If you've been looking for a spiritual subscription box, definitely check this one out. In this post, I'm sharing what Mindful Souls is, the types of products they send, and what I received in my first box. 

What is Mindful Souls

Mindful Souls is a monthly subscription box for the spiritually minded person. It's specifically intended for spiritual growth and education, sending curated items that come with detailed information and instruction.

And that is what I noticed first with this box–their detailed card that shared the background history of each item and different ways it can be used.

I've been subscribing to different spiritually based boxes for the last four years and it's been a very fun way for me to be introduced to new spiritual concepts, healing modalities, and deeper insights into specific areas.

I kept hearing about this box so I ordered it a few days ago and it was already delivered. Probably the fastest box delivery I've ever had. Here's what was inside:

1. Pendulum amethyst necklace

The first item in the box was this pendulum amethyst necklace. Amethyst is one of my favorite stones to work with and I love any opportunity to wear intentional jewelry.

How to use it: on their description card they shared that you can wear amethyst to help feel less scattered, more focused and in control of your faculties. 

2. White turquoise & lava stone bracelet 

I am in love with this bracelet! I have been wearing it ever since I received the box. It's absolutely gorgeous and I love the energy and meaning behind the white turquoise, as well as the lava stones that you can put essential oil on in order to ground/inspire/uplift yourself.

How to use it: their card describes the background meaning of turquoise and black lava stone, and they suggest applying a drop or two of essential oil to the lava beads. The scent lasts a day or more.

3. Rosemary essential oil

When I first saw this Rosemary essential oil, I was a little bummed because I didn't think I would want to use that on my lava beads. I love Rosemary but don't want to smell like it. Luckily, I was wrong! The scent is BEAUTIFUL! 

How to use it: add a drop or two to your lava bead bracelet. Rosemary is known for its anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as soothing digestive issues and relieving muscle aches.

4. Lotus flower necklace 

Another item in the box I have been wearing since receiving it. The lotus symbol is so powerful for me because it represents your wholeness and purity while being surrounded in the mud that is part of physical incarnation and all the lessons you go through to reach the light.

How to use it: I took my pendant off of this black necklace and added it to a chain I had. Wear your necklace and let it remind you of the wholeness and goodness that is truly you.

5. Rose quartz pointer crystal

The next item in the box was this beautiful rose quartz point. The pink stones are some of my favorite to work with because they carry the energy of unconditional love. 

How to use it: their cards says that rose quartz draws off negative energy and replaces it with loving vibes. Carry it with you, meditate with it, lay with it on your body or place it in your space.

6. Dream catcher

This dream catcher was next in the box. I love the colors and that you can use it as a keychain if you want, but this is really the only item in the box that I won't end up using. 

How to use it: the card says dream catchers originated with the Ojibwe people of North America and were used to catch negativity in the air. You can hang or wear it with the intention of peace of mind.

7. Serenity Buddha figurine 

The last item in the box was this little Serenity Buddha figurine, which I love so much because he reminds me to come into the present moment and be still.

How to use: simply add this little Buddha anywhere in your home to remind you to go within where you will always find serenity and calm. 

My final thoughts

I was actually really happy with the Mindful Souls box. There was one item I likely won't use, but I consider a box a success if there's more items I love than not. 

I loved this box enough to create a video of it for my closest friend! Personally, I will use most of these items on a near daily basis, so I can see why people are enjoying this box. I give it a solid A! 

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this article and found something to take away with you. 

To receive my weekly, self-care focused email that inspires you to go deeper inside the magic that is you, sign up for the Self-Care Sunday emails.

With love,

Jessica

Related Items in the Shop

The post A Spiritual Subscription Box appeared first on Dwell in Magic®.

I feel personally that humanity is on a precipice. The Age of Aquarius, which is all about humanitarianism and unity, will continuously be replacing the exiting Piscean Age, the period of monotheism and things hidden beyond physical senses.

This is a year of learning and transcendence, and all of us hold a piece of the puzzle that is needed in order to activate higher awareness.

What the planets are telling us

I'm not an astrologer by any means, but I love learning about the current planet placements, their energy and what they're calling us towards. 2020 has some major astrological events that point towards turbulence and unrest, but that also hold the potential for healing, new beginnings, and a turning point.

Saturn conjunct Pluto

Saturn conjuncts Pluto in the sign of Capricorn this year. With this placement, we are faced with letting go of things that no longer serve us. Specifically, it may bring up feelings of being pressured or burdened by authority or a government department, and predicts that the masses will be standing up to protest. (Um, HELLO Covid-19 and racial injustice of 2020).

This conjunction is laying new foundations, so the best thing to do is to accept change and go with the flow. Stay connected within so that you can be guided as to what actions to take in your own personal life and in your own way.

Mercury retrogrades

We have three Mercury retrogrades this year, which tells us there will be communication barriers and anxious energy. Think before you speak. Don't get caught up in what everyone else is saying or doing.

Mercury retrogrades are actually beautiful opportunities and reminders for introspection and reflection.

Pluto retrograde

This retrograde, which started on April 25th and will last until October 4th, and with a major influence being Jupiter conjunct Pluto, will increase our fear of death. It hints at harsh laws, suffering, as well as major growth.

It asks: what is holding you back from spiritual evolution? With this Jupiter Pluto conjunction we have the potential for much transformational change, but this conjunction is also square Mercury, so there are potential pitfalls for ruthless self-righteousness in our thoughts and words that we need to remain aware of.

Mercury rules the hands and lungs, while Pluto rules viruses/pandemics/global events/death=the Covid pandemic being spread by not washing hands and the "I can't breathe" social movement.

Lastly, Pluto retrograde 2020 has the energy of paranoia, secrecy, and lies. We need to be diligent and responsible with where we are getting our information and take care not to spread more misinformation than is already out there.

