My typical celebration would involve making a yummy autumn dinner and inviting family and friends over to celebrate new comings, while also remembering our passed loved ones.  Then after everyone leaves I do a small, private meditation. Involving things like candles, fallen leaves, gourds and/or pumpkins, photos of any loved ones who have passed, my crystals and sage.. Sorry to be disappointing to some, but Satanism is not on the agenda. Some have made Samhain to be about something it is not. I mean really, for all the darkness, ghosts and evil talk, Samhain, like all Wiccan holidays, is most firmly rooted in the natural world, and in natural processes. Death is a natural thing, and this holiday is the time when we acknowledge and honor its place in our lives.

Autumn, Hoodies, Comfortable Weather, Squishy Socks, Tim Burton, Pumpkin Cookies!
I CAN KEEP GOING!
Literally everything that comes with what can be referred to as "The Darker Half Of The Year". 

FAVORITE ACTIVITIES
Visiting farmers markets for yummy fall favorites, corn mazes, hay rides, bonfires, etc.. 

ALTAR / HOME DECORATIONS AND SYMBOLS
ACORNS, APPLES, BLACK CANDALS, BROOMS, CARVED PUMKINS, CAULDRON, FALL FLOWERS &LEAVES, NUTS &BERRIES, CORN HUSKS, ETC.

Six popular types of meditation practice:
mindfulness meditation
spiritual meditation
focused meditation
movement meditation
mantra meditation
transcendental meditation

As a woman, I'm not afraid to share with you that I myself am VERY prone to these things!
Iv literally been dealing with everything that can possibly go wrong down there for as long as I can remember! From ovarian cysts all the way to BV &UTI's. I myself was ashamed. I'll admit that. I thought everyday, am I not cleaning up correctly? Do I not do proper care? What am I doing wrong? So me being who I am, I thought.. let me educate myself on this. Some of us don't know &that's ohkay! Some of us do know &that's amazing!
I'm sharing because I want you to understand that I'm not speaking on something I haven't experienced myself &I need you to know it can be cared for naturally! You don't have to rely on harsh chemicals like Monistat or Summer's Eve soaps. I mean some of us have relied on soaps for PH balance. Some of us rely on Monistat for yeast infections but after awhile how many of us notice that it stops working for us bc our bodies become immune to it! I mean sometimes you use these things to treat one issue and end up with another.

Its NOT always about hygiene. Don't get me wrong.. it can be.
However, it can also be our birth control, our soap or even sex. 

​BV, Yeast Infections Or UTI's
*Sex - When it comes to sex some of us don't realize what unprotected sex or having multiple partners can do to our PH balance. It throws of good and bad bacteria. Some of you may argue that our vagina is constantly cleansing itself which is true, this is why we have discharge regularly. However if our bad bacteria over powers our good, infections arise. 

*Coconut Oil - Giiiiiirl, when I say this stuff works wonders I MEAN THAT SH*T! I use coconut oil for everything in the book! EVERYTHING! Recently, I tried using it for some BV irritation &succeeded beyond what I needed it for! Not only did it sooth the irritation but it cleared up everything in TWO days!

*Milk Or Plain Greek Yogurt - Same concept.

​*Hydrogen Peroxide - Outer Care Only! Helps sooth any itchiness or irritation.

​How To :
-Listen babies, there is nothing wrong with sexual expression. However, you need to start practicing safer sex. Like condoms! Birth control prevents pregnancy not infections! &Then there is straight minimizing your sexual partners.
​
-Melt down some organic coconut oil in a jar/container. Soak a non scented tampon in the oil &insert it for at least 2/3 hours. Do this twice a day w a couple hours in between care. Id say do it for 3 days unless you feel you need it for a few more. Do this when you notice symptoms rising for better results.

-For hydrogen peroxide you can add a few drops to a cotton swab and dab it to the irritated area a few times a day.

* I chose coconut oil bc I already use it for everything else so I'm familiar w it. Think of it as the same concept as oil pulling. If you've never tried it, it's basically absorbing all the bad bacteria and when you remove the tampon you're pulling all that "nasty" out with it. Don't be afraid to look!
​​* Iv never tried milk or yogurt but I have friends who arent fans of coconut oil and have tried the alternatives &it's worked for them. Im sure you all know, no one vagina is the same as the next.
*Always wash your peri area BEFORE trying any of these remedies.
​

Ovarian Cysts, Infertility Or PH Balance.
​
*V Steams - Steaming consist of sitting or squatting over a boiled blend of herbs and flowers such as; roses, mug wort, basil, lavender, nettle, wormwood, or rosemary.

