by spirit daughter

You've most likely heard about the Solar Eclipse on Aug 21st. It and all its magic are headed towards us and we in America have the great privilege of witnessing it in its entirety.  During a total Solar Eclipse, night becomes day, stars come out, animals get quiet and shadows refract. It’s going to be quite the event! To see the total Eclipse you must be within a 70 mile band that runs from Oregon to South Carolina, otherwise you can see a partial Eclipse from almost any where in America. Wherever you may be, the effects will ripple through the country and the world, affecting us and our more importantly our energy.  

Solar Eclipses are essentially supercharged New Moons. They actually only occur on a New Moon, making them the perfect time to give your mind and energy a reset so new intentions can be created and manifested at lightning speed.

Eclipses have no timeline, changes and shifts can happen in a blink of the eye and anything is truly possibly if you just dare to dream it. Things that you thought would take weeks or months can happen overnight, while things you thought would move quickly may drag their heels. 

Eclipses are all about alignment. The precise alignment of the Sun, the Moon and the Earth are what cause them after all. If things are not precisely aligned in your life, Eclipses will kick them out and make room for what is aligned with your visions. If you find things “not working out” accept that they were not meant to be, move on quickly and regroup. On the other hand, you may find some things working out far beyond what you could imagine. That’s Eclipse magic. Just keep asking yourself “what’s the best that could happen?”

Eclipses are grand opportunities to realize your evolutionary potential. They can provide you with insight to the reason you were put on this planet. You may experience “hits” of inspiration around the Eclipse that give you glimpses of what your soul truly craves. You may learn things about yourself you never knew before but now completely resonate with you. Are you making the best out of your human experience. Or are you just plugging along, going through the motions of a life your soul is only half in? Eclipses create portals that allow you to shift into a life that fulfills your destiny.

The most important thing to remember during this Eclipse season, is to stay out of fear. The Eclipse itself (day to night) and the energetic shifts it causes can drum up some anxiety and fear in your psyche. Just be aware of this, acknowledge its presence but don’t let it take control of your mind. Minds tend to like familiarity, even if it’s not good for you. When your life begins to shift, the mind can freak out. Calm yourself with meditation, yoga and a gratitude practice. I like to write 3-10 things I’m grateful for every morning, especially during times of change in my life. Staying in gratitude will keep the fear at bay.  

Enjoy the process. Eclipses are a magical time for us to interact with and experience the universal energy. Be open, stay out of fear and of course find love in everything you do at this time. If it’s not a resounding yes, it’s a no. Trust yourself, your intuition and trust the universe will support you in taking great leaps of faith. Know you are on the path of living a life aligned with your soul’s purpose.

Lastly, have fun and celebrate this time! It’s an extradorinaiy event that doesn’t happen everyday. It is a great reminder of our vast universe and the immense energy we are exposed to every day. Take the time to enjoy it and play within its beauty.  

Find out the full scoop in                         Spirt Daughter’s Solar Eclipse Workbook at bit.ly/eclipsebook

3 Yoga Poses to Unwind

We all know life can be stressful, and sometimes, without even realizing it, we start to store that tension in our bodies. (no bueno) Those shoulders that you’ve been wearing as earrings start to develop as pains that linger or develop into injuries down the line. In honor of National Relaxation Day, (and just because) here are a few yoga postures to help ease those aches and reset your body. 

• Supine Twist: This is one of my favorite stretches. Begin lying on your back, and bring both of your knees into your chest. Start by keeping both knees together, opening your arms out wide, like a “T,” and dropping both knees to the left. Breathe slowly, inhaling to come back to center, and exhaling to twist to the other side. If you want a deeper twist, keep one knee into your chest, while extending the opposite leg. Again, breathe in through center, and twist as you exhale.

• Childs Pose: Start on all fours, and separate your knees a little wider than your hips. Bring your big toes together, and then press your hips back over your heels. Walk your hand forward, and lower your torso to the ground. Let your forehead rest on the floor. If you have any issues with your knees, you can put a blanket underneath them, or even a rolled up towel behind the knees. Also, if your head feels to far from the floor to rest comfortably, you can take a block or a pillow under your head and let your whole body rest. 

• Standing Forward Fold: Take your feet wider than your hips. To measure, place the distance of at least two fists between the inner border of the feet. Although I encourage you to go a bit wider. Bend your knees generously, and clasp your opposite elbows. Relax your neck completely, shake your head from side to side, and even open and close your mouth to relax your jaw. The deep bend in the knees connects your torso and legs, your upper and lower half, and also eases strain in the low back. Take full breaths and feel free to breathe out through the mouth to let out a big sigh. 

