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From our inbox to you from the Dark Pixie on “what it means to be an empath”

newsjoywhatmeanstobeanempath

An empath is one who is sensitive by nature, able to feel the moods of others and at times pick up their intentions, thoughts and more. Many empaths are lightworkers, if not all, which means that in addition to one’s personal life purpose, the empath is meant to serve humanity for the highest good of all. Likely, if you are an empath, you are drawn to doing just that in whatever capacity feels the most fitting for you.

At heart, empaths are kind, generous, loving and dedicated individuals, but many also have mischievous and solitary natures. Many empaths share a close bond to animals and nature because the vibration is a match more than with many people.

Living in the world as an empath can be challenging at times. An empath must shield and ground daily to avoid picking up unwanted energies. Care must be taken with relationships of all types because often the light of the empath is sought by those who have dimmed their own.

Another challenge can be found in the competing desires of wanting to help and serve versus needing solitude; balance must be realized but this can take many life lessons to accomplish. Most of all, an empath must remember to give themselves the warm love and compassion that they so freely lend to others, believing in themselves and embracing their life mission in every way.

About Joy:
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Jocelyn Joy Thomas is an intuitive empath with an Etsy shop where you can purchase readings from her. She has a few empath readings that she offers, including for love, career, and your spiritual path – check them out, fellow empaths!
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From our inbox to you from: DailyOm Madisyn Taylor on “seeing the bigger picture”

Seeing The Bigger Picture


BY MADISYN TAYLOR

 

We have created imaginary boundaries, sectioning ourselves into countries and states, forgetting that in reality we are all living together.

Seeing an image of the planet Earth taken from space inspires awe in many of us, since we can clearly see the connectedness of all of us who live upon this planet. We have created imaginary boundaries, sectioning ourselves into countries and states, forgetting that in reality we are all living together, breathing the same air, drinking from the same water, eating food grown from the same earth. We share everything on this planet, whether we are conscious of it or not, with other people, and those people are our brothers and sisters. Keeping a photograph or painting of the planet Earth in a prominent place in our homes can be a positive way to remember our interconnectedness.

Meditating on the fact that any sense of separation we have from one another is truly an illusion, we will naturally begin to make more conscious choices in our daily lives. The simple act of preparing food, or determining how to dispose of our refuse, can be done with the consciousness that whatever we do will affect all our brothers and sisters, no matter how far away they live, as well as the planet herself. When we foster this kind of awareness in ourselves out of a feeling of awe, it becomes easier to be conscious than to fall back into old habits of thinking of ourselves as separate.

When we contemplate the earth in her wholeness, we attune ourselves to the truth of the bigger picture, which is the Earth, and all of us, every one of us, living on her body. We are connected to one another in the most intimate way, because we literally share our living space. As more people become aware of the reality of our inter-dependency, things will shift in a positive direction, and much of the discord that we see now will give way to a more cooperative, loving conscious. This is happening already, so as our consciousness grows, we can join with the many other minds working to live in the spirit of togetherness.
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From our inbox to you from: Patti Wigington & Making Magic in Your Garden
Making Magic in Your Garden
By Patti Wigington
 

The garden can be one of the most magical places in your life. As spring approaches, let’s look at how to plan, create, and grow your magical garden, as well as ways to create specialty gardens, herb plots, and more!
Garden Folklore and Magic

The very act of planting, of beginning new life from seed, is a ritual and a magical act in itself. To cultivate something in the black soil, see it sprout and then bloom, is to watch a magical working unfold before our very eyes. The plant cycle is intrinsically tied to so many earth-based belief systems that it should come as no surprise that the magic of the garden is one well worth looking into.
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Plant a Magical Moon Garden

 

A lot of people don’t realize you can grow plants and flowers that bloom at night. Cultivating a moon garden is a great way to get in touch with nature, and it provides a beautiful and fragrant backdrop for your moonlight rituals in the summer. If you plant these lovelies close to your house, you can open the windows and take advantage of their aromas as you sleep.
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As spring arrives, our gardens begin to bud and eventually bloom. For hundreds of years, the plants that we grow have been used in magic. Flowers in particular are often connected with a variety of magical uses. Now that spring is here, keep an eye out for some of these flowers around you, and consider the different magical applications they might have. 

Magical Flower Correspondences

 

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SGC: From our inbox to you; “Creating Space in the Body by Madisyn Taylor”

Creating Space in the Body
by Madisyn Taylor

As we move deeper into meditation, the state of our mind expands thus allowing us to create more space within our body.

