An Unexpected Way to Find Balance ⚖️

I'm sure I'm not the only one who can't believe it's the end of August. Why is it that winter seems to go so slowly, and summer just speeds up? As we move into September - fall in the northern hemisphere - the concept of balance keeps spinning in my mind.

According to the brilliant Thomas Hubl, “balance means movement.”

Think of riding a bike. When you stop it is harder to keep your balance

When we resist, we lose our balance.

Therefore, it is important to align with the movement in our lives. It is a constant process of relating to what is in the moment.

The key is to Become more skillful in walking our path. In this way we can expand our perspective and are more motivated to take the small steps required to accomplish our greater vision.

I know that personally when I run into difficulty and resist, I become tight physically and emotionally and then become reactive. At these times I stop, center in my heart, and send compassion to the part of me who is scared or resisting (usually my inner child).

Let us learn to be curious rather than fearful. Make it a habit to Call in the light into any situation that we're in. Do not let anyone or anything dim your light.

Until next time,
Barbara

How Would You Pass This "Surprise Test"❔

Every day this summer I've become more and more aware of what sucks my joy and what takes my attention off what's really important. I am consciously making choices based on living in the now and allowing Spirit to truly live through me.

It’s easy to waste time of all that you’ve been led to believe matters, because the truth is that much of it simply doesn't.

This beautiful story says it all.

One day, a professor entered his classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They all waited anxiously at their desks for the exam to begin. The professor handed out the exams with the text facing down, as usual. Once he handed them all out, he asked the students to turn over the papers.

To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions–just a black dot in the center of the paper. The professor, seeing the expression on everyone’s faces, told them the following: “I want you to write about what you see there.”

The students, confused, got started on the inexplicable task. At the end of the class, the professor took all the exams and started reading each one of them out loud in front of all the students. All of them, with no exception, defined the black dot, trying to explain its position in the center of the sheet.

After all had been read, the classroom silent, the professor started to explain: “I’m not going to grade you on this, I just wanted to give you something to think about. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot – and the same thing happens in our lives.

However, we insist on focusing only on the black dot – the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the complicated relationship with a family member, the disappointment with a friend. The dark spots are very small when compared to everything we have in our lives, but they are the ones that pollute our minds. Take your eyes away from the black dots in your lives. Enjoy each one of your blessings, each moment that life gives you. Be happy and live a life filled with love!”

Author Unknown

Until next time,
Barbara

Feeling Impatient? It's a Sign 🛑

Although my shoulder is getting stronger each day, there are still a lot of things that I'm unable to do. I know that this is a process, and that patience is required for me to build the new physical, mental, emotional and spiritual muscles that will enable me to bring in the new energy.

I remember hearing many years ago: ‘when you are feeling impatient it is a sign from the universe to slow down.’

And, I do know from experience, that when I start to feel better, I tend to overdo it and don't pay as much attention. It is so easy to go back to old ways of being that may not even work for me anymore. So, exploring new ones may just be the thing that I'm looking for.

So, I am choosing to slow down, consciously ground myself and pay attention to my surroundings even when my overachiever wants me to go forward full speed ahead. And in this way I can be receptive to the deep healing and rewiring that is taking place at this time in my mind, body and spirit.

My spiritual practice this week is to embody patience. The quote by the brilliant Rainer Maria Rilke says it all.

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue.”

I once heard that our brains are hardwired to danger and are like Velcro for negativity and Teflon for positivity. So, it takes more positive experiences to overcome even one negative.

Try this When a negative thought arises:

1. Stop.

2. Breathe in to the count of 4, hold for the count of 4 and exhale for the count of 4.

3. Imagine that like a book you are reading, you can put the thought back on a shelf. Or like a movie you are watching, you can turn the channel.

4. Say out loud “Cancel Clear!" Think of this as deleting a file from your mental computer.

Is it easy? NO. Is it worth it? YES.

Until next time,
Barbara

The Energy of the Super Full Moon in Aquarius 🌝✨

Here comes the last super full moon of 2022. Because this moon is in Aquarius, it is really a time to think out-of-the-box and to let go of the self-imposed limitations that you've put on yourself and open to the new and unexpected.

Did you know that the ancient Olympic Games which honored the god Zeus started on the full moon in August and were held every four years?

