Unity Symbols & Unity Rituals Leanne Smith

Unity symbols and Unity rituals

A way to add a special touch to ceremony

Leanne Smith Civil Celebrant

At this special time of the year when we are all preparing for families to gather together, I thought it might be appropriate to take a moment to think about unity and how we symbolise the union of two people and the uniting of family members particularly at weddings. Here are some examples of unity rituals which are often included in a marriage ceremony.

Light a Unity Candle- creating a new flame (a new light) together. At the beginning of the ceremony a flame is lit for each partner (often by a parent or close relative who has known them all their lives) then after the marriage vows have been exchanged each partner takes a taper flame from their individual candle and together they light a new flame…. nothing is lost and new light is created. Sand Blending- there are so many variations of this ritual which can be adapted to suit any situation. In its most simple form, two colours of sand are used. The couple each choose a vial of coloured sand which represents them and their life up to this moment. They pour their individual vials of coloured sand into a new vessel (often creating pretty layers and patterns) symbolising the union of two individual lives and noting that nothing had been lost from their individual lives, but never can these grains of sands be separated and placed back into the individual containers.

While the symbolism of this ritual will remain unchanged, there are often more than two colours of sand used. Parents can be included (perhaps pouring layers of sand representing stability, wisdom, long life) and children can choose their own colour to add to the blend which is a beautiful way to acknowledge the creation of a new blended family.

An alternative to the traditional symbolism of the sand ritual is to choose a combination of colours (I’ ve used up to 12 different colours for this one) Allocate a meaning or a quality to each colour (eg. blue for peace, yellow for happiness, red for passion, black for stability etc) and then invite ALL the wedding guests to come forward in turn and add a layer of their chosen quality to the marriage vessel. It’ s a great way to make everyone feel included and resulting blend looks spectacular as a wedding keepsake.

An alternative to the traditional symbolism of the sand ritual is to choose a combination of colours (I’ ve used up to 12 different colours for this one) Allocate a meaning or a quality to each colour (eg. blue for peace, yellow for happiness, red for passion, black for stability etc) and then invite ALL the wedding guests to come forward in turn and add a layer of their chosen quality to the marriage vessel. It’ s a great way to make everyone feel included and resulting blend looks spectacular as a wedding keepsake.

There are so many ways to personalise these rituals to suit your relationship, your family situation and to make them meaningful and relevant to your marriage.

If you have questions or would like more information, please get in touch any time or visit my website www.leannesmith.com.au

Happy and Safe holidays to all, Leanne

Stress Less, Smile More

Wondering if you have anxiety?

We all experience anxiety from time to time. It helps us avoid danger by giving us a burst of energy to escape or fight. But for 16% of Australians anxious feelings just don ’t go away.

Wondering if you have anxiety?

Anxiety can include physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, racing heart, sleep troubles, tummy problems, feeling lightheaded or even trembling. You might avoid certain situations, spend a lot of time reliving the past or worrying about the future. You may feel apprehensive, like something bad is about to happen, feel like you are in danger, have a racing mind, have trouble remembering or concentrating.

Wondering if you have anxiety?

Candice Fraser The Kindness Couch

Exercising – start slow and work your way up to 5 sessions a week. Relaxation Training – teach your body how to physically relax. Improve your self-talk – get in the habit of catching out your negative thoughts and reframing them. Acknowledge your feelings – when we don ’t, we can activate our fight, flight, freeze response. Improve your nutrition – food fuels the mind and body, eat fresh whole foods as much as possible. Improve your self-esteem – focus on those around you who care for you. Learn to breathe deeply into your belly. Meditate daily for optimal brain training. Get enough sleep. Seek help if needed.

For a simple yet helpful handout on lifestyle factors to help you navigate anxiety email thekindnesscouch@gmail.com and I will happily send you a copy.

A Naturopath’ s Top Tips to Stay Healthy this Christmas

By Caitlin Buttenshaw Caitlin Jane Naturopath

Christmas is full of joy, connection, laughter and food, but can also be stressful, overwhelming, and exhausting! The manic pace of Christmas tends to lead us into poor food choices, poor lifestyle habits, a whole load of stress, and little time for ourselves, which in the end leaves us feeling absolutely exhausted.

Here ’ s a few tips on how to stay healthy over Christmas this year and come out the other end bursting with energy!

1. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.

Christmas in QLD is hot and sweaty! Add in a few cocktails, some sun, coffee, heavily salted and processed foods, and no wonder we finish the day with a headache and feeling fatigued. Start your day with a large glass of water and continue to sip on water throughout the day. Make jugs of iced tea or add some soda water to your drinks. Aim for 2-3L per day.

