What to do when things don't go exactly as planned

“Focus on the important things and let the rest go,” is the advice that I give to all brides and grooms on their wedding day.

And this statement couldn’t have been more important to share on Saturday as I was officiating my first in person wedding of 2021 while hurricane Henri was moving towards New York.

As we were about to commence the wedding, many of the guests received alerts that their flights to return home the following day were cancelled due to the upcoming storm. Most of them took it in stride and were glad that they could be present for the wedding.

The ceremony was flowing smoothly until I asked the best man to give me the rings. He opened the ring box and stood with a baffled look on his face. This is where you hear the suspense music begin to play in the movies…

The box was empty. We were all stunned. Then the drama of the situation kicked in, the bride and groom began to laugh, and the tension was broken. The maid of honor even offered to give her rings to the couple to complete the ceremony.

We all took a deep breath and I reminded everyone that the most important part of this ceremony was the fact that two people were pledging to spend their lives together. They would face many challenges in their lives, and this was just a small glitch.

Of course, in the nick of time, the wedding planner ran down the aisle with the rings and saved the day!

Yes, we all want things to go exactly as we plan, but as the saying goes, "Man plans, and God laughs”. Learning to be flexible and adaptable to change is a key ingredient in living a happy and successful life.

So, this week when things do not go exactly as you plan, ask yourself, "Will this matter next month? Next year?" And if the answer is no, let it go.

Work with me:

Learn practical spiritual skills to stay calm and focused in the midst of any challenge.

Book a reading, ritual or coaching session now. Since it takes at least 4-6 days to change any habit, I recommend a coaching package to anchor in the new skills you will learn.

I am slowly resuming in person rituals in September for fully vaccinated people (in the NY State area). If you would like to host one for your friends/community, please contact info@barbarabiziou.com

Rituals include Weddings, Fertility Rituals, Baby Blessings, Birthdays, Anniversaries and other special occasions. All rituals can be done online via Zoom including Fertility Rituals.

“Barbara’s rituals are a roadmap for celebrating life. They will be a great companion on your journey to attaining clarity, balance and calmness, amid the chaos of life.”

- Donna Karan, Fashion Designer

Until next time,
Barbara

Moon Bath Ritual for Sunday's Blue Moon 🌕

Sunday is a Full Moon/Sturgeon Moon/ Blue Moon. So, what does this mean for you and me?

Blue Moon: when there is second full moon in a month.

Spiritual meaning: Time to soften the old ideas and belief systems that have hardened our heart and blocked our minds. A shedding of the old is called for so that the inspiration and future-thinking energy of Aquarius can shine.

Sturgeon Full Moon: This full moon is named after the abundance of sturgeon in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.

Spiritual Meaning: Adaptation and resilience. Don’t give it. Create and adjust and create again.

Take a Moon Bath:

Set your intention to gently and immediately release anything that is keeping you from believing in yourself and keeping you from sharing your unique gifts and talents.

Fill a bowl with spring water, white rose petals and some sea salt. You can also add an amethyst crystal or clear quartz. Place outside (or on a window sill) to be charged by the moon. This can be done the night before the Full Moon or on the Full Moon. Charge for at least an hour.

Say “I am letting go of anything that is blocking my full express. (feel free to make this personal) May this release be easy, gentle and immediate.”

Now either pour the water into a bath and then soak in it or pour it over yourself in a shower or outside weather permitting. You pick!

Imagine this sacred moon water has the power to completely purify and transform anything not resonating with a vibration of perfection.

When you are finished, take the crystal and place it on your altar as a reminder of the healing that has taken place. Place the flower petals on the earth as an offering to The Mother Goddess.

Commit to being open to new possibilities, ideas and support.

Until next time,
Barbara

A ritual to honor the energy of The Lion’s Gate Portal

When my friend Joanne and I decided to do a ritual to honor the energy of The Lion’s Gate Portal, it was clear that we both wanted to be near the water. The ocean is our happy place and both of us have had magical moments of transformation occur by the sea.

Even though the weather was predicting rain, we headed out to the beach. My intention was to break out of the box that I felt I was living in.

Both of us were ready to move beyond our comfort zones and open to a new space of limitless possibilities. And having a good friend with you certainly makes it easier.