Many years ago, I found myself in Athens on the August full moon. I had no idea that it was such a special evening in Greece. Luckily for me, my friend Agapi had introduced me to her friend Radu, who generously invited me and my friend Linda to go to the Acropolis with him late that night. He was very mysterious about what would happen, so I truly had no idea what to expect.

To see the brilliant white marble of the Acropolis glowing in the moonlight was magical. I was also struck by the fact that people honored this night by walking silently, sitting, and doing prayers and allowing the inspiration of this magical place to wash over them. No one was talking on their phone; no music was playing, no loud voices could be heard above a whisper. it was as if everyone realized they were walking on sacred ground.

In North America this full moon is traditionally called the sturgeon moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer. Sturgeons represent resilience and strength, and perseverance of spirit that all of us could use at this moment.

On this full moon, no matter where you are in the world, take some time to stop and open to all the blessings that are in your life at this moment. This is a time to focus on what you truly have in your life. Remember gratitude builds gratitude, compassion creates compassion, and love creates love.

Until next time,
Barbara

Take Back Your Power ⛰️

As I continue on my path of healing, I am hyper aware of the challenges everyone is going through. Some of my friends and clients have health challenges, others are dealing with releasing ancestral patterns, others are focusing on relationship issues, and many are just rethinking and reimagining their future.

This story always inspired me, and I want to share it with you.

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

Happy Galactic New Year! 🎆

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.

Today is the Galactic New Year and gives us a new opportunity to stop, look at where we are, and look at what we want to bring into this new year.

This week is also the new moon in Leo—it is a sign of play, creativity, self-expression, romance, and leadership. Recommit to using your creative talents and gifts for the good of all concerned, dare to dream big! This is also a perfect opportunity to examine how you express yourself in the world.

Self-expression is vital to experiencing a feeling of wholeness, so find a way to express your authentic self and be creative! For artists, this is a perfect time to start a new project and for you shy types, create something in a way that feels safe for you - but please express yourself!

If you think you aren't creative, ponder this; what if that's a false belief and you have gifts that you haven't yet discovered? It happens all the time, but only if you are willing to say "yes" to trying something new (or something old again!).

Take a few moments and do this exercise:

• Look at what is working and what is not working for you.

• What do you need to learn to become the best version of yourself?

• Call in the people and support that you require to move forward into a life of joy, health and abundance.

• Spend a few moments in gratitude for what you already have and what is available to you.

• Whatever your situation is right now, know that it is an invitation from the universe to move into something more expansive.

Until next time,
Barbara

Is It Time To Write A New Story For Yourself? ✍️

Last week I did a theater blessing for a new show called Between the Lines based on the novel by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer. Due to the breakout of COVID the show's opening had been delayed and the cast and crew were under enormous stress.

You know that I believe that Rituals have the power to bring order to the chaos in our lives and can instill a sense of shared purpose and experience. They anchor us and ground us in ways that can hold all the emotions that are present. In this case we were able to create a strong community that came together with a common vision. In my experience rituals allow us to perform at our best, because they help us stay calm when we're under pressure, create a sense of balance and reinforce our commitment to each other. It is an act of participating actively in our lives and therefore taking back personal responsibility for how we choose to live, with who we choose to share our experiences, and how we choose to define ourselves in our community and in our world.

The message of the play is simple: if you find yourself in a story that you don't like, write a new one. It talks about the power of choice and the importance of having supportive people around you that believe in the best version of you and are committed to your higher vision.

I highly recommend that you gift yourself a ticket to this amazing show. The cast is incredible, the set design beyond fabulous, the music inspiring, and the story speaks to our inner child to empower us to create the story we want to live in.

Ironically, I am in fact dictating this newsletter, because I had a fall and broke my right shoulder /arm. It is definitely not the story that I would have chosen, however, I am looking for the invitation that it is affording me to live a new story. And I wouldn't be able to do it without all the love and support of my friends, family, and community.

Join me next Wednesday on my Instagram live as I interview Elyssa Samsel and Kate Anderson who have written phenomenal music to Between the Lines, that you will want to sing along too and buy the soundtrack.

