This month’s ritual is about being a great host, being a great guest, and being ready for both (like a beaver ready for winter). We will create a ritual that will linger throughout this season...because from a BuDhaGirl perspective, this ritual is not only about mindful preparation, but also about embracing the holidays with intentionality and grace.

This autumn and winter preparation ritual is a gentle, holistic way to align with the season’s energy, fostering a sense of peace, purpose, and readiness as you enter the colder months. And remember to always breathe. Remember that commitments are important but your health is even more important.

The Harvest Full Moon beckons a time for abundance and reflection. This lunar event, occurring closest to the autumn equinox, symbolizes the completion of the harvest cycle and offers a time for introspection and gratitude. Integrating a ritual around this moon with BuDhaGirl’s philosophy of mindfulness and intentionality can elevate the experience, aligning it with our emphasis on living purposefully.

A Harvest Full Moon ritual with BuDhaGirl at its heart would begin with:

To harness the transformative energy of the Blue Moon, a ritual centered around the blue throat chakra (Vishuddha) can be profoundly healing and empowering. The throat chakra, located at the base of the throat, is associated with communication, self-expression, and truth. This chakra governs our ability to speak our inner truth and express ourselves authentically.

If you haven't noticed, the earth is becoming hotter, and this July promises to be a scorcher almost everywhere. On July's full moon, why not reconnect with our origins in water and celebrate this life-giving substance? Our bodies are about 60% water, so it's no wonder we're naturally drawn to it.

This July, I invite you to treat yourself to two enchanting water rituals. The first is creating Moon Water, and the second is performing a Moon Bath Ritual. Both are especially powerful during a full moon, but you can perform them anytime your spirit calls you.

For the Moon Water, try to perform this during the full Moon phase when the moon’s energy is at its peak. Find a large, lidded glass container and place it outside where it can soak up the Moon’s beams—your yard, balcony, porch, or even a windowsill that gets moonlight. For an extra magical touch, take it into the forest and find a moonlit spot on the forest floor. Fill the container with spring or distilled water, cover it with plastic film, and let it absorb the Moon's light. By the next day, your Moon Water is ready. Label and refrigerate it. Use this enchanted water to brew tea, add a splash of lemon, cleanse your crystals, or refresh anything that needs a burst of clean energy. Let the water’s memory of the Moon's energy flow through you and your surroundings.

Immersing yourself in water under the full Moon is a divine way to soak in its heightened energy. While a bathtub is most accessible, don't limit yourself—it could be a pool, a pond, or even the ocean's edge. Here's a guide for a bathtub or shower ritual.

First, create a serene space. Light candles to set the mood, play calming music, and light some incense. Prepare bath salts with coarse salt and essential oils, or use pre-made soaking salts from a store. Sprinkle flower petals or herbs into the water. Surround your tub with crystals—rose quartz, clear quartz, moonstones, and amethyst are perfect for this ritual. Water-friendly crystals can even join you in the bath.

Now, immerse yourself in your liquid sanctuary. Close your eyes and let the warmth of the water envelop you, feeling the full Moon's energy merge with your own. Breathe deeply, taking in the fragrant air. Relax and let your senses be soothed by the water's embrace. When the water cools, step out and express gratitude to every element that was part of your ritual. Always end with thanks, feeling refreshed and renewed by the Moon's magic.

In June, we invite you to rediscover moments of surprise and delight, approaching life with the wonder of a child. Embrace the newness of experiences, even those that may have been forgotten but once brought joy.

Sight is a dominant sense, but this journey is about experiencing with all our senses, creating strong, memorable sensations. Here are some suggestions for experiencing something old as if it were new again. There’s no right or wrong way—it's all about re-discovery.

“Everything Old is New Again”

This is one of my favorites because it reminds me of the independence I felt when I peeled and ate my first orange. Here’s how to recreate that experience:

ONE | Take an orange. Wash it. Dry it. Decide you are going to eat it.

TWO | Sit quietly in a place where you can fully enjoy this orange.

THREE | Approach it with the anticipation of a child tasting an orange for the first time.

FOUR | Peel it with your hands. What’s it like to remove the first peel? Notice the aroma and texture of the orange. Where will you put the peel? Do you want to taste it? Are your hands becoming sticky? Is there too much pith? What do you do next?

