Last Sunday of 2013

Hello my Zenful readers and Happy Last Sunday of 2013 to you all!!! How was your Christmas with your family and friends? I hope it was a memorable one. In the end it's about the children, is it not? As long as they have had a great Christmas that is all that matters. It is always nice to be gifted of course but for me this year my main focus were my children. And for my family, it indeed was a pleasant one. I was home with my children for the Christmas break and it was great. Time away from work to help recharge my mind was much needed. There are a lot of changes happening at work in this coming New Year and having myself away from a place that can bring negative energy due to this change, well I'm very grateful. I'm feeling as I should. Rested. 

I also started a new tradition with my daughter this Christmas. Since she is older and can really enjoy it now. This year marked the first year that we started getting mani/pedis together before Christmas Eve. It was my gift to her. She quite enjoyed it and so did I. We will of course go often for some mother daughter bonding time. But it'll be an extra treat for us during Christmas time. :) My baby girl is getting older and these are the moments I will for sure cherish with her. Soon she will be off with friends and or working. So this time together is wonderful. Do you have any traditions that you have with your children? Or even with your loved ones? I do enjoy hearing about others traditions. The only tradition I'm a bit put off is New Years Resolution.

(This one spoke to me. Truth from experience) 

This making New Years Resolutions is usually not easy for me. Not because I can't keep them. But because it's become such a cliché. We have a chance to change every day?! Do we not? Not just on the Eve of the final day of the year?. So for a while (a few years) I wouldn't even make any New Years resolutions. However, what I have begun to do is purge~~write down all what I want to let go of from 2013~~and burn them in a smudging ceremony ritual. (Same as a full moon ritual.)

What do I want to let go? Could be anything? Maybe I needed to let go of anger I had of certain situations that kept popping up this past year. Maybe it has to do with a relationship and or a friendship, a work situation that has slowly ended. It can be anything that no longer suits and or supports me and my family's needs. For me this fits me best to ensure that none of what wasn't, "any good" for me this past year, will now be let go of and not follow me into this New Year. What are some of the things you'd like to purge and let go of from this soon to be old year? Whatever it is. Write them all down and get them ready for purging on New Years Eve. 

(Thoughts become things; same as Ask. Believe. Receive) 

I've even gone a step further. I've taken a section of my room and have added an ASK. BELIEVE. RECEIVE wall. (I may have mentioned this before) Here is a place where I can write on paper and or cut certain pictures from magazines and tape them up. I see this wall everyday. It's a reminder of what is coming into my future. Not only will I purge away all of what I do not want but I will also Ask for what I want. And then once it's in the air. I will Believe that the Universe is getting my package ready for delivery. And finally it's all about sitting back and Receiving all of what I've Asked and Believed I'd get.     But most importantly. Be Thankful for what I have received. It's simple really. Just keep doubt away from your mind. We all are allowed to be happy and even though at times what we may think is our happiness. It actually may not be (for the moment) and our journey shifts to a different path in which our happiness is actually on. So be patient and always be thankful for what we have. For happiness lies within. Once we have that happiness inside it will shine and be felt by those around you. YOU can light the way for someone. We all are beacons within. Me I'm personally a light house. (For those that have come to know me know what I mean. Haha) 

On Tuesday December 31st, that afternoon. Most likely a bit after dinner. I will begin my New Years Eve Ceremony. It can be as simple or elaborate as you'd like it to be. 

Once I've selected and placed a few of my gemstones in it's proper place for this ceremony. I'll use my candles light of course to represent fire. And I'll also have a bowl of water and a bowl of salt. Both representing water and earth. Finally the air I breathe will represent air. And because this is a special ceremony I'll also have a glass of white wine (you can have a glass of whichever is your favorite drink (wink wink,)!yes guinny too). This, drinking of wine is an added incentive. One may also add a special treat as well. I will only drink wine. :) lush, yes I know :) 

(We are the elements. The elements are Us)

I have a very small cast iron pan that I will use for the first time. This tool will always be in my kit as well. This small pan is where I will purge (safety first) and will also be in the circle as well. Once I have all the items I need I will begin casting my circle by walking around it clockwise with my sage wand and say something to the effect of; as I circle this scared space of mine may no harm or foul enter only good will towards (wo)man can, be invited in; I say this three times three, I so mote it be. I'll enter and knowing those whom I usually call upon are with me as well. I will then sit in a meditative state for a bit, to ground myself as the sage continues to be lit, filling my senses with it's smoke. Once I am where I need to be. I will then read each message and at the end burn each piece of paper until each sheet is ash (or read it all from the page and ensure the paper is all burned). I will close the circle by thanking all that has been with me, watching over me during this rite. Circling the outer circle again to close it up good and take a sip of the wine that I have as an offering to end this ritual. 

