Love - Boundaries, Grounding and the Flower Moon

Welcome to Living Magically on triplemoon.net. This month’s theme is love…

A big thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings, this is edition 5 of my 12 month project and I appreciate all your feedback, please share, subscribe and feel free to get in touch triplemoonnet@gmail.com

Next Full Moon – 5th May – The Flower Moon

May’s Moon is called the flower moon and represents renewal and the energy of spring and the flowers and herbs that begin to flourish at this time of year.

This Full Moon is also regarded as an auspicious time for those trying to conceive.

Next New Moon – 19th May

Belthane 1st May

As the wheel of the year turns we come to Beltane, 1st May otherwise known as May Day.

Beltane comes halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice and marks the beginning of summer and is one of the traditional fire festivals, lighting a fire is the simplest way to mark this particular sabbat. Fire festivals present a good opportunity to banish thoughts and ideas that no longer serve us , or to address anxious thoughts and patterns , you can write these down and simply burn them in a banishing ritual by watching the fire reducing the paper and the contents to ash. The simplest of ceremony can help us to reconnect to our ancestral roots.

Other ways to celebrate Beltane includes decorating your home with spring flowers and making garden foliage into bouquets and garlands. Decorating a May tree is another ancient custom.

I personally celebrate Beltane with a feast and a gathering of friends and family with games and an activity. It always feels like a joyous event as everyone brings food and a happy heart.

Crystal Magic – The Love Collection

Rose Quartz

Rose quartz is a stone of unconditional love because it opens the heart chakra to all forms of love: self-love, family love, platonic love, and romantic love as well as promoting forgiveness love, romance and relationships.

Also considered good for creativity and imagination, the elevated energy of rose quartz transmits love in virtually any situation.

It is considered good for fertility as well as bringing gentleness, forgiveness, and tolerance.

Strawberry Quartz

Strawberry Quartz stimulates the heart energy centre and is strongly associated with the feeling of love and euphoria. It is also regarded as a stone to stimulate the astral body and the psychic system. Legend claims that Strawberry Quartz was used in Atlantis and Lemuria in healing ceremonies due to its ability to emit a powerful yet gentle vibration.

Fire Opal

Fire Opal or Mexican Fire Opal has vivid red, orange or yellow, usually specimens with iridescent flashes are referred to as Precious Fire Opal, or “Firmament Stone.” Fire Opals are associated with sexual passion as well as spiritual ecstasy.

The stone stimulates the Base and Sacral Chakras and also protects against danger, wearers of Fire Opal claim to feel more optimistic, socially outgoing and confident.

Ruby

Ruby is regarded as an aphrodisiac stone, allowing one to experience all forms of love, from wild sensuality to mystical communion. It deepens a couple’s relationship and encourages closeness and commitment. It is claimed that worn during lovemaking, Ruby can help restore and maintain passion. Ruby also has protective qualities and guards against psychic and psychological attack.

Red Garnet

Garnet is a good stone for the removal of toxins and is regarded as a good stone for those with a low libido or issues around physical intimacy.

A powerfully sexual stone, it is said that introducing Garnet stone into your life could bring a sweep of energy reinvigorating your sexual prowess and improving sexual confidence.

Doing something different – Floatation Therapy

If you are someone who finds it hard to relax, slow down or meditate you may find flotation therapy a relaxing alternative. I recently tried a local centre in Colchester, previously I had floated in an open pool, this was my first time in a pod. A fully immersive experience involves sensory depravation with the lights off, don’t let this put you off trying, as I floated with the light on and still found it to be massively beneficial!!

People use flotation therapy as a way to relieve stress and eradicate aches and pains , it simply involves lying effortlessly on the surface of warm water that has been saturated in Epsom salts.

The saturation means that when you get in and lie on your back, you are pushed to the surface so you float and because the water and air temperature heated to near body temperature your body doesn’t know where one finishes and the other begins.

The feeling of pure weightlessness is difficult to describe and is probably best experienced. As well as physical benefits such as a sense of being realigned there are benefits for mental well-being too.

The facilities in Colchester are really good, lots of nice spa touches, great staff and completely unhurried.

