THIS BLOG HAS MOVED

The Blog has MOVED!  

I am now located at http://hestiasmuse.com/temp/blog

along with the rest of my 

website - 

www.hestiasmuse.com/temp

SEE YOU THERE!

Deal of The Week and a Giveaway!

Are you following me on Facebook and Instagram?  If not, make sure you are following because that's where I post a "card of the day"!
Each week I choose a different deck - either an oracle deck or a tarot deck and use that for 7 days.  Each day I ask for a card that has a message not just for me, but also for many others who will see the posts on social media.

This week I will be using the "Healing With The Fairies" oracle deck by Doreen Virtue.
The Fairies and Nature Spirits have clear, precise messages for you each day this week!  This deck tends to have really clear action steps or ideas to help you follow through with the messages, as well as an affirmation for each day!

I am offering mini readings with this deck all week for just $8.00!
You can get a mini reading from me for $10.45 with other decks I use.  This special price on a 3 card reading with Healing With The Fairies is available from March 13 through 18th.  EMAIL ME to order your reading, which will be sent to you by email within 48 hours of your payment.  hestiasmuse@gmail.com 

ALSO - Fun Announcement!!  I have a NEW, FREE Newsletter!  I will be sending out special offers, blog posts, and updates to my subscribers once a week (or less, honestly) Sign Up for my Newsletter this week and you'll be entered in a drawing to get a FREE 3 card Reading with Healing With The Fairies!

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Make sure you confirm your subscription by clicking the ink in the email you get after you subscribe!

Featured Mala Necklace of the Week - this Kokopelli Mala Necklace with Purple Jasper and Amethyst Gemstone beads is on SALE for $15 this week only!  You can order it from my Etsy Shop - Hurry there is only one! 

Perfectly Posh featured product of the week - Just Chillin'!

If you’ve got tired, sore muscles, it’s time to chillax. Just Chillin’ features peppermint and menthol for a cooling sensation, and caffeine, aloe, and cucumber to help reduce inflammation and soothe tension. Just glide over achy muscles and massage in for relief. Great safe and naturally based way to ease muscle pain or headaches! Shop now: www.perfectlyposh.com/wendyjoe/just-chillin-giant-cooling-skin-stick

Red Winged Blackbird - Magick, Community and Activism

I have been thinking for a week about writing this blog post.  What to say, what not to say, how to say it, etc. I had a profound and beautiful experience last week and I wanted to share it, but maybe some background is necessary.
Where to begin? I'm a GenX white woman, skirting back and forth between lower class and middle class in terms of finances.  I relate to Millenials, and politically identify as a liberal Independent.  I'm a pagan (Eclectic Pantheist), a mother, a wife, and I have chronic pain and chronic illnesses.

I participated in The Woman's March in my city on January 21.  I marched for many of my own personal reasons, and also to join in Solidarity with my sisters around the country and the world. (Is it sad that as I type this I am thinking of ways to defend my participation in this march?  There was a lot of criticism on the march, but I don't want to spend time defending something that was actually quite beautiful and powerful.)  That march, with 10,000 people on the streets in my city was so humbling and beautiful.  People of every race, gender identity, religion, and age marched together peacefully.  It gave me so much hope, but I also knew that just marching on one day wouldn't be enough.  We will need more marches, more follow up actions to keep this movement and other movements going.
A day or two after the Women's March, some friends and I began talking about planning a Witches' March.  Something in which local Pagans and Witches can come together on one day to show support for religious freedom, and protection of our Water and the Earth.  It is slowly taking form with some amazing women taking the lead on organizing details.  I was sitting with so many feelings that day. We had all heard the news that the Keystone Pipeline and Dakota Access Pipeline would be continued rather than stopped.  One part of me was still full of hopefulness after seeing such peaceful and beautiful marches all around the world.  The other part of me was feeling hopeless and pessimistic about whether we can really make a difference or not.  Will the leaders of the world and country listen to us?  Is this all too little, too late?  Not just in cases of women's rights, but also in terms of our economy, our planet, religious freedom, and so much more.  As I sat in my home watching the events unfold politically, and also watching members of my Pagan community come together and start planning something amazing - my emotions were a bit of a rollercoaster.  I sat there in my kitchen with my fears and worries, alongside my hopefulness and optimism, and just sat with all these feelings.  Not trying to push them away but just feeling them all. It was not comfortable, but I didn't know what else to do with these feelings except sit with them.
Eventually, I decided to ground and center my energy.  I remember thinking, "Mother Earth, I give you this energy from these feelings.  Help me turn this energy into something better.  Show me what to do". as I released this all down into the earth. Suddenly, in that moment, I heard a very loud noise - the sound of hundreds of song birds singing outside. I looked up and saw that a large flock of birds had just descended onto my property.  There were hundreds of birds in the trees, on the grass, and on my porch.  I imagine they were on the roof of my house as well.  Looking out a different window I confirmed that they were pretty much surrounding the house.  Singing so loudly and beautifully.

