What I Love Doing does not mean you do only what you deem as fun, what you think you love or what entertains you, Doing What You Love means finding Authentic Joy in your day to day tasks while living The Simple Abundance Life. You definitely do not need to know what you LOVE, just show up with a ready heart, a heart full of Love for Living. The Chaos will lose You. The Solitude will change You. The Secrets will surround You. The Darkness will cover You. But the Love will save You.
—Casea Hope 2
W.I.L.D.
What I Love Doing
We do what we Love to stay sane, to honor that Wild Woman inside us, to feed our stomachs and our souls.
NEVER AGAIN BE FORCED TO MOVE TO THE RHYTHM OF OTHERS
FROM THE EDITOR
As I am wrapping up this second issue of Wild Homes & Gardens, I am in awe of the art and words that have been submitted. To read the words of fellow wild women, to witness the soul awakening journeys and to see the creations of you, brave and bold women, sets my heart on fire and my love to share and learn has melded here, unlike anything I could ever have imagined. None of this would have ever been possible without the encouragement of all types from so many people, all over the world. I am honored to share these snippets from Wild Women, like myself, savoring this journey while creating magic along the way. Thank YOU for reading and sharing, it means the world to me!
-Ashton RyAn
Contributors
cover by KatherIne
Elizabeth Blackwood
Dr. Ashley Dial
Jasmine Estevez
Kristen Hammock
CaSea Hope
Kala
Karmas Kid
Diana Kouprina
Charlie Miller
Zura Moonleaf
Kathleen Roberts
Tiffany Saffer
Kristen Sugar
-audre lorde
I'm not here to make you comfortable
Nor will I soften my light to make you feel more seen
I'm here to empower you
I'm here to stir shit up
Even if that means looking inward and Rearranging house
Or burning it completely down and Rebuilding
I'm here for you to analyze the parts of you that need more attention
Holding space for whatever surfaces
Here to sit in the discomfort with you
To go through the journey of Healing and learning and unlearning with you
I want you to be the best version of you
I want you to take up space and know it is okay
No need to hide because your magic is meant to be shared
-Jasmine Estevez
Caged Bird
I am a bird, in a cage, is who I am. My cage is neatly perched against the window sill. On warm fall days, I hear the songs of freedom, songs by those flying free. I am a caged bird, is what I am.
I sit quietly, too scared to sing. My fight of freedom, fought and lost, yet hope remains, that one day soon, I can fly free, singing the song, from deep within.
A true Wild Woman can not be tamed. You can try to cage her but she will claw her way out and she will remember how it felt to be controlled and muted. She will heal herself, rise up And come back aligned, Feral, Free and give Zero F*cks. A Wild Woman owns herself, guides herself, needs no affirmation from the matrix or opinions formed in programmed beliefs. A Wild Woman follows her own heart song, knows her truths and will stop at nothing to live off her true passions, purity and power.
ONE TAP
Music can save her soul like no other guy she’s known life begins with one tap beauty froM it’s creating source eMptiness of huMan force to live to dance to die
all within a MoMents blink of an eye she sways eMotions parallel with her heart cannot be stolen away froM her for life is her dance into the Midnight sky louder and louder he struMs his guitar she drifts off with every word all the love tonight
she’s saved
By KRisten sugAR
[I almost wish you could hurt me]
-A poem venting about someone i dated in the past (thanks for the inspo)
By Zura Moonleaf
Even though you think you’re a “strong man”
You hide behind ink
Hoping the designs on your skin portray you to represent what they do
Even though you think you’re tough
You’re scared to feel your emotions
Sometimes, you snipe at me from a distance
With words you hope will hurt me
Then you immediately block me from responding because you fear how I can stir your scary emotions that you desperately pretend dont exist
You want me to feel pain and show it, Maybe so that you’re not alone in suffering
I almost wish you could hurt me
But nothing will hurt to the extent of pain and grief i have already gone through years before met you
If you had the power to hurt me- it means wouldn’t have had to go through the torment that became as familiar as the back of my hand. All attempts to injure me, pale in comparison to thatThey are like a small scratch on a stone, compared to the hell I’ve crawled through before.
In one sense, it’s a relief to be shielded from everything you try to damage me with
I almost wish could feel what you hope i would
But overcoming my past pain & difficulties
Shaped part of the me That I now can be
LOVING ME
i uSeD to cHASe ArounD tHe feeling of love, AS tHougH it Were A coMPulSion, An iMPulSion,
i coulDn’t reSiSt.
i uSeD to be obSeSSeD WitH tHe feeling, of loving, SoMeone, Anyone, WHo WASn't Me. one DAy it Hit.
i HAD notHing left, no More feelingS of love to give.
i WAS forceD to try, to love MySelf.
tHe journey WAS HArD, AnD WitHout fAil.
i Sit bAck noW, After tHe bAttle of Self love HAS been Won, AnD, i tHink to MySelf, HoW WonDerful it iS to be loveD.
“B oo K s AR e the mi RR o R s of the soul .”
Insubordinate
Serving you my poems on a half shell
You nibble to be polite
You feign interest in the philosophical
But your motives are purely reptilian
Twenty years ago I may have had the patience for the game
But time and cynicism have worn me to a sharp edge
I make no apologies
Never again will I kneel before you
Subordinate and eager
By K athleen Roberts
V i R gini A W oolf
Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.
~Celia Cruz
Karmas kid is all about the action of "being" of "becoming" and I do my best to inspire others to be themselves
Karmas KId
I’M A SELF TAUGHT ARTIST WHO’S INSPIRED BY MY JOURNEY IN THIS LIFE, WHICH I BELIEVE WE ARE ALL ON TOGETHER… I FEEL AS THOUGH MY PIECES ARE CREATED OUT OF EMOTIONS AND ARE INTENTIONALLY MADE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE ON THAT LEVEL.
I LOVE LIVE PAINTING SO MUCH BECAUSE IT CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS THROUGH VISUAL ART.
Put Your Ear down next to your Soul and Listen Hard.
—- Anne Sexton
I've always been drawn to understanding myself and other women through the lens of sexual and sensuality. I thought about becoming a sex therapist (then decided grad school would take too long). My relationship with my own body and identity has changed many times with all the experiences I've had. I work daily on appreciating my body and what it has done for me. I'm discovering what feels sensual and sexy for me as this new version of myself every day. In a world often shaped by societal norms, many women feel lost in others' expectations. My fine art boudoir photography in Durham, NC, offers a sanctuary from these judgments.
www.khammockphotography.com
K. Hammock Photography Film
Soul Brand
The I hate to sound clIche but If It Weren ' t for the covId pandemIc of 2020, I may have never dIscovered my love for paIntIng. forced to be home, WatchIng other artIsts on Instagram InspIred me to pIcK up a paInt brush and steal my chIld ' s Watercolor palette. provIng that any supplIes that you have on hand are the best supplIes, I contInue to shop at fIve beloW and the $1.25 store for random supplIes to Keep my art draWers, oh, Who am I KIddIng, my art room stocKed for When the creatIve energIes come a KnocKIng. www.thewildsoulbrand.com
Books We Love
WheRe do you find the BooKs thAt you loVe?
