Ceremony of the Soul

I usually spend winter solstice reflecting and once the New Years bell rings I’m refocusing. I’ll ask myself…

• What do I want to create?
• What do I want to be known for?
• How do I want to SHOW UP in this new year?
• How will I improve?
• Why is this important to me?

December in the PNW is a combination of chill and rain, lots of rain. I’ve grown accustomed to the clouds and learned to stick to my plans regardless of the liquid sunshine. On this particular day the sun made it through. Which is perfect because every year during winter solstice we join the Nisqually Tribe to welcome the change. [Scroll down and watch part of the ceremony.]

It’s a two day celebration called Winter Moon and the McCloud Ohana have been the caretakers of this ceremony for many years.

Solstice

A time just before great change, for example summer solstice is the longest day in the northern hemisphere signifying abundance, harvest and beauty. Meanwhile winter solstice is the catalyst to regeneration, self-reflection and rejuvenation. It’s also the shortest day of the year.

Our inner being understands solstice and change which is why we look at the new year as a chance to regenerate and start over. We’re wired to do this.

During this time the Elders share their wisdom and we reflect on their words.

Success

Good things come to those who pay attention to their inner voice. If you remove the distractions, blinking lights and phone chimes to focus on…

What do you desire in the new year?

What do you need to make it happen?

When will you start?

Mack and Joyce McCloud have been hosting this for generations and taught their children to carry on. The two pictures above are the two of them.

Healthy body comes from a healthy mind.

Start by taking time to nurture and listen to the cravings of your soul. Then make a food and fitness plan for the coming year. Don’t spend a dime on workout equipment or nutritional products until you answer the questions I posted above.

After everything is done the children hang god’s eyes in the trees to decorate them for the new year.

Commit to a plan once you’ve

1. Completed a self-reflection session. (Basically answer the questions above.)
2. Designate time towards intentional movement.
3. Assign someone to be your accountability partner.

Above all keep your word! Do not break the promise you make to yourself. Whatever you choose to do in the near future be consistent to show-up for yourself, even when the going gets tough and you want to give up.

Generational

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou to all of you beautiful MANA Wahine out there! Just keep moving.

https://youtu.be/pBzh6v9ChjY

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Mad Art Therapy

When all else fails CREATE SOMETHING anything, just let it flow. “I’m Back!”

MANA Mindset doesn’t mean you live in an oasis & birds sing as you walk. It’s listening to your soul & taking a break to reconnect to the source of your JOY & HAPPINESS.

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We will face stress & distractions. The goal is to identify them & have a system or mantra to get back on track. For me it’s art, mad art. 🤬

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I just color like mad & think about what I need. I conjure the feelings that I desire: joy, happiness, success, organization… Meanwhile I don’t stop until the whole page is covered.

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Then I write the first word that comes to mind & step back. 😇

This is what happens when my meticulous planning & schedules go BONKERS 👾👻 🥴 I do “Mad Art Therapy” or at least that’s what I call it.

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I hope you try it 😁🤙🏽 and use #walkinnbeauty if you do. Speaking of @walk_inn_beauty I will be sharing this technique in a mastermind session if you would like to join our community visit & follow the link & follow. I will post our next session.

Teas, tablets and tinctures. Oh my!

The weight-loss industry and fitness realm have one thing in common. They create for the masses NOT unique individuals.

What if there was something that a local herbalist could create for you?

Herbalist do exist!

They’re nothing like a dietitian or nutritionalist but can be super beneficial. Their delivery system come in three forms: Teas, Tablets and Tinctures. (Also, creams and salves but neither of those words started with “T”)

TEAS: herbal mixtures to work within the gut, permeating your digestive system to detox, soothe or energize.

TABLETS/PILLS: Imagine everything you wouldn’t eat, but know it’s good for you, stuffed into a tiny caplet. Fungus like reishi mushroom can be quickly digested for its benefits.

TINCTURE: A liquid extract of an herbal product. A single drop of a specific tincture under your tongue can work wonders in the body.

There are powder blends, salves and so much more.

I personally enjoy the quality of knowledgeable people, and what they have to share with me. Bottom line, I didn’t have to pay for their education but I do benefit from it.

Why share this info?

1. I just want you to know that we have options when it comes to weight-loss.
2. You are not alone on this journey called wellness.
3. Connect on the community level, find help and resources in your environment.

As a bonus, I wrote another article called, “It doesn’t have to be organic.” And if you’ve read this post then the other one will make total sense. I’m trying to shed the light on local business.

Click here to read the blogpost.

On Instagram I shared another FIT FOODIE moment, pic below & you can click on it to visit the post.

If Jellyfish were coaches…

Who knew that staring at jellyfish could be so thought provoking but apparently it is. We, hubby & me, like taking our children out on excursions which is exercise minus the gym. During  the 2015 Christmas break we went to ZooLights, basically they dress up the entire zoo in fun festive lights, and we skipped our way into the aquarium. That’s when it began, my temporary fascination with jellyfish. I don’t know why or how I managed to forget to post these but I snapped away and this is what I captured #nofilter .

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you’re encouraged by these words and have a prosperous 2017. Take time to plan because life is worth living.

 

Beautiful Soul – Day 21

  
It’s the 21st day of the BEAUTIFUL SOUL CHALLENGE which deserves a celebration chant. Hip-hip-hooray! Now let’s spend a little time reflecting on the process with a few questions…

1. Why did you start the BEAUTIFUL SOUL CHALLENGE? (Day 1)
2. How did you practice gratitude before this challenge?
3. Was it difficult, at first, focusing on gratitude?
4. Do you feel that it got easier or harder as time went by?
5. How can you share your insight with someone else?

