November 2021 Inbox Inspiration
Do you love this photo as much as I do? If so, what do you connect with? How does it make you feel? When I look at it I see so many of my favorite things captured--a warm fire, mug of coffee, good book, and cozy blankets. All these things bring me right back to the Michigan winters of my childhood. I can still picture my red snowsuit, sledding on saucers with friends, and Thanksgiving dinners with my family. (Not all my early memories are fond, but there are definitely some good ones.) This photo also reminds me of the incredible years I lived in Aarhus, Denmark. That was a truly magical time in my life. We moved to Denmark for my husband's job when my son was 2 years old. While there I got pregnant and delivered my daughter--we call her our Danish souvenir :) I met wonderful people during my time there and lived walking distance from the North Sea and Queen's Park. It was in Denmark where I first learned the word hygge. Hygge is a Danish word for "a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality, with feelings of wellness and contentment". You may have heard this word before, as it made it's way to the the US a few years back. The most important thing I learned about hygge from the Danes is that it's not about the stuff of coziness. It's about the feeling of coziness. No need to buy special candles, designer sweaters, or fancy food and drink. No need to throw a party or even be cuddled with a loved one. Hygge comes from within. From a deep sense of peace and happiness. You can cultivate hygge in your own life by creating a sanctuary of satisfaction within your heart. That way its always with you. Wishing you and your family a snuggly November filled with bountiful feelings of hygge. With gratitude, Kristen
New & Notable
HOLIDAY MAGIC CANDLE It's that time of year again--holiday magic is in the air and limited-edition Holiday Magic candles are back! Each hand-poured candle is infused with Reiki energy to beautifully illuminate the spirit of the season throughout your space. Order soon--only available to buy in November and December! Each Holiday Magic candle is crafted with the highest quality therapeutic grade organic essential oils and 100% natural soy wax. As with all my products, ingredients are chosen with intention, care, and integrity. Energize every room in your house with my proprietary mix of the following seasonal scents:
A fresh forest of Scots pine needles, Douglas fir, and black spruce
Spicy cinnamon and nutmeg
A touch of sweet orange and ginger
Each candle is personally blessed by me with divine Reiki energy and ancient healing symbols. They also include authentic crystal chips, spices, and dried pine needles specifically selected for their healing properties. Each candle arrives decorated with ribbon and pinecones (as shown). Orders for Holiday Magic candles may be placed online between November 1 and December 20th. Shop early if you want them as gifts!! SHOP
Recipe of the Month Cooking has always felt magical to me. You take a bunch of stuff, that on its own isn't very interesting, and mix it together to create something new and divine. That's alchemy. That's magic. That's energy.
Lemon Lentil Soup I found this lemony lentil soup recipe on gimmesomeoven.com and it's awesome! Full of flavor and made with all sorts of feel-good ingredients. It's downright cozy. Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium white onion, peeled and diced 2 medium carrots, diced 5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 6 cups vegetable stock (or chicken stock) 1 1/2 cups red lentils, rinsed and picked over 2/3 cup whole-kernel corn 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon curry powder pinch each of saffron and cayenne (optional) zest and juice of 1 small lemon salt and freshly-cracked black pepper Instructions:
Sauté the veggies. Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrots and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and translucent. Add garlic and sauté for 1 more minute, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
Simmer. Stir in the vegetable stock, lentils, corn, cumin, curry powder (plus saffron and cayenne, if using) until combined. Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer. Cover and cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are completely tender.
Blend (optional). Using either a hand blender or traditional blender, puree the soup until it reaches your desired consistency.
Season. Stir in lemon zest and juice until combined. Taste and season with a generous pinch of fine sea salt and black pepper, as needed.
Serve. Serve warm, garnished with an extra fresh lemon slice if desired.
DID YOU KNOW? I take my roles & responsibilities as a Reiki Master very seriously. I have built my business with intention, integrity, honestly, and love as the four cornerstones. With that in mind, here are my guiding principles (full list can be found online): I demonstrate complete commitment to ethical behavior at all times, keeping the wellbeing, privacy, dignity, confidentiality, and respect of my clients at the forefront of every session. I appreciate that everyone is unique, therefore accommodate differences in culture, gender, ethnicity, race, age, sexual orientation, language, disability and socioeconomic status. I do not question the outcome or results of a session. I trust that spirit, guides, and angels ensure that each session is for the highest good of all involved. I acknowledge that I am white, heterosexual, and identify as female. With this comes implicit bias, unearned privileged, and blind spots. I welcome and encourage feedback from clients and colleagues. I'm committed to reflect and learn from all input. My work is dedicated to healing the collective. I support racial and social justice through spiritual activism. I am committed to learning, listening, acknowledging, supporting, and speaking out against systemic racism and injustice.
Nourishing My Soul This Month What I'm Reading
Becoming an Empowered Empath: How to Clear Energy, Set Boundaries & Embody Your Intuition, by Wendy De Rosa
The Dark Side of the Light Chasers: Reclaiming Your Power, Creativity, Brilliance, and Dreams, by Debbie Ford
The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister
Whisper Network: by Chandler Baker
What I'm Shuffling Gateway of Light Activation Oracle What I'm Up To
November 4 & 5, teaching Reiki Level 2 certification cource
November 6, 13, and 20, attending "Sessions Live 2021" Esther Perel's annual conference, called The Great Adaptation: How we can stay grounded when the ground is moving.
November 4, New Moon Magic Meditation with Denise Elizabeth Byron
Each Monday morning, Cosmic Compass Conversations with Denise Elizabeth Byron
PLEASE NOTE: Palo Alto Reiki will be closed Thanksgiving Week.
You May Be Interested...
My beloved teacher Hemla is starting a new Metaphysics Group and has a few spots left! I was a part of this beautiful community a few years ago and it taught me so much. This group is a 6-month series on Zoom, beginning November 17th, meeting from 9:00-11:00 AM PST, on the third Wednesday of every month. It's open to all. I highly recommend the group for anyone interested in meditation, learning how to awaken their intuition, and exploring all topics of a spiritual nature. Email Hemla for more info: hemla20@gmail.com Or visit her website for pricing and to book online. JOIN GROUP
In Your Own Words "I had such a great experience! Kristen is so kind and personable. I first tried her services when I was gifted a session for an "end of year" teacher gift. I chose to do a card reading to gain some perspective when deciding to start a new business venture. Then, I came back this fall for a reiki healing session. AMAZING. I felt so relaxed and rejuvenated afterwards. But it was the discussion we had after that was the most beneficial. Kristen gave me techniques to help in my day to day life and they've really made a difference. I highly recommend a visit!" ~Heather D., East Bay
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