New Moon — September 5, 2021

I laid in bed on this Sunday reminded that today is the new moon. Now that I've made this commitment to myself to write for the full and new moons, I am connecting more regularly and spending time checking in.

On this new moon, I went back and read and reflected on my last few writings. What's come up, listening to the story, and reflecting on what's pulled through.

"Move like you are unseen". I thought about how I've been feeling recently, we have lots of changes happening in our world. Moving later this month, school starting, on top of life, membership co-op stuff, brain stuff, baby stuff…

This phrase "move like you're unseen" came to me as I pictured being in a forest, in the dark. There's a well-walked path I'm following, and I feel comfortable like I know where I'm going. Yet I've never seen this place before. I feel like this is the next step. Going with the momentum, I've been practicing the skills that my therapist and occupational therapist have been working on for the past year.

I am thinking about the yin energy of the new moon. The past almost 3 years have been a transition space. My life before the car accident was very yang energy inspired by yin energy. And this has been the transition from yang to yin. Wow. I never understood that until this very moment. Ahh, I knew this was going somewhere. Yes. This has been a loooonnnngggggg ass season of transition. Hmm, brain injury, dad's death, pandemic, the birth of our baby. That's a lot eh? That shit takes some time.

So that's this new moon. Ain't no thang, eh?

Going with the momentum. I've set up all the systems, we've created the container in which we can thrive, now I just have to BE.

For some reason, I've found that my thoughts and connections happen during the day when I can have some uninterrupted time to connect with myself. Today it was with a full belly (after breakfast) and a hot bevy.

I would have loved to sit and journal, sit outside, do a circle, pull cards…. But you know, just showing up for yourself with an intention and just do what feels called to you — that works too.

That’s it, that’s all! How did your ritual go? Like and comment below.

Much love,
Erika the Doula

p.s.: if you enjoyed what I’ve shared with you, why not buy me a coffee? Show me a little love?
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Crescent Moon August 12, 2021

Have you ever had the thought of feeling like something eerie was going on, but you’re curious so you keep going? I feel like this is every shitty scary movie out there. No, I don’t mean about the murders.

Well on this one evening, I decide it’s been a while since Shosh and I have really connected I can just feel that she is needing me… or rather, I feel like I’m really needing her. I said to her — Hey wanna do circle in the bath tonight? Her face totally lights up and says “Can I blow our the candle?”, “of course sweetheart, we can totally do that.”

Honestly — I’ve decided to stop trying and just started doing. What I mean is, to cultivate spirituality — I realize with children, it starts with themselves. Getting them in tune with themselves. The other thing that I’ve learned is to follow their lead. She wants to play, let’s play, and then I’ll make a suggestion: “hey, let’s light the candle now for circle, okay?”, and we’re off to the races. As I’m playing “follow the leader”, something is happening in the back of my mind that I become aware… and I was replaying a dream that I had several weeks ago.

I don’t know quite how to explain it, it was like I could feel the veil thinned and I could see some of my dreams as these large bubbles. It was like some Harry Potter shit where Sirius falls into the veil.

There was this surreal feeling of just being present in the tub, sharing a really sweet moment with my kid. I’m slowly beginning to realize that getting out of my way — how ever hard it is, is also the easiest thing.

My intention from the last new moon was to do me to the fullest. Ultimately, by connecting with nature, being present and honest with where I’m at. Noticing there are more parts to myself and that they need to come forward and be expressed. That I’m at my fullest expression when I’m working with my vibe.

How are you listening and leaning into your new moon intention?

New Moon Rituals DIY

I’ve spent a lot of time wondering and thinking about why I love looking at the moon, and have also spent a lot of time thinking about why I’m drawn to doing a ritual on the new moon.

My answer — it’s a way of grounding in a regular practice without a daily commitment and ties me to being aware of the season changes. This connects me to my passion, desires, and growing wise in life.

Below is a simple and intuitive way of doing your own ritual as a single person or in a group.

Vibes of the new moon:

Supercharged with hope, possibility, momentum

New beginnings

Lowest energy —> naturally to withdraw and go inwards, resting, being more still

Rituals:

• Set a worthwhile intention

• Light a candle — light on the darkest night, ask the universe to shine light on your intention

• Begin something new — a new job, new plant, go on a new adventure, or maybe keep it simple and change your bedsheets.

• Create sacred space — cleanse the energy of the place where you’ll be manifesting and self-reflecting. What makes this space feel cozy to you? What makes this place feel safe to you?

• Make your own ritual — maybe it’s taking 3 deep breaths, brewing a favourite tea, maybe putting on your favourite comfy socks, or lighting a beautiful candle.

