Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Life is a journey, follow you path..



Your decision to walk creates the path ahead.” 
― Paulo Coelho

“The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” 
― Tony Robbins

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” 
― Lao Tzu

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
― Anonymous



“You shouldn’t blame others for the conditions you endure; we each have the freedom to follow which path we desire in life.”
― Steven Redhead

“It is true that we choose our life, but it’s also true that we can choose at any moment to change our path.”
― Jamie Magee

“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” 
― Gautama Buddha




“Do not be afraid to walk the path that you must go just because you cannot see the end. The path becomes clearer as you continue to go on.”
― Tracy Allen

“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” 
― Frank A. Clark

“Most people are searching for a path to success that is both easy and certain. Most paths are neither.”
― Seth Godin

“The path to success is not a straight line.”  

“Mountains cannot be surmounted except by winding paths.
―Johann Wolfgang von Goethe




“People enter different paths seeking for happiness and fulfillment. We must respect other people’s individuality. Just because they’re not on your path doesn’t mean they are on the wrong track.”
― Ogwo David Emenike

“His way isn’t the same as mine, nor mine as his. But we’re both in search of our destinies, and I respect him for that.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

“It’s not our mission to change or direct another person’s path. There is no wrong way or right way. We each have our own life journey and our mission is to just become a LIGHT that enlightens other people’s pathways.”
― Jan Mckingley Hilado

“True love allows each person to follow his or her own path, aware that doing so can never drive them apart.”
― Paulo Coelho




“Just because a path never existed, doesn’t mean that it isn’t there…”
― Lionel Suggs

“A life path may have strange twists and turnings, and we do not always end up where we intend to go….”
― Marion Zimmer Bradley

“…there are no wrong turns, only unexpected paths.”
―Mark Nepo




Curiosity keeps leading us down new paths” 
―Walt Disney 

“Some beautiful paths can't be discovered without getting lost.”

He who strays discovers new paths.
―Nils Kjaer

“To conquer the unknown you must trust.”  
― Yogi Bhajan

“Learn to trust the journey, even when you do not understand it”




“Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one.”

“Sometimes the most evolved souls take the most challenging paths.”
― Brian Weiss

“Don't compare your path with anybody else’s. Your path is unique to you.”  
―Ram Dass

“My path is not a better path, it is simply a different path.” 
― Donald L. Hicks

“In a forest of a hundred thousand trees, no two leaves are alike. And no two journeys along the same path are alike.”
― Paulo Coelho




“Trust yourself when the path is unsure..”

“Our destiny is frequently met in the very paths we take to avoid it.”
―Jean de La Fontaine

“Obstacles don’t block the path. They are the path.” 
― Zen Proverb

“Short cuts make long delays.” 
– J.R.R. Tolkien

“The best view comes after the hardest climb..” 




“Everything you want to be, you already are. You're simply on the path to discovering it.”
― Alicia Keys

“Don’t let someone rearrange your path because they lost sight of their own.” 
― Nikki Rowe

“Just because my path is different doesn't mean am lost.” 

“It’s never crowded when you walk on your own path.” 
― Aditya Ajmera




“You must understand there is more than one path to the top of the mountain” 
― Miyamoto Musashi

“There are many trails up the mountain, but in time they all reach the top.”
―Anya Seton

“Truth is one, paths are many.”
―Mahatma Gandhi

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” 
― Sir Edmund Hillary


Also read:

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Sacred Ecstatic Dance


When you put the psyche in motion it heals itself.

Ecstatic dance is a form of dance in which the dancers, sometimes without the need to follow specific steps, abandon themselves to the rhythm and move freely as the music takes them, leading to trance and a feeling of ecstasy. The effects of ecstatic dance begin with ecstasy itself, which may be experienced in differing degrees.

The described effects of ecstatic dance include a feeling of connection with others, indeed of "universal relatedness”, and with the dancer's own emotions; serving as a meditation, providing a way of coping with stress and restoring serenity; and serving as a spiritual practice.

The ethnologist Maria-Gabriela Wosienidentified four degrees of ecstasy that dancers may experience: "the warning, the whisper of inspiration, the prophecy, and finally the gift, the highest grade of inspiration."