As an avid reader and recommender of all types of books, I am often asked how I come across books since have a serious aversion to following the trends and do not even get me started on Oprah's Book Club. While I know some need this guide for finding books, see it as a money grabbing waste of time for myself. The independent and up and coming authors are the ones that need the love, the reviews and the reads. Nowadays it's too easy and it really helps these authors that Oprah or Cameron Diaz may not recommend because let's be honest, they do not care that much about readers finding the GOOD and NEW; I do not know what they care about but I have a feeling we have very different cares. so hoW do We find them??
Meet The Author: Elizabeth Blackwood
All of the characters are loosely based on real people that I have talked to or met while working or otherwise.
Like Kat, I used to listen to those late night radio talk shows and I would listen to all the people call in to the Loveline and ask for relationship advice.
Loveline at one time was a real radio show and I’d have to tune that radio just right to get it to come in late night on the weekends. It was comforting knowing that there were others doing the same thing I was and simply listening to the radio and to all those wild call-ins.
“There are experiences from my life in almost every aspect of Caller No. 5.“ After all, I am the woman that I am today because of those experiences, the good and the bad.
I can relate to Kat because I grew up in a low income family and have known the struggle of living paycheck to paycheck, going to bed hungry, and wearing hand me downs from relatives, getting boxes of food from the church or food pantry and feeling that social pressure from all directions. But the way I learned to see it is that life can get better or worse and it all depends on your own perspective and the way you choose to live your own life.
Was there a Brad in your life?
There have been Brad’s in my life. I wanted Caller No. 5 to shout at the top of its lungs and call out all of the Brad’s for what they are, predators. Predators that prey on the lost little lambs of the world and rob them of their innocence. You could say that Caller No. 5 was my way of burning those bridges and somehow finding closure in them and killing two Brads with one stone. At some point in their lives I also believe that everyone has met a Brad Turner in some shape or form and can relate with Kat and see her struggle with the after effect of an abusive relationship and what residual trauma that leaves in a person. What someone does with that pain is habitually unique to them and whether they choose to face it and heal or pass it on to another is too.
Do you have a specific writing process or is it always changing?
My writing process has developed over the years and changes with what I am writing. I could write twenty pages in one session or I could work on one scene for a month to get it just right. I’m very visual, so sometimes I draw concept art for my characters, places, or a map to help me get my bearings and get in the mind frame of my character. I can see it play out like a movie in my mind and I do my best to describe everything in sharp detail. Did you know your basic outline, storyline or plot when you began writing this or did it evolve as you wrote it?
“I’ve had some deep
conversations with strangers
I’ve
met in businesses and restaurants and
it’s something about me or knowing that we will never speak again that makes someone share some off the wall secret about their lives.”
Caller No. 5 started with a basic outline of the story and I made character profiles for each of my characters. I started out with Kat, Brad,The Love Doctor, Bucky, and Bus. I could see the entire scene in the first chapter with Kat driving her Jaguar along the spine of the mountain and her radio blaring and then her peeling Brad from her trunk and then lighting a cigarette. When writing the first chapter, introducing Bus, I saw it clearly. It was Bus in his squad cart, slinging pea gravel on Main Street in Puckett as he made his rounds. From the beginning I wanted my characters to come to life and to seem like you could go to a store and bump into them while they were shopping. I started with a basic outline and as I wrote Caller No. 5 the characters just began to speak for themselves really and scenes started to fall into place and unveil themselves to me as I dictated the characters thoughts and actions. While writing Caller No. 5 I would think about how Sheriff Bucky Ballard or Bus would handle a situation and tried to put myself in their shoes and even stepped into Brad’s a time or two so I knew how his demise was playing out in my head.
A lot of research went into writing this story as I tried to stay true to the plot and keep it accurate. There are a slew of readers who look for that sort of thing and will absolutely pick a story apart, but I’m ready for it. That comes with the territory.
I utilized every resource I could get my hands on including Google Earth to narrow down the location when the story would take place which actually came later.
I find inspiration from my life and from the lives of other people, and from anything that steals my attention and it is sometimes difficult not to drift off and think about a character, story, or plot when something does this. It can be a huge distraction when you have an inner dialogue playing in your head and begging to be written down, to be seen and to be heard.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
I do have some favorite authors and some that have stuck with me. Fox Girl by Nora Okja Keller is a story about a group of young people abandoned after the Korean war and it follows two teenage girls and others in their life. It’s raw, gritty, informative, and will kick you in the heart.
Others are Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, V.C. Andrews (Dollanghanger series), J.K. Rowling(Harry Potter), Suzanne Collins(The Hunger Games), Anne Rice(The Vampire Lestat), Stephen King(Pet Sematary), Henry David Thoreau(Walden), Kathryn Stockette(The Help), and Stieg Larson(The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series), and Ken Follett(The Pillars of the Earth).
Have there been any tough criticisms? How do you handle it?
I’ve had some criticisms early on and if my college writing courses ever taught me anything you need the criticism to grow. I choose to grow. Everyone has a unique palate when they read and everything I write is up for speculation. I hope that they can find something to take away from my stories and that it might resound into their own lives.
What is THE best compliment you’ve received?
Obviously, my being featured in this magazine. The best and truest compliment is knowing that the words I gathered together from my mind and put into Caller No. 5 are being read. That’s the best feeling. They could be doing anything else in the world, but they chose to spend it reading something that I wrote. Something that I put my time into and that means the world to me.
Share some advice for aspiring fiction writers
One of the best pieces of advice I received early on was from my Great Uncle when I was sixteen and had sent him a floppy disc with my first story on it. I mailed it to Turkey where he then had to find someone to transfer it to a CD and then to a computer in order to read. He did and called me and said that it needed editing heavily, but I had done the largest portion of the feat by writing the story and it’s an editor’s job to edit it. I had already done the big work.
Another piece of advice was from my college professor and mentor at the time, Marilyn Ford, who told me that no piece of writing is perfect and that there was always room for improvement and that in this life I would be faced with a decision and that I was going to have to Defy Gravity.
She taught me this lesson after four semesters in her classes and upon graduation she surprised me months later with a gift to see Wicked at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. It was an incredible experience that I’ll never forget and her words have stuck with me.
We can’t see it, but the gravity is there, it’s the peer pressure and societal pressure and crawling under the live fire when you’re being hailed down simultaneously by all of life’s bullets. The loss of loved ones and dealing with their absence, and your obligations and somehow finding a balance between them all. As a wife and a mother of two balance is everything and gravity will always be.
