New Moon Beach Art

Last evening, at our magical little beach, as the sun set into the Gulf, I walked alongside my moon sisters gathering natural treasures for a piece of beach art to honor the arrival of the Cancer Moon.

Together we created a heartfelt design in the sand using our found objects - feathers, sea oats, sea weed, rocks, shells, driftwood and sea grape leaves - and beach pebbles brought along by my dear sister over at Snip and Snail, who led us in creating this nature devotional to the moon.

The sun set and then, illuminated by candlelight, we set our intentions for the new lunar cycle. The beach and all it's beauty poured into my soul. A salty wind blew strong, gentle waves crashed, cicadas sang under the stars. Sea grapes, palm trees and our circle of mamas were all silhouettes in the night. Powder-fine quartz-crystal sand sent healing energy up through bare toes, while troubles disappeared on the breeze. Last night, the juju was bountiful, and delivered directly from Nature. We left our humble beach art behind to represent a gratitude almost beyond expression.

Treasure Mapping

About a week behind, I began my Aries New Moon treasure map adventure last night. I was inspired to embark on this journey with my moon sisters last year after reading this interview. It was such a powerful project, I was anxious to repeat it this year. However, as the planets would have it, I got to spend the New Moon assisting in the home birth of my niece... treasure mapping would have to wait.

The Aries moon welcomes the astrological new year, a most powerful time to set intentions for the lunar year to come. Its a time to plant seeds and dream big. So last night, I sat with my dear friend Rose, sipping red wine and nibbling dark chocolate, and began to clip images from magazines to represent where I want to travel in the year to come. As my map developed, a theme began to emerge. It appears I want to focus more on self this year (yay!)... healthy eating, exercise, a new wardrobe, creative pursuits and soul-fulfilling projects. I found images of "substance" vs. "stuff" kept jumping out at me. And so my journey begins...

Over the next week, I'll be completing my map (which will have a LOT more white space on it this year, representative of both a need for "less" and room to grow). I'm excited to gain more clarity and set more dreams in motion. Want to join in? Check out Erin's guide to get started on your own treasure map adventure.

Circles and Hearts

Come out of the circle of time, And into the circle of love. - Rumi

I know I've waxed poetic here many-a-time about my tribe, my village, my mamas. I've written about our new moon circles, our mother blessing ceremonies and all sorts of family gatherings. So it's only fitting I would spend Valentine's Day with this circle of friends, celebrating the love and friendship shared amongst our collective family.

We gathered out at the ranch to celebrate two Valentine's birthdays with a family campout. It was too cold - even here in Florida - to put up our tents, so we all cozied into the cabin in slumber-party fashion.

After the lights went out inside, the grown ups gathered outside around the campfire, under a new-moon sky. For the first time, on this Valentine's Eve, my sisters and I opened up the new moon circle to include our partners in an intimate ceremony under the stars.

My intention for the new lunar cycle was more of a mantra, adopted from one of the wise women of our clan: "I CAN TAKE IT!"

I CAN TAKE more good times and love...

I CAN TAKE more prosperity and peace...

I CAN TAKE whatever comes my way, for my circle is wide and my heart is deep. And anything that doesn't belong in these spaces will flow right out through my feet and into the earth below.

Countdown to K :: New Moon in Kindergarten

I gathered with my New Moon Sisters last night to honor the New Moon in Virgo, or as we renamed it, the New Moon in Kindergarten! So many of our biggest chicks are taking their first flights from the nest next week. So we set a group intention for smooth transitions - both for kiddos and mamas alike.

And then we got down to some mindful crafting. Last night's mission was power sticks. We each decorated found sticks, as well as began work on a communal one to use as a talking stick at our circles.

I used a piece of driftwood from Shell Beach and decorated it with stones and shells I've collected over the years, as well as some beads and ribbon. The idea is to keep adding to it as time goes by.