You can float alone or as a couple! https://www.floatationtherapyessex.co.uk/

Grounding – The fastest way to feel better

Research has shown that there are real benefits to connecting with the natural energy contained within the earth, by walking barefoot on grass, sand, dirt or rock. This is known as Earthing or more commonly as Grounding. When bare feet or skin comes in contact with the earth electrons are taken up into the body and act as antioxidants, the simplicity of grounding belies its actual power as it is shown to:

· Reduce chronic pain

· Improve Sleep

· Improve energy and vitality

· Improve mood

· Help with jet lag

Throughout history humans have walked, sat and slept on the ground, cultivated their land and spent a lot of their time naturally grounded.

Modern life means that we are surrounded by synthetic materials and exposed to man-made electronic radiation which has effectively disconnected many of us from nature .

To feel instantly better get outside and walk barefoot and see what a difference it makes!!

Boundaries

Boundaries help us feel safer and more comfortable, when our emotional boundaries aren't respected, it may leave us feeling overwhelmed, vulnerable or anxious. Some people don’t even realise that that their boundaries have been disrespected and this can develop into feelings of powerlessness, anxiety and depression.

If you can identify with any of these statements it may be time for you to set some boundaries of your own.

· I often find myself feeling that I have been taken advantage of .

· I often say "yes" to please other people, sometimes at my own expense.

· I don’t always have my needs met because I fear conflict or upsetting others.

· There are times when I am disrespected by others but I don’t say anything.

· My own fear of rejection and abandonment makes me disregard my own needs.

· I engage in people-pleasing behaviours to be liked and approved of.

If you regularly feel resentment or are complaining about things on a regular basis it could be another indication that you need to set a boundary. It pays to actually listen to what you are saying and look for patterns. Learning to set healthy boundaries can be a real challenge for people and it is helpful to develop a support network of people who champion your right to set boundaries.

Tips for Setting Healthy Boundaries

· Assess the current state of your boundaries

· Think about what you need to achieve by setting boundaries.

· Use your inner compass and your personal values as a guide.

· Accept that different relationships require different boundaries.

· Evaluate your relationships and be mindful of changes.

· Learn to speak up

Initially you may feel selfish, guilty, or embarrassed when you set a boundary, remember that you are not responsible for the other person’s reaction to the boundary you are setting. You may find that setting boundaries will eliminate some toxic people from you.

When you identify the need to set a boundary, do it clearly, calmly, firmly, respectfully, and in as few words as possible and without apology.

(Modified from the book, Boundaries: Where You End and I Begin by Anne Katherine)

Subscriber – Giveaway

To celebrate Beltane I am giving away this Love themed bundle, for your chance to win please subscribe to my blog and the winner will be picked at random on the 1st May.

By subscribing you will only receive a notification when each blog is published.

Herb of the month – Basil

Most of us are unaware of the folklore and magical history associated with Basil.

It is believed that placing some Basil in your wallet will attract money.

In English folklore, Basil is thought to ward off evil spirits or unwanted energy and hanging bunches of Basil in the home will provide protection.

A Basil tea is good if you are in conflict with a loved one as it calms and you can also add it to a meal when wanting to reconcile family issues.

Giving a Basil plant to newly wedded couples will bring love and luck. It can also be used in spells and ritual work for astral projection. It's antifungal and antibacterial qualities make it useful when making your own floor washes or household cleaners.

May - Cupboard Top (Altar Magic )

As you will have read previously I don’t enjoy the term altar but I think there is genuine joy to be found in creating/ enhancing your own scared space to reflect your magical self.

This month we are lucky enough to get a glimpse of some other magical spaces.

Here is a beautiful display from Deborah In Wickford .

And below a magical display from Mandy in Wickford.

Please share your magical spaces on triplemoonnet@gmail.com

The Last Word - What is Self-Love

As this edition is about LOVE I feel it would be remiss of me to not talk about Self-Love. Self-love means different things to different people. At a personal level I am very conscious that realistically the person I need to completely rely on, is actually me, so I will do what I can to try and be nice to myself. It’s not always easy though… In my work with managing anxiety, a common theme, which emerges repeatedly is low Self-Esteem and Self -Love is the most effective antidote for Low Self Esteem.

“Self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows from actions that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth. Self-love means having a high regard for your own well-being and happiness. Self-love means taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others. Self-love means not settling for less than you deserve.”

These are simple things you can do to kick start a Self-Love habit.

Talk to and about yourself with love and compassion

Consider your needs before committing to anything

Rescue yourself from self-judgement

Learn to trust yourself

Set healthy boundaries and stick to them

Forgive yourself

Blessed Be – Lou xx