On cyclical living.

It is quite obvious that life moves in a cyclical nature: the four seasons, moon cycles, day and night, even a simple inhale and exhale. We operate optimally, in a balanced and harmonious state, when in sync with these natural rhythms. Hence why I became so intrigued with moon cycles and working with the seasons. There were so many things in my life that felt off balance and not in tune with the world around me.

As humans, we also create our own cycles through patterns and habits. These small routines ultimately help create our world, for better or worse. When examining your own patterns, triggers and behaviors, you may come across some things that you don’t particularly like. It is sometimes referred to as our “shadow side.” Taking this journey is for the couragoues. It is through this process of self exploration, you build awareness, and then get to determine what you want to continue and where a shift could be useful. While these are not always easy to confront, small shifts on a consistent basis can make a huge transformation in our overall existence.

Some things to consider:

What are my habits?

What patterns limit me? Which expand me?

What small shifts can I make to find more balance and harmony? 

If you aren’t quite sure how to even begin this process, start small. A great starting point for me was examining my morning and evening routines. There are so many factors that we cannot control throughout the day, but the tone we set at the start and how we end our day can change your perspective and leave you feeling more empowered. We start to create patterns that expand us.

Cycles are powerful and very much a part of life. They can become a form of of bondage or we can use them for transcendence. Here's to creating a life working with cycles in a way that allows us to grow and evolve, and letting go of those that keep us stuck.

In love, light + with gratitude,

Nicole

On self care.

This year has taught me the importance of self care. It's been a true roller coaster ride with a lot of highs and lows and everything in between. Those fluctuations seem to come more frequently and sometimes unexpectedly.

I find myself pausing, taking a deep breath, and trying to figure out what I need in the moment to be able to not only manage my experience with some grace, but still show up as a kind human being to those around me who are also managing their own set of challenges.

It's been a true practice. Not always easy. It's more time consuming than I would prefer as life has been a hustle. But it's essential.

The question that I ask myself all the time is, "What do you need in this moment to take care of yourself?".

Sometimes that looks like yoga and meditation, other times it looks like bike rides and deadlifts. Sometimes a nap, other times a glass of wine. I am filling journals at a faster rate than I could have ever imaged, and I'm staying true to my Lunar practice. Epsom salt baths, candles and reading. Lots of profanity. Walks in the neighborhood. Sometimes I angry color. Flowers. The list goes on; it's truly all of the self-care practice techniques for me these days. I'm okay with that and I'm doing my best to honor what comes up.

My question to you… How are you doing? How are you taking care of yourself?

I know it takes a lot of time and effort to stay sane at this point in time. I see you. I am here as well. Life is demanding a lot of us in the present and I hope you are finding the time and space to take care of yourself, whatever it looks like.

In love, light + with gratitude,

Nicole

On full moons.

Has looking up at the Moon ever sparked inspiration? Have you ever paused to admire the beauty of the Moon? Are you hearing more about the Moon lately and curious what the fuss is all about?

There is an abundance of information regarding the Moon and many different practices that work closely with lunar energy. For several years now I have been working with the moon cycle to cultivate and manifest a life that feels authentic to me. As I plant the seeds of my intention during the New Moon (more on that on a different day), today I want to share more on the Full Moon.

Full Moons are an ideal time to release and celebrate. Working with the abundance principle, we release those things that no longer serve us. This will allow us to create space for all the things we are looking to manifest in our lives. Simultaneously we celebrate and show gratitude for the abundance already present in our lives.

Some quick examples of what releasing and celebrating can look like.

Dancing: You shake off all those things that aren’t working while simultaneously moving from a place of joy in celebration.

Taking a bath: Cleansing yourself of those things you want to release, yet practicing self care and celebrating what you are able to do or already have.

Shouting: Vocal release it a powerful tool. This can be used both as a release and celebration.

If you have your own consistent practice with the Moon, I would love to hear your experiences. Feel free to comment below or send me a message. If you want to see some of this in action, then check out my “Workshops/Events” section. On Saturday 10.31.2020, we celebrate the Full Moon in Taurus with an option of virtual or in person participation. Please know that this is a general introduction and overview and there is so much to explore when working with a Lunar practice.

Here’s to a life filled with intention and inspiration as we tune into the cyclical quality and energies of the Moon. I cannot wait to release and celebrate with you.

In love, light + with gratitude,

Nicole

On voting.

As I sit down to write this post, I want to make very clear that my intention has nothing to do with who you vote for. As I share my own personal voting story, my hope is that maybe we all think a little bit more critically about how we want to show up in the world. I would love for each and every person to use their voice and feel empowered to actually vote in this upcoming election.