My advice is to never stop working on yourself and the things you care about and hold close to your heart. keep working and you will get there. keep writing and never stop. if you write one word on a page be proud of that because it is still a step in the right direction.
What can we expect from you next?
Expect a sequel to Caller No. 5. There are several other books I have outlined and in the works. One is a science fiction, dystopian thriller that I’m excited to dive into and have added to here and there in between the others. A murder mystery thriller that I have been contemplating for a while since living in a lake house. It’s been tickling my brain for months as I stare out across this lake and the activity that encompasses it. There are so many ideas that come to mind and I simply write them down and save them for later. I’ll get to them eventually.
I also write under another pen name J.B. Fulgham and have started collaborating with another female author, R.R. Miller, on a Young Adult Fantasy series that has been an incredible experience for the both of us. It’s fantastic when authors can support each other and create something unique together.
In the future I plan to write a book that discloses my personal life story and the town that I grew up in and the secrets that it still holds today.
I really would like to thank the Cops & Writers group and the Trauma Fiction group on Facebook for answering all of my medical and legal questions for Caller No. 5. They were a huge help in making sure that my characters’ ailments and conditions were accurate as was fictionally possible and that I handled situations correctly with the Sheriff and his Deputy.
Meet Charlie Miller
I have wanted to be a singer since I was a little girl of Bloodletters and Badmen
I was always running around and singing. Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” was a favorite of mine as a child to my mom’s horror and I loved singing it in the grocery store lol. I really started focusing on singing professionally when I turned 14. I joined a community theater group called LIPAC and did several performances with them a year. My senior year in high school I also went to a performing arts high school called The Boces Cultural Arts Center for half of my school day and was lucky to study with some fantastic instructors. Nancy Cooper was my voice coach and I’ll always be grateful for the ways she taught me to use my voice. Foraying into writing and performing my own songs was spurred by my dad. He was a guitar player and collector. He loved classic rock and the blues. When he became ill, he fell and broke his arm and couldn’t play. So I took the opportunity to start taking guitar lessons.
I would go to his rehabilitation hospital with my guitar and play and sing for him. I didn’t expect to fall in love with the process of writing a song, creating melodies and lyrics, like I did. It became a sort of therapy for me and a way for my dad and I to connect that didn’t exist before. When my dad passed away, playing shows with his guitars made me feel like he was still with me. It really helped me as I had to learn to live without him present in my life. I was inspired to keep playing and writing in honor of him. There’s a song on my first album called “ Fingerprints”, I wrote for him.
The idea for that song came about when I was thinking about how his fiFingerprints still existed on the guitars he left behind for me to play.
What musicians are you inspired by?
Oh there are so many musicians that have inspired me over the years. Growing up my favorite band was «Fleetwood Mac». I was able to see them in New York City and it was the most I ever paid for a concert ticket but so worth it. I cried immediately when the show started, I was so grateful to be there. When I was a little Charlie I was surrounded by classic rock from my parents bands like «Heart» and «Jefferson Airplane» really influenced me. I always really loved female voices. I also really loved pop music though. My first concert was Michael Jackson. Debbie Gibson was the best thing in the world to me when I was little and I have many memories of me in oversized Debbie tee shirts sporting a black hat just like hers. Some modern artists I really love are Sharon Van Etten, Tove Lo, Lana Del Rey, and Lord Huron.
What are you reading these days?
I am really into National Parks, nature, and wildlife so I am often reading books about animals or parks. I just finished reading a book called, «Bear Attacks, their causes and avoidance» by Stephen Herrero. We’ve encountered grizzly bears hiking in parks and I read all the bear books so that I feel prepared as far as what to do in an encounter. Kam use to worry that if I read all the books about bears I would be too afraid to hike but it actually had the opposite effect and empowered me.
I would never look at our older projects as anything but a snapshot of where we were at the time, emotionally and technically in our lives and in the process.
I met Kam in New York City in 2012. We were both working at a music venue there called “The Bowery Ballroom . I was bartending and he was doing monitors sound. At the time I was working on a record with some one else and I asked Kam to play some organ on it. From there we realized we clicked musically. It actually took some time for us to start dating but once we did we would work on music together regularly. He had a recording studio at the time and after work we would pull all nighters writing and recording songs. Some of which made it onto our first record. This creative time really solidified our relationship. We are still regularly writing and recording together only now it s in the recording studio we built into our RV. When we look at the things we created when we started and what we re creating now I think we re really growing and learning all the time in all aspects of the process. There are always things to learn and things to improve on when it comes to recording and writing. These days because we record in our RV we make music in many unique places. We ve recorded songs in Yellowstone National Park, at beautiful lakes, in the desert. We have a song That just came out that we finished while living and volunteering at a miniature donkey rescue farm. I think the ability to work and create in unique places is really special. I m super grateful we re able to do that and I hope the influence of the places we ve been is felt in our music.
We have 8 singles and 1 album out. We just released a holiday song this past December. The best place to find our music is Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, or any streaming platform.
Bloodletters and Badmen
Bloodletters and Badmen are a diverse mixture of dreamy and dark yet empowering soundscapes and psychedelic rock. Acoustic guitar leads to vast open chorus grooves, screaming guitars, swimming inspiring vocals and powerful layers of instrumentation.
Being in a band with my significant other is awesome. Being able to share in a creative outlet like this has really kept us connected over the years. I also feel like we can be brutally honest with each other when we’re working on projects and there’s a trust that exists between us that pushes us to make better music.
Kam: “Charlie’s drive and attention to detail is amazing and quite a ride. We change things all the time and try every possible combination of ideas and usually it takes us to a place that was never on the radar at first.
Keeping up with her has made
me such a better musician and engineer. I’ll solo a few tracks to work on something and then boom! There’s an orchestral version added to a single... or.. we mute everything and start over lol”
I think I drive Kam crazy sometimes because I can be a bit of a perfectionist but he puts up with me. It can take years to release certain songs if I don’t feel like we found the right way to bring it to life, but once it’s finally ready it’s really exciting. There are a few songs on deck for 2024 that I wrote years ago. It’s surreal to finally have them on the docket for release.
It’s not uncommon for us to have giddy dance parties in the RV when things are really working.
“Brewed with intent and a bit of “kitchen magic,” herbal tea offers more than meets the eye. Along with herbs and water, there’s also earth, sky, sunlight, and stars captured in this cup.”