I just stood at my window watching them in awe for a few minutes.  Mostly black birds.  But, yes there were other birds mixed in to the crowd.  Robins.  Starlings,  Woodpeckers even!  But the majority were those black birds and as I observed them I realized they were Red Winged Blackbirds.

I immediately went to find my copy of "Feathered Omens" by Ted Andrews, but unfortunatley Red Winged Blackbirds were not listed in that book.  So I did a quick Google Search for "Spiritual Meaning of Red Winged Blackbird" (the flock of birds still chirping away loudly in my yard and the trees surrounding the property) I found this page, and as I read it I started crying.

http://www.auntyflo.com/magic/red-winged-blackbird

Some quotes from the article that hit home with exactly the type of feelings I had been sitting with;

"These red-winged blackbirds are protective of their young ones. They also protect their mates and other birds by chasing away even larger predators. They do not fear. They only know how to showcase their courage and unified effort to protect their kin."

"As you imbibe its strong trait, you will not fear being put in the middle of a crowd. You will show confidence and exhibit courage. Stand out even in the midst of crowd by showing your gifted talents and abilities"

"This can be interpreted that having this totem will enable you to do something that can be positively associated without you. It is like creating a legacy. To be known of something that is highly reputable and significantly recognized in the realm of this world. This can only happen if you will make yourself known to others. Someone who takes a stand on something that you strongly believe in. Never defy the essence of your existence. Speak out your idea or your positions. "

"This also teaches us the value of unity and strength in number. Unified efforts can undoubtedly lead towards the achievement of a goal. Be a team player. Let others know that you are dependable.  Learn to make ways on how are you going to protect each other against any harm especially those who are close to you – your family. Be firm but kind-hearted. Know that you can make others feel that they are loved, cared for and they are being protected. The sense of belongingness for a person is very important. "

"This creature teaches you to be live with confidence and love. This is a matter of communicating well. Learning to communicate what you think, what you feel, what you desire. Send that positive feelings to others and bring goodness to the community where you belong."

" Red Winged Blackbird shows up as a spirit guide when... 

• You need the strength  of many.

• You need to be a leader.

• You need unity.

• You are needing confidence.

• You are forced to be part of a team.

• You need to express your inner beauty ..."

As I read and re-read these words, with tears in my eyes, the flock of birds slowly left the yard.  Not all at once, but gradually in the same way that my tears turned to resolve.  I was crying because the moment was so beautiful and I felt it was a direct response to what I had asked for when I sent that energy down into Mother Earth and asked Her for help and guidance.

So I will continue to connect with my community in every way I can.  I will continue to speak up, stand up, and speak out.  I will March.  I will sometimes yell.  Sometimes I will cry.  Sometimes I will share cute animal pictures.  I will try to balance my voice so that I am informative and helpful but also inspiring and sharing positivity when and where I can.

