Full Moon: Tea Ritual with Lindsay Luna

Happy Full Moon beauties!

With this grounding Full Moon, I asked the Goddess Lindsay from Whole Body Alchemy to share a tea ritual - she makes tea magic! Enjoy :)

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Making oneself a pot of tea is a magical process. Whether you intend to or not you are creating a ritual that is hundreds of years old.

All the elements are involved in making tea:
Earth is represented by the botanicals; seed, roots, leaves and flowers.
Water is the magical conduit that is used to infuse with the botanicals.
Fire is represented by the act of heating the water.
Air is the aromatic vapors released from the steam.

Combined, you have yourself a beautiful ceremony of the four corners, and by taking in the sacred brew you are honoring the fifth element of spirit.

To get started, select your tea and tea ware. Regardless of the tea ware you use, the sacred space you create is what is vital to the outcome of your ritual. This ritual is a time to let go of the concerns of the day and focus your intentions on the simple comforts available to you in the form of flower, leaf, root and seed.
Choosing herbs is also an important element. What do you have currently available in your cupboard  Are you feeling drawn to using a floral blend, a spicy, deep or pungent blend? The choice of tea can reflect what you may be needing at this time. For example; I often select creamy, spicy teas such as a ginger and vanilla.  Ginger is considered an herb of the moon, is fiery and sensual much like the full moon herself. Vanilla is also sensual, deep and aromatic.

Steeping
When you are ready to pour the water over the herbs speak softly while pouring, “I infuse this water with (insert your intentions here)”. During the next few minutes, let’s focus on breath.  Slowly breathing in for a count of four, pause at the top f your breath and exhale slowly for a count of four.  Once your tea is ready according to your taste preference, take your cup and find a comfortable place to settle in.

Sacred Space
Find a comfortable place  on the floor or at a table, preferably near a window where the light and the view are inspiring or relaxing. If the weather near you is cool keep a throw blanket handy that you can curl up in while you enjoy your tea. If it is warmer where you are take your tea outside and sit among the beauty of nature.

Where the magic happens:
As you begin to steep yourself in the comforts of tea, notice the aromas, the taste and the beauty in what your have created.  As the ribbons of steam unfurl around you- the lessons of the day are taken in with each sip.  If you have a notebook handy, now would be an ideal time to write down your inner reflections. As you sip your tea, is your mind wandering?  What are you thinking about?

Take a moment to release what is on your mind. Acknowledge it, let it go and take a deep breath and come back to the self-nurturing of this simple ritual.

With each sip we can practice letting go of the days burdens. With a clear mind our awareness is fine tuned and we can come back  into balance with our mind, body, and soul.

Once you have reached the end of your cup, take your herbs/ tea bag and gift them to your garden or compost bin. This small act is a great way to honor the earth and all the abundance she provides for us.

I hope you enjoy this tea ritual, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Om Suasti Astu

Lindsay

Her links:

Website//Tea Consultations//Facebook

Ps. She is having an awesome giveaway on her blog right now! I am a part of it too! Go enter!

She is also making me custom tea blends right now and I can't wait to drink them - Self- love and Luna magic! Contact her if you want a custom tea blend made!

Go watch your Full Moon astrology report too :) 

Feathering the Nest: DIY Dream Catcher Garland

My name is Leah Kent, and I am a teacher, maker, designer, and the founder of Skill It. I am also one half of the team offering “Feathering the Nest,” an e-course to guide you through the process of making your house into a cozy, nurturing home. My co-creator and co-teacher in this project is Stephanie Perkinson, a certified holistic health and lifestyle coach.

When Stephanie and I met we recognized that we are kindred spirits in every sense. We instantly bonded over our shared love of art, design, sewing, and finding small & simple ways to breathe more beauty and soul into our living spaces. We think that the things you choose to surround yourself have a profound effect on your mind, body, and spirit.