Wading into the ocean I offered prayers to the goddess of the sea: Yemanja. Many years ago in Bali a wise priestess taught me to never go into the ocean without first asking permission from Yemanja and I have been doing this for over 25 years. Today I simply offered her my love (at other times I have offered her honey, flowers and sweet wine).

Then standing on the shore, I drew a box in the sand and stood in the center. I felt all the limiting thoughts and beliefs that were holding me back inside. The heaviness…the sadness…the regrets. Then I jumped out of the box and the water rushed over it and washed it away. The mantra “I AM ENOUGH” resonated in my head and I shouted out the words.

Before I left, I planted seeds in the shrubs for the qualities I wanted to bring into my life: courage, ease, joy, love, support and abundance.

And since there was a natural gateway leading to the parking lot, I symbolically walked through the portal into the next part of my life.

Until next time,
Barbara

What does it take to break barriers?

As I watched the Olympics this past week, the question of what does it take to break barriers kept creeping up in my mind. What drives people to become the first? The best? Where do you get the courage and resilience to keep going even in the face of defeat? And what gives you the strength to put your health first in a competition as Simone Biles did.

Here is a story about a woman you may not know: Grandma Gatewood.

In 1955, Emma “Grandma” Gatewood told her children that she was “going for a hike in the woods”– which turned out to be the entire 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail (A.T.), the longest hiking-only footpath in the world.

At the time she was 67 years old, a mother of 11, a grandmother of 23, and a survivor of more than 30 years of domestic abuse. For Emma, the woods were a source of comfort and an escape from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband.

Wearing Kids sneakers and carrying a few items like a poncho, a blanket, some food, and a knife, she walked with her home-made duffel over her shoulder. Without a tent or sleeping bag (she used a shower curtain for shelter), she chose to spend the night on nearby farms or off the trail, eating whatever she could find or relying on the kindness of strangers.

On September 25, 1955, she became the first woman ever to complete the entire A.T. alone in one season. And, by the way, she did it twice! A portrait of resilience, Gatewood broke barriers in the outdoors, sending the message that “If those men can do it, I can do it.”

For Gatewood, the decision to hike the A.T. was rather simple – she ignored any barriers and anyone who told her she wouldn’t be able to do it. When one reporter asked why she wanted to hike the A.T., Gatewood stated: “Because I wanted to.“

To find out more, read Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery.

Until next time,
Barbara

Take Whatcha Got and Make Whatcha Want

I love Alan Cohen’s book, A Deep Breath of Life. Each day there is a message to ponder and meditate on. And I especially love that he quotes one of my early teachers Hilda Charlton. I used to take the subway after work to St. John the Divine every Thursday night to hear her speak and join with an amazing community of seekers.

Today’s message “Right in Front of You” speaks to our need to make complicated what is simple. Instead of searching frantically for complicated answers, why not see what is right in front of you. Alan uses the example of Frank Baum. He pondered what to call the fantasy kingdom he was writing about when his eyes fell upon his file cabinet, especially the drawer labeled “O-Z” and the Wizard of Oz was born!

As Hilda said, “Take whatcha got and make whatcha want”.

As we are now in the Galactic New Year (it started yesterday on July 26), why not do a ritual to appreciate what you already have and start this year off with clear intention.

Walk around your home and thank the Universe for everything you see. I like to say “thank you money" for my computer, new stove, comfortable bed, amazing fig tree etc. etc. etc. By thanking money, you acknowledge the wealth you already have and make money a friendly ally.

Then thank the Universe (God, Creator, Spirit) for your family, friends, community.

Now write down anything you especially notice. A book title, piece of art, color, crystal or even your pet. Use this as a jumping off point to explore how this information can assist you moving forward. Take some time and brainstorm whatever comes to you. Don’t forget to write down these insights. You can always explore them later.

End with thanking yourself for showing up and being present. Pat yourself on the back for choosing to walk this spiritual path with consciousness (even if you are just starting now). Remember that the body and brain read it the same as if someone else complimented you.You have now taken the first step in building a structure for success.

I love to end with this affirmation:

All the people and projects that I am seeking are also seeking me and I give thanks to God (Creator) for bringing us together in the right Divine Way.

Until next time,
Barbara

A special day to make a fresh start

What if you were given a special day that was not on your calendar ? A day of sacred pause, of forgiveness and true freedom? A chance to start over?

