| Have you ever felt guilty taking time for yourself? Do you find you feel the need to justify alone time, a solitary walk, a quiet bath? If so, you’re not alone. I believe our society sends messages that we are being selfish if we put ourselves first. What I have found is that if I am not taking care of myself first, if I am not filling my own well and nourishing all parts of me, then I can only give so much to others before I feel depleted and resentful. My spirit soul sister Deborah Fay talks about it here. Yes, self-care can be more “luxurious” like a mani/pedi, a relaxation massage, lunch with a friend. Those are wonderful and highly recommended, if they help you to feel cared for. Oftentimes though, it can be challenging to find that kind of time/money. So how can you do small, easy things that fit into your life? For me, staying hydrated and getting enough rest are key factors, along with eating nourishing foods that help sustain my energy. I’ve been working on these a lot this year, and while it does take my time/energy to prep and cook, it’s so worth the results. Can you stop for 10 minutes, make some coffee/tea, take it outside and watch nature? Or take 5 minutes and just focus on your breath and grounding wherever you happen to be? Can you go to bed 15 minutes earlier? I suggest asking yourself, your inner wise self, “how can I take even better care of myself right this minute? What do I most need right now?” The answer might surprise you. How can you integrate this into your daily practice? I promise that taking time for yourself will not cause the rest of your life to fall apart. In fact, if you have children, you are modeling for them that taking care of yourself is important for physical, mental, and emotional health. It’s not selfish, it’s more about boundaries. I think you’ll find you have more energy to then help others and not get burnt out or feel resentful. Join other women taking a couple of hours to tend to their souls with Deborah and me: Loving Our Whole Self: A Full Flower Moon Ritual w/ Mandala Coloring on Zoom  (moon journal, courtesy of Deborah Fay)  (example of a mandala, Pinterest image) The mandala represents an imaginary palace that is contemplated during meditation. Each object in the palace has significance, representing an aspect of wisdom or reminding the meditator of a guiding principle. The mandala’s purpose is to help transform ordinary minds into enlightened ones and to assist with healing.-Wikipedia Bee Priestess sister, Deborah Fay (both our names – hers from the Hebrew + mine from the Greek mean honey bee) welcome you to our hive! We are joining up for: Loving Our Whole Self: a Zoom Full Flower Moon Ritual w/Mandala Coloring on Wednesday, May 26th 7-8:30pm $33 Reserve your space HERE. This live online ritual will include:Drawing Down the Moon movement, guided meditation, mandala coloring ritual, readings, poetry, reflection, mandala dedication ceremony and more!Loving Our Whole Self is a discovery process of revealing those voices who want to be heard, recognized and welcomed to the banquet of life. Oftentimes we want only the shiny parts to be seen, but we lose out on fully expressing ourselves when we hide the shadow voice. The theme for tonight is one of empowering you to awaken to all the voices within that have important messages for you. We will use mandala to dive deep and bring treasures to the surface for you to celebrate! BONUS; All attendees will get an exclusive special ($10 off) on our 2:2 Combo Healing Sessions: In these nurturing and grounded sessions, you will receive Reiki and intuitive messages from both Melissa and me. When we collaborate, we amplify the energy that comes through us and also heighten our intuitive receptivity. In this way you will have two times the input and synergistic energy to guide you and help you regain balance in whatever ways you may need. (mandala, Pinterest)We can’t wait to see you, Melissa Belliard + Deborah Fay www.deborah-fay.com deborahfay6@gmail.com |