Alyssum Anchoring Charm: Simple Magic for Grounding Yourself in the Here and Now

flickr / MrFredFedora

When we use words such as all over the place, overwhelmed, frazzled, spacey, or on edge to describe how we feel, it usually means we're not grounded. In other words, our personal energy is not anchored in the earth in a healthy, safe, nourishing, and balanced way. Alyssum can help with this by bringing us down to earth, reminding us what's really important (love and the present moment), and soothing our stress-abused nerves. In other words, she reminds us to send our roots into the nourishing sweetness of the now. For this purpose, you might create a charm such as the following:

Place four fresh alyssum blossoms and an iron pyrite on a piece of green cotton fabric. Tie closed with hemp twine and anoint with patchouli and a little jasmine, neroli, or rose essential oil. Pin inside your clothes to keep you grounded in the here and now. Re-anoint as necessary to keep the scent fresh.
 
(This is an excerpt from my brand new book, The Magic of Flowers.)

The Magic of Flowers BOOK TRAILER!

Everything is Alive: Debunking the Myth of "Inanimate" Objects

This morning I posted on facebook about the fact that while my boyfriend, Ted, super-glued this gorgeous statue back together, I burned incense and sang songs in order to repair her spirit. One of the responses I received was that the statue is "inanimate" and has no spirit.

And of course I totally understand why someone would say this! Having been raised in modern western society and churned through the present day school system, I was taught that there are things that are alive (like people, plants, and animals) and things that are totally devoid of all life (like statues, bricks, and door nails). Indeed, most people in our society believe this to be both eminently true and utterly scientific. The interesting thing is, that while from one perspective you might say that it is both true and scientific, from another perspective (and one that I perceive to be a tad bit more true, not to mention a lot more useful and a ton more fun), you might say that it's neither.

Let me explain.

Everything is alive with energy. Nikola Tesla said that "If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration." Indeed, everything vibrates, everything moves, and everything is alive with energy. In fact, perceiving one's entire home and everything in it as alive with energy might be said to be the primary precept of feng shui.

Everything is connected. Not only is everything alive with energy, everything is connected. Contrary to the old-fashioned (and yet still prevalent) western world view that perpetuates the myth of separation, you might literally think of everything in the universe as a single energy field, in which every atom vibrates along with and interacts with every other atom. For example, music is vibration. Sound vibrations move through seemingly solid matter (although in a sense there is no such thing as "solid matter"), moving, shifting and resonating everything in their wake. Many modern physicists even compare all matter to music in that it's likely composed completely of various strings of vibrating energy.

Everything That We Perceive is Activated by Our Aliveness. We humans are extremely sensitive and empathetic. So much so that (as research has proven time and again), we mirror the emotions of those in our immediate vicinity, as well as those who are close to us. Similarly, a happy song fill us with euphoria, a messy house can depress us, and a tiny sentimental gift can remind us of someone we love. And, when we're near an image of a person or animal - i.e. a statue, painting, or photo - whether we consciously realize it or not, we powerfully relate to, and psychologically interact with, the perceived mood and overall character of the person or animal. Granted, this does not confer a heartbeat - it does not fill the rendering with actual, scientifically quantifiable "life." It does, however, confer an inextricable link to our life: to our perceptions, feelings, and interactions with the world around us. And so, if my statue were simply super-glued together, it would remind me of the time that Ted super-glued our statue back together. But since Ted super-glued our statue back together while I burned incense and sang healing songs, it will remind me of the incense and the songs and the intention that I set to heal the spirit of the statue. For me (and for Ted), it will possess more wholeness than it otherwise would.

Most Cultures and Time Periods Interacted with the Entire Physical World as If It Were Alive. Of course, perceiving objects and thoughts as alive with energy (or spirits, or whatever you want to call it) is not new. In fact, for most of the time that humans have been alive on this planet, we've interacted with the entire physical world as if it were alive and filled with meaning and messages. Many cultures still do. In fact, even mainstream western scientists who subscribe to James Lovelock's Gaia Theory perceive the entire physical planet as a component of one living, breathing organism. Everything in and on the planet...Even mermaid statues.

DIY Feng Shui Tune-up

I define feng shui as consciously interacting with your home to create positive change in your life. And it's a living, breathing art, not a static one. Life is always changing, so your home is always changing. So periodically, we can benefit from a tune-up, which can refine the positive vibes and conditions that we're drawing into our lives. Here's a 6-point plan for doing just that. Think of it as a trip to the chiropractor for your house.