I plan to keep my power stick on my altar as a reminder of the peace the beach brings me - which is what inspired me in this craft. I'm not sure if I will use it in mediation, or just how it will come into play...but as my relationship with it develops, I'll let you know.

Day 6 :: Counting My Blessings

"On this New Moon of love, we must accept the responsibility to cultivate the intention for living each day as a loving, heartful, mindfully, compassionate being." - Lisa Dale Miller

Last night, in the shadow of another New Moon in Cancer and a total solar eclipse, my moon sisters and I strung gratitude beads. Gratitude beads are used to keep your mind focused while meditating upon the things you are grateful for. You hold the string of beads in your hand and reflect upon a blessing in your life (silently or out loud) for each one as you move it down the strand. I love the earthy beauty of all of our beads, which somehow seem to reflect our individual essences.

I fashioned my gratitude beads in my "colors of joy" palette, using a combination of wooden, semiprecious stone and glass beads. At each end of my strand, I created a loop from which I hung a symbolic charm. One end features a small, antique silver Quan Yin to remind me to practice compassion. From the other end hangs a sweet, silver bird, there to remind me to rise above and access my Buddha Nature.

Today, I'm so very grateful for the beautiful, spiritual women in my life with which I have the opportunity to share in mindful crafting and sacred circles like the one we experienced last night. My heart opens wide in their presence, flooded with compassion, gratitude and love.

Day 5 :: Gratitude & a New Moon

The moon enters a new lunar cycle today - a perfect time for setting intentions and counting our blessings. No surprise, my intention for the month is to practice compassion. I'm adding a focus on gratitude too, as the two really go together.

Practicing gratitude urges us to find the positive in our daily lives, and allows us to develop a greater awareness and appreciation for the little blessings that make up our days. From this, compassion flows naturally, as we open our hearts to the people, places and things we are grateful for.

Tonight, I will gather with the Mamas for our monthly New Moon ritual. We have a special mindful crafting activity planned too, themed around gratitude. I'm excited to share it with you here tomorrow!

Happy New Moon in Cancer (again)!

Honoring the Divine Feminine

"The Way of the Sacred Feminine is one of love, caring, understanding, compassion, peace and joy." - Lisa Dale Miller


The moon entered Cancer on Monday, welcoming in the energy of the Sacred Feminine. I gathered with my moon sisters around a Summer Solstice altar adorned in candles and fresh cuttings from the garden, including the heady-scented blooms of the ylang-ylang tree, as well as delicate roses and bright zinnias.

Along with our usual smudging and candle lighting rituals, this month we also anointed ourselves with Heart Song essential oil - a blend of lavender, geranium, rose and rosewood oils - and added a deep breathing ritual in honor of the Scared Feminine. My intentions for the new lunar cycle included honoring the divine feminine within me, and I've been thinking about what this means to me all week.

My primary image of the Sacred Feminine is the Chinese Goddess of Compassion, Quan Yin. She appeared to me on a trip to California 10 years ago and has remained my closest spirit guide ever since. I have this great statue of her, which served as the center of my birth altar with Sage. As my first step in honoring the Sacred Feminine, I'm fixing up my little altar for Quan Yin...and for myself. I promise to show it to you when the time is right.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to share my ideas for honoring the Divine Feminine, as well as my own feminine spirit, throughout this lunar cycle. Of course, I'd love to hear your ideas too.

To the Gemini Moon

There's no New Moon Circle tonight. My Moon Sisters are respectively home with a new baby, awaiting another new baby, traveling, under the weather, and enjoying the long weekend with their families. Regardless, I felt the pull to hold ritual for the emerging Gemini Moon. So I lit a candle and called upon the spirits for guidance. I spoke my intentions out loud and wrote them down.

My goals are aligned with the astrological energies of the Gemini Moon, which is best symbolized by flexibility, changeability and adaptation. Finally, I poured myself a glass of Merlot and opened up a brand new bar of Ghiradelli Midnight Reverie Intense Dark chocolate. This being one of our most sacred rituals, it felt very indulgent to partake in it alone...