Until next time,
Barbara

Celebrating Guru Purnima + Free Guided Meditation 🙏

In the Hindu Tradition this Wednesday, July 13th, is Guru Purnima 2022: Guru Purnima is the day to commemorate the importance of Guru (teacher).

It is a time to celebrate and honor your spiritual teachers and to be open to receive their blessings of love, healing, and abundance. I recommend you take some time on Wednesday and do the following.

Center in your heart. Take a few deep breaths in and out of your heart. Feel the love you have for your teachers (past and present). Consciously send them love. Imagine how happy they are to receive it. Now open to accepting it back tenfold. Sprays to use: Love and Happiness.

All of my spiritual teachers (Amma, Hilda Charlton, Brugh Joy, Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov, Dr. Pillai) shared that transformation is only possible through the heart center.

Ground your energy. Since this is the full Moon in Capricorn, you may be feeling heightened emotions. This is a time to go slow and pay attention to what you need.

Sprays to use: Grounded, Manifest, Protect.

My gift to you today: Here is a special meditation I recorded for my friends at Sloomoo: LISTEN TO THE MEDITATION HERE.

Take the time to be gentle with yourself and others. Whenever there are big changes in the outer, major self- care is required.

Work with Barbara:

We are being called to work on ourselves to make lasting changes in the world. The time is NOW.

How I can help:

Readings: Get clarity of where you are right now, what needs to be healed and what forces are around you to move you forward. Book your reading >>

Rituals: for all of life’s transitions (healing, relationships, honoring milestones, fertility). Book a ritual >>

Coaching: Practical steps to tap into your natural genius and move you forward. Book a session or a coaching pakage >>

Until next time,
Barbara

A Lesson For Being A Role Model

With all the horrific news out in the world, I wanted to share something positive.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and a four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass often milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about grandfather," said the son. I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.

So, the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner at the dinner table. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. Sometimes when the family glanced in grandfather's direction, he had a tear in his eye as he ate alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food from when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.

For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day that building blocks are being laid for the child's future.

Let us all be wise builders and role models. Take care of yourself, ... and those you love, ... today, and every day!

Until next time,
Barbara

How To Process The Latest Events and Act With Compassion

Having fought for the passage of Roe v. Wade back in the 70s and seeing this horrendous insanity with the Supreme Court, I am conflicted on what to write today.

Our country was built on the promise of freedom of religion. As the Rev. Serene Jones, President of Union Theological Seminary wrote, “This ruling has nothing to do with the law. It’s solely based on a distorted, warped version of Christianity that has been weaponized against women for too long…The Bible does not condemn abortion. It does, however, call on us to love and support one another. it’s beyond hypocritical for the religious right to latch onto abortion while supporting policies that literally kill people, like loose gun rules and restrictions on masks and vaccine mandates. Additionally, this decision will disproportionately harm communities of color and the poor, a reality that is clearly antithetical to biblical mandates of justice for us.”

One thing I do know: we must feel our feelings no matter what they are: rage, sadness, disbelief, betrayal, hopelessness and overwhelm, before we can transform them. This New Moon in Cancer is the time to do just that.

Take some time (preferably in Nature) to just Be with whatever you are feeling. You may also want to consider body work to assist you in releasing the emotional trauma from your body.

Commit to doing whatever it takes to create a world where every person has dignity and bodily autonomy and can choose when, whether, and how to make family and thrive. Being intentional and consistent is called for at this time to make a difference.

Vote in NY primaries today
Tell your story - let your voice be heard
Educate our children
Mentor others
Sign up to turn the midterm elections BLUE
Check out togetherweelect.org
Elect more women in Congress - www.emilyslist.org
Sign the petition to lift restrictions on Abortion Medication Now: https://chng.it/yrnDnmzv
Learn to access your Divine Feminine Power
Get Support - find your people
Give Support - open your hearts and join together with like-minded conscious souls
Remember that we are unstoppable together.

If you have any reputable organizations that you want to share with our community, go to my closed Facebook group, The Ritual Cafe, and ask to join.

I will also be doing regular healing meditations to keep our energy positive on my IGLive. Follow me to be notified. And I will be doing my first in person workshop Accessing the Power of the Divine Feminine the end of July in CT. Stay tuned for more info.

