What if?

There are moments that I find myself continuously questioning everything in my life, down to the minute details of my day to day. Things so mundane like, what if the bus is late, what if I don’t meet a work KPI, what if the lockdown gets extended, what if the roof falls down, what if, what if, what if. It can be exhausting because usually the things that are questioned are the perceived “bad” things. The things that we fear could go wrong and potentially impact us tremendously. Is this conditioning? Are we taught only to question the bad things, the unhappy things, the consequences, the things that we fear could happen? I say yes!

As children most people are taught to fear the unknown, told things like “no Johnny don’t jump in the lake because you’ll catch a cold and get very sick which then means you won’t be able to…”, cause and effect, action and consequence, In so doing removing the childish wonderment of “anything could happen” However, what if little Johnny jumps in the lake and doesn’t get sick? what if he jumps in the lake, you jump too and you both have the time of your life?

Even the definition of the phrase “what if” in the Cambridge dictionary literally states “what if, is used to ask about something that could happen in the future, especially something bad” But WHY does it have to be something bad? Why can’t we question the possibility of something amazing happening in the future? Why are we ultimately conditioned and taught to notice the negative, the bad things and told to set out plans for every possible scenario or conversation that in all likelihood will never actually happen? I think a change of mindset and consciousness is in order here.

I believe that it is definitely ok to ask “what if?” Yet I think it is very important to ask the positive “What if’s” about the possibilities of the future. To ask what if all my dreams come true? What if I do succeed, what if I will get that job, house, partner? Of course these things may not all happen and usually don’t at the time we want them to but what’s to say that they never will? Isn’t that one of the beauties of life? That anything can happen? That’s where the excitement lies. Imagine if we knew what was going to happen in the future, wouldn’t that remove the drive for more? Wouldn’t we be stagnant? Don’t be afraid of the “What if’s”, trust the process.

I urge you to be more conscious and aware of your thoughts, pause once in a while and ask yourself, are my thoughts and actions bringing me closer to my goals? Spend your energy wisely! Invest in yourself and the things that add value to your path. Focus energy on what will allow you to align your vibration to the life you want and deserve. Above all else Wildlings I wish for you to lead with love and leave the world, people and higher consciousness better than you found them

Love and Light

🦋

2021 – Oh, the places you’ll go

Happy 2021 Wildlings, the New Years first full moon In Leo has already come upon us bringing new energy and growth and asking us to reflect on the inner work we’ve put in over the last cycle, to validate where we have come from and where we are going, to remain focused on releasing what no longer serves the higher frequency of self.

Remember to remain focused on your path and be mindful that this next moon cycle brings with it large energy shifts which may cause some emotional upheaval but with that will come a lot of heart and personal growth. If we can remain focused on the bigger picture, trust the process and hold true to our awareness and consciousness, this moon cycle will help by illuminating the path and providing a guiding light for the year ahead.

With that said, I leave you with a favourite prose to guide you on your next adventure with love and light 🦋

Self Care: You are worthy

It has taken me many years to truly believe and understand that we MUST respect our body when it asks us for a break, respect our mind when it is seeking rest and above all to honour ourselves when we need a chapter break. 2020 has been the most challenging year yet but I guess that’s where the growth happens.

Focus on yourself and your goals and remember that YOU are the most important person in your life. YOU deserve all of the love, care and support that you give to others. So do the work for growth, but also identify that sometimes self care is THE MOST important thing you can do. Remember, self love takes so much strength and courage.

It may take some time to find what you really want or what and where your path is actually leading, but please take time to appreciate yourself leading up to the festive season and end of year when everything will be about other people’s wants and needs. Reflect on how far you’ve come and validate that although you may not be where you think you ought to or want to be, you certainly are not where you used to be.

