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from the Editor As I sit to write this, it is the 29th of November, and like past months I have a moment of pondering where my thoughts will take me. Outside I have a stand of Alder trees, who up until today have been ablaze with their autumn finery, leaves of bright yellow tinged with orange proudly worn as a testament to their role in the cycle of life. Yet today, those leaves are falling rapidly from the tree, like snowflakes they gently fall to the ground and let me know that the trees have decided to give over to the coming season. I too, must trade the flip flops for more practical, warmer footwear, as the transition of 2015 ending and 2016 beginning is upon us.
January started off bright, all of us filled with hope for a better year ahead, although I am never sure why we think the previous year was so terrible. Every year brings us growth and that is never terrible. Spring arrived, not a moment too soon, bursting forth with bright colors on a dreary canvas, brightening our days again as the brightness of the brand new year had faded. Summer came hot and dry. Giving us long days to languish in the sun and warm up our spirits with laughter and fun. Fall slowly turned up the blaze of colors, giving us a new perspective of beauty. The temperatures dipped a little lower allowing us to seek warmth in bright scarves that rivaled the blazing leaves. December is a magical month, filled with many bursts of joy for all of us to immerse ourselves in. So much to celebrate this month no matter your beliefs. Winter will soon arrive, even though some areas have already seen winter enter with snow and freezing cold, it officially announces its presence on the 21st. We will not see the posts longing for warmer weather until January or February though, because December holds the magic that allows us to savor each moment with joy. It is new and welcome at this point. Before we know it December 31st will be here. We will have come to the end of another year and I am reminded, by the Alder tree, of how it is not always easy to yield to the New Year. This December, for me, all is calm. It is about finding peace within this magic and allowing that magic to shine bright upon my world. I will be decking the halls and telling loved ones all I want is you or my two front teeth, this year. It is about seeking silent nights to reflect the past year, and finding Santa Claus lane to see what surprises are being delivered. It will be candle lite services on a Holy Night. Donating to the silver bells to help make another person’s season and year bright. Ensuring grandma stays out of the eggnog and doesn’t get in the path of the reindeer. I will be dreaming of a white Christmas as I rock around the Tannenbaum decorating it. I will be sending up prayers asking if they know it is Christmas. Me and my little drummer boy will be home for Christmas. Our hearts will grow ten sizes this December from the magic and joy we will fill them with. Mostly though I want to thank each one of you for being a part of this past year’s adventures. All of us here at Nourish thank you and wish you a blessed season. No matter how you celebrate this month, take time to immerse yourself in joy, rest and reflect. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! See you all in 2016! Namaste
Marlene 3
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“December waves a magic wand over the world and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful” Norman Vincent Peale
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Peace Being in this Moment Joy From my Heart to Yours Odin and the Valkries Alban Arthuan - Yule What's on our Fork this Month Forked The Spirit of Giving Monthly Astro Tid-Bit - December 2015 December 2015 Horoscopes Crystal Reading for December Lunar Cycles for December Power Animal - Dove Straight from the Heart December Message Words Love and Forgiveness are your Anchor Rune Casting For December 2015 Angel Message for December 2015
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Nourish is a digital magazine that is produced in Burnaby BC, Canada www.nourishpublication.com All content Š2011 - 2015 by Nourish Publication All requests for copying or reprinting should be addressed to nourishpublication@gmail.com
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Marlene Cobb
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As we come to the end of 2015 we have much to look back upon and much to look forward to. Our world has changed so much, really and truly. If we reflect back ten years, we can see how much is different, and also at the same time see how much remains the same. We are blessed now with the power of the internet and that has shrunk our little blue dot in the sense that more and more information is able to travel around the world in seconds. We hear so much more. We are more aware. We are tolerant and intolerant at the same time. We are compassionate and dispassionate at the same time. We love and hold fear at the same time. We are so much more, and we process more information daily than we have ever processed in our lifetime.
appearance of love, the root is fear, and we have left the calm center to ride the wave upon the surface. This is not necessarily a bad thing. For if we can recognize at some point we are surfing, we can take a deep breath and return to the deep, dive down and realize peace. How do we dive down deep when a troubled thought or emotion rolls through us? How can we not join the herd when our fears bubble to the surface as chaos and disorder are fed to us via all media? We can start with mindfulness. When we are mindful, we are in an active state of open attention to the present. This means that we are not trying to hide or control the troubled thoughts or emotions coming forth. Instead, we are observing them without judging them as good or bad. We are not being passive and letting life pass us by, we are living that moment and awakening to that experience. Essentially, we are discovering that side of ourselves, and shifting the vibration within us to a place of acceptance, which brings us peace.
We are no longer in our simple bubbles, we have become one, perhaps more than any of us realize. We are now a global community and as such we are immersed in the chaos and disorder that happens outside of our bubble. We are also privy to the good things that are happening, and thus offer us hope and faith that our world is basically good. I am struggling to ensure my words come across clear in this article, and that my thoughts are translated from my mind to the keyboard exactly as I feel. They come from deep within and are not entirely my own in the sense that they are much more than I am. It is a deep seated knowing that I am no different than any other person who resides in the community known as earth. I have fear and I know love, just like each person who lives here.
There is more than one way to practice mindfulness, all mindfulness techniques allow the mind to refocus on the present moment. A simple technique is the sensory technique in which you engage your 5 senses. Become aware of your body, what messages is it signaling to you? Start at your toes and work your way up, noticing any tension you feel in any part of your body and taking a few moments to relax it. Close your eyes and focus on breathing, take three deep breathes and slowly calm yourself down. With your eyes closed, notice the sounds and scents around you, and try to name them. Open your eyes slowly and notice what sights are around. Name them, touch them - name how they feel, if you wish taste them – what do they taste like? Any thoughts that come to you during this exercise, name the emotion behind it, without judgement and let it float to the surface.
Peace starts within us. Each of us. It does not matter where you reside in our community, we are all in this together and we need to figure that out. There have been songs written for millennium that sing the praises of peace on earth, “let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth.” Yet we do not get the basic concept of how it begins with “me”. Peace starts in our hearts and minds, individually, not outside of ourselves. We cannot go to the corner store and purchase a pound of peace, or a can of feel good. We have to be firmly rooted in our own selves. Oh, our minds will still chatter with troubled thoughts, and our emotions will not all be happy go lucky. The way to peace is to not lend our energy to those troubled thoughts and emotions. We must simply let them rise and fall like waves upon the ocean. Think of them as surface tension on a lake, the wind comes up and blows across the water, causing waves to crash upon the shore, yet if we were to dive deep down to the bottom we would find the water undisturbed. That is where we want to come from, that depth within us where peace resides.