Venus retrograde

The strongest felt of all the retrogrades. We want to give and receive love, but there are barriers to doing that. We can feel disillusioned or confused.

Venus retrograde is a time to learn how to love yourself more. That can be the very barrier to so much in our outside circumstances.

Where are you rejecting yourself? What are you suppressing or ignoring within yourself that is calling for healing? By loving ourselves and these parts that we deem unworthy, we heal our relationships with others.

Mars retrograde

The second rarest after Venus, this retrograde is a time of thinking before acting. It brings up issues we have within ourselves relating to anger, rage, sexual abuse and violence.

Outside events will trigger these issues within us, so this is another opportunity for healing. Yes, it might be painful, but we will come out of this with a higher awareness and a more clear vision of what we do want.

Light at the end of the tunnel

At the end of 2020, we have a total solar eclipse in Sagittarius, which speaks to new beginnings and awarenesses in truth when it comes to the media, politics and communication.

We'll also have a Saturn and Jupiter conjunction in Aquarius in December, which will carry the energy of new beginnings after tumultuous birthing pains and change.

So while it may feel that shit has hit the fan, try to remind yourself daily that it all holds a higher purpose for us as a society as well as individually.

Doing the inner work

If we do the inner work, the outer work can be done so much more powerfully. Now more than ever, with these emotionally amplified events happening back-to-back and a media who is lighting fire to it every day, we need to be checking in with ourselves, first and foremost.

Otherwise, you risk complete burnout and demoralization.

Every morning:

• check in with your breath–turn your head as you do this in order to clear the meridians (breathe in facing right, breathe out facing left)
• journal how you're feeling, how you intend to feel, what's coming up for you
• give yourself the gift of not checking your phone upon first awaking
• meditate for 10-20 minutes in order to quiet the mind

Every evening:

• check in with the breath
• watch something that makes you laugh
• read something that feeds your soul
• meditate for 10-20 minutes in order to quiet the mind

Journal prompts for processing emotions:

• When I view this (enter current event, situation, etc) how does it make me feel?
• If this emotion of (enter each emotion individually) could speak, what would it say?
• Can I remember when I first felt this emotion in my life?

Sit with the emotion, feel where it is in your body, and just observe it until it leaves. Doing this will release long-repressed emotions that have been stored in the body. Keep practicing, releasing, and surrendering.

Releasing defensiveness, staying open

There is so much back and forth going on right now everywhere on social media. It's like a roomful of children who dropped the milk and all of them are pointing at each other with blame and criticism.

Try to remain an observer. Maybe it's true that if you would've pulled the milk out slower, it wouldn't have dropped. Be open to hearing that. Don't take anything personally, but rather recognize that it's the projection of others as well as reflections that could be beneficial for you personally.

When we come from a loving place, there is nothing to be defensive about. When we acknowledge that we don't know everything, and that that's okay, we can stay open and come from a place of compassion.

What is the main emotion for you that keeps coming up? Can you see that this emotion has likely colored every single aspect of your life in some way? Would you like to take this opportunity in time to clear it? Drop your walls, open your heart, and let it be healed.

Follow your inner being, not the noise

The roomful of children are also arguing over how they all need to clean up the milk. I suspect that if we were sheep, we'd follow each other off the cliff right now due to not wanting to be singled out or judged.

Just take a breath. Drop the "shoulds" of the world and go within to access your own individual inspiration that comes from Source, not from another's place of disconnectedness.

Some people may need more time than you to process something. Give them their space while you follow your inspired ideas for action. Some people will be getting impulses for inspired action that won't match yours or what you think it should look like...just focus on yourself, your heart, and your energy.

Consider this thought as well: every soul that is here right now is here to help usher in the Age of Aquarius in some way or form. It may look like some are doing the opposite of this, but their role might be to ignite intense desire in the masses for change. Look from a higher place and know that change for the better is on the way, regardless of appearances.

Visualize scenarios that make you feel good: Source will line you up with people desiring the same.

Feel now the way you're craving to feel in the world: Source will bring you circumstances and people that will match that feeling.

Surrender, release, keep your heart open: Source will be able to then show you all of the possibilities you couldn't see before.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this article and found something to take away with you. Please feel free to leave your thoughts and viewpoints in the comment section below.

For holistic self-care tips every Sunday afternoon, you can sign up for the Dwell in Magic weekly newsletter.

If you’d like more real life examples of daily self-care, you can connect with me on Instagram.

And if you’d like more direct support and community with like-minded people, come join the Dwell in Magic Facebook group.

With love,

Jessica

Jessica Dimas is the author of Sacred Self-Care for Your Chakras. 

The post Spiritual Guidance for Navigating 2020 appeared first on Dwell in Magic®.

I'm currently subscribed to four boxes. I think subscription boxes are the coolest and most useful things since sliced bread. They're also great for learning more about a subject or skill without having to leave your house.

Best subscription boxes for women

What makes a good subscription box for a woman? For me, it's things that fall into these categories:

• things I need to replace monthly but forget to
• things that help me stay well in any or all aspects
• things I'm not knowledgeable about but would like to learn more about
• anything that I love that I would like to receive monthly at an awesomely reduced price

That last reason is honestly the greatest thing about ALL subscription boxes. You are getting the bang for your buck.

Most boxes are valued at over $100 and you pay between $20-50, give or take. Plus it's delivered to your door which comes in real handy when you're being quarantined! In non-quarantine times though, it's still super handy to have something delivered on your doorstep.

Here's the list I've compiled after scouring the box sites to find the best subscription boxes for women. I'll continue to update this list as I come across awesome finds.

