continue your self care journey, remember to pause periodically and ask yourself how your self care practices are working for you and if there are any holes in how you are caring for yourself. Make the necessary adjustments along the way and remember this is a process. Enjoy!


Need some extra tips for radical self care?
Here are my 10 tips to help you feel like the goddess that you are.


Need some extra guidance and clarity? Schedule a session with me.

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The Sensitive Person's Survival Guide- for Work

9/29/2014

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The Survival Guide for Sensitive People:
A Short List for Self Care In Work Environments


My struggles with sensitivity have effected my ability to work. How I work, who I work with, and what I can do for work. It has felt limiting to say the least.

I've had to learn- step by step- how to work with my sensitivity, not against it. How to nurture it, value it, and ultimately treasure it- even when it's a challenge and feels like it's holding me back. I'm different, I work differently, and as a result, my work is different than the rest of the world. I now understand this is something to celebrate!

If you've been following my recent posts about being highly sensitive, you know that I'm passionate about offering you resources for taking care of yourself, working with your sensitivity, not against it, and realizing the gift that is your sensitivity. I believe that your sensitivity will lead you to your gifts, your dharmic purpose- but I'll be sharing more about that in the coming days.

You already know that you have to treat yourself differently than the majority of the population. You have to eat differently, rest more, take care of your body more consciously. You probably already know that you need more alone time and that you may get frazzled more easily than others. These are very important considerations to be aware of for your daily life, but also for your work situations.

My Survival Guide is below- a short list for self care in work environments, essentially.

Here's how to thrive at work when you're extra sensitive:


1. Healthy Boundaries: If you're familiar with my work at all, you know that I speak about healthy boundaries rigorously. Healthy boundaries are different for everyone. But for sensitive types, boundaries are even more vital for well being. Boundaries keep in what nourishes, and keep out what is harmful and draining. Boundaries are a constant dance; I consider boundary work an ongoing process. But as we become more aware of our personal needs, what nourishes and what does not, boundaries become clearer and more accessible. The first step for healthy boundaries is the 3 Level Check In. It's an ideal tool for helping you clearly identify what is happening within your body, mind and emotions. You can't know what you need until you have a relationship with the felt senses.

2. Trust your differences: You are one of the "gifted and talented" as I call us. A select group of individuals who has high sensitivity, who require extra TLC, yet we are likely gifted with immense depth, awareness and experiences that might as well be an honorary title. Just because our culture doesn't honor sensitivity as a trait worth having, or a trait that is valued in our fast paced aggressive culture, doesn't mean that you aren't a valuable asset to your world, to your team, to your company or business. Play up your differences and start to honor them as the brilliance that makes you special.

3. Take Ample Pauses: Whether it's a fresh air break or a pause to breathe from your desk on the hour, it's vital that you step away, pause, or get up and move consistently and regularly. I suggest hourly pauses. Use the restroom, walk to a window, get some water. Get up from your chair, away from your computer, change your task. When you return, a fresh perspective, a new clarity, will be available to you. Make sure breath awareness is part of this "pause" and maybe a 3 Level Check In for extra good measure!

4. Take Alone Time: Though many sensitive types are extroverted by nature, the grande majority of us tend towards introversion- or at least we require
longer bouts of alone time. Honor this and do as many projects alone as you can. If you have to do group work, see if tasks can be broken into individual projects that can be tackled away from the group. If your work requires constant socialization, take breaks as much as possible.

Create a ritual in order to check in with yourself. I often go to the restroom for a moment of quiet and alone. Washing hands can be another ritual that can help you re-center. The water clears energy and if you've been touching a lot of people with your hands, a little soap and water can feel re-energizing. Make sure your schedule includes solid days where you can be quiet and inward- especially if the majority of your work requires a lot of external focus and extroversion. You need these days to recharge. Take them.

5. Do What You Love: This is especially important if you are not working in an environment or a job that fulfills you. It is essential to use all your spare time doing activities that bring you joy, recharge your batteries and inspire you. Get creative  at home or perhaps take a new workshop. Walk in the woods, write poetry, dance, draw, journal, play with your animal companions, cook nourishing foods, do yoga. Whatever it is, fill your non-work moments with these types of self care joy! You not only deserve it, you require it for your well being. Consider this to be your part time job- or full time job! Do what you love, your life depends on it!