In Feathering the Nest we want to guide you to finding ways for your home to not only reflect the beauty inside of you, but to nourish and give back to you, in a way that transforms how you move through each day. This class is an eclectic two-week journey through your home, a sensual path to self discovery.

We will be creating beautiful things for our homes with our own hands, getting cozy with intuitive writing exercises and cooking up some delicious recipes. You'll also receive beautiful printables to use over and over as you hone your nesting style.

A little of what you can expect:

• Inspiring exercises to draw out your dreams & desires
• Step-by-step tutorials for beautiful, creative projects
• A gorgeous Feng Shui & Home Chakra map for your nest
• Tools and resources for carving out spaces of retreat & rejuvenation
• Ideas for energizing and bringing life into your rooms
• Recipes for natural, lovely-smelling cleansers
• A sacred space online to share inspiration, photos, projects, and more

Because the journey is so meaningful when we share it with others, Feathering the Nest includes membership in a sacred online space to share your experience, pictures and inspirations with kindred souls.

Whether you space is large or small, rented or owned, we think you are going to love learning how to infuse each corner with your essence to create a sanctuary for you and all who inhabit it.

If you’d like to read more about the class that starts on April 1st, just click here. And be sure to use the exclusive 15% discount code for Moondaughter readers – just enter “MOON15” when you register.

You’re probably ready to dive in and start feathering your own nest right now…so we are delighted to share a beautiful tutorial for our Dream Catcher Garland with you today. Just click on the lovely image to print yours out and start nesting with soul…

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I am so happy Leah and Stephanie approached me about this gorgeous offering, since my word of the year is NEST! I want to make a dream catcher garland now! And I now have to save some pennies and take this beautiful course!

Thank you so much Leah and Stephanie!

If you have a question about Feathering the Nest, please email them and they will get back to you right away:

Leah: skillithome@gmail.com

Stephanie: wellnessbydesignsp@gmail.com

Love and Blessings,

Marissa Moondaughter

Moon Days: Guest Post, Moon Salutations

Happy Moon Day!! 

I L.O.V.E this guest post about yoga and the moon today. Enjoy loves!

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Hello, Moondaughter readers! I am so excited to be contributing to Marissa's Moon Days series. Hers was one of the first blogs I started following that had a more soulful nature to it, and it has been so inspirational to me. I blog over at abhaya, and one of my biggest passions is my yoga practice. Today I thought I'd share a bit about moon salutations.

If you have ever been to a yoga class, chances are you did a sun salutation or two or have heard the term before. Sun salutations are very common in most Hatha-based practices, but its counterpart, the moon salutation, is very rarely practiced. In fact, in all of my years of taking classes, I have only ever been in one class where we did this. "Hatha" means sun ("ha") and moon ("tha"), and the concept of practicing this style of yoga is that you are finding balance between these two powerful forces. The sun energies are more dynamic, fiery, masculine, and external, while moon energies are more passive, cooling, feminine, and inward focused. The moon salutation honors the yin side of our beings, and is a powerful way of connecting with the Divine Feminine.

This is a lovely sequence to practice anytime you feel a need to turn inward a bit; to re-connect with yourself and find focus. It is also a great sequence to practice before bed to help prepare for a night of restful sleep.

You can repeat it as many times as feels right for you. I hope you try this sequence if you've never done it before! And pop on over to my blog where I share more about yoga, my photography, my life, and living naturally and with intention.

Namaste!
-Sondra

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If you have an questions about the poses and whatnot, feel free to leave a comment below for Sondra! And visit her beautiful, earthy blog :)

Guest Post: DIY Hula Hoop!

So I recently got into hooping with some friends and when Tamber said she would like to show everyone how to make a hoop on the blog, I had to say YES!! So here it is! Thank you Tamber!!

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I'm going to show you a few tricks for making your own hoop at home.

