October 2023
Hi honey,
Good morning from my kitchen table :) This morning when I was in my meditation, I noticed how different the warmth of the morning light felt in my room - like Fall.
Yesterday, I had the privilege of sitting in Tea Ceremony hosted by Grace, who is a year 2 student and mentor in the herbalism program that I have started, The School of the Sacred Wild. I had never sat in Tea Ceremony before, but knew that it was a loved practice by many people who I love and look to for guidance. During the ritual, there was such intention, such artistry, such deep presence from Grace with each moment and each pour. It was beautiful, and I started to understand why it is such a loved practice. My Reiki teacher, Lara, has recently begun sitting with tea herself and shared with me that it feels like Reiki to her. I could see why :) The deep presence and each moment being an act of loving intention, is both tea and Reiki. It is always a beautiful reminder and opportunity to sit with Dharma-rooted practices, to remember the simplicity and beauty of your breath and the present moment. I can never get enough of these teachings :) One word takeaway from the Tea Ceremony for me: Sacredness.
I feel so grateful to be settling into Autumn and to be on the path of learning the Wise Woman Tradition of Herbalism. It is something that I would say I have studied and practiced on an “amateur” level (whatever that means lol), for many years. To expand on this knowledge and feel it as ancestral wisdom…wow. Simultaneously in September, I had two really beautiful healing sessions for myself. One was a cranio-sacral therapy massage with my friend Molly, and the other was a Biodecodingsession with friend, Sierra. Both unlocked understandings within my body that I was conciously unaware of! Funny how the subconscious does that ;) In the last month I have been lovingly working with my ancestors and healing the things that they couldn't - oof!! I didn't realize the weight of what I was carrying (and still there is so much more to uncover), and once a light was shown, I was grateful and released from it.
To tie these threads together (not that I need to, but) I have been poking around with Ashkenazi Herbalism, learning about the herbalism of my ancestors and great-grandmothers in Eastern Europe. When I first enrolled in The School of the Sacred Wild, I had a deep joy bursting from within me of RE-MEMBERING. Pieces of my birthright being remembered in my DNA. What a GIFT! I've been obsessed with learning about the herbs and the Wise Woman Tradition…and it's just been one month of the program so far hahah. All the mentors keep saying, “just wait.”
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Tuning back into the energy of Sacredness. Reiki sessions with clients recently have been feeling sooo guided and nourished by the Divine Feminine. I'm wanting to shower all who come into the space with roses, dusty pink linens, honey, crystals, sheep skin, candles….all the delicious Venusian beauty that we get to have as humans and get to enjoy as women. You know the feeling of change beginning to come? Like you see the wave far, far out at sea beginning to start to make it's way to the shore. I'm feeling that with my Reiki offerings, wanting to create a container of unconditional love, womb healings, and Sacredness.
In a few weeks, I will be in Ojai for a week long Reiki Masters Retreat, called Shinpiden. This is the next part of training in deepening my knowledge and blessings on the path of Reiki ! I will be seeing what unfolds with such beauty :)
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We had a beautiful Rosh Hashanah gathering last month - thank you again to everyone who came. The morning was abundant with gratitude and ancestry.
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I have been living with my phone on “do not disturb” all hours of the day, highly recommend. My nervous system feels like I'm not on alert waiting for a text all the time.
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I am creating a monthly subscription for us all to commune in different spaces, on zoom in a tightly held and compassionate container with quantum healing meditations, in chat rooms, and via the connection of my voice in your headphones during meditations recorded just for you.
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IN A WORLD THAT'S FILLED WITH A NEVER-ENDING AMOUNT OF INFORMATION, BOOKS, PODCASTS AND INSPIRATION, REMEMBER THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT WISDOM LIVES WITHIN YOU.
Reading + Listening
Here is what is on my nightstand, the books I'm rotating between lately :)
Holistic Dentistry, Nadine Artemis
Plant Spirit Medicine, Eliot Cowan
Transformed by Birth, Britta Bushnell
Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry
View recommended books here
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Soul Archaeology - A podcast I have mentioned before, by one of my mentors Ali Ofstedal. This episode goes into the energetics around the astrology of October and the upcoming eclipses. There is a lot of “eclipse season fear” on the astrology-centered internet, and I am NOT here for it. There is nothing to fear, and this episode with Ali reminds us of that. This is a time of magic and empowerment.