According to Jose Arguelles,“The Mayan Calendar - a 13-Moon Calendar that was devised by the Mayan Timekeepers, the Jaguar Priests, measures the year in 13 even months of 28 days each; a perpetual calendar of 52 perfect weeks, making a total of 364 days.

With this Mayan Harmonic Time Standard, we usher in Galactic New Year’s Day on July 26th, and the day before that, July 25th, is the 365th day of the year on this 13-Moon Calendar. That day actually falls between the end of one calendar year and the beginning of the next, so July 25th is known as THE DAY OUT OF TIME as it literally is not a day of the week or day of the month at all.

The Day Out Of Time has been celebrated worldwide since 1992 as part of a growing World Peace Movement. For this reason, this special day is observed as the day to cancel all debts, pardon and forgive, and to celebrate life through art and nature. It's a day to experience true freedom...a time to ground the consciousness and truly manifest unlimited prosperity and abundance as we usher in Galactic New Year’s Day on July 26th!!

On this day, honored by both the Egyptians and Mayan cultures, the Star Sirius rises with the Sun and a portal of creative potential is activated as we cross the Galactic Equator.”

So, look at this time as a gift from the universe to make a fresh start…and wipe the slate clean. It is important to stop, see where you have been, and look at what you want to bring into the New Year. Use this day as a time to stop business as usual and tune into possibilities.

This is also a day that is celebrated as World Water Appreciation Day so I personally like to go to a body of water (river, lake, ocean, stream) and do an offering of flowers to the Spirit of the Water and the goddesses Yemanja.

Until next time,
Barbara

Some wisdom for when you get triggered

As we all move out into the world, we are bound to collide with others. I am even beginning to see “sidewalk rage” in NYC as new students and tourists begin to return and have a tendency to walk slower than native New Yorkers.

Let’s all learn from the great Thich Nhat Hanh who shares this story with us.

"A monk decides to meditate alone. Away from his monastery, he takes a boat and goes to the middle of the lake, closes his eyes and begins to meditate. After a few hours of unperturbed silence, he suddenly feels the blow of another boat hitting his.

With his eyes still closed, he feels his anger rising and, when he opens his eyes, he is ready to shout at the boatman who dared to disturb his meditation. But when he opened his eyes, saw that it was an empty boat, not tied up, floating in the middle of the lake ...

At that moment, the monk achieves self-realization and understands that anger is within him; it simply needs to hit an external object to provoke it.

After that, whenever he meets someone who irritates or provokes his anger, he remembers; the other person is just an empty boat. Anger is inside me."

Until next time,
Barbara

Summer of Love 🧡

If you are open to signs and signals from the Universe, you can receive messages from the most unusual places. I was trying to buy some lingerie from Markies Dekkers (a company in the Netherlands) the other day and couldn’t figure out their website. In frustration, I signed up for their newsletter hoping to find a way into the site. This is what popped up: Summer of love 2.0.

You can’t make this stuff up. In her blog, she talked about the influence of the hippie culture on our world today. Yes, I admit it: I was a hippy back in the day! I even gave out flowers to strangers and lived on an island in Spain for a while.

Sustainable living, tie dye, spiritual travel, make love not war, and focus on inner growth are all the hippy values that I grew up with.

Ok, if you connect to any of the following: spirit animals, mercury retrograde, tarot cards, hummus, tofu, meditation, yoga, Burning Man, Wanderlust, finding your tribe, Daybreaker, or even exploring hallucinogenic medicine as a ‘catalyst for inner growth’ you are more of a hippy than you think you are.

Topanga Canyon, Circa 1976

Of course, now you can download an app for all of them. So, as we open to the Summer of 2021 we just may be returning to the Summer of Love. Peace and Love to all!!

Until next time,
Barbara

What Kind of Freedom Do You Choose?

July 4th holiday in the USA is just around the corner and I'd like to use this time to explore the concept of freedom. As Aristotle said, “He who has overcome his fears will truly be free.”

After much meditation here is what I have come up with and I learned years ago that it is important to actually say the words out loud. So here goes:

I choose freedom to express my wildest dreams
I choose freedom to easily see the bigger picture of my life
I choose freedom to be the best version of me
I choose freedom to change and grow
I choose financial freedom
I choose emotional freedom
I choose freedom to have clear boundaries
I choose freedom to release the limits of the past
I choose freedom to release anything that doesn’t serve my highest good
I choose freedom to live in joy
I choose freedom to love

It feels great to have formally chosen freedom. What do you choose? Then notice how it makes you feel.

