How to Deal with Judgement Thoughts Towards Other Women

Judgement. What a big one. This post is not intended to be a quick fix cure all for those critical thoughts, but an introduction to tools that we can all use to invite more love into the equation.

It doesn't feel good to be judged. And it doesn't feel good to judge. But in a society of young women raised on Cosmopolitan, Mean Girls, and cut throat competition, it's no wonder that we all suffer from this frankly, quite depressing, aspect of separation. 

So when we first start to become conscious, and become more mindful of our thoughts + how they make us feel, we can tend to be overwhelmed by the quantity of judgement thoughts. I know I was. But when I truly started seeing all the chitter chatter that criticized and nitpicked, I did something that didn't exactly help the situation:

I judged the thoughts. 

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I would get upset with myself for being a 'bad person'. And I would literally yell at myself inside my head to stop. It took me at least a few months to realize that this behaviour was taking me away from my goal of more self-love + love for the women I was with. Judging judgement simply creates more of it. 

So that brings me to the first step. The next time you find a thought that you're not jiving with, head straight to forgiveness. Forgive yourself when the thoughts come up. Forgive. Compassionately. With zest. Forgive.

You can say mentally "I am wiling to forgive myself for this thought. I know it's simply conditioning and past experiences that have brought me here, and I am now willing to change. I choose the voice of love instead."

Once you've forgiven yourself for the thought, I recommend finding one thing that is beautiful about the person you have judged. Whether that's yourself or someone else. If this is hard for you, all the more reason to do it. You have to remember that the world is our reflection. When we are finding things we dislike in other women, we are really just disliking ourselves. So finding qualities of beauty in that babe is simply going to remind you of your own goodness. Likewise, when focused on the self, finding points of grace within will help you to be more loving with everyone else in your life. 

Step 1. Forgive. Step 2. Find One Thing That is Beautiful.

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We have to remember that we are dealing with deep collective wounds that women share. Not only have we been denied equal stance with our brothers for centuries, but we've also been pitted against each other in the collective unconscious.

Remember that women, in the past, weren't given opportunities to create money, own land, or even vote, therefore, the entirety of their security, survival and safety, was placed on their ability to secure a husband. And a well off husband at that. Imagine the competition that ensued from such a scenario. It is so sad to think about the shadow sides of the feminine. But it is so necessary to go here at times, so that we can remember that compassion is needed for the wounds to heal.

Be honest about your vulnerabilities and your fears. Forgive yourself for your judgment. Understand that it's engrained, yet we are here to wash away old patterning and channel a new energy of love and oneness into the world. 

Find the beauty in your sisters. Find the beauty in yourself. 

And of course, don't forget to ask your angels for help. Archangel Jophiel and Archangel Ariel are feminine powerhouses that can help you whenever you need.

Simply say "Archangel ________, please guide to me to choose higher thoughts of love about other women, and about myself. Please guide my thoughts in a way that reflects our oneness. Thank you for helping me to forgive myself, and to forgive others.'

xo Beth

Today, I was Helped by the Angels

I often refer to my time in Tofino as 'Event School' -  the reason being that I've actively wanted to get involved in events, but up until now, have only dabbled a bit here and there. 

So upon moving to Tofino a few months ago, I knew I had an opportunity to get my hands dirty and just give 'er. Tofino, though a small town, is a hotbed of young, social souls (due to it's status as 'Canada's Surf Capital') and a mecca for tourism. It offers a constant flow of new people who are looking to connect and engage with the local culture - the perfect scenario for those interested in creating events.  

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Hence, why I've dubbed it 'Event School', as with a little willingness + the spirit of a self-starter, one can learn the ins and outs of event planning + execution. The opportunities are here!

My first event? A fundraiser for an organization I'm an ambassador with - Women for Whales. It's a night of inspirational speakers (including Roxy sponsored surfer Catherine Bruhwiler and Morgan Callison, the founder of the only health food store in Tofino - Green Soul Organics), Raffle Prizes from amazing local companies, AND a epic local DJ to end the night with dancing + good vibes.