How to do a new moon ritual:

1. Take the next few minutes to really centre yourself. Connect with you breath, place a hand on your heart, and hand on your womb space. Take the next few moments to withdraw inward and breath deeply. Notice the beating of your heart, notice any feelings or thoughts that come up.

2. Explore what the next month brings. Now that you’ve connected with yourself — what is that you have a desire to manifest over the next month? What would you like to bring more of into your life? What excites you?

3. Start writing. Now that you’ve started dreaming, wishing, and wondering… write it all down. It doesn’t matter how silly, awkward, big, or outlandish. Just start writing. Write until you’re finished. Don’t hold back. Let go of the fear, judgement, expectations.

4. Now with soft eyes, gaze at the paper and notice anything jumping off the page. Maybe a word, phrase, or sentence, underline anything jumps off the page. The idea is to just skim what you just wrote and notice anything your eyes are drawn to.

5. Now observe what you underlined… notice anything? Is anything speaking to you? Is there a theme? What is your intuition saying to you?

6. Now write down 3 actions that will start you on the journey towards your desire. These steps can be small. There is no winner and no race. Just think about 2 baby steps you can take.

7. Write a new moon affirmation that will support your manifesting desire. Seeing your affirmation often will remind you of manifesting your desire. Post it in multiple places: steering wheel, bathroom mirror, your work station, beside your bed, on a bookmark, in your wallet, make it a screensaver.

That’s it, that’s all! How did your ritual go? Like and comment below.

Much love,
Erika the Doula

p.s.: if you enjoyed what I’ve shared with you, why not buy me a coffee? Show me a little love?
❤️✌️

Full Moon Rituals — DIY

One of my first memories is as a child looking up at the moon and asking “dad, why is the moon following us?”

And here started my life long interest in astronomy.

Grounding myself in a full moon ritual holds multiple benefits:

• Connection to myself — checking in. How am I doing? Am I aligned?

• Connection to the earth — we only have 13 full moons every calendar year, each season has 3 maybe 4. Observing the seasonal changes is a way of following a natural cycle of life.

• Connection to my menstrual cycle — your flow is your flow. There is no right or wrong way to how you connect to your body. I observe by feeling and having an internal conversation with myself around how I’m feeling, caring for myself, what I’ve noticed, and any instincts or downloads coming through.

Vibes of the Full Moon:

Full power, maximum potential, use the ripeness of energy to let go of what isn’t fulfilling your desires, can be a fine line between ripe and overripe with energy, stay grounded and in a practice to harness the energy.

Rituals:

• Set a worthwhile intention

• Light a candle — light on the darkest night, ask the universe to shine light on your intention

• Begin something new — a new job, new plant, go on a new adventure, or maybe keep it simple and change your bedsheets.

• Create sacred space — cleanse the energy of the place where you’ll be manifesting and self-reflecting. What makes this space feel cozy to you? What makes this place feel safe to you?

• Make your own ritual — maybe it’s taking 3 deep breaths, brewing a favourite tea, maybe putting on your favourite comfy socks, or lighting a beautiful candle.

• Moon water — bowl of water charged with moonlight

How to do a full moon ritual:

1. Take the next few minutes to really centre yourself. Connect with you breath, place a hand on your heart, and hand on your womb space. Take the next few moments to withdraw inward and breath deeply. Notice the beating of your heart, notice any feelings or thoughts that come up.

2. Reflect on the intentions/desires/habit changes from the past new moon. Now that you’ve connected with yourself — reflect on what you have made an effort towards? Where have you spent your energy? Is this in alignment with you?

3. Start writing. Write whatever is coming to you: feelings, visualizations, rememberances, and intuitions. Get it all down on paper.

4. Now with soft eyes, gaze at the paper and notice anything jumping off the page. Maybe a word, phrase, or sentence, underline anything jumps off the page. The idea is to just skim what you just wrote and notice anything your eyes are drawn to.

5. Now observe what you underlined… notice anything? Is anything speaking to you? Is there a theme? What is your intuition saying to you?

6. Let’s celebrate! Write down what you DID accomplish. How proud of yourself are you? It doesn’t matter how small of a win you had, it is a WIN.

7. Write down on a separate piece of paper what it is you’re ready to let go of. What is no longer serving you, and when you’re complete, place what you’re ready to let go of in a bowl of water. Let the water wash away anything you’re letting go of.

I would love to hear how you’ve created your own ritual and what it means to you!

Much love,
Erika the Doula

p.s: if you liked what you read here, maybe show me a little love and buy me a coffee below.
❤️✌️