It's very liberating for me. And if you try it I hope it's liberating for you as well. For me I feel it definitely helps me close a chapter in my life that once more no longer suits or supports my needs!! If you try this. Please let me know. I'd love to know how this experience has helped you or how you felt. 

You don't need to follow all of what I do. Whatever feels right by you is how it will be right for you. :) there is no wrong way or right way as long as you follow your heart. I will take pictures of my New Years Eve Ceremony ritual and share this with you all next Sunday. 

(One of my Favorite quotes from Buddha)

Well maybe at this time we should wrap up and begin our own Sunday Smudge Day! Let's make this one a good one, kids. It is after all the last Sunday of 2013. :) 

Opening smudge prayer

I'd like to ask The Lord our Father as well The Universe to be here with us today as I smudge & cleanse each of those that are reading this. 

I'd like to also ask my ancestors to be present, as well as the elements earth, rain, wind, & fire to be here with us. I'd like to call on the goddess of the north, east, south & west. As well as our archangels Raphael for healing, Michael for protection, Gabriel for revelation & Uriel for wisdom. 

Please release us all of any negative energy that does not suit or support our needs. Please Lord and Universe be here with us and help us during our time of needing healing, protection, revelation, and wisdom. 

Please let us all have a drama free and great work week. Let our kids have a wonderful week at school and or day care. Please let all issues regarding friendships, spouses or family be resolved as they are meant to be. In a kind and peaceful manner. 

(I took this picture outside this evening. It's pouring outside tonight and cold. But both candle and sage wand help up for me. It was meant) 

Please let the sage smoke carry away all your worries and blow them away with the element wind, burn them away with the element fire, soak them away with the element water so that the element earth may ground you. Take these few minutes to visual this and clear this away......

Closing smudge prayer:

I'd like to thank you Lord and the Universe for giving me opportunity to share my Zenful experience with others. I want to thank my ancestors for being present. I'd like to also, thank the elements earth, rain, wind, & fire for being with us. I'd like to thank the goddess of the north, east, south & west. As well as our archangels Raphael for healing, Michael for protection, Gabriel for revelation & Uriel for wisdom. 

Thank you Lord and Universe for always looking out for us and for giving us all the Blessings of a wonderful Christmas week. Thank you for my yesterday, for my today and for the abundance of a wonderful new week ahead. 

~ Blessed Be ~

A. Reyes. 

'Twas the Sunday before Christmas....

Good day and happy Sunday before Christmas. I hope today's Smudge Day reading finds you all healthy and well on this Festive Sunday. I hope guys all had a wonderful week before Christmas. 

(Merry Christmas to all!!)

I know it's been a hectic week for us all; what with getting together the last minute gifts for our loved ones. Baking cookies and or breads or chocolatety treats. Are you preparing baskets for gifts and or seasoning the turkey or pork shoulder, as is my custom. All these tasks although done with positive energy can defiantly exhausts us. 

Please always remember to take the time to breathe for a few minutes. We, as the hosts, can forget to take a beat and mediate and or just be still and quiet during this busy time of year. Let's take the that quiet time now. 

I won't keep you all, since it's a busy time for us all. But if I may ask us to take this time and to remove any negative thoughts or worries from our minds. Let us, as we drink our water, clear our minds as best we can. And all go to our happy places. Take a deep breathe. Release that energy. Are we ready? 

Opening smudge prayer:

(Green candle helps heal emotional pain. The white gives protection for our home and our children, brown is my astral color)

I'd like to ask The Lord our Father as well The Universe to be here with us today as I smudge & cleanse each of those that are reading this. 

I'd like to also ask my ancestors to be present, as well as the elements earth, rain, wind, & fire to be here with us. I'd like to call on the goddess of the north, east, south & west. As well as our archangels Raphael for healing, Michael for protection, Gabriel for revelation & Uriel for wisdom. 

Please release us all of any negative energy that does not suit or support our needs. Please Lord and Universe be here with us and help us during our time of needing healing, protection, revelation, and wisdom. 

Please let us all have a drama free and great work week. Let our children have a wonderful Christmas week off from school and or day care. Please let all issues regarding friendships, our children, our spouses or family be resolved as they are meant to be. In a kind and peaceful manner. 

(Sage smoke flows right towards the open window flowing to each of you) 

Please see the sage smoke carry away all your worries and blow them away with the element wind, burning them away with the element fire, soaking them away with the element water so that the element earth may ground you. Take these few minutes to visual this and clear this away......

Closing smudge prayer 

I'd like to thank you Lord and the Universe for giving me the opportunity to share my Zenful experience with others during this busy Holiday time. I want to thank my ancestors for being present. I'd like to also, thank the elements earth, rain, wind, & fire for being with us. I'd like to thank the goddess of the north, east, south & west. As well as our archangels Raphael for healing, Michael for protection, Gabriel for revelation & Uriel for wisdom. 