As I'm new to throwing events, I wasn't fully up on all the components of the evening. I'm learning things like, what to bring with you when you're dropping off tickets to vendors, the best ways to approach a store for raffle prizes, etc. I'm also learning that when things go wrong, the angels totally have my back. 

A few hours ago I found out that the PA system I was counting on (in essence: the sound equipment) - wasn't available, and I didn't know anyone else in town who had what I needed. In a town of 2000 people, where the closest city is a 2 hour drive away, this is semi-worrisome, as there isn't a big box store, or a list of businesses you can go to when in a pinch.

Imagining a night, that was supposed to be full of dancing and good music, without a stereo system, left a mild panic in my being. 

But with Marie Forleo's voice in my head saying 'Everything is figure-outeable', and lots of prayers to the angels sent in, I was confident I could make it work. 

Heading to the internet, and Tofino's local Facebook group (we're tight like that :D) - I put out a semi desperate plea - 'Help! I need a PA system for tomorrow night!' - After I posted the comment, I scrolled down to see that someone had just posted a picture of the most extensive PA system I'd ever seen, saying it was available. I'd never seen a PA system on the group before, and this one had only very recently been posted. How magical is that?

To keep the story simple, 15 minutes later, I had not 1, but 2 PA systems lined up, just in case the first one fell through. 

And I am so full of gratitude for both the people + the synchronicites of Spirit, for allowing what could have been a major meltdown to turn into an incredible opportunity to honour - we are truly taken care of. I know without a doubt my angels were working with me big time on this one.

Now I'm going to enjoy a cup of tea, a little Oprah, and settle in to the night before my first official party! How exciting is that!

Much love to you beautiful people,

And say it with me! "I am truly taken care of."

:) 

xo Beth

 

 

The Lessons of Overgiving + The Courage to Rest

A few weeks ago I committed to a 40 day blog challenge. I decided I was going to post one blog per day. 

Writing is one of my favourite things in the world, and so it seemed like an amazing thing to do to get myself typing on those keys more often. 

However, in the past week or so I've been feeling really raw. And not like that vulnerable raw of open goodness that feels great and freeing.

But the kind of raw where I'm digging to find things in places that are fresh and gaping. And these places are not calling for more digging and outputting. They are calling for silence.

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For those longterm readers, you know I like to get personal, vulnerable, and real in my blog posts. But I've come to learn I can't do that everyday. These posts feel GREAT to write, but it simply isn't sustainable for me to do them daily. They require deep soul journeying. Deep soul journeying requires space, time, and elegance.

When I am planning events, working 1 - on -1  with clients, emailing, designing websites, and brainstorming for new projects, I don't always have the energy to deep soul journeying for posts. AND THAT IS SO OK. WOOHOO I SAID IT!!! ( Go me :D )

So, I am still 100% committed to this blog challenge, but I need to revise the details. 

The new details involve MEDITATING on blogging every day.

Today - Do I have something to give? Am I excited and inspired and flowing?

If not, I am going to give myself breathing room and let that be OK. Can I receive my own gift of rest? 

 


So now I'd like you to take a minute to reflect. Are there any areas of your life where you're over giving? Pushing yourself so you don't disappoint others? Letting your battery get low so you don't drop any commitments? 

Giving is great. Giving when you need to stop and recharge your batteries instead, not so great. 

Give yourself permission to revisit. Be a revolutionary heart based bad-ass, and BE OK WITH ADAPTING. 

These are intense times. The more we can honour our need to take time and space, the more love we'll have to share when it's time. 

 

You rock

xo Beth

Soul Thoughts on a Full Moon

Full Moon Blessings. I adore Cancer. She's my Sun. What I was born into in order to come to my fullest potential, in a way I never have before. She's ruled by the moon, has watery depths, yet there's a warm nurturing quality to her, that can sometimes be too soft. Bending to other people's will to make sure everyone feels like they have what they need. Opening up to the gifts of this tendency, so I can find solace on the other side. 

Soul thoughts on a Full Moon.

