I have talked in previous posts about meditation and mindfulness. I wanted to go a bit deeper into meditation itself. It has been kind of a hot topic for a few years, and while it has become quite popular, there are many misconceptions surrounding it. That said, let’s start with the basics.
There are many benefits to mediation. Most people are aware of the mental benefits of meditation like helping people have better focus and lengthen their attention span. Along with these basic benefits, it can also help achieve better quality sleep/sleep patterns, support emotional regulation, assist with managing symptoms of depression/anxiety/PTSD (alongside medical care), and even help with lessening carvings for those dealing with alcohol or food addictions.** In addition to providing these mental and emotional benefits, did you know that, physically speaking, studies* have shown that meditation can provide cardiovascular benefits by helping reduce stress and lowering blood pressure, and help improve the quality of life by assisting in pain reduction in people who suffer from chronic pain issues? This list is by no means comprehensive, however these are the ones that are most commonly cited by studies that have been done.
There are two main styles of meditation. Each with its own purpose. The first is the one you are most likely familiar with.
Focused Attention: When you focus your mind onto something. This could be a sound like the rhythmic sound of a bell or drum, something visual like a mandala or a candle flame, a thought like a mantra, a visualization (guided or not), or even just your breathing. The objective is to clear the mind of distractions. This type of meditation would be helpful to achieve any of the benefits listed above.
Open-Monitoring: When you consciously expand your awareness to focus on your environment, your train of thought, or your sense of self. The objective here is to experience these things with intention; fully, and in the moment. This type of mediation can bring up suppressed feelings, thoughts, or impulses. It is not about judgement, only awareness. This type of meditation would be excellent for shadow work, and would also be one I would choose to use to help break bad habits, limiting thoughts/beliefs, or supplement with along side medical treatment for alcohol or food addictions. Both of these types of meditation can be used alone or in conjunction with each other to achieve the above mentioned benefits.
While meditation seems quite common today, there are still some misconceptions about it. Ones that may be preventing people from even trying it. Here are some of the more popular ones I have found.
• It is a religious practice or witchcraft: This is not true. Anyone can practice meditation regardless of their religious beliefs. Cultures all over the world have practiced mediation in one form or another. Even focused/concentrated prayer could be considered a form of meditation, but, as mentioned in a previous post, one can be induced into a meditative state doing even the most innocuous tasks. If you have ever “zoned out” doing something like dishes, colouring/drawing, gardening, etc.. you have entered into a mild meditative state.
• If you don’t clear your mind, and keep it clear, you are doing it wrong: False. If given the space, your mind is likely to bring things up during meditation. The harder you work at thinking about “nothing” the harder it can seem to do so. Even if your objective is to reach that clear mind state, the process to get there is not so clear cut. The idea is to learn to let these thoughts or ideas come up, acknowledge them, and then let them pass; to not dwell on or continue to give them your time and energy. This is a learning process, and will take time. No judgement. This brings us to our next point…
• If I am not good at it right away, I never will be: Just like any other skill, it has to be practiced to be “mastered”. That said, you don’t have to be a “master” to benefit from meditation. It does not have to be an “all or nothing” situation.
• Meditation takes a long time. No. In fact, you can start seeing benefits of meditation just by doing it for 5 minutes a day to start with. The longer you practice, the better you will get at it, and you can increase the time you do it as you go. Starting with only 5 minutes a day is a good place to start.
One thing that can help with your meditation practice is breathing techniques. These have mental and physical benefits all on their own, but can also be a good focal point for you, especially when starting out. Here are a couple of techniques I use.
1. Box Breathing. This technique requires equally counting the duration of your breath during their whole cycle (in and out). It may benefit you to pinch your nose closed during the holds, but blocking your throat with your tongue is just as effective, and does not require you to use your hands. To start, breath in slowly for a count of 4. Then hold your breath for a count of 4. Next, slowly release your breath for a count of 4, and lastly, hold for a count of 4. Then repeat. You can do this as many times as you feel comfortable. 10 times is a good start count. This is a technique commonly given to people to help with anxiety. Another variation uses counts of 8 for in and out breaths and counts of 4 for the holds. Whichever you feel more comfortable with.
2. Alternate Nostril Breathing: This one also requires counting the breath, however you must use your fingers/thumb to cover the nostrils since you will be doing this one at a time. Start by closing your right nostril with your thumb/finger and breath in slowly and deeply for 8 seconds. Next, cover the other nostril (so both are closed) for 4 seconds, then unblock the right nostril and slowly release the breath over 8 seconds. Start your next inhale (through the left nostril) immediately and for 8 seconds, then hold for 4 seconds and repeat on other side. An alternate to this is to disregard the hold in between and start the next breath through the opposite nostril right away. Doing this for minimum of 5 minutes per day will be beneficial; working one’s way up to 10 to 15 minutes for full benefits. Adding a visualization of the breath/energy traveling up and down the body in conjunction with the breath (inhale or exhale) on the corresponding side of the body also provides benefits.
On a side note, our body actually, naturally, dominates with one nostril while breathing, and this alternates between our nostrils approximately every 90 minutes. This “feeds” our bodies and our brains in different ways. Something recently noted by psychologists is that breathing through the right side connects to our “logical” left, while breathing through the left connects with our “creative/intuitive” right side. This means that we can reduce anxiety by breathing through our left nostril only for approximately 3 minutes (this is how long it takes to override the dominance). This is because it affects your hypothalamus, which regulates your autonomic nervous system. It also means that our breathing can be affecting our mood at any given time of the day. If you want to learn more about this you can look up a content creator named Kyle Cox on Facebook. He has many useful videos covering neural reset techniques.
So, my question for today is, do you meditate? Have you done this for a long time, or are you just beginning? If you don’t meditate, would you start after reading this? While style do you practice?
*If you would like to read more about these studies you can go to HTTPS://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation#accessibility for more information and the links to the studies.
**This is not medical advice, and should not be used to replace it. Please seek or continue professional medical treatment for your mental and physical ailments.