Here's what you'll need:
-3/4" or 1/2" 100psi Black Irrigation Tubing.  This can usually be found at most hardware stores, you may have to buy a whole roll--enough for a few hoops.  I recommend 3/4" for beginners, but you can use 1/2" as well.
-Connectors.  They should be somewhere in the same aisle as the tubing, get the same size as the tubing you chose.
-Something to cut the tubing with.  If you think you will enjoy making your own hoops, I would highly recommend a cutter like the one I have pictured.  It makes life so much easier than using a saw, etc.
-Tape.  Electrical tape is cheapest and you can pick that up while you're at the hardware store, but if you want fancy shiny tape you will more than likely have to order some.  I use this website.  (http://identi-tape.com/hooptape.html) They have shiny and glitter tapes, glow in the dark tape, and gaffer's tape (for extra grip).
-Scissors.  For cutting the tape.

Step 1: Cut the Tubing to Size
For a beginner I recommend 3/4" tubing for a hoop that measures from the floor to about your belly button, or larger if desired.  The bigger the hoop, the slower it turns...the slower it turns, the easier it is to learn a trick!  It's nice to have different sized hoops hanging around.  Sometimes if I'm having trouble learning a trick I'll pick up a larger hoop and try it out for a little bit.  Once I've got it down with the bigger hoop it translates pretty easily back down to the size I usually use.

Step 2: Put the Connector in
You can cut a few notches off of the connector (as shown) with your cutters (be Careful!! those little ends will fly!) so it doesn't create such a flat spot in the hoop, but if you don't have a cutter the connector can go in as is.  You can heat up the ends of the tubing with a hair dryer to soften them up so that the connector goes in more easily.

Step 3: Tape!
(Taping can be a bit of a challenge the first time, but it gets easier each time you make a hoop..)
With electrical tape of any color, go over the spot where the connector is a couple times to reenforce that joint a little.

I put down a layer of electrical tape first.  I like the stripe look so I spin two tapes at once, but using only one color is perfectly fine too.  I hold the hoop between my legs and use both hands to turn and guide the two tapes around the hoop at the same time for the stripe technique.  The trick to taping is getting the right angle so that the tape slightly overlaps and you don't have any gaps where you can see the black tubing underneath.

If fancy tape isn't in your budget right now, don't worry you can just use electrical tape--or even strips of pretty leftover fabric, be creative!

*If you want some extra grip, you can put gaffers tape around the inside of the hoop.  Be sure this is one of the middle tapes and not the last to go down, because it will peel away really easily if it doesn't have any other tape over top.  You can also put it along the same way as the electrical tape---that stuff comes in plenty of colors too!

*If you're using shiny tape it has a paper backing on it...I recommend not trying to use it right off of the roll but cutting it into manageable lengths and pulling the backing off as you go.  Angles are REALLY important for shiny tape.  I always border my shiny tape with thin electrical tape or gaff so that it lasts longer.

Step 4: Hoop!!
Go outside if you can, put on your favorite jams, and dance with your new partner!  Youtube has a ton of great tutorials and hoop videos for inspiration and how-to.

I have met so many wonderful inspiring people through being involved in my hoop dance community and I’ve had a ton of fun too.  Since becoming a full time student I haven’t had the time to be as involved as I once was but I still regularly hang out with many of the people I’ve met. Together we’ve helped out at kids’ events and benefits through a non-profit we started called RVA Hoop House (http://rvahoophouse.org/) and performed regular and fire hoop at bars with bands or at outdoor events.  I’ve even substitute taught hoop dance classes for friends a couple times. I never really sought out to do any of these things---I’m actually kind of shy---but my friends were encouraging and inclusive and I always have a blast.  You would be surprised how many opportunities there are out there!

Here are a couple sites you might find helpful for learning more or making new hoop friends:

Hooping.org. (http://www.hooping.org/)  There is a plethora of all things hoop here.
Hoop City (http://www.hoopcity.ca/)  It's kind of like facebook for hoopers.  Make a profile and connect with other folks.
Meetup (http://www.meetup.com/) This site is not just for hoopers, it's a great place to find other things that are going on in your community too.  You can use this site to find hoop dance classes or local hoop jams.  Here in Richmond, we have tons of things for hoopers to do and a lot of the word gets out through facebook and/or meetup.