• Lastly its always a good idea to sit comfortably, close your eyes, and just breathe. We spend so much time rushing around, neglecting our bodies and minds. Take time to slow down. There's no rush. Follow the inhales and the exhales, and watch your body release all tension. Loosen your jaw and relax the skin of the forehead. You are loved. You are supported. 

Click here to purchase my sweater from Alo Yoga!

SIAN GORDAN + KYLE MILLER

Meet Kyle Miller & Sian Gordon. My mentors, my muses, two of my biggest inspirations. These badass babes make up 2/3 of the owners/creators of Love Yoga. (The most beautiful yoga studio in Venice, with a 2nd location about to open in Silverlake September 1st!)

Kyle is in black, and Sian wears white. 

1. What are 3 things you must do every morning?

S : Eat fruit as soon as I wake up, kapalabhati, surf (except I don't get to do that every morning)

K : I start every morning with lemon water.  I have coffee.  And I feed my dog.  And i love all three of these steps equally!

2. Choose 3 words to describe yourself.

S : Introspective, curious, good. 

K : Friendly.  Loud.  Thoughtful.

3. What is a lesson you learned recently? 

S : It occurred to me recently, in a very deep way, that I am far too cautious and need not be. 

K : I am always learning and re-learning the lesson that getting stressed out is really a waste of my own time and energy.  I use this lesson to remind myself to stay calm within any given situation.  I have the foresight and prescience to know working myself up and letting situations get to emotional or personal, is often a worthless energy suck.

4. What advice would you give your 5 year old self?

S : To care little for what others do and think and to work really hard in school. 

K : Be free and kind!!  Insecurity and judgment are really unnecessary! 

5. What rituals do you practice every day?

S : Before I get out of bed in the morning, I think of everything I have to do throughout the day and I envision how I can move through the day as my best self, how I can serve others and in any way make the world around me better.  It's a simple and quick meditation that can really impact your mood and whole day. 

K : My teacher Nevine Michaan of Katonah Yoga, frames yoga as a means to creating personal religion: the values, rituals, organization of time, that matters to you.  Self care is a very ritualized and important use of my time.  I also love practicing yoga and that is always my favorite part of the day, whether at home or at the studio.  My perspective is pretty well steeped in gratitude so it's easy for me to express appreciation and thanks at small things throughout the day.  I consider this a ritual and a means for maintaining my point of view.

Make sure to follow Kyle & Sian on the gram, as well as their gorgeous studio!

Tips on getting up & out of bed

While I definitely enjoy the luxury of (occasionally) sleeping in, I've found my most productive and successful days are those when I am up with the sun. Just like any habit, it takes practice and awareness and a willingness to create it or break it. But this is something you can get excited about... it is a blessing to wake up every day, with endless opportunities to create magic! 

Here are a few tips on how to get up early!

1. AIRPLANE MODE!!! - Cant stress this one enough. Mindlessly scrolling through your feeds not only stimulates the mind, but the blue light that almost every device gives off tricks our circadian rhythm, or natural body clock, into thinking that it’s daytime. It also boosts attention and reaction times, and interferes with our bodies’ production of melatonin, the hormone that induces sleep, making it difficult to nod off. So don't give yourself any excuses to reach over for your phone, airplane mode dat shiz!! Extra challenge: put your phone on airplane more at LEAST 30 minutes before going to bed. 

2. Schedule your Most Exciting and Important Plans for the Morning- This way you are motivated to get it done and then you don't even have to think or worry about it the rest of the day! Reduce as much stress as possible, as early as possible. Doesn't that sound nice? (my most exciting plans often include breakfast, so here is a smoothie bowl recipe you can recreate in the AM!)

3. Put your Alarm Clock on the Other Side of the Room - Makes it much more difficult to hit snooze, and gets you on your feet. 

4. Open all the blinds right away - Let the light in so that your brain registers that it is time to turn on and start the day. I also like to put on some music (Bob Marley Radio on Spotify usually, but you can check out some of my playlists here!)

smile

What brings you ecstatic joy?

Don't over think it. 

Whats the first thing that came to mind?

For me its painting and travel and dancing and friends and my family and kisses and long hugs (and Milo and Bodhi) and anything that makes my heart feel like its shining and about to explode out of my chest.

What I really wonder is why so many of us allow so many days to pass by without experiencing said ecstatic joy. 

Why?