Doing this simple exercise will help you to come to a center of peace. You extend your energy, not to the thoughts, but to your being. Aligning yourself with the present moment and short circuiting the “what ifs”. From this place you are able to share peace with the global community as a whole and also those around you. It brings you to a center of love and a deep knowing that the disorder and chaos are not something you can control. You are not enacting the catalysts that cause it, you are just expanding and awakening to a deeper place of acceptance and love. “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
Part of the problem is, we feel, and society sees it as such, that if we are not reacting and putting our two cents worth in, we are disconnected or don’t care about the issues going on. However, nothing could be further from the truth. When we lend our energy to the surface that is bubbling and brewing, we can no longer bring peace to the world, for we do not have it to offer. What we are offering is our fears. It does not matter if we disguise them in an
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Gwen Randall-Young
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One of the most important components of developing wisdom is keeping an open mind. When we learn something new, it can seem like we are more enlightened than we were before. As we learn more, we expand our previous concepts to integrate the new. Developing wisdom as adults follows the same principles of assimilation and accommodation that Piaget used to describe learning in infants. The infant develops intellectually by assimilating new experiences into the old structure of awareness, and accommodating that structure to ‘make room’ for something different. It is much more complicated for adults on a path of growth, for we are continually challenged by paradoxes. We must assimilate and accommodate principles that may be diametrically opposed. On the one hand, we empower ourselves by recognizing that we create our own reality. We co-create our lives with the intelligence of the Universe, and can build whatever we dream. On the other hand, we empower ourselves by learning to surrender, to allow things to unfold, knowing that all is happening for the highest good. I have always believed that truth lies at the heart of the paradox, and speculated that life may be one big Zen koan. The wisest path may be to not identify too strongly with either end of the polarity, but to hold that place of balance between them. The same principle might apply to healing ourselves, either physically or emotionally. Of course there is an integral connection between mind, body and spirit, and thankfully this is being recognized. However, polarizing can occur, which can blind us to the place of balance. There is no one vitamin or superfood that will cure all that ails one. There is no one healing modality that will consistently create miracles. There is no one spiritual path that will lead everyone to Nirvana. I do believe that when one is physically ill, it is important to consider psychological components, and when one is suffering emotionally it is wise to look at the body and spirit as well. However, we must remain grounded in our wise observer. A while ago I was experiencing considerable pain in some of my teeth and jaw. A friend suggested that perhaps I had some blocked energy or deeper issues that I was not addressing. I could not think of any, but knew that even therapists are not immune. I wondered if perhaps I was in so much denial about something that I was completely out of touch with the source of my pain. Perhaps it was stress? Being fundamentally practical, I decided first to visit my dentist. She in turn worried that I might have trigeminal neuralgia (which would be something to really worry about.) In the end, it turned out that a new crown had thrown out my bite, and a bit of filing instantly resolved the problem. I reflected on the time, energy and emotional drain I might have created in trying to find a deeper reason for my physical pain. While some fertile ground can be covered in such searches, and rewarding insights can be
gained, the process is not always so positive. I would not want someone who is seriously ill to have the added burden of guilt over the “thought patterns” that “created” the illness. Nor would I want the parent of a sick child to torment him or herself about why they have “attracted misfortune” into their lives. It is simply not that black and white. By all means we can allow crises to serve as wake up calls, and focus on what we truly want to keep in our lives, and what we need to release. We can accommodate to new ways of thinking by expanding our awareness metaphorically. For example, one might think, “If I was somehow blocking my financial success, what reason might there be?” We might speculate about a fear of success or change, and then do some serious work getting comfortable with those possibilities. We might become more flexible and confident. Financial success might come. Even so, we cannot imply causality and say that we were indeed “ blocking our success.” Maybe we were, maybe we weren’t. All we know for sure was that in this case, assuming a metaphor about blocked success allowed us to try some different things, and they helped. I prefer this approach, because it gives more power to our wise observer, and less to unruly inner children or unhealed parts bent on sabotaging our growth. We then avoid being locked in a battle between different aspects of consciousness. The arena for such a battle is within the thinking mind, which can speculate and analyze endlessly. It is not there where the full picture will be revealed anyway, ever. The way to resolve the many paradoxes of life is to transcend them. They are only stepping-stones to a simultaneously deeper and higher level. Dropping into the heart, and simply being in this moment is the way to transcendence. It is so peaceful, so full, and so complete. It is effortless. You do not need to find the path. You are there. Right here. Right now.
Gwen Randall-Young is an author and psychotherapist in private practice. For articles, and information about her books, Deep Powerful Change Hypnosis CDs and the “Creating Healthy Relationships” Series, go to www.gwen.ca 11
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de·cem·ber /di’sember/
The month of joy, happiness, and to finish what you started. 13
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Debra Rae Here we are heading briskly into the Christmas season, with all of the energy and baggage that can go with it. For many of us Christmas is full of expectations. There is the rush to find perfect gifts for everyone and to attend all of the Christmas parties and events, to entertain and to cook that Christmas day meal with all of your family attending. It is no wonder that as December proceeds the energy of frantic people can overwhelm you, the endless carols and the lines of people in the stores and the increased traffic on the roads, all leads to energy that can surround you and you may just become as frantic without realizing it. Now is the time to have a plan to prevent that energy melt down. Remember to white light yourself ....visualize a golden white halo of protection surrounding your body and tell it to repel all negative and frantic energies. Try to do this daily. Breathe into your stomach deeply when any feelings of stress touch you, feel them dissolving
Be gentle and kind to yourself and to others. Open that door for someone, give up your place in that line, pay it forward at the coffee shop etc., Be mindful that gifts should have a meaning not just have a high cost Remember you can say NO. You do not have to go to multiple events unless you want too. Embrace JOY ...Just Open Yourself to the season and let go of expectations that often limit your ability to live in the moment, Have a Very Merry Christmas Be Safe and enjoy the real reason we celebrate and have fun.
NamastĂŠ Debra Rae Connect with Debra Rae www.debraraespiritconnections.com 14
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Welcome Welcome to the places in your heart your home where love dwells Welcome Welcome to the places on this earth your earth where love dwells Welcome Welcome to the places among the stars your stars where love dwells Turn your face Turn your face to the stars to the earth to your home to your heart Find the love that is present in you in me in each and every particle and ion and atom and star Finding it share it Send it out beyond your body beyond your home beyond that which you know and let it find the ones who need it most Share it freely so that the ones who need it most are held in your arms heart to heart I will share my love You will share your love Together we will be Love
Vera Enshaw 16
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From out of the dark and cold the light...and hope return. 18
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Marlene was recently gifted a few "Christmas" figurines. One figurine was a "Santa" riding in a sleigh that was shaped as a swan. She wondered what the significance was as this is not the normal image we have. Everyone has a different idea as to where Santa originally came from, a monk named Saint Nicholas, Sinter Klaus, Pere Noel, etc. When the Christian monks came north to convert the "pagans or heathens" they were told not to denigrate their beliefs and festivals, but rather, alter them to reflect a more Christian attitude. The Northern European's winter solstice celebrations were altered, from Odin's Wild Hunt, to the birth of the Christ child. Odin used to also give small gifts to children at that time, much more in the vein of a "Santa" although without the jovial "ho, ho, ho" of our present day Santa image. The swan sleigh could be a later representation of the Valkyries, who appeared to mortals as swans because if she is seen by a human without her disguise, a Valkyrie becomes mortal and can never go back to Valhalla. This figurine also carries a staff, as does Odin known as Gungnir. If the figure had had one eye it would have made the image complete. I hope that you all have a wonderful time over this winter solstice, whatever your beliefs are. For me, I wish you all a blessed God Jul.