Happy Hooping! :)

Go check out Miss Tamber's : Blog // Shop //Twitter//Blog lovin'//Pinterest

Moon Days: Willow, Sacred Tree of the Moon

Happy Moon Day! My lovely friend Kim at Red Moon Mama is helping me out today and talking about the beautiful Willow Tree and its association with la Luna. Sigh... enjoy :)

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Willow: Sacred Tree of the Moon

By Red Moon Mama

"I am a willow of the wilderness,

Loving the wind that bent me."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

White Willow (Salix alba) ~ Black Willow (Salix nigra) ~ Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)

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The willow is one of the most instantly recognizable trees with its pendulous branches gracefully swaying in the breeze. I know it’s one of the first trees that I learned to identify as a young child!

Come along with me as we take a closer look at this ‘tree of enchantment’ and discover some of its mystical, magical and medicinal properties. I will even share how you can make your own willow bark tincture to relieve a variety of ailments. Let’s get started…..

The Mystical Willow

Willow is the tree most associated with the moon, the element of water, the Goddess and all that is feminine, thus making it the tree of dreaming, intuition, the subconscious and deep emotions. The willow has much to teach us in its associations with our feminine aspects. By spending time with willows, or using the wood to make a talisman; by taking it as a tea, tincture, or as a Bach Flower Essence, we can deepen this connection to the willow.

If you decide to spend time with willow trees, try doing so during the full moon. This can increase the potency of any insights and understandings that you may gain. This was something the ancients used to do too! Groves of willows were considered so magical, that poets, musicians, and priestesses would meditate within them to enhance their visionary skills and to gain inspiration and clarity of mind. Being in the company of willows was believed to promote psychic and intuitive powers, making dreams more vivid.

But more than anything else, ‘willow moon energy’ puts us in touch with our feelings and deep emotions, and it is the ability of the willow to help us to express these, let them out, and own them. This is the power of the willow’s essential energy.

The Magical Willow

In traditional spells, willow leaves are used to attract love. The Gypsies (Romani) use willow to divine future husbands, and an old custom for rejected or abandoned lovers was to wear willow in their hats! Why not try to attract your own love with this simple Willow Spell for Love. Just take three long supple branches of willow, braid them together and then fasten it into a circle with pink, red or white ribbon. Place a picture or the name of the person you love in the center and then put it next to your bed. 

If you have lost touch with your dreams or wish to increase the potency of them, make a willow wand and sleep with it under your pillow. Not only will you will find that your dreams become more vivid and meaningful, but the wand will protect you on the journey into your subconscious as well. Willow wands are also wonderful to use for any ritual or magic associated with the moon.

Willow Correspondences:

Planet: Moon

Element: Water

Stone: Moonstone

Bird: Owl

Color: Silver

Sabbat: Beltane

Many ancient goddesses are associated with the willow tree: Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, had a sacred willow grove. The Greek sorceress Circe had a riverside cemetery planted with willows that was dedicated to Hecate and her moon magic. Hecate, most powerful goddess of the willow and water, presided over the magic of the dark side of the moon.

The Celtic goddess Brigid was guardian of an eternal flame that burned within a sacred enclosure at Kildare. This hallowed precinct was surrounded by a protective hedge of interwoven willow branches that only women were aloud to enter. A peeled willow wand was one of the choices for the ‘Brigid’ doll in Scotland during Imbolc. The willow is also associated with the Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother, Crone, as well as Artemis, Diana, Selene and Luna respectively.

Use willow in magic for: love, fertility, safe childbirth, healing, protection, luck, moon magic, divination, and psychic abilities.

The Medicinal Willow

Willow bark has been used for it’s pain-relieving properties for thousands of years and was the tree (along with elder) most used by healers, the Wise Women of ages past. The White Willow (Salix alba) is famous for its rich salicin content, which is an active ingredient in today’s modern aspirin.