Soundfood Podcast - Still one of my favorite podcasts, hosted by Nitsa Citrine, I love that my nervous system feels soothed when I listen to these episodes. I greatly look forward to listening whenever there is a new one. I highly, highly recommend listening to episodes EARTH IS OUR COMMON GROUND with Josh & Rebecca Tickell and SOWING SOVREIGNTY with Chef Molly Engelhart if you are interested in regenerative agriculture. A topic that is so important if you do not already know to the healing of our Planet!
Breath of the Heart - I mentioned this album by Krishna Das last month, and I'm still listening to it…all the time hahah.
Close to You by Kate Wolf - Another album that has been on repeat for me, Like A River being my favorite. Listen with the windows down, my dear.
ALMOST HEAVEN RADIO ! - My talk-radio show's most recent episode where I pivot from the usual and share a guided meditation. It's quite beautiful, I hope you listen and receive it with love.
Chai Season
Last year while working at Christy Dawn, I quickly became very happy making Christy's chai recipe everyday lol. This is not a joke, it is that good. Buying a chai latte out isn't enjoyable anymore because this is just so much better! Grateful to feel the crispness in the morning and evening air…I am making chai again :) Here is Christy's recipe, thanks Critty! <3
1 Heaping Tbsp of Chai Powder - We like the Blue Lotus brand (and very exciting note - Amis Des La Terre in Costa Mesa has this in bulk! :')
1 Heaping Tbsp of Cacao Powder
1 Large Tbsp of Ghee
1 Large Tbsp of Honey - Activist of course!
1 Large Tbsp of Cashew Butter - I like the Artisana brand
Blend with hot water and enjoy
p.s. if you make too much, it keeps great in the fridge for the next day.
A few products I'm loving
Auréa Face Oil - I love the smell and texture of this oil, and I just ran out of it. It's nice to have just one skincare product on your shelf at a time, so you can actually see how you respond to it. This was a ‘yes’ for me, overall color and moisture <3 Liquid gold vibes :) Special mention as well to the body oil, I love the scent and texture.
Marie Veronique Pure E.O. Free Oil Cleanser - My all-time favorite face cleanser that I re-purchase time and time again, and also just ran out of! My skin is so (visibly) happy after using this each night.
Roz Hair Shampoo, Conditioner, and Milk Serum - Okay, so I have been on a freaking hair journey the last two years!! When I had c-o-v-i-d (I always spell it out because I think it's less triggering for our nervous systems lol), I lost a lot of hair due to the fever. It has really taken this whole time for my hair to grow back in it's thick fullness, due to a supplement I was taking that I didn't realize was blocking my hair follicle ! What a revelation ! Simultaneous to figuring this out, I stopped using heat on my hair and was unsatisfied with the products I used. I was dog-sitting at a friends house and she had these Roz Hair products in her shower, which I of course used, and was SHOOK. I have NEVER used hair products like this before. My curls look so good and so healthy !! I feel like I can style my hair without using heat in the ways I like, I'm just really into this whole new routine now. And very grateful.
Reiki Healing
Reiki is the energy of pure love and compassion, and is the foundation of Gaby's healing practice. Reiki translates to ‘spiritual universal healing energy’, a sacred Japanese practice that holds the container for sessions. It is deeply relaxing, nourishing, sparkly, clearing, and allows the body, mind, and spirit to come back to homeostasis. Reiki shifts the nervous system from fight or flight into rest and restore.
The session begins with a quantum healing guided meditation, clearing our any energetic blockages and connecting you to Mother Earth. Once in this liminal sleepy state, you receive Reiki through light, gentle, nurturing touch. Sounds of singing bowls and mantras soothe your nervous system. Guidance messages from your Angels and Spiritual Team often come through and are shared. After receiving Reiki, you gently awake feeling gratitude in every cell of your body, aligned, and at peace.
We sit together and drink tea, and will pull a few Tarot and Oracle cards to clarify any final messages from God/Angels/Heaven/your Spiritual Team/Soul/Higher Self.
This is a beautiful offering, meant to be a foundational piece of your daily life and spiritual practice.
Reiki is for You if
You're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, like you need to clear out old shit, feeling dull, under waves of grief, not sure where to go next, want to feel at peace, want to connect to your true loving nature, want to explore your own spirituality, want a safe place to breath and feel, need some tender-loving-care, as a monthly self-care practice, to realign and rebalance
What is Offered
Gentle touch, Guidance, Loving Compassionate Support, Resources and References, Big-Sisterly advice, Tools, Product recommendation, Safe space, Accountability