Dance as meditation is as ancient as our humanity. Cave paintings from 40,000 years ago depict groups of people dancing wildly.

Sacred dance is present in nearly all cultures and many religious traditions around the world. 

In the ancient and widespread practice of shamanism, ecstatic dance and rhythmic drumming are used to alter consciousness in spiritual practices. In Europe, this ended in the Middle Ages, prohibited by the Christian church, while it continued among native peoples in America, Siberia and elsewhere.

“Sometimes you have to lose your mind to come to your senses.” -- Alan Watts

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Natural remedies for dry hands


With official advice being to wash our hands as often as possible and to use hand sanitizer with an alcohol content of at least 60% to help delay the spread of COVID-19, it's inevitable that we're all going to get very dry skin.

Your skin naturally produces oil, called sebum, which helps protect the skin from moisture loss, but actions — such as washing your hands with a drying soap, hot water, and hand sanitizers — can strip natural oils from your skin.

While it's not exactly anyone's main concern at the moment, dryness can result in painful cracks in the skin if left untreated.

Ironically, by over-washing our skin, we can develop dry cracks in the skin, giving bacteria an entry point into our bodies.

Start moisturizing before there's a problem. The best prevention is to begin using a moisturizer before your hands show signs of dryness. Keeping the skin moisturized is of utmost importance in order to fight dryness.

So here are my simple ways to get relief from dry hands:

Massage your hands for 3 minutes using coconut oil, jojoba, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, castor oil, olive oil, etc (you can use more than one). Apply more oil and put some gloves on (or a plastic bag) to allow the oils to penetrate the skin more effectively for 15-20 minutes. Wipe the excess oil off hands, but don’t rinse them; any remaining oil will be absorbed over the next few minutes. Follow with a rich hand cream.

Make a hand mask using some of these ingredients:

Your favorite oil (coconut oil, jojoba, sweet almond oil, olive oil, etc). Again, you can also use more than one.

Oat meal. Rich in protein, vitamin E, lipids, fatty acids, and antioxidants, oatmeal is an excellent natural treatment for dry skin.

Egg yolk. Its a great remedy for dry hands since it contains water and fats and will lock moisture into your skin cells. 

Aloe vera. A common ingredient in many skin products due to its antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Full fat plane yogurt. The lactic acid in yogurt acts as a natural exfoliant to gently remove dead skin while the fats restore moisture.

Raw honey. Full of antioxidants and antimicrobial properties  which prevents redness and dry itchy skin. It can help lock in moisture in your hands and keep them soft and also help delay the signs of aging!

Rip avocado. Rich in healthy fats and vitamins that soften rough, dry or flaking skin. Avocado contains essential fatty acids and other nutrients that help prevent premature wrinkling.

Whole milk. Its soothing, and extremely hydrating. Its lactic acid is great for the skin.

Vitamin E. Its powerful antioxidant properties can help to protect the skin from further damage. It acts as an anti-inflammatory to soothe that dry, itchy redness that comes with dehydrated skin. When used topically it can help to prevent water loss from the skin, keeping it moisturized.

Chamomile tea. It has been used since antiquity to treat wounds and urge healing, thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties. 

Rose water. Helps maintain the skin's pH balance. It helps hydrate, revitalise and moisturise the skin. Due to its antibacterial properties, rose water also aids in healing scars, cuts and wounds.

Drops of your favorite essential oil. The botanical compounds in these essential oils can assist in the effort to soothe and heal dry hands:

Lavender
Rose
Sandalwood
Geranium
Frankincense
Neroli
Rosewood
Roman Chamomile
Bergamot

Combine the ingredients of your choice in a small bowl and apply to your hands. 
I recommend spending a few minutes rubbing it in before letting it sit for 10-20 minutes. 
Use gloves or wrap your hands in a plastic bag (this will also help to not get messy).
Rinse with room temperature water. Don’t use hot water it dries out and irritates skin.
Hold off on the soap this time. 

It is better to do it before going to bed, so you won't be washing your hands.
You can play with the ingredients and see what you like and works better for you.

My favorite natural moisturizers are raw shea butter and raw cocoa butter. Both are amazing moisturizers! Their concentration of natural vitamins and fatty acids makes them incredible nourishing and moisturizing for skin. They're also rich in antioxidants. 