Until next time,
Barbara

What Inspired Me to Pay Forward Kindness 🌈

Wednesday evening, I went to a Native Son Event at Bloomingdales hosted by Emil Wilbekin. I left feeling happy and upbeat. On the way home I made a quick stop at Whole Foods then came home to chill.

An hour later, I went to make a call and….no phone. I looked everywhere. I even tried “find my phone” but realized I had never turned it on. I was not happy.

Then my friend Joanne called me on my landline and told me she had called my cell and a man answered who only spoke Spanish. She told me to call him asap. I did and his sister (who spoke more English) told me that he worked at Whole Foods and found the phone after the store had closed. He didn’t live in Manhattan and wasn’t going to be back until Friday morning. We set a time to meet early Friday and I sent a prayer of thanks to my angels.

Friday morning, I met Jose and he gave me back my phone.

So, for those of you who are only focusing on all the bad in the world, remember that there are still good people out there. And turn on your “find my phone”.

Because I was gifted with such kindness and generosity, I want to pay it forward so am offering a 20% discount on all rituals and readings through June 30th, 2022, with code KINDNESS20 at checkout (rituals and readings must be claimed within 60 days from the date of purchase).

Work with me:

It is time to upgrade yourself and your environment, not just your devices. Rituals and certain spiritual practices can change the way the neurons in our brains and hearts connect. Barbara uses these to provide comfort, healing, strength, and inner power in challenging times.

Let me support you to clear energy blocks, integrate practical spiritual tools into your life, and take action that will create a positive difference in your life.

Here’s What Clients Are Saying:

“Barbara has helped me clear negative energy and focus positive energy in my life. I am creating the vision and life of my dreams. Her ritual and meditation work are transformative.” -Emil Wilbekin, Founder, Native Son

"Barbara did a space clearing at Sloomoo Institute, cleansing the energy of COVID and inviting in a fresh, healthy, new energy of abundance and joy. We literally sold out every weekend since and it has been truly beautiful - our guests have been full of pure happiness!" -Karen Robinovitz, Co-Founder at Sloomoo Institute

“Barbara changed my life with her readings and serves as a guiding force through my many chapters. She's allowed me to brilliantly navigate tricky corporate dynamics, excel in my personal life, and gain the confidence to take big leaps that have led to such bountiful outcomes. I tell everyone that they MUST go see Barbara. She changed my life, and she can change yours!” -LAR, Entrepreneur

I am available for in-person and online Tarot Readings, Coaching, to officiate weddings, fertility rituals, baby blessings, ancestral clearing, new home and business rituals and space clearings.

Until next time,
Barbara

My Personal Father's Day Ritual 👨‍👧‍👦

All Full moons bring change and transformation and this one in Sagittarius is reminding us that all people and experiences that come into our lives are opportunities to learn and grow into the person we are meant to be.

As we approach Father’s Day in the USA, know that your relationship (or lack of one) with your father can trigger many emotions. If healing is called for, I highly encourage you to reach out for help.

Like many men of his generation, my father took care of his family financially, but was emotionally distant. I know at times I feel a longing to have had the kind of father who supported me unconditionally, encouraged my growth and taught me the practical tools necessary to thrive in the world.

Well, that didn't happen. I am smart enough (and have had enough therapy and spiritual teachers) to know that he did the best he could with the resources he had.

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.

My brother Mark and many others that I know model the new masculine and have taken on the role of nurturer. He has very few "have tos" and has plenty of "want tos." Today children are growing up with a new model of a father: Someone who simply does what needs to be done without worrying about gender roles.

This Sunday I personally will be lighting a candle for my father -- letting myself feel the sadness of his passing and what could have been.

My ritual on Father’s Day is to eat one of his favorite foods. This year it may be Chinese soup or a piece of halvah. I also 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 and the fathers and father figures you cherish. As my brother Mark, a father of three, so wisely said to me, "The best present for me is always feeling loved, included, and appreciated. Gifts are quite secondary."

Until next time,
Barbara

How to Make a Difference in the World 🌎

It is easy to feel overwhelmed and not sure of what you can do in this chaotic time of ours. Like you, I keep asking myself, what can I do to make a real difference in the world? As I was pondering this question, a story popped up into my mind and I want to share it with you.

Once a man was walking along a beach. The sun was shining, and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance, he could see a person going back and forth between the surf’s edge and the beach. Back and forth this person went. As the man approached, he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide.