1. TheraBox

TheraBox

I've recommended this box more than once simply because it serves as a great monthly reminder to take care of yourself. It's curated by therapists which I think is really cool.

What you get: Each box includes one research-inspired therapeutic activity to wire your brain for more joy plus six to eight self-care wellness goodies to reduce stress & enhance your life. We aim to inspire more love and happiness in every box through mindfully curated products to feed your mind, body and soul. For all finders & seekers of an inspired life.

What it costs: $30.99 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 1400+ reviews

2. mintMONGOOSE

mintMONGOOSE

Whether you're a jewelry lover or not that great at accessorizing and would like some help, this jewelry subscription box will fill that need for an awesome price.

What you get: Receive adorable, high-quality jewelry pieces every month for a crazy affordable price. The BEST part: you get to pick silver, rose gold, or gold! We include simple pieces that go well with the "everyday" outfit, or that can be dressed up for a special event or night out. Subscribe today and start receiving quality pieces every month.

What it costs: $12.99 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 1000+ reviews

3. Goddess Provisions

Goddess Provisions

I highly recommend this box if you're looking for something with a witchy, spiritual vibe to it. I've been subscribed to this one for about three years now. I love the candles, crystals and handmade products from small businesses.

What you get: Our boxes are curated to nurture your inner goddess and help grow your spiritual practice. We pack each box with 5 to 7 full-size products, totalling for a retail value of $80-$100. All the products inside are vegan, cruelty-free and natural. Each box has a mix of crystals, aromatherapy, natural beauty products, superfood snacks & spiritual tools.

What it costs: $27.75 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 1150+ reviews

4. The Adults & Crafts Crate

The Adults & Crafts Crate

Does crafting relieve stress for you but it's always on your back burner? Or maybe you want to learn how to start being crafty but have no idea where to begin. This box would be awesome for either of those! They send you the materials you need along with instructions, all delivered at your doorstep.

What you get: Adults & Crafts is a thoughtfully curated craft subscription box for adults and teens to create fun and trendy projects. Every month is a different craft to allow you to learn a new craft technique like wood burning and engraving. Create beautiful products like wine carriers, epoxy resin coasters, etc. Perfect for a friend hangout or date night.

What it costs: $30 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 140+ reviews

5. Laurel & Reed

Laurel & Reed

Laurel & Reed is a beauty and skincare subscription box featuring non-toxic, all-natural and cruelty-free items. This is an excellent way to get clean beauty products for a much lower price, plus to be introduced to brands you didn't know about.

What you get: Elevate your daily routine with a subscription to Laurel & Reed’s luxury-curated, cruelty-free and non-toxic beauty box. In need of some self-care or looking for that perfect gift? Every month we will delight your doorstep with a mix of 3+ full-size products with a minimum total retail value of $100+. All boxes come gift wrapped.

What it costs: $43.95 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 29 reviews

6. Sparkle Hustle Grow

Sparkle Hustle Grow

This is a really cool monthly subscription box and online community for female entrepreneurs. I love that they send monthly supplies along with motivational books. Makes working from home more exciting!

What you get: Sparkle. Hustle. Grow. Three things that you can easily achieve when you subscribe to our monthly entrepreneur subscription. The items included support personal growth, your business (with valuable tools and training) and connects you with other passionate female entrepreneurs. Treat yourself to the #BestBusinessExpenseEver!

What it costs: $25 for the smaller box, $41 for the full size box

Rating: 5 stars out of 239 reviews

7. Wild Woman

Wild Woman

This box would be perfect for all those ladies frequently posting their hiking, camping and rock climbing pictures!

What you get: We believe every woman has a bit of wild in them and getting outside usually helps! The Wild Woman Box is a monthly subscription curated with gear, inspiration, snacks and body products to support your busy and active lifestyle. Our mission is to make adventure and the outdoors inclusive and accessible for ALL women. 

What it costs: $37.65 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 52 ratings

8. Vinley Market

Vinley Market

Vinley Market has a monthly Bubbles & Rosé Wine Box option where they send a premium sparkler and a rosé wine. Yes, please!

What you get: Each month, you will receive the wines that our sommeliers are most excited about within this price range. The wines that we feature are often organic and biodynamic and from small talented producers. Each month, our Bubbles & Rosé Wine Club contains two bottles. With our Adventurer's Club, you have the option of receiving two or three bottles based on what you sign up for. We will include a card that explains the history of each winery and winemaker and share what makes the wines special.

What it costs: $59

Rating: 4.5 stars

9. Posh Home Box

Posh Home Box

This is a great box if you've been wanting to create more beautiful living spaces in your home but are either too busy to do so or don't really have a knack for decorating. I'm the latter one. The thing with subscription boxes is after you've been subscribed for awhile, you will have a high collection of quality items.

What you get: Decor & accessories that are elegant, chic and unique. Delivering stylish decor to your home, each month.

What it costs: $46 before shipping (their prices are shown in CAD, so I'm listing the USD one here). The total was $52.66 USD after shipping costs.

Rating: 5 stars out of 26 reviews

10. Coffee and a Classic

Coffee and a Classic

How cool is this box?! I'm a total book nerd and this box gives me a lady boner. They send a classic novel along with treats and reading accessories.

What you get: We at Coffee and a Classic know that there are few things more enjoyable than to immerse yourself in a great book, so each month we carefully select a classic book, beverage and other bookish treats to inspire you to relive (or experience for the first time) some of the greats novels of all time. Select your genre, beverage preference and size.

What it costs: $39.89 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 168 reviews

11. Hemp Crate Co

Hemp Crate Co

I'm a huge proponent of the healing benefits that are derived from cannabis. My whole family takes CBD oil as a supplement and I'm excited that CBD is becoming more mainstream by the minute. Quality CBD products can be pricey, so a subscription box would be an awesome way to get keep your supplies stocked.