― Rosemary Gladstar
To Decrease the Flow of Milk
“A vibrant young mother came to visit me one day while I was working at the herb shop. She was having a very difficult time producing a sufficient flow of milk for her infant child. She was quite willing to try the herbal teas I suggested. After a few days she returned to say that in spite of regular use of the teas, her milk flow remained scanty. I was puzzled, as the herbs were generally quite helpful to women in her situation. Upon furthering questioning, she revealed that she was eating dark green leafy vegetables. I asked if she was including parsley in her diet. I had guessed correctly. She had read that parsley was an outstanding source of vitamins and minerals. Since it was plentiful, inexpensive and tasty, she was eating fairly large amounts of it. At any other time, this would have been great but parsley is one of the main herbs used to halt the flow of mother s milk. As soon as the young woman stopped eating parsely, her milk flow increased substantially. Sage is the other herb used with excellent results to decrease or stop milk prouduction. These herbs are especially useful when weaning your child and during breast infections such as mastitis. However, you should avoid both sage and parsley if you do not wish to decrease your milk flow.
Rosemary Gladstar’s Uplifting Tea Blend
Give this uplifting and easily adaptable formula a try any time you need a bit more pep to your step!
Ingredients
1 part hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) leaf, flower, and berry
1 part lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) aerial parts, fresh or freshly dried
1 part oat (Avena sativa) milky tops
1 part St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) aerial parts 1 part rose (Rosa spp.) petal
1 blossom of butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea) per cup, optional
A pinch of honey
Directions
Combine the first five herbs together and store them in an airtight container. A part can be 1 teaspoon, 1 tablespoon, 1 cup, etc. depending on the size of the batch you would like to make. Use 1 tablespoon of Uplifting Tea Blend per cup of boiling water
Add 1 butterfly pea flower blossom per cup
Add a pinch of honey if desired
Steep for 20-30 minutes (or overnight for a stronger infusion)
Note: This recipe can be easily modified by adjusting the proportions of any herb to enhance desired benefits.
Rosemary Gladstar is an American herbalist, author and educator and known as the godmother of modern herbalism.
Herbal Greetings,
I warmly invite you to join me on a magical and marvelous journey into the very heart of herbalism. Realizing not everyone could leave home to study with an herbal teacher, I began offering my herbal home study course over 30 years ago and then, an online version a few years ago.
The Science & Art of Herbalism has continued to inspire, inform and teach hundreds of students over the past three decades ~ and I continue to be inspired by the dedication and commitment of my students. In this 10-lesson course you will learn all of the basics of herbalism from hands on preparation and medicine making to plant identification and hundreds of herbal recipes for health and healing.
Herbalism is for everyone interested in self-health, well being, and healing and is easy for everyone to learn. I look forward to sharing your journey into the Green Nations with you.
With love,
Rosemary Gladstar
www.scienceandartofherbalism.com
In 1998, Gladstar founded the International Herb Symposium. It is a biennial event for herbalists from across the globe to exchange information on herbs. The 16th International Herb Symposium was held in 2023.
Herbs connect us to the heart of the earth and to her ancient healing powers. Herbs awaken our Wise Woman Selves. They help restore the balance deep within us because the plants themselves embody wholeness.
Herbs feed and nourish our entire systems and instill within our hearts the spirit of life and beauty.
Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
Black haw (Viburnum prunifolium)
Blue Cohash (Caulophyllum thalictroides)
Comfry (Symphtum officinale)
Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus)
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis)
False unicorn root (Chamaelirium luteum)
Ginger (Zingiber officianle)
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza globra)
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Pennyroyal leaf (Hedeoma pulegioides and related species)
Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus, R. strigosus)
Squaw vine (Mitchella repens)
Vitex (Vitex agnus casus)
Wild yam root (Dioscorea villosa)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Secret #1
Use Banana Water weekly to give your plants a boost of potassium
CUT UP
BANANA PEELS INTO 1 OR 2-INCH PIECES. IMMERSE THE PEELS IN WATER. STEEP THE PEELS FOR TWO TO THREE DAYS. AFTER SOAKING, STRAIN THE LIQUID INTO A LARGE CONTAINER OR JAR. ADD THE STRAINED LIQUID TO YOUR PLANTS, POURING IT AROUND THE OUTER BASE OF THE PLANT TO REACH THE ROOTS. folloW @thesecretgardenatthecoast
We offer a range of programs for students of all ages and levels, including acrobatics dance, tumbling, flexibility, ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and contemporary. Our classes are designed to be fun, challenging, and rewarding.
accordIng to nIcole apelIan
Herbs You Should Always Take Together
tuRmeRic And BlAcK peppeR
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is one of the most valuable herbs in homeopathic treatment. Turmeric is used for treating various diseases including idiopathic ones. Idiopathic diseases are those that result from unidentified causes. Turmeric contains curcumin, an essential antioxidant that is not easily absorbed by the small intestine.
dAndelion And nettle
Dandelion and nettle are two wild plants that are often labeled as weeds, but, the roots of these plants together in a tea are teeming with nutrients that may help treat anemia. They are abundant in iron and other essential nutrients needed for balancing the hormones and detoxifying the body.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) may help improve the function of the kidneys and the liver and treat problems like hypertension and high cholesterol. Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is also an alterative herb that supports the kidney health and functions of the adrenal glands.
However, according to studies, curcumin increases its bioavailability when combined with the compound piperine, an active component in black pepper.
Additionally, the curcumin in turmeric is fat-soluble. The body may not absorb it well if dissolved in any liquid. The best way of taking turmeric and black pepper is by dissolving it in oil like ghee or clarified butter, almond oil or coconut oil.
lemon And gingeR
Lemon-ginger tea is a traditional herbal tonic used for a variety of health issues. Honey is often added, not just as a sweetener, but also to add a boost of therapeutic effect. The tea is best for respiratory issues and digestive problems. It is also good for boosting immunity and promoting weight loss.
Lemon and ginger are antioxidants that can purify the liver and remove harmful toxins in the body. Preparing the tea is as simple as boiling ginger in a cup of water for 5 minutes before adding the lemon and honey.
cloVes And RosemARy
Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) are synergistic herbs that are best taken as a combo. Studies reveal that their anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive (pain-blocking) properties are very effective in relieving pain.
Cloves and rosemary together can ease the inflammatory pain associated with several diseases.
An infusion of clove-rosemary is also useful in promoting hair growth.
lAVendeR And peppeRmint
Lavender and peppermint are synergistic aromatics that aid in promoting quality sleep. They are mostly used as essential oils for massage and aromatherapy. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a calming herb with a sweet scent that is scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and stress. Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is more like a mood booster that helps uplift the spirit.
KAVA-KAVA And VAleRiAn
Kava or kava-kava (Piper methysticum) and Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) are anxiolytic and sedative herbs. They are used sparingly in herbal medicine because of their potent effect that can lead to toxicity when taken in large doses for a long period.
Clinical trials reported positive results of the kava and valerian herbal combination in patients with sleep-induced insomnia. The study involved a two-week treatment with kava and another two weeks with valerian after a washout period. However, it further revealed that sleep was significantly improved when kava was used simultaneously with valerian.
cumin And coRiAndeR
The seed oil of cumin and coriander exhibited synergistic results in a study conducted testing the interactions of popular spices like bay leaf, black pepper, mustard, onion, cumin, garlic, turmeric and coriander. Both spices have synergistic antibacterial and antioxidant activities which may be useful in pharmaceutical and food industries.