The Soul is multidimensional, brilliant and fragile all at once.  Take time to build a foundation of gratitude that will lead to overall peace & balance. ~Ho’omalamalama 

I’ve learned that gratitude is the oil in the mechanism of emotional stability. You can live your entire life without it but eventually your emotional gears will wear themselves out. Practicing gratitude will benefit every area of your life. It won’t take away your problems but it can open the way for perseverance and with that you can do anything.

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Look up!

Beautiful Soul – Day 20

   One day I found myself sitting in on a lecture that felt like it went on for days, as all lectures do. Then the last speaker got up to talk and his words were so prolific that I had to mentally apologize for my previous negative thoughts. (Yes, it’s true I can slip into sarcastic monologue when board out of my mind.)
Anyway… he said that abundance is like the candles on a cake while the cake itself is similar to scarcity. (Read on, it gets better.)

A cake can be divided into portions but once taken it can not be replaced therefore becoming scarce and for a few. However, one lit candle can ignite the rest without becoming less of a light in fact the opposite happens. The more candles you light the brighter it becomes which is like having an abundance mindset. (Of  course this is my interpretation, thanks Rabbi Daniel Lapin for the teaching.)

You can share gratefulness and it will never diminish your worth. This healthy soul activity will flow into your mind and body. 

But why don’t more people practice gratitude? Because it’s not a social norm. It is a life skill. And no one person or business can make millions off of something we can do for ourselves. Can you imagine the gratitude pill to end all emotional discomfort. 

Remember to practice a wholelistic fit life which is balancing the whole BEing and working the muscles of your mind, body & soul.

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PEACE Be the Journey.

Beautiful Soul – Day 19

   Maybe you’ve noticed that I usually start these BEAUTIFUL SOUL CHALLENGES with a prompt and then finish off with a quote. The purpose is to become a catalyst for your thoughts and then reaffirm it with a brilliant saying. (Usually someone else, Lol.)

You are a beautiful soul and this was created just for you. Yes it’s personal and yes it’s intentional. I want you to take five minutes and jot down what you’re grateful for and increase it over time. 

I’m going to spend…

• 5 Minutes Daily
• 15 Minutes Daily
• 20 Minutes Daily 
• 25 Minutes Daily 
• 30 Minutes Daily 

on my self care through journaling. 

You can start with gratitude post and then move onto other subjects but always take time to be grateful for something. If you don’t feel comfortable with journaling or wonder if journaling is similar to keeping a diary then here’s a post just for you: Why is a diary NOT a journal.

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Beautiful Soul – Day 18

   Was there someone who enlightened your life by something they said or did? The chances are that we’re all a product of someone’s fire who lit or rekindled the fire within us. These encounters are a gift but it wasn’t meant to stop with them. You have the ability to share and illuminate others through your goals, trials and successes.

Goals give us a human BEing connection and allows others to BElieve within themselves. We create community and are relatable. Have you ever joined something because their goal matched yours? 

Trials are necessary because without them you wouldn’t know what success feels like. As a parent I use to prevent the trials that my children faced then I learned that I was doing them a disservice. 

Success uplifts everyone, with a good heart, who watched you plan and work through your trials. This becomes the sweet tasting reward of diligence. 

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Speaking of goals do you want a healthy body? I created BEAUTIFUL BODY Challenge and it’s not what you might expect. 

Comment for connection. 

Beautiful Soul – Day 17

   Can you imagine love rushing to you? I truly believe that good things are meant for us but we are naturally pessimistic. (Perhaps not all of us.) Which means we discount good things as a whim or one-off type of situation. Then we expect a disaster to follow our good fortune. WHY DO WE DO THAT? Maybe I’m the only one but who hasn’t heard or said, “It’s the calm before the storm.” 
What if we…

• Let life happen.
• Stop labeling things bad or good.
• Prepare for love by loving ourselves first. Making self-care essential.
• Accept love in the form of kindness & complements.
• Practicing daily habits of gratitude through journaling.

I had to add, “Accept love in the form of kindness & complements” because if someone gives you a complement you don’t have to return the gesture. Just accept the good, thank them & be on your way. (If someone is fishing for a complement, by telling you one, then you know they’re not genuine and have hidden intentions. Walk away quickly.)

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Let gratitude be your focus as you let love in. 💙 Stick to your plans and you will reach your goals. 

  

(I hope you’re sticking to your workout plan.)

Beautiful Soul – Day 16

   Have you ever looked at a person and thought to yourself, “They’ve got it all.” Then you discover two things…

1. They’ve been faking it the whole time and are one twig away from breaking the camels back. In other words they’re hypocrites and are about to be discovered. -OR-
2. They’ve lived a life of dysfunction and pain but through grace they found hope and turned their life around.

Nothing is as it seems through the lens of time. If you are patient and persistent with your own dreams life will unfold the truth. I haven’t lived as long as most but my soul has been filled with the wisdom of grand & great-grandparents. Through their experiences I’ve learned so much and what they didn’t know I turned to biographical books or Google. (Yes, I’m a nerd/geek)

Be anxious for nothing…

In the beginning of this 21 Day challenge you were suppose to choose one healthy habit to adopt into your lifestyle. What was is?

Don’t feel discouraged if you didn’t perfect it yet. The main word being “YET” because all things take time. Habits must be developed and practiced. So make it a point to complete today’s healthy habit before you go to bed. (If possible)

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