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Do you feel anxious and worried all the time? Are you looking for breathwork to help calm your anxiety and soothe your nerves? Do you feel extremely fearful of the situation? 

Anxiety is often defined as the sentiments of fear, fright, trepidation, dread, and uneasiness. It is a typical reaction to stress or strenuous situation, which might cause excessive sweating, feelings of restlessness, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, trembling, and breathing rapidly. For example, a person might feel worried when faced with a complicated problem at work, or before making an important choice or decision. In such cases, anxiety may arise.

The good news is that relaxing or breathing techniques often help the anxious person feel better. Plus, if you feel breathless due to worry, practicing these anxiety breathing exercises daily will help you to mitigate the symptoms. 

WHAT IS MEANT BY ANXIETY BREATHING TECHNIQUE? 

The anxiety breathing technique is defined as a workout that is intended to encourage and promote efficient, fit, and healthy breathing. In addition to this, it also results in effectual breath control. In essence, breathing exercises are one of the most vital and important parts of Yoga. 

The main aim of Yoga is to form a connection between mind, body, and soul. And breathing techniques prove to be very helpful in improving the pulmonary status of a person and also boost the overall endurance of an individual.

BREATHING TECHNIQUES AND ANXIETY

These techniques are very helpful in reducing anxiety. Deep breathing and other exercises included in breathing techniques help to mitigate stress. The breathwork signals the nervous system to calm down, and this helps the anxious person to attain relief. 

Anxiety breathing exercises are often accompanied by meditation and yoga. And all of these factors play an important role in soothing the nerves of a worried individual. 

BREATHING EXERCISES HELP IN RELIEVING ANXIETY

Some breathing exercises that help in relieving anxiety are described below.

1. LONG EXHALE BREATHWORK 

Lengthening the duration of exhaling can help you beat anxious feelings. This is because deep breathing is linked to the sympathetic nervous system, and this division controls fight or flight response. It controls and influences our body’s ability to relax. For this breathwork; 

• Take a thorough exhale before taking a big deep breath. First, exhale all the air in your lungs out of your body and then simply let the lungs do their work, i.e., inhaling air.
• Then try to spend more time exhaling than you do inhaling; for instance, if your inhalation is for 4 seconds, exhalation must be for 6 seconds.
• Practice it daily for two to five minutes.

You can practice this technique in any posture that is comfortable for you. 

2. ABDOMEN BREATHING

The diaphragm is the muscle that is present just beneath the lungs. Breathing from here actually lessens the overall work the body needs to do for breathing, thus, saving its overall energy. 

Breathing from the diaphragm can be done by: 

•  Adopting a comfortable position 

For this, lie down on the floor or maybe on the bed. Put pillows beneath your knees and head too. The second position a person could adopt is to sit in a comfortable chair with the neck, head, and shoulders in a relaxed state and bent knees.

• Then, put one hand over your heart in a relaxed position and one under your rib cage.
• Breathe in and breathe out through the nose.
• While inhalation and exhalation, notice your stomach and chest movements. 

3. PRACTICE BELLY BREATHING

• For this anxiety breathing exercise, adopt the position the same as described above.
• Place one hand on your stomach somewhere above the belly button and one hand on the chest.
• Breathe in via nose and have an observation of your stomach rise. Your chest should remain comparatively motionless and still.
• Purse the lips and try exhaling through the mouth. And try to engage your stomach muscles at the end of the breath to push the air out.

Practice it daily, or for efficient results, three or four times a day for up to 10 minutes. If you haven’t been regularly using the diaphragm to breathe, it will make you feel tired, but it gets easier, and you will get used to it if you practice daily.

4. BREATH FOCUS

For reducing anxiety and relieving stress, focused and slowed deep breathing may be an excellent choice. For this technique, you only need to lie down or sit in a contented, comfortable, and quiet location. Then:

• Observe how it feels when you breathe in and out normally. Psychologically examine your body, and we're sure you will notice the tension in your body!
• Take a slow deep breath through your nose.
• Examine your upper body and belly expanding.
• Exhale the air by sitting in a comfortable position
• Do this for several minutes and pay continuous attention to the rise and fall of your stomach. 
• Then, choose a word to focus on, and during the exhale, verbalize that word. Vocalizing words like “Safe” and “Calm” can be highly effective.
• Inhale by taking a deep breath. 
• Imagine that your negative energies and fearful thoughts are carried away from you. 
• Gently bring your attention back to your breath. Start vocalizing your ‘safe’ words again if you get unfocused or distracted.

For better results,  practice this exercise for up to 20 minutes daily.