Focused Clutter Clearing
If you've been reading my blog and books, you're probably already on the clutter-clearing bandwagon. But we all can use some focused clearing every now and then. For example, I'll have magazines that will pile up, or I'll suddenly realize that there are a number of pieces of clothing hanging in my closet that cause me to feel much less than fabulous. My fridge is another place that seems to gather extras, as is the trunk of my car. So your first assignment is to find the weakest links in your clutter chain, and clear them!

Tschotske Scale-Down
Some (not all) of us seem to accumulate doo-dads on flat surfaces. Perhaps you like to get snow globes or figurines whenever you go on a trip, or maybe you have a habit of framing family picture after family picture and placing each on the mantle. Whatever your tschotske fetishes, many of us can use a scale-down every now and then. Keeping your pieces to an elegant minimum is a good rule of thumb. You can tell if you're doing this by noting whether a room or area is easy or difficult to keep clean and free of dust, and whether you feel relaxed and clear when gazing at a surface, or muddled and overwhelmed. You can also note whether or not your doo-dads have enough breathing room to be admired and loved, or whether they just get lost in the shuffle and noise of a cluttery surface. (Please note: you don't have to get rid of the extras if you love them, you can just store them and rotate them seasonally so that your decor stays fresh!)

Extra-Credit Cleaning 
You know what I mean by "extra-credit cleaning:" those spots that aren't part of your regular cleaning routine: the inside of the medicine cabinet, the produce drawer of the fridge, or behind the couch. Taking a bit of time to clean these areas can really refresh the vibe of your home and put a spring in your step!

Decor Assessment
Assess your present decor: is it still inspiring and uplifting you? Or could it perhaps use a little tweaking, or even an overhaul? It's interesting, it's sort of like how one day an outfit can feel just perfect, and then another day that same outfit just doesn't feel right. We're always changing, and staying awake to these changes can help us feel our best. Like an artist, let yourself get into a zone and artistically arrange your space according to what gives you energy and fuels your sense of aliveness and fun.

Door Blessing
You've heard me say it before, but it bears repeating: doors are very magical things. The front door is the place where energy and blessings symbolically enter your home (and life), and all the other doors represent general ease and flow in your home and in every area of your life. So first, make sure that all doors have their full range of motion. Also make sure that they don't feel bogged down by things hanging on or behind them, and that they don't squeak or stick. Then, perform a fun blessing on the front door and then each other door in your house. You can do this by smudging the inside of the open door with white sage, desert sage, or incense (hold a dish beneath the bundle or incense to make sure you catch any burning embers), or by misting with rose water, or rose water into which you've added some drops of essential oil of something fresh, such as sage, lemongrass, or mint.

Home Blessing
Finally, consecrate and integrate your efforts by performing a simple home blessing. Perhaps stand in a central location or at the front door facing in. Hold your hands in prayer pose and take some deep breaths. Then visualize your entire home surrounded and encompassed by a sphere of very bright, golden-white light. Conjure up feelings of prosperity, positivity, health, happiness, and peace, and send these feeling throughout the light. You might also like to call on a helper or deity of your choice and say a quick prayer or invocation, and/or to call on and envision angels surrounding and protecting your home.

Related posts: Do-It-Yourself Feng Shui: 9 Simple Steps
Front Door Invocation for Blessings and Wealth

Reminder to Self: How to Wake Up

Like the quiet wisdom of a sunrise, an all-knowing emptiness is at the heart of everything.

As soon as you open your eyes each morning, just lie there and marvel at your blessings. Consider that you, and everything that you know, has arisen out of nothing and will return to nothing. Remember that life is still a mystery to you, utterly. Clear yourself of expectations, and look beyond the appearance of same-old, same-old. Remember that you do not know everything, and that wonderful opportunities you haven’t even imagined possible might spring into your life experience today: it happens to people all the time.

Enchanted Emoticons: A Positive Perspective on the Digital Age

flickr / maubrowncow

It's an understatement to say that as a culture, we've been undergoing some radical shifts in the way we communicate. Just when we were all getting the hang of email and the internet, there was MySpace and smart phones, and then Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and an app for everything you can imagine. The ways that we connect are becoming quicker, easier, and more abundant.

Of course there are plenty of people who say this is making us less present, less emotionally connected, and less polite. But the way I see it, the wave is SO big that fighting it will not be successful. Not to mention, riding waves is always more fun, and you get less water up your nose. So from my favorite standpoint (a metaphysical one), let's explore a few beneficial perspectives on this monumental wave of change.