Why can't we live every day with pleasure, and passion and fun and smiles so big, that all of the muscles in our faces ache?

I think we can.

And since I made that decision...

it was like the entire universe conspired to place people and events directly in my path that bring me that bubbling sensation, like I'm made of champagne bubbles. 

So what is one thing you can do today to bring you that sensation?

You know that feeling of 'YES?'

You don't have to rearrange your whole life, just find a small moment. 

A moment that just feels...

like words don't make sense.

and all you can do is smile.

good reads

As long as I can remember, I've always had an affinity for books. As a child, I would go into Barnes & Nobles and spend hours there just reading through as many books as I could before my dad said it was time to go. 

As I've gotten older, and more interested in elevating my consciousness and spirituality, I've veered away from those endearing fiction books & found these gems:

• The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle

 Although this book can feel a little difficult to get into at first, its content is definitely worth turning the pages. Learn how to actually feel what its like to be PRESENT in the here and now, and all of the power that comes with being in the moment.

• The Law of Attraction, by Abraham Hicks

Do you ever feel like life is a game that you don't know the rules to? Are you confused as to why you're only sometimes getting what you want, but mostly feel confused, and like life is happening to you? This book CHANGED MY LIFE. Its a little "woo woo" but if you can get over the non physical being thing, you will get so much out of it. 

• The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

A beautifully written novel. One of my favorites of all time, that I've read over and over, and listened to on audiobook until I memorized the words. Its symbolic of life, and learning how to communicate within the language of the world. 

• You Are A Badass, by Jen Sincero

Jen Sincero speaks to the reader as though you were old friends. She keeps it real and breaks down the law of attraction in a very modern and applicable way. A must read. 

• You Are the Universe, by Deepak Chopra

Deepak breaks down the spirituality of interconnectedness with scientific evidence in this book. Haven't finished this one yet, but its nice to hear the scientific support of esoteric beliefs. 

• You Can Heal Your Life, by Louise Hay

If you've ever wondered why you have any kind of pain or unease in your life and body, but haven't done any work to identify where your beliefs and pains originated this is the book for you. The title says it all. You CAN heal your life. Start by reading this book. Louise Hay is one of my all time favorite authors and teachers. 

• and currently reading (and LOVING) Being You, Changing the World, by Dr. Dain Heer

I don't even know where to begin with this book. I am so fascinated and excited by it that I don't even want to give anything away because I want you to fully have your own experience. All I can say is that i LOVE IT. Written similarly to "You Are a Badass" with so much depth and practical application. 

DTLA

If you follow me on IG, then you probably already know how much I love plants. Although I am still working on developing my green thumb (I love fake plants too for this very reason). The flower market in DTLA is one of my favorite places to go. Surrounded by every color flower, and every size cactus, its like my little heaven. 

photos by Alex Taman

Top by Alo Yoga, Pants by Show Me Your Mumu, Jewelry by Logan Hollowell Jewelry

C U P P I N G

As an avid believer in Chinese medicine to help cure the body of disease and ailment, I asked my friend Sam, editor and executive producer of LeafTV, to dive a little deeper and answer some questions you may have about this funky looking treatment. (If you've ever seen anyone who looks like they just got made out with by a giant octopus, that is what I'm referring to.) 

"Before I moved to LA (5 years ago), I had never heard of cupping. Fast forward to a few months in, I found it was totally normal—even frequent—to see someone in front of me during yoga moving around with painful-looking, red and purple marks on their back. I always thought it was some kind of weird condition.

As my life, namely my "yoga social life" grew in LA, I found myself more and more interested in Chinese medicine and it's healing avenues such as acupuncture and cupping.

Because I started to read about why people get cupping done and the major benefits it offers such as muscle relief, circulation and detoxification, and the fact that I was constantly sore from practicing so much yoga, I was ready to take on "cupping" and see if it worked for me.

And I truly LOVE it.

I still had questions and figured you would too, so I consulted with one of Elysia's clinicians, Janel Gehrke, LAc, MTOM, to find out more about cupping, the what's, why's and how's. Take a look:

What are the major benefits of cupping and how to athletes and non-athletes benefits differ, if at all?

Athletes and Non-athletes can benefit from cupping equally, the main difference is that athletes tend to take better care of themselves!! 