Our minds and bodies are interconnected, and the condition of one affects the condition of the other. This is why meditation is such a powerful tool for healing the body, as powerful as physical therapies. When our minds are cluttered with thoughts, information, and plans, our bodies respond by trying to take action. When the body has a clear directive from the mind, it knows what to do, but a cluttered, unfocused mind creates a confused, tense body. Our muscles tighten up, our breath shortens, and we find ourselves feeling constricted without necessarily knowing why.

When we sit down to meditate, we let our bodies know that it is okay to be still and rest. This is a clear directive from the mind, and the body knows exactly how to respond. Thus, at the very beginning, we have created a sense of clarity for the body and the mind. As we move deeper into meditation, the state of our mind reveals itself, and we have the opportunity to consciously decide to settle it. A meditation teacher pointed out that if you put a cow in a small pen, she acts up and pushes against the boundaries, whereas if you provide her with a large, open space, she will peacefully graze in one spot. In the same way, our thoughts settle down peacefully if we provide them with enough space, and our bodies follow suit.

When we settle down to examine and experience our consciousness, we discover that there are no hard, definable edges. It is a vast, open space in which our thoughts can come and go without making waves, as long as we let them by neither attaching to them nor repressing them. As we see our thoughts come and go, we begin to breathe deeper and more easily, finding that our body is more open to the breath as it relaxes along with the mind. In this way, the space we recognize through meditation creates space in our bodies, allowing for a feeling of lightness and rightness with the world.
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SGC: From our inbox to you; “Celebrating the Sabbat, March 20 By Patti Wigington”

 

 

 
Celebrating the Sabbat, March 20
By Patti Wigington

Spring has finally arrived! March has roared in like a lion, and if we’re really lucky, it will roll out like a lamb. Meanwhile, on or around March 20th, we have Ostara to celebrate. It’s the time of the vernal equinox if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s a true marker that Spring has come.            There are many different ways you can celebrate this Sabbat, depending on your tradition.

May your Sabbat be a magical one!
Rituals to Celebrate the Spring Equinox

Depending on your particular tradition, there are many different ways you can celebrate Ostara, but typically it is observed as a time to mark the coming of Spring and the fertility of the land. By watching agricultural changes — such as the ground becoming warmer, and the emergence of plants from the ground — you’ll know exactly how you should welcome the season. Here are a few rituals you may want to think about trying — and remember, any of them can be adapted for either a solitary practitioner or a small group, with just a little planning ahead.

Setting up your Ostara Altar: Try these tips to set up your altar for the Spring Equinox.
Ostara Altar Photo Gallery: Be sure to check out some of our readers’ photos of their Ostara altars – and find some inspiration!
Ostara Ritual for Solitaries: This simple ritual is designed with the solo practitioner in mind.
The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Chocolate Rabbit: This fairly ridiculous Ostara rite for kids is silly fun for the whole family.
Ostara Rebirthing Ritual: Celebrate the season of rebirth and renewal with this rite.
Ostara Labyrinth Meditation: This meditation ritual will help you with some problem solving during the Ostara season.
Earth Meditation: As the earth begins to warm back up, use this meditation to help get yourself grounded.
Celebrating Ostara with Kids: Got little Pagans? Here are some great ways to include them in your Ostara celebrations!
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Ostara Customs and Traditions
Interested in learning about some of the traditions behind the celebrations of March? Learn why St. Patrick hated snakes, and why the Easter bunny brings eggs for us to eat!
Ostara History: The vernal equinox has a long magical history. Here’s how it’s been celebrated through time.
Deities of Ostara: Meet some of the gods and goddesses associated with the spring equinox.
Spring Equinox Celebrations Around the World: Pagans aren’t the only ones celebrating this time of year – here’s what the rest of the world is doing!
Who was Eostre?: Was Eostre really an ancient goddess of spring?
Matronalia, March 1: The Romans celebrated an early version of Mother’s Day at the beginning of March.
Easter Eggs: Pagan or Not?: Are Easter Eggs secretly Pagan?
Can You Really Balance an Egg on the Equinox? Have you ever heard about balancing an egg on the equinox? Let’s look at the science behind the rumor.
Beware the Ides of March!: The Ides of March were an unlucky day for a certain Roman emperor.
St. Patrick and the Snakes: There’s a lot of speculation on whether or not the snakes were a metaphor for Pagans – did St. Patrick really drive them out of Ireland?
Pagans and Lent: Should Pagans give things up for Lent, just because their Christian friends and family members are?
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Ostara Crafts & Recipes

As Ostara rolls in, you can decorate your home (and keep your kids entertained) with a number of easy craft projects. Start celebrating a bit early with a St. Patrick’s Day Snake Wreath or a basket of naturally-dyed eggs. If you’re thinking about planning a feast, be sure to check out these recipe ideas!
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