Work with Barbara:

A new season requires conscious attention to see where you are, what needs to change and expanded focus on where you are going. It is time to grow into your bigger vision.

First get clarity with an intuitive tarot reading. Then set up a ritual or coaching to help you take practical steps to create the life of your dreams. Coaching packages are available for more in-depth guidance.

Rituals help to release, call in new resources and celebrate life’s transitions: Space Clearing, New Business Blessings, Fertility Rituals, Baby Blessings, Birthdays, Love, Weddings and more.

Until next time,
Barbara

Simple Ways To Reconnect With Your Inner Firepower 🔥

Summer is officially here (in the Northern Hemisphere), and change is in the air. It is a time to reconnect with our inner firepower that keeps us alive and brings us the abundance, love, joy and nourishment we require for moving forward.

The first thing that we all must do is stop arguing for our limitations. What do I mean by that? Ok, someone tells you that you look great, and you respond with all the reasons that you are not. You get a compliment on your apartment or home, and we focus on the things that need to be fixed. As Richard Bach said in his classic book Illusions, “argue for your limitations, and sure enough they are yours”.

So, as we enter this summer season, become an advocate for your own greatness. That doesn’t mean you are satisfied staying where you are now, it just means you are willing to be present with what is and then focus on what you choose to explore for the future. Everything in your life is part of a larger story and you can create a life filled with imagination, magic, love, and joy.

Open to guidance and support by shifting your vision to align your energetic field with who you came here to be. Your true soul purpose. The wisdom of your soul.

The best way I know how to do this is to drop into your heart. Allow yourself to be led by the compassion, joy, and love of your heart rather than guilt or fear.

Place your hand on your heart.
Imagine you can breathe in and out through the heart center
Now imagine there is a flower inside of your chest that is opening petal by petal
Allow it to open
Gently
Easily
Fill it with Love
Fill it with Compassion
Fill it with Peace
Now say,
I AM only love
I AM only love
I AM only love

Until next time,
Barbara

Rituals for Celebration and Healing on Father's Day

June 20th is a celebration of Father’s Day in the US and as I was deciding what to write this week, an old article I wrote in 2014 for the Huffington Post popped up.

The gist of the article was: how do you celebrate this day when your memories are mixed? My father was a good provider, loyal to my mother and a successful self-made businessman. Yet, like Zeus (father of the gods) he had a dual nature, protective and generous and intimidation and harshness. He lashed out verbally at his children whenever he was frustrated and never really showed up for us emotionally.

Although at times I wish he could have been different, I am hopefully smart enough (and have had enough therapy and spiritual teachers) to know that he did the best he could with the resources he had. My brother Mark, on the other hand, models the new masculine and has taken on the role of nurturer and teacher to his daughter Shayla.

He has very few "have tos" and has plenty of "want tos." Shayla has grown up with a new model of a father: Someone who simply does what needs to be done without worrying about gender roles. And I am happy to say, she just graduated with honors from HS and will be coming to The New School in NYC in the Fall.

Here is a ritual that my brother and I did after my father passed to bring some healing into our lives.

Shortly after my Dad passed, I went into the woods with my brother to do a letting go ritual. I wanted to "bury the hatchet" between us and for some bizarre reason my brother actually had my father's hatchet. (Why a man from Great Neck and South Florida had a hatchet is beyond my understanding). So, I physically buried it. My brother had a different issue. He no longer wanted to "walk in my father's footsteps" so he buried one of my father's shoes. I can't tell you how liberating that ritual was for both of us.

This Sunday l personally will be lighting a candle for my father -- letting myself feel the sadness of his passing. And I always like to eat one of his favorite foods. This year it may be Ya-ka Mein soup or a piece of halvah. I plan on writing down a list of what I learned from him and what qualities I want to claim as my own. After all, it is my inheritance.

Whatever you decide to do for this holiday, enjoy the celebration. As my brother Mark, a father of three, so wisely said to me, "The best present for me is always feeling loved and included and appreciated. Gifts are quite secondary."

Happy Father’s Day to all who take on this role.