After a naked cedar sauna with new friends, an ecstatic dance in the Heart's Garden. And a short walk underneath the moon in all her glory. 

Why does she affect us so?

And what is it about Cancer, that makes me fall so deeply, softly, fully + en ravenously in love?

I love you moon. I love you Cancer. Thank you for being good friends.

xo Beth

5 Ways to Deal with 'Negative' Emotions

There's a lot of talk in the spiritual world about constantly choosing love over fear. To reach for a positive thought or affirmation when we're feeling down. Or even to identify a 'negative' emotion as a sign that we're doing something wrong, and we need to reorient ourselves back to our truths. 

Now, while some of this does make sense to me (I'm all for choosing love) - sometimes these messages can get misinterpreted, and many of us will simply end up stuffing down our true feelings, because we've come to believe that they're not OK to have. 

What we often miss is that the point is to LOVE the moment, and to love the feelings. And this means getting honest about them.

I've noticed times in my life when I affirm that 'I'm happy and all is well' - when I'm not. A part of my being is literally crying inside and needs attention, and by pretending that's not the case, I do myself a great disservice. 

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When I'm off, and I'm trying to affirm my feelings away, something in my being goes 'This feels like I'm treading above water with an ever decreasing amount of energy to stay afloat'.

Now as a Cancer with her moon in Scorpio (for those not familiar with astrology, this is a recipe for intense underlying emotions) - I am prone to my fair share of deep soul feelings. And as such, I have learned that my best bet is to always - HONOUR THEM.  

Sometimes honouring the emotion can only take a second or two. For example, someone cuts you off in traffic and you feel a surge of anger? Great! Don't judge it, it's a perfectly human thing you just experienced. Let it pass through you, and over you. FEEL IT to heal it, then move onto forgiveness and willingness to see it differently when you're ready.

When I have a deeper lodged emotion that sort of hangs out with me all day (I experience this often in my second chakra - the tummy area - the seat of our feminine intuition and switchboard for our nervous system) - this is what I do.

Instead of, again, bandaid-ing the issue by affirming I'm OK when I'm not, I find some quiet time as soon as I can. Sometimes I have to wait a few hours if I have meetings or what not, but as soon as I can, I find a safe, warm space (usually my bed) and I do nothing else but BREATHE deep into my belly. I don't get up until I feel like at least a little bit of it has processed. Often times when I do this, a big release will occur in the form of tears. 

Here are a few more tips to get you through the times when deep seated emotions come up:

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1. Stop asking Why

I first learned this technique in 'Healing Wise' by Susun Weed . When you ask 'Why do I feel this way?' - inevitably your mind will point you to a) Things you did 'wrong' b) A situation that may have simply been a trigger, not the cause.

Don't deplete your energy by letting your logical mind try to 'figure it out'. Although tempting, the source may be a number of things you just won't understand consciously - ie. A past life memory was just triggered, the moon is passing through Cancer, someone you're cosmically connected to is going through a hard time - or yes, because you ate that sandwich with gluten in it and now your intestinal tract is inflamed. There could be a million reasons, it's not your job to logic the heck out of them. It's simply your job to ACCEPT and EXPERIENCE .

 

2. Breathe into the Feeling + Do Nothing Else

This is key. Breathing into the feeling works much better if you are able to give your presence to it. Your consciousness (awareness) is light, and when you focus your consciousness on the energy at hand, you are feeding it light. The breathe allows even more healing energy to come in, while letting go of stagnation and old pain.

I usually just go to my bed, lie down, get warm, put my hand on my belly, and breathe in and out. Sometimes for 5 minutes, sometimes for an hour. I might do this a few times a day when there's something especially deep coming up and out.

 

3. Ask Archangel Jophiel or Michael for help

Or any other beings you work with such as Jesus or Quan Yin. Simply ask "Archangel Jophiel, I'm experiencing a feeling that seems too much to deal with right now. Please help me in any way you can. I am willing to surrender this pain to you now." That prayer is just an example, there's a million ways to ask for help - it's just important that you do!