Bee wax. The hypoallergenic and moisturizing properties of beeswax make it an effective treatment for dry skin and more serious issues like eczema. Beeswax can be used to treat the itchiness of these conditions and prevent further drying out.

Tip. Keep a hand moisturizer in your hand bag or desk drawer to use regularly during the day.

Moisturize from the inside out. 

Food is its own kind of medicine. Boost your skin’s moisture levels naturally by eating more:

Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Fish, flax, and fermented cod liver oil.
Vitamin E – Nuts, seeds, avocado, spinach, and butternut squash.
Vitamin A – Carrots, sweet potato, kale, broccoli, eggs, and apricots.
Zinc – Pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, mushrooms, and yogurt.

I really hope this is of some help for some of you. And let me know what are your favorite natural products and tips on the comments.

Keep safe! <3

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

The Museum of Alchemists and Magicians of Old Prague


Prague is a city steeped in history both known and otherwise, and the darker side of the Czech capital’s past is brought to light in evocative displays at The Museum of Alchemists and Magicians of Old Prague, which looks at some of the famous dabblers in the dark arts that have called the city home.

As king of much of eastern Europe and eventually Holy Roman Emperor during the 16th century, Rudolf II was not known as an especially effective ruler, but he is widely remembered for his interest and patronage of the occult arts. It was during his reign that he turned Prague into the unofficial capital of the dark arts. Funding a number of alchemists and other so-called sorcerers, most notably the likes of Edward Kelley and John Dee, Rudolf created possibly the most active period of occult practice in history.

Whether or not his patrons were simply charlatans wrapped in mystery, or bold proto-scientists, the legacy of these magicians and madmen is remembered with a carnival flair at The Museum of Alchemists and Magicians of Old Prague. Consisting of two levels of displays and tableaux, the exhibits trace the history of Rudolf’s alchemists in the city, especially Kelley. The main floor has displays and replica artifacts of the trade alongside such fantastical scenes as a failed magician being stolen up into the ceiling by the Devil while cackling sorcerers huddle around the glowing runes beneath. The second floor, which claims to be the actual tower where the real Kelley performed his esoteric experiments, is decked out like an alchemist’s lab, all aged scrolls and stacked grimoires, complete with a half-completed homunculus, the ultimate alchemical achievement.

The museum is more than a little sensational in its presentation, but to be fair, these alchemists were likely more than a little bit showmen themselves. What better way to remember and learn about their arcane history than with a little bit of magical realism?






Saturday, March 21, 2020

Saturn in Aquarius, 3 Years of Change, Technology, and Justice


Today (March 21), Saturn enters Aquarius, and will transit through this sign until March 7, 2023.

Saturn hasn’t stationed in the Water Bearer’s realm for nearly three decades; in fact, its last visit was from February 6, 1991, to January 28, 1994.

Saturn represents discipline, patience, responsibility, maturity and boundaries. Saturn rules time and, in contemporary astrology, is known as the Lord of Karma.

Saturn is often considered a planet that brings damage, a malevolent planet, the opposite of Jupiter. But Saturn is actually essential in the lives of all of us for our own personal growth, for our maturity. 

Saturn represents our hardships and the lessons we learn in this lifetime. It can also indicate things that we fear or worry about, as well as how we deal with authority.

Certainly his way of acting is hard, concrete, sometimes terrible and can lead to difficult situations but that it was necessary to deal with situations. Saturn is the time, cronos, Saturn cut off the dead branches, things more useful to our work life, emotional and sentimental. After his passing we can be bigger, stronger and more aware of our quality. Sacrifice asks us this planet.

Saturn in Aquarius will find us taking our future much more seriously. 

Saturn was actually Aquarius’ ancient ruler, before Uranus was discovered in 1781. The ringed taskmaster feels quite at home in Aquarius. People with Aquarius in their chart are given a great ability to envision ideas. This is the sign of the Architect who can picture in their minds eye a new vision that can then be made manifest. If you are an Aquarian you may be going through what is known as a “Saturn Return”. This is a testing and intense time where you will be forced to confront parts of your subconscious self.

