Nurturing visions. Merging iterations. Seeking rogue ecstasy.
I am eager for the lists that make their way out on sleepy Friday mornings. Today I am a decaf coffee but bummed I can't find my favorite mug, kind of forgot breakfast and just realized I'm starving, know this morning why I can only have one margarita --not two even if they are tiny, oy-oy-oy kind of mama.
These are my pay-it-forward lists. This one is bursting.
When things are turned upside down and my insides are confused, knotted, these feet seek out the sand. The grains of time that set my body clock ticking again. A sanctuary that means no fighting kids, no internet, no decisions. Picnic packed and sun hat blowing in the breeze. The roughness of my edges softened, if only for these few moments.
And the beauty.
Rocks stuffed in our pockets, sand dripping from our toes. The prayer of the ocean. Remembering for a moment... almost feeling the butterflies of the first time we kissed.
Under the sheet. The wait. The reason I miss most appointments and am kicked out of practices. Sitting there, half naked waiting for another person to walk in fully clothed and talk to you as though this is normal. My feet go numb. I twist them and lift them until the blood moves again, matching the blood pounding in my heart. I leave with a urethra sore and aching, tests that try to discover why this loved 37 year old body is incontinent and often full of pain. I can heal. I will heal. I am healing.
And the beauty.
Looking in the mirror, silently remembering the prayers and blessings sent from this gorgeous community to my bladder and my spirit. Forgiving myself the slight ache of seeing the scale higher than previous comfort zones allowed.
The meditation circle in my little backyard. Needs dirt. Plants. A statue. My summer altar to sit at and sip coffee or calm my body. An early birthday gift to myself. A place to think of others. To send silent blessings, yes, I'm talking to you. Living in 900 square feet with three children and a dog creates a most desired longing for warm months. To extend living space and in a sense, my spiritual space. And yes, I so want to rearrange my living room around, something new for the summer solstice.
And the beauty.
Each day I walk closer to my spirit's calling. Prayers found in tea bags. Rocks from those beaches, lined up outside of my little bungalow. An introverts words, steps, breaths, time, silence, meditations while holding steaming mugs with painted nails.
And the beauty under your feet? Where are your prayers found?
Three babies. Maybe three tattoos. We'll see. I've been playing around with a sharpie until I find just the right one.
I have three ideas in mind. They are permanent, yes. So are my babies, and I like them that way.
Here is a secret. I've tended to hide behind a fear of judgement. When my life rather abruptly looked me in the face a few years ago and I had to learn trust and faith, I got my nose pierced. I felt so brave and as though I was finally starting to become myself.
I had always wanted my nose pierced. Always.
I made a decision for myself without needing approval or being afraid of what anyone would say or think. That decision marked time for me. When I see my nose ring I think about that year of transformation which has led me to who I am now.
Last year was all about joy. I have been taking a journey through ritual, trust and magic and all along feathers have followed my journey. One of our beautiful joy up tribe members even sent me an envelope stuffed with feathers. I wore feather earrings, feathers in my hair. My mantra was I am love. My highly sensitive self is all about sharing that love and creating and working from a place of love.
So feathers and love and anchors and birds are visions dancing in my head. (You can go peek at my Pinterest board of Inspired Tats!) Maybe obvious, perhaps discreetly placed. Time will tell. No impulsive tattoos for me, I've been thinking and planning for a long time.
Each year I feel like I have stepped into my own skin that much more.
Wanna talk tattoos or the marking of time?
P.S. Surrender has begun with prep week, there is still time to join us! Would love to move through time with you.
I may have mentioned before that I am a Highly Sensitive Person. I attract other HSPeople because it feels so freaking awesome to be understood. So here are some behind the scenes notes from my world.
I've had these baby bangs for about a year now. When you are sensitive, it is important to feel deliciously beautiful in your skin. When my bangs would touch my eyes or my face I couldn't breathe. I wore lots of scarfs in my hair for the longest time just to keep all the hair off my face. I had the idea to make my bangs really short and my love affair with the baby bang was born.
All the reasons not to get them: You have a cowlick, they are hard to style, they so wouldn't fit your face. Well, I heard all of those and I did it anyway. Love these bangs. And I love Instagram, come find me @hannahmarcotti
Sensitive is beautiful and has its unique challenges. I like to think of them as my growth chart. Just like a child uses a pencil to mark how tall they are getting on the wall, I mark my awakening to the joys of being HSP. Realizing what is actually the gift inside of it all.
