Blog

Set a positive intention

One of my favorite forms of magic is combining my mind, my heart, and my will to form a powerful intention. I am very careful with the words I say, think, and write, because I believe in the power of words. I believe the words we choose create our lives. When we say a lot […]

Ritual for Morning

How do you begin each month, each week, each day? Do you have a ritual, a prayer, or an intention to mark all the new possibilities before you? Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, has this gatha, or poem, ritual for morning: “Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I […]

Singing in harmony: the benefits of singing in community

The people who brought us Icelandic Christmas also have a very high rate of participation in community choirs. Even tiny rural communities in Iceland have at least one choir, and adults and children get together to sing every week. Men’s choirs are the most popular, both in terms of participation and attending. Men’s choirs often […]

Listening to music aloud in your home creates more intimacy

Playing music aloud in the home generates more intimacy, according to a study by neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, author of This Is Your Brain On Music. “When music is playing at home, people become physically closer. The average distance between household members decreased by 12% during the in-home study. In the U.S., housemates (usually family members) spent four and […]

New Moon Ritual

This coming January 5th and 6th are the nights of the new moon, which is a good time for setting intentions. You can look over your New Year’s resolutions for the coming year, or set an intention about anything else you are inspired to bring to your life. Supplies: Candles Lighter Objects that are meaningful […]

Outdoor dreams and goals

In Hag Stone Journal, I always try to connect to what is going on outside– what is happening seasonally. I want to connect us to the weather, the moon, and other natural cycles. I wrote in the Wander issue of Hag Stone Journal about the health benefits of spending time amongst the trees . I have found […]