5. RESONANT BREATHING

Hands down, the best breathwork that helps to reduce anxiety! It is also termed coherent breathing and is very effective in calming you down and bringing you back to a relaxed state. For this exercise:

• Lie down, close your eyes, and relax.
• Close your mouth for almost 6 seconds and breathe gently through your nose.
• Don’t rush to fill the lungs with air.
• Allow your breath to leave the body slowly by exhaling for 6 seconds. Don’t force it to move out.
• Continue this for 10 minutes.
• Take some additional minutes, and during this duration, observe how your body feels.

We hope the above anxiety breathing exercises prove to be helpful in calming your anxious feelings. Did you know we also offer anxiety and depression relief retreats and coursesthat can help you transform your life? We invite you to consider our relief offerings and let us know if you have any questions. 

Hello Moonbeams!!!

And so, it is...Here we are again New Moon Lovers — a roaring lion of a moon on July 28^th (1:55pm EST/ 10:55am PST)! The sign of Leo is the archetype of the leader-the powerful lion, the center of attention standing tall. Its’ very meaning is confidence, creativity and strength…talk about a paradox-Leo’s need to shine his/her light into the world and the dark New Moon. Leo zodiac energy with its vibration of abundance and passion creates the opportunity to focus on our goals. Leo, The King of Hearts, will be calling you to your brightest light, your truest heart, and your highest power. Radical, Radiant, Self-Love!!! So, breathe…inhale courage and exhale fear, all you yogis!

Much of the magick of this moon can be credited to Jupiter, the planet of abundance, that goes retrograde in Aries also on the 28^th.  In unison with the Leo energy, it will guide you to follow your gut and go beyond what you believe possible and move forward in the belief that amazing things are possible. The planets retrograde also brings on the need for self-reflection and some heart felt inner work. With Venus and Black Moon Lilith once again traveling close together the need to embrace the feminine and seek our true self will take over.  The light of the moon is flooding your soul, empowering you to release the past, heal your heart and create your life based on your true authentic self.

Bathing is a blissful way to take care of yourself, create space for self-reflection and increase the sacredness and power of a water ritual. There is something magickal about the symbolism of washing away the old and welcoming the new. Choose your favorite essential oils, crystals and flowers and add to your bath salts. Whether Dead Sea, Himalayan or another blend, salts cleanse and remove negative energy from the body. Light some candles and play some relaxing music. Surrender to the time, sit in the stillness of the new moon and soak in the new energy created.

How will you step into your power in a radiant and powerful way this new moon cycle?

Until next time....... Keep shining

Hello Moonbeams!!!

“When the moon is at it’s peak...Then your heart’s desire seek”

July 13^th (2:38PM ET/11:38AM PT)…is Full Moon time again!!! This Capricorn Super Moon will bring a powerful emotional forcefield around us all...expect so see things get shaken up. Change is in the air as Capricorn also conjuncts Pluto at the same time. Expect a breakdown of the old ways and structures aligning one with new levels of consciousness. The Sea-Goat can climb to the utmost peak as well as move downwards into the deepest depths of the sea. The aim of the Capricorn goat-fish is to search one’s soul and recognize the wisdom you have gained from swimming deep in your own oceans and climbing to the top of your own mountains. Pluto in the mix practically screams that it is time for some shadow work...time to really engage in communication with the shadows we hold inside and evaluate honestly what needs to change or emerge from the shadows. Try engaging in conversation with your deepest self to gain the answers that will enable us to heal and achieve our goals. Lastly, Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, is safely ensconced in the sign of Aquarius. What does this mean? Aquarius is the sign of the rebel, the sign of revolution, the changemakers who break down the old systems and bring in the new. You can support yourself mentally during this auspicious moon by meditating, yoga, reiki self-healing and working and wearing crystals for grounding and protection.

When the world is nuts, it is time to move with the moon through all Her phases because “the spiral dance of the monthly lunar cycle is where the juice of revolution, transformation and magic lives for us”.

May you know the Beauty and Truth that is Who You Are. May you know the Wisdom within, and always listen to and express the Song of your soul

Sacred Rose

Myths and mysteries, magick, and medicine...with rose all four are quintessentially the same. In alchemy, the rose symbolizes divine or mystical love. At a time when we all need a little more love...allow the sacredness of rose to enter your life.

Historically, the flower itself was a symbol of female sexuality & is associated with Cupid, Eros, Adonis, Aphrodite, Isis, Hathor, & Demeter. And the petals as well as the oil & rosewater were often used in magical rituals to honor these gods & goddesses. But the flower is not the only part used in divination & magic. Rose hips can be strung like beads on a thread and worn as a necklace to attract love. Drinking rosehip tea is thought to increase one's powers of prophecy.

