Are you in a CREATIVE SLUMP?? Add Fire!

Fire Qualities 

Have you ever sat in front of a bon-fire or fireplace and found yourself mesmerized by the flames? Or even lit a candle and found yourself getting into a sort of trance state as you focus on the candle flame? 

Fire gazing can actually put you in a meditative state. One of the qualities of fire is that it is both creative and destructive. Fire is one of the five elements (fire, water, earth, air and spirit). The element of fire can spark creativity within us and drive us forward with passion. Consider the old adage of "lighting a fire within her"; which speaks of that spark of passion and creativity within a person. Fire is a motivator! It is loaded with energy that is just begging to be released! This release could come in a destructive form; or, if directed so, can come in a much more creative and empowering form. 

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So, why should I care about this in MY life???

Often we may have a clear plan (for our business or spiritual life or relationship or whatever it is you're focusing on at the moment)... this is the earth element at work. 

But lack of forward progress, or feeling like you've hit a plateau, would mean you may want to add more of the fire element into your life. You need to get that spark of passion and get those creative juices flowing ~ and this is where the fire element comes in! And we've all been there! You know the steps you need to take to work your business or grow spiritually, but you're just not feeling it! Motivation has left the building! 

Every week I make a list of each of the things I have to do to work my business, for example. (Yes... every week it is- for the most part - the same items on that list!) But some weeks I'm just not feeling that spark to create a video, or even a blog post for that matter! I've hit a plateau. Nothing creative is coming to mind when I try to think of what I want to write about or speak about. And even worse than that, I am not "excited" about doing any of it! These are the times I need to add that fire element into my life! And I can tell you from my experience, that it is tremendously helpful!

How do you bring the fire element into your life?

In my opinion, the best way is to sit in front of a fire or even a candle flame and meditate a bit. Unfortunately, we don’t always have access to a bon-fire or even a fireplace in the home; but we often have candles around! While the heat is not nearly as intense, the flickering of the flame is just as mesmerizing. However, knowing this is not always practical and certainly not something that you can do all the time, there are some other ways to incorporate the element of fire into your life when you need a little more passion and spark!

Adding colors that correspond to the fire element to your wardrobe can have a significant effect. Wearing shades of red, orange, and yellow offer a constant reminder to your subconscious. Set your intention as you put that red shirt on in the morning, that you are asking for the fire element to be infused into your life today. 

Prepare foods with herbs that are associated with the fire element; again asking that as you consume these foods, that the fire element aids in bringing that spark back to your life that you desire. Some common herbs that are associated with fire include cinnamon, chili's, ginger and even garlic. 

Carry stones and crystals with you that are associated with the element of fire. It is best that they be near your body and touching your skin- if wear a bra they can be placed in there! If not, consider jewelry with these stones. You can place a few tumbled stones in your pocket and reach for them throughout your day, thereby touching them with your hands as well. Look for stones such as Jasper, Ruby and Bloodstone when looking for those associated with the fire element. Some of the less common options might be Volcanic Stone or Fire Opal. 

I challenge you to make a conscious effort to add the fire element into your life this week! Try one of the ideas we talked about above and watch the passion and creativity spark in your own life!

Share your experiences in the comments below! Check out my YouTube video which provides an overview of ALL of the elements!!

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Oh Sleep! Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me???

Insomnia affects so many of us. Maybe you have more chronic insomnia. Or maybe you just go through "phases" where you can't sleep. Sadly, when you are in the throws of insomnia, it's not the best time to be trying to figure out how to rectify it! It's always best to have a plan of action in place BEFORE the insomnia hits! Your toolbox of tricks, if you will!

So, what sort of things should be in this "toolbox" for insomnia? Now, in this blog post we aren't talking about western medicine type stuff.. we're talking about complementary options. Let's take a look at some!

Crystals

A few crystals that will aid in restful sleep include AMETHYST, SODALITE and SELENITE. Rose Quartz may also be quite helpful in producing a calming effect. So then it is good to actually know what to DO with these crystals, right?!?! The easiest way to use them is to put a stone under your pillow. You may also consider charging some water with your crystals so that you can take a few sips of that when the insomnia hits. (Some stones can't be placed directly in the water though, so best to check first!). 