*Tea Bags - Yep, you guessed it correctly. Its exactly what you think. A collected amount of different herbs mixed into a mesh tea bag small enough to place and remove later.

​*Tampons - Scented tampons are a girls enemy! Try organic tampons that you can insert yourself.
​
*Disclaimer: Avoid steaming while on your period or pregnant. Always consult with a medical professional when using essential oils, herbs, and steaming especially if you’re not aware of the effects.

How To :
-To V-Steam mix different herbs into a pot &boil them. You can sit or squat over it while its steaming. I'd recommend something you can place inside of your toilet for more comfort. The steam will provide relief, balance &sooth any inflammation.

-Tea bags are also mixed blends of herbs and flowers. You can make your own. Take a cup of hot boiling water and place your tea bag in it to steep. Id suggest mesh bags, not paper. Then put your tea bag in the refrigerator for 8-10 minutes.  Place the cold tea bag into your vagina and squeeze it to release the water. Do this two times everyday to treat inflammation. 

​-Trying different tampons isnt terrible but you should find one that works for you and try to stick with it. Organic Tampons are my personal favorite

*My recommended blend for both a V-Steam and your own tea bags would be ..
dried lavender - promotes menstrual flow (for irregular flows), calming properties, anti bacterial
dried rose pedals - eases menstrual pain, astringes heavy bleeding, anti-inflammatory
cinnamon sticks - pulls toxins
&dried nettle - hormonal balance, gentle cleansing

Benefits Of Steaming, Tea Bags &Toxin Pulling:

​​Strengthens The Uterus
Tightens The Vagina
Rids The Womb Of Excess Waste, Fibroids &Cysts
Regulates Menstrual Cycle
Helps Woman Conceive
Helps Alleviate Vaginal Odor
Balances Hormones Levels

Take advantage of my break down of the Sun Salutations. This should be a flowing asana practice. I'd say your breath and having strong control in your movement is most important when practicing these poses.
Id recommend doing this flow in the morning before starting your day. Its a great way to awaken your body &get your blood flowing. Warm your body up with some routine stretches &then do 6 to 12 rounds of the Sun Salutations. Your body will love you and have beautiful energy for the day.

You guys DO NOT have to stop eating things you love! I promote a healthy journey, but I don't promote people starving themselves or cutting out everything they love just to reach their goals. Where is the fun in that?!
You can reach your goal and still enjoy things you love eating. No wonder less and less people can commit to their goals.
Its all about doing it smart. I love donuts, but just because they aren't the best for me doesn't mean I'll never eat one again! It also doesn't mean I'll be eating one at every meal either.

Now, I'm not saying eat whatever you want and your goals will come. You have to do the work to get there. However, a burger over a wrap at lunch wont kill you! Usually I am the person at the table who orders the healthier dish on the menu, but if I'm craving a burger guess what I'm eating.. A FREAKING BURGER! Eat smart and eat mindfully, but also HONOR YOUR BODY! Listen to your cravings, but do it with your health in mind. If you're craving something sweet, maybe fruit can settle that craving. Which is better then shoving a candy bar down your throat. Try to be thoughtful with what you put in your body because your body will always tell you what it needs!

You can swap out pretty much anything for something more on the healthier side &still have the same great taste! If you don't like my swap choices try something else!

Frozen Red Grapes
Cucumbers + EV Olive Oil + Lemon
Rice Cake + Mashed Avocado + Boiled Egg
Banana + Coconut Oil + Cinnamon
​Celery + PB + Chocolate Chips
​

Put some oil in a diffuser &prepare your space. 
​Good Essential oils for the New Moon:
Cypress
Myrrh
Frankincense
Tangerine
Ginger
Cardamom
​Jasmine
​

​

• Find a place to sit create a sacred space. You can turn on some relaxing music &place crystals around you &other special things you may want to have.

​

• Clear your energy by lighting a candle, burning sage to clear negative/low energies, &light some incense to tune into your scenes. Close your eyes &imagine yourself covered in white light &allow all negative energies to be washed away.

​

• Become fully present in your body by bringing awareness to your breath &sending each breath into the body from the top of the head to the tip of the toes. Honor your thoughts but allow them to pass through your mind.

​

• Set your intention.  Grab your journal &reflect. What have you learned over the last moon cycle? What challenges came up? What worked well? What would you like to manifest over the next moon cycle?

​

• Meditate. Spend as much time as you need in meditation visualizing each step you’ll need to take to turn your dreams into reality. Allow images, feelings, &ideas to spring up from your intuition to help show you the way.