And, ironically, for a flower that is often given as a gift, the most powerful roses are said to be those that have been stolen from another person's garden.

Truth be told, we are kind of obsessed with roses. The most beautiful, sensuous & romantic of flowers, it has inspired poets & artists for centuries not only as the flower of love & beauty, but also one of great power. No flower is more recognizable & no aroma more evocative. And rose oil is known as the "Queen of Essential Oils." Rightly so as she holds the highest spiritual frequency than any other oil on the planet.

As a sacred flower to the Goddess, she is a beautiful ally in love and protection magick, can stimulate sexual desire, enhance beauty, and most importantly can heal suffering and grief surrounding the heart in her warm embrace.

When the heart is fully opened, love flows freely...and that, my dear friends, is the true essence of rose...she so gladly and generously offers herself to heal body, mind, and spirit.

The following yoga sequence will open your awareness of your heart as it reignites your own inner goddess! The ritual of anointing the heart with a drop of sacred rose before you start the sequence will make your practice a deeply spiritual ceremony.

Some Heart Yoga Love

High Lunge~Reverse Warrior~Extended Side Angle~Standing Goddess~ Low Lunge~Sphinx~Locust~Supported Childs Pose

The energy is shifting and at 10:52 pm EST in the evening of June 28^th the moon will darken in the sign of Cancer, a New Moon that will usher in sweeping emotions. As usual, new moon are new beginnings, bringing forth the opportunity for manifesting our vision into reality. Cancer, ruled by the moon itself, represents the divine feminine. As women, we are blessed to have a deeply intimate and mystical connection with Mother Moon. It is symbolic (and exactly the right time) that Black Moon Lilith entered Cancer on April 14th, 2022, and will remain in the moon sign until January 8th, 2023

Black Moon Lilith, sometimes called the dark moon, is the point along the moon's orbit when it's farthest from Earth. Why Lilith? In the Garden of Eden, Lilith strove to rule in equality, however Adam sought to rule her. Lilith knew her power and worth, was equal to Adam and refused to submit. In astrology, it represents the part of ourselves that we cannot repress. Cancer is emotional energy, so the beauty of Black Moon Lilith moving into Cancer for such an extended time is to teach one to stand in their own power. Over the next 7 months we will see that under the primordial hand of Lilith the feminine will not be restrained.

On the same day as the New Moon, Neptune will begin its long retrograde in Pisces which will end on December 3^rd. In astrology, Neptune rules over fantasies, dreams, spirituality, and altered states of consciousness. The retrograde transit will bring on a period of awareness and possibly turmoil. After all, Neptune is all about taking the rose-tinted glasses off and facing our realities. Are you ready?

With all this potent goddess energy swirling, now is the time to celebrate your own feminine aspects and your own power.  With Lilith remaining in the moons home base why not dive deep into the waters of self-love...embody the Feminine Divine...reclaiming her body, her voice, her wisdom, and her power. The message of the crab is to recognize what is in your heart and create your own sacred inner space. Remember, when the heart is fully open, love flows freely. Gifting yourself a day of self-care could reveal itself to be magickal.

Happy New Moon!!!

Summer Solstice

Love this time of the year... the moon, the sun, the stars & the flowers are crazy-beautiful

Summer Solstice is the celebration of the peak of summers beauty. Depending on where you are in the world, it falls somewhere between June 20th & 21st. Summer Solstice is the longest day and the shortest night of the year & the time to see all things, Faerie. It is one of 8 Wiccan sabbats that mark the turning of the wheel of the year and is also known as the fire holy day of Litha. It is Midsummer's Night, the year's bounty is at hand, and it is time for the Sun King to embrace the Queen of Summer, ensuring the circle's continuation.

Midpoint in the calendar year, Summer Solstice/Litha represents the balance between light & dark, both outside & within you-the longest day of the year in the north & the longest night of the year in the southern hemisphere. Probably the place most associated with Summer Solstice is Stonehenge…England’s' ancient stone druid circle. The stones are set in a way that at the moment of sunrise on Summer Solstice the light passes through a stone corridor to illuminate an altar stone.

As the wheel turns toward the Summer Solstice, now is the perfect time to connect with green magick. The plant world has a message for you. Prepare a flower crown with all those gorgeous blooms (cause, really, who doesn’t like wearing one of those!). If near water, take the crown and release into the water at days end. This is considered an offering to the Sun, and it is said to bring good luck until the next summer...and to those looking for love, a promise that they will soon find it. Herbs are now at their peak as well, both magically & therapeutically. So, gather them up, cut that St. John’s Wort and let the light, love & plant world fill you on this magical day. 