The man was struck by the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached, the person continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf.

As he came up to the person, he said: “You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can’t possibly make a difference.” The person looked at the man. She then stooped down and pick up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. She then looked back to the man and said: “It sure made a difference to that one!”

– Author unknown

After writing this, I was walking near Union Square when something got caught in my throat. I started choking. A guy on a bike pulled up to me and asked if I was ok and if I needed help. I didn’t, but that act of kindness made my day.

Until next time,
Barbara

The Message of This New Moon in Gemini 🌚

Yesterday the New Moon moved into Gemini and the message for all of us is to focus on our ability to reset our intentions for this time. It is time to be curious and try new things.

And as astrologer Michel Lennox reminds us, “This is the New Moon where we put our ideas into form, but if you are someone whose mind and thinking gets the better of them at times with overthinking and indecision, this is also a perfect moment to set intentions for clear thinking, right guidance, and finding your focus amidst all the possibilities, so you can follow with right action."

Remember that Mercury is still retrograde, so things may move slower than you want them to.

Therefore, it is crucial to find ways to quiet your mind and as the Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke said, “Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language."

Until next time,
Barbara

Are You Living Your Truth?

Today my friend Lavinia told me that during her morning meditation, she received guidance to change her plans for the summer. And she decided to follow her intuition. I love that she has the courage to be in her truth and follow her guidance.

During this Mercury Retrograde Period (and many of you notice how volatile it is) we must be grounded in the moment, be aware of our current reality (one of the main competencies of emotional intelligence) and be willing to be flexible and change plans.

One of the stories told of Mahatma Gandhi, was that he started to lead a march to protest against the British and after a few days he saw that it was going to have some bad consequences… so he stopped the march.

People came up to him and said, "Mahatma Ji you can’t do this, people left their jobs, they left their homes and they’re taking great risks to follow you. You can’t stop now."

And Gandhi replied: "I’m only human I don’t understand all. My understanding of truth changes from day to day. My commitment is to truth not to consistency… I’m sorry if that upsets you."

Think about it. If your security is based on being who you thought you were supposed to be and now Spirit is nudginung you in another direction, can you allow yourself to let go of the old and move into the unknown? Do you dare to shift course? Is your commitment to consistency greater than your commitment to truth?

Until next time,
Barbara

Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins 🏆

This Mercury Retrograde/eclipse is bringing up a lot of old stories for everyone. This morning as I was sharing one of my limiting stories (it has to do with love relationships), my friend Heide, a well-respected relationship expert, told me she has been sharing stories with her group of friends weekly.

“I love the one about “other people’s lives are so much happier than mine” or “the aging story”, she laughed.

It kind of feels like binge watching Netflix…once you get started you keep watching more and more even if you don’t like the characters or story line. And boy can we get sucked into the emotions of limitations and fear.

The bottom line is we all have the power to change the stories we tell ourselves. Stories can stop or motivate us. They can change our behavior and change the action steps we take (or don’t take).

This eclipse season is urging us to notice our stories and see which ones are serving us and supporting us to move forward. And like my friend Heide, having a sense of humor is key.

Let us remember the Native American parable:

A Cherokee grandfather is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Until next time,
Barbara

6 Tips for Surviving and Thriving During Mercury in Retrograde ✨

Right now we are amidst Mercury Retrograde which started on May 10 and will last until June 2nd. This is a powerful time to STOP and do an edit of your life.

Yes, it can be disruptive. Yes, communication can be challenging. Yes, technical glitches can happen. However, if you are prepared this can also be a powerful time of healing and building muscles of flexibility. Nothing stays the same and we all require skills to navigate change.

Here are some tips for surviving and thriving during Mercury in retrograde:

1. Ground and Center: do a grounding meditation daily and spend time outdoors. Try my Four Element Morning Meditation and/or Chakra Balancing Meditation.

2. Listen more than you speak. There is a likelihood that communication can be more challenging, and you don’t want to be guilty of “foot in mouth disease”, so especially watch being too frank or blunt. It is better to be diplomatic.

3. Because there can be technical mishaps, back up everything and double check all written communication.

4. Use this time for journaling, brainstorming, and preparing for the future. However, this is not a time to sign contracts or start new projects.