There are countless articles out there speaking to the importance of voting. The implications on society, and how privileged we are to be able to have the right to vote. All those things are very true, but I’m more curious as to the reasons why people do or do not vote. It’s the personal accounts of what inspired folks to make their way over to the polls to cast their vote or perhaps why they decide not to. Here is my own personal account.

When I was in college, I turned 18 and was able to vote in my first election. I was excited and ready to exercise this right as it was now available to me. Truthfully, I have no idea what I was voting for. It was a matter of voting to simply vote. Post college, I moved away to Southeast Asia for three years. Life was so different on the other side of the world that I did not keep up with what was happening in the United States. When it came time for me to return, I felt so disconnected from everything in our country. When I say everything, I mean everything. This resulted in my lack of inspiration to vote and get involved.

A lot of the conversations in my head covered a whole range of reasons as to why I did not desire to cast a vote … from, “I don’t agree with the platforms and policies of all the candidates” to “I don’t believe that our system is working,” … the stories go on. There was also an accountability component where I didn’t want to make the time and effort to dig deep into the topics and the candidates, because let’s be honest, it’s a lot, and life is busy. Plus there is courage involved with voting; to step into your voice and share that, knowing that the outcome may not be what you hope for. So in a sense, voting involves potential rejection. I don’t know too many folks that enjoy the feeling of rejection. These are only some of my own narratives and experiences. We all have our own, which is beautiful and what makes us individuals.

This brings us to the now, election season of 2020. Through a lot of my own personal work and growth, I have come to realize that I no longer want to be a passive bystander to my life. I want to be an active participant. This, of course, extends beyond just elections, but into how I choose to live. So I’m holding myself accountable. Reading and listening to trusted sources, gathering information, and showing up. If you opt out and decide not to vote, I still respect you as a human being, as this is no easy decision. But I do challenge you to ask yourself “why?” along with “why not?”. You are amazing and what you have to say matters.

As I wrap up here, and stare at this ballot, all I know is that I will use my voice to courageously cast my vote. I hope you find that spark within yourself to do the same.

In love, light + with gratitude,

Nicole

On being present.

Being present is an integral part of practicing mindfulness and living with intention. With all the things happening in the world around us, I'm finding that it’s quite challenging and I don't have the bandwidth to live outside of the present moment. Reminiscing on the past typically results in depression and grieving parts of my past life. On the reverse side, thinking about the future seems to create anxiety and worry. The only time and place I have is the present moment; the here and now.

Here are some useful tricks I have implemented to keep myself present when my mind starts to spiral in all of the directions.

1. Take some deep breaths: Breathe with your diaphragm, filling up the belly, rib cage and chest. Maybe even consider retaining the breath at the top and bottom, truly present for the pause. Mindful breathing automatically slows down the nervous system and brings you back to the present moment. 

2. Identify the moment/sensations: Some questions to ask yourself could be .... Where am I? What do I see? What do I smell? How do I feel? What is the temperature? Checking in with your environment and how you are experiencing it is a sure way to bring you back to the now. 

3. Celebrate tiny joys: Whether it's pausing in the moment as you enjoy a delicious cup of tea or a gratitude list at the end of the day… taking inventory of all the tiny gifts life has offered will result in being more present.

Of course, this is never a one-size-fits all sort of thing, and each day might require a different tactic, but these are some useful tools that have helped me. The real practice lies in being present for even the challenging and uncomfortable moments, not only the ones that bring joy and feel good. This is what allows us to be present for the human experience in its entirety.

In love, light and with gratitude,

Nicole  

On blogging.

Blogging is something that has always felt a little daunting for me. Often, it's the voices in my head telling me that what I have to share is not important.

My most recent attempt was a few years ago. I started a blog on my old website. I randomly added content without any specific agenda, never shared it with anyone and kept all the words I wrote to myself. The other day, I revisited some of these original posts to find inspiration for my current project. As I read, a beautiful realization presented itself. I had created thoughtful ideas. Meaningful words. And more importantly, ideas and words I am ready to share. It was a nudge forward from my old self to believe and to do this thing!

In an attempt to hold myself accountable, the hope is to add a blog post and content every Monday on a weekly basis. Posts will cover various topics from current events, yoga, mindful living, anything really. I’m a firm believer that yoga extends off the mat and into our lives, so this blog will include anything and everything that involves living.

So here I go, starting a new endeavor. It’s scary, but very exciting. I can’t wait to share with you some of my previous posts that I kept hidden away due to fear, build new content that comes from a place of love, and use this space as an extension of living an empowered life.

Thank you for being here and I cannot wait to continue to connect.

In love, light + with gratitude,

Nicole