 

4. Know When to Keep Moving

After you've been with the feeling and nothing else, and you've asked for help, if it still persists, then know you've done what you can and it's in Spirit's hands now. Go about your day, and nourish yourself in any way you can. Listen to your body and your intuition. If they ask you for yoga, tea with a girlfriend, a long nature walk, great sex, or an epic night out dancing, then make sure to do it.

 

5. Remember - It's Coming up to be Healed - It's a Good thing!

Again - you gotta feel it to heal it! Most of the time, when intense emotion comes up, it's a good sign. It means old, stagnant pain is ready to come up and out. It's ready to be healed 4 eva! The sooner we can just BE with it and look at it - rather than distracting ourselves from it, or stuffing it down - the sooner it can be healed.


We weren't taught how to honour and work with the powerful tides of emotions in school, so this is where we require the support of our sisters and the wise women. 

May you learn the incredible power of your emotions. May you honour your feminine rhythms.

Love and light!

xo Beth

 

The Top 4 Ways to Help the Ocean

Mermaids Unite!

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As most of us merfolk know, the sea isn't doing so hot right now. And this makes me very very sad, but such is life at this time on Planet Earth right now, and at least situations like this remind us why we're here - TO HELP!

Though a lot of people tend to take the stance of 'Someone should really do something about that!' - and look to the Japanese government, corporations, or those with a lot of money to do something - it's important to realize that WE are those somebodies. 

When we alter our daily habits to reflect our care + concern for the whale being (haha - get it?) of the Great Mama, we reach a new level of empowerment. It also puts us in alignment with our core values, and that holds a lot of sway energetically. Those who walk their talk emit a certain vibration, that others who aren't following through just don't. We have more respect for ourselves, because we're living in alignment - and living in alignment serves as a great launching pad for our other endeavours. 

Here's to the mermaids! Let's do everything we can to take care of the great being known as The Ocean. She needs us now more than ever - and though that sounds a little cheesetastic... IT'S THE TRUTH! 

So here are the top ways we can help:


1. Buy Organic or Grow a Garden

I don't care how expensive mainstream society thinks organic is, what's really expensive is being on your deathbed, looking back on your life, and realizing you made irresponsible decisions that have put the earth even further in peril, just so you could temporarily have more money in your bank account. (Fun light hearted topics with Beth, episode 1) The thing is - eating organic from the grocery store, yes, can be more expensive, but when you regularly visit local farmer's markets + grow some food in your own garden, it can actually be really affordable.

Buying food that's non-organic (ie. Pesticide sprayed) is one of the worst things you can do for the ocean. All that toxic runoff, combined with unnatural manure from factory farming operations, is making it's way into our seas, and causing massive dead zones, where virtually nothing lives. You can read more about dead zones in an article I wrote in 2011 here.

One cool fact is, between 1991 and 2001, when pesticides became too expensive for farmers to use, the Dead Zone in the Black Sea virtually disappeared,  after previously being the largest in the world. Proving that, yes, absolutely, when our actions change, the effects follow suit! Hurray! :D

3 major dead zones via satelite 

3 major dead zones via satelite 

2. Use Natural Shampoos, Soaps, and Cleaning Supplies

Most, if not all brand name shampoos + cleaning supplies contain chemicals that are just plain toxic for our oceans. (ie. Softsoap, Herbal Essences, Colgate, Windex, etc) Even products that say 'All Natural' and 'Eco Friendly!' tend to be bullshiz marketing schemes. Not only are alot of these additives toxic for the oceans, they are also toxic for our bodies + our babies! So we definitely gotta switch over. 

For this one - there can be a lot of research involved, OR, in my experience you are playing it pretty safe if you only buy your hygeine + cleaning products at health food stores. Again, there are definitely a few products in those aisles that are still questionable, so how far into this you want to go is up to you, but for the most part, they are pretty safe. 

Also, it feels way more luxurious and in line with self care to use high quality ingredients on your body and in your home. 

I am a big fan of Sea Wench Naturals in my hair, I make my own face + body lotions, and I make my own cleaning supplies with vinegar and essential oils. 