Last night I joined with The Ever Green Hearth in a ritual for Imbolc.  There, we all added water from our homes symbolically to Brigid's well, joining together our energies, strengths, hopes and ideas as a community.  Then we took our wishes and dreams and threw them into the purifying fire. Brigid, hear our prayers!  Brigid thank you for your blessings!  Red Winged Blackbird, thank you for your message - to me and to others who might read this!  I will call on Red Winged Blackbird when I need some courage and need help finding my place within my community!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday Musings - Grounding

I often have people ask me how they can protect themselves from being overwhelmed when sensing other people's emotions or energies.  Many people identify as Empaths - persons who are highly sensitive to the moods and feelings of people around them.  Going out in public or crowded places can be overwhelming and anxiety inducing to these people - as they can feel others' grief, anxiety, or anger as if it were their own.  I wanted to compile a list of different techniques for Grounding and Shielding that have helped me and other people.  (In this blog post I will just focus on Grounding and then I will write another about Shielding.)  

If you are more grounded you will be much more able to let these energies you sense "slide off" rather than latching on and affecting you negatively.  The goal of an empath should not be to block these sensations, but to simply be able to notice and acknowledge them without being dragged down or trapped by the feeling.  We have this gift that enables us to help people and be better friends, healers, and counselors so we don't want to block the ability to feel others' emotions.  Yet at the same time we need to be able to function and go about our own lives! If you are not properly grounded you will have a much harder time doing this.

Image Found on Google Search.  Unknown creator

Grounding

"Grounding", "Centering" or "Earthing" is a simple process that we use to connect with the earth, our body, and the here & now.  You can practice grounding in any position - sitting, standing, or laying down.  Most people prefer putting the feet flat on the ground, which is helpful but not 100% necessary.  Grounding is just simply being more connected to the earth, your body, and the present moment. Being more connected to the present moment and the body is important for Empaths, who have a tendency to experience more on the astral or etheric realms, or "out there".  But we are still physical beings and need to be able to ground ourselves to release excess energies we tend to collect, and also to replenish our "batteries." 

Here are a couple quick methods I use for Grounding:

5 senses excersize 

Connect with your breath.... that means to simply bring your attention to your breathing for a few moments.  Next, simply notice your body, in particular the 5 senses of touch, smell, sight, sound, and taste. Notice your posture, the temperature of air touching your skin and the feel of the clothing you are wearing.  Notice any smells or scents.  Look around and simply take notice of the things you see around you.  What do you hear?  Try to notice sounds individually and identify where different sounds are coming from.  Finally notice the taste inside your mouth.  If you wish, take a small drink of water or eat a bite of something and try to just fully notice the sensation of taste.  As you go through each of the 5 senses try to keep noticing your breathing too.  Now you have brought your awareness simply and fully to your body and the present moment.  This practice alone can help relieve some anxiety and bring us back to our own senses rather than the senses projected outward from others.  The more you practice this technique of breathing and noticing each of the 5 senses, the easier it will become... until it becomes something much more second nature.  

With frequent practice you will be able to eventually bring yourself fully into this state of awareness within your body by simply setting your intention to do so.  This is especially helpful if you use a key phrase as a trigger.  For example, say "Here and Now I am Breathing" as you focus on the breath.  Then, "Here and Now I can smell...." as you focus on the sense of smell.  And then, "Here and Now I see...." as you focus on the sense of sight, etc.  With consistent use of this key phrase "Here and Now" you can create a trigger for the relaxed state that is aware of all the senses.  When you have done this often enough, and you find yourself out in public and needing to quickly ground and center your energies, you can just take a deep breath and say "Here And Now" and you will find yourself automatically connecting to the senses and the breath.

Image Found On Pinterest. I don't know the artist and claim no ownership
of this artwork.  If you know who created this please contact me so I can
provide proper recognition.