I take things really personally, meaning I feel what may not be intended. A small comment said in jest or otherwise can leave me feeling raw and emotional for days. It allows me to learn that it isn't all about me. It gives me a chance to practice speaking the truth, asking questions, digging a little bit deeper. And sometimes it just leaves me in a panic. PANIC! I am feeling my way through this and my number one fear, that people won't like me. Oh my, can I just let go of that one already? Almost.
When I'm going through stuff, I retreat. It might be for a few days or a few months. I'm coming off of a whole lot of months where I have needed to do some healing, thinking, learning, stretching and surrendering. I feel strong, like I am coming out of a deep winter hibernation. I am letting the sun shine down on my face. I have unending gratitude for being able to run a business online, it is a blessing for a HSP.
So I went and had my bangs trimmed and my eyebrows waxed. I'm feeling a strong need to start doing more connecting in person, to move through the world being seen.
Bangs and all.
(And while we are on the topic of retreats, I have on my manifesting list, To be asked to teach at a retreat where I can wear yoga pants.)
Monday with Lori Portka - AnaLisa Rutstein
Tuesday with Dyamond Robinson-Patlyek - Brandi Yee
Wednesday with me and Surrender - Lacey Wright and The Spot from our angel donor - Ruth Clark
Thursday with Jenn Gibson - Heather Day
Friday with Vapour Organic Beauty - Tahirih
Saturday with Chelsea Biggs - Geordan Montalvo
This week on the blog I am hosting beauty week. What is beautiful through your eyes?
Want to know two of the things that I think are most beautiful? Dreaming and action. Together they are secret sauce, butterfly magic, manifest beauty.
Dreaming felt impossible for me until I realized that my dreams were just that, my own to hold and cradle and nurture. Just like comparing my kids to yours, comparing my dreams to yours was the surest way to blow them out. Ignite and extinguish.
As I watch and guide women around me to start to dream and move, move, move, I know that I have found my beautiful work.
Today Chelsea Biggs from The Utopian Collection shares beauty through her eyes. Chelsea and I met at a party. I was drawn to her first from her immense beauty (this girl shines) and then from the way she talked about her business. I could talk about new businesses for hours. It took us about a year to finally meet for dinner!
Chelsea is multi-passionate. Not quite sure what she can't do. For the last 102ish days she has made a bag a day. I'm completely in awe of this. From the dream to the action. This is how you rock beautiful work. Surrendering to the dream and making it happen.
What is beautiful through your eyes?
Through my eyes beauty is confidence
to be who you are and where you are today
Beauty is compassion for those you love
for all those who you pass in your day
Beauty is the simple things
a piece of a robin's egg on a walk
a smile from your lover
flower petals in the streets
a morning storm
Beauty is not something to strive for
it is a state of mind.
Live in Beauty.
You are Beautiful.
Chelsea is offering one beautiful person a gorgeous feather hair clip. I have two, no three, of these. Sometimes we just have to wear a feather in our hair. To enter to win, simply leave a comment below with an answer to this question:
How do you make space to dream your beautiful dreams?
(Winners from the week will be announced on Monday 5-21-2012!)
This week on the blog I am hosting beauty week. What is beautiful through your eyes?
I discovered Vapour and fell happily for every product they have. Gluten-free and cruelty free, so no worries about safety. My dog ate my favorite product from them and he seemed to want more.
I feel beautiful in make-up and I feel beautiful without it. I have found that if I do my hair and put on make-up I am more productive. I say nicer things to myself in my chattering mind. I feel like being seen.
Our outside reflects what is happening on the inside. Ever see a women who has gone through a break up go out and cut all her hair off? Or watch as someone becomes crazy joyful and they start to drop weight and dress with a tad of sparkle? Do you notice that on days you wear jewelry that you carry yourself in a more beautiful fashion?
Beauty is in our soul, our spirit and our physical world. I give you permission to want to look and feel beautifully and dress in a way that shows it off.
If you were part of the summer Joy Up you'll remember one day's soulwork was all about reconnecting to the person you used to be. The one that wore red cowgirl boots or feathers in her hair. The girl who used to put scarves around her neck and collected big earrings. The red lipstick wearing woman who traded her color for chapstick in her diaper bag.
Beauty feels good. When we wear beauty on the outside it transforms our insides.
So if you haven't put on lipstick for a while, hear is a dare to go out and find an outrageously lovely color and smear it on. And take a picture. And love yourself up a bit. Yes, mamas and friends, you are hot!!!!