And always remember there’s no growth in your comfort zone, there’s no comfort in your growth zone. Hope you all had a beautiful day and if you didn’t, stop what you’re doing and take a DEEP breath in, hold it for four seconds and exhale slowly and repeat until your focus shifts to calm. Goodness. And realise that yes it may be tough now but if you look at “it” from a different perspective you’ll realise you have a lot to be grateful for

Wishing you all love, light and peace 🦋

Ad astra per aspera: Through adversity to the stars

Here in Melbourne we are still experiencing some of the strictest lockdowns and restrictions internationally. The powers that be keep dangling the carrot in our collective faces that they will be eased soon and to keep the faith, just hold on, we are all in this together, only for it to be extended again and again. I speak from experience, it is so disheartening. I can’t read or watch the news without feeling like I want to cry. I understand of course the need for some restrictions to be in place to keep those at risk safe and that other countries are using refrigerated trucks as morgues for their dead. I see the impacts of this virus however I wanted to give some insights in to what the last 6 months have been like here.

It has been 195 days of being “locked down”, of days not being able to visit family here or interstate, of kids not being able to go to school, of parents having to juggle work and homeschool, of not being able to hug friends and family, of not being able to travel outside of our 5km area, of not being able to get necessities, of curfews (until recently), of people not being able to say goodbye to those that are ill or have passed, to mourn with family or attend funerals, of not being able to go to a doctor with the support of a loved one, of elective surgeries being postponed, of not being able to get allied health treatment, 195 days that the collective mental health of the community has been impacted every day, of people taking their lives due to lockdowns, of people losing their homes, income or family members and friends to this pandemic.

People say, Melbourne should do better. To those people I’d like to say many things but for now I think I will stick with diplomacy and say that the majority of us can’t do any better. We have given up our freedoms, we have given up our capacity to leave the house for more than 2 hours a day, we have given up so many things that ease the challenges of every day life that some take for granted which continues to impact physical, mental and spiritual health, as well as livelihoods and the livelihoods of business owners that have had to shut their doors.

Through all of this though I have definitely found that it’s true that though tough times don’t last, tough people do. Those who choose to stand in the face of adversity are forever strengthened and forged by life’s most difficult challenges. We can’t control the hand that life deals us, but we can accept or deny the obstacles placed in our path. At the end of all of this, we will be stronger, more resilient and a more compassionate community together because of the challenges we have faced and will continue to face until this pandemic is controlled. Until then though I will say; stop asking what we did on the weekends, stop telling us what you did with yours, stop saying you can travel about and do whatever you want, stop poking fun at a state that is doing it tough for a laugh at our expense. Be kind and remember that we are all only one circumstance away from being in someone else’s shoes. 🦋

Trees need hugs too

The modern society that we live in can create a lot of stress and expectation, which I find has made me turn to nature as a form of therapy, if I’m feeling overwhelmed or stressed out I notice that I have an intrinsic need to be around Mother Earth and all of her gifts. Weather it be creating an indoor plant jungle or strolling through the forests to say hello to the oldest tree, or simply using the restorative and grounding energy from physically touching trees to bolster my mood and assisting my mental health.

I find myself calm, grounded and content when given the chance to connect with, sit against or place my hands on a tree, focusing on the energy they give, musing about what these beautiful giants have seen as they watch over me like my ancestors past and being grateful for the oxygen they provide. I feel It is so important to educate future generations on the importance of the natural world as well as the significance of sustainably utilising the natural wonders around us to holistically heal

According to a study performed by the Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University centred on “forest bathing”, being in nature increased participants oxytocin levels, the hormone that is responsible for calming and emotional bonding and increased their serotonin and dopamine allowing the participants to experience less anxiety, hostility, fatigue, confusion, and depressive symptoms.

The study lists that “The psychological benefits of walking through forests are very significant, and forest environments are expected to have very important roles in promoting mental health in the future

Many still associate “tree hugging” as part of a hippy lifestyle, portraying those like myself as insane for speaking with and thanking Mother Nature for the gifts, however I have found the benefits to my physical, spiritual and mental health far outweigh the strange looks that I get from others when they see me talking to the trees. The natural world is a marvellous place where I am lucky enough to wander, where I am fortunate to connect with my innermost thoughts and feelings, speaking as freely as I want without judgment.