Phil
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Freya YGwyn
The Druid Year Alban Arthan – YULE – Winter Solstice – First day of Winter Modern Tradition – 21 December 2015 Old Tradition - Sun at 0 degrees Capricorn - 22 December 2015
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Associations to Alban Arthan:
and gifts; preparing foods like cakes, puddings, pies for freezing or potting; story-telling to teach the myths to the children, and so on.
Winter, Midnight, Mistletoe, The Great Bear Constellation, Death & Rebirth
In modern times when there is less need to marshal resources for the winter, the focus turns to how the energies of this time can be used in our personal development.
In our rural society, before stores and supermarkets, before electricity and refrigeration, having a good harvest meant storing enough food for surviving the winter. Everyone in the village was involved in collecting, gathering, preserving. Fodder for animals was limited, and food could not be spared for animals, so only the strongest and most valued animals would be saved from slaughter. The rest were butchered, smoked and salted, and hung to help feed people through the winter.
Winter is the fallow time, when the ground is cold and hard, and the seeds from the Autumn lay dormant in the ground. It is the time when what once flourished has now died, and is being broken down to fertilise the soil in preparation for nourishing the awakening of the seeds in the Spring.
Every jar was filled with produce and sealed with wax. Every root cellar was brimming with gathered bounty. Every household would stock their pantry with basics and any luxuries they could afford. And every household contributed a tithe – a portion of their harvest - to be stored in the Tithebarn.
And so it is in our lives. In accordance with the energies of this time we have the opportunity to take inventory of our resources – physical, fiscal, emotional, spiritual – we can assess and evaluate what we have, what we need, what is no longer needed, and what needs to change. It is a time for lovingly removing that which no longer serves us; a time for planning what we need to plant and how to cultivate it so as to produce the harvest we want in the future. It is a time for preparing the ground – removing stones, breaking up clay, enriching and fertilising; so as to give the seeds you plant the best chance of germination and strong growth.
In Christian times the church claimed the produce stored in the Tithebarn to provide for their clergy through winter. But before Christianity, it was for charity to help those that had fallen on hard times and would not survive the winter without assistance. Once everything was gathered in the elders conducted a census of villagers, and an inventory taken of all food stocks. After this they would know how much could be rationed out from the Tithebarn to ensure all villagers made it safely to the first spring harvests.
Ways that you can honour the time… Plan activities through December that involve making things – decorations, gifts, food. Attend a public Yule Rite Make your own rite to honour the ‘Return of the Light’
The harvests ended around Halloween, and first spring harvest wouldn’t be until around the Vernal Equinox, so supplies had to last for six months, with the festival of Alban Arthan - Yule being the midpoint. Alban Arthan is the longest night, and the time when the days would begin to grow longer, and there would be hope. What Druids usually do… In common with many belief systems Druids celebrate a ‘Festival of Lights’ at the darkest part of the year, and relate it to the symbolic rebirth of the ‘Son/Sun of Light’. All Groves will hold a celebratory rite, some of which will be open to the public. The basic intent of the rite is to acknowledge that the Sun/Light is the source of life, that it ‘dies’ at sunset on the darkest part of the year, and that it is reborn the following dawn. It is a festival of Death & Rebirth. The Christian nativity is a recent reworking of the birth of the Sun/Son of Light, which echoes the tales of Mithras, and many other miraculous births in many cultures worldwide.
When it is dark, turn out all the lights and sit in the darkness while you meditate upon the symbolic death, and returning to the womb of the earth,
Meditate further on who/how you choose to be when you are symbolically reborn,
Light the central candle to represent the return of the Light, source of all life,
Each person then takes a candle – one person lights their candle from the central candle. After that they light the next persons candle from theirs, and so the Light is passed from person to person, just as it is passed from ancestors to us.
When all candles are lit, celebrate with food and drink, music and dancing. Have a festive meal with those you love – exchange gifts, enjoy the fruits of your labours, be thankful for the people you are with, and remember those who are absent. When you go to sleep the night before the festival, see it as ‘dying to the day’ – then in the morning when you wake, see it as being ‘born into the day’.
Traditionally, rich and poor alike would decorate their homes with evergreen branches and twigs, especially those with red berries. They would use many candles. And they would go into the forest and cut down one of the largest trees, which would be cut into massive Yule Logs that could burn at the heart of the village for 12 days and nights. And gifts were usually food or something crafted. Many today like to carry on these traditions to honour the continuity between past and present. In addition many like to craft decorations from the things found in nature – pinecones, dried fruits and berries then painting and glittering them. And whilst most will buy foods and gifts like everyone else, some also like to honour the old ways by planning family activities on the lead up to the festival. Crafting decorations
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Cyanidins & Peonidins help reduce damage caused by heavy metal residues (lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium) in food. In studies has been shown to reduce brain & nerve tissue inflammation when consumed.
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Has been shown to improve the stability of DNA. Cancer preventing glucosinate content is greater than any other cruciferous vegetable.
Very potent anti-inflammatory. Helps prevent expansion of bacterial populations that can cause infection. Reduces risk of periodontal disease. 27
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Sweet Potatoes Ingredients: 2 pounds of sweet potatoes 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter ½ teaspoon salt For the Maple Pecan Sauce: ½ cup maple syrup ½ cup chopped pecans
Directions: Preheat the oven to 425. Peel and slice the sweet potatoes into 1" thick slices, place in a Ziploc bag. Melt butter and pour into Ziploc bag with the potatoes, sprinkle in salt. Zip the bag up and shake to coat all potato pieces. Pour onto roasting pan, and distribute evenly in a single layer, making sure pieces don’t touch. Roast in oven for 20 minutes, flip and roast for another 20 minutes. This will ensure they are golden and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Make Maple Pecan sauce by placing maple syrup in a small sauce pan, and bring it to a boil. Add in the pecans and return to boiling, cook for one minute. Pour the sauce over the potatoes and serve. 28
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Brussel Sprout Salad Ingredients: 12oz brussel sprouts, tough outer leaves pulled away (10oz weight post trim) 1/4 cup dried cranberries 1/4 cup chopped pecans 1/4 cup gorgonzola cheese crumbles 1 pear, chopped 2 jumbo shallots, thinly sliced 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil For the Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette: 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 Tablespoon maple syrup (not pancake syrup) 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard salt and pepper
Directions: Using a very sharp knife, thinly shred brussel sprouts while holding onto the core end then discard cores and add shredded sprouts to a large bowl with dried cranberries, pecans, gorgonzola cheese, and chopped pears. Set aside. Heat extra virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the shallots then fry until light golden brown, 1-2 minutes. Scoop onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain then repeat with remaining shallots. Sprinkle with salt then let cool slightly. Add ingredients for Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette together in a jar then shake to combine. Pour over salad then toss to coat. Add fried shallots then toss to combine, and then serve.