What you get: Hemp Crate Co curates 3 themed boxes of premium CBD products monthly: 1) Health & Wellness for all your chill and recovery needs. 2) Hempa the Explorer has a little bit of everything - tinctures, balms, yummy treats. 3) Furry Friends which has a few items for your fur baby and a few for you. New, 3rd party tested products every month.

What it costs: $44.99 before shipping for the starter boxes

Rating: 5 stars out of 88 reviews

12. Introverts Retreat

Introverts Retreat

Looove the idea of this box! Books, candles and other goodies to be enjoyed at home? Don't mind if I do.

What you get: Admit it–you'd rather avoid other people and spend the day alone. We totally get it–that's why we created Introverts Retreat. So order a box, ignore your phone calls, cancel your plans, and imagine a warm candle-lit bath, a good book, a cup of tea or coffee, and a tasty treat. Does it get any better than that? No. No, it absolutely does not.

What it costs: boxes start at $14.99 before shipping

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 95 reviews

13. Craft in a Style Box

Craft in a Style Box

Another awesome crafting box that I wanted to add to the list just because the past box crafts were so pretty. Crafting is an excellent way to get in the zone and process emotions just from the intense focus and concentration that's involved. Crafting gets my self-care blogger seal of approval.

What you get: Craft In Style Box by Pop Shop America is the best way to DIY! Join us and make stylish DIY Projects every month. Every box has new projects, easy instructions, all the supplies and free gifts along the way. Crafts vary from terrariums, clay marbling, candles, gold gilding, sun print photography and more. All boxes can be customized for you.

What it costs: $30 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 35 reviews

14. Wicked Good Perfume

Wicked Good Perfume

Finally! A clean fragrance box is on the market. I personally don't really care but if I'm given the choice, I'd take a clean fragrance over a synthetic one.

What you get: Clean, consciously-crafted fragrances that celebrate wild freedom, rebellious spirts and fierce dreamers. Discover a curated selection of new scents for fragrance connoisseurs. Going clean doesn’t have to mean limiting your options.If you'd love a new perfume and 2-3 other scented goods each month, this may be the subscription for you. 

What it costs: Boxes start at $20.75 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 44 reviews

15. The Plant Club

The Plant Box

There's a lot of plant boxes popping up on the market. I'm adding this one specifically to the list because I like that they send not only a plant, but a pot and other planting items. I was subscribed to a plant box that didn't send a pot and going to purchase a pot got really old.

What you get: Fall in love with a new houseplant variety every month from The Plant Club. We curate more than cute collections of pots and accessories–we lovingly pack everything you need to easily assemble and care for your own living decor. Great as a gift, even if you are giving it to yourself!

What it costs: $23.33 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 68 reviews

16. Hygge Box

Hygge Box

If you love things that make you feel cozy (who doesn't??) you'll want to check out the Hygge Box. It's packed full of self-care items that make you feel grounded, still and cozy.

What you get: Hygge is the Danish lifestyle of coziness and happiness. It is about preserving happiness everyday by slowing down, being humble, expressing gratitude, feeling safe and connecting with loved ones. This subscription box is for anyone seeking to bring hygge into their home and life.

What it costs: $44.95 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 190 reviews

17. FaceTory

FaceTory

I've had several friends share their love for Korean beauty masks and skincare products, so I wanted to share this popular beauty box. I like that they have 3 different tiers to choose from and all of them are very affordable.

What you get: FaceTory is a K-Beauty sheet mask and skincare subscription box that offers three different plans: 4-Ever Fresh, 7 Lux and K-Glow. With products handpicked by the FaceTory Team, you'll receive the best and most innovative products all at an affordable cost and at your convenience. Explore and discover your next holy grail K-beauty products.

What it costs: Boxes start at $7.57 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 68 reviews

18. LD Accessories Box

LD Accessories Box

Another accessories box but this one isn't just jewelry but clothes and other accessories as well. I'm going to try this one and I'll report back!

What you get: The LD Accessories Box is a fashion explosion of style and fun, containing 5-6 hand-selected products. The box is shipped monthly and packed with a variety of women's apparel and accessories. Every box is valued over $100. Contents vary by month and individual subscriber. Box may vary from advertised images based on style preferences and availability.

What it costs: $30 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 56 reviews

19. Spiritual Goodies

Spiritual Goodies

This is a great box if you'd like to start a collection of spiritual self-care items. They send crystals, aromatherapy products and other items for spiritual growth.

What you get: Each box is curated with 5-6 quality items plus an affirmation card to help focus your thoughts & energy. Detailed insert with beneficial info and practices like: crystal uses, meditations and ritual info, plus each month we feature new spiritual teachers that will provide you with additional knowledge and skills to enhance your life. Value of each box is between $65-$85+. 

What it costs: $34.57 before shipping

Rating: 5 stars out of 46 reviews

20. Smartass and Sass

Smartass and Sass

This is a really cool subscription box that comes with 5-7 full sized items every month with hilarious quotes on shirts and other apparel.

What you get: Smartass & Sass is a gift and subscription service for snarky individuals and cynical a**holes. We hand-select products from artists and small businesses and work with manufacturers to produce brand-new items that are sure to make you giggle. Subscribers also help us decide on items and have access to a secret sale shop. Join our community today!

What it costs: $13.95 before shipping

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 476 reviews

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this article and found a box you're excited to try out!

For holistic self-care tips every Sunday afternoon, you can sign up for the Dwell in Magic weekly newsletter.

If you’d like more real life examples of daily self-care, you can connect with me on Instagram.

And if you’d like more direct support and community with like-minded people, come join the Dwell in Magic Facebook group.