6. Less is More: If over-stimulation is an issue for you, then you will especially want to pay attention to keeping life, activities and relationships as under-stimulating as possible. Instead of thinking that there's something wrong with your life because it's not big, exciting and always moving, consider your needs for comfort, safety and security as your number one priority. Less can be more for highly sensitive types. We tend to need much less stimulation for our well being and need to keep our lives simple, as well as our relationships, in order to increase a sense of security and nourishment. Are you piling your plate too high and forcing yourself to comply? Only do the essentials in each day, then let self care be your number one priority.

7. Quality Not Quantity: Humans are communal creatures. And even though as a sensitive type, we tend to need  more alone time, we still need quality connection to be healthy and well rounded. The type and quantity of connection we need will vary from person to person, but I suggest adding quality and meaningful connection to your self care regimen. Stay out of frivolity in your relationships- both personal and professional. Gossip and talking about people will not be fulfilling, it will be a drain of energy in the long run. Find people that you can talk about ideas and dreams with. If they can converse on those levels, they're likely worth keeping around. If the group dynamics at work seem to always fall into petty surface chit chat, be the one who provokes more intelligent conversation. Speak about books, movies, culture, activities and projects you are working on etc. Be the uplifter and keep it positive.

8. Do the Obvious: Make sure you are eating well and eat your meals at regular times. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch should be your main meal of the day, so make it count and have it be relaxed. Keep a good schedule- one that is more in tune with Nature. Get plenty of sleep- 8 hours is ideal, but some sensitive types actually need more. Exercise daily. Move your body, move your breath, every day! Life will improve with this one tip alone! Have you had a massage lately? An acupuncture tune up? Seen your chiropractor? Consulted with an Ayurvedic doctor? Call in support when you need some extra TLC.

9. Don't Take It On: This is another boundary reminder. Don't take on what is not yours. Don't be a therapist, coach, parent, healer or self help guru for anyone and everyone. Don't try to fix others or be the savior. Don't even think about fixing others. It's not your job (unless it is your job, and then it's only your job during certain hours of the day. And healthy boundaries will be extra important for you!) Let go of any attachments you have to "make others feel better". They are right where they are, just like you are right where you are. Your sensitivity doesn't need to be 24/7 empathy. Learn to create healthy energetic boundaries and tend to you own needs. This is ultimately the most compassionate use of your energy.

10. Contain Yourself: Since sensitive types tend to feel more, we tend to have more to feel, and deeper experiences as a result. This can mean that we are more expressive, or less expressive (we bottle it up inside). There's a risk of sharing too much, too little, or sharing our feelings inappropriately. (Displaced aggression? Crying for "no reason"? Withdrawing or self isolating?) This is why we as sensitive types must be working directly with our 3 Levels of Awareness, to navigate what we are feeling and what our needs are. When we can identify our needs, we have a better chance of doing something that will be helpful for ourselves.

We also don't get to take out our sensitivity on others and we need to be able to self care when we are having an extra rough day- which may be more often than others. Make sure you are attending to the previous suggestions especially on these days. And don't forget to communicate with others that you are having is a particularly challenging day. They will likely appreciate the communication more than withdrawal or lack of communication- even if they don't fully understand the reason.

Be sure you have ongoing support for yourself. I suggest a trustworthy therapist, counselor or coach for helping you work through your emotional challenges, getting your needs met in healthy ways and finding new resources for yourself. This relationship can often be the missing level of support in our lives and can take the burden off our other relationships.



Helpful Resources for Sensitivity


Are you sensitive? Here's how to tell.

Needing extra tips about being a sensitive person? Find mine here. And use this creative ritual for some extra reminders.

For those of us who are sensitive, a 3 level check in can help us immensely. Find out more about this simple awareness trick.

Struggling to read your own chart? Need some basics? Use my Jyotish Basics MP3 for guidance.


Need some extra guidance and clarity? Schedule a session with me.

Plan your week in tune with nature. Never miss a planetary update. Sign up for my weekly newsletter.

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Horoscopes for the Waxing Moon Cycle {September 24th to October 8th}

9/26/2014

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This is a very sacred time in the Vedic Calendar. The nine nights of Navaratri, dedicated to the goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, begins September 25th and culminates on  the tenth day which is October 3rd- Vijayadashmi. On this tenth day, it is said that Durga was victorious over the demon Mahishasura. Thus this ten day period is a profound time of overcoming our own demons and gaining insights and wisdom from the Divine Mothers. Join my 10 Day Self Care Challenge and use this time intentionally.