An infusion or tincture of willow bark helps to relieve pain, inflammation, and fever. An astringent tonic rich in tannins, willow slows diarrhea and helps stop internal bleeding. The infusion can even be used as a gargle to ease a sore throat, and as a wash to heal bleeding gums, cuts, burns and sores.

Applied externally, it softens growths, such as calluses, tumors, warts and corns. A poultice of willow bark heals cuts, sores and wounds and it can also be applied to heal the navels of newborns. :)

The willow flower essence can help us accept responsibility and forgive others. It can assist in letting go of blame, bitterness and resentment.

Please note, that those with a known adverse reaction to aspirin should avoid taking willow bark. Also, please avoid willow bark if you have a medical condition in which aspirin is contraindicated.

Make a Tea

Steep 3-teaspoons of the bark in one cup of cold water for two to five hours, then boil for one minute, and strain. Sweeten with honey or maple syrup and enjoy.

Make a Willow Tincture

The method I use for making herbal tinctures is the traditional or “simpler’s” method. It is super easy and doesn’t require any math calculations, scales or measuring cups. 

Supplies:
~White willow bark, fresh* or dried (Salix alba)

~100 proof vodka (100 proof is the perfect ratio of alcohol to water)

~Pint canning jar with tight-fitting lid

~Cheese cloth or muslin

~Amber glass bottles (1-ounce is a good dispensing size)

* If you are collecting fresh willow bark, collect it in the spring time, being careful not to ring the tree or it will die.

How To:
1—Place the herb in the canning jar.

2—Pour the vodka over the herb. Completely cover the herb with the vodka, and then add an additional two to three inches more liquid. This allows room for the herb to swell as it soaks up the liquid. If the herb starts to emerge above the liquid, just add more vodka. Cover with a tight-fitting lid.

3—Place the jar in a warm, dark place and let the herb and liquid steep for 4 to 6 weeks.

4—Shake the jar of tincture daily. This not only prevents the herb from packing down on the bottom of the jar, but adds a bit of magic too. During the shaking process, I like to recite little chants, wave my wand or a feather over it. You can even shake the jar under the moonlight while  chanting to the Moon Goddess!

5—After the herb is done steeping, strain it. Line a glass bowl with cheesecloth or muslin, then use the cloth to wring out every last drop of the herbal essence. Reserve the liquid, which is now a potent medicinal tincture! Be sure to return the spent herb to the earth, by composting it, or leaving it in the dirt to decompose.

6—Rebottle your tincture in individual amber glass bottles and label it.

Dosage:
Tincture of willow bark can be taken 10 to 20 drops, up to four times a day. Tinctures can be administered directly under the tongue or diluted in water, tea or juice.

I hope you enjoyed learning about the willow, the sacred tree of the visionary, dreams, intuition, psychic powers and of course….the moon.

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Thank you so much Kim! I am definitely going to make this tincture! Do go check out her blog and shop!

Love and Blessings,

Marissa Moondaughter

Full Moon: Corn Moon

Happy Full Moon everyone!

This August is so exciting because there are TWO Full Moons, aka the Blue Moon! I wrote a guest blog about this wonderful phenomena over here: Gypsy Moth Sol: Blue Moon

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                                                                     Source: dreamywhites.blogspot.com via Anna on Pinterest

Today is also called the Corn Moon and it also falls on the Celtic holiday Lughnasa or Lammas. This holiday is also apart of the Wheel of the Year and the celebration of the seasonal cycles of Mama Earth. This is an Irish Gaelic name for the feast which commemorates the funeral games of Lugh, Celtic god of light, and son of the Sun.  In the mythological story of the Wheel of the Year, the Sun God transfers his power into the grain, and is sacrificed when the grain is harvested. Today is all about celebrating the first fruits of harvest, the fruits of our labors, and cultivating an attitude of gratitude for all the abundance that is in our lives.

Today would be a great day to go on a picnic, make bread (in my case, gluten-free), or just spend some time in the sun's warmth.

