Spirit

Part 2 with Mystic Mamma

 

Mijanou Montealegre of Mystic Mamma

I am sending you this post from New York City. Although I love the city for all the humanity, style and energy it can offer, I can see my nervous system start to break down after a few days. It seems easy to be able to connect to the earth when we are in rural places, but what about when you can't get to the country? Mystic Mamma answers that and other questions below.

1) What inspires you?
The beauty and depth of the natural world! The Sun and Moon. Mother Earth, her mountains, rivers and valleys...the animal kingdom in particular the bird tribes! Our ancestors who lived close to the land. MUSIC. Passion and the expression of the human experience through Dance, Poetry and Art. Consciousness. The expansion of our definition of Reality. The multi-dimensionality of our universe. Synchronicity. The list in endless!

2) Do you believe in a magical existence?
The magic is Real. The more time we spend being in the natural world the more we can attune to the magic of Life.

3) How did MYSTIC MAMMA evolve?
It was and is the fulfillment of a mission to take what had been revealed/shown to me and to share that wisdom to help expand/raise the  consciousness on the planet

4) What is your favorite meal or recipe?
A home cooked vegetarian meal made with lots of love and fresh organic veggies from Mother Earth's bounty. 

5) Where is your dream vacation?
There are so many amazing places in the world to visit and I feel blessed to have gotten to experience so many already...But the top two, that I would love to return to, are northern India and Africa, the two Mother lands. 

6) What does a mystic mamma carry in her purse?
I carry a mini notepad, pen, wallet, iPhone, rescue remedy pastilles (for me and the littles), crayons, and a few quartz crystals for offerings.

7) Are you a mermaid or forest fairy? Forest fairy 

8) What is one thing one can do to feel connected to the Great Mother?
So many things, but I would say start by walking barefoot on the Earth and allow yourself to feel like a child of the universe that you are.  Make an offering of some kind, like find leaves and flowers or rocks and create something beautiful as an expression of your love.  You can offer incense and chant or drum or simply speak from your heart and silently say something like, "Mother I am here, I honor you, Receive my love." It doesn't matter what you do or say as long as you do it from your heart.

9) What does one do when they live in a city like New York to feel connection and grounded?  Connect to your breath. Take moments to practice stillness and just feel your breath, feel yourself breathing in and out. Grounding into the Earth can be done anywhere. One simple visualization you can do is to picture your roots extending down from your body and flowing deep into the Earth. Like a long cord continuing all the way down, until it reaches the center of the Earth. You can even visualize hooking your extended roots to the center or Heart of the Earth, so wherever you walk on the planet you will feel grounded and connected.

The Mayans believe that we are the centers or mid-points between the Heart of the Earth and the Heart of the Sky, and in our heart is where they meet. So by taking a moment to become still and grounded, we quiet the mind and enter that space of the heart where we can feel our unity with everything!
I lived in NYC for 12 years so I can attest to the practice and extra effort that it takes! But connection can be experienced anywhere, and when we connect to our heart, we open up to living life in a new way, where the magic of synchronicity and the relationship with Mother Earth and the cosmos becomes palpable. If you open up your receptivity, you will find signs everywhere 

 

Flower Petal Arrangement

Spirit

Celebrating Spring with Mystic Mamma

Spring Equinox Celebrations

Mijanou Montealegre and I have been orbiting each other for over a year and finally the planets aligned!  She is the mysterious maven behind the magical blog Mystic Mamma. She is truly a gentle shaman who connects to our great mother whether through her drumming and singing, making of mandalas, or raising her daughter with consciousness. We had such a beautiful day on the Spring Equinox taking me to a childlike joy. We made flowers wreaths, sang songs, planted crystal seeds back into the earth, made a mandala and brought the sun out from behind the clouds . . . literally! Part 2 with the interview with Mystic Mamma will be up tomorrow. Happy Spring Roses!

 

Flower Wreaths

 

Planting Crystals

 

 

Mijanou Montealegre of Mystic Mamma

 

Shiva Rose of The Local Rose

 

Spring Equinox Celebrations with Shiva Rose and Mystic Mama

 

Spirit

Moon Time Calendars

Jeremy Rendina Moon Calendar

The last several years I have been trying to live tuned into mother moon's rhythms. I have tried to sync my moon time with the new moon  and now that I have a skylight in my dwelling I try to connect with her before I go to sleep. I really love these calendars by artist Jeremy Rendina. He makes a couple different ones and the one above was framed to be a wall hanging. I will be selling these soon on The Local Rose shop that is opening soon! A mini interview with Jeremy below:

Jeremy Rendina Lunar Calendar

1) What inspired you to make the calendars?
I wanted to make a useful tool.  It was a design puzzle that appealed to me.  
With any calendar, how do you convey necessary information in a small space?
I'm always happy to hear from different people who use the moon calendar.... 
bio-dynamic farmers, full-moon hikers, fisherman, and even a few who are planning a family.

2) Do you live by the rhythm of the moon? Why is that vital?
I think it's impossible not too.  We are all subject to the moon's pull.
But paying extra close attention to natural rhythms, including the moon, can only help enrich your life.
3) Do you feel Los Angeles is a nurturing place for artists?
There's a lot happening here and so many communities are making great work.
The quality of light has to help.  The sunshine feels very good.  I'm sure there are many ways
Los Angeles can work against an artist's practice, but I also just love the tradition here and find a lot
of inspiration in that.
4) What or where is your favorite meal? 
A home cooked meal is always best.  I do like exploring dumpling spots, noodle shops, and taco stands.
There's always so many places to discover.  
5) What book is on your night stand? 
There usually is a small pile.  If I were to look right now it would be a catalog of
wood sculptor J.D. Blunk, a book of poetry by Lionel Ziprin, and my son Weaver's book, I am a Bunny. 

Spirit Tribe & Health

Oak Tree Wisdom

Last summer I visited with a shaman in the Malibu mountains who gave me a few healing exercises. One of them was this oak tree exercise which I really find grounding and powerful. If you aren't near an oak find another strong tree that seems energized. In ancient times sacred rituals by people like the Druids were done in tree groves. The groves were temples to the divine. Sometimes we beginning to feel overwhelmed and full of anxiety because we have lost our connection to the earth.  We receive more messages and electric output in one day than out grandparents did in a lifetime. This may start to affect our nervous system and health. Here is the excersie given to me by Cheryl Janecky.

Oak Tree Wisdom

Greet an Oak Tree that calls to you, and lean back – allowing her to support you. Feel the love – and trust her. Know that you belong together. After about 3 minutes – check your energy – you will feel stronger. Return and relax back into the tree - and spend about 8-10 minutes total... And you’ll feel the charge. This changes your brain patterns...and opens you to the love all around. It can increase your energy about 40-50% - and helps healing pain too.

 

 

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