“Chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs and surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.” – The Association of Chiropractic Colleges.

So what is chiropractic care anyway?

Coined the “godfather of chiropractic”, D.D. Palmer was the first person to claim that spinal abnormalities were the root causes of many diseases in the body, well over 120 years ago. Palmer began treating his own patients in the 1890’s, and opened the first school offering training in chiropractic techniques in 1897.

The Palmer College of Chiropractic states that the purpose of chiropractic care is to optimize the health of your body, and the ability for it to heal itself of everyday stressors and ailments, naturally. The spine and the nervous system are so interconnected, and on a biochemical and cellular level have the ability to change our health for the better in dramatic ways.

Chiropractors are focused on removing vertebral subluxations, (blocks), in the body to help improve nervous system and organ functionalities. There are a lot of different methods and techniques for adjustments out there, giving you a wide range of options to find what best works for you.

Should you be getting regular chiropractic care?

I’ve been going to a chiropractor for over 10 years of my adult life and consider my chiropractor my “wellness doctor”. I remember going with my dad to the chiropractor when I was a kid and being traumatized by hearing the doctor “crack” him, sometimes even crying in the chair during his entire adjustment. But then during my college years when I was on a serious holistic health kick I came across a local chiropractic wellness center and ended up falling in love with the practice as a whole (and I even seriously contemplated changing my school path to become one).

I’ve continued seeing a chiropractor through my adult life for “maintenance care” and will continue to do so for as long as I can! Even if you are not experiencing localized neck or back pain, it’s still important to remove the subluxations in your body, preventing your nervous system from functioning at its optimal levels. Our nervous system is our master controller of everything in our bodies, and our spines are responsible to protect it. Everything is so interconnected, and if our tissues and organs are functioning better, then so is our nervous system, and vice versa! When things are out of tune, blocked, or impacted by stressors, that is when we start to see illness, ailments and disease (dis-ease) in the body.

To me, it makes a whole heck of a lot more sense to partake in preventative wellness measures than to pay the price with my “sickness doctor” down the road.

How can regular chiropractic care benefit you?

There are so many ways my friends, but let’s go over a list of 10 reasons to start!

Increased Immune System Response

Did you know that regular chiropractic care can dramatically improve your bodies immune system functionality? Rumor had it back in my clinic days that that increase could be as huge as a whopping 200%! If anyone were to ever ask me my secret to not getting sick, this is it. I haven’t had the flu in as long as I can remember and I rarely come down with even the common cold. Our nervous system controls the functionality of our organs, and their ability to fight off viruses and bacteria. So it makes sense that optimal nervous system functionality is key to keeping us all healthy all the time, and through every season!

Lowered blood pressure

Chiropractic adjustments can help lower blood pressure and is described by WebMD as being as powerful as taking several blood pressure medications at once – plus it’s a natural remedy! There is even a technique known in the chiropractic world, called the “Atlas Adjustment” that targets lowering blood pressure specifically. But if that’s not enough to convince you, in 2007 a world expert on hypertension, George Bakris, published a study in the Human Journal of Hypertension showing that one chiropractic adjustment had the same effect as two blood pressure lowering medications.

Relief from allergies

So many people suffer from seasonal allergies and just mask the symptoms with medications instead of getting to the root cause of it all. I used to suffer from seasonal allergies bad, to the point of always getting debilitating sinus infections. Once I finally understood that incorporating regular chiropractic care to remove the interference from my nervous system, I no longer have to worry about the pollen count or the spring time budding.

As stated by my local chiropractor, The Joint, “If your immune system is functioning at its best then it will be able keep out the invaders that make you sick, like pollen, mold or dust.  It will work right and instead of making you sicker, it will help you to stay well.”

Increased digestion & lowered inflammation

Even our stomachs are controlled by the nerves that run through our spinal cord, and when misaligned they can cause things like acid reflux, indigestion, gas, heartburn, etc. When you remove the subluxations blocking these neural pathways, you can typically eliminate most digestion related conditions.

According to Natural News Health Ranger, many studies also show that regular chiropractic care can help restore optimal functionality in those that suffer a wide range of digestive disturbances.  A lot of bodily conditions we experience can be caused by irritation to spinal cord roots –– something that chiropractic care can help to relieve!

Increased exercise and athletic ability

Your body won’t just be operating at a higher functionality, you will feel more energized too! Removing nerve subluxations allows your muscles and organs to give you their all for each workout or athletic activity you participate in. Many pro athletes receive regular chiropractic care to help them give their best A-game.  In fact, all 32 NFL teams use chiropractors! Regular adjustments can give you an increased range of motion, reduced recovery time, decreased muscle soreness, and natural pain relief.

Relief from headaches and migraines

Chiropractic care can remove stress and interference of the nerves in every part of your body, but especially your head. As stated by Natural News, “The brain is the master control system for the entire body…When there is interference in this neurological feedback loop, it alters the environment the brain perceives itself to be in.” While working at a natural health office, anytime I was feeling a headache coming on an adjustment immediately cleared the fog and pain away. chiropractic adjustments are also a great approach to treat migraines. Second only to back pain, most chiropractic clinics state that headaches and migraines are the next most common reason people seek out care. 

