Spirit Sisters

For the greater part of my adult life, no one's opinion mattered to me than that of my best friend Rebecca.  From the time when she came to live with me when her two boys were tiny, we were instantly family. 

We shared a sisterhood like I've never experienced -not with a friend and not with my own blood sister. Rebecca and I were spirit sisters. Inseparable. Best friends. For life. 

There were times when I was so sick, Rebecca, who lived with me on and off for several years, would literally carry me to the bathroom.  She was my rock. I was hers. 

When I was in the hospital, she was my lifeline. She was naturally there to take care of my children. There was never any question, we were family. 

I was there for her too. And for her children. As far as I've ever been concerned, they were like blood. My babies. A part of my heart will always belong to them. We shared family vacations together - her boys and mine. I remember teaching, or at least trying to teach them, how to surf off the Carolina coast - Isle of Palms - a place we frequented for years. 

She ended up moving out that way actually. When the economy changed and her new husband couldn't find work here in Atlanta, they moved. Oh God, that was tough.  She came back a few times over the years, living with me again for a while even.  

Our friendship changed over the years. At times, distant. For a while, close as ever.  Eventually, estranged.   Unfortunate things were said. Regrettable things. Things we never took back before she died in her sleep three days ago. 

I knew she had not been in good health. She hadn't been in years. She struggled with a number of health issues, but from what I was told though, she had been doing fairly well recently. Her passing was, for the most part, unexpected. 

I hope that meant she was happy.

Memories of us together as a family have consumed me. Regrets of us having fallen apart, confuse me. 

Sad and happy thoughts, all flooding in at the same time.  

I pray that Rebecca can now rest in peace. 

My Sweet Magnolia

A symbol of life force and beauty, the magnolia tree represents perseverance of purity- the conjoining of feminine sweetness and strength . 

The magnificent magnolia blossom was also the inspiration behind the term Steel Magnolia, representing an independent southern woman, who is fiercely strong and yet immensely feminine.

Magnolia trees are especially magical for me. A beautiful magnolia lived in the front yard of the home where I raised my children. I tended to that tree for years. My boys loved her too - climbing in her branches and playing in the leaves she would shed year round. 

For the last thirteen years, I've also known a special pair of magnolia trees. They lived just outside my office, in the middle of Atlanta.  There were many times when I sought solace in their shade. Spoke to them. Asked them questions. Listened to their wisdom. They were sacred to me. 

A couple of months ago I noticed an orange X had been spray painted on both of my special magnolias. The construction had begun on the building on that lot, and they had decided to cut down those trees. 

I had no idea when they would be removed and spent a lot of time over the past few months with those trees. Talking to them. Thinking about their spirits. Then, one day, they were gone.

I was entirely breathless when I saw the view without them for the first time. I was sad that I had not collected a leaf or something more than a few pictures before they were cut down.  

I meditated near there for a few days following them being chopped up and removed. I realized that their spirits lingered, having risen higher, playing in the clouds now.  No longer rooted to that exact spot in the dirt. Their presence gave me comfort.

Their presence also made itself known to me. As I walked to my car one day, I saw a large magnolia leaf right in front of the door of my car. I was parked down under the building in a deck and looked all around to see if there were any other leaves.  There were none. 

I picked up this single leaf, knowing it had a message for me. After pulling out onto the street and passing the spot where the magnolias used to stand, I noticed something wedged under the construction fence circling the lot.  It was a magnolia pine cone. 

I retrieved the cone and stood there looking at it in the sunlight. I had never seen one of these up so close and could not believe what I was seeing. 

The intricacies of this dark, spiny pod were shocking. Thousands of identical little indentations - the magnificence of this natural detail swept over me.  For a moment, I stood there crying. 

There was some sawdust pressed into the cone - remnants of the trees' former form. I've left them there and placed it, along with the leaf I found, on a table near a window in my bedroom. 

I've always known trees were magical, but the healing I've received from Magnolia has penetrated through me like no tree spirit has before. I am grateful for her sweet and enduring femininity. 

~ The Holistic Health Plan for the Menopausal Goddess ~

I have to admit, I'm sort of looking forward to going through menopause. Even after I met a menopausal woman recently who had  expressed how very miserable she was.  