Many of us have at least some knowledge of astrology and how it affects our personalities, and even our life purpose or fate. We probably know our sun sign (western astrology); have read our horoscope in the local paper, and maybe even looked up those of our friends or family. Many cultures have their own astrology systems. While the most common astrological system here in the West is a mix of animals and other symbols, others are based on creatures (real or mythological) like that of Chinese and some Indigenous systems. The Celtic and Druid systems were based on trees, while the Egyptians astrological system involves their deities. There are many sites available today that can explain each one and what symbol would correspond to your birthday. Astrology has become quite popular, but they all have that one first question in common, “When’s your birthday?”
 
Regardless of what system you connect with, one reason it is so popular is that each one gives some insight into a persons personality. While we all develop our personalities as individuals according to both principles of nature and nurture (what we are born with/inherit vs our experiences), astrology does provide some general characteristics in each sign that we can relate to; sometimes with eerie accuracy. Whether we believe that the day and time of our birth determines our personality and our fate, or not, it is clear that there is some accuracy (through truth or coincidence) to these systems, otherwise they would not have been used for so long or still be popular at all.
 
I will admit that I am deeply fascinated with anything involving divination and psychology, so it is not surprising that topics like astrology, which bring the two together, would interest me. Like anyone else, I question/ponder my purpose in this life as well. If you are like me, astrology and like systems, can bring both comfort and frustration in trying to analyze and figure things out. That said, I am always on the look out for new systems as well. Which leads me to one I saw online* that suggests a general life purpose based on the moon phase at the time of your birth, which can easily be found through a quick Google search. This concept is best looked at with the moon phases in a circle, with the New Moon in the 6 o’clock position. As the moon changes within its own cycle, the people born under each phase contribute to a larger cycle that serves to further the collective, so we can grow individually and as a whole. This theory suggests that each person is born into the cycle at the point of their current spiritual level, which hints at reincarnation and the karmic levels, and continues on. This same cycle is hinted at in the Major Arcana of tarot as not a linear path with a definitive end, but one that continues on and on; which is perhaps better represented as a spiral rather than a circle. As you will see, this chart not only works for the larger cycle of the whole (the macrocosm), but also in our individual cycles, and the cycles of our own lives (the microcosm). The chart is as follows:
 
New Moon: Creator – this is the beginning  
Waxing Crescent: Spark- take initiative/ take first step
First Quarter: Warrior – Break free of limitations
Waxing Gibbous: Refine/improve – bringing goals to fruition/seeing it through
Full Moon: Mission – transformative person
Waning Gibbous: Wise one – Teach others what you have learned
Last Quarter: Release – Letting go of old patterns / releasing what no longer serves (individually and the collective)
Waning Crescent: Complete – Ending things that no longer serve the collective
 
*The cycle starts again
 
 
This theory can add another bit of depth to our understanding of ourselves and our purpose here (mine seems rather accurate based on my personality), if you believe we have one. It also reminds me of a rhyme I heard as a child about what our personality is like based on the day of the week we were born on, called “Monday’s Child”.
 
Monday’s child is fair of face
Tuesday’s Child is full of grace
Wednesday’s child is full of woe
Thursday’s child has far to go
Friday’s child is loving and giving
Saturday’s child works hard for a living
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.
 