 

3. Steer Clear of Most Seafood, especially Shrimp + Farmed Fish

I'm sorry if this list seems big and scary, but it's so important to just face the facts.

Commercial fishing has gone so far out of control, that almost every old fisherman can recount stories of how abundant the seas were, to how minimal their catches are these days. 

At the top of the things to watch out for in terms of seafood though, are shrimp and farmed fish.

Shrimp is 'caught' using a method called bottom trawling. The process involves a machine literally scraping the ocean floor until it's bare, bringing up the catch, only taking the shrimp, and throwing everything else back into the ocean, dead. The ocean floor is a complex and beautiful ecosystem, much like our forests. The act of bottom trawling, is therefore, much like clear cutting. It's a really sad thing. So... that's where the shrimp of the world comes from chicas.  

These days, most salmon tends to be factory farmed (yet is often labelled wild for marketing purposes). There are also a host of other species that are now being farmed. 

Some farms are completely enclosed in concrete vats, which is probably the best for the ocean, though still seriously impacts human health, as these fish are filled with antibiotics and even colour enhancing chemicals to make their unhealthy flesh look pinker.

However, many fish farms are still out in the ocean, enclosed in with nets. Diseased fish infect the wild populations, while nasty antibiotics and chemicals drip openly in the sea. (Wild salmon stocks are currently in peril because of this, learn more here.)

I've also read about accounts of whale + seal deafening. Since farmed fish set their operations up in what was traditional feeding grounds for whales, seals, and the like, these animals obviously come hunting. They have broken through nets, and 'stolen' fish from the farmers, so it became a practice to put noise 'fences' up. These systems blast a very harmful sound pitch out into the ocean, so if a whale or dolphin comes near, their eardrums get blasted, disorienting them, and sometimes killing them. (Whales + dolphins use echolocation to swim + hunt.) 

If you eat seafood, make sure to check out your options for sustainable seafood here. 

 

4. Say No to Plastic as Often As You Can

Most people have head about the Gyres, the massive swirling plastic parties in the ocean. If you haven't, you can read up about the largest gyre, nicknamed the Great Pacific Garbage patch, here. 

Plastic is everywhere these days, that's just how it is. But as consumers, we do have a choice in how much we use. From bringing our own bags to bulk bins (so we forego the plastic bag options) to saying no to plastic at the till, there are little things we can do everywhere. 

Buy the spinach in a bundle, not in a plastic container. Bring your own water everywhere with you so you never have to buy plastic water bottles. The more conscious we can be about this, the better!

 

Oooh. Wow. So much is going on. There's so much we can do, but it requires us to be open eyed and willing to face our demons, for the earth is our home, humanity is our family, and if one of us is in trouble, we all are. 

Remember, we're here to help!

I love you mermaids, let's lead by example.

xo Beth

A Simple Way to Get More Iron

A lot of us chicas are low in iron, due to diets that could be more nutrient rich.

While this dietary pattern can be shifted, to honour the bodies need for minerals, we can supplement while we figure out the best way to eat.

I got my blood tested last year, and found out I was low in iron (a key mineral needed for getting grounded + the feeling of being 'in our bodies': especially important for women) . The following combination is one of the best I've found for my iron needs right now:  { :D }


Floradix + A Vitamin C Rich Berry/Herb

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Foradix is a well known brand of plant based iron, that absorbs fairly easily into the body. It contains things like Nettle and Beet, and is also rich in the B vitamins, which are key for happiness and overall nervous system health. 

I take 10-25ml of Floradix daily (and it tastes great in my opinion). I combine that with a super nutrient rich berry powder. It's called the Acerola Cherry, which, dried, contains 503% of the required daily vitamin C in just 1.5 tsp. (The brand I use is HealthForce)

We want to combine our iron intake with a vitamin C source of some sort, as these nutrients play off of each other to offer better absorption on both accounts. (You could say iron and vitamin C are friends)

Other vitamin C rich sources include a Rosehip tea (3 small rosehips contain the same vitamin C as an orange) and the Camu Camu berry.