So cheers, to the mamas of the Circle, to all of you reading, and to the Gemini Moon under which we all are united.

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Recently, I've had several friends and readers ask me about our New Moon gathering. Our ceremony borrows from various disciplines and traditions, and has evolved over time. However, it always offers a safe and mindful place to center our spirits and "reset" for the month ahead. If you are interested in starting your own Circle, this site is a good place to deepen your understanding of ritual and the messages of the moon. Of course, I'm happy to answer any questions I can! Namaste.

Prayer Flags, Parts II through IV

Finally, my prayer flags are complete, and blowing in the wind. After beginning them on the Taurus New Moon, I continued working on them throughout the week to follow.

Part II - More of My Process
There was a lot of painting and stamping to be done. Then arranging and sewing, with which I had a huge helping hand from The Snail (see her fabulous prayer flags here), as I don't sew yet.


Part III - My Product
Finally, I hung my flags on the back porch, my vision realized. Now sweet blessings of love, bliss, joy, peace and unity are being spread to all.


Part IV - A Long Line of Flags
My heart is full of joy as my New Moon Sisters join me in hanging their beautiful prayer flags outdoors.

These belong to The Snail, who stamped hers with a hand-carved wood block stamp bearing a symbol of protection.

These are The Visionary's hand-painted blessings, featuring original symbols and phrases.

And here are another mama's, created with fabric that corresponds to hand-written affirmations.

This is most likely the final prayer flag post (but I don't make any promises). This project, and the opportunity to share it, has brought me huge satisfaction and joy. I have visions of prayer flags all over the world, blowing sweet blessings to all. May many reach you!

*If you've created prayer flags of your own, I'd really love to see them. Please post a link or email me your handiwork!

Prayer Flags - Part I, The Process

It was a special New Moon Circle last Friday night as my sisters and I gathered at the home of one of our soon-expecting mamas to welcome the Taurus moon. After the smudging and candle lighting rituals, we opened our circle and shared our intentions for the new lunar cycle. As a group, we called for JOY.

After the ceremony closed, we remained in circle and began work on our prayer flags. Like women have done for generations before us, we fell into a rhythm, creating our handiwork side by side, while sharing stories and offering each other support.

It was so fun to watch each woman's creative process take form; each set of flags is sure to be truly unique. Kenji braided hemp to string her hand painted, multi-colored flags upon:

The Snail hand-carved her own block print (see her finished flags here):

And a whole lot of fabric cutting, design layout and truly mindful crafting was underway.

Check back later in the week to see some of the finished flags blowing in the wind.

Creative Intentions or Mindful Crafting

At our last New Moon Circle, my sisters and I initiated a new element to our gathering - a craft. Born out of the desire to create Treasure Maps for the Aries new moon, we pooled art supplies, delved into our creations and enjoyed the gab time that accompanied our handiwork.

(Here are my family's finished maps - a personal one for both me and DaddyBird, and a family one we created together. Visit my new moon sister's blog to see a whole different take on the treasure map.)

We're going to try another craft at our circle for the New Moon in Taurus: handmade prayer flags. Each of us is bringing materials to create flags that will convey - through words, images, symbols and art - our prayers and wishes for ourselves and the world. I'll share the process and results here after we've tried it out. Meanwhile, a sneak peek at the beautiful fabric I'll be using for my flags:

Moda Wonderland: Tea Time.

I noticed the craft project we chose for this Friday's circle, like the treasure maps, helps create and support our positive intentions (the whole purpose of a new moon gathering). I like this - and I think I shall call it "mindful crafting." It's crafting with a purpose; the setting of creative intentions and the release of good energy for ourselves, our families, our communities and our universe.

Do you have any mindful crafting ideas? I'd love to hear them.