For more details about this waxing Moon cycle, and what you can expect from it, read my New Moon Wisdom + Creative Ritual.

The upcoming full Moon is October 8th at 05:50 am CDT while Moon is in Pisces, conjunct Ketu. Moon will be in Revati Nakshatra. More details about the significance of this full Moon and the lunar eclipse that occurs, in my next post.

Horoscopes for the Waxing Moon Cycle {September 24th to October 8th}


*Horoscopes are based on your Vedic rising sign. You can also check your Moon and Sun signs for further insight. Do the same with your Navamsa signs for further clarity. Do not use these horoscopes with your “Western Sign” as there is likely no correlation. These horoscopes are meant to be used as a broad overview of the current transits and obviously do not address the specifics of an individual’s unique chart.


Aries: This is a time of immense pause for you. Slow down. Catch the messages you've been too busy to hear. Get radical with your self care regimen. Avoid excess sweets and alcohol. Don't let bad habits creep back in. Be vigilant with your goals and desires and make sure you're putting actions behind them. Just don't push and strain to get the job done. It's not best use of your efforts and energy. Right now, slowing down will be the most ideal and the most rewarding. 

Taurus:
You continue to grow in courage and expand yourself by bravely opening to new possibilities. Let creativity be a resource for this expansion phase. How can the arts serve your imagination and ingenuity? Learn and grow with new knowledge. Explore what teachers and relationships have to offer you in terms of growth as well. Work with themes of play and passion right now. What kindling is required to get your fire started? Go slow and be intentional. Building a proper fire requires very basic and diligent action steps. Don't just squirt the fire pit with kerosene. Keep your gut clean and don't overindulge.

Gemini:
You are working with themes of nourishment, comfort and support right now. How can you feel greater abundance on a deeper, more core level? Creativity is a driving force for you and your life. If you are neglecting your creative life force, then you are bound to be miserable. Make sure that every step you take is aligned with your underlying purpose and vision for passion. It's ok to go slow (trust that slow is actually preferred) as long as you aren't martyring your self and your long term visions. Your passions are what keep you alive and filled with life. Step wisely and with a spark in your heart.

Cancer:
Softening your creative approach right now will be best practice for this time period. Be gently courageous. Be mindful of aversion and avoidance tactics that squash your plans, goals and achievements. Are you getting lost in the details, right and wrong, and the beast of "but it's not good enough?"  Be two steps ahead. Meditation and strong mindfulness tactics will serve you well right now. Be diligent with the mental body games, messages and old stories. Notice how they pause you in your tracks and belittle your confidence and action steps. Dive deep and get some answers.

Leo:
You continue to learn and grow from silence and alone time. Be intentional with retreats and time at the ashram- even if you're just having a spa day in your own bathroom. How can themes of self care inspire you and your offerings to others? How can self care increase your heart and emotional development? Right now, using 3 Level Check-ins will serve you in a myriad of ways. Pause and be witness to your felt senses. Nourishment and security are themes right now. How can you create more nourishment and security through stability and support? Get creative. Hint: Use your body and let it inform your emotional body wisdom.

Virgo:
Details, details, details. Don't get lost in the details! Planning and over planning are unproductive. Get out of the mind and into the body. Jump into your desires and activate! Relate, co-create and tend to nourishing relationships that inspire you and feed your spirit. The people, places and things that don't nourish you need to be attended to head on. Courage is your best friend right now. Be bold in your actions and take a leap of faith. Try something new, look for new work, transform your self and your career. Seek stability- but from the inside out. Take new and inventive steps. Move towards your dreams and desires.

Libra:
Taking time for retreats and solitude are essential right now. Are you attending to self care and taking care of your health, healing and spirit? Put relationships on pause right now. It is the necessary self work that will help relationships grow, mature and flourish in the long run. There are some pieces you have been neglecting to see. Where there is discomfort and discord, that is what needs your greatest attention and focus. Don't get lost in the old stories. Instead, work to re-write and transform those old, tired and worn out messages with a fabulous new twist. What would feel nourishing and supportive to you in your life and relationships? Let that be part of the new plot.