 

Happy Health Crusading!

xo Beth

5 Ways to Start Your Morning Off Right

I know a lot of spiritual teachers recommend that we start our mornings off with the same routine everyday, whether that be 5 minutes of meditation, or a certain ritual. I like the idea, but I've never been one for routines. For example, what if I had a solid routine that involved 10 minutes of gratitude journaling, but when I woke my eyes, I just couldn't wait to get out of bed and go for a beach run? Am I going to simmer myself down with the gratitude write, just because I'm 'supposed to'. Heck no. I'm off running. But that's just me. 

So my 'routine' in the morning is simply to honour + acknowledge the new day in some way. Much of the time, when I open my eyes, I simply say 'Hi Spirit!'. But I've also discovered a host of different ways I can start the morning off right, and while, again, I'm not one to repeat the same morning ritual over and over, I'll always do something that reminds me that everyday is sacred - there's nothing quite like the moment when you open your eyes to a new one. 

Here are some of my favourite ways to honour the morning:

1. Prayer

This one is a constant for me. From a simple, yet powerful prayer from A Course in Miracles that goes: "Where would you have me go? What would you have me do? What would you have me say? And to whom?" to a prayer specific for your day like "Angels, thank you for guiding me through my interview, and ensuring that I speak from the heart, and connect with the people around me", prayer can alter your mood and the course of your day significantly.

Sometimes I like to spend a good 15-20 minutes in constant prayer before I get out of bed. I love when I do this, it has a tangible, magical, and undeniably peaceful effect on my whole being. 

 

2. Green Juice

Green Juice has become a bit of a trend these days, but for good reason. If you've ever experienced a good, organic green juice on an empty stomach, you'll know what I'm talking about! Green Juice alkalizes the body, delivering key nutrition to your cells instantly, without asking your body to output energy to digest. The buzz from a green juice first thing has a profound effect on your mood + energy levels. It is a GREAT way to get going. 

Eating before consuming a green juice isn't a good idea, as it might cause stomach cramping and kind of negates the positive effects of green juice in the first place. This is because your body is already working to digest the food in your stomach, and the digestive enzymes are flowing. Green juice doesn't have fibre, so it doesn't need to be digested. Again, drink it on an empty stomach, and it's like a shot of chlorphyll directly to your blood stream. No work needed. Just benefits to be had.

If you don't have a juicer, no worries. This is what I do: Simply throw your greens (kale, spinach, etc) with a citrus fruit (orange, lemon) into a blender, pour at least 2 cups of water over it. Blend. Strain through a strainer, cheesecloth, or a nut mylk bag. 

 

3. Movement

Your body has been snoozing all night. When I take the time to do a bit of yoga or dance first thing in the morning, it's amazing at all the little crackles that my spine emits as it comes back into alignment and openness. I usually just do something like 5 sun salutations, and have a few minute dance party - nothing too crazy. :) Just enough to get my spine and muscles woken up, so the energy is flowing, and I have more focus for my day!

 

4. Wake Up Slow

When you don't have to rush off to work (which I never do... big gratitude to entrepreneurship!) it can be nice to simply lie in bed, and wake up slow - especially after you've just woken up from some nice feeling dreams. Daze off back to sleep, meditate, enjoy being cozy. It feels so good. If when you do this, you feel guilt (as I once did) - it's a sign that you're not letting yourself relax, and it's a good idea to breathe through it, and ask for help from your angels. You might also be picking up on the hectic energy of the world around you, so shield yourself with some nice pink or bright blue light (through visualization) - and see if that helps.

 

5. Dream Journal

One of the absolute best ways to recall your dreams is to get into the practice of dream journalling - but this isn't the only bonus. Often, when we write down our dreams, we have a much easier time deciphering what they're trying to tell us.

When you write them down, pay attention to the specific wording you use, and the details you chose to jot down. Reread what you wrote, asking your dream guides for help in interpreting the messages accurately. Do this at least a few times, and you'll be amazed at the information that can be accessed through the dreamtime. The lessons you learn will likely affect your waking life profoundly.