Cumin, or jeera (Cuminum cyminum), is a well-known spice against digestive problems including gas in babies. But, it is also effective against numerous other ailments and their prevention with its antioxidant properties. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is considered a super effective spice against heavy metal poisoning. It is a natural cleansing agent that purges impurities out of the body to detoxify it and protect the organs.
Kava Kraze Before The Trend
The most prevalent kava origin legend is from Tonga. The centuries-old legend states that a couple was living alone with their only daughter, called Kava, on one of the Tongan islands. Then, one day, the sacred King of Tonga (Tu’i Tonga) along with some of his men, searching for food and a place to rest, landed on the island. There was no food to feed the king, so instead, the couple killed and made a sacrifice of their daughter to show the king respect and to honor him, and make peace.
Later the couple was shocked to find that two plants had grown up on their daughter Kava’s grave. Then one day they noticed two rats eating the plants and saw that one became intoxicated. That plant was named kava after their daughter who had been sacrificed. The other plant is said to have been sugar cane. From that moment on, all those centuries ago, kava with its intoxicating properties became an important ceremonial drink. It has been offered to the kings of Tonga ever since.
Throughout the Pacific Islands, which figure so prominently in romantic literature, it is nearly impossible to have a discussion about the history of their various cultures without speaking of the mysterious, cultivated shrub known as kava. Sometimes referred to by its scientific name, Piper methysticum, as well as kava kava, keu, awa, ava and yogana, kava produces a slightly bitter, slightly frothy, aromatic, resinous brew capable of inducing tranquility and an ultimate sense of well being.
https://kava.com/articles/history/
A Well Balanced Menstrual Cycle
There’s a shocking amount of us, adult women, who are just learning about all the stages of menstruation, some of us are just figuring out why we feel the ways we do at certain times of the month and now we are able to better plan and provide for our bodies as they provide so much for us. The Moon Cycle Cookbook by Devon Loftus and Jenna Radomski is a holistic nutrition guide for a well balanced menstrual cycle with helpful information and recipes for each stage of your cycle. Here are some of my favorite treats and meals for each cycle.
The Moon CycleCookbook
Menstrual Phase
A Wise Woman lives within you, now and always
Winter
New Moon Wise Woman, Crone, Visionary Season Moon Phase Archetypes
The first day of full bleeding (not spotting) is day 1 of the menstrual cycle. A normal cycle lasts anywhere between 21 and 35 days, with an average of 28 days. The average menstrual phase lasts anywhere between 3 and 7 days.
It’s important to listen to your body and rest when needed. Take breaks from your busy social calendar and do things that fill up your cup. The two hemispheres of your brain are also the most communicative with one another in this phase. It’s a great time to evaluate what is happening around you, listen to your intuition about what is no longer serving you and set new intentions moving forward. Create space in your schedule to feel. Embrace the fact that your vulnerability and feelings are heightened.
The Moon CycleCookbook
iron and vitamin b12 both deCline during menstrual periods and Can result in fatigue, mood swings and a loss of serotonin and dopamine. this may aCtually be a reason why we Crave Carbs. Carbs Can help replenish our serotonin and dopamine. ensure more balanCed blood sugar and fewer mood swings by Choosing Complex Carbs.
reaCh for hormone-supportive fats suCh as avoCados, bone broth, CoConut, fatty fish, nuts, seeds and full fat hormone free dairy.
“Doctors have observed that low iron levels both can cause heavy periods and be the result of heavy periods.” What. Weird, right?
Pumpkin and Flax Pesto
mAde With toAsted pumpKin & flAx seeds, fResh gReens, gARlic And pARmesAn cheese, this dish is Both flAVoRful And heAlthy. the Addition of pumpKin And flAx seeds pRoVides A cRunchy textuRe And Adds A Rich souRce of heAlthy fAts, pRotein, And mineRAls to youR meAl And youR hoRmones!
6 cups packed fresh leafy greens
4 garlic cloves,
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspon black pepper
1/3 cup EVOO
Makes 2 Cups
1. Combine all ingredients except EVOO in a food processor or blender and process until chunky. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides as needed.
2. With the machine running on low, slowly drizzle in the oil until a smooth pesto begins to form. Add more oil to thin if needed. Season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
PUMPKIN SEEDS AND FLAXSEED JOIN THIS PESTO PARTY WITH A DOSE OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS.
Spring
Season Moon Phase
Half Moon
Archetypes
Goddess, Maiden
The Moon CycleCookbook
Follicular Phase
Welcome Your Creative Bloom
The growing follicle releases the hormone estrogen. Estrogen’s role in the body is to build; the uterine lining begins to rebuild and become strong again during the follicular phase.
An increAse in estrogen leAds to feeling more creAtive, expressive, focused And outgoing.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the follicular phase corresponds with spring. New life (the growing follicle and egg) begins to emerge and energy builds. This is the time to shake off the stagnant energy of winter and prepare to create and cultivate. Let your mind run free. Now is the time to plant metaphorical seeds. Your physical energy is increasing which means it’s a great time to try new physical challenges or ways to move your body. Invite the goddess in and move with her.
Vanilla Chai Overnight Oats
During the follicular phase, the goal is to detoxify your body, ridding it of excess estrogen. You do this by supporting your gut microbiome and your liver. A healthy microbiome will promote proper elimination of excess estrogen.
1. Bring the water to a boil in a kettle or small saucepan. Pour the boiling water into a heatproof container, add the tea bags and steep for 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, mix all ingredients besides the toppings until well combined. Stir in the tea. Pour the mixture into an airtight container and store overnight or for at least 8 hours in the refrigerator. Serve cold or warm with toppings of your choosing.
Makes 2-3 servings
INCORPORATE
SPROUTED FOODS, FERMENTED FOODS AND PREBIOTICS DURING
THIS PHASE.
Soaking your seeds, grains and legumes helps your body digest and reduce the amount of Phytic Acid.
The Moon CycleCookbook
Ovulation Phase
Nurture Sensual Abundance
Season Moon Phase
Summer Full Moon
Archetypes
Mother, healer,
nurturer
The ovulation phase lasts for 3 to 5 days. The body releases more cervical fluid in the days leading up to ovulation.
Cervical fluid is the perfect place for sperm to thrive because of it's pH and it allows them to travel more quickly.
Cilantro-Cucumber Mocktail
this summer drink is way more than Just hydrating and refreshing, cucumber offers vitamins c and ato helP Promote glutathione Production and radiant skin.
1/2 cup chopped cucumber (skin on)
1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1-2 TBS honey (optional)
2 cups ice
12 oz sparkling water
Combine the cucumber, cilantro, orange zest and juice, lime zest and juice and honey, if using, in a high powered blender and mix until smooth. Add the ice and sparkling water and blend again until mostly smooth. Serve in two tumbler glasses and enjoy!