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Marlene
I don’t live in a third world country, yet more and more, the countries that are seen as affluent on the world stage have their citizens reaching out for help. I don’t even think we as a whole realize how far spread the need is becoming, nor do we get a real sense from the media about how many are reaching out for help each month. Let’s face it – those who are reaching out would not be able to afford internet or the means to post on Facebook. Often they have jobs, yet those jobs cannot support them or sustain them, they are not paid a living wage. Meaning they cannot support themselves or their family on the wages they make. This year alone, I have watched the cost of housing, gas, and food rise and it does not show signs of slowing down or stabilizing. I have found myself being more frugal to make my hard earned dollars stretch and doing without, what I deem as extra’s. The problem is not going to go away anytime soon and I do not have an answer to pass along to those in power as to how to have a more equal system so that everyone may live within the means of their pay cheque. Take a moment and think about your pay cheque and style of living, if you were to lose that pay cheque how long could you stay the status quo before you would need to turn to someone for help?
there looking for assistance. We still have a negative outlook on receiving assistance when needed, somehow it makes us feel less than, or we feel that others are judging us, so we should judge first. Did you know that welfare in Vancouver, not sure about other areas, but I am thinking it would be similar, offers a whopping budget of $21 per week for food? Let that settle in for a moment. Think of what you currently spend on food in a week, just for yourself, if you have a family divide your total spend by the number of people you feed. What do you spend per week? It starts with each of us, we all need to chip in and help – be the change you want to see. We all want this wonderful equality when it comes to money, yet how many of us really put our money where our mouth is? We think of the 1%, and it would seem we wait for some fairy godmother to descend from the heavens (or another planet) and wave her wand so that the 99% can have a piece of the 1%’s pie. Yet we have the power, when I went to school 99 was greater than 1. In small increments we can effect change and we can definitely support those who need a helping hand. If you struggle with the concept, think of it as banking some good in case one day you need a helping hand.
Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Maya Angelou In our world we hear lots about how the people, who line up for food banks or who live on social assistance, should get a job. That, from my perspective, is their fear that it could be them standing 30
It is good to give and to give what you can comfortably afford to give. A great way to share the abundance you have in your life is to donate to a food bank. They operate all year long, and support many www.nourishpublication.com
people who otherwise would go without. Where I live for every $1.00 I donate, my local food bank can turn that into $3.00 shopping dollars. I imagine they buy bulk, hence why they can do such a good job with very little money.
Cereal is a good choice and oats provides good stick to your ribs value for very little. If you choose to buy a boxed cereal stay away from the sugar loaded varieties (read the labels) and buy as natural as you can. It will have more nutritional value.
If however you wish to donate food/sundry items to the food bank take into consideration the following as the type of food you donate helps to ensure healthy meals for those receiving.
Quinoa, brown rice, couscous and whole wheat pasta are healthier and provide more nutritional value.
Protein is important and often too costly for those in need. Think of items such as canned tuna, salmon, chicken – they store easily and can be used in casseroles, salads and for sandwiches. Peanut butter is also a good choice for protein. Canned soups, chili’s and stews that contain vegetables and meat are also a good option and provide hearty filling comfort food. Vegetables – Some local food banks gladly take fresh vegetables, but in case yours does not - think outside of the box and choose not only the usual suspects when donating canned items. One of my favorite things is 4 can chili, a can of each - diced tomatoes, corn, mushrooms, kidney beans I add celery, onion, peppers, the seasoning and a little meat. Chili is a great meal as the beans add protein and you can get away with no meat or a scant amount. It makes a big pot that feeds a small family a couple of days or a larger family with growing children as a meal.
If you want to add some healthy snacking options include fruit packed in fruit juice, unsalted nuts, sunflower seeds, honey, peanut butter, jam, and dried fruit. Lastly, and do check with your local food bank to see if they accept them or not, don’t forget basic toiletries. Soap, shampoo, disposable razors, shaving gel, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, cough drops, cat food, dog food, baby wipes, deodorant, and toilet paper. Most of us are very fortunate that we don’t have to visit a food bank to help feed our family. I feel that we should honor those who do have to visit them with the dignity of purchasing good quality food. They want their family to be healthy just like you want yours to be healthy. When we donate, be it to a food bank, a shelter, or other organization, we make a difference. It might seem a small thing to us but to someone in need, it is very large. Make sure you gladly give from your heart and you will be spreading love as well. 31
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Giving bag – for someone who is in need today – saw it on face book and loved the idea. Take a clear large zip lock bag – put some crackers – handy wipes, pc of fresh fruit, apple sauce, bottled water and a couple of surprise items. Sunday Sun-Day
Monday Moon-day
From the second to the 6th Powerful play …
Tuesday Mars-day 1 VOC 7:10pm Very nice day
Stop Struggling and …Commit
Wednesday Mercury-Day 2 VOC until 2:10am
Say what you mean … mean what you say
Work hard – one foot in front of the other … don’t forget to exhale
6 VOC 6:05pm
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8 VOC at 10:35pm
9 VOC until
Talk it out … but don’t get too caught up in any unexpected drama of it all
Beautiful day for a morning – noon and evening meditation
Another Fab day … Be Generous … Don’t forget your Giving bags …
Mercury moves to Capricorn
Excellent Day
2:25pm
Keep it quiet
It is not so daunting when you break it out into smaller chunks
Have an extra bag with a scarf and mitts to give away
13 VOC 3:10pm
14 VOC until 5am
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Maybe a bit of a rough ride … don’t take anything personally
Don’t give away (or buy more than you really can afford …
Leave the desert tray for the weekend
Must Meditate
Stick to the budge
20 VOC 2:00pm to 4:15pm
Take extra time to get where you are going … Throw a few extra giving bags in your car or backpack for the week … 27 As things start to settle down today, rest and then get ready to work out a new routine that will help you achieve in the New Year
21 Sun Enters Capricorn …. Winter Solstice Great meditation day … if you are shopping – be confident – right gift for the right person
Watch for emotional eating
22 All Day VOC 6:30am to 6:30pm Although you may have originally been in a giving mood – take care not to feel resentment over what or how much …you get in return
Thursday Jupiter-Day 3 VOC 9:00pm Keep your thoughts to yourself … inside voice Great day to do a couple of Giving Bags.
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Unexpected anger may crop up … life seems like it is too hard … but by the end of the day … you will feel a bounce back Breathe and Step back, look at the bigger picture 17 VOC from 7 am to 1:30pm
This might be a bit of a challenging day – make sure your feet are on the ground 23 Getting the last minute work completed may feel like a daunting task … make a list and check it twice … happy surprises may be uncovered along the way
Nose to the grind stone … that way you will not feel guilty about the weekend festivities 24 VOC 12:00pm to 9:30pm No last minute purchases … It is important to give but not more than you can actually afford … think healthy boundaries and no impulse purchases
28 Talk a walk in the park – let your imagination sour …
29 VOC 9:40am to 11:00am Venus moves to Sagittarius
30 Keep Healthy boundaries in mind …
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There are no limits to what you can accomplish in the upcoming months …
Don’t let your insecurities (or someone else’s get everyone all riled up … choose your words wisely
Don’t be delusional … the only thing you have control over is your re-action to your external environment …
Get ready for a fantastic evening
Set your highest ideals in motion
Friday Venus-Day 4 VOC until 2:35pm
Saturday Saturn-day 5
Don’t let your ideas get away from you by getting bogged down in the details.