With love,

Jessica

Jessica Dimas is the creator of Manifesting Magic with the Moon, a holistic self-care ritual bundle.

The post The Ultimate List of Subscription Boxes for Women appeared first on Dwell in Magic®.

You can click here to read Part I: Waking Up in the Upside Down and Part II: Following the Clues Back to the Source.

A million questions with only one answer

For about four months, I was relentless with my quest for answers. I had come out of my more fearful space and was ravenous in learning more about the body, the subconscious mind and the death experience.

I had ignored my body for most of my life because of the early childhood abuse, and death was something I'd always seen from a very limited perspective. I just didn't really like to contemplate either one in very much detail.

During this time, I read so many books on the subjects of our bodies from a metaphysical sense. How our bodies are a filter of our emotions, so our bodies will reflect back how we're feeling.

There's no physical condition that develops after birth that isn't congruent with a person's emotional state. Dr. Bruce Lipton, a cell biologist, says that less than 5% of physical conditions are simply biology. Which means that 95% of physical conditions are the cause of beliefs and emotions.

I began to see the lump in my breast less and less as an evil in my body, and more of a messenger. I began to see the anxiety less from a victim standpoint and more as an ally in my healing.

The anxiety and the lump didn't show up to wreak havoc in my life–I believe they showed up to help me heal parts of me that were buried so long ago. They were asking me to take off this constrictive mask off I'd worn for so long.

A healing trail of clues

I saw several energy healers during this time and studied from several authors, and walked away from each one with a golden nugget.

Anita Moorjani, who had a near death experience, healed from stage 4 cancer and is the author of Dying to Be Me, taught me that we are truly here for the joy of it all. We are here to eat the ice cream, to sit and watch the sunsets, to love ourselves deeply and with compassion. To be our true selves unapologetically.

Dr. Bruce Lipton, a former Stanford cell biologist researcher and author, taught me that our biology is mostly based on our subconscious beliefs. Dis-eases don't "run in families"–the belief that they do is what runs in families. The tapes we have playing from childhood governs so much in the way of our beliefs and emotions. He says frequently "change the tape and you'll change your life."

My hypnotherapist taught me that our subconscious loves descriptive, creative, right-brain statements. Saying things like "This soft pillow feels like love, and when I lay on it I can feel love pulsing through me." Being creative in how we word things helps the subconscious latch onto a new belief.

My energy healer, Robin, taught me how to re-parent myself. To take care of myself from a place of compassion, forgive myself and advocate for myself in a way that was never done for me as a child. That I'd never done for myself.

My Psych-K healer reminded me of the incredible power of muscle testing to communicate with the soul, the power of accessing both sides of the brain to download new beliefs, and to imagine a statement or vision you wish to be true until you FEEL it in your body. It's reached the subconscious when this happens.

Certain people in my life during this time that had me feeling backed into a corner taught me that it's okay to say no. It's safe to be me unapologetically. I am allowed to claim space and not sacrifice that space for anyone else's approval.

Learning to deeply trust

So many times during the past year, I felt like anxiety had turned me towards the dark and I just couldn't seem to turn back around to the light. I can't describe the fear that was present on a near-daily basis.

But perhaps there were things I kept in the dark that needed to be brought into the light. My concepts of death were definitely in that dark place.

I began reading about it, again from a spiritual perspective. There are literally hundred of books written by professionals and the curious-minded on compiled witness accounts/scientific studies on everything from past lives, spontaneous healings of incurable dis-eases to different dimensions and parallel realities.

This universe we live in is just SO MUCH BIGGER than we've ever been led to believe. And in this awareness and openness to what it is possible, I found deep, immense healing.

I began acting on my hunches. A question I kept asking myself was if my soul wanted to leave or not. One day I heard a song playing in the basement where my kids hang out. It really caught my attention and I went downstairs to find out what it was.

The funny thing about the song was that I could hardly understand most of the lyrics but the ones I could were answers to my question. It talked about not wanting to leave yet, as well as my body and spirit aligning.

I also asked my subconscious to give me answers while I slept. I wanted to know why all of this was happening. I woke up the next morning from a very vivid dream. I realized all of my deepest fears from this dream...of being afraid of being separated and alone because of others rejecting me. I was trying so hard to be accepted in my dream.

And therein was such a powerful answer for me, one of being inauthentic on the deepest levels because the little girl in me was so afraid of everyone finding out about her and not loving her because of it.

A wake-up call from self-love

Once again, my husband had to leave out of town for several weeks. We were both worried about how I would take it since my anxiety had reached such high levels the last time.

Right when he left, I had a falling out with a new friend I had met when I first moved here. This bothered me deeply and my anxiety did worsen now that I was alone with myself every night.

The thing I know is that everyone is a reflection of ourselves and so I kept pondering on what about this incident unsettled me so much. Why did it even happen? I can't remember the last time I had a falling out with someone. And what interesting timing.

On the morning that I journaled about the dream, I wrote my most pressing issue with this person as "____________ doesn't see me. Has got me wrong." Below that, I changed the wording to

"I don't see me. I have me wrong.

I have me wrong."

Reading over the feelings of shame and fear, I realized my perception of myself had been wrong for so long. There is no shame in who I am or my body. There is no shame in anything I've ever done, said or felt. There was no need for fear of rejection because I am eternally and infinitely loved by my own soul.

This was a major shift for me consciously. I realized how unloving I'd been to myself my whole life without even realizing it. I realized how much I sacrificed myself in order to please others. How I did things "to get it over with so I can go back to doing what I love" much like the little girl who endured the weekly abuse.

Living from a place of self-love and acceptance

I finally went to the doctor (the most perfect one for me was placed in my path). She's naturopathic and has the mindset that everything can be worked with. Nothing needs to be invaded. No one needs to be scared or pressured.