"Breathing Through Your Roots"

This is a combination of breathing and visualization that helps you connect with Earth Energy and feel more grounded and centered.  Place feet flat on the ground if you are in a chair, or you can sit cross-legged on the floor.  Connect with your breath (noticing your breathing and slowing the breath down to smooth, deep and steady pattern)  Visualize that you have Roots growing down out of the bottoms of your feet (if you are seated with feet flat on the ground) or roots growing out of your hips and sitting bone (if you are seated on the ground in cross- legged position.)
Take some time simply breathing and feeling your roots extend down into the earth.  Notice how it is darker, cooler, and quieter down there in the earth.  Recall the smell of soil and other pleasant sensations of nature.  You don't have to be outdoors to connect with mother nature in this way simply use your intention and visualization.  

Once you have established your roots, think of how the roots of a tree draw water and nutrients up from the earth into their trunk and branches.  Now when you inhale slowly, feel that you are breathing from your roots and that as the oxygen fills your lungs you are drawing energy up from your roots into your body.  (Picture the way a straw draws water up from the bottom when you drink with it.  You inhale and "suck" the energy up through your roots, into feet, up the legs, and then up the spine and outward to arms and fingers.) As you exhale, you release any "extra" energy you didn't absorb - visualize and feel this energy emptying out of you back down your roots and into the earth.  You can also breathe out any negativity or anxiety, down those roots and into the earth.
Don't worry about harming the earth by emptying these negative energies in this way.  Simply set your intention that you are releasing these energies to be healed.  Energy itself is neither good or bad, it just needs to be returned to it's natural state where it doesn't hold any vibrations of fear or pain.  Just focusing on breathing up through the roots - breathing in love.... and then emptying out the stress or worry out through the feet or sitting bones back into the earth for healing.  Practicing this a few minutes a day makes it come much easier and eventually you can very quickly connect with your roots and earth energy at any time.

FB: Echoes Of The Heart Healing

Earthing

Earthing is the simple act of walking on the ground (outdoors) barefoot.  Feeling the sand, grass, dirt, leaves, etc directly touching the soles of your feet can relieve stress, improve circulation, lift your mood, and bring you closer to Mother Nature.  When you combine Earthing with intentional grounding excersizes like the two listed above, the experience of grounding is more empowered.  However, due to weather, location, or physical disabilities, this may not always be an option which is why I listed the other two methods first... they can be done even when you do not have access to the outdoors.  I do recommend trying to go outside and get fresh air and sunlight even if you are unable to walk barefoot on the ground.  Studies have shown that spending more time outdoors (even if it is just sitting on your porch and looking at the sky or a tree) is beneficial to your health and mood.

FB: Crystal Guidance

Crystals and Gemstones to Assist with Grounding
Carrying, wearing, or meditating with these crystals or gemstones may help you as you practice getting grounded and centered.  Hematite, Smoky Quartz, Black Tourmaline, Obsidian, Onyx, and Green Moss Agate all can help you fee more grounded and connect with earth energy more readily.

Remember Basic Self Care
Getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, and eating healthy foods with plenty of fiber is essential for an Empath to feel grounded and centered.  The world of emotions and feelings is so richly and deeply felt by empaths that the physical realm can seem less important or like a less valid part of our human experience.  This is simply not true, and taking care of ourselves physically is a big part of being an Empath, a Healer, an Intuitive or a Light Worker.

Seek Help From Other Healers
If you feel like you are "getting grounded" but the feeling doesn't last or dissipates as soon as you leave the meditation area or enter a room of crowded people, there may be some deeper spiritual and energetic work that needs to be done.  You may benefit from energy work such as Reiki to help remove blocks.  You may wish to seek out a Shaman, therapist or another sort of healer to help you work through past trauma or insecurities.  There is nothing wrong with seeking out help from others!

I hope that these ideas have helped you and given some ideas to help you with grounding!  Feel free to leave a comment with feedback or your own tips for grounding.