We Are All Connected

As sensitive, intuitive folk, we have always known that we are all connected on the spiritual/energetic plane. Especially when it comes to the people with whom we are closest, we have long felt that no matter how physically distant we may be, we can reach out energetically and connect with them in an instant. Now, our experience on the visible plane more closely mirrors our experience on the invisible one. Coming full circle, this can help remind us of - and therefore fortify - the instant, close, unbreakable links we share not just with our loved ones, but with all of humanity. Conceivably, the more we remember that we are all connected (even on Facebook!), the kinder, gentler, and more conscious we will be as a species.

The Global Brain

Similarly, we might think of this electronic age as a sign of the maturing of what author/philosopher Peter Russell calls The Global Brain. To paraphrase the idea, if the earth is a single organism (as described by James Lovelock's Gaia Theory), forests might be comparable to lungs just as humans might be comparable to brain cells. When a brain initially begins developing, brain cells are not connected, but in time they build connections and pathways to each other so that they can become a cohesive whole, and work together harmoniously. Hypothetically, our electronic connections might be seen as one aspect of building these neural pathways to one another.

For example, ten years ago, I never would have dreamed that things like human rights and animal rights could have made such notable strides as they have in the past few years. Indeed, when a YouTube video or Facebook post can go viral overnight, literally raising awareness on any given topic exponentially, there's no limit to the positive changes we may be seeing in the cultural consciousness in the coming years and decades.

Send Blessings with Your Emoticons

Here's a fun little idea for interweaving magic into your everyday electronic correspondences: send blessings with your emoticons. For example, when you send a text with "xo," connect with the recipient on the spiritual plane and give them a quick little energetic hug and kiss. When you punctuate a post on Facebook or Twitter with a smiley face, smile with your heart and send that smiling heart-light out to your friends/followers and the world.

Some Final Thoughts

Since we are all communicating in hyperdrive these days, we have a lot of power to influence our friends and family, for good or for ill. So while you're composing or consuming electronic information, remember to breathe deeply and stay grounded. Then send out love and positivity! Be the catalyst that sets in motion great waves of healing vibrations.

Also, if you're in front of a screen for an extended length of time, periodically look out the window and gaze at a the clouds, the stars, or a tree...or perhaps just connect with a potted plant for a second or two if you're in a cubicle.

Oh, and please remember to turn it all off and get out in nature every once in a while! :)

Random Acts of Offering: Giving Gifts to Spirits of Heaven and Earth

flickr/AlicePopkorn

When I was a child, Saint Patrick's Day was my favorite holiday. Even though no one suggested that I do this, I remember insisting on leaving out treats "for the leprechauns" the night before. My mother (who is Irish) apparently loved this idea, as illustrated by the fact that on the morning of March 17th, wherever I had left the treats, I found all kinds of sparkly green goodies, and a cheery, grateful little note from the leprechauns.

I suspect the idea to leave an offering to the leprechauns wasn't merely a childish invention but a genetic or past-life memory of Old World customs. It's said that many people left milk outside the front door every night "for the fairies" (to curry their favor and entreat their assistance), and that other offerings of food and beverages might be left inside for the "house fairies" or "house brownie (spirit)."

What's more, in countless cultures and ages, people have offered things such as food, beverages, and fragrant smoke to gods, goddesses, ancestors, and spirits of the land.

In addition to placing offerings on an altar, here are some ideas for ways you might make offerings to helpful beings in order to invite their presence and request their assistance in keeping your home safe, blessed, and energetically fine-tuned. Feel free to put your own spin on these.

• Make an offering to the fairies and spirits of the land by getting a bird feeder and keeping it stocked with fresh bird food or nectar.
• Leave whole grain breadcrumbs or cooked rice out for the air spirits (and birds).
• Leave unsalted nuts out for the spirits of the earth (and squirrels).
• Place walnut shell halves filled with beer, cider, or champagne outside in the garden or yard - it's said that fairies love bubbly party beverages.
• Hang wind chimes near your front door and offer their sounds to the angels.
• Light incense and offer its fragrance to God/dess.
• Pour a glass of wine or cider and place it on the dinner table as an offering to the earth. After dinner, go outside and pour it near the base of a tree.
• Plant and tend an organic garden or outdoor potted plants to summon fairies (and also ladybugs, birds, bees, etc.).
• Bring potted plants into the house to call in nature spirits.

(Excerpt from The Good Energy Book.)