What is beautiful through your eyes? (from comments on the blog or FB page)
Foggy days, love them! - Liz
The world around me when I am laying in my hammock. - Michelle
Sunlight streaming in the windows and lighting up the fur flying about. - Melissa
Everything I see right now...I can't choose one. My daughter howling and laughing with her monster movie. My houseplants soaking up the last bits of indirect sunlight. The contrast of the tree leaves against the blue blue sky interspersed with cotton clouds. The love and fox bracelets on my wrists, which I've always been fond of. The kindergarten writing on the chalkboard. The table full of family things. The clean kitchen, which I'm about to go cook in. And how GOOD it feels to sit here in this space that reflects me back to me and soak it all in. - Anna
Today beauty is coming across photos of myself from two years ago, taken by someone I don’t know, and thinking, “Oh. Hey. I look beautiful.” I could not have seen that back then. Today is knowing I recognize both my inner AND outer beauty. - Jennifer
today beauty through my eyes is the shit path. the muck and the poo and the dank and dark places. seeing them now, as i am able, from this side of peace, joy, more clarity and love than i’ve ever known, they now possess a certain beauty to me. one wrapped up in surrender. as once i did, surrender that is, it seemed to begin clearing away. - Latisha
For me… today, in this moment… beauty is allowing myself to admit that I’ve lost the beauty I used to find in myself and allowing myself to begin the search for her again. - Amber
Today's giveaway is two shades of lipstick from Vapour Organic Beauty. Thank you Vapour! Hint and Restraint. I love how smooth and silky the lipstick is. It might make giving out a few kisses today much more fun.To enter to win, simply leave a comment below with an answer to this question:
I am eager for the lists that make their way out on sleepy Friday mornings. Today I am a Decaf Earl Grey, every sip devoured and desired, guiltily grateful my son wanted the pizza hot lunch so I only had to make one lunch and already spent far too much time online this morning (meaning, so has my Lucas) kind of mama.
These are my pay-it-forward lists.
Please welcome Lisa Consiglio-Ryan to Mama Space today. Lisa is one of my Mamacoach superstar clients and I wanted to show her off a bit to you all! Lisa has been working with us for the last 6 months to develop her voice and her business from her heart center. This is who she is, what she loves. Please welcome the voice of Lisa...
Self-love is probably the number one way of boosting your mood and honoring the relationship with yourself.
I know that I get so busy, taking care of the kids, the house and running my own business, I sometimes forget about me. Little ole’ me needs some lovin’ too.
To find love, you must first find it in yourself. Then the whole Universe will mirror it back.
There are tons of ways to love yourself up. You can get a massage, go shopping, read a book, take a short trip, hike in nature or just soak in the tub with a glass of wine.
These all sound amazing, but let’s talk about another way to show your body some love. Practice self-love with food. And not just any food.
Dark leafy greens. (And you thought I would suggest chocolate!)
Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, collards…
These leafy greens will boost your mood, keep emotions steady and ultimately heal you and the world around you. As you eat more and more green goodness, your body will start to go through a transformation. Your cells will begin to change, breathing in the oxygen from all those leafy greens, feeding your blood.
While this is happening, over time, you will notice that your behavior, thoughts and emotions will change. As you pump your body with these whole foods, REAL foods, the more REAL you feel. You start to feel more compassionate towards others, but best of all, you will be compassionate towards yourself.
It all starts with you. Once you treat your body as a temple, a sacred home, your thoughts and actions will shift. This shift will lead to healing and will foster self-love.
The fastest, easiest way to feed your blood with greens is by juicing. By juicing, you are getting all the vital nutrients and minerals into your bloodstream within minutes. Keeping emotions level, your thoughts pure and practicing self-love in the most basic way.
The first step is healing you. As you start to change, your family and friends, see this change and often times mirror you. Others around you take on your gentle demeanor; your kindness and love. This ripple effect can happen. I promise you.
Start with feeding your gorgeous body liquid nutrition.
It changes your cells, and your being which is a gentle way to connect to your body, soul, and to others. Self-love in this form is life-changing.
*Try this juice to boost mood, level out emotions, and to cleanse blood. This juice will have a gorgeous green hue.
Juice = Love
1 handful of spinach
1 handful of parsley
1 celery stalk
1 pear
½ lime
Run through a juicer, put in a pretty glass, and drink up.
***
Lisa Consiglio Ryan is the founder of Whole Health Designs, juicy clean living advocate, Bikram yoga newbie, and mama of two. She provides detox programs for women who desire to embrace clean living. Lisa is also developing her own line of raw juices.