The placement of Saturn in Aquarius is so favourable because Saturn is a planet of tangible manifestation while the sign of Aquarius is about new ideas and visions. A vision without manifestation is of no use but when the hard work of Saturn is applied to refine and perfect and implement the vision in the real world the two are a very powerful combination.

Saturn has spent 2.5 years in Capricorn, exposing the good, and especially the bad and the ugly of the Capricorn archetype: lack of integrity, misused power, materialism and corruption.   

While Saturn was in earth sign Capricorn, it exposed the good, and especially the bad and the ugly of the Capricorn archetype: lack of integrity, misused power, materialism and corruption. 

It recognized the limits of material resources; Saturn in air sign Aquarius finds people and social groups to be a more important resource. 

Saturn in Capricorn found us looking to the past for clues about our history, and Saturn in Aquarius knows all the rules so that they can break and update them.

The energy is going to be focused on anything new, anything modern, and anything progressive.

Now, Saturn in Aquarius is determined to shake sh*t up, rewrite the rules, and change the world. It’s time to look for a different type of order.

Aquarius is the zodiac’s revolutionary—it’s known for its friendly, social, humanitarian traits—so the vibe is going from “let’s focus on these problems” to “let’s TALK about these problems, brainstorm ways to fix them, then go out and actually do something about them.” 

As a fixed air sign, its focus is heavily on getting work done through its mental energy — thoughts and ideas are a big part of how this sign relates to the world.

New laws, international treaties, and global changes are going to happen soon.

Aquarius is also the sign of technology, the mad scientist of the zodiac, and Saturn’s trek through this air sign will crystalize advancements in the field, allowing for new, advanced tech to become incorporated into day-to-day life. (Fun fact, the last time Saturn was in Aquarius, a little something called the internet became part of our day-to-day lives.)  

AI, space travel, virtual reality, and advances in medical technology are thematic of Saturn in Aquarius too.

Being able to navigate various tech tools and software will become more important than ever over the next few years as Saturn places great limitations on those who aren’t with the times.

Working remotely from home will continue to be picked up by more companies as advantages are realized and the health of worldwide communities necessitates. 

Although we’re more likely to lean toward scientific rational while Saturn is in Aquarius, there will still be an interesting dynamic between scientific communities and spiritual folks as Aquarius is both academically and spiritual-oriented. Saturn in Aquarius encourages us to elevate the mind, but we’ll have to be mindful not to fall into reductionism or dogmatic beliefs. As the planet of reality, Saturn in Aquarius will lead us to redefine what is possible.

Aside from its worldwide impact, Saturn in Aquarius is bringing personal changes to your life too.  

ARIES

What kinds of people do you surround yourself with? What associations or groups do you identify most with? You may realize that you no longer click with people who were your besties a couple of years ago, or you may decide that your professional network or political affiliations just aren’t very you anymore—and that’s okay! You’ll probably lose a few (or more) friends, but it’s time to find a new, better crew. Likewise, your hopes and dreams for the future may change dramatically. Honor yourself, your goals, and your beliefs, and hold yourself accountable for surrounding yourself with people who want to support you as much as you support them. By the time Saturn’s done with its time in Aquarius, your life will have undergone a major upgrade.

TAURUS

Certainly the squaring of Saturn for you will be very heavy and it will not be absolutely easy to digest and to endure. First of all, be careful about health and do not underestimate any discomfort that may worsen with the passage of time and then as soon as you have some health problems go to your doctor and do not underestimate anything, no symptoms. If health then can be the Achilles' heel during this planetary transition also the optimism and the level of self-esteem will drop a lot and will not allow to be very positive towards life. Life itself teaches that positivity and optimism bring good things while negative thoughts and pessimism create further difficulties and during these years you will not be able to be very happy, calm, quiet and balanced. But you must not give up. To combat this astrological aspect one must do one very important thing, that is to work a lot, get tired a lot without hoping to achieve excellent goals. Saturn wants a lot of effort and a lot of sweat from you and does not give satisfaction. All these months, therefore, are very tiring in the work and many of you can age more quickly with some problems to the bones and teeth that are often weak points with this planetary transition. We must also pay close attention to any enemies who hide and can create many professional complications and be careful not to waste money on absolutely wrong investments.