For this Lammas, write a list of everything you are grateful for this past year and what you are looking forward to!

Love and Lammas Blessings,

Marissa Moondaughter

Guest Post: The True Domestic Goddess by Dominee

Hello sweet Loves,

Today a wonderful friend of mine has come over here to teach us about the Goddess Hestia, of the home and hearth. My motto at the moment is "Messy bed, messy head," and I have definitely been feeling this way. My home is so off balanced and I feel so unmotivated to do anything about it, so I asked Dominee to help me out! I hope you all enjoy!

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Hestia Greek Goddess of Hearth by Dion Hamill

I have always been fascinated by the Greek Goddess, Hestia, Goddess of the hearth and home. I think she first appealed to me as a teenager because I identified with her introverted nature. She was mysterious, she was known for her kindness and charity amongst the Gods, and unlike the other Goddesses there wasn't anything scandalous or even overly interesting about her. She was kind of like me, yet she was still a Goddess. I thought that was pretty great.

Hestia is also known for giving up her seat on Mount Olympus for the God Dionysus so that she could devote all of her time tending the sacred fires. Which speaks to her giving nature and her dedication to her duties.

It was tradition when moving into a new home to evoke Hestia and ask for her blessing. Often times, the Greeks would take the hearth fire flame from their old home and bring it to the new as a representation of Hestia's protection.

I first began to form a bond with Hestia in the midst of a very severe period of depression. I wasn't taking care of myself and all aspects of my life suffered. I lived by myself and as a result of my depression, I lost all will to tidy up or care about my surroundings. After a few months I finally found the will to clean.

And it felt good. It felt magical.

It was just a small spot in my living room but that spot of cleanliness and organization made me feel good. I realized that taking care of my surroundings was in essence allowing me to take better care of myself. I began to research ways to bring more of that magic into my home.

                                                                           Source: brianasophia.com via Kaitlin on Pinterest

There are a few different ways to invite Hestia into your home:

• Don't just clean, make it a sacred experience. Add things to your housekeeping routine that make you feel good and make it fun for you, listen to music or dance while you clean. Add essential oils to your cleaning supplies or put crystals around your home for protection or to create a happy atmosphere. 
• Cleanse your surroundings of negative energies. Energies build up in our homes and can easily affect our moods. You can cleanse your space with sound, with incense, with prayer, and guided visualization. One of the most popular ways, and my favorite, is to use a bundle of sage and other herbs. Sage is easily found at any metaphysical shop and is wonderful at making your space vibrate with positive energy. 
• You can also create a small altar to Hestia on top of your fireplace or in your kitchen. This represents the Hearth aspect. Light a candle there and ask Hestia to bless your home and to watch over your family. 
• If you are having trouble finding the motivation to do chores try asking Hestia for assistance, she will give you just the push that you need to get housework done. Any activities that involve the home, such as cleaning, cooking, redecorating, can all benefit from a touch of Hestia Magic. 

Invite the warm, loving, constant, flame of her love into your life.

Happy home-making!

Dominee at BlessingManifesting.com is a self-love advocate, encouraging women to love themselves, their bodies, and each other. She is a Life Coach, Blogger, Aroma- and Crystal therapist and she uses her unique outlook on life to help others embrace wholeness and wellness as well as learn how to love themselves.

You can find Dominee in the following places:
Website: http://www.blessingmanifesting.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BlessingManifesting 
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SpiritBlessing

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Thank you so much Dominee!! I really needed to hear this post, and I am going to try all of your suggestions!

May Hestia bless all our hearths and homes!

Love and Blessings,

Marissa Moondaughter

Catch Me...

...Over at Laura's blog today! Thank you so much Laura! Learn some simple ways to connect with the New Moon energy!

Also, I just have to share my favorite necklace EVER. It is made by Laura, and she even named it after me! You can find Moondaughter and others like it here.

Happy New Moon, lovely readers!

What is the one thing you need to rebirth in your soul this new moon?

Love and Blessings,

Marissa Moondaughter