Next time you find yourself taking a meander in nature, I urge you to try it! Wishing you peace, love, light and prosperity 🦋

My favourite time of year

Although outdoor activities are limited due to the coronavirus lockdowns, I can still say without doubt that spring is definitely my favourite season. I’m enjoying the warmer weather and the ability to be able to sit in the garden and watch the bees buzzing by as well as the beautiful butterflies flitting from blossom to blossom. It’s peaceful watching these little miracles pollinate while I lay in the shadow of the big eucalyptus tree, feeling the suns rays filter through her leaves while she sways in the gentle breeze. I feel happy and contented to be afforded this simple privilege

For someone that uses nature for grounding, I’m very fortunate to live in an area with a large and luscious outdoor space. This makes for so many fond memories pottering around, propagating and repotting my indoor plants and growing my own veggies, orchard and flowers. Gardening and tending to my indoor plant jungle has definitely helped with my mental health but lets be honest it’s also just fun to play around in the earth, getting my hands dirty and leaves stuck in my hair. Times like these remind me of when I was a child, viewing everything with such wonder, feeling such joy from watching something grow and thrive. As adults we forget these little moments in life. Our lives get so busy, so noisy, that’s it’s amazing to just stop and literally smell the roses

I’ve taken time today sitting in the middle of my garden in stillness, enjoying watching the birds have a splash around in the bird bath. Enjoying the warmth of the sun and the blossoms slowly opening in her rays, just taking time for reflection, wonderment and replenishment. It’s a beautiful thing and it makes me realise how very lucky I am and keeps me humble in a way that I can sometimes lose sight of. I’m grateful for this moment. It’s such a gift to remember to be present without having to worry about what’s going to happen next

Wishing you all love and light and hoping you all have an opportunity to slow down today and enjoy the little things 🦋

Hemophobia – Blood Test Anxiety

As someone that lives with Hemaphobia I know how difficult it can be to face the fears of having a blood test. This seems trivial to others and I am often ridiculed for it, nonetheless it is a very real problem for me. In the days leading up to bloods my anxiety is heightened tenfold. I have even put off going to doctors if I have concerns because of Hemaphobia. It makes me procrastinate on the off chance I may have to have a blood test done

Today I had to have some more bloods taken and I’ve spent the last few days mentally preparing, waking early this morning to meditate to calm myself before I arrived at the hospital’s pathology lab, it seemed to work because when I arrived knowing I had to go in alone due to covid restrictions, I was ok, I was calm, I was even ok when I was in the waiting room before the testing and again once I was sat In the chair.

My palms started to sweat however when the lovely pathologist strapped the tourniquet around my left arm in addition to rubbing and tapping it because she couldn’t find a vein, she then had to strap the tourniquet around my right arm as I apparently have no veins at all in my left and continued the tapping process for what seemed like forever.

What really got the anxiety going however was when she showed me the needle she had to use in addition to telling me I had very difficult veins and the needle had to go in “up to here” while she pointed to the 6cm needle. Once the needle was in my arm she had to wiggle it around for 5 minutes until it stuck so the blood could flow.

Yep, I did almost faint, but you know what? I did it! I got through it in the end and I’m damn proud of myself for it. It seems silly to some I’m sure, even so it really taught me that life is about being afraid but doing it anyway, of being brave and facing challenges head on. You should never be ashamed of your flaws and insecurities. They are what make you uniquely you! Celebrate the small wins people, also remember to be proud of your achievements always!

Black cloud of Anxiety

This week has kicked me in the bum, leaving me exhausted in all aspects of my life. Anxiety has taken over my brain and has physically impacted me with feeling sick and unable to keep food down, aches and pains throughout my body, lack of sleep or motivation and the constant feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s like I’ve forgotten the little things that I can do to maintain a heathy balance of the mind, body and spirit.