Infuse your energy with healthy boundaries and structure are a must
11 VOC 8:10am to
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Venus moves to Scorpio
10:50pm
New Moon in Sagittarius Don’t give more than you can – especially if asked to take part in a new project 18 Know what you can give and why you are giving it
25 Full moon in Cancer Uranus is direct … unexpected movement forward
Your passion needs some focus –
Excellent Day – Meet up with friends and get out your mistletoe Meditation a must
19 Something unexpected might come up … Watch that inside voice – especially if you are in a social work setting 26 VOC 7:36pm That inside voice might want to come out ….think before you speak
Have lots of Fun and Frivolity singing, laughter
Happy New Years Eve
EnJoy great conversations, let your light shine out for all to see … Enjoy
VOC = Void of Course … No impulse purchases or Long term commitments during the void of course, opportunity to look within all times are in Pacific Time 35
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Planetary ‘Action’ for December Winter Solstice … The day reflects a deep spiritual, energy with potential for heart felt honest communication. Light a candle and focus on its light as it dances and grows larger expanding through-out the room, this will in turn draw the light from the planets, stars and cosmos towards you (like attracts like) visualize this light brightening your path in the days to come. On this darkest day of the year turn inward into a quiet contemplation of your goal list. What have you accomplished this year (journal about your successes), what have you struggled with (journal about your connection to goals – urgency of completion and the timeline). Take time to formulate your goals, mull them over and make a new dynamic plan to accomplish them all. This is the perfect time to get organized, reinforcing the structure you need in order to be even more successful this year. Plan on having the Best Year Ever! By the end of this year 2015, all planets are moving direct – this will have a dynamic impact on the New Year … get ready to move forward, carve your path and be a co-creator / director in your world.
for you to connect to and work with your Martian energy – utilizing healthy expressions of action. Mars continues to move through Libra, where he might be a little bit badly behaved. Stick to the plan … get on that treadmill and work off those extra party calories! Mars, watch squares, conjunctions and oppositions with the Moon for the Month – 5, 13, 20, 26 …Use Caution! Be careful of temper tantrums and accidents! RED LIGHT Jupiter… Our planet of growth, wisdom, opportunities and excess. Jupiter is very slow moving which allows us to settle in and grasp what opportunities are presenting themselves in your life. Jupiter continues his trek through Virgo don’t let yourself get overwhelmed with too many details – leave all that counting of the grains of sand to Mercury. Don’t get overwhelmed with sweating the small stuff. Jupiter Squares and Oppositions with the Moon for the Month – 11, 14, 18, 24 … Don’t lose sight of your budget, over-indulging or over-committing, watch that others do not take advantage of your generosity.
Saturn… Our planet of boundaries, restrictions, limitations and Double Whammy Days for the Month (personal planets with the possibly fear. Just at the end of 2014 (25th) Saturn moved into moon) – 26 … Sagittarius, and will travel through this fiery optimistic energy for Most Challenging days – 13, 19 …use short meditative breaks the next couple of years. Saturn in Sagittarius will help you infuse throughout the day – remember to breathe. flexibility and passion into what you are manifesting, focus on healthy boundaries. Saturn continues on in Sagittarius where he Lots of great favorite Meditation or relaxed days for the Month will hunker down until December 20, 2017. This transit is the – 7, 8, 12 Experiment with different types of meditation such as potential to guide you toward freedom without the need to use deep breathing - moving (chi gong) or walking, music - silence or escapism, or any crutches in order to experience the universal guided. truth. Is it time to let go of what is blocking you from moving Mercury, our planet of communication in all forms from old forward? Think quality over quantity. fashioned verbal & written to communication that travels on Saturn conjunctions, squares and oppositions with the Moon for waves. Mercury moves from Sagittarius to Capricorn on the 9th, the Month – 2, 10, 17, 23, 30 …You may feel that life is hard where ideas get serious structure and attention. work. STEP UP and MEET THE CHALLENGE! Mercury squares and oppositions with the Moon for the Month Uranus … Unleash your Genius, this is our planet of sudden ide– 3, 4, 19, 26 …Think before you speak, CHOOSE YOUR WORDS as and change. Uranus is slowly moving through Aries – creating WISELY! impulsive moments that focus on new and innovative ideas. UraVenus … our planet of Love, Security (which often shows up as nus moves direct this month on the 25th. Expect innovative ideas monetary wants) and what we like to surround ourselves with to inspire, new energy sources may come available. Be a Rebel (art, greenery, food, music, colour, sparkly things …) with a very with a cause – let the radical inner changes – shine out into your individual flare and expression. Venus moves from Virgo to Scor- environment! pio on the 4th and then to Sagittarius on the 29 – where she will Neptune … Our planet that dissolves boundaries and limitations. lighten up and want to put on her party dress. Neptune continues through Pisces so take care with experimentaVenus squares and oppositions with the Moon for the Month – tion of drugs and alcohol and Be MindFul of what you are creating 15, 22, 29 … Heartache/domestic and security challenges. LOVE that is connected to the collective. Take care not to over-indulge and EMBRACE LIFE anyway! in the 7 deadly sins. Neptune is starting to pick up speed. Are Mars … Our planet of action, passion and anger. It is important you expressing the special talents you have been working on? 36
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Connect on a regular structured routine to your guides, healing angels, and observer self. Don’t forget to regularly ground – through physical exercise or walks in the park and energetically with a grounding meditation.
tion. Unstoppable. If there has been something that you wanted to complete all year but just have not had the support or opportunity to complete – hitch a ride on the locomotive train to completion.
Pluto … Our planet of transformation, control (ego) and power. Pluto slowly plods along moving through Capricorn – Pluto continues to push for change to our old and outworn patterns of dictatorship and inflexible leadership (although you will continue to feel the resistance. Let go of the need to control and simply BE a powerful advocate for change.
Strong industrious energy – Ideas backed up with the ability to bring them into manifest form. Patterns and habits can be developed to grow stronger over time as information is gathered and processed. There is a harmony flowing between the actual opportunities and the ability to express to others what steps are left to accomplish your highest potential. Our ability to action is also well supported by our desires. See your individual scope below to gain insight into utilizing this universal gift.
Sun moves into Capricorn on the 21st … Happy Solar Return (Birthday) to all you Cap’s out there. Allow the Sun to infuse you with health and vitality.
The Full Moon – December 25th at 3:11am … 3 degrees 20’ Cancer An opposition of the Sun and Moon. A soft light shines into every dark corner, illumination – realization of both failure and accomplishment. It is a time to complete your goals – or at least set a completion date.
Solar cycles … New and Full Moons – it is important to step outdoors and connect to the early evening sky, and again in the early morning just before the Sun peaks out from the horizon, consciously wake from one dream and step into another. The lunar cycle is a monthly marker giving us a time line in which to complete old tasks, then birth the new. When we do this we inherently connect to our genetic/collective habits and patterns of our multi-dimensional bodies. As above So below.