Thank you Lord and Universe for always looking out for us and for giving us all the Blessings we have. Thank you for my yesterday, for my today and for the abundance of a wonderful week ahead. 

~ Blessed Be ~

Dr. Seuss was the man!!

Merry Christmas!!! 

A. Reyes. 

Two Sundays before Christmas. One before the Full Moon

Good day my Zenful readers and Happy Sunday to you all. How was your week? Mine has been crazy busy at work and with the family but it's been positive! Thanks to those that have been sending positive energy to my family and my way. I deeply appreciate it! The magic of Positive and Loving energy is amazing is it not? 

(Thanks to my Aussie friend for sharing this lovely pic and message)

Smudging before I leave for work has helped me tremendously as well.  We are at our mid Sunday point of the month my fellow readers. A few more weeks and the old year will be leaving us and the new year will be upon us! Can you believe there's ten days until Christmas!? Wow, how quickly that crept on us, eh? :) 

I know this is/can be a pretty stressful time of year for us. The spirit of Christmas is lost on us because of all the pieces that need to be connect to make it so. As parents we work our badunkadunks off to make our children have the best Christmas possible. Its a shame we live in a time when materialistic stuff & thangs is what seems to be important. It would be lovely to see us give each other the gift from the heart. Something made by ones own hand. Something to hold onto as a memory. For me, that's the spirit of Christmas. With technology on the rise as it is. It's hard for this to be achieved. But not impossible. If we teach our children they will learn and in turn teach theirs. We must keep the circle of our future generations as pure with sentiments as we can. For the meaning of Christmas and good old St. Nick won't be lost on us. I know I have mentioned this in the last blog and I am not sorry for mentioning it again. Why? 

Because this is a time where people need cheer!! People need positive energy! This is a time that we need to take a step back and take a good deep breathe (smudge) take a walk in your favorite park, see a deer or two (the movement, no, not a walker) take a deep breath and breathe in the ocean air if we work at the docks! Or if we work from home?! Look out the window as a koala (who aren't bears) takes a quick look at you to wish you a hello. Or maybe as you search for feral cherubs to save, you feel it in your energy that what you are doing is exactly as it should be. 

As I leave work in my busy city I always look up at the sky. Because I know. We are all looking up at this same sky. No matter where we are, what time of day it is. Take a beat! Take a moment to appreciate the breathe we have taken. Even if we are in our "new" jobs at our desk not as busy as you'd want to be. But you have the job that you wanted! All these are Blessings to bring us closer to our truest self. We need to take the time to hear it and feel it.

And on this note. Let's begin our Sunday Smudge Day shall we? I know everyone has had their water yes? 

Opening smudge prayer:

I'd like to ask The Lord our Father as well The Universe to be here with us today as I smudge & cleanse each of those that are reading this. 

I'd like to also ask my ancestors to be present, as well as the elements earth, rain, wind, & fire to be here with us. I'd like to call on the goddess of the north, east, south & west. As well as our archangels Raphael for healing, Michael for protection, Gabriel for revelation & Uriel for wisdom. 

(Sage smoke is flowing towards my open window...flowing towards you all to release all the negativity you may have and or to recharge your energy) 

(Love the still of the smoke, which is once more flowing towards you)

Please release us all of any negative energy that does not suit or support our needs. Please Lord and Universe be here with us and help us during our time of needing healing, protection, revelation, and wisdom. 

Please let us all have a drama free and great work week. Let our kids have a wonderful week at school and or day care. Please let all issues regarding friendships, spouses or family be resolved as they are meant to be. In a kind and peaceful manner. 

Please see the sage smoke carry away all your worries and blow them away with the element wind, burn them away with the element fire, soak them away with the element water so that the element earth may ground you. Take these few minutes to visual this and clear this away......

Closing smudge prayer:

I'd like to thank you Lord and the Universe for giving me opportunity to share my Zenful experience with others. I want to thank my ancestors for being present. I'd like to also, thank the elements earth, rain, wind, & fire for being with us. I'd like to thank the goddess of the north, east, south & west. As well as our archangels Raphael for healing, Michael for protection, Gabriel for revelation & Uriel for wisdom. 

Thank you Lord and Universe for always looking out for us and for giving us all the Blessings we have. Thank you for my yesterday, for my today and for the abundance of a wonderful week ahead. 

~~Blessed Be~~

A. Reyes. 

First Sunday of December...the changes that continue.

Good day my Zenful readers. Happy first Sunday of December. I'd like to begin by apologizing for not posting an entry last week. I had some personal stuff and thangs I needed to take care of within my family which prevented me from blogging. I do hope that my Zenions had the most wonderful, memorable, and fulfilling Thanksgiving with your loved ones. 

