Tag Archives: success

saging

8 Jun

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Grateful for my recent jolt of positive new energy, I decided to ensure that it sticks around by cleansing our home (and me, for that matter) of any negative energy. Enter in… saging. As hippy dippy as I can be sometimes… I’ve never saged (also referred to as smudging) before. Gasp! But, the word on the street is, it’s a great way to rid yourself and your space of any lingering negative energy, in turn, making room for new energy and intentions.

Sign me up, universe.

Considering I live in LA, it was easy to find a store that sold sage for smudging. I walked over to Mystic Journey Bookstore on Abbott Kinney in Venice, marched straight past the display of crystals and the shelves of self-help books and over to the basket of sage. I picked through it for a bit, trying to decide which one I wanted. Each one was wrapped in a different color ribbon and varying in size – so many choices. I ended up settling on a medium-sized bundle wrapped in a pink ribbon. It just felt like the right one for the job.

My initial plan was to sage the house by myself while Brian was at work, but then I thought it all the way through and realized that it might be best to have Brian involved in this particular activity. Not only because it happens to be his space as well, but also because I’ve been known to accidentally light things on fire.

So I waited.

I wasn’t quite sure what Brian would think of my plan. Luckily, he was game for some saging and it turned out to be an unexpectedly fun husband/wife activity. The only member of the family who wasn’t into it was Frank. He made it very clear early one that he is not a fan of smoking plants….I don’t think he will be saging his dog bed anytime soon.

Brian and I went from room to room with our smoking sticks of sage, sometimes together but mostly we moved separately. We had a common affirmation/intention for each room though. I found the experience incredibly grounding. Maybe it’s due to the ceremony of it, but I immediately felt lighter when we were done.

If you haven’t tried it, I would most definitely recommend it.

How to sage your space-

* things you need…sage…a bowl to hold the smoking stick over and a cup of water to extinguish it in after.
– open every door and window in your house
– light the stick, and when it catches fire, blow it out and allow the embers to start to smoke (like you would light incense).
– set your intention for each room.
– walk around the room, waving the sage stick so its smoke drifts into corners, along walls, around windows, and along ceiling lines. As you do, imagine the smoke absorbing negativity, problems from those who were in the space before you, toxicity, and anything else you want to go away. See the smoke dissipating and floating out the windows, and imagine that bad energy flowing out of your space, making room for positive, fresh energy.
– extinguish the stick in the cup of water

and viola! Hello, new energy!

 

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project 30 – natalie

11 Jun

View More: http://jenniferyoungstudio.pass.us/natalie-mitchell

Natalie, 34
What would your 30 something self tell your 20 something self if you could?

Know your worth. Stop worrying about everyone else, and just enjoy! You are more special than you might ever realize, but trust yourself and your gifts. You came here to share them with the world.

What do you wish you took more seriously in your 20’s?

The ability to change people’s lives and bring smiles to their faces by doing something that made me happy and filled my soul. Simple as that.

What do you wish you took less seriously in your 20’s?

Everything! With so few responsibilities those were the days to dance all night, explore every end of the city, travel on a whim or sleep a couple extra hours instead of waking in the dark to hit an intense 6 AM workout.

Favorite memory from your 20’s?

Hanging with my girls. Whether it was a late night out, lazy Sunday around the apartment or a trip to Mexico, girlfriend time was the best. I have so many memories that I can’t narrow it down to just one, but they all involved those special women in my life.

In your early 20’s where did you think you would be (work, live etc) by 30?

I thought I’d be married with a child, living in Oakland and working in the non-profit world.

And where were you by 30? What did your life look like?
Not long after turning 30, I did get married and have a baby. Instead of the Bay Area I’m living in LA. I also made a major shift in my professional life, and I’m about to launch a kids clothing line. My husband was always supportive of me pursuing my art practice and love of creating – I finally decided to run with that.
Were you ever worried that it wouldn’t all fall into place?
Of course. I still find myself unsure of what’s to come, but I know now that it’s all good. I have the ability (just as we all do) to put aside the noise and continue to create the life I dream of.

What is the greatest gift about being a woman in your 30’s?

The greatest gift came from becoming a mom. After “growing” a human being, giving birth and then nursing him with my body and spirit, I’ve come to appreciate my body in ways I could have never imagined. It feels good to love the skin I’m in.

When you look out onto the horizon what do you hope your life looks like at 40?

My hope is that I will be the mother of at least one more child, in a strong happy marriage, creating things for all the world to see, with a life FULL of family, friendship and love.

What’s a quote/ saying you try to live your life by?

I have to share 2!
“Stop waiting to be who you already are.”
– Melody Ehsani
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.”
– Marianne Williamson

104

26 Mar

11 things that have been making me happy recently…

1. Brian’s photography show was a huge success!! The room was packed! It was such a whirlwind evening (I feel like I barely talked to anybody for more than 30 seconds) but oh so much fun.

2. Cirque Du Soleil– I haven’t been to a cirque show in the longest time and I had forgotten how entertaining they are. Although there were some parts that had me thinking- this is what it must feel like to be on acid.

3. little kids in rain gear. Especially silly rain boots.

4. Rainy sundays…spent cozy in bed

5. The new shirt I wore to Brian’s show- I’m a sucker for sparkles!!

6. Finding the perfect restaurants to eat at while in New Orleans- Galatoires and Brennans...I’m coming for you.

7. Rachel and PJ for being our resident photographer and bartender at Brian’s show. Thank you guys…we love you.

8. emailing with restaurant and hotel owners in different cities- so many great personalities!! I can’t wait to meet everybody!

9. my family for always showing up to support me/us

10. our parents finally met each other and it went smoothly! Phew! (more on that in a later post)

11. this picture-

144

15 Feb


“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”

Buddha