Creating & Manifesting

Creativity ran rampant at my new moon circle last night! After an abbreviated - although very powerful - circle, the Mamas and I got to work on our treasure maps to ring in the astrological new year. This was manifesting at its best!

There was certainly no shortage of creative supplies. Our host, Rose, shared stacks of magazines and full access to her wealth of arts and crafts materials. The Snail arrived with arms full of fabric pieces and a sewing machine. And our resident artist brought boxes of beads & jewels, ribbons, a tin of antique buttons and a rainbow selection of paint. We dug in and quickly made a big creative mess, fueled by red wine and chocolate (top picks of the night: Lindt Dark Chocolate with Chili and Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon).
It was fascinating to watch each of my sisters' creativity unfold with their own unique take on the treasure map. An avid quilter and crafter, The Snail created hers with fabric - read more about how here. Tapping into the power of artful journaling, Rose filled the pages of a blank board book. The rest of us each put our own spin on a traditional poster board collage. A work in progress, I love the way mine is turning out. Using the feng shui bagua for form, I'm selecting images based on these principles:

• Be specific.
• Images should evoke the feeling of what you want to manifest.
• Dream BIG.

Here's how mine looks so far (see a close-up shot above).
This weekend, why not join in and set a visual intention for the year ahead? Then post images of your treasure map - and view others - on this treasure mapping flickr group set up by our inspiration over at Exhale. Return to Center.

Happy Friday and happy creating & manifesting.

A Return to Me

Tomorrow is the the new moon, and the beginning of the astrological new year. It's the moon for fresh starts, turning over a new leaf or starting a new phase. I couldn't be more ready for this. Over the past few days, I've felt like I was at the end of a marathon, pushing myself to keep up the pace, knowing the finish line is near. I'm ready to cross that line and enter a new space.

So, in the spirit of the Aries New Moon, I'm setting a couple of new year's resolution-like intentions to help with a return to me.

A Return to Journaling In the time before kids, I used to journal every day. I'd start my morning with a cup of hot coffee and a blank page, writing free-thought morning pages Julia Cameron style, as described in The Artists' Way. I do miss this. I don't know if I can pull off morning pages again at this stage in my mothering game, but certainly I can find the time to fill three pages a day. Unloading all the random thoughts filling my head would be like a little spring cleaning for my mind & soul. (Thanks for the reminder, Erin.)

A Return to Yoga

Selby takes a yoga class every Thursday...what about mommy?

Seems everywhere I turn lately, someone is talking about yoga. I miss this too! The stretching, the union of body, mind & soul...I need these things right now. So I've been thinking about how I can make this work. At the YMCA the other day, I picked up a flyer for a yoga class- it's not the authentic studio/practice I'd envisioned. But it is yoga; and I do already have a membership; and there is child care. I'm going to give it a go on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

I hope finding, no, making time for these mama-centered activities will help this mama return to her center. For as we all know, a happy mama makes for a happy home.

Treasure Maps

Next week is the new moon in Aries. Inspired by this post, my moon sisters and I have decided to participate in a little treasure mapping. A treasure map is a visual collage, similar to a vision board, of what you want your life to be like in the coming year. What makes it different from a vision board is it's created on the Aries new moon, the beginning of a new astrological year. Treasure maps are said to hold great manifestation powers because they are created during the first sign of the zodiac, allowing the entire year ahead for realizing your dreams & wishes.

So, at our new moon circle next week, my sisters and I will be armed with piles of magazines, craft supplies and glue to create our maps for the year to come. I plan to use the feng shui bagua to organize my board, which breaks the board into 9 areas that cover most all aspects of life. The bagua looks like this:
Daddy Bird is also going to create a treasure map and we plan to do one together with the family as well. We have purchased three poster board frames for our completed boards (which are to be done before the full moon) and will hang them on a wall in my office/craft studio.

I'm so excited for this project and the company of my moon sisters and family in doing it. Perhaps you'll join us too?