You will have a much higher chance of success if you move into the New Year with preplanned structure, solid organization and developed patterns and habits required to accomplish your goals. The Full Moon lights up the dark corners of your plans in order to see the changes that will help you progress as you finalize your plans. Deep profound conversations with a friend can help to polish the details, but don’t tell all … some details should remain a secret. There is a beautiful dynamic fertile energy forming between potential opportunities and Photo: © dusk - Fotolia.com the ability to realistically communicate what is needed in order to finally accomplish your deepest desires. In other words … The Force is with you!
Connect to your night sky – light a fire and sit under the stars … Experience your New and Full moon first hand, set a covered clear glass of water out under the beams overnight then drink in the energy of the moon the next morning. The New Moon – December 11th at 2:29am … 19 degrees 03’ Sagittarius When the Sun and Moon are sitting together blending their energies, out of the darkness grows the light of creation. Build a dynamic anticipation toward something new and exciting. A deep desire for change may be surfacing. There needs to be planning and thought because at first the action required to make these changes may not feel comfortable ... dig deep and push through. Choose one of the most important goals that you have on your 1 year ‘Must Accomplish List’ – connect to your Higher or Observer Self to lend inspiration – unravel the details of the goal in order to create a new and dynamic approach. Encompass the right amount of time, energy and material into your plan, which may feel overwhelming at first. Break it down into smaller and smaller levels, in 1 year when I have accomplished this goal = it will look like this … 6 months = it will look like this … 3 months = it will look like this … 1 month = it will look like this …Start date = it will look like this … May you draw toward yourself all the correct astrological correspondences needed to set your goal in motion!
Email: Tamira@silverdisc.ca for more information on how a Phone or Skype Consultation can help you with any transitions you are experiencing in your life.
Winter Solstice Chart – December 21, 2015 Overall we have a very dynamic Solstice chart, which builds using perpetual mo37
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Happy Winter Solstice … Take your patterns and habits up a notch …As you move closer to the Winter Solstice focus everything toward manifesting your dreams.
could be formal or experience. Take a chance on you. Libra Horoscope (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) The stars are working in your favor to help you… This may just be the perfect time to invest in something that will bring change and stability, especially related to your home. Money well spent.
Aries (March 20-April 19) The stars are working in your favor to help you… Integrate your daily work habits into a stable income focus on opening to taking your career up a notch. Invest in your relationships.
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) The stars are working in your favor to help you… It’s time to step out of the shadow into your own light, pursue new forms of communication. Focus excess toward passionate pursuits.
Taurus Horoscope (April 20-May 20) The stars are working in your favor to help you… Take a deeper look at the habits you have fallen into have now become your projection, make sure it is in line with what you believe and the creative wisdom you have to offer. See the ties that bind.
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov. 22-Dec. 20) The stars are working in your favor to help you… You may find you have the Midas touch – your career may be on an upswing and with that dramatic changes in your income. Get into the rhythm of it all.
Gemini Horoscope (May 21-June 20) The stars are working in your favor to help you… Work with the investments you made long ago in the mysteries, this information has now taken root in order to connect you with that which is greater. Go forth and be a do gooder J
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec. 21-Jan. 20) The stars are working in your favor to help you… It’s time to burst out of your cocoon, don’t be afraid to change your direction, allow your creative juices to flow. Let go and let live.
Cancer Horoscope (June 21-July 21) The stars are working in your favor to help you… Get neighborhood social events organized there are very important relationships that could be developed, that in turn will help you achieve your dreams. Be a trend-setter.
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan. 21-Feb. 18) The stars are working in your favor to help you… The growth of an investment may finally help you feel the security you need In order to finally let go of deep rooted fears you are holding onto. Pay it Forward.
Leo Horoscope (July 22-Aug. 22) The stars are working in your favor to help you… Take what you love to do (on a daily basis) to the next level … work it into a career opportunity and the opportunity to increase your income will come naturally. Shine your light.
Pisces Horoscope (Feb. 18-March 20) The stars are working in your favor to help you… An opportunity for a new and long desired partnership may present itself, right in your own backyard. Open your eyes.
Virgo Horoscope (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) The stars are working in your favor to help you… Time to expand your focus, education is key, this 39
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A Crystal Reading for
December 2015
We call this the last month of the year, yet it feels more like a beginning. It is the time to nurture new thoughts and plans, a time to plant within yourself the seeds that will grow to fruition in the next 12 months. Use these messages to help prepare the way. Oh, my beloveds, you are so very dear to all of us. Thank you for making the choice to be here and now. Thank you for taking the time to work on your selves, to strive for personal growth. At a time when many are filled with fear and uncertainty, your awareness, your love, your diligent attention to your mind and your heart will help to further the way of light in this place. You are love. We are love.
NamastĂŠ
Vera
Contact Vera at lightvera1@gmail.com
Photo: Š VEnshaw 40
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Week 1: December 1 to 5 – Charoite: Balance your heart and mind. In this week make the time to explore what this means for you specifically. Your mind is very active, your heart quiet – try giving your heart the opportunity to speak up and out, while allowing your mind to watch rather than engage
Week 2: December 6 to 12 – Piertersite: The northern lights dance a million steps, brought to us by the sun that rides low in the sky at this time of year. Dance a million steps in your heart this week. Learn a new dance, the dance of love that lingers in the energies of this earth and out beyond into the universe for a million years. Seek the dark places in your mind where the new dance will bring the gift of light.
Week 3: December 13 to 19 – Apatite: Bring your third eye into the mix this week. In the morning, before you begin your day, look ahead. Focus on your third eye and see where you will most need to bring light into your day, where you will most need to assist others to find balance. This is the week before the solstice, the week before Christmas. Many folks find this a very hard time of the year – how will you help them? How can you Be in such a way that you will bring the energies of peace and love into their lives? Do not be afraid – you have all the tools at your disposal.