We celebrate the men in our lives,
those who raised us,
those who love us,
those that we are raising.

We also celebrate the womxn who may be male presenting, gender non-conforming, and have taken on the traditional masculine roles of fathers.

Until next time,
Barbara

Tips for Healing Negative Self-image

"Sticks and stones can hurt your bones but names will never harm you.” NO!

Like many of you, I grew up hearing this, but know that it is not true. We all have experienced the destructive power of negative words, but rarely understand how they can impact our lives and keep us stuck.

In fact, as I was recalling the other day, when I was about 16, a boy I had a big crush on told me: “it’s too bad you aren’t pretty, but you are interesting looking”. That stuck with me for years and sometimes rears its ugly head even now. My brilliant writer friend, whose father always rewrote her school papers, still can revert to thinking she is not good enough even though she has received numerous accolades for her writing skills, and a client of mine, who was bullied as a child, still feels that he is unattractive and “fat”.

According to an article in Psychology Today, “Martin Teicher M.D., Ph.D. and others have shown that there are physical and emotional consequences of “just” verbal abuse. In one study, the researchers found that the effects of parental verbal aggression were comparable to “those associated witnessing domestic violence or nonfamilial sexual abuse.” In fact, verbal aggression produced larger effects than familial physical abuse. There’s evidence too that exposure to verbal abuse in childhood actually alters the structure of the brain.”

The good news is there are ways we are able to rewire our brains and break the cycle of negative self talk. Over time you can replace the negative programming with one that is more useful. It is important to be able to acknowledge yourself as valuable and then treat yourself accordingly. it does not serve you to have a small limited view of yourself. It is impossible to create the life you want if you are always feeling “less than”.

Here are some tips on how to begin (know that you may require the guidance of a coach or therapist depending on how much verbal abuse you have experienced):

1. Notice the negative self talk as it comes up.

2. Become aware of how it makes you feel. Where do you feel it in your body?

3. Is this helping you move into the future that you desire?

4. If the answer is no, tap your third eye (area between the brows) and say “Cancel Clear”- imagine the thought dissolving.

5. Now replace the thought with one thing that is more positive using an I AM statement (for example moving from “I cannot write” to “I AM a good writer”)

6. Visualize your future with this new belief as a reality.

Until next time,
Barbara

Energetic exfoliation

My sister/friend Liz and I were discussing how some situations and people can trigger us and throw us off balance. Yes, we both “know better” and even teach techniques to help others, but sometimes we are just vulnerable and find ourselves reactive.

We decided we needed a word to remind us of when we are off center and we came up with EVACUATE!!! Those of you who live in hurricane zones know that when a huge storm approaches many times you are asked to evacuate your home and find safety. Even saying the word shifted our focus and we realized that we could rewire our brains by simply bringing another perspective into the situation.

As we all navigate this mercury retrograde period it is crucial to stay grounded and centered. To gain the most from this time, become consciously quiet and listen to what life is trying to tell you.

As we let go of the comfort of familiar answers to make life feel normal again, we gain new insights on our lives and spiritual journeys. We then get to see how many of our fears and worries are based on old stories and false evidence that appears real.

Give yourself the downtime you require to reflect on what habits, projects or patterns you are willing to release at this time. I Love the phrase energetic exfoliation (thank you Chani Nicholas).

As a ritual this week take 10 minutes or more to reconsider ways you are using your time and energy. Then prioritize what is really important and adds to your life.

Until next time,
Barbara

You never know when spirit will talk to you

This week I am on vacation in Florida but wanted to share a teaching I received from a 12-year-old boy I met in the Warm Mineral Springs (said to be The Fountain of Youth).

My friend Liz and I were swimming in the lake when we came across a young boy floating on the water. He was struggling a bit so we gave him a few pointers on how he could relax into the water and let it support him.

Then he shared with us his philosophy on life and we realized that we were being given a spiritual teaching. So here it is:

1 Learn from your mistakes.
2. Stay calm.
3. Feed the Source by saying thank you to your god and angels. This will give them energy to help you when you need it.

Have a great week and open to receiving signs and signals from the Universe!

Until next time,
Barbara

Time to write a new story and make your own happiness

At the age of 95 my mother fell in a yoga class and broke her ankle in numerous places. From that moment on, she was basically confined to a wheelchair.

