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Fumbling Towards Hanukkah.

Let me start at the beginning. No, there is too much; let me sum up. One of the gifts I received from cancer was extensive genetic testing, which revealed that my mother (who’d been adopted from Ireland as a toddler) was Jewish. And so, I started to investigate—internally and externally—just what that meant for me. “So…what do I have to DO to be Jewish? Do I need to take a class? Sign something?”…

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Star Being Meditation. ~ Laura Marjorie Miller

Winter Solstice is a star holiday.   Both the Solstices, and the Equinoxes, are. In the way that eclipses are undeniable, the Solstice is undeniable: it occurs to all life on Earth, a moment of relationship between our beautiful, sacred planet and its roaring yellow star. No matter what wisdom tradition you interpret it through, Winter Solstice is a potent moment of time. The visitations of…

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A Practice for the Difficult Days.

On our joyful days, it’s easy to see how temporary the difficult times were.   But when we’re in the midst of it, those internal mood storms can become a lens that colors everything we see.   While mental health issues such as depression or anxiety need more support and attention than a passing bad mood, mindfulness practices like this one can be a big help towards getting ourselves out of a…

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A Cleansing Ritual for Weary Winter Skin.

An Oil Cleansing Ritual to Soothe Your Skin Growing up in America, I was inundated with “oil free” skin care products from the get-go. Lucky for me, one of my college jobs was for a French skin care company and I quickly learned to get over my fear of putting oil on my face. I consider the use of natural oils—internally and externally—to be the best thing I’ve done for my skin. Many people…

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How We Make Space for the Future of Now. ~ Bryonie Wise

This year was one for the books.   I feel like maybe I find that truth within my deepest edges as the last parts of each year previous to this current one unfolds, but truth be told, this past year felt remarkably different.   We gave voice to secrets that had been held too close for far too long. We spoke about the necessity of taking responsibility, of flooding corners of shame we carried for…

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How to Start a Cord Cutting Practice.

How to Start a Cord Cutting Practice.

All of us have experienced connections to people, things, situations, attitudes, and all types of energetic and karmic baggage that hold us back.   So…what do we do about it? In a conversation with a dear friend about letting go I remember saying: It isn’t the letting go that’s hard. It’s not picking things back up! This is why it’s a practice.   While many different spiritual traditions and…

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On Exploring the Mysteries at Samhain.

On Exploring the Mysteries at Samhain.

Blessed Samhain + Happy Halloween!   I shared a quote I love from Starhawk on my Facebook recently:   “Life demands honesty, the ability to face, admit, and express oneself.”   To me, it’s a perfect reminder for this time of year. As we start looking back over the year—at how far we’ve come, at where we’ve fallen short, at where we hope to go—we allow ourselves to acknowledge that some of it is…

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Abyhanga: The Art of the Oil Bath.

Abyhanga: The Art of the Oil Bath.

It’s no coincidence that the Hindi word, sneha, means both “oil” and “love”….   If you haven’t yet experienced a traditional Ayurvedic oil massage, or Abhyanga, you are in for a huge, self-love treat!   According to the classic Ayurvedic text, Charaka Samita, Abhyanga benefits mind, body, and soul: Imparts softness, strength and color to the body Decreases the effects of aging Bestows good vision…

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How to Get Started with Dream Work. ~ Julie Balderrama

How to Get Started with Dream Work. ~ Julie Balderrama

  Benefits of Dreamwork: — Can give you a read-out of your physical well-being — Can point you toward your Best Next Step – your Right Action — Can improve your interpersonal relationships as you get guidance on how to improve your relationship with        your True Self — Most direct and efficient path to your subconscious (great for shadow work, uncovering and shifting limiting    beliefs,…

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3 Simple Rituals to Welcome the New Moon.

3 Simple Rituals to Welcome the New Moon.

  Today is Rosh Chodesh, or the head of the month, since the new moon arrived yesterday.   We often think about January as a time for new beginnings, when really…we have a new beginning every moon cycle. People get excited about the full moon and all its glowing beauty, but it’s the new moon that is the time for setting our intentions, and planting more of what we want to see grow in our lives.…

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“The doors to the world of the Wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.” ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes   Most of us lose touch with our Wild Self in the day-to-day…

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A Morning Tarot Ritual to Connect with Your Intuition. ~ Leah Cherry Kent

A Morning Tarot Ritual to Connect with Your Intuition. ~ Leah Cherry Kent

    When we first wake up, the connection to our subconscious and wise soul-self is often the strongest than at any other time of the day.   I think this is why so many gurus and teachers suggest that we meditate upon waking. Or why Julia Cameron’s journaling practice of Morning Pages she describes in her book The Artist’s Way is adored by so many creatives and entrepreneurs.   Over time, the…

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Digital Shabbat: How & Why to Take a Social Media Break.

Digital Shabbat: How & Why to Take a Social Media Break.

When was the last time you unplugged from social media? I used to have a love/hate relationship with Facebook. I loved using it to chat and connect with friends, but…it becomes kind of a time-suck. And then there are all those ads…and people getting into political/religious/dietary arguments…and people posting hoaxes that their aunt thought was true…and people inviting you to buy the newest…

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How to Create a Sacred Space. ~ Seryna Myers

How to Create a Sacred Space. ~ Seryna Myers

Whether to enrich your spiritual practices or your business, setting aside sacred spaces and altars in your home can be both aesthetically pleasing and a huge boost to your intentions.   Seryna Myers teaches on some things to consider when creating your sacred space:     A few questions to ask yourself:   What is the primary focus of my altar?   Which crystals will support the energy I want to…

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The Magic of Women's Friendships

The Magic of Women’s Friendships

Once upon a time, there was a girl who was struck by a horrible curse. Each year, the day of her birth was beset by calamity. Even if celebrations eventually came to pass, her birth-day was full of sighing, sadness and strife. Upon the advent of her 38th year, she called to the four winds and summoned four of her favorite women from north, south, east and west to come to her that they might break…

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Soul Self-Care 101

As a special gift to all new Ritual School members, I’ve added access to this 30-day eCourse! Soul Self-Care 101   Module 1: Pleasure: What do YOU need more of in your life? :: Including an embodied decision making practice that helps you immediately get clarity on what you want.   Module 2: Permission: You deserve to feel goosebumpy amazement and bone-deep relaxation—and not just on weekends or…

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The Magic Words You Already Know.

The Magic Words You Already Know.

“Words and magic were in the beginning one and the same thing, and even today words retain much of their magical power.” ~ Sigmund Freud   Much has been written on manifesting what we want in our lives, but we forget that 99% of that is incredibly simple. We realize we are thirsty, so we get a glass of water. We want to do something, so we get in our cars and go. The lag time between most of what…