Week 4: December 20 to 26 – Aquamarine: Open your thymus chakra and feel the unconditional love that dwells there. This is the time for tolerance and understanding, a time to open your heart and let the sunshine in. It is a time to let go of expectations, a time to allow yourself to see people as they truly are, and to love them with all their faults and foibles, gifts and treasures. The best and biggest gift you can give to anyone is the gift of acceptance. Quite possibly the second biggest gift is the gift of listening and attention. Take a lonely friend or relative out for a treat, and make the outing about them. The gift of your Self. Imagine…
Week 5: December 27 to 31 – Tiger Iron: Deep in the earth lies a memory of light and warmth. We are on the road to the return of longer days, glorious light, warmth from without. But for now, you must make the warmth, you must be the light, you must plant the seeds of that which you wish to grow when the sun climbs higher in the sky. Pull all that you have experienced this month - the energies of balance, of dance, of focus, of clarity – into your awareness. Write in your journal your plans for yourself that include ways to use these new tools. Prepare to celebrate! 41
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Photo: Š P Nielsen
Marlene Cobb
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new Moon
December 11 December’s New Moon is in the sign of Sagittarius and arrives on the 11th. This moon’s energy is radiant, fun and visionary and asks us to be open, optimistic and confident. This is the perfect moon to stretch our minds and call forth our inner visionary as we venture towards the New Year. This New Moon is asking us to envision a future that fills us with enthusiasm while allowing us to grow into the best version of ourselves. Start with a few simple questions for yourself – Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? Question what you have been told by media, society, friends and family. Discover what is true for you. What is your point of brilliance? This is where you shine the brightest and aligning your goals with this truth allows you to be successful. To delve deep into our psyche and unearth these truths, I am suggesting a walk in the forest. If you don’t have a forest close by, a park will work just fine. I suggest taking a friend, (safety always comes first,) and a flashlight (there will be no moonlight on this night) or a candle, but do be careful not to set a fire. Bundle up as it could be nippy. Before you take your first step on the path, ask your angels and guides to pass along any guidance they feel will
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help you on your discovery of truth. Begin your walk and silently ask your questions, paying attention to any thoughts, images or words that come to your mind. The beauty of a Sagittarius New Moon is its intrepid truth seeking energy which can facilitate an inspired vision that can give perspective to the past and present, illuminating the future path that lies ahead. Bottom line, right now all of us collectively are being asked to move steadily forward towards our life goals, our time to shine is now and our gifts are welcomed and needed in the world.
If you don’t wish to take a walk, ensure you carve out some time to meditate with the moon energy. Perhaps a dark room with a single candle and some gentle soothing music. Be silly and have some fun, call in your joy angels, in fact, that might bring a more profound truth to light. Use this moon energy to renew your faith in your life purpose, and muster the courage to trust the call of your heart. Allow your visions to spark your enthusiasm, optimism and confidence. Then start taking the steps necessary to achieve your goals during the next 28 days until the next new moon.
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Full Moon
We came to the last full moon of 2015. December's Full Moon is called the Cold Moon, or Long Nights Moon. It is the month when winter's cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark. Moonlight glitters on the frosty earth, time seems frozen, and the night air tingles with energy. Arriving at 3:11 am PST on December 25th in the sign of Cancer it feels extra special. Cancer is one of the is ruled by the moon, so has come home to familiar grounds and is ready to call her family and friends to celebrate. There could be much merriment, and a few tears as well, so ensure you stock up on tissues and wine!
Once you have called in your angels, allow yourself a few moments to just be in their loving, supportive presence. Over the next few days make notes when something pops up in your mind regarding an event that happened during the last year. And don’t be surprised if events from the year before or even before that pop in, jot them all down.
December 25
During the evening of the full moon, take a few moments to just be with the moon, take a walk, or just look at her through your window. If you are able to do so you can continue with the below, otherwise wait until the 26th or 27th, which every day works best for you.
This is the moon of completion, it is time to release the year, making way for the cycle to begin again with the turn of the calendar page. As this moon lands on a day when most of us are celebrating, we probably won’t want to focus too much on the work at hand. That is ok! Remember the energy of the moon can arrive three days before and carry on for three days after. I feel this is a healing moon, or that we should use it as a healing moon. Turning inward and making peace with all that has transpired during the year, coming to a place of acceptance and alignment, ready to step forward fresh and unencumbered.
Go over your notes from the past few days. From your notes, you will write intentions regarding those areas you wish divine help in healing and releasing, either internal or life situations.
Light a candle, place some crystals (Moonstone and Celestite come to mind while I write this) to help with this divine release, light a fire in the fireplace or find a way to safely have a small contained fire in a secure pot, ensure you have a pail of water nearby. Safety first!
For many, it might be easy to have a review of the year, not much to see here. For others the toll might be greater. So many events have happened in the last 12 months. Personally, I am always amazed when I look back at the year at how much has transpired. Good, and bad. This month we will work with the angels, making our inner explorations divinely guided, and peaceful, nonjudgmental. Pausing and reflecting on the paths that lead us to this day, then setting the intention to clear the debris so that the path is perfectly manicured. It does not matter if your path for the year was full of twists and turns, this releasing with the moon will be focused on acceptance of what has transpired, knowing that each twist and turn were in alignment with your higher self no matter the chaos that was felt in the moment.
When you are ready, call upon your angels to be with you, “I ask that the angels in all directions to be with me now, as I release these intentions to the universe for healing and transmutation. With love and light, realizing inner peace for myself, which serves the highest good of all, I release them now. Thank you!” One by one, take your intention notes and read them aloud, then gently place them in your fire. Watch them as the burn and feel at peace as the flames slowly turn them to ash. Continue with your intention notes, one by one until you have released them all for healing. Before dousing the fire, sit for a moment in quiet reflection, enjoy the contentment and peace you have created in this moment. When you are ready douse the fire. Know that you have invested, from a place of love, in yourself a gift that will unfold over the coming days. Stay open to the miraculous and know that this beautiful ceremony with the angels has recharged your soul, allowing you to step freshly into the new year!
First, we will call upon the angels to be with us, I recommend we call them everyday to be with us, but for this exercise call them in on December 23rd, “I ask that the angels in all directions be with me now. Please surround me with your divine light of protection so that I may clearly see the areas I need to release to allow inner peace to reign. In your protective circle of love, compassion, and forgiveness, we will explore all that has transpired this past year together. Thank you.” 46
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Power Animal
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Love, sweet love is the elixir for your hearts, minds and souls
When I asked the power animal of the month dove came up. I commented we have already done dove though? The response yes, we know, but they are needed again. So as the dove flies in their message is this: “Peace really does start within dear ones. Yes, you pray for those places and people that need it. However, everyone needs it!! The world needs it!! Mother earth needs it!! Yes, there are tragedies that need extra love, care and attention. You know though dear one's anger, fear and hate are not the answer. Love, peace and forgiveness is the answer. We will use this cliché “love sweet love” is the elixir for your hearts, minds, and souls and the pain of the world” Yours in peace and love, sweet love The Doves
Contact Michelle bloghttp://whitestareagle.wordpress.com or email me at empathlove2003@yahoo.ca. 49
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Essential Oils
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Do you follow a tradition of giving gift in the month of December? Many people do, for many reasons. Essential oils make wonderful gifts in and of themselves, and together with a few relatively inexpensive products, can provide you with endless variations with very little financial outlay. We don’t want gift-giving to be a hardship!
Attach a fancy label with directions and a description of the oil and its benefits, and voila!
Another way to get the fresh oil smell is with an inexpensive diffuser. 3 beeswax tea light candles, the diffuser and a selection of oils in 2ml bottles will have someone thinking fond thoughts of you for many months! And it’s a gift that you can continue to add to with other oils and more candles!
First of all, let’s look at some oils. Young Living has many oils in 15 ml bottles at very reasonable prices – they are all organic and cold pressed. Lemon, cedarwood, lemongrass, lime and orange all retail for under $20. Lavender and peppermint retail for under $35 – and there are many more oils to choose from. Each 15 ml bottle has approximately 375-400 drops. With only one or two oils you will able to create gifts for everyone that you wish to share love with!
