The loss of a pet can be one of the most significant losses we experience. From the events leading to their departure including illness, accident, dehabilitation, and other circumstances… to the grief, and feelings of emptiness and loneliness that follow their departure, can be heart breaking and traumatic to loving pet parents. 

Here we are again, on the precipice of a new year! This feels like another year of big change as we leave the Piscean age into the age of Aquarius. What an interesting time in history to be alive. I became fascinated with astrology over a decade ago when I noticed that my emotions ran high each month during the full moon. I certainly am not an expert on astrology, but I have noticed how the planetary shifts align with our personal and collective trajectories, whether we are aware of it or not. After all, if we are interconnected with one another and the Universe, of course we are affected as individuals and as a group by something as large as the solar system, it’s planets and inhabitants.

Holidays can be fun and exhilarating, but can also be exhausting if we don’t take effective care of ourselves during this busy time of the year. Here are some tips to help you honor yourself and your needs as you maneuver through the upcoming days. These are merely suggestions to keep things healthy and low-stress, but it’s also fun to indulge during the holidays. Your self-care is yours, so you get to choose what you do and how you live. There is no right or wrong to this, so I encourage you to be mindful and decide what works best for you.

The inner-child within each of us needs to feel safe and secure. Uncertain and challenging times can trigger memories and/or feelings within from our childhood when we did not understand or feel emotionally equipped to handle stressful and traumatic situations. Although we love them, spending time with family during the holidays can also trigger unresolved emotions, conflicts and traumas.

You can support and enhance your energy by creating a high vibrational and soothing space within your home. Sacred space is a calm and relaxing sanctuary to retreat within, designed just for you. This could be created in a corner of a room, a closet, a room, extended throughout the house or outdoors. Retreating to a nurturing place designated to meditate, contemplate, journal, do yoga, create, read, dream, or just be is a beautiful way to honor yourself and your needs.

Prosperity is a subject that comes up with nearly all my clients at some point during their inner-work exploration and transformation. It’s been my experience that most of us, including myself, have some beliefs about money that block us from experiencing the financial abundance we desire or feeling good about the abundance we have, until we do the work to understand and transform them.

Age is just a number and it’s never too late to start living better. Preferences regarding self-care vary from person to person, but most people would agree that if they have a choice, they’d like to maintain a youthful appearance and feel vibrant.

The root of the sleep issues can be physiological or psychological. Sleep and how it affects the body’s functioning are too important to ignore. Poor quality sleep is often due to mental stress or emotional issues that have not been resolved.

Getting adequate sleep is an essential part of self-care. Many people do not get enough sleep or sleep poorly and accept that is just how it is. If you have difficulty sleeping or the quality of your sleep is poor, I suggest engaging in good sleep hygiene practices or habits that foster a good night’s sleep.

Self-care is anything we do for ourselves to increase or maintain the wellness of our mind, body and soul. I always encourage people to meet themselves where they are. We’ve got to start somewhere and every step toward our desired health is a step in the right direction.

I ran across this picture that my daughter took a few years ago. I was lying in my bed with cucumbers covering my eyes, in an attempt to soothe them. They were sore and swollen from hours of trying to get contact lenses for the first time. It felt and looked like an assault to my eyes and I decided it wasn’t worth it.

Taking a natural approach to caring for your body is helpful to keep it functioning optimally. Awareness regarding chemical exposure is a great place to start.