Have you started Christmas shopping yet? Some folks have started way before December. I've even known people that are done shopping by Thanksgiving. High five for the early shoppers!! That's what's up!! I won't lie, it trips me out! Lol I think it's awesome don't get me wrong! I'm not a hater. :P And I can proudly say, that I've hmm??, maybe some years back now.... I was done shopping by the last week of November. It felt awesome!! This year I'm nearly done. Feels good too. 

Sometimes we feel the stress of not being able to buy all these expensive babbles. The stress of wondering that it may not be enough. Especially if you have more than one child. This one yearly holiday has us by the cojones lol. Just keepin it real!! I am not speaking about monetary but emotional as well. (Family holiday issues, we all got em!!) Instead of being and staying stressed over the holidays let's change how we feel.....

Merry Christmas ~13.

~~~don't forget to drink your water~~~

We know we can change our attitudes. It can be done if one sets their mind to it. What with the whole laws of attraction, thoughts become things, mind set. I do believe that, what we think to be, takes us to the journey of the belief we have created. 

Change, negative or positive, surrounds us whether we want it or not. Whether we expect it; prepare for it, and know deep down it's for the best. Change is there. Waiting for us. But it's how we deal with this change that can make or break us. 

I feel that if we try to resist the said change. The harder our journey will be. So for example if you have had a relationship shift and you know that all was done to try to keep it whole, but you know deep down that it's time to end it. You already know what I'm going to say.....End it. Cry it out, wail, release the agony that a breakup brings. Or at the very least begin the steps to. But by not acknowledging it, you have failed yourself and your own wellbeing, happiness, and healing. 

Yes, it is easier said than done. It's always easier said than done. That's why it is always best to step away from the opinions and experiences of others and surround yourself by only your thoughts and feelings, and listen to your own voice, your own heart and mind. Only you will know what the out come will be. It's you're journey after all. 

Pushing it away and or ignoring it will only make it worse to deal with; when you finally do. All these feelings will make you stronger. I promise you. Speaking from my own experience. Its the strength you'll need to help move you onto the new journey that's waiting for you. It's scary isn't it? But exciting at the same time! Sometimes our journey turns onto a different path; we begin with someone you thought you'd be with forever to only to end up with someone else entirely. Or even end, alone, with a cat and it dog, which then you wouldn't be alone, would you?. :P hehe 

The longer we resist change the longer we resist our potential to be all we can be as an individual. Let's begin shedding it together. The year is a few weeks from being over. Is there anything you want to change or let go of? I know there is for me and I will face this change. Which, I can now admit I am not looking forward to it. But I also know that things will be okay, it is meant to be. It's my daughters journey but since she's still not able to walk alone I'm guiding her on her path. And it is up to me to help her journey be as positive as I will it. Thoughts become things. 

Let's start today be clearing and cleansing out any negative energy from this past year. I have a few things in mind that I feel will help me say goodbye to 2013 and a HELLO!! to 2014 in a positive light. We still have three more Sundays of this old year cleansing so don't feel you have to do it all today. It can be exhausting after all :) Maybe you can make a list of the things you want to change so you may begin your 2014, Zenful Journey with positive and newly recharged energy. 

Opening smudge prayer~

I'd like to ask The Lord our Father as well The Universe to be here with us today as I smudge & cleanse each of those that are reading this. 

I'd like to also ask my ancestors to be present, as well as the elements earth, rain, wind, & fire to be here with us. I'd like to call on the goddess of the north, east, south & west. As well as our archangels Raphael for healing, Michael for protection, Gabriel for revelation & Uriel for wisdom. 

(Smudging for blog during some mother daughter yoga meditation) 

Please release us all of any negative energy that does not suit or support our needs. Please Lord and Universe be here with us and help us during our time of needing healing, protection, revelation, and wisdom. 

Please let us all have a drama free and great work week. Let our kids have a wonderful week at school and or day care as they anticipate Santa's arrival. Please let all issues regarding friendships, spouses or family be resolved as they are meant to be. In a kind and peaceful manner. 

(Smudge Day/ Yoga Day with the mini)

Please see the sage smoke carry away all your worries and blow them away with the element wind, burn them away with the element fire, soak them away with the element water so that the element earth may ground you. Take these few minutes to visual this and clear this away......

Closing smudge prayer~

I'd like to thank you Lord and the Universe for giving me opportunity to share my Zenful experience with others. I want to thank my ancestors for being present. I'd like to also, thank the elements earth, rain, wind, & fire for being with us. I'd like to thank the goddess of the north, east, south & west. As well as our archangels Raphael for healing, Michael for protection, Gabriel for revelation & Uriel for wisdom. 

Thank you Lord and Universe for always looking out for us and for giving us all the Blessings we have. Thank you for my yesterday, for my today and for the abundance of a wonderful week ahead. 

~ Namaste~

A. Reyes.