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“Sometimes with the bones of the black sticks left when the fire has gone out, someone has written something new in the ashes of your life. You are not leaving. Even as the light fades quickly now, you are arriving.”
David Whyte
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Hello & happy holidays!
Feelin’ that frenetic holiday energy, for better or for worse? For those of you who absolutely love this time of year and nothing can bring down your spirits – more power to ya! For most of us, this time of year is at once exciting and exhausting. Everyone, please remember to take care of yourselves, whatever that means to you. A few deep breaths and a cup of herbal tea, your favorite (insert movement method here) class or a quiet stroll through your favorite nature spot can make all the difference right now. Take the time to disconnect from the hustlin’ holidays and reconnect with your beautiful selves. Then, maybe you’ll be able to attend those chaotic, ultra triggering family holiday parties in a more grounded, compassionate and patient manner.
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Luminous Architecture Holiday Promotions
Integrative Healing Sessions are buy 1, get 1 half off through December 31st
Give a gift, get a gift - Give both sessions - Receive both sessions
How you choose to use this bundle of healing is completely up to you!
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MIND
The nose knows, the body and emotions reveal, and the mind confirms that scents affect our brains. The science behind smell is quite fascinating, and this article helps us to make sense of the power of scents.
Here we go with that beautiful trifecta of mind, body, and spirit application! Versatile with their uses and effects, essential oils are practical, yet powerful sources of plant medicine. Essential oils are yet another passion of mine, and if you’ve taken one of my yoga classes or have had an Integrative Healing Session with me, you know that I always incorporate aromatherapy into my work and almost always have a bottle or two of essential oils on hand, wherever I may go.
Word on the Brooklyn street is that someone’s designing a custom blend essential oil line to be released in 2017!
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BODY
This one’s for the ladies (and the men who love them!)
Self-Care, A Woman’s Guide with Nadine Artemis
I’ve been navigating the terrain of the women’s health care world through my own recent experiences with going off the pill, two rounds of copper IUD’s, and now free from all the bullshit, proudly practicing the Fertility Awareness Method. I can say first hand that this isn’t easy ground to cover, although I’ll be covering it more in letters to come and a book to follow (there, I said it…so now you all have to hold me to it, because I have quite the story to tell!) This topic of women’s health is becoming an increasingly passionate area of interest in my life, so I can’t help but want to share what I’m discovering for myself with all of you! As women, we are fed so much faulty information based on judgment, inaccuracies, myths, and straight up ignorance, it’s no wonder that many of us find ourselves so easily disconnected from our feminine essence.
This podcast is golden, really. Nadine Artemis is a goddess of a woman that I look up to as a powerfully feminine figure in the world of holistic health and beauty care. Daniel Vitalis also says some pretty remarkable things aimed towards men and their inhibitions surrounding women’s health. So while women may find themselves resonating with this podcast more so than their male counterparts, both sexes can gain a lot from this educational chat on a topic that doesn’t receive enough mindful attention as is.
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SPIRIT
Although the moon shines full and bright among the darkness of the sky tonight, we are just a week away from Winter Solstice, marking the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. While this day commences the winter season, a time to honor the slower, quieter rhythms of the year, this day also celebrates the rebirth of the sun, welcoming the return of the light in the days to come. Just like the daily rising and setting of the sun, darkness approaches, cascading upon us as the light diminishes. We never fear that the light will not return to us once again. We understand that there’s an innate, intelligent duality to the nature of our universe; a cycle of constant fluctuation between these two aspects of our universe. So why is it that we have such a hard time understanding and accepting this innate duality within ourselves?
As above, so below. As within, so without. Before lightness, there is darkness. The universe we exist within reminds us of these truths not just seasonally, but daily. So the next time you are battling with the darker aspects of yourself, or the world’s navigation of this darkness, find solace in the very nature of the universal reminder that darkness is all a part of the greater cycle of life.
A Winter Solstice Prayer
The dark shadow of space leans over us.
We are mindful that the darkness of greed, exploitation, and hatred
also lengthens its shadow over our small planet Earth.
As our ancestors feared death and evil and all the dark powers of winter,
we fear that the darkness of war, discrimination, and selfishness
may doom us and our planet to an eternal winter.
May we find hope in the lights we have kindled on this sacred night,
hope in one another and in all who form the web-work of peace and justice
that spans the world.
In the heart of every person on this Earth
burns the spark of luminous goodness;
in no heart is there total darkness.
May we who have celebrated this winter solstice,
by our lives and service, by our prayers and love,
call forth from one another the light and the love
that is hidden in every heart.
From Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim, by Edward Hays
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The best gift is a gift that keeps on giving! If you like what I share, please subscribe so you can receive Lumen Letters on the regular – think of them as little gifts of holistic health and wellness that you are giving to yourself throughout the year. Then, share this gift with others by spreading the word.
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Join me as we fuel the fire of change, sharing this light of insight on integrated living with others to ignite a flame of luminosity that is to be felt around the world!
May your holidays reflect the sentiments of tonight's full moon -
Abundant & full of light.
Luminous love,
Jessica
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UPCOMING OFFERINGS
Slow Flow + Restore
Wednesday Dec. 14th 8 – 9pm // Studio MAYA
Restore + Recharge: Healing Yoga with Reiki
Thursday Dec. 15th 7:30 – 9pm // Nest Space
http://www.yogatherapeuticsnyc.com/
Arts on Site Performance Party
Saturday December 17th // Arts on Site
PETRICHOR Dance performs “Hell’s Belles”
Doors open 8pm, performances begin 9pm
Suggested donation $5, BYOB
COME SEE ME DANCE!
Candlelight Yoga + Restore
Sunday Dec. 18th 6-7pm // Studio MAYA
*community event, by donation
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