Think of someone who sits at a computer all day. They will likely hold a significant amount of tension in their neck, shoulders, and upper back. Same scenario with parents who are lifting and carrying small (or large) children everyday. These seemingly harmless tasks cause repetitive strain on muscles which can lead to what we call in Traditional Medicine "stagnation," but ultimately this results in pain. When muscle fibers become tense and rigid, the blood flow will decrease. If the same tasks that put the stress on those muscles continues, the pattern will remain and could worsen. One of the purposes of cupping is to activate the immune system and increase blood flow to a specific area. This fresh blood supply can nourish the tense and starved muscles and remind them what it feels like to be in a relaxed state.

What exactly is happening when the cups are sitting on your back (or wherever they are placed)?

We chose very specific locations to apply the cups depending on what we are treating. The vacuum created by the lack of oxygen within the cup is what draws a fresh blood supply to the area being treated.

Does it hurt?!

In my personal experience it does not hurt at all, in fact, it feels amazing. Like bringing life back into parts of my neck/shoulders/back/ that I didn't even know were tense.

I often compare the experience to having a deep tissue massage because most people can relate to this experience. If we are working on an area that is particularly tight, you may feel more sensation, but usually it offers such relief that it's worth it. I like to prepare my patients for the after effects as well, much like any deep muscle work, they may experience some sensitivity in the area that was worked on (this does not last long, usually no more than the day), they may also feel groggy or a little headachy. This means the body is processing an abundance of toxic build up and we mobilized it with the session. In an effort to minimize any potential negative sensations, it's really important to drink a lot of water after the session and avoid strenuous activity if possible. It is also advisable to avoid consuming alcohol, sugar, dairy, and any other deep fried or processed foods. This allows your body to function optimally and process the toxins at a more efficient rate."

To read more Qs & As, see the rest of the article here. Thanks Sam!

all photos by me. 

Make sure to Follow @leaftv & include your IG handle so we can contact you! 

W A L L P A P E R

As you already know, I'm a firm believer in the absolute power of affirmations. I like to write little love notes to myself, reminders of what I am trying to create and manifest, and leave them all over the house. As an avid iPhone user, who constantly checks her phone for no reason, I also like to make sure that what I'm taking in is positive and driving me in the direction that I'd like to be going. SO I created some wallpapers for you to use as your phone backgrounds.

Simple, straightforward reminders and affirmations that have lifted me up when I've been so down, and kept me on the right track. Enjoy!

CALEY ALYSSA

This is the very first of my interview series, Rituals. The idea came to me last year, and I sat on it for about 8 months before creating this. I've always believed in studying the practices of those who you praise. What do these powerful, insightful, successful people do in their every day lives that have led them to the place that we so admire? Rituals. Daily practices. A series of actions or type of behavior regularly and invariably followed by someone. 

My rituals are so sacred to me, and I was curious to see if any patterns would be revealed through the regularly performed practices of those who inspire me. Lets begin. 

Caley is not only one of my best friends, but an incredibly inspiring yoga teacher in our community. Her online presence is vibrant and a little promiscuous, and her classes will challenge you in ways that break your boundaries and remind you just how much you are capable of accomplishing. Here is a little insight into the daily practices that have helped Caley get to where she is now. 

1. What are 3 things you must do every morning?

 - Have a massive glass of water with Vitamin C powder

- Meditation (at least 5 minutes!) 

- Oil pulling... I'm addicted! 

2. What is one thing you are trying to manifest in your life right now?

 - Getting a RAD job that brings me to Europe, more specifically to FRANCE

 - I know you said just one thing, but I would also love to have someone offer me an amazing place to live (for free of course!) close to the beach, with a beautiful yard, wood floors, and full of natural light. 

3. How do you get through an afternoon slump?

 - I'm generally so busy that this isn't an issue for me. There are, however, a few preventive actions that I take. I eat high vibrational, energy-packed foods and drink matcha, kombucha, or super coffee with XCT oil and superfood powders. On the off chance that I do feel a slump coming on, I do a hand stand or spaz out for a solid 5 minutes (like really spaz out!)

4. How do you set yourself up for success?

- I outsource. My time is valuable. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I hire people to help out with the little things, as well as the tasks that I am not super fond of myself. This way I can be MUCH more productive! It allows me to get ahead, as opposed to playing catch up. 

5. What rituals do you practice every day?

- Lighting incense

- Singing in the shower

 - Snuggling with my doggie

 - Walking outdoors, rain or shine

 - Some form of physical exercise

 - Journaling before bed

 - Setting my phone on Airplane mode in the evening (at around 9pm)

 - MEDITATION. Every single day. 

Caley is leading a 100 Yoga Teacher Training with Mind Body Green and you can sign up HERE