Summer Solstice Ritual

On this night place a bowl of strawberries (the best you can find) under the light of the Moon. Then dance or walk slowly or move rhythmically around it as you repeat your intentions for your own flourishing world. Because whether you are welcoming Summer in the Northern hemisphere or Winter in the South, we are One Planet, One Human Family, One Living & Breathing Being. 

Until next time wishing you a beautiful and inspired Solstice! Shine Brightly!

Hello Moonbeams!!!

By the light of the moon, magick is made.

On June 14th (7:52 am /4:52 am PT) we will be blessed with a sweet Full Moon in Sagittarius, the sign of the archer. This, my lovelies, is the Strawberry Full Moon, so named because at this time the fruit is ripe for picking. In lore, a Strawberry Full Moon is also said to bring prosperity.

In many traditions this moon is also known as the Faerie Moon as Midsummer Solstice approaches. The month is ripe with magic and the ability for communication with the faerie world is strong. Perfect, since we will be embracing the absolutely magnificent indie-spirited Sagittarius Energy!

This moon promises to be a blast, especially since it’s a super moon (meaning that the moon’s at her closest point to earth). Sagittarian energy invites us to enjoy all life has to offer, from travel to sexuality to friendships to education and so much more....the archer is the vision/spiritual seeker, full of optimism and a thirst for life....asking us to shed those things which are holding us back even if it means moving far out of our comfort zones. No matter what, Sag is giving you a wakeup call to let go of the past and old attachments and make way for some new opportunities.

As we move toward Summer Solstice, Sagittarius energy helps us embrace and celebrate new beginnings. In the midst of Solstice, find some time to be still and let Luna’s light shine on you.

Strawberry Full Moon Ritual Wash

Types of Water: Oceans: banishing ~ cleansing

Lakes: secrets ~ divination Rivers: transformation ~ change

Rainwater: strength ~ chaos ~ creativity

Swamp: patience ~ stagnation

Fill a medium size tub with fresh water taken from a source above. Next add seasonal flowers (roses, peonies, lavender, a few leaves from a strawberry plant if available and whichever other herbs & flowers you like. Leave the bowl outside in the sun for the day. At night as the sun goes down form a circle of candles around you and dipping your hands in the bowl start brushing your hands in a downwards motion from your head along your entire body-no need to soak yourself. While cleansing, think about the changes you are making, and are experiencing...the purpose is to let the light and warmth inside you merge with the moon’s energies. Once done, step out of your circle and end the ritual. Don’t forget to blow out the candles!!!

I wish you all a wonderful day and night. Let the light and love fill you on this magickal night. 

Hello Moonbeams!!!
On May 30, 2022, (7:30am ET /4:30am PT), the Gemini New Moon brings an end
to Eclipse Season. This past set of Eclipses brought change, transformation and
put us in a place to bring about change. Amid all the world’s chaos today, it feels
right to usher in a moon with the gentleness of the twin natured Gemini, the air
sign considered the “social butterfly” of the zodiac.

The first New Moon after Eclipse Season is always an important one, as it brings a
dose of fresh energy and a new perspective, giving one a sense of confidence in
taking that next step forward. It is also a perfect time for some self care, calming
that hyperactive nervous system. In other words, this is the calm period before
the storm-we ARE on the verge of a huge shift in consciousness. Are you ready?
Communication is the theme of this moon with Mercury in its home sign. These
past months had us working through the shadows to find our truth. Now is the
time to open your mouth or pick up that pen. Bring out your truths and set your
intentions while the New Moon is emerging. The energy of this crescent light
embodies new beginnings, rebirth, and renewal. I tend to consider that the 24
hours before and the 24 hours following the lamination are most potent for any
ritual, so roughly the moon phase lasts about 3 days, changes based on your
preference and of course, the potency of Luna’s energies.

Low on energy? Why not start with a moon-themed ritual bath. Begin by
dimming the lights, burning your favorite candles, and running a bath.
Think about the intentions you’d like to set for this ritual. What am I calling in?
What do I most desire? What new beginning am I stepping into?
Boost your intuition with crystals and essential oils. Add some flowers if desired
and finish up by smudging yourself and the bathroom with palo santo or sage
before getting into the tub. Then simply relax. Italians have a phrase “dolce far
niente”- “the sweetness of doing nothing.”