I kept apologising for things I couldn’t control. Making silly mistakes at work, doubting myself and those around me. Trying to create solutions to problems that don’t exist anywhere other than my own mind. Distancing myself from my family and friends because it’s exhausting trying to pretend your ok because you don’t want to be “that girl”

Trying to rationalise and explain things logically even though anxiety isn’t logical. It’s a sick and twisted dark cloud that feels like it suffocates, that can sap the life and energy out of us if left unchecked.

But you know what? The best thing that I could have done is get the help that I needed. As scary and overwhelming as It is anxiety isn’t who I am. It’s not something that I will allow to define me. I have to promise to make time for myself and allow myself to re focus my energies on finding my balance, figuratively and literally. and always remember that it is ok not to be ok and as cliched as it sounds, tomorrow is a new day and anything can happen and talking to someone you trust is a MUST!

If you or anyone you know, need help you can find helplines here https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-helplines

Love and light you all 🦋

A year of claustrophobia

Based in a city that is locked down due to COVID you would assume that feelings of being stuck would be a given. And quite rightly so, not knowing if or when the light at the end of the tunnel will come exacerbates feelings of the walls closing in around me which leads to bouts of anxiety and then depression gets thrown into the mix, thus continues the vicious cycle.

Nevertheless, I can tell you that for the last year of my life I have experienced feelings of claustrophobia, more due to the state of my mental health and feelings of lack of control than anything else. As most of you know and according to Beyond Blue “One in six Australians are currently experiencing depression or anxiety or both” to this end I wanted to use my experiences for the good of others, to try to help those that may also be experiencing similar feelings.

One of the tools I use that helps me feel less stuck, less anxious, less claustrophobic is guided imagery. Headspace tells us “Guided imagery is a focused practice that involves each of the five senses to ignite positive healing messages throughout the mind and body”

In detail it is a relaxation technique that draws on your ability to visualize and daydream allowing imagination to create relaxing or positive images and experiences. It works in allowing your body and mind to refocus and interpret these images as real and tangible. I’ve found utilising this practice has a very real impact on my physical and mental responses.

If you are experiencing any of these not so helpful feelings I urge you to give it a try. You can find some resources on the practice here https://www.headspace.com/meditation/guided-imagery and https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/staying-well/relaxation-exercises

Crystal Work: essence and energy

Crystal work has been an instrument that has allowed me to recollect all the wonderful things that already exist within me, thats what crystals do, they help you feel, balance and remember

Crystals are a natural wonder that come from the earth, a gift from Gaia that has enabled me to unblock my chakras and align my internal energy by performing everyday rituals that allow me to tune in to my true nature and purpose. They also aid me to support others in doing the same. Just like I utilise sacred smoke, the energy from a tree, the phases of the moon or the tides that lap against the shore, I have found that the use of crystals and the energy that flows from them and within them inspires me to slow down and remember my truth.

Throughout my life I’ve had a lot of people look at me and say “she’s just a weirdo, a hippy who uses pet rocks to separate herself from the real world” or “that’s just a load of new age bullshit” and of course they are entitled to their opinions and beliefs but ever since my mother handed me my first crystal at a young age and said “hold this in your hand and just feel it” something life-changing happened and to this day, just like the “wand chooses the wizard” the crystals have always intuitively chosen me and my energy through connection of touch and feeling.

Ever since that day, I’ve been on a spiritual path. A path which has provided me genuine happiness and radiance in helping others. My purpose in helping others and then watching them blossom in their lives from the mysteries that I am able to share with them from my learnings and experiences and the balance of energy the crystals I give and teach them to use can provide, is true authenticity of self. To give hope to myself and others in a sometimes ruinous world through the use of crystal healing is a gift that I will forever be grateful for.

Being on a spiritual path is never an easy task. As mum would say “trying to realign yourself can sometimes feel like baptising a cat” even so with the use of the crystals vibrational energy along with every day rituals I will provide you, I hope to continue to aid true growth and balance. I will educate you about individual crystals, their properties, their uses and every day rituals which will give you alignment in your energy and assist in tuning you in to your truer selves and nature with consistent practice.

In the meantime I wish you love, light and prosperity 🦋