 For many survivors of childhood trauma, we spend our lives believing that we're burdens and burdensome. Likely, our parents raised us living in Survival Mode themselves, unaware that we couldn't help but noticing how much easier their lives would've been, if we simply didn't exist. True, we didn't ask to be born. Likely, we wish our parents would've waited until they had had the financial stability and emotional maturity to give us AND THEM better lives.
But we didn't get that choice, barring what you believe about soul contracts and what have you. Nonetheless, we take the message from childhood that life would be easier for those around us if we simply didn't exist. And we keep that message into our adult lives. It might be low key or insidious.... just a nagging sub-thought in the back of our minds that we're too ashamed to voice, but it's there.
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 By Danielle Schwartz With the descent of winter, Ayurveda, the ancient Indian holistic healing system, prescribes a cache of wisdom to synchronize our internal landscape with the external environment. As the chill sets in, here’s a compilation of the top six Ayurvedic tips to maintain a robust health in the colder months.
 By Gail Allen Surviving the Holidays can be tough for anyone, but when you've come from a dysfunctional family it can mean something entirely different! Keep reading for our helpful tips on how to survive this holiday season.
 By Danielle Schwartz The winter solstice, rooted deeply in pagan mythology, marks the point at which the Earth's axial tilt is farthest from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere. Occurring on or around December 21st, it heralds the longest night and shortest day of the year. Many ancient cultures perceived this astronomical event not just as a celestial phenomenon, but as a powerful spiritual juncture. The return of light following the solstice was often seen as a reason for celebration and hope, symbolizing rebirth and the rejuvenation of life. Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland stand as timeless testaments to the reverence ancient peoples held for this pivotal moment in the annual solar cycle.
 By Danielle Schwartz Svadhyaya is an ancient Hindu concept, which refers to the practice of self-study or self-observation. The term ‘svadhyaya’ is made up of two words, ‘sva’ and ‘adhyaya,’ which mean ‘self’ and ‘study’ respectively. Therefore, svadhyaya, in its simplest form, can be understood as the process of learning about oneself.
In Hinduism, svadhyaya is considered as one of the five niyamas or self-disciplines prescribed to lead a fulfilling life. According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which is a foundational text of classical yoga, svadhyaya is one of the key components of spiritual growth. The text, in the second book, defines svadhyaya as ‘the repetition of sacred words, accompanied by the search for their meaning.’  Reiki is a form of energy healing that has been used for centuries to enhance physical, mental, and spiritual health. The word Reiki is derived from two Japanese words – “rei” meaning “universal life energy,” and “ki” meaning “vital energy flow.” Reiki is a combination of these two making it a form of energy healing. It is a holistic modality aiming to balance energy centers in the body. There is a common misconception that Reiki is based on supernatural forces, but it is more accurately understood as a system of natural healing
 by Gail Allen What's your battery charge? So many times when I've had a bit of car trouble, I've never really seen it coming. When I haven’t left my lights on, and my battery has gone completely dead. In the rain. In the snow. When it can't- be- jumped- off- dead- battery dead. Triple- A- necessary dead battery dead. Got to replace the whole thing battery dead. Now clearly, those things don't happen just for leaving your car running for a few minutes, or your lights on, or charging your cell phone without turning your car on. That battery had been dying slowly and corroding. It should have been cleaned a long time ago, at the very least. I probably should have paid more attention on those cold mornings when it didn't seem to want to crank. You know -- hindsight 20/20 and all that jazz. A year ago It had to be jumped off, but I didn’t think any more about it.
 by Danielle Schwartz How do you create lasting habits and be who you want to be?
We are into the new year! You may have decided to make a resolution or two… how is that going? I’ll be honest.. I didn’t make any. My new year started in a whirlwind and here we are… the 12th of January and I’ve not made a single resolution! So, off we go… Here’s my plan for the year ahead:  by Gail Allen I’m sure we’ve all seen the meme going around on social media that says, “The trees are about to show us how lovely it can be to let go.” I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. There’s a lot of truth to that statement, but it can be painful, as well! Life transitions are rarely fun or easy, are they? Like the leaves on the trees, sometimes the change looks beautiful and we’re thankful for it... but inevitably, eventually we hit the bareness of Winter and start having second thoughts.
 by Gail Allen Astrologically speaking, every year between the Full Moon in July until the New Moon in August, we enter what is called the Lions Gate Portal. This is the time when the star Sirius is most visible from earth, just before sunrise in the eastern sky. Supposedly, it reaches its peak on August 8th. Is this true? Is it real? Who’s to say? It’s become widely popular, so let’s explore the energy it’s said to bring!
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