Join Lisa for her popular Spring Renewal 10 Day Detox. Enjoy this gentle food-based cleanse and guidance on taking care of your gorgeous body.
I am eager for the lists that make their way out on sleepy Friday mornings. Today I am a mug of decaf green tea followed by a raw chocolate smoothie followed by making breakfasts, lunches, driving kids to school, walking dog, coming home and having breakfast with my littlest and then both of us getting some screen time to chill out kind of mama.
These are my pay-it-forward lists.
I'll be at the Joy Circle tonight, sorry we are filled up, but we'll do it again, and the circle will be traveling, stay tuned for a bit of how we are making that one happen. Mama wants to pack her bags and heels!
And The Joy Up starts tomorrow, you with us? I was just looking through the first week and I can't wait to start talking about it with our tribe.
The Joy Up starts on Saturday. I hope you'll join us.
A quick reminder to those that have signed up to get ready for Friday night together in the circle. I am so excited to stand, sit, move, laugh, learn, listen, share and be inspired by all of you.
For those of you who live a bit too far away the circle will be traveling. Stay tuned for details of that fun and...if you haven't yet, sign ups for The Joy Up continue for 5 more days and then we begin!
Friday, March 30th at Om Kids Yoga Center
7:00 (arrive at 7 we start at 7:15) -9:15pm
$20 - leave a comment below letting me know you are coming and call the studio to reserve a circle spot (space is limited)! 401.305.3667
The Joy UP comes to life! The joy circle is a place for women to come together with the intention of making space in their lives for more joy. We will talk about story, soulwork, ritual and stillness. This is for women who are ready to empower their lives through their thoughts and choices.
Can two hours of your time increase the amount of joy in your life? Come find out.
I am eager for the lists that make their way out on sleepy Friday mornings. Today I am a mug of decaf green tea followed by a kombucha green juice followed by making breakfasts, lunches, driving kids to school, coming home and having breakfast with my littlest (today we have my middle one home too) and then both of us all of us getting some screen time to chill out kind of mama.
These are my pay-it-forward lists.
The Joy UP starts in one week. Have you joined us?
I am eager for the lists that make their way out on sleepy Friday mornings. I am a mug of decaf followed by lemon water followed by making breakfasts, lunches, driving kids to school, coming home and having breakfast with my littlest and then both of us getting some screen time to chill out kind of mama.
Learning of new faces and places that make up this magically inspiring online world is part of my Friday joy. I thought I would pay it forward so I kept a list of all my favorite reading from the week, some new, some older as I dig through archives.
Sign Up for the April Joy UP, Connecting to Our Spirits of Joy, is happening now. Pay what feels good - and I mean that (you do not have to justify or apologize) because this program is made to be available to everyone, regardless of money in the bank. Will you join us?
Friday, March 30th at Om Kids Yoga Center
7:00 (arrive at 7 we start at 7:15) -9:15pm
$20 - leave a comment below letting me know you are coming and call the studio to reserve a circle spot (space is limited)! 401.305.3667
The Joy UP comes to life! The joy circle is a place for women to come together with the intention of making space in their lives for more joy. We will talk about story, soulwork, ritual and stillness. This is for women who are ready to empower their lives through their thoughts and choices.
Can two hours of your time increase the amount of joy in your life? Come find out.
Highlights of the circle include a 3 minute exercise that will teach you the incredible power of your thoughts, sharing our voices as we dig into what you need to make space for in your life, gentle yoga* with our guest Erin Goodman, a guided meditation and lots of connecting and filling up with sparkly moments (aka =aha moments!).
Have you been saying to yourself that you need more time for you, for deeper connection with other woman who are on a similar journey into their truth and for joy?
This is your circle.
As my first live event in months, come meet me in person so I can give you a great big hug. ;)
Om Time Tea will be served at the circle and is sponsored by Love and Tea. A tasty and gloriously healthy treat will be there for everyone and sponsored by RAW Foods Inc.
Bring a water bottle and a small journal for jotting down some thoughts and inspirations that may arise.
*You do not need to have ever done yoga before, the yoga is gentle and is there to help us integrate the thoughts we will be learning and talking about into the body. The circle will be a sensory experience.
If you would like to host a Joy Circle on the East Coast, please email me at hello@hannahmarcotti.com and we can talk about the details.
17 letters with story and inspiration towards helping you create more space in your heart, your home and your mind. Written with love and filled with blessings.