I did breast thermography instead of anything invasive or that involved radiation. There was nothing suspicious the report stated. Likely fibrocystic breast changes and possibly a hormonal imbalance.

What if I had just gone to the doctor all those months ago? Well first off, I wouldn't have known about thermography because I learned about that several months after the lump appeared when I was educating myself on alternative options. I would've gone to a traditional doctor and probably had a biopsy and maybe a mammogram. Not sure. But it would've been scarier for me, possibly re-traumatizing.

Secondly, I would've never gone on the soul-searching journey that I went on. I could've likely dismissed the physical and emotional message that my soul was trying to get to me. Maybe I would've just had stuff cut out, been put on meds, and went on my way.

But instead I was able to face things I had repressed. I was able to see all the ways in which I had not been loving myself. I learned how frequently I was sacrificing my innermost needs and desires because of my deep fear of disapproval.

I hadn't been allowing myself to live honestly and without apology.

Every person and every situation that came through this past year all helped me to see this. The immense fear, anxiety, the lump, and the pain were all my allies, not my enemies.

What my body told me

Breast problems are directly correlated with issues pertaining to nourishing and nourishment, and I read that in most cases of breast cancer, there is a torn heart chakra. Breast disorders signify that we're asking too much of ourselves and can't please everyone around us.

I cannot say amen loud enough to this. For me, this was my whole life. As a child, I thought it was my fault that my mother wasn't happy and the guilt I would feel for that was so heavy. As a mother now myself, the guilt of not being able to be a perfect mom weighed felt suffocating.

The lump showing up in my right breast signified issues with taking care of those around me, more-so family and people close to me. The left breast is linked with your children or inner child (this is if you're right handed, and these are switched if you're left handed). The right breast signifies feelings of resentment and not being able to let go.

I realized it was time for me to let go of trying to control everyone's emotions and experience. Of trying to please everyone around me in fear of being rejected.

If I sense my mother is in a bad mood, I am no longer taking responsibility for it. I never consciously felt like I did, but I do see now that I definitely was. I would try to change what I said or how I acted so she wouldn't be in that mood.

My father was visiting recently and he took something I said wrong. He got defensive and then went to bed. I was hurt and honestly mortified. Normally I would've tried to address it and get defensive back. But this time I just loved myself. I did yoga and while I was doing yoga, I cried twice, which I allowed myself to freely do. Then I did EFT tapping on some different emotions I was feeling and cried some more. After that, I was over it and held no fear, resentment or sadness.

I cannot create the perfect experience for my children. I cannot be the perfect partner for my husband. I cannot be the perfect friend, daughter or anything to anyone. I can't control their experiences or perceptions. I am not here to be the balancer for all people. I can only love myself back into balance and from that place, love them.

My body was letting me know there was an imbalance. There's still an imbalance. But I'm now actively practicing on loving myself from a deeper place. I'm practicing instantly forgiving myself. I am learning how to hold true compassion for myself. The guilt I was carrying around was massive and I didn't realize it until this year.

Trusting and letting go

I don't know how I'm going to die or when, but I know it's going to happen someday. I mean, right? I could fear the lump until I die or I could trip while scrolling my phone and die falling down the stairs tomorrow.

So what's the point of fearing the unknown?

After all I've been opened up to this past year, I really do resonate with the truth that we are here for the joy of it. The dark moments make the light so much more beautiful.

Death is only a transition. If that's the worst that can happen, well...that's not really so bad.

The kind of death that hurts more than physical death is living our lives from a place of fear. It's robbing yourself of the deep joy and inner peace that is always available to you.

If fear shows up, listen to it. No emotion is bad–they all have a purpose. They all need to be acknowledged, processed and then released. Anger doesn't mean you're a bad person, and most people have anger in some form like irritation, annoyance, or resentment. Louise Hay says most negative emotions go back to either fear or anger.

Our emotions talk to us first, and if we don't listen they will go into our bodies and begin manifesting as physical symptoms. Become curious and open-minded. What is your soul trying to tell you? What part of your body hurts? What side of the body is it on? When is it triggered?

Most of all, how does it make you feel? Follow that feeling down the rabbit hole–it will lead you back the very roots it came from. It's not a scary thing. On the contrary, it's actually very deeply healing and relieving.

Begin to see yourself from a place of love and compassion. You're truly so much more than you know–this is the message that really came through for me this past year.

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed reading and that there was something there for you to take away.

For holistic self-care tips every Sunday afternoon, you can sign up for the Dwell in Magic weekly newsletter.

If you’d like more real life examples of daily self-care, you can connect with me on Instagram.

And if you’d like more direct support and community with like-minded people, come join the Dwell in Magic Facebook group.

Lots of love,

Jessica

Jessica Dimas is the creator of Manifesting Magic with the Moon, a holistic self-care ritual bundle. Connect with her on Facebook and Instagram for more inspiration and updates.

The post My Anxiety Story: Part 3 appeared first on Dwell in Magic®.

The first few months

The lump. It went away at the end of my cycle. At first I was a bit more logical and thinking "well, it's obviously something cyclical." But there was a big part of me, my ego mind (or amygdala if you want to be specific), that had already blown whistles and set off the alarms to my entire system that something was wrong.

I kept questioning why and how it showed up. I couldn't know for sure unless I went to get checked but I also wasn't ready to see a doctor. What if they told me my very worst fear? Knowing what I know about the power of the mind, I knew I wasn't ready to hear that yet. I needed to be more stabilized.

For the first few months, when the painful lump would show up on schedule two weeks before the end of my cycle, I handled it the best way I knew how...which was to immerse myself in reading material on healing.