FIVE | Break the orange and delight in its fragrance. Take one segment, feel it, smell it, and pop it into your mouth. Savor the sensation. Are you smiling? Finish the orange. Where do you put the pits? Reflect on the joy of doing something so simple yet so complex. After all, you didn’t just take a bite out of the orange…

This exercise brings back memories of childhood when liquid soaps weren’t common. Use a bar of soap, preferably a beautifully scented, triple-milled one:

ONE | If the soap is new, unwrap it. If it’s wrapped in paper, save the wrap for a drawer sachet.

TWO | Go to your sink and mix the water temperature to be pleasing—cooler than your body temperature but still refreshing.

THREE | Wet your hands and start making lather with the soap. Feel the transformation.

FOUR | Keep lathering until you form a soap cream. Bring it up to your face and inhale deeply. Experience the joy of cleansing, but also have fun with it.

FIVE | Linger as long as you want in this sensory experience. Then, sadly, bring it to an end by rinsing your hands and patting them dry.

SIX | Reflect on the experience. How long did it take you? What did you discover? Was it worth your time?

This exercise is about reconnecting with the beauty and simplicity of nature. Choose a flower, any flower that appeals to you. Here’s how to rediscover the magic of a single bloom:

ONE | Pick a flower that catches your eye. It could be from your garden, a local park, or a florist. Bring it to a quiet, comfortable place where you won’t be disturbed.

TWO | Start by simply looking at the flower. Notice its color, shape, and texture. Is it vibrant or soft? Are there any patterns or unique features? Spend a few minutes just observing it.

THREE | Bring the flower close to your nose and take a deep breath. Notice the scent. Is it strong or subtle? Sweet or spicy? Try to identify any specific notes in its fragrance.

FOUR | Gently touch the petals, feeling their texture. Are they smooth, velvety, or delicate? Touch the stem and leaves too. How do they differ from the petals? Feel the weight and balance of the flower in your hand.

FIVE | Think about where the flower came from. How did it grow? What kind of environment did it thrive in? Reflect on the process from seed to bloom and the natural beauty that resulted.

SIX | Finally, find a special place to display your flower. Each time you see it, let it remind you of this moment of mindfulness and the joy of rediscovering the simple beauty of nature.

Burning symbolic items as part of a release ceremony can be a powerful and cathartic experience. Fire has long been seen as a cleansing force, capable of transforming and purifying.

So, to begin this Shadow Burn Release exercise, let’s first create a ceremonial space where you can release shadows such as old emotions, beliefs, or habits that no longer serve you. You can write these shadows down on paper and then burn them in a fireproof container, symbolizing the act of letting go and making space for new energy and opportunities.

STEP ONE - Begin with Gratitude

Start by acknowledging and expressing gratitude for the journey that has brought you to this point. Recognize that even challenging experiences have contributed to your growth and readiness to release.

STEP TWO - Write Down Shadows

On a piece of paper with ample spacing between each line, write down the shadows you wish to release. Be specific and heartfelt in your writing, expressing your desire to let go of these burdens.

STEP THREE - Cut the Paper

Cut the paper so that each shadow is now an individual piece of paper.

STEP FOUR - Light the Papers

Carefully and intentionally, light each piece of paper over a fireproof bowl. Use tweezers or tongs to handle the paper to avoid burning yourself. As the paper burns, let the ashes fall into the bowl.

STEP FIVE - Release Under April‘s Full Moon

Once all the papers have been burned and turned into ashes, take the bowl outside under April's full moon. Release the ashes into the air, symbolically letting go of the shadows and allowing them to be transformed by the moon's energy.

STEP SIX - End in Gratitude

Conclude the ceremony with a moment of gratitude. Express thanks to the elements, the moon, and any spiritual guides or energies that supported you during the release process.

In January we set our intentions for the year; in February, we will cleanse our space and our spirit, so that our intentions have a path of least resistance. We will create rituals to declutter our lives so all the new, budding ideas and desires can travel towards us without hindrance. We are going to “Marie Kondo” it.

A life well lived is not one of excess. It is receiving joy from the “Goldilocks” theory…when things are just right, perfectly enough…no more no less.

First, let’s begin by making an easy and quick three project list:

Being aware about intention flow is important. We need to recognize that at times our intentions don’t happen as quickly as we want or on what I call: “on our time.” However, if your intention has been set with clarity, serenity, and gratitude, the universe is simply giving you more time to prepare. Keep in mind that you can’t control things other than your thoughts and actions, the more you relax and let go of expectation, the more the universe will align with you and bring opportunities your way.