After experiencing what I swear were my first two hot flashes in the past week, I feel like I'm standing on the cusp of this change in my life.  So, I've taken some time to research and meditate on a holistic plan for menopause and have put together a regime of meditation, crystal therapy, dietary changes and daily affirmations.

~ The Holistic Health Plan for the Menopausal Goddess ~

Dietary-

Eat more fresh vegetables and add chia seeds to your diet. 

Chia seeds - 2 tablespoons per day. 

You can eat these seeds in about anything-sprinkled on cereal, put into your mashed potatoes, etc.  You can also drink them by soaking the seeds in a glass of cold water with a slice of lime or cucumber for 15 mins. 

Daily Affirmation -

Write a daily affirmation for yourself that you will use each morning and evening.  You will manifest these intentions through repeating these thoughts to yourself over and over for five minutes or so, twice each day. 

An example of a daily affirmation:

"I am physically and emotionally strong and powerful. I love my changing body. I look forward to the rest of my life."

Crystal Therapy-

Carry moonstone and citrine. Moonstone helps to lower your stress and balances hormones. Citrine can help reduce night sweats and hot flashes and can be placed under your pillow at night. 

Meditation - 

Once a week or month, whatever you are comfortable with, take 20 minutes and do this self-awareness meditation. 

When you're completely alone and in a quiet space, sit down on the floor and put a mirror in front of you. 

Make sure this is a peaceful space. Maybe light a candle or some incense and spend a few minutes relaxing your thoughts. 

Starting with the top of your head, look at each part of your body and recognize, respect, process & understand what each part is for...  

For example, look at each one of the knuckles on your hand-watch how it bends, how it's shaped, thank it for serving you like it does and love it for being a part of you. Then move to your fingertip-imagine all the power in that one single part of you - that fingertip pushes buttons for you, it can do a lot of things-it's part of you, an important and beautiful part of you.

Move through your whole body like this and enjoy spending time loving and respecting yourself and all of your parts like this.  

This simple meditation is extremely powerful and can really transform the way you see your changing body if you give into it. 

*These practices are alternative healing methods and are not intended to replace standard medical advice or prescribed medications.

Black Cat Voodoo

I visited a cool little store today, called Black Cat Voodoo in Historic Downtown Conyers, Georgia.  I had come across these guys at a festival recently and was curious to see what their shop was about. So, I slipped away from work early today (shhhhh...), and drove up there to pay them a visit. 

I'm so glad I did. 

Visiting this store  lifted my spirits and was the perfect getaway from my usual hectic Monday. 

I was fortunate enough to have chatted with the artisan of a Swamp Doll I purchased from Black Cat. Tico was a young artist with a talent for crafting these voodoo-looking type of dolls of which I was so fond. My doll is for protection and Tico instructed me on where and how to hang him, as well as blessed him for me before I left the store. 

The shop, which has newly opened, is hosting a block party on October 31st at 7:00pm in Olde Towne Conyers. For information, you can call 770-415-0052. It is a masquerade ball in the streets and should be a blast. I hope to see you there! 

Moqui Marbles

Formed 190 million years ago, Moqui Marbles have been used for centuries by mystics - they were used in rituals to contact spirits, for visioning and for out-of-body journeys.

The stones have a malachite exterior, with a sandstone interior. They are slightly magnetic and found in the the Southwest US.

Moqui Marbles realign the energy centers, relieve energy blockage, stimulate Chi energy, ground, center and protect, they are equally balanced between grounding and energizing, and act as a connector to the Earth's energies. 

A Moqui Marble is a miniature Mother Earth. It is very grounding, relieving stressful energy and negativity by absorbing it. It can assist in raising your personal energy by stimulating the Chi. The stone provides protection for the body and mind by shielding you from negativity. When placed on the third eye, it enhances your psychic power.

Moqui Marble Reiki Treatments:

Recenter your body's energy and reduce stress:

You will hold a female Moqui in your left hand and the male one in your right hand. This will clear away any negative thoughts you might be having.  You will feel a calming-relaxing feeling that overcomes you.

Align and unblock your body's energies:

A female Moqui is placed on the top of your head, while placing the other marble under one foot.  

This will produce positive energy and realign the body. 

For pain:

We use the female Moqui Marble to relieve body pain by placing this ball wherever you experience body pain. We complete the process, by meditating on relieving the pain and driving it from your body.

*These Moqui Marble practices are alternative healing methods and are not intended to replace standard medical advice or prescribed medications.