I remember her best friend Gert coming to visit and asking her, “Diana, after being so active playing golf, swimming and tennis, how can you stand being so restricted? You must be miserable!”

“Gert, my mother said, you make your own happiness.”

And as many of you know, my mother lived to be a happy 99-year-old and Gert lived to be 104.

This New Moon in Taurus is offering us an invitation to change our lives and move into a new level of abundance. This is the last new moon before the eclipse season begins and Mercury turns retrograde again. And Venus has entered Gemini which means love is more available now.

And that is the message of this New Moon in Taurus. You can make your own happiness. You can bring in the support you require. You are being given an invitation to change your life and move into a new level of abundance. It is time to write a new story and become the heroine and hero of your own life.

Focus on stories of abundance, healing and success. See how others have overcome obstacles in their lives. Read or watch inspiring biographies.

If you can see brilliance in another, then it already exists within you.

This week, be gentle with yourself. Give yourself the love and caring you give to others. If you feel pulled in different directions, focus on the qualities of Taurus. Go barefoot on the grass, give yourself a nourishing meal, turn your phone on airplane mode, take a long soak in a bath, and look for simple ways to organize your life. And don’t forget to flirt and have fun!

Join me live tonight on Zoom (will will record this one in case you cannot be there live) for a power packed Women’s New Moon in Taurus Circle =>> SIGN UP NOW

Work with Barbara:

Many of us are battling with self-doubt, fear and feeling stuck as our world slowly begins to open. Dreams we had in the beginning of the year may not have the same potency we felt in the beginning of the year, and we may be feeling a discontent and longing for something that we cannot even name. These are all signs from the Universe that something new is about to emerge. Remember, what you resist will persist.

If this resonates for you, it is time for an intuitive tarot card reading and/or coaching/rituals to guide you through this time of change and transformation. Sessions are tailored towards your personal and professional needs.

I am also available for house/office clearing/blessings, weddings, baby blessings, pre-nuptial rituals, and fertility rituals. Please contact our office if you are interested in booking a service.

Until next time,
Barbara

Do You Really Know Why We Celebrate Mother’s Day? 🌷

Mother’s Day is celebrated this Sunday May 9th throughout the US. Since my mother passed a few years ago and the fact that my son lives 3,000 miles away, It has become a bittersweet holiday. I can move from joy to tears in the blink of an eye. I’m sure a lot of you can relate.

Mother Goddesses

The ancient Egyptians celebrated the Mother Goddess Isis, while the Greeks celebrated the Goddess Rhea, who was the Mother of most of the major deities including Zeus. In ancient Rome, Cybele was the major Mother figure and as early as 2250 B.C., the Romans celebrated a festival of Hilaria, which occurred in the spring and was dedicated to the Mother Goddess. In Taoism May 25th is celebrated as the mother of the world day. Since the belief is that the goddess is the mother of all; she is the origin of all things. Incense is burned and the focus is on meditating on Divine Harmony.

During the Middle Ages, people in remote villages attended the main church in their parish- the “mother” church - for a special service. In England, a day known as “Mothering Sunday” fell on the fourth Sunday of Lent and was a day when working people had a vacation and went home to visit their mothers.

Original Meaning of Mother’s Day in North America

Did you know that the first North American Mother’s Day was actually a call for peace? Julia Ward Howe wrote a proclamation in 1870 that called for mother’s to stop their sons from killing the sons of other mothers. She asked for an international Mother’s Day of Peace. Imagine if all mother’s around the world could stop their sons from killing!

Our Mother’s Day was started in 1908 by a West Virginian daughter, Anna Jarvis, to honor her own mother, who held a Mother’s Friendship Day in order to bring together families and friends that had been divided during the Civil War. Anna Jarvis gave her mother’s favorite flower to every mother who attended. Today, white carnations are used to honor deceased Mothers, while pink or red carnations pay tribute to Mothers who are still alive. Finally in 1914 Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

Mother’s Day Around the World

Many cultures use this day to enjoy traditional dishes that their mother’s taught them to cook. In Mexico a mother is serenaded by her family or a hired band and in Japan, children would enter drawings of their mothers in a contest that celebrated mothers and peace. Sweets and flowers—especially violets—are given to Mom on Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom. It is customary to serve Simnel Cake, a glazed fruitcake inspired by a folk tale about a married couple, Simon and Nell. So, the story goes, this pair could not decide whether to bake or broil a cake. So, in the end they did both. Thus, Simnel Cake was born.