My Favorite Things 1-15-17

I want to share with you some things that currently make me happy!  Perhaps you will find something here that makes you happy as well! 

This week I read the first book in the Reverians series by Sarah Noffke, "Defects".  It's the start of a Dystopian adventure series with The Dream Travelers - a race of people who can travel anywhere they want in their dreams and also have other supernatural powers.  This secluded community of Dream Travelers seems to be the perfect place to live, but one "Defect" (a Dream Traveler who never developed her Supernatural Powers) is learning that things are not what they seem.  Check out Sarah Noffke - I love all her books so much!

My favorite body scrub is the Feature of the Week at Perfectly Posh!! When you go dark, you’ll reveal soft, clean skin. Our Love the Dark Body Scrub features black sea salt to exfoliate, and activated charcoal to help detox and rid your skin of dirt and other impurities. Then moisturizing shea butter and honey soften and calm your skin so it’s gorgeous and smooth. And if that isn’t enough to make you fall in love with the dark, its captivating sea breeze scent will have you hooked. Get yours on sale this week for just $23! www.perfectlyposh.com/wendyjoe/love-dark-black-sea-salt-body-scrub

My brother got me the 2017 Herbal Almanac for my birthday and I am really enjoying browsing through the many articles, recipes, and herbal based crafts here.  Great for herbalists of any level (beginner or advanced).  

I love meditating with Turquoise.  This gemstone is a master Healer and has soothing energy while also opening up pathways for Visualizations and Spirit Journeys.  Sacred to Native Americans and also to the Ancient Egyptians it is one of my favorite gemstones!  This mala necklace with Turquoise gemstone accent beads and a dream catcher pendant & feather pendant is on sale in my etsy shop for just $15.  You or someone you love could use this mala as a meditation tool or wear it as beautiful jewelry and take the healing energy of Turquoise with you wherever you go! 

Full Moon In Cancer and The Chariot

In the early morning hours of January 12th, the moon will reach it's fullest in the sign of Cancer.  Astrologically, Cancer is a sign of heightened emotion, motherhood, nurturing, and intuition.  Cancer loves deeply and fully, but has also learned to protect itself with a shell or a shield like a crab  because of unfortunate past pains.  This Full Moon might bring some of those past emotional pains to the surface again - this is not a curse but an opportunity for healing!

Two weeks ago we set our intentions with the New Moon in Capricorn occurring right before New Year's Day.  We probably felt very optimistic and had big dreams for this new year in terms of our personal goals.  This is great, don't lose sight of those!  There may have been some frustration through those first days of 2017, as we were in the middle of a Mercury Retrograde cycle which may have caused some delays.  The good news is, Mercury is now Direct again and we can really start doing the work that our goals require.

However, at the Full Moon we encounter the polar opposite in energy from what we felt at the New Moon.  Capricorn is external and does it's work outwardly and physically, seeking recognition from peers and society.  Cancer energy is all internal, and much more private.  Here, our Capricorn New Moon goals meet the one thing that really can hold us back - US.  Our feelings, fears, and pain.  Not that Cancer is all negative energy.... it's just that water holds memory and vibrates with whatever experiences it has held.  So the goals we set in that optimistic Capricorn New Moon come face to face with these parts of ourselves that can either lift us up, or hold us back - usually a blend of both.

The Tarot Card that is associated with the Astrological sign of Cancer is The Chariot.  In the traditional Rider Waite imagery of this card we see a chariot driver, in armor (much like that crab in it's shell) with water flowing behind him.  The intuitive and compassionate energy of water is the driving force, and has certainly shaped this charioteer's perspective.  Pulling the chariot are two sphynx.  One is black, and one is white.  There is a very Ying and Yang element here between these two forces that could be seen as opposing.  Yet here they are working together... just as I mentioned above that these experiences and emotions we have are both strengths and weaknesses.  The Chariot Driver has embraced both the light and dark parts of his psyche and uses them both equally in plotting his course.  Cancer is ruled by the moon, which also has these extremes of dark and light (New and Full phases) which equally have different things to teach us.  The Chariot Driver has crescent moons engraved in the shoulders of his armor.