2. Move your body daily

Moving your body daily, even if it’ s just a short walk or a 10-minute stretch in your bedroom, will help to support your overall energy, manage stress levels and optimise your digestion. Use exercise to catch up with a friend or make it a family activity; take a stroll along the beach, play some backyard cricket, go for a swim or bike ride, practice yoga, or anything in between.

3. Mindfully eat.

Don ’t just scoff your food down and reach for a second plate as soon as you ’ re done. Take the time to slowly chew your food and think about the food you ’ re eating. Take the time to really taste it and enjoy the moment.

Eating mindfully allows our body to understand when we ’ ve had enough food and reduces the need or want to binge. In turn, this helps to support digestion, improve energy levels, and improve satisfaction of food.

4. Load up on vegetables & fruits

Christmas is a time for delicious food packed full of sugar and all the naughty (but yummy) things. Don ’t let that stop you, enjoy the foods you love without the guilt, but try to incorporate plenty of vegetables and fibre! Fibre, particularly from vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, legumes, nuts and seeds, will help keep you full, reduce cravings, support a healthy digestion, and help keep those energy levels high! Fill your plate up with plenty of Christmas salads or roasted vegetables, add legumes, nuts, and seeds to your salads, and snack on fresh seasonal stone fruit throughout the day.

5. Get plenty of rest & quality sleep!

For most people, this is the time of the year that we tend to have more time off from work. Use this time to prioritise rest, sleep, and self-care. Stick to your regular sleep schedule as much as possible, aiming to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

Christmas can be exhausting but it is also the most wonderful time of the year and a time to be enjoyed! Being mindful of food choices and lifestyle habits throughout this period will help you to feel the best you can and allow you to be present for the people you love the most.

Wishing you all a safe and Merry Christmas!

We'd like to take this opportunity to thank our local community for all of your support these past 6 months.

We wish you and your family a very safe & merry festive season.

We look forward to seeing you in 2023 to continue to bring to you all of thae latest information and news in body, mind & soul on the Capricorn Coast!

From

Shanelle & The Hub Capricorn Coast Team!

December's Moon Musings

By Heidi Reeves Sol Rising Astrology

Your monthly guide to what's happening in the astrological world

Full Moon in Gemini on December 8th at 2:07pm AEST

While the Sun in the fiery sign of Sagittarius is shining light on Adventure, travel and spiritual growth, the moon is lighting up Gemini’ s thirst for knowledge, the fun, flirty versatility and our communication style.

Words and communication are a big focus during this full moon. Gemini is ruled by Mercury (our planet of intellect and communication) and so it is important to pay close attention to our thought patterns at this time.

Are your thoughts helping you or hindering you?

Are you communicating clearly with loved ones?

Do you speak from the heart or the head? Both Sagittarius and Gemini like to have fun but the Sun in Sag can fall prey to overindulging and getting too caught up in the joyous moments that they forget to put the work in!

The Gemini moon can be the channel. Teaching us that when we are able to truly listen and quieten the mind we can really start to hear our inner knowledge come forward.

This cycle is a good time to reflect on whether your heart and your head are aligning?

Maybe sharing your thoughts and feelings with loved ones could help release some of the tension inside….

Gemini can also be seen as fickle and often contradictory but this is mainly due to their ability to adapt and change their mind. Gemini needs change and spontaneity and Sagittarius loves an adventure so don ’t be scared to have a little fun during this cycle too, Life is here to be lived after all!

Signs that will feel this the most are those with their sun, moon or rising in the Mutable signs of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo and Pisces.

New Moon in CAPRICORN on December 23rd at 8:17 AEST

This New Moon falls on the day we shift from our Sagittarius season into the season of Capricorn! Capricorn season begins at 5:50pm and we welcome the New moon at 8:16pm AEST at just 1 degree.

The New Moon cycle is a time of new beginnings, for planting seeds and manifesting our dreams and noone does that better than our Earth sign of Capricorn! Capricorn is ambitious, results driven, responsible and conservative. This is a great time to focus on the foundations and structure needed to evolve and see our dreams come to life. Capricorn gives us a sense of purpose to push forward and grounds us into our connection with the earth and our sense of responsibility.

How can we create our dreams in a way that is fair and just?

Where can I become more conscious of my responses and show more respect to myself and those around me?

Is my ego and need for validation driving or am I coming from a place of love and respect?

Time to start thinking about your goals for 2023 and the stepping stones that will lay the foundations of success and growth in your personal life and career.

Cardinal signs will feel this the deepest. Those with Sun, Moon or Rising in Capricorn, Aries, Cancer and Libra.

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