Hello nurturer, Does your skin feel coated in gold?
That's the sensation of summer sun as your body moves into the ovulation phase.
You are fertile in all ways, fertile body, fertile mind, fertile relationships and fertile self-loving. This is the time when the verbal and social centers of the brain are stimulated, leading to adventures, wild hearts and days that start and end with a sunrise. Sensuality is your guide this season. Time to wander. You are the most energetic and vibrant and may find yourself less interested in cooking or eating. Embrace whatever your body and mind are urging you to do. The surges of summer are strong.
Your glow is the result of A spike in testosterone.
Glutathione is a protein with powerful antioxidant properties. It is used by every cell in our body to help eliminate toxins and support immune function. This is especially welcome during the ovulation phase when it's important that the liver properly detoxifies.
The Moon CycleCookbook
Luteal Phase
Honor Your Inner Landscape
Season Moon Phase Archetypes
Fall Crescent Moon Wild Woman, Priestess, Enchantress
This phase starts when the progesterone levels in your blood began to ramp up immediately after ovulation. The increase of progesterone can heighten your feel-good emotions and your desire to nest.
estrogen surges Around dAY 20 to 22 of A 28 dAY cYcle, contributing to emotionAl fluctuAtions.
Traditional Chinese medicine correlates the luteal phase with Autumn, and we often find ourselves shedding what no longer feels relevant, supportive or true as we prepare for winter or menstruation. This longest phase of the menstrual cycle is where we see the greatest number of PMS symptoms so lean in to your desires and truly take care of yourself. Everyone practices self-care differently- release judgement and make space for what feels nourishing to you.
Almond Butter Dark Chocolate Cups
chocolate and almond butter Provide magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc that may keeP Pms symPtoms at bay.
1 (4 oz) bar dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher)
2 TBS coconut oil
1/2 cup almond butter
3 TBS coconut flour
1 TBS pure maple syrup
1 TSP vanilla extract Flaky sea salt, for topping
1. Line a muffin pan with 12 paper liners
2. Break the chocolate into pieces and combine with coconut oil, melt slowly on stovetop, stirring constantly
3. Pour 2 TSP of the melted chocolate into each muffin liner and place the pan in the freezer for 5 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened.
4. Combine remaining ingredients (except sea salt) in a mixing bowl and mix until dough forms. Form into small balls and flatten with your palm to about 1/4 inch thickness.
5. Remove muffin pan from freezer and place one almond butter piece in the center of each cup. Spoon another 2 TSP of melted chocolate on top and return to freezer for 10 minutes or longer.
6. Remove the muffin pan from the freezer and sprinkle a pinch of salt on each cup. Return the pan to the freezer for 5 minutes longer, then enjoy. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks
Makes 12 large cups
Foods rich in magnesium and calcium can help reduce fluid retention (which is linked to bloating), constipation and headaches- all common PMS symptoms.
this phAse is All About feeling nourished And nurtured.
About A the t ArcAdiAn A witch w
I was a psychic child that grew up in a time when a child could run feral and play all day in the forests. My relationship with nature somehow made me more in tuned to everything.
ASK a witch
How Can I work with the Individual Elements?
I always felt the witch in me rising but was raised Roman Catholic and so she was suppressed for many a year.
As an adult I fully embrace my medium abilities and gifts and understand that the witch is a power for good.
A power to help and heal and be free.
Working with the individual elements is a sacred thing and should not be hurried.
I would spend a week or a month even working with one element at a time getting to know all aspects of them.
be more conscious of the air you breathe. Take in deep breaths during the day. Take note how that makes you feel. Feel the rise of your belly and chest. Say thank you to the air. go outside, first thing each morning and observe the air. bring your journal and write about those warm balmy breezes and how they make you feel. Run around your yard on a day of heavier wind, arms outstretched like a child and ride the currents as if you were flying.
In your home, open some windows and let the air circulate.
Thoughts are like air, the creative mind flowing. allow your mind to run in any creative direction it feels and see where that goes.
Here in the northern hemisphere air is associated with the east. You can do sun salutations facing east as you start your day. Hang up wind chimes
Give your children pinwheels to play with as you teach them about air as well
speak your thanks upon the wind.
Working with the earth element is probably the most natural one. As children we made mud pies and picked flowers for our mothers. We raced across the earth in bare feet and we were grounded.
As adults I believe we need to reconnect with the earth. Get out of the office at lunch time and eat in a park or have dinner with your family on the beach or under a tree. Plant flowers and vegetables and love the earth and she will love you back with her bounty.
we must preserve her at all costs. Teach your children to recycle and reuse. Buy grounding sheets for your beds
Replace your lawn with native plants
There are so many ways to celebrate earth. Earth is north in our hemisphere. faCe the north and whisper your thanks to the earth.
WHEN IT’S OVER, I WANT TO SAY: ALL MY LIFE
I WAS A BRIDE MARRIED TO AMAZEMENT. I WAS THE BRIDEGROOM, TAKING THE WORLD INTO MY ARMS.
WHEN IT’S OVER, I DON’T WANT TO WONDER IF I HAVE MADE OF MY LIFE SOMETHING PARTICULAR, AND REAL.
I DON’T WANT TO END UP SIMPLY HAVING VISITED THIS WORLD. —MARY OLIVER
Water element is in our western direction here in the northern hemisphere. Water is associated with the emotions. Crying is healing. Swimming in oceans and lakes. Even your bath tub can become a sacred experience. There are so many wonderful bath luxuries today. Beautiful soaps and bubble baths, bath bombs. You can make your own herbal concoction as well. Light candles around your tub, perhaps play soft music. Meditate or read as you soak in the fragrant waters. Drink lots of water to keep your body operating at its best. Put herbs in your water for flavor and healing. buy young children watering cans and teach them to water plants ( water and earth combined) enjoy a sink of soapy bubbles and make doing the dishes a meditation. there are so many ways to honor and enjoy the water element.
The element of fire is in the south in the northern hemisphere. Fire is the life blood, that spark that allows us to create and spurs us on keeping us warm with ideas. Bringing Fire element into your home is easy with candle light, even battery ones with moving flames can stand in for Fire element. A crackling Fire in your fireplace on a cool autumn night or in your back yard Fire pit, are wonderful ways to enjoy Fire. Roast hot dogs, make s’ mores. Teach your child about Fire safety and how to put a fire out when you are done. Fire cooks our food, heaters warm our home. turning to the south we whisper our thanks to the element of fire.
PDatura Datura wrightii
“If you are dancing with the sacred datura as she is dancing with you, it is time to wake from your twilight sleep and immediately go into the dark and painful places inside of you where you have watered the night-blooming flower of darkness”
- Thea Summer Deer
According to Thea Summer Deer, sacred datura has a long history of shamanic and ceremonial use and was considered blessed by the Indians of Mexico and the American West and Southwest. Although its association with night and the moon aligns it with the feminine, sacred datura has been attributed with both feminine and masculine traits by the cultures that used it.