According to Wikipedia there is no single author credited for this poem, however it was first published in Traditions of Devonshire in 1836. Fortune telling by day of birth is much older than that though. I am not sure how much I like this one, as I was born on a Wednesday, but that’s just me.
 
So, what do you think? Do you put any faith in astrology (any system)? Do you read your horoscope? Does the phase of moon you were born under make sense to you? Do you believe more in fate or free will when it comes to personality and/or purpose? Had you seen this system before? I would l love to know.
 
 
 
 
 
 
*If you would like to see this video you can check out the one I watched by Loveagainjen on TikTok
 
 

Emotional or Intuitive Response?
 
So I was watching a video the other day that prompted one of those weird thought rabbit hole moments (this happens more than I like to admit). They were talking about having random emotional outbursts and it got me thinking about why this happens. It is perfectly normal to have an emotional response to a situation, especially while in the moment. If you are like many people you might try to control those feelings at the time, and save your emotions for a more private moment (I can be guilty of this myself). The problem with doing this is that it can cause a much bigger emotional response after that fact. We can also be “triggered” by moments in the present that remind us of past events, experiences, or traumas. If the event was important enough to us it can bring the memory and all of the emotions surrounding it flooding back. Usually, when we are over come by emotion due to past events/traumas we know why we are having these strong emotions.
 
However, what about when we seem to have an emotional breakdown that seems to not be linked to a present situation or a memorable past event? What if we cannot seem to link these feelings to anything at all? They can make us feel like we are going crazy. If you have ever been accused of being overly sensitive or hormonal during a seemingly random emotional moment, you know how difficult it can be to not only explain it to others, and rationalize it to yourself as well. We often make excuses for our behavior or try to laugh it off, but what if there is an another explanation for it and we just don’t realize it? I have two alternate theories for this.
 
The first theory is that we are indeed reminded of a past event/experience/trauma, but it is from a past life. Perhaps it is a reminder of lessons not yet learned; ones we may be likely to repeat in this lifetime, or currently are. In this case, the emotional outburst may be either a warning or a reminder. There are many mental health professionals that weave hypnosis and past life regression into their therapeutic practices. I have read several books where this process has greatly helped patients with a variety of issues. If you don’t believe in reincarnation, then this theory would not resonate with you.    
 
The second theory is that we are experiencing these strong emotions to prepare us for an event that is coming, but we have not yet experienced. A pre-release of emotional energy in preparation for something we intuitively know is coming; perhaps so that we can better react or have more control of our self when that moment comes. Since our intuition is a subconscious “knowing” that comes before the conscious knowing, this would make sense. Our subconscious works through symbols and feelings to communicate with our conscious mind. Our intuition can be one of the vehicles our subconscious uses to get this information to come through to us (recognized signs/symbols are another way). Our subconscious, which is theorized to be linked to our higher self, as our early warning system, if we are willing to listen.
 
When I presented the second theory to some friends, it really resonated with them. What do you think? Do either of these theories (or both) feel right to you? Do you feel like you suffer unexplained emotional outbursts? Do they ever happen before emotionally taxing situations? Have you ever done past life regression? Would you? What do you think? I would love to know. 

In an earlier post ( The Power of Words) I talked about how the words we use can help or harm us, and others. I talked about the energetic orientation of the words, and how we employ them can work for or against us. How changing negative statements into positive ones can help attract better or more helpful energies to us. After all, speech is spell work. The magic of our words allows us to energetically open and close doors to us and others. We can bind, bless, cast, or conjure with a simple phrase fueled by intent.
In this post I would like to discuss phatic expressions and how they affect the energies we open ourselves to. What is a phatic expressions you ask? Well, a phatic expression is one that conveys social relationships or contracts instead of factual information. We use these expressions every day in our social interactions, but perhaps we do not realize the influence they have over our energy. Certain phatic expressions can leave us open to continued energy flow between us and the person we are communicating with, even after we have stopped the interaction and moved on. Phrases like “You’re welcome” , “No problem”, or “Any time” can leave the door open for energy to keep flowing between you. They imply that your boundaries are still open and they are still “welcome” to your time and energy. Like an unspoken obligation or social contract that continuously feeds energetic cords, draining you in the give and take that is still taking place. These are phrases we probably never think twice about using. They are associated with common courtesy, politeness, and good manners, but do they do more harm than good?
We can still be polite and courteous when interacting socially without keeping ourselves open to energy draining social contracts. Using phrases like “My pleasure”, “Glad I could help”, and  “I was happy to assist you” denote an energetic end to the communication or situation while still being polite. While they don’t necessarily cut the cord (if one was created), they can stop the flow from that interaction.
This can seem like a small thing, hardly worth the time, but if you always feel drained at the end of your day (especially if you deal with the public / provide customer service for a living) it may be well worth the effort. That said, this is also good advice for your personal life as well. Cutting that constant flow / drain of energy with people you socialize or live with all the time is also important. This would be good practice along side regular cord cutting (you aren’t cutting them out, just protecting your energy and returning theirs), and shielding. I think this would be particularly helpful for empaths and energetically sensitive people, but it would be helpful for anyone.
So, how do you feel at the end of the day? Do you practice self-care when it comes to your words? Have you ever considered how these every day phrases affect you energetically? Do you think it is worth changing the way you phrase things after reading this? I would love you know. 