​

• Feel your intentions in your body &then be open to how this feeling transpires. The feeling is important.

​

• Release your desires to the universe. State your desires out loud for the universe to hear. Feel your desires in your body. Breathe gratitude deep into your heart knowing this desire will come to fruition &declare “I am ready to receive. And so it is.”​

How many of you want to start meal prepping but have no idea how or where to even begin?!
YOU'RE IN LUCK!
Meal prepping doesn't really have to be about calories, or portion control. Although I encourage counting macros, meal prepping for you can simply be about saving time and making better eating choices. Before driving yourself crazy trying to learn how to count macros, learning to prep meals and portion control all at once.. start slow. Teach yourself how to prep meals first. Once that's down you can dive into other things. Now.. 

Think about this:
– What does your week look like? Think about when you have the least amount of time, or when you normally resort to eating out, and prep for THAT.
– Prep for only what you need. You don’t have to prep every meal.

I usually have breakfast at home, prep my lunches &cook dinner when I get off work.
I don't usually prep my breakfast because it is always something simple. However I cook my lunches for the week in advance and put them in containers and heat them up at work. I prepare my dinners but I usually cook them the same day.

I'm goin to give you the best break down of meal prepping I have &hope it helps to get you started!

​It's important to get a balanced meal. You need to have a little of everything in your daily meals to make sure your body is getting its proper nutrients and vitamins from different foods.
​

​How you are cooking your items is just as important as choosing them over other things.
We should be practicing better cooking methods because we want to keep as much of our foods nutrients and vitamins as possible. We loose these when we cook carelessly. 
For example:
Steaming our veggies over boiling them. Instead of frying our meats try baking or grilling them. When seasoning our foods we should use more fresh herbs and make our own sauces. This all sounds difficult and time consuming. However, if we prep all of this in advance we save time, money AND we are eating SO MUCH BETTER!
Bare with me guys and I promise I will educate you in a way that you can appreciate.

Iv been freezing my veggies and fruits as well as my cilantro and other herbs for some time now &its worked WONDERS for my cooking and meal prepping needs!
Plan your meals &then make a grocery list. Head to the grocery store &buy the things you need while being mindful of storing time for your produce &grains, such as breads.
DO NOT GO TO THE STORE HUNGRY!

Make sure you have the proper containers, freezer bags and things you may need for your meal prep storage. I have endless Tupperware and Ziploc bags of all sizes including freezer friendly and room temp. It's ridiculous really, but necessary. Air sealing containers will be your best friend when meal prepping because they keep yours meals freshness longer.

Iv learned over time the way this process can go smoothly for me is by doing it the same day I grocery shop. I enjoy prepping for the week on a Sunday. I consider it my "get sh*t done day".
Prepping after the grocery store can be a bit much for some people. However, I personally would rather take advantage of my meats already being unthawed. I also would rather pack my freezer and fridge AFTER everything has been broken down into meal size. This leaves room for the lunch containers I prep after cooking.
​

You've probably bought the same meats and veggies for two different meals. SO, why not cut them up, season &store them separately so that you can pull them as needed.
For example:
Instead of unthawing three pounds of chicken only to refreeze the meat you don't use, why not take already unthawed meat and separate it into separate freezer bags so you're only pulling what you need? You might as well throw your seasoning or sauces in as well and save the time later.
Veggies and fruit can last longer when you freeze them. If you don't need a full pepper for one meal but you'll be using it in another, slice up your pepper and freeze it for later (freezing veggies works well if you're cooking them later, keep them fresh if you are using them to dip in hummus or sauces). Fruits such as raspberries &blue berries hold up as a whole in the freezer compared to strawberries which id recommend slicing before freezing unless you plan to use them in smoothies, then they can be frozen whole. 

Bouquet of roses..
(I like white or pink, but you can use any color.)
Distilled Water
A Pot w/ a Top
A Cup &a Bowl
Something To Store Your Rose Water In
Glycerin &Ice (optional)
- I personally also needed a funnel.

• Remove all the pedals from their stems. I usually only need 7/8 roses.
• Place your cup upside down in the center of the pot, then line the pedals around the cup.
• Begin to add your distilled water into the pot. Don't over fill the pot. The water should be just below the top layer of rose pedals.
• Place your bowl on top of the cup. Note* This is to catch the distilled water.
• Bring your stove to a medium fire/setting. When the water is near boiling lower the heat &put the top on the pot, upside down. Note* The water should NOT come to a boil.
• Allow the process to continue until pink/red roses loose their color or white roses turn clear in color.

*I like using ice on top of the pot to help the condensation process go faster.
*Let the water cool before draining and storing.