I didn't say that's the best way to handle something, but it was the best that I knew at that point. I felt myself slipping more and more into a dark place. I couldn't seem to unlatch from the fear that had gripped my mind. I became increasingly less rational.

Everything in my life felt muffled. I was present in conversations but didn't really hear them. I was going through the motions and getting things done, but it's like I was in a small cage trapped in my mind.

I became more despondent and began withdrawing from things I had previously loved, especially during the weeks when the pain was present.

Bringing in support

Again, knowing what I know about the power of my mind, I knew I needed someone to throw a rope down into the hole I'd dug myself into. I could very clearly see a downwards trend in my mental health and knew I couldn't do this alone.

I had been following Robin Hallett, an intuitive healer, for a few years but had never worked with her. I remember the day I first got on the phone with her and immediately felt the warmth from the light she shared in a short 20 minute conversation. I knew I had found my person.

I felt like a child in the dark, trying to not move a muscle out of fear, and Robin felt like safety walking into the room with a nightlight. She told me everything was going to be okay and it felt so good that I knew it was true.

I started meeting with her every Friday. I lived for those Fridays. At first, I would be okay mentally until the following Tuesday or Wednesday, but over the months I began feeling better for longer periods in between speaking with her.

I realized how crucial having a container was. Robin provided a safe place for my emotions, fears and thoughts. She held space for me every Friday and in doing so, I began to breathe a little deeper.

Going to the source of my anxiety

Over the next several months, I spent a lot of time in reflection. Life felt like a mystery and I was searching for the clues.

If I could count the number of times I just sat on my porch in silence, thinking about all that is, we'd be here all day. I began giving myself permission to withdraw from people and situations that were draining me. Just so I could sit and breathe.

What I found during this time began to lead me back into my childhood. I thought about death and my greatest fears. I thought about why they scared me. All signs began pointing back to one emotion: shame.

I couldn't believe shame was at the core of my fear of dying. I could say I'm ashamed that shame is the main feeling that comes up for me when I think about these things, but then that just gets pretty hilarious.

Shame was there, waiting for me. Fear and anxiety had escorted me up to it's doorstep. Where did it come from? How could I talk to it, process it and release it?

Unresolved grief and trauma

From this new awareness, I began to unravel the shame from where it first began. I remembered the seed of shame that had been planted in my mind by a caretaker beginning when I was around three years old. For 5 years on a near weekly basis, I experienced emotional and sexual shame.

That seed had turned into a full-fledged field of weeds I was honestly unaware of all these years later. I did have some breakthroughs on the experience a few years ago, but that was really only a recognition that it had even happened.

Now it was time for me to acknowledge the field that was there, and that in almost every area of my life I had been operating from this field.

Shame governed everything from my sexuality to how I presented myself to the world. Shame was the secret I had attempted to keep my whole life.

I'd been keeping secrets since the first time I experienced the abuse. Through all the doctor visits as a child because of the recurrent UTIs and bladder infections. Through the shame thoughts that helped me to fall asleep at night. Through all the ways in which I relived that shame over and over again because it comforted me in some strange way.

The cage I'd really been living in was that of shame. And I really believe that anxiety had shown up with the key to set me free.

Part III

In the last part of this anxiety story, I'm going to share all the beautiful revelations that came to me in those final months. There was blame, anger, so many questions and deep realizations.

There was also an array of people who individually brought me gifts, or clues, to this mystery riddle I had been trying to solve. Together, I was able to piece together a complete picture.

Thank you for reading and I hope that in sharing my story, it can help to shed some light for others who are on a similar quest.

For holistic self-care tips every Sunday afternoon, you can sign up for the Dwell in Magic weekly newsletter.

If you’d like more real life examples of daily self-care, you can connect with me on Instagram.

And if you’d like more direct support and community with like-minded people, come join the Dwell in Magic Facebook group.

Lots of love,

Jessica

Jessica Dimas is the creator of Manifesting Magic with the Moon, a holistic self-care ritual bundle. Connect with her on Facebook and Instagram for more inspiration and updates.

The post My Anxiety Story: Part 2 appeared first on Dwell in Magic®.

One of the most common solutions is taking medication to control it, but that is really only pressing the mute button on a message our soul is trying to send us. What is that message, how can we hear it, and can we begin to see anxiety as an ally rather than something to defeat?

I'm sharing my anxiety story in three parts, because it was such an intense, terrifying and yet mesmerizing journey. The first part is my descent into the "upside down"; what seemed to initially cause the anxiety attacks.

Part II will be my discovery of digging deeper into the message my anxiety was bringing me, which took me back to my childhood.

Part III is the light at the end of the tunnel–the transformation anxiety took me through, what I learned and how I am actively healing and working with my anxiety instead of running from it.

My anxiety story

I'd first like to start out by saying that I'm not writing this for sympathy, pity or advice. Please don't leave any of that in the comments. I love discussing these things from an objective viewpoint, but sharing personal things isn't an invitation to receive unsolicited advice.

Everything I write here on the blog is written primarily to help me evolve and also to serve as a light for others to know you aren't alone out there. I never share anything here until I've fully processed it myself and am ready to put it "out there".

Anxiety is not something that I ever knew I had, but this past year I went through a series of events that took my anxiety levels so high that I was finally forced to recognized it.

This past year I can only describe as being in the "upside down". If you've seen the show Stranger Things, you know what I'm referring to. If you haven't seen it, the upside down is a place that looks identical to your world, except it's dark and you're all alone. It's like a bad dream.

I would see my children's smiling faces and a beautiful day outside my front door, but in my mind everything was dark and I couldn't let my guard down. I didn't even know it was anxiety for the first few months...it was this secret I kept because I thought it was all real and didn't want to upset anyone around me.