Magical Moon Garden
For those just getting started or looking for something new in their garden, what
could be more enchanted than to cultivate your own Moon Garden. Honoring the
-Silver- Goddess in all her glory with fragrant night-blooming flowers. Plant night-
bloomers near a bedroom window, where the breeze can carry the fragrance
indoors right into your dreams. Plant some in a circle to mimic the Moon, they look terrific alongside silver-foliaged Lambs ears and Artemisia. Illuminated only by moonlight, the pale flowers and silver foliage add a dreamy, ethereal feeling. And finally energize the garden for meditations and spells by adding moonstones and other crystals to the dirt. Don’t have a garden? Potted plants will work just as well.

Hello Moonbeams!!!

Get ready for an astrological roller coaster rider because from May 15-16
(12:14am EST-full moon) we will see a Super Full Blood Moon coinciding with a
total lunar eclipse...and to make things even more interesting Mercury is in
retrograde! The eclipse will begin about 10:27 p.m. EST Sunday night and over
the next few hours the moon will receive some sunlight through the earth’s
shadow changing colors from gray to pink to orange and then red.
In Pagan tradition, this is the Flower moon named due to the abundance of
flowers blossoming in May. May’s moon is also called Mother’s Moon, Milk
Moon, and Dyad Moon as a homage to Beltaine. The Dyad Moon symbolizes the
sacred marriage of the God and Goddess, when the two become one, when all
things meet their opposites in perfect balance and in perfect harmony. All this
makes May an absolutely magickal and electric month.

Eclipses are notorious for highlighting not only our shadows, but the
unfavorable behavior of others will come to light as well. A Full Moon Lunar
Eclipse carries the weight of a thousand Full Moons so the energy will feel
extremely intense. Lunar eclipses are associated with quick change, major shifts
in life, endings, closure and completion. The transformative sign of Scorpio will
force emotions to soar, and we will be guided to close the door on something in
our personal life, whether we are ready or not for this to occur. You will know,
deep inside, what those changes are, because they have been tugging at you for
months. Something needs to end, and this Eclipse is going to be the trigger.
What may bloom, however, could be beyond what you could have even dreamed.
Each year on the May Full Moon we also honor Hecate and the Rite of Her Sacred
Fires. She is a Triple Goddess as well as guardian of the Crossroads, as She can
look three ways at one time. Hecate’s themes are the moon, beginnings and
magick. Hecate rules the moon and opportunities. She opens the path through
which the old departs and the new enters. On this May Full Moon, She lights a
torch, illuminating the way to the future. As you move through change, let the
Goddess light your path.

Making Moon Water on the Flower Moon

• On the night of the full moon, place a clear quartz crystal in a jar of purified water. (Can also make by the gallon).
• You can add edible herbs and flowers to your water, like roses for love (including self-love) or lavender for cleansing.
• Place the vessel outside in a clear moonlit spot, making sure jar is covered.
• When morning arrives, your water will be charged with lunar energy. Drink a bit every morning for body, mind & soul balance.

Can also be used to charge crystals, cleanse your energetic body and remove
stagnant energy by use in your diffuser.

Hello Moonbeams!!!

We say goodbye to April and those sexy Libra vibes and move into Taurus with the 2nd New Moon this month, a Black Moon with a partial Solar Eclipse...on April 30 (1:28 pm PST // 4:28 pm EST).

Black Moons, (AKA intensified New Moons), are a unique and magickal time because they occur infrequently... bringing increased intuition and spiritual awareness-they are one of the most powerful times for ritual and manifestation. The focus of a Black Moon is introspection, rest, and shadow work, providing the motivation needed to deal with unresolved crap. And they do that so well often ushering in a shift...manifesting a new theme of change and growth that will lead to long lasting results. Pile on the solar energy of the eclipse joining up with the grounded bull and we get the calm needed to stand strong in our authentic self and set our intentions around money, security, relationships. Setting clear intentions are like magick, but they aren't passive-they require your commitment and belief. Trust in the unknown now, because the power of the moon cannot be overstated –it pulls the tides of the oceans as well as our own emotions. 

Taurus Medicine

Taurus rules the neck, vocal cords, throat, thyroid gland. Now I the perfect time to clear that throat chakra Practice chanting solo or with a loved one to clear and charge your throat chakra. Try chanting (Om Shivaya Om, anyone?) and speak out your intentions daily for at least 3 days after the moon. Baby that throat with some soothing chamomile tea.

And, lastly, our goddess this month is Hecate-Her time is always that of the Dark Moon-most especially on the 30th of any month. 

“Hecate teaches us that the way to the vision that inspires renewal is to be found in moving through the darkness”.

Until next time,

Blessed Be

Debbi