Thea reminds us that, “So many lost souls are searching today for any kind of personal power they can find in a world that leaves
them feeling disempowered and disillusioned. Many search through the medicine plants, which they abuse as they have been abused.
Honor the sacred medicine of datura by discovering the flower in you, which in spite of of the violence and abuse still blossoms in the darkness beneath the only light where she feels safe. Sacred datura mirrors the beauty of the flower that you are, just as the moon reflects the light of our solar sun.”
The Yogi
Uses: flexibility, strength, inner growth
Deities: DUrga, lakshmi, anD kali
astrological sign: libra
Proving consistency is the key to flexibility, visiting this card is your reminder to keep showing up for yourself and keep stretching your limits.
Remember that the body follows the mind, let her lead. Be flexible to all the possibilities. As Mary Oliver said, “Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.”
stretch your mInd bend your soul
MeetDr.AshleyDial
dePth Psychology dances to the beat of its own drum, resisting traditional Pathways and choosing instead to bravely deal with the Process of healing through the transformative Power of relationshiP, intuition, body, and soul
Over the years, my work with clients has evolved to include a multitude of theoretical and practical approaches. Having my PhD in Depth Psychology means that I am not your average, traditional type clinician. A depth approach resists the medical model of healing and embraces the messiness of the individual with all of their nuances, neurosis, and ever-changing phases of Being.
I tend to braid in my Depth Psychological skill set of digging deep into the unconscious psyche with a goal-oriented framework. I want my clients to visualize their ideal image of the next phase they want to embody, and together we strategize on how to get them there. My aim is to produce REAL and LASTING change for every person I work with.
I have a lot of different containers for my work from one-on-one sessions where I employ my horses and nature as a therapeutic partner, to intensive, deep-diving, women’s retreats, and seasonally inspired virtual coaching groups.
My husband Cole and I live on our farm here in Culleoka, TN with 11 horses, two dogs, and one barn cat. We’ve been here for 3 years now, having moved from St. Augustine, FL.
As WRite this, one of the hoRses meAndeRs By my office WindoW, Reminding me thAt Am exActly WheRe ’ m supposed to Be
Looking back, I can see how I really struggled to find healing and self-love. I don’t want other women to waste time searching for their own healing and self-love in the wrong places, with the wrong people, in the wrong careers. I want to help them find their true path sooner than I did. To be resourced in ways that I wasn’t.
I THINK THE SEEDS OF WHAT MY WORK HAS GROWN INTO NOW, STARTED WITH A DEEP DESIRE TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND MYSELF. I WAS ALWAYS VERY FASCINATED WITH MY DREAM LIFE, SOMETHING MY FATHER INSTILLED IN ME AND A DEEP CURIOSITY ABOUT MY UNCONSCIOUS PSYCHE BECAME A VERY POWERFUL FORCE IN DIRECTING MY PATH.
SO, I THINK THAT MY EXPERIENCES OF THE POWER OF MY DREAMS, THE POWER OF BEING LED BY MY INTUITION WERE WHAT REALLY PAVED THE WAY FOR WHAT MY WORK HAS COALESCED INTO NOW AND IT’S ALWAYS EVOLVING.
balancing career, Personal life and Passions is there such a thing as balance?
This is something that I still struggle with if I’m being completely honest! I have always had a very strong work ethic that if unchecked, can leave me feeling pretty unbalanced. I am all too familiar with burn-out. I can say that right now in my life, I am working on embodying a new philosophy around working, and doing less, and still trusting that I will thrive. Yes, I think there is such a thing as balance. Part of this new shift for me has been about balancing my masculine and feminine energies. I have always relied very heavily on my masculine side to ‘produce.’ Now, I feel the desire and the necessity to lean more into my feminine nature, creating new structures for myself that are less about production, and more about softness, creative flow, and reserving more of my energy for me.
staying
grounded
I have found that hiking for me is very grounding. I also have a decently steady yoga practice. Hot yoga is my favorite and I practice at home now that I live in the country! Working with and just being around my horses is some of the best grounding ever. I like to spend time just brushing them. I turn to journaling when I feel like I need more grounding and clarity. I have a pretty set sleep schedule. At 40 years old, the self-discipline I’ve created around my self-care routines has been what keeps me grounded. I have found a lot of unexpected sense of freedom and peace from a higher level of self-discipline.
Oh how I wish I could jump in a time machine and sit down with 25-year-old Ashley!
I was a master of self-sabotage at that age. One of my other motivations for working with women now really is to share the knowledge and skills that I wish I could share with that younger version of me.
I would tell her that her body is sacred. I would tell her that her energy and her time and her love are all sacred. I would tell her that she is beautiful and she is worthy. Maybe not so much advice, but more truths that she needed to hear and to believe. But would she listen? Whatever age you are reading this, know these are truths for you also. It’s never too late to start living your life as if your Body, your Energy, your Time, Attention, and Love are all sacred and not everyone deserves them.
Simply telling someone “Don’t give up! You can do it!” is definitely not inspiring enough. I dig deeper with the individual woman to get at her Why. Why do you feel so strongly about this thing you want to pursue? Once you can get clear on that, and it doesn’t have to be just one single thing either, then it makes not giving up a lot easier.
I don’t believe in some ever-flowing source of motivation that I can pull from And what motivated me 5 or 10 years ago, is not the same as what motivates me now.
Instead, I do small things that inspire motivation. This circles back around to self-discipline, I think. I know that if I am taking proper care of myself first, the motivation comes from that place of being rested, grounded, clear. . . If we are sitting around and waiting for motivation to hit, we may be sitting around for a while. As far as being a leader, I guess I don’t really see myself as a leader. I think I am just always happy when my work aligns and resonates with other women.
The most important thing is that I stay true to myself.
I think in doing that, I am modeling for other women that they have to put themselves first.
I’m really excited about my new seasonal virtual groups for women. They have created an opportunity for clients that can’t do in-person sessions to experience my work. There is so much power that comes from women coming together with intention!
My philosophy for these groups is that we can create REAL change with MINIMAL effort.
I also have several in-person opportunities this Spring like my 3-night Soul Tending Retreat. A few other offerings are coming up as well. All of the details are on my website at www.antlerandash.com
curated like no other art walk in the area, PePPer Pyle has created a unique exPerience for artists and lovers of art of all kinds. handPicked artisans come from all over florida to share their creations every last saturday of the month. each artisan has something unique to sell and there is always something new to see at PeP's art walk.
I’m Kala from South Florida. I’m a women’s transformational coach that focuses on self-intimacy.