I love the smell and feel of coconut oil. It is a wonderful oil for the skin! It melts easily at room temperature, and you can then add a few drops of lavender oil. Place in a small jar with a pretty label on the top. Easy to keep in a purse or pack, at a desk or by the bed.
Orange essential oil is great for de-stressing. A small amount of your creation rubbed on the bottom of the feet could work wonders, and the smell of the oil itself is relaxing and calming.
Put a drop of an essential oil on several cotton balls. Place in a glass or acrylic jar, decorate with a pretty label and a ribbon. An oil-infused cotton ball can be carried and smelled throughout the day.
Lime essential oil smells fresh and lively – just the sort of thing you can use when you need to finish a job and are finding it a tough go. A quick stimulant for the senses. Also great to have in the car for that drive home from work!
Epsom salts infused with a few drops of oil become amazing treats for the bath. Make up several small jars using different oils, then combine with a fluffy bath towel for an extra special gift!
Peppermint is so refreshing – and has been used for a long time for digestive complaints. A small bottle, or a few drops in coconut oil, can be gifted to the person that has constant tummy complaints. They’ll be asking for more!
Teachers will be happy to receive bottles of lavender or orange oil. A drop or two on a cotton ball, carried in his or her pocket while teaching could help to relax the whole class. No more fighting for control!
Lavender essential oil has been welcomed for its calming effects. A drop on a pillow or cotton ball may be just the ticket for that hard-to-find rest.
There are so many wonderful ideas – ideas that come from your heart to the ones you love to gift. Make this gifting season truly a season of the heart.
Vera
You can purchase small ‘sample’ bottles that each hold 2 ml of liquid. Put 10 drops of essential oil in a bottle and top it up with an organic carrier oil such as cold-pressed grapeseed. Make a small card that has the name of the oil and how to use the gift and attach it with a curly ribbon.
For more information on how to acquire the highest quality oils and blends, please contact me by email at lightvera1@gmail.com
Put a small amount of filtered water in a spritzer bottle (glass or acrylic preferred). Add 3 or 4 drops of essential oil, then add more water to fill. Put in the sprayer, shake it up and you have an easy, effective way to perk up the smell in small rooms! (Works for big rooms as well)
Contact Vera at lightvera1@gmail.com
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This month’s messages drawn from “Wisdom of the Oracles” deck by Colette Baron Reid
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Hello Dear Souls, On this day we beseech you to be calm. The winds of chaos are blowing and you along with them. Some of you are anchored. Some of you are not. Some of you are struggling in between both trying to maintain being anchored. We tell you this you are not alone in your endeavors to be anchored. With the goings on in your world right now it is no wonder you are after all only human. As such remember it is ok to have your moments. Do not berate yourself, shame yourself or hate yourself for it. The key to being an anchor in chaos and anxiety is love and forgiveness. Yes is needed first forgive yourself, you do not always have to be strong when you are not. Second, forgive others the world needs forgiveness, of course you are not forgiving the actions, but you can first bring forgiveness to yourself, then the people and next the world. In this way you spread love amongst chaos, healing amidst pain and this becomes your anchor. Love and forgiveness are your anchor within and your anchor to hold the people of the world and mother earth herself together. Yours always in love The Angels Contact Michelle bloghttp://whitestareagle.wordpress.com or email me at empathlove2003@yahoo.ca. 54
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Phil Nielsen
Photo: Š mcobb
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I asked the runes what we could expect for the coming year and decided I needed a different type of rune cast to get a better picture. I am using the five rune method. The first stones are cast the same as the three rune one, past, present, and future. The fourth glyph is placed above the present stone and the fifth is placed below it. This forms a cross. We read the rune in first position, then the fourth, fifth, second, and finally, third.
This is also not entirely negative and may just show that whatever the problem is, it may just need patience and better timing. Finally, the future or result rune, is Raidho. This is a positive glyph, which shows a journey, it could be physical or a journey of the soul. As this reading was not meant for one specific person, but rather the world, I think it is the later. In this context, Raidho indicates that now is the right time to make the journey within and if you are already following your path, it counsels you to stay on it.
This cast has Isa as the past, Jera is present, Raidho is future. The fourth position, or what help you can expect to receive with your problem, is Perthro reversed and the fifth stone, which indicates what aspects of the problem must be accepted and cannot be changed, is Berkano reversed.
I hope this reading gives you some insight into the next year. There was a lot of turmoil and craziness last year but as long as we follow our path and don't allow others to dissuade us, things should improve.
Breaking this down, we start with the past. Isa is a delay rune and indicates freeze or cessation of activities until a more advantageous time. We can expect delays and frustration as I am sure most of us felt throughout the year.
I want to wish each and everyone of you a blessed Jul or whatever celebrations you may follow. Sk책l to all my brothers and sisters
The help rune is Perthro reversed. This shows that things may not turn out as one hopes. It could mean unpleasant surprises and nasty secrets coming out in the open. This may however not be a bad thing if we look at this from a political point of view. Having everything out in the open is what the world needs now.
Phil
Aspects of the problem that must be accepted and cannot be changed, are represented by Berkano reversed. This rune reversed will usually indicate family or domestic problems. It shows much friction.
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Message from the Angels November 2015
Hello Dear Ones, We come to you this month in a rush of excitement and love! We are so very proud of you and all that you have accomplished this year. We understand that you are coming to the end of your earth year, and as such we want you to take a break, slow down, and savor all that you achieved this year. To often you scurry around so quickly without taking a moment to allow yourself to see how wonderful you truly are. You rush from one task to the next, never pausing to fully enjoy the moments just past. Now is the time to pull up a chair, settle in and assess all that you have accomplished and achieved this year. See the bounty of what you have planted, nurtured and prepare to harvest the best and allow some to go to seed. You should be feeling secure and hopeful about your future and you should be proud. You are the guardian of this rich fertile life. It can be hard to let go of something that you have invested your precious energy towards, however the time has come to assess if you will continue putting your energy into the situations, people and things you are already involved with, or spend your time and energy trying to bring something more bountiful to your life. Let the weariness slip away and fade out with the ending year and dream of a more abundant, bountiful year ahead.
Remove the illusions, fears and anxieties and delve deep into your heart and soul. Trust that you know exactly what you want and don’t want, and don’t wait for the issue to be forced. Take action. Know that when you close a door another one opens, and renewed good times lie ahead. You hold the key right now as the doorway to this year closes and the door to the new opens. This is the magical time when wishes can come true. The future is assured and there will be bounty ahead. Remember, you are the guardian of your life. You are the one who toils to ensure ideas are planted and lovingly tended until they reach maturity. And just like seeds in a garden, not all of them will bear the fruit you want, but each will nourish you and provide for your sustenance as you meander your way through the new year. Hold fast to the joy that is abundant this month. Celebrate your wonderful year, all of the events, even those that made you sad or angry for they nurtured you and allowed us to be ever present with you in support. Then when the bells ring in the new year, hear us sing as we celebrate all that you will create in the coming year.
By the power of three so shall it be. Through Mcobb
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