5. Review your personal and professional skills. Where and how can you improve them?

6. Have a tarot reading. Since working with tarot and other oracles over the past 25 years, I have discovered that as you gain clarity on where you are and what forces are around you, it opens space to be able to make better choices that will empower you to move forward (for the month of May I am offering a special gift to you of 20% savings on Readings)

Until next time,
Barbara

Mother’s Day Around the World 💞

Most of us buy cards, send flowers or go out for brunch to commemorate Mother’s Day, but we rarely realize how far back these celebrations date. Like many other holidays that have been commercialized in modern times, Mother’s Day has centuries-old antecedents. Cultures around the world celebrated (and still do) the Mother Goddess as a representative of nurturing and the giver of all life.

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.

Did you know that the first North American Mother’s Day was actually a call for peace? Jullia Ward Howe wrote a proclamation in 1870 that called for mothers to stop their sons from killing the sons of other mothers. She asked for an international Mother’s Day of Peace. I personally think this is a fabulous idea.

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.

In addition to flowers, cards, jewelry and chocolates, it is customary for Australians to exchange perfume and tea 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.

With the changing configuration of families today, I invite you to 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.

Work with Barbara:

In the spirit of May (fertility, self-care, making important decisions) I am offering a special savings of 20% off on all Tarot Readings =>> Use code MOTHER at checkout. (Readings must be purchased in May and claimed within 60 days of purchase)

Discover eco-friendly beauty tools and other sustainable gift ideas at EarthAhead.com

Until next time,
Barbara

How to Use the Creative Nature of Conflict

Most of you know that I am a bit obsessed with ancient Egyptian Mythology and Spirituality. Today I was meditating on the god Set (Seth): King of chaos and the destroyer god who murdered his brother Osiris. There were many different factions in ancient Egypt with many belief systems. Some scholars say that Seth represented one powerful king trying to take power from another. In any case, he represents our shadow. A story that is still true today.

There is teaching here on how to use the creative nature of conflict. When we move into fear, loss of control and overwhelm, we lose all perspective. Trust me I know! We project this outside of ourselves, our imagination goes wild, and we create all kinds of catastrophic images of the future.

I am not saying we can easily fix all situations; however, I do know that once we can own and integrate the parts of us that we reject, we can then ground and center. As we face our fears, extraordinary solutions arise. Then we must learn to assert ourselves with as much emotional intelligence as possible knowing that out of destruction can come new creative solutions.

God Set

Want to come to Egypt with me? Save the date: October 10th-22nd. My friend and World Ambassador/ teacher at the Mystery School of Damanhur will be guiding us in an extraordinary magical trip through Egypt. I am putting together a small group of 14 people who want to dive deep into a transformational journey to unlock the secret codes of Egypt. And, of course, I will be adding my own knowledge of ritual and spiritual practice. More details to follow this week or contact me at my office.

Work with Barbara:

I am a big believer in practical spiritual tools that allow you to fully express your deepest values. Let me guide you to develop your intuitive guidance system, learn to flow with change, integrate your shadow, build a strong network of support, and open to love and joy.

Book a Reading for Clarity on where you are and what forces are at play around you.

Coaching Package: 60- or 30-minute sessions available to gain consistency in your practice.

Rituals for all transitions: Space Clearings, Business and Home Blessings, Birthdays and Anniversaries, Weddings, Pre-nuptials, Fertility Rituals, Baby Blessings and more.

Shop Magical Aromatherapy Sprays to enhance your life.

Until next time,
Barbara

49-Day Spiritual Practice From Liberation To Revelation

My friend Liz and I are doing the Jewish spiritual practice of counting the Omer. It begins on the second night of Passover and ends on the Holiday of Shavuot – when G-d gave the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai.

Think of it as a 49-day spiritual practice from liberation to revelation. We open to the gifts of spirit and align our soul’s purpose with the good of the world.

Each morning during your meditation, ask yourself these questions:

How can I soften my heart?

Where am I still holding on to things and relationships that do not resonate with the person I am becoming?

How can I best express my strengths and passions?

Consider these offerings as a place to begin and then see what comes for you…

Remember: Right now, is the most powerful time in your life. Right now, you are creating your future.

Until next time,
Barbara