Tea for Tuesdays

Some favorite tea-related Etsy finds…

How amazing is this? A perfect combination for tea and literature lovers during the Halloween season. Find it here.

Mmmm, make-your-own chai! Love this, find it here.

For any matcha lovers, this bowl is perfect! Find it here.

So cute! Find it here.

A unique and beautiful tea bowl. Find it here.

Okay, so I have a few things to add to my Amazon wishlist today : )

Enjoy!

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A Sunday Morning Card Reading

I love doing an oracle card reading for myself when I am facing a particular issue, or even when I just want to know the energy trends surrounding me. This morning after a peaceful meditation, I pulled cards from the Angel Answers deck by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine.

The cards I got were: Big, happy Changes, It’s Up to You, Success, Helpful People, Yes, and Ask for Help from Others. When I pull cards for myself, I also believe that they are world energies. The cards in my reading also apply to anyone who might be reading this blog post.

Basically, have hope, you will be successful, ask for and accept the help that comes to you because nothing big is accomplished in isolation. And remember, it’s up to you! You have free will on this journey through life. What do you want most? What is your soul calling for you to do, be, or become? You can do it!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

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Intuitive Journaling

I have often written about journaling on this blog. However, I have recently transitioned to automatic writing for about 20 minutes every morning. This has allowed me to tap into a higher guidance system. Rather than writing about problems or fears I am having, I pose a question, connect with my higher self, and allow myself to write down the wisdom that comes to me. I have found this to be both empowering and healing, as it allows me to step out of my day-to-day story and into a higher perspective.

This morning I sat in my meditation corner, listening to healing music, wrapped in a cozy blanket. I had trouble sleeping last night because a lot was on my mind. A project I am involved in is taking longer than I had hoped to get off the ground, and there is a lot up in the air. Instead of harping on this story, I wrote this:

What is the potential for you, if you were able to see the future as something that could be known–that there are many probable future destinations. You have the power to choose which outcome you would most like to see. The outcome you would like should be focused on solely for it to come into physical manifestation. You can draw pictures, create a vision board, and ask to see this for the highest good. When you think of how to serve others, your power increases significantly. It you were to focus on numbers and money, people would sense your fear and stay far away. But, when you focus on service and affirm that you will receive more than enough to meet your needs, all will be done in Divine Timing.

Much more empowering than a whiny journal entry about money!

If you happen to be in the area, I’m giving a workshop on Intuitive Journaling at Terraloka Wellness in Kent, CT on October 11th. Comment below if you’d like to join!

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Hello Again!

It has been almost exactly a year since I last posted on SpiritualiTea. Although there have been many changes, my overall mission has remained the same: to offer a warm, safe space to explore spirituality (with tea).

What has been going on for me? Well, I became a life coach (yay!), began doing professional intuitive readings, left my job…more on that in a later post. I’m currently living life on my terms and have never felt happier, or more inspired! I began creating other blogs that I thought would perhaps express my new self, but in the end I’ve come back to SpiritualiTea as my home.

I’m excited to begin posting here again with a new voice and renewed passion.

There will be book suggestions, helpful resources, musings on my own spiritual life, and of course tea!

I also have a new feature: I will soon be venturing into the video podcasting world, and I hope to take you along with me! Each week I will post a new video providing an intuitive reading for the coming week’s energies. Grab a cup of tea and sit down with me on Sunday morning to find out what the week will bring for you.

Finally, I have two exciting offerings: the first is an online course that trains you to be a SpiritualiTea Facilitator in your community. Learn how to start a group, keep it going, gain members, find friends, and make a little extra money along the way!

Second, I am offering private intuitive readings by phone or Skype. I would love to get to know you and offer clear, accurate, empowering guidance on any challenges you are currently facing.

It feels good to be back.

Peace,
Shannon

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The Lack Trap

Do you find yourself caught up in thoughts about what is missing in your life? Are you ruminating about the terrible things that might happen to you in the future? Do you look at your bank account and focus on what’s not there rather than what is? The lack trap is a deadly addiction to thoughts, feelings, and actions reflecting a belief in lack. Why is it so addicting? We often think that by focusing on what we don’t have, and worrying or plotting about how to obtain it, we are being productive. For example, if I have a job I do not enjoy, and I focus on how terrible it is and constantly search for a replacement job, I’ll end up being happier, right?

Unfortunately, no. When you focus your attention on what you don’t have, you end up creating more of it even if your external circumstances change. Wallowing in the sorrows of a past relationship, or worrying constantly about money will only increase your sorrows and worries, and decrease your chance of finding a meaningful relationship or creating prosperity. Even if you meet someone new or find a different job, chances are you will find the same issues waiting for you.