Another thing that stands out about this card - the Chariot isn't actually going anywhere.  This may seem counterproductive to some types who wish to always be moving forward (and it is certainly an opposite energy of Capricorn's drive to be continually moving to the top)  Here is the true message of this card and this Full Moon:  Pause.  Feel.  Plan.  Integrate.

Yes, I know we're chomping at the bit and ready to just move forward already!  But there may be an important lesson right now, some tidbit of information about ourselves that we must face, embrace, integrate or discard before we truly start our journey.  It's that moment when we double check that we have everything packed before a trip.  We suddenly remember something else that will be useful... but the bags are already packed full.  So now we pause, take a deep breath, and begin to look through the bags again.  Can something else be taken out so that we can fit this other thing? Is there a way to pack more efficiently so we have room for all of it?  Is there something else we might have overlooked?

The Chariot doesn't ask us to give up on our dream (Cancer is quite tenacious and doesn't easily let go of a dream or ideal) but simply to make sure we are recognizing all the energies within us and available to us and using them equally and efficiently.  That past emotional pain that comes bubbling up?  It holds a lesson within in it.  That part of ourselves that we find annoying or useless?  It holds a hidden strength.  Integrate.
And if you find that there is a pain or a trait that isn't useful anymore?  You can work on letting it go... the Charioteer has no room for excess baggage.

You can meditate on the lessons of Cancer and the Chariot over the next few days.  Journal, cry, process.  Listen to music that engages you on an emotional and spiritual level.  This is part of unpacking and re-packing that luggage so you'll be ready for the next part of your journey.

Full Moon Blessings to you and Blessed Be!  I would be happy to help you through this process with a Tarot card reading.  This Full Moon Reading would be perfect for examining the energies available to you right now.  Or this Body, Mind, and Spirit reading could help you unpack and repack those suitcases for the next leg of your journey.  You could also contact me about a Reiki Healing session which could also help you integrate these energies and different aspects of yourself or heal emotional pains while balancing the chakras.  

Deck Review: The Kitchen Tarot

This week for my card of the day posts on Instagram and Facebook I used The Kitchen Tarot by Dennis Fairchild and Susan Shie.  I wanted to give this deck my official Review and talk a little bit about it for my fellow Tarot enthusiasts.  (Disclosure: I have not been asked to write this review by the publisher or the author of the deck and I am not receiving any kind of compensation or payment for doing this.)

Fittingly enough, my first card of the Year for 2017 was The Calendar AKA The Moon!

As we all collectively changed our calendars and thought about cycles, and some people were no doubt recovering from a late night celebrating and ringing in the new year - here came this card about resting, taking time to dream and plan ahead and be aware of the cycles of the Moon.

The Kitchen tarot artwork by Susan Shie is simply perfect.  Each of the Major Arcana cards was made as a large mixed media quilt with images of the home or things in the kitchen replacing our familiar tarot archetypes.  The symbolism is really fitting for each card, with things like "Cream and Sugar" for The Lovers card and "The Compost Pot" for the Death card.  There are teeny tiny words filling in most of the spaces inside the quilt sections.  Some of these words are sayings or affirmations that reflect the lesson of the card.  Some of the words are more personal stories that the artist felt were moments of her life that fit in with the story or archetype of the card.

The guidebook that comes with the deck is well written and continues the theme of the kitchen through clever puns and allegory while describing what the card may mean in your life.  Some of the symbolism is explained, and an affirmation is offered for each card as well.  This deck is perfect for a "Card of The Day" or "Card of the Week" type reading, and I also like to use it occasionally in a 3 card spread such as "Body, Mind, Spirit" to get a deeper picture of energies present in my life.  When these sometimes profound Major Arcana archetypes come into play in your life they can sometimes be overwhelming.  . . but when they are interpreted and presented as familiar themes that I encounter in my kitchen - they can suddenly feel familiar and manageable!  What a blessing!

