HOW THIS WINTER SOLSTICE WILL AFFECT YOU NEXT YEAR
The most recent New Moon a few days ago on December 12. In Daoist and Chinese lunar traditions, this moon cycle is considered the Winter Moon or 11th Moon of the lunar year. The Winter Solstice or Dongzhi is celebrated as a festival of observing Yin at her greatest, and it is this honouring of her height that the Yang can re-emerge. In Daoist thought, this acknowledgement and sitting with Yin is vital for Spring, in order for the gifts of the subsequent year, to arrive and come to fruition. This year's return to and observance of the Great Yin is crucially important on two main levels.
HOW TO USE TERRAIN ENERGIZED BODY OIL
Of allllll the CEREMONIE Skin + Aura Care, I use the Terrain Energized Body Oil the most. It’s been a life saver when I’m feeling raw, hectic, intuitive overwhelm, or experiencing sensory-overload; the plants lend their presence, while never numbing or distracting me from the necessary lessons and truths.
A few ways to work with TERRAIN:
UNDER THE NEW MOON: DECOLONIZING, GROWTH, MANIFESTING
Sometimes, my own fears and irrational habits surprise myself. I have internalized oppression of general Chinese/Taiwanese culture (not to mention cultural purging that modern China has experienced) and Christian patriarchy; being a female in a white-centric worldview also adds nuanced complexity. So many painful and limiting layers. So much living small and self-oppression. But I'm hopeful. I think the first step is awareness, then release, and lots and lots of patience and self-love. I find using shamanic and ritual-based practices effective in identifying the limitations as well as work through them. (For those who know me and my work, I’m all about integrating the spiritual with practical, everyday life. Spirituality without real-life application is lip service).
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NUMBER FOUR IN MYSTICISM
The number four holds important meanings to the shaman and mystic.
INTERVIEW WITH A SHAMANIC INTUITIVE
As mentioned on Instagram, I've been a regular listener on Julie Parker's The Priestess Podcast for quite some time. She curates beautiful, relatable content on mysticism, alternative healing modalities, the Divine Feminine, conscious business, and so many other topics that I care deeply about. It was an IMMENSE honour to be interviewed by Julie on shamanism, plant spirit medicine, and my work here at Ceremonie. We had such a fun time chatting (including my interpretation of how Adam and Eve from the biblical story of Genesis is rooted in shamanic expression, my childhood, and even the unusual name for my favourite doll), that I completely lost track of time!