Truth be told, I'm not a big Valentine's day fan.
However, I'm not one to miss a chance to talk about self-love and self-care! In the last few years I've started to shift the idea of Valentine's day to be a day to check in with myself, making sure I am getting what I need to care for myself so that I can present my best self to those I love. 

Let's jump right into some simple self-love ideas for your Valentine's Day/week or every day life!
(Because you shouldn't need a specific day to love yourself; it should be constant!)

First up, sigils, what the heck are they?!

Think of sigils as a very personal symbol or design that sparks emotion for the creator. A similar example would be the emotions, beliefs, and memories that are invoked by the symbol of the cross. However, in the case of sigils the symbol will probably only mean something to the creator (unless created for a group, like this blog post). The idea is similar to a vision board, where the overall image creates a reaction that surpasses words. 

I think if we walk through how to make a sigil, it will make more sense.... ​

First up, let's create a statement that helps improve our self talk. ​

It's the last one of our "Understanding Moon Cycles" series! If you enjoyed this, let me know and I'll work more moon related content into our mix. 

Happy (almost) Full Moon! I like to think of the full moon as a celebration. It's the finish line for the work you've put in and time to check back in with those goals. It's also a time for gratitude (when isn't it?!). 
Let's dive a little deeper.

Today it's all about the waxing moon or the process of the moon appearing to grow larger. I always like to think wax on, wane off (ha ha!) to keep the cycle straight. With that in mind, of course our connection to the waxing moon is all about GROWING!

In short the waxing moon is drawing in energy and building up to become a whole (think full moon). If we choose to work with these natural cycles, now is the time to put the work in! Continue building up your projects, work on getting that experience and really commit to your daily practices. 

Continuing on with our Moon Cycle Series, let's check in with the New Moon! As we start our new year journeys we're beginning the year with a new moon on Saturday, the 5th. This is like getting a second start for those new year intentions with a bit of extra oomph from the universe.

First up, the new moon occurs when we don't 'see' a moon in the sky. Obviously it's still there it's just not reflecting sun light since it's positioned between the Earth and the Sun. Some people will call this the dark moon, since the light is not being reflected back towards us. (Want to learn more about the science?)

The science is grand, but I'm more into connecting to the vibes and I'm guessing you are too if you're reading my blog. (ha ha)

I'm really loving that this year the moon cycle seems to have synced up so perfectly with the holidays! We had the Full Moon sync up with the Winter Solstice last week. This week we've got a waning moon before we release the 2018 year and welcome in 2019. Not to mention the New Moon on January 5th, 2019!

For today, let's just focus on the waning moon.
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​When I say waning, I mean the moon is diminishing in size. This is a great time to let go of things that do not serve you. Right now it is especially powerful as we let go of 2018. 

Gift yourself some quiet time before midnight December 31st for some yearly contemplation.

With the moon in the waning phase releasing this year's difficult situations may feel a bit easier. I'm not saying it still won't be emotional, but letting go during a waning phase is allowing you to work with the natural cycles rather than against. It is also important to let go of the comforts that no longer serve you. This one might be a bit more difficult, but if we want to grow this is necessary!

Grab your journals! Let's do this together. ​