Overall I do love this deck! 

I would rate it 4 stars out of 5
The only drawbacks I find when working with this deck are

1) I wish it were a full deck and included Minor Arcana Cards!  But that doesn't stop me from using it or getting accurate readings with it... I just would like to see what a full deck looked like!

2) The small detail in the cards is hard to see.  Sometimes I wish I could read some of the small lettering in the artwork as I feel like I might be missing out on something the artist wanted me to see!

I would be happy to do a 3 card reading for you with this deck!  You can order one through my Etsy Shop or visit my website to learn more about the Tarot and Oracle Card Readings I offer!

You can also order a copy of this deck for yourself from Amazon

The Kitchen as a Sacred Space? YES!

This week on my facebook page and instagram page you may have seen my "Room Of The Week" posts that have been focused on The Kitchen.  While our modern kitchen is a far stretch away from our ancestor's kitchens, we can struggle to see it as the "Hearth" of a home.  Without the open fire, is the kitchen still a Hearth?  My answer is yes.  Much of our daily life is still centered around this part of our home where we store food, prepare food, and wash the dishes.  Some people might feel that the Oven is their new Hearth, while others may find it to be the Kitchen sink - or even just the kitchen as a whole.  For someone who is spiritually minded (meaning spiritual but not pinning this down to just one religion or spiritual path)  The kitchen can be seen as a room of nourishment and healing, as well as alchemy and devotion. We find nourishment for our bodies (and also for those cravings that feed our spirit) We can cook up a batch of soup for a sick family member, or comfort food to take to someone who is grieving.  We watch as magic-like alchemy takes place in pots on the stovetop and rising dough on the countertop.  We can also express a form of devotion and commitment to our home and family by cleaning the kitchen.

I asked everyone on Sunday to determine what their kitchen needs most in order to begin feeling like a sacred space.  Does it need to be Decluttered?  (That's where I am starting and recommend If you have too much stuff in your kitchen or many things that don't belong there.)  Or you could be at the Organizing Stage, where "too much stuff" isn't the problem as much as "where does it go"?  Finally, if your kitchen is already clutter free and organized, you can move on to Deep Cleaning - these are the tasks you don't do every day like cleaning out the fridge, cleaning the small appliances and backs of cabinets, etc.  

When your kitchen is cleaner and more organized it is much easier to connect with it as a sacred space.  Clutter or mess causes stress and blocks our intuitive guidance.  

Here is part of a blog post I wrote in 2015 (from the post titled "Starting Over"

"Confession Time; I'm a horrible housekeeper.
Ironic, since my Matron Goddess is Hestia - Keeper of the Hearth.  But this is exactly why She's my Matron; I return to her when I need the motivation to care for my home properly.  She reminds me that caring for my household is a great act of Love - for myself and for my family.

In mythology, Hestia volunteered to keep watch over the Fire of the Gods.  Instead of returning to Olympus with her brothers and sisters to reign and rule, she chose a life of service; keeping the Fire of the Gods lit and tended.  In ancient times it was important to keep the hearth fire of the home lit and ready at all times.  It was the source of heat, light, cooking, and other preparations and activities that went on through the day.  If the fire went out or was untended and dwindled - precious time would be needed to get it going again; time that could have been used being more productive.  One never knew when the fire would be needed, so it was best to keep it steadily going.  As Hestia watched over the Fire of The Gods in this way, she became the Goddess of The Hearth and Home, representing the service of the housekeepers that blessed the household and kept it running smoothly.  