In addition to flowers, cards, jewelry and chocolates, it is customary for Australians to exchange perfume and teas on Mother’s Day. In Canada there seems to be an added emphasis on doing chores for the Mother and cooking her supper. Sweden’s Mother’s Day, which takes place on the last Sunday in May, has a strong charitable focus: the Swedish Red Cross sells small plastic flowers leading up to the holiday, and the proceeds raised are given to poor mothers and their children. The Native American culture celebrates Mother Earth as our mother and councils us to take care of her.

Who’s the mother?

With the changing configuration of families today, we need to also honor the stepparents, foster parents, godparents and mentors - both alive and deceased - who have played an important role in our “mothering” and of the “mothering” of our children.

This Mother’s Day be creative and make an Appreciation Box (adapted from my book The Joy of Family Rituals).

To Make an Appreciation Box: You can use a shoebox, hatbox, cigar box, or any kind of container that appeals to you. Decorate it with markers, ribbons, flowers, photographs, beads, feathers, or jewels. Use your imagination. This is great to do as a family project and can include small children as well as adults.

Place drawings, home baked cookies, Mom’s favorite bath oil, a poem or any other objects and symbols that show love and appreciation for your mother. Write down things that you love about her: “I love the way you bake me banana bread on my birthday” or “I love the way you always see the bright side of life”. Also, include written promises to do something special for Mom. A ten-year-old might promise to cook dinner once a month while a child living out of the home may want to take Mom out for a day of spa delights.

My friend David made his mother a great playlist of her favorite songs as well as one he wrote especially for her. My son Jourdan (an animator) always includes a unique cartoon that he draws on my cards. Love the company Tribute, who makes special videos for any occasion.

Especially in this time of Covid separation, by taking the time to really appreciate your mother you will be giving her the best gift possible. And let us not forget Mother Earth, who is responsible for the bounty of all of life. If your Mother is no longer alive, you can still bless her by having a meal in her honor.

Until next time,
Barbara

May Ritual: Show You Care 🌸

Since coming back from LA last week, I am feeling a new sense of freedom and possibilities. Getting a good dose of hugs from my son, daughter in law and friends has totally changed my energy. Hugs are the best medicine!

I can hardly believe that we are about to celebrate May Day. It suddenly feels like time is speeding up. After a cold dark winter, we all can use the passion, healing and sensuality of the Goddess of May. So go outside, surround yourself with flowers and dance in the new season.

Many years ago, I created a Maypole on my roof. I was teaching a group of kids about global spirituality (thank you Elizabeth Cutler for suggesting this) and wanted to share with them this fun custom. We used a Christmas tree stand and put up a wooden pole that we decorated with colored ribbons. Then we sang songs and let the children dance around the NYC Maypole. Love how easy it was to transform an ordinary roof garden into a sacred space. Watch the video here.

In ancient times this was a night of sexuality and passion… an honoring of the fertility of the king/god and queen/goddess. As men and women danced around the Maypole, they symbolically acted out the love-making of Nature. The pole representing the male and the ribbons the female. The goddess Maia represents the fertility and abundance of blessings available at the beginning of this summer season.

MAY RITUAL: SHOW YOU CARE

There is a wonderful custom of leaving baskets of flowers in front of your neighbor’s home as a sign of friendship and caring. You can also leave fruit, nuts and other treats with a note letting them know you care. You can do this with the cashier at your grocery store, the person who delivers your mail and/ or packages, your doormen, or anyone you choose to acknowledge.

Until next time,
Barbara

Enlightening Story About Conflict and Unity 🤝

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s toolbox. “I’m looking for a few days work” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?”

“Yes,” said the older brother. “I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor, in fact, it’s my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us.

Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence –– an 8-foot fence – so I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore.”

The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.

It was a bridge — a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other!

A fine piece of work handrails and all — and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched. “You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.” The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hand.

They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder.
“No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for you, ”said the older brother. “I’d love to stay on, ”the carpenter said, “but, I have many more bridges to build.”

- Author Unknown

As we celebrate Earth Day this Thursday, let us remember that we are all living on this planet together. Our actions impact the environment. Each thing we do can help or hurt our planet in many ways.