GEMINI

Saturn’s transit through Aquarius is actually not going to be that hard for you, Gemini! Since Aquarius is a like-minded air sign, Saturn’s doing a great job of harmonizing with your Gemmy vibes. This transit is helping you to do your favorite thing—learn! First and foremost, if you’re a student (or thinking about going back to school), this is a spectacular time to slay the game in the academic world. And even if you’re not going to school, this is a period when your mind is expanding in big ways. You’re notoriously a lil flaky and you rarely commit to one belief/opinion/worldview for long, but Saturn’s all about stability and crystalizing your philosophy on life. One thing to watch out for: Saturn in Aquarius can make any long-distance traveling a b*tch and a half to handle, so make sure you triple-check your schedule, flights, everything if you’re going on any trips in the next couple of years.

CANCER

With Saturn’s transit through Aquarius, you are coming face to face with other people’s impressions and values. Sometimes this is addressed by dealing with matters involving other people’s money, consolidating debts, or taking out a loan. Other times this involves clashing with other people’s opinions, and learning how to live with other people’s perspectives while maintaining your own integrity and bottom line. If you have been relying on others too much, you are likely to encounter situations that require you to stand on your own two feet, while others will learn how to cooperate and depend on others in order to reach their goals. Sometimes this transit brings up feelings about your own mortality or some form of loss, which ultimately helps you see what matters most to you at the end of the day.

LEO

The meaning of commitment becomes a greater focus of yours during Saturn’s transit in Aquarius, and you’ll be encouraged to spend time and energy on relationships that offer more stability to your life. Saturn binds things and people together—but Saturn also symbolizes boundaries. If you’re romantically involved with someone but haven’t defined your relationship, Saturn will nudge you to do so. In Aquarius, Saturn reflects a need for clarity and communication, especially when it comes to what you do and don’t want in a partnership. As the planet of tough love and limitation, Saturn could also reflect growing pains in your partnerships—including business-oriented partnerships. The mood can feel icy or indifferent between you and those you’re closest to during this transit, but if tension rises to the point where you don’t feel like you can be yourself anymore, you’ll need to discuss boundaries or maybe even move on from the relationship. If you find yourself ending a partnership during Saturn’s transit through Aquarius, consider it an opportunity to better understand what you need from a committed relationship and how to be a reliable partner.

VIRGO

Saturn in Aquarius is not treating Virgos very kindly for the next couple of years. Saturn’s transit through Aquarius is rough, tough, and extremely hard to handle—but if anyone can handle it, it’s you, Virgo! You’re one of the (if not the) hardest-working signs, and the next couple of years marks a period when your obligations are reeeaaally piling up. This means your job (and the rest of your life) is busier than ever, so it’s your mission to stay focused and productive and make sure you’re getting all your sh*t done in a timely fashion. Your health is also a focus right now. It’s not like Saturn’s going to magically make you sick out of nowhere, but if you’re not taking care of your physical and mental health in practical ways, you’ll start to feel it. How can you survive this transit? It’s simple! Eat well, exercise, take care of your mental health, and set a productive day-to-day routine. Make healthy lifestyle changes and commit to them. You got this.

LIBRA

Superfluous intimate relationships aggravate your Saturn as it enters Aquarius. Lately, relationships have acted as a welcome relief from your strict workload—but Saturn in Aquarius calls you out on the half-assed parts of your relationships, encouraging you to treat your heart with more respect and care. Similarly, this transit asks you to act in a straightforward way when making deals or interpersonal agreements—you've got to solidify your rules of engagement before Saturn in Pisces in the future improves your ability to blur the lines. If you've struggled with health issues in the past few years, try to crack the case again as hidden pressures may ease up with Saturn in Aquarius. Respect is more important in your relationships than ever. This is a time to carve out space in your social circle and creative life takes your pleasure and your happiness seriously. Work through your creative blocks or any hesitancy to self-express by throwing perfectionism out the window and recognizing that your friends will appreciate your work no matter how high your personal standards are.