Empaths are a different sort. Experiencing a depth and understanding of emotion that many people don’t. This can seem like both a blessing and a curse. It can take a lot of practice to not let it overwhelm or consume your life.
If you are not aware, there is a difference between sympathy and empathy, as well as empathy and empaths Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone or a situation without experiencing or tuning in to the emotions of the person/people involved. There is a distance and objectivity to the feelings surrounding/within the situation or people involved. Empathy is about being attuned to the feelings of the people involved.  The person empathizing feels a deep connection on an emotional level to the people/situation. This can, if not practiced/experienced, lead to the person taking on the emotional burden, and even present related physical symptoms. One does not have to be an empath to experience empathy. Especially if you have had the same or a similar experience. This can translate to feelings of empathy because you know how you felt when it happened to you. However, even if you haven’t experienced it before, you can still imagine how it would feel, and so empathize with the person or situation. This skill can be developed by anyone. Empaths do this naturally. They have a natural ability to tune into people’s emotions, feel what they are feeling first hand. Sometimes this can be an overwhelming experience. If you are an empath, learning how to shield yourself is very important. So is learning how to tell the difference between your emotions and someone else’s. While that may seem simple, it can be quite frustrating, especially when distracted, unwell, or stressed out and your defenses are down. Large crowds can also pose an issue as empaths can be highly sensitive to their surroundings. They can also have excellent intuition.
There are many benefits to being an empath, not just to the people around you, but to society as a whole. They can be very good at mediating negative/stressful situations. This is helpful in preventing or deescalating aggressive/bullying behavior. On the flip side, empaths can facilitate all kinds of positive behaviors. Their very nature can help improve the well being of those around them by reducing stress, providing strong(er) social networks/bonds, and promoting cooperation, thus helping build and strengthen relationships for those in their personal and professional lives. When empaths are open and communicative about their skills and abilities, and others are open to them and willing to listen, empaths can help bring about better understanding of people’s needs and intentions. This is an important part of moral development. A practiced and experienced empath can contribute a lot of positive elements to any situation.
That said, there is also a darker side of empathic abilities. Being able to feel how others feel and understand what/how they are thinking and feeling can be used in some rather negative ways. There are those that can, and do, take this gift to a dark place. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including early trauma to the empath, a negative influence in their life, a lack of positive morals/values instilled when growing up, or low self-esteem (which they then project onto others), just to name a few. A dark empath could use their gift to control and/or manipulate people instead of helping them. They can create negative spaces, break apart relationships, tear people down, and cause all kinds of trauma and hurt. If they are practiced at this, they could do it without other people, especially those they target, even realizing it is them.  While this sounds absolutely terrible, and I would never condone such behavior, I would like to point out that, just like any other negative experience, this can be seen/used as a learning experience should it ever happen to you or someone you know. Learning to recognize a dark empath is a good first step. You may recognize many of these behaviors as those displayed by narcissists, psychopaths, and sociopaths. While “dark empath” is not clinical diagnosis, any one of the earlier mentioned could be one, or just appear to be one. Tactics often used by dark empaths can include manipulative behaviors like exploiting or praying on people’s weaknesses, deceptive tactics like faking care/concern, pouring on the charm, gaslighting, dark/malicious humor, and fake or forced kindness/generosity. All of these things can overwhelm a person, leaving them confused, exhausted, and even make them feel dependent on the dark empath (for attention/affection/validation), all while the appear emotionally detached to their own feelings, preferring to focus on those of their targets.  All of these behaviors are designed and utilized by the dark empath to gain power and control over others for their own personal gain.
All of this can seem a bit overwhelming, I know. If you are an empath, and this is the case for you, know that there are things you can do to help yourself. There is plenty of information out there (books and online) about how to shield yourself, something I highly recommend. Read up on the topic, you are not alone. If you are not an empath, but you know one,  I encourage you to enquire about it. Try to learn/understand what it is all about. This can benefit both of you. If you happen to come across a dark empath I hope you recognize, protect yourself, and move on safely.
So, are you an empath? Do you know one? Has your experience been mostly positive?