Even with this knowledge you may fall into the open jaws of the lack trap. I tend to find myself stuck here quite often. Where does it stem from? For me it’s all about control. If I worry, stress, ponder, ruminate, or wallow, my mind paradoxically feels soothed because it creates a sense of control over my external circumstances. I find that when I can catch myself in the trap, by allowing my repetitive thoughts to fall away and asking for divine help to allow me to trust in the power of the universe above the power of my ego, miracles can happen. Everything I need magically falls into place if I can stay in this space long enough. Of course we are all human, and we will all get lured into the lack trap every now and then. However, if you can catch yourself once you’re there, or better yet before you fall in, watch what you want most magically enter your life!

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Prosperity

I’ve been given quite a gift recently. Of course, it did not appear that way at first. At first it appeared that the engine in my fiance’s 10 year old car had given out, and we needed to make a decision whether to replace the engine in a car that was already eating money, or buy a new car altogether. My heart pounded when I heard this news and million thoughts ran through my mind: how could we possibly afford a car payment, should we lease or buy, why did this have to happen now, so close to our wedding? However, I quickly decided to turn this into an opportunity to learn a new lesson, rather than feel victimized by this seemingly negative event. Was this easy? No! I really wanted to wallow, complain, and worry. I decided, though, that what I actually wanted more was to take this experience and see it as a gift from the universe.

We ultimately decided to lease a new car with the intent of buying it in a few years, once the lease is up. What I got out of this was much more than a new car, though. Here are the gifts I’ve received over the last two days:

1. The opportunity to reevaluate my relationship with money. I realized that I have inherited a fear of money from my parents, who are very frugal. They have passed their own fear onto me. This is the time for me to no longer tiptoe around money. Of course I want to make good financial decisions. I have a budget, I am not in debt, and I save over 25% of my paycheck. However, I am working on removing fearful energy from my thoughts about money, and realizing that my parents and I are different people, who approach spending very differently.

2. The opportunity to put into practice tools I’ve been cultivating over time. Meditation, mindfulness, mantras, and journaling have truly helped me through what could have been an extremely stressful experience.

In the future I hope to be able to welcome challenges with even less hesitation. Ironically, the evening before the car issues, I repeated the mantra “I accept change” continuously during my walk, visualizing myself with open arms welcoming change in. The next day, change! I realized that even while repeating the mantra I still only meant change that I like, not just change in general. Perhaps the greatest gift is the opportunity to open my heart to change, allowing me to be soft and flexible, rather than keeping it closed and stagnant. After this experience I discover yet again that I truly am prosperous.

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Buying from the Heart

Are you a last minute shopper? I know I am! I still have several people on my list to buy gifts for this week. How do you make sure that, even in a rush, you’re giving from the heart? Well, maybe try not to wait until the last second like me…Or consider these ideas for buying presents:

• Does the person have a yearning to do some crazy, fun activity that he or she has never done before? I love giving experience gifts. Instead of giving an item, give a memory! This will also create a bonding experience if you do it together. For example, I signed up my then boyfriend and I for a sushi-making and sake-tasting class. We did it together, it was so much fun, and we’ll never forget it!

• Make someone a card rather than buying a new one. This saves trees (always a good thing)! Use recycled paper, or scraps from wrapping paper around your house to create a collage or scene. Write in gel pens on the inside and make it completely your own.

• If you’re short on cash, write a heartfelt letter. Tell someone how much you love and appreciate them. A gift like this will never be forgotten.

• Make a cookbook with some favorite recipes. You can arrange the recipes any way you would like (binder, notebook, recipe box). To step it up a little, make one of the recipes to include with the gift.

• Buy a journal for someone who likes to write. You can get some nice journals made from recycled paper at Barnes and Noble.

Buying from the heart is not just about giving gifts, but also buying things for yourself. How do you choose to spend your money? Are you completely practical or do you splurge once in a while (or once a week perhaps…)? It’s important that however you choose to spend money, you are doing it mindfully. This means that you only spend money on things that will increase your soul’s happiness.  When you look at spending from this perspective, it becomes easy to choose where your money goes. You’ll find that you’re buying things you really love rather than picking things at random or spending on things that you don’t truly want. You know that feeling of joy that rises in you when you find something you love in a store? Use that feeling as an indicator for where your money goes. No joy, no buy! Buying from the heart will allow you to be surrounded only by things you love and will clear out and simplify your life.

How do you decide what to buy? How often do you buy from the heart?

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