In our modern world, we don't need to keep a fire lit in our homes at all times.  Yet we do take actions that keep the household running smoothly and keep our family safe, fed, and protected.  Paying the electric bill.  Preparing the meals.  Cleaning and Maintaining the home.  Hestia reminds me that these acts of service are a loving choice I make for my family - not an evil chore that I am tied down to or required to do as a slave, but an act of love."

..... and continued....

"My starting point is the Kitchen Sink.  As I mentioned, we don't really have a "Hearth" in modern homes.  Even homes that have a fireplace - that fireplace Hearth does not necessarily play the role of center of the home.  So what place in the home does serve as the central focus?  For me, it's the Kitchen Sink.  This is probably because of FlyLady's teachings of Starting with the Kitchen Sink.  Her theory is that if you keep your kitchen sink shiny, the rest comes easier.  It's easier to keep up with the dishes if you're not letting them pile up.  It's easier to be motivated to keep the rest of the kitchen clean and shiny if the sink is clean and shiny.  It's easier to be motivated to keep the other rooms of the house clean if the kitchen is clean.  Then the other things you need to do come easier too, because you don't have to clean before you cook, or you don't have to clean up the living room just because you want to sit down and relax.  In theory, if you keep your kitchen sink shiny, the rest will fall into place (it still takes work, but that's the basic idea)  You can read FlyLady's Kitchen Sink lesson HERE. 

So for me, the kitchen sink is becoming my "Hearth Fire".  It is the place to focus on, it is the place to start and the place to end.  Hestia is considered 'The First and The Last" and it was traditional to honor her first thing every morning and the last thing every night.  Incidentally - FlyLady says to shine the kitchen sink first thing every morning and the last thing every night.  So this just works!  "

So thinking of the kitchen as a central focus of our home, we absolutely must also think of it as a sacred space.  It can't really be one and not the other.  So as we have done in other rooms, we can Clear The Space and make sure that our kitchen is filled with things that serve a purpose or match our intention for that space.  You can read my full post on How to Declutter your home with a spiritual intention here - Clutter As A Block To Spiritual Flow. and make sure you follow my facebook page for some more tips and challenges through the week!

Self Care Sunday - Stay Gold

It is late afternoon on a Sunday this first day of the New Year.  On Sundays I like to set aside some time for self care and relaxation with intentions of nurturing my spirit, mind, and body.

My card of the day (shared daily on my facebook page and instagram) was The Calendar from The Kitchen Tarot (which is Major Arcana 18 THE MOON) and so today I have worked on filling out my new 2017 weekly planner.  I have taken some time to schedule out my work, housekeeping and also some self care activites. Our intuition can be way off kilter if we don't take time for rest and self care! 

I am thinking I will spend some time this evening coloring this picture of The Wheel of the Year Tarot Card.  Numerologically, 2017 is a "10" year so this is our collective Card of The Year.  A lot may be left to chance but there will be some opportunities for great luck and expansion through this year!  But you have to play to win, and sometimes there will be losses or upsets.  I'll allow my mind to wander and relax on the themes and symbols of this card as I color.... which will also nourish my spirit's need for creativity!  I'll have a hot cup of chamomile by mu side and some relaxing music in headphones.....

Later this evening, before bed I am going to have some pampering self care!  I am going to use this moisturizing face mask called "Stay Gold" - this cold winter weather is threatening to dry out my skin!  This face mask moisturizes and heals with Tumeric, Milk, Honey, and Lemon and is so nourishing on my skin!I wash my face and apply this to clean, dry face and leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse it off.  I will follow up with the "Good As Gold" skin stick - which has shea butter, beeswax, argan oil, pear and apple extract, and other nourishing ingredients that both help lock in moisture and fight the signs of aging by improving skin glow and elasticity.  I love using it as an overnight face moisturizer!  If you want to try these out and add them to your own self-care routine you can help support my small business here - www.perfectlyposh.com/wendyjoe

I hope you all have had a great start to 2017, and wish you a very happy New Year!  Take some time tonite or this week for some self care!  You Deserve It!