Herbs

There are many different herbs that can help induce a sleepy state of mind. One of the most common is chamomile which can easily be found in tea form in most local grocery stores. Another common herb is Lavender. This is often used in a satchet and placed under the pillow. You may be able to locate a lavender spray or spritz to spray onto the pillow and bedding as well. Some of the more uncommon ones include Valerian Root, Magnolia Bark, and Passionflower. These all have a sedative effect. These are taken in various forms including tinctures, capsules or teas and can be purchased online or in health food stores. A word of caution, when putting ANY potentially medicinal substance in your body, it is advisable to check with your healthcare provider FIRST to avoid any interactions as even herbal supplements can interact with western medications!! 

Mudra

We discussed in another post a little bit about using Mudra's when meditating. When insomnia hits, there is a specific mudra that can be used for that issue! Remember, a mudra is simply a particular hand position. It is essentially putting your inward thoughts and desires into an outward aspect using your hands. This mudra for insomnia is called the SHAKTI MUDRA. It's purpose is to help relax the body and relax the mind. You can use this nightly to prevent insomnia or use it for about 10-15 minutes when suffering from an insomnia episode. 

Meditation

Meditation seems to always be a recommendation doesn't it? Well, the reason for it is that meditation has so many benefits that you can never really go "wrong" with it! We know it's good for getting in touch with your sixth sense abilities, helping us stay centered and focused, and it's also pretty good for insomnia! Studies at Harvard have shown that mindful meditation can help with insomnia by promoting our body's relaxation response. Harvard Study It may help to use short, guided meditations during an episode of insomnia when you have physically gotten up and out of the bed. On the other hand, if you are still in bed and awake, you may find a longer, guided meditation more useful as you can more easily drift back into sleep. 

Sleep hypnosis

This is by far one of my favorite methods of combating and dealing with insomnia! We started using sleep hypnosis several years ago and have found it to help in so many other areas. The thing with sleep hypnosis is that it is meant to put you to sleep!! It often has repetitive background sounds or music and the speaker often has a very soothing voice. I have found several great ones on YouTube. The other pretty cool thing with sleep hypnosis, is that you can basically "kill two birds with one stone"! The effect is sleep, which we all need! But the OTHER effect is whatever that particular video is telling your subconscious mind as you fall asleep and as you are sleeping! You see, you can listen to sleep hypnosis videos that deal with particular issues- addiction, confidence, anxiety, lucid dreaming, manifesting wealth; you name it and there's a video that deals with it! And just as with meditation, there have been studies done that suggest that sleep hypnosis has a pretty powerful effect on those suffering from insomnia!

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is often done using essential oils. The important thing about using essential oils is to find the ones that resonate with YOUR body. In other words, there are certain scents that, despite being tauted as relaxing, may in fact be repulsive to certain people. We all have different tastes so you'll likely need to check out each scent before you try it.  As an example, Patchouli is recommended for sleep... and yet I would find it very UN-relaxing to smell patchouli before bed! The other important aspect you may want to consider is if it results in a reaction to your skin if you are planning on using it topically. Again, as with the herbal warning, be mindful of these things. The skin is the largest organ in our body and substances (i.e. medications, ointments, etc.) are absorbed through our skin. When they are absorbed they can effect us systemically. Some of the oils you may try for insomnia would include chamomile, bergamot, Sandalwood, Vetiver, and Lavender. You could also try mixing a few different oils for a more individualized combination! These can be applied to pressure points on your body or used in a diffuser to scent the entire area. 

What are some of the methods YOU'VE got in YOUR toolbox to stave off insomnia? I would love to hear your tips and tricks! Share them in the comments below!!

Find me on the web at Raven Haze Healing and Divination and on Facebook and if you're looking for some further discussions and interactions... check out my closed Facebook GROUP at Raven Haze Group!