What is anxiety

The Mayo clinic defines anxiety as "intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Fast heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, and feeling tired may occur."

For me, anxiety was this awful truth that my very being was threatened and I believed I was going to die in the near future. It was definitely intense, excessive and persistent.

Anxiety, in my opinion, is essentially losing trust in life.

Setting the stage for anxiety

A little over a year ago, I moved to a new state. Back to my home state actually, which apparently held a lot of repressed emotions from my childhood, but my soul felt really good coming here.

Unfortunately, my heart was broken. I'd be happy for a week and then depressed the next. I was heartbroken to no longer have the people around me from back home. I was heartbroken to have moved across the country from my parents because I felt like I hurt them. I was heartbroken to have left my old house where I gave birth to my babies and had some of the sweetest years of my life.

I was grieving without realizing it.

My husband is a consultant, meaning he didn't move here with a guaranteed job. So truly, not only was I experiencing the effects of a move, but also that of a new job. Except he didn't have the new job because he had to go out and make it.

I didn't want to burden him with my emotions that I hadn't even figured out yet. I didn't know why I was crying randomly or why I felt so sad. This new side of me was in stark contrast to who I felt I was when we moved here. I had been on top of the world and now I felt like I was sinking more every day.

Meanwhile, I was feeling very pressured to help nearby family as well as help my kids to make friends and adjust to their new home. I honestly wasn't up for the task but like most women, I stuffed myself neatly into a little compartment and shoved it all away to be dealt with "later". Funny how later never really comes.

I felt like I was on one of those medieval torture wheels that pulls you apart. I was being pulled in so many directions every week and I just wanted to scream.

My life itself felt shaky and unstable. This was setting the stage for everything that was about to unfold. The stage that I now know my soul very lovingly set up.

When fear came knocking

I first began manifesting small, scary things. Lightening struck a tree right outside our window. A wasp infestation. A rat inside my car. A huge spider on my hand inside my house.

My husband traveled out of state for a total of two months a little bit after we moved into our new house. During that time, two hurricanes and a snow storm all happened. That meant an unfamiliar house that I didn't know with no electricity and two little kids depending on me to be the one who Knows What to Do.

But I didn't know what to do. I was scared sick. I began noticing every noise at night and was constantly checking to see if someone was breaking in. I was hardly sleeping because of how scared I was.

One night when the backyard motion-censored light came on, I looked outside and saw shadows moving by my basement door. Panic flooded my entire body. I ran into my kids' room and pushed the dresser in front of the door.

I semi-knew it was possible that I was just freaking out so I called my husband. When he didn't answer and I didn't hear any noises, I fell asleep absolutely exhausted between my kids.

An hour or so later, I woke up to pounding on the front door. I had the biggest feeling of dread and all I could think was "I knew it." I looked out the window and just saw a car with headlights on but I couldn't make out what.

I finally heard a man's voice saying he was an officer and was checking on me. My husband had called the police because I had fallen asleep and not answered his many phone calls back to me. The shadows I had seen that night was just a leaf blowing in the wind on the outside light.

After all that drama, I actually fell asleep as the sun was coming up with the covers over my face because my shame was so deep for everything that had happened. Deep anxiety flooded my body that night and didn't come back out.

A message from my body

Not long afterwards, while my husband was still out of town, I awoke to a painful lump near the top of my right breast on the side. My body went weak and I felt so hot and dizzy. All I could think was "I'm going to die slowly and my children are going to have to watch it happen."

It was like the grand finale of my fear show that had been playing for months. I felt I had finally manifested the scariest thing I could possibly imagine and felt such shame for doing so.

I watched my kids arguing that night with each other over something trivial, but it felt slowed down and like it was in some other dimension. I watched them and just felt such sorrow, fear and dread.

In the months that followed, I developed pain in my neck and side of my head that was on the same side of the lump. I also began to feel pain in my sides which would produce anxiety attacks that left me feeling like I had flu symptoms.

I didn't go to the doctor for 10 months. Everything felt muffled for those 10 months. I put on an award-winning performance for those around me though. You would've never guessed I was the worst I'd ever been in my life.

But that's what I knew how to do best. Anxiety and fear, I would come to learn, had shown up to finally take off this mask that I'd worn for far too long. They'd shown up to allow the sun on my face again after 33 years of living for others.

Part II: A dark tunnel 10 months long

In part II of my anxiety story, I'm going to share the constructs in my life that began to crumble. This was not a feel-good time. It was terrifying, scary, but ultimately the path that led me back to myself.

I can say that easily now but I didn't know that's what was happening while it was happening. It felt like a very out-of-control period of my life that I've never experienced before. I questioned constantly why the fuck it was even happening to begin with, what had I done to bring it on and why I couldn't seem to snap out of it.

But that's the thing about these dark periods of our lives...they are never in vain, even if we can't see it in the moment. There is always an invitation being extended, for us to step into a higher understanding of ourselves.

It's not clear cut. There is no magic solution. It's a time of soul searching that leaves you pulling your hair many days, but when you finally make your way to the other side, the sun will have never seemed to shine so bright.

Thanks for reading the first part of my anxiety story. My hope is that in sharing my experience, it will help someone else out there going through something similar.

For holistic self-care tips every Sunday afternoon, you can sign up for the Dwell in Magic weekly newsletter.

If you’d like more real life examples of daily self-care, you can connect with me on Instagram.

And if you’d like more direct support and community with like-minded people, come join the Dwell in Magic Facebook group.

Lots of love,

Jessica

Jessica Dimas is the creator of Manifesting Magic with the Moon, a holistic self-care ritual bundle. Connect with her on Facebook and Instagram for more inspiration and updates.

The post My Anxiety Story appeared first on Dwell in Magic®.