I did all the wrong things when expressing my sexuality and was on a path of self destruction. It led me to some pretty dark places. I was living in a cycle of toxic behaviors and addictions. I found Ayahuasca and this plant medicine cracked me open. I began to explore myself deeper and spent 3 years dedicated to myself, revisiting past sexual abuse, identifying patterns, making friends with my shadows, and discovering who is this soul inside this body. As I sat in more Ayahuasca ceremonies, the medicine kept showing me glimpses of my power… this wild authentic full-bodied woman – think Kali energy. And it terrified me. As much as I tried to ignore it, I learned that this is who I am. I had been running from myself my whole life. I had been disconnected from my sexual energy. I had been disconnected from my own body. I started self-pleasure practices to connect to my body and sexuality. I was able to start healing my sexual abuse and started to tap into this wild energy that’s been caged inside. I connected to my desires and began to live outside of societal norms. I broke free from feeling stuck in my own body. I stopped feeding into the patterns that were preventing me from stepping into my full expression. I was building a deep intimate relationship with myself and learning to embrace every damn part of me.
As I connected with more and more women, I recognized they too are lost, stuck, and craving to be in their unapologetic expression. With the information I had learned over the years, and personal profound experiences I’ve had myself, I became a coach to help women unleash and reclaim their inner gold.
Self intimacy to me is being alone and enjoying your own company. It’s treating yourself the way you deserve. It’s dating yourself. It’s holding yourself through the pain when no one is around. It’s choosing yourself. It’s knowing your body and mind greater than anyone else. It’s devotion to yourself. It’s self-worship, knowing you are it –KNOWING YOU ARE EVERYTHING!
I am inspired by the wild women that are taking the risks and jumping outside of the bounds. Right now,
I am feeling really inspired by and connected to Mama Gena, Regena Thomashauer. She is a feminist icon for worshiping pussy and living a life filled with pleasure and purpose. She pushed her limits to follow her desires, even when it came with the greatest risks.
I find myself like her in these ways, and she inspires me to keep jumping off the edge.
The most important intimate relationship you will ever have, is the one with yourself.
This year, I am moving into becoming a feminine leader.
I am working towards a podcast, speaking at events, and hosting retreats.
My personal becoming is a high value, well-fucked woman. <3
Three things I would tell my High School Self: Ahhh…
1- Don’t use sex and your body as a way to feel loved.
2- Say YES to the wild / out there things that are calling to you.
3- You are IT. Everything you could ever seek out, you are yourself.
Your pussy is the key to your next awakening. Learn her in and out. She is your guide.
I am constantly reminded that I must do this work from a grounded space and stay in alignment. The major drawback is being rejected from communities and spiritual circles. My work can be very triggering and many people aren’t ready to have the courage to explore themselves at this level.
I have been the most shocked to learn just HOW interconnected sexuality and spirituality are. I’ll leave it at that to let your mind wander.
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Explore Our Wild World
Beach, Florida
Throughout the years when I have mentioned all the non local boyfriends I had to my friends who did not grow up in Florida, the same questions pop up, ‘how did you meet a boy from New Zealand and a boy from Alaska in the same week?’ or ‘did you ever see him again?’ or my favorite, ‘did you even give them real phone numbers?’
No matter which coast you grew up on, you're bound to have met plenty of tourists throughout your times and by the time I was 12ish, I had boyfriends in all the states and some from out of the country.
Collecting boyfriends like seashells was not all I did growing up near Daytona Beach, FL, I chased down Votran buses to get to said beach, I danced my heart out in Razzles at the age of 15 and I entered contests with a fake id at Desert Inn during spring break events.
My poor mother had no idea when I packed my bag for the day that the tiniest bikini and not so tiny bottle of liquor were bouncing around in there
with my chemistry books.
Thank goodness there was no YouTube at the time of my youth or I would have been even more grounded than I already was.
From the time I was in 6th grade, I would spend at least half of the time doing anything and everything I desired and then spend the other half on some type of restriction, usually stuck in my room with no phone or friends allowed, curled up with some good books and day dreaming of the days when I would be doing all the things I wanted again.
Probably this is where my love for reading really came from and probably I would do it all again, the same way. Knowing my likely punishments before I commited the fun times did not slow me down in the least and my poor parents probably felt that they had run out of punishments by the time I was driving. Speaking of driving, in the early 2000's, driving towards the ocean in Daytona Beach during the month of March was a party in itself.
By Ashton Ryan
I remember just jumping out of the car I was in to jump in another car with a total stranger to share a joint or a shot before the traffic would start moving and I would move back to the car I had started in... While this all sounds so fun, I do not even recall half of it and I am so thankful that I am still in touch with the friends who saw it all with me, who from time to time share little tidbits that I would never remember on my own. While I am all for growing up and apart from your friends over time, I also love to hear from those who knew me at age 16 who remind that a person who loves fun will probably always love fun. Sometimes what is fun to me now is just reminiscing on these times that I had. My solemn promise to myself is to always find the fun, to always laugh at the fun and to definitely share the fun stories.
Perhaps most people had fun as they grew up, no matter where they lived but I am fairly certain that the fun we had was dangerous and funny and I hope to always conjure up these memories when I need some fun.
Also, when visiting Daytona Beach, FL, hide yo wife, hide yo kids, we Out Here and We're Having FUN at ALL Costs.
soMewhere a little girl is reading aloud in the Middle of a dirt road. she sMiles at the sound of her own voice escaping the spine of a book. she feeds on her hunger to know herself. she has not yet been taught to diM, she sits with the stars beneath her feet, a constellation of things to coMe. as if a swallowed Moon, she gliMMers. her head wrap rolls out in a gutter, bare feet scat the earth, the ghosts of woMen once girls Make bridge of the dust dancing behind her, she decorates the ground in diMples she stoMps suffering out
the spirit hooves druMMing the earth in circles she holds gladness in her Mouth like a secret teased out of a giggle joy like her sadness overflows she is not the opinions of others she is of visions and iMagination
soMewhere a little girl is reading aloud in the Middle of a dirt road. she sMiles at the sound of her own voice escaping the spine of a book. she is a rooM full of listening, lending herself to her own words soMewhere a deep reMeMbering of what was, she survives all.
The Journey
By emily Dickinson
our Journey haD aDvanceD; our feeT were almosT come
To ThaT oDD fork in Being's roaD, eTerniTy By Term.
our pace Took suDDen awe, our feeT relucTanT leD. Before were ciTies, BuT BeTween, The foresT of The DeaD. reTreaT was ouT of hope, BehinD, a sealeD rouTe, eTerniTy's whiTe flag Before, anD goD aT every gaTe.
pAinted mines, coloRAdo
Feeling Stagnant in Your JourneY?!?
In need of a communIty?
WH&G could not exist without the help of my dear friends, my soul sisters, fellow artists who have answered the call, looked within and dug deep to excavate parts of their soul that can only be awakened once you are willing and ready to take the journey. I am so grateful.