SCORPIO

As Saturn transits through Aquarius, your focus shifts to a more internal perspective. Nothing appears to be going on at the surface, but when you dig deep, you may notice that your emotional world—as well as the things you base feelings of security on—are being overhauled, leading you to become more resilient. Your emotional wellbeing, family issues, and the topic of housing become more pressing with Saturn’s transit. You could move to a new home, make your first home purchase, add a member to the family, or deal with longstanding emotional issues that hamper your wellbeing. Now is an excellent time to seek professional help from a counselor or psychotherapist, spend time writing in your journal, and reflect on your feelings, as you’re ready to make productive emotional changes that leave you feeling more stable and secure than you have in the past. Tending to your emotional world in a productive, positive way will set you up for success in the following 14 years.

SAGITTARIUS

In Aquarius, Saturn asks you to become more discerning in your thought processes. This transit reflects a period when you’re feeling serious-minded and interested in diving deeper into new learning opportunities. If you have a habit of speaking freely and off the cuff, you could find this a challenging time when you’re nudged to think and pause before speaking as your words carry more weight. Alternatively, it could feel harder to articulate yourself in the way you would like, which makes this a great time to work on your communication skills and spend time meditating on what your genuine thoughts are on topics that are important to you. Signing up for workshops and online courses could be commitments you’re interested in during this transit—but be mindful that people will expect you to take learning seriously. You’re also not likely to travel far from your local area during this time as Saturn restricts movement, but it’s a great opportunity to get more involved in your community. Don’t be afraid to share your originality during the next few years, because you’ll realize new ideas and how to share them in ways you’ve always wanted to, but never knew how!

CAPRICORN

If you’re reading this, congratulations! You survived Saturn’s transit through your sign, which is always a wild time, and now you don’t have to worry about the ringed planet’s wrath for another three decades! You’ve undergone a massive personal transformation, and now Saturn’s influence is shifting from your 1st house, which rules your sense of self, to your 2nd house, which governs your values and your valuables. What I mean by that is your morals, self-worth, and material possessions are all being highlighted for the next couple of years and you’re being pushed to develop a more realistic attitude toward them. You’re an earth sign, so you tend to be on the more materialistic side. Right now, you’re learning that you rely on your financial situation or possessions to determine how you feel about yourself as a person. Financial hardships are likely coming your way, so do what you can to save up money ASAP and organize your finances before sh*t hits the fan. You’re not gonna go broke out of nowhere, but you are going to learn that there’s more to the world than the stuff you own. This is a period to be frugal, work hard, and build up your self-esteem through your actions and inner values, not how much money is in your bank account.

AQUARIUS

This is a major, major period of your life, Aquarius. Saturn will be in your sign likely only two or three times in your entire life, and this is the start of a new, nearly 30-year cycle. You’re an outgoing, extroverted air sign, but Saturn is urging you to put the outside world on the back burner and really get to know yourself on a deeper, more significant level. That means instead of focusing on how your friends, lovers, coworkers, etc. treat you, you need to consider your inner traits and qualities. Get in touch with you—your wishes, your desires, your values, your talents, and your physical/spiritual/emotional needs. It’s difficult to connect with others now, because this is a period when putting yourself first is a must. You’re minding your own business, taking care of your own personal agenda, and, over the next few years, you’re creating a more solid, structured persona that’s true to who you are, deep down. 


PISCES

When there’s any planetary action happening in the sign before yours, it’s said to be “in aversion” to you—it’s almost like Saturn’s drama is going down just outside your line of sight. That being said, just because Saturn is hiding in your peripheral vision does not mean you’re safe from this transit. The influence of Saturn just isn’t directly focused on your personal life. This is the end of a nearly 30-year cycle, so you’re cleaning out all the areas of life, from your job to your relationships to your home life. That means it’s time to focus on getting rid of outdated relationships, distancing yourself from activities and settings that aren’t healthy, ending unnecessary beef with others, cutting your losses, and not dwelling on the past. Basically, you’re going through a factory reset so you can start from scratch and totally reinvent yourself when Saturn is in your sign in 2022.

Friday, March 20, 2020

Things witches and occultists can do while in quarantine


Don’t just let the hours pass by. It might be frustrating to be just at home right now, but if you learn into some of the things on this list, you’ll find that the time passes in a meaningful way.

• Do a deep home cleaning and cleansing.

• Are you a Pagan hoarder? Clean and organize your witchy supplies, books, herbs, oils, crystals collection, etc.