As we focus on making this Earth a better place to live, let us build bridges not fences.

Until next time,
Barbara

Honoring Triple Aspects of the Divine Feminine 🌺

This week we are blessed with the energy of the 9 nights of the Goddess or Chaitra Navratri - a Hindu holiday that honors the Divine Feminine/Mother and begins this year on April 13th.

Whether you celebrate this holiday or not, I invite you to use this week to meditate on the triple aspects of the Divine Feminine. Journal what comes up for you and be open to shifting your energetic frequency to embrace more abundance, love and joy.

The first 3 nights are spent meditating upon the Divine Feminine in her powerful and destructive aspect known as Durga or Kali. We ask the goddess to help us identify and eliminate those aspects of our self that are not helpful, skillful, or productive, such as greed, envy, procrastination, laziness, lying, gossiping, etc.

The second set of nights are spent meditating upon the Divine Mother in her spiritual wealth-giving aspect known as Lakshmi. We ask the goddess to help us develop and maintain helpful qualities, such as patience, forgiveness, compassion, loving-kindness, and integrity. We open to giving and receiving abundance in all forms.

The third set of nights are spent meditating upon the Divine Feminine in her spiritual wisdom-bestowing aspect known as Sarasvati. We ask the goddess to help us to achieve self-realization and understand universal truths such as our divine nature and the interconnectedness of living beings. We connect with our power and ability to speak our truth and share our gifts.

The tenth day is spent offering gratitude to the Divine Mother and is spent celebrating in a state of sat-chit-ananda or truth-consciousness.

This is a mantra you can use during this time:
OM KLEEM SHREEM HREEM SWAHA

Mother’s Day coming up May 9th:
give her the gift of aromatherapy or a special ritual

Until next time,
Barbara

Step Beyond Your Limits

Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac and exemplifies the energies of new growth, clear intention and focused action. Can you feel it? The earth is waking up with her magnolia trees blossoming, forsythia and daffodils bursting with color and the birds are singing a concert for the planet.

As my late friend Elizabeth Rose Campbell wrote in her book Intuitive Astrology, “Aries explores obstacles and becomes the spiritual warrior who knows there are no enemies except the self. With that knowledge, Aries is unstoppable, the will focused into a laser capable of expressing harmlessness and power simultaneously.”

Because I will be traveling to California for the first time since lockdown, I will not be holding my monthly New Moon Circle in April, so I want to share some things you can do to see what this New Moon is all about for you.

Remember that this is the moment when we need to embrace our beliefs and live them—not by fighting against the old but by imagining and living the new.

This is the only New Moon of the year when we get to start all over again. If this past year has left you feeling beaten down, depressed, and physically or emotionally wounded, this is the New Moon to start anew. When darkness comes into our lives, we must remember that the dawn will eventually come.

Aries is all about adventure and the indomitable spirit of the adventurer helps open us to trying something different; something you think isn’t you… but might just be. Reinvigorate your lust for life.

Ritual for the New Moon in Aries

Remember that ritual speaks directly to your body and is perceived of as being real. That is its great power as the Spiritual Tech of our century.

You will need:

-Red or white candle
-Space spray or something to clear your energy
-Paper and pen
-Fireproof bowl and matches
-Flower

1. Take a Moment to light a red candle to call in the energy of Aries. If you don’t have a red one, white will do.

2. Clear your space (use my Space Spray or burn some sage or copal).

3. Take a few deep breathes and center in your heart.

4. Now ask yourself: Where have I given my power away? Where have I given control to others to dictate my life? Where have I listened to others about who I should be and what I should do? Write down what comes to you on a piece of paper.

5. Ask yourself, Am I willing to be a powerful creator and live a life of abundance, joy and purpose?

If the answer is yes, take the paper and safely burn it in a fire-proof bowl or in a fireplace. If the answer is no, be gentle with yourself, but you may need to take more time to see what benefit you gain by holding on to these limitations and you may need to seek out support to help you move forward.

6. Feel the space you have created.

7. Commit to something that holds the positive energies of Aries: it is time to take action and give it your all. It is time to stand in your power and be courageous.

Write down at least 3 small realistic action steps you can take between now and the Full Moon on April 27th.

8. Take the flower and offer it to the Earth as a symbol of your commitment to moving forward.

Until next time,
Barbara