Scorpio:
It's step forward, step backward time. Pluses and minuses increase, sharing their wisdom and advice with you. This is a time of pruning your branches and getting stringent with life's absolute necessities. For a while there you had quite a few irons in the fire. Right now, keep only the most important irons in the flames and keep stoking these diligently. Less is more- for energy, focus and growth. Home and heart are hot as well. Tend to the passions in your heart and let them lead the way towards the essentials. This will make decisions a lot easier. If it doesn't light your fire, get rid of it.

Sagittarius:
Career is beckoning you. With little details and passionate pauses. What are you noticing? What requires your attention/intention? What can you let go of and release? If it doesn't stoke your heart and inspire you, leave it alone. Your depths are calling you and they want you to dive deep into your bliss. You have a rare opportunity to get nourishment and expansion from the past, to transform it, make it anew, and carry it forward with you. Transcend and transform old behaviors and patterns and let them teach you about your needs for the future.

Capricorn:
Structure and form are still providing you with new insights and career details. Just don't get lost in the microscopic view. It's a time to be humble and listen. Be alert to nuances within you and within your environment and relationships. What are you noticing? What have you missed? You are learning by teaching and giving knowledge and wisdom to others. Trust this process- even if it feels shaky and uncertain right now. Be mindful of your friendships; they can provide great insight or great destruction. Attract wisely.

Aquarius:
Nourishment and abundance may feel fleeting right now. Somehow you are not assimilating all the nutrients and nourishment coming towards you. What are you missing? Your gut is a primary resource right now. Are you paying close attention to it? The stomach is a vital part of our intuition, our sense of knowing and our ability to process life, our experiences and our environment. Clean up the gut and nurture it. There are some very old stories you are trying to digest physically right now. Gently clear the blockages, the colon, and attend to elimination. This is both literal and metaphoric.

Pisces:
Shift, change, release. Repeat. This is the essence of this time for you. Work with this intention diligently for smoother steps. There's a lot to be gained from the release. Have you noticed? Though you are clinging tightly to relationships, many are old and outworn, and no longer serving you. Be radically aware of your needs for stability and support and how false support won't serve your underlying needs. Transformation and transcendence of the old are potent formulas for your growth and wisdom.



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Simple Kitchari Recipe

9/26/2014

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Simple, easily digestible foods allow the stomach to work more efficiently and helps the body eliminate ama (undigested toxins) more effectively. Kitchari is the ideal recipe for letting your stomach hit the re-set button, while still getting a complex protein (legume + grain). Adding some hardy vegetables gives extra nourishment- and voila! The perfect meal for restoring balance.

Here's my simple kitchari recipe using principles of SVA Ayurved (Shaka Vansya Ayurveda). For eliminating inflammation in the body, I suggest removing all night shades, onions and garlic from your diet (or at the least while you are cleansing), using Vaidya Mishra's special Masala, and following standard Ayurvedic protocol regarding no leftovers, etc. (Vaidya Mishra's website is wealth of knowledge for this! I especially love that SVA caters to the extra sensitive mind/body types like myself.)

Simple {Detox} Kitchari Recipe:

Makes two servings (or one big serving for a human and one small portion for a canine companion).

1/3 Cup OG basmati rice.
1/3 Cup OG masoor daal or mung daal. (Masoor is split red lentils and mung is split small yellow lentils).

1 Tablespoon OG ghee
1 Tablespoon Mum's Masala (plus a dash or two of high grade turmeric powder if you want a more yellow looking kithchari). Mum's Masala is tridoshic and good for almost everyone which is why it's ideal.
1 teaspoon Soma Salt
1 Moringa drumstick (frozen) for extra detoxification. Available at most Indian grocers.

2 Cups spring water with a PH of 7.5 or higher.


Bring all ingredients to a boil in a medium/large saucepan and then reduce to low. Cover the pan
and let simmer for 30 to 40 minutes or until daal and rice have broken down and cooked. If you need to add a bit of water, this is the time to do it.

Just before daal is ready, chop some cauliflower and stir it into your pot. (Cauliflower is good for balancing during seasonal shifts). I like the combination of cauliflower, spinach and peas and a bit of carrot for color. Let the veggies cook for 10 minutes and once tender, serve! Add some chopped cilantro and a squirt of lime for extra flavor and gentle detox.



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