• Meditation: mindfulness meditation, focused meditation, movement meditation, mantra meditation, transcendental meditation, pranayama meditation, Kundalini meditation, guided meditation, visualization, etc.. There’re so many different types and techniques, find the one that works for you.

• Read a new grimoire (check my article for some ideas: A List of Magical Grimoires)

• Write. Start a dream journal. or a new shadow book.

• Ritual work. Is there a practice that you once enjoyed but lost touch with? 

• Learn the path study that has always interested you.

• Divination: learn a system you always wanted to explore (Tarot/Oracle reading, numerology automatic writing, bibliomancy, I Ching, palmistry, crystal ball gazing, mirror/water Scrying, runes, pendulum dowsing..).

• Create a new talisman or sigil.

• Astrology: Now you have the time to explore your Natal Chart in depth (or someone else's).

• Dream magick: interpret your dreams, learn lucid dreaming. 

• Astral Projection/out-of-body experience (OBE).

• Set up an altar: it is time for a spring one!

• Ancestral work.

• Invoke your guides. Connect with your familiar, spirit guide, totem, power animal, tulpa, patron deity, etc.

• Magickal crafting: you can learn how to make incense, tinctures, herbal baths, potions, powders, sachets, candles, sacred jewelry, wands and staffs..

• Mythological exploration: learn about a pantheon, deity or culture that fascinates you.

• Indoors gardening. It's spring, the perfect time to start! 

• Telepathic communication, develop your telepathic abilities. There are many techniques and exercises you can do. Practice With a Partner – Practicing sending and receiving with a partner is one of the best ways to develop your telepathic abilities. Decide who is the sender, when you will send and then swap sending and receiving positions.

• Energy work. If you are feeling unbalanced either physically, emotionally, or mentally, energy work is a great practice to restore and realign the body's subtle vibrations. While Reiki is one of the main ways to practice energy work, there are many ways to integrate energy work and healing into one’s life.

• Indoors exercise: pilates, yoga, plyometrics, dancing, qigong, tai chi, etc.. You can find many YouTube videos or apps with great workouts and practices.

• Nourish your body with foods that help keeping your immune system strong! So important during this time!

• Keep in contact with your love ones! 


Keep calm. Stay safe. We're all in this together!  - Jovanna Goette

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

The Greek goddess Hygieia


We all know the term hygiene, during these times you don’t go a few hours without hearing it but have you ever wondered about where the word came from?
hygiene (n.)
Conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.
The Greek goddess Hygieia is the personification of health, cleanliness, sanitation, how to live a long life and the prevention of sickness.
Hygieia was imported by the Romans as the goddess Valetudo, the goddess of personal health, but in time she started to be increasingly identified with the ancient Italian goddess of social welfare, Salus.
The oldest traces of her cult are at Titane, west of Corinth, where she was worshipped together with Asclepius, the god of medicine. At first no special relationship existed between her and Asclepius, but gradually she came to be regarded as his daughter; later literature, however, makes her his wife. 
Hygieia played an important part in Asclepius's cult. While Asclepius was more directly associated with healing, she was associated with the prevention of sickness and the continuation of good health. Her name is the source of the word "hygiene".
In Greek ‘hygeia’ meant ‘soundness’ or ‘wholeness’. Hygiene in medicine was about maintaining the ‘wholeness’ of the body and keeping it fit. This is called ‘health’. Hippocratic doctors from the 300s CE onwards gradually formulated a philosophy of hygiene that covered every possible aspect of health – mind, body and environment. The influence of this thinking continued to impact on public health reforms during the last two centuries.”
The cult of Hygeia as an independent goddess spread during the 400s BCE after the first appearance of plague in Greece, and was established in Rome in the 100s CE. The Roman traveller Pausanias noted her cult statues all over the empire, adorned with votive offerings.
Hygieia was often depicted as a young woman feeding a large snake that was wrapped around her body or drinking from a jar that she carried. These attributes were later adopted by the Gallo-Roman healing goddess, Sirona.
The Bowl of Hygeia has become the international symbol of pharmacy in the same way the Staff of Asklepios has for medicine.
Hmmm… A snake drinking a cup. What might this be referring to? 😉
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