Joint pain relief

Any musculoskeletal pain or conditions can be treated with safe and non-invasive chiropractic care. Aside from joint pain, this also includes low back pain and stiffness. Chiropractors can also make adjustments to other areas of your body – not just your spine. In past years I’ve had my ankles, knees, and even my fingers adjusted for optimal relief! Overall adjustments give your joints more mobility and reduce joint restrictions and inflammation. According to the Arthritis Foundation, “there are more than 150 techniques that chiropractors use to manually adjust the spine, joints and muscles with varying degrees of force.”

Increased energy levels

Regular chiropractic care can increase your energy levels by releasing tension we hold in our spine which then allows our nervous system to work more effectively. It can also help you sleep better at night which in turn helps increase your overall energy during the day, according to The Joint. By reducing tiresome troubles we experience, we could all be functioning with much higher energy levels. So many of us are tense and we don’t even know it until something health related points it out for us. Many chiropractors say that a frequent cause of fatigue is a misaligned spine.

Decreased Spinal Disc Degeneration

“The ultimate goal of chiropractic care for disc degeneration is to help and improve the joint mechanics by reducing cases of inflammation and improving overall spinal motion.” – The Joint.

It sounds super scary, and it definitely can be, but a lot of us are experiencing disc degeneration in our spine and might not even know it! I grew up very athletic, playing a lot of contact sports, and never would have thought that staying fit and active could cause my spinal discs to start degenerating.

There are other reasons this can happen too, but contact sports definitely comes into play. Regular chiropractic care can help stop the degeneration from happening further, but unfortunately there still isn’t any way to “grow” the discs back. Chiropractors are able to take scans and X-rays of your spines “current condition” and help formulate a care plan that will work best for you to keep your spine as healthy as possible.

Increased holistic wellness

Natural News says it well, “chiropractic is health care, not disease care.” Our bodies have an innate ability to restore themselves, and our nervous systems hold the key to incredible potential to have us operating at our best. We ourselves also have the power to help set our bodies up to succeed through things like regular exercise, nutrition, and chiropractic care.

You are only one adjustment away from a good mood.

The list of benefits is exhaustive in the all the best ways possible, and there are so many more positive ways chiropractic care can impact your life. Studies show that regular adjustments can also help with things like ear infections, ADHD, asthma, infantile colic, food sensitivities, neurological conditions, sciatica, ulcers, regulation of menstrual cycles and so much more!

The best part is that chiropractic care is completely natural, and safe and effective for everyone, of all ages, and is even highly encouraged for infants, due to the oftentimes traumatic stressors of birth – especially c-sections, and the elderly, who could always benefit from an extra boost of wellness to stay optimally strong! Regular chiropractic care can help our bodies operate the way they were designed and intended to, and heal on their own.

If you’re interested in finding your own chiropractor, the best way to do so is to check out what options might be available to you locally, or even ask around to friends and family for a referral. You can also check what is covered through your insurance, but I personally have chosen to go to chiropractors who don’t operate through insurance and pick out a private plan instead. Chiropractic care is complementary to mainstream medicinal approaches too.

Our spine really is our lifeline, so we have to do what we can to treat it right! 

It’s actually ironic, considering how many jobs I’ve had in the last 10 years of my life, as I’ve struggled to find my place in the working world post-college, but yet it never gets any easier each time I decide it’s time for me to move on.

In many cases, and by no means am I proud of this, I’ve done anything possible to avoid the act of quitting, including never showing up again, mailing back keys to the employer so I wouldn’t have to see them, sending email resignations, sending text resignations. You name it and in the past 15 years, I’ve probably done it. It’s embarrassing. But I’ve ultimately learned a lot from those choices.

My incredibly unrealistic fear of quitting is something that has been on my mind a lot when diving into my own self-reflections. Maybe my fear comes from the thought of giving up on something; maybe it’s the idea of being considered a failure and not “good enough” to handle the job; maybe it’s a fear of how I’m perceived. But I also think it’s something within myself that makes me feel like I just can’t seem to figure this whole working world thing out. Regardless of what it is, it’s an irrational fear I’ve worked hard to conquer over the last four years as I’ve quit two “big girl” positions.

Since I was 26 years old, I’ve been working in Corporate America –– offices and cubicles, break rooms and meeting rooms, outlook scheduling, and conference calls. This has been my life, and I really have mostly enjoyed it! I worked hard to create a name for myself in both corporate jobs I’ve been in the past four years.

It ultimately means quitting with grace would be even more expected of me –– and rightfully so! Within my most recent position I also reported directly to our company’s CEO, which held me to a higher standard than other positions I’ve had before. While that means leaving may be even scarier, it also means that leaving on good terms is even more important.

So what do you do when you decide an opportunity isn’t right for you anymore? Where do you start? Do you quit in person or over email? How much notice do you give?

These are all really great conversations to have with yourself and questions that will depend most on your own unique position and situation. Speaking from experience, here is what I’ve found to be the best tips to keep in mind when leaving a job of any kind.

Quitting Best Practices

Put yourself first

Step one for me is creating a strong sense of self. For me this means finding any way possible to remain calm and in control. As I’ve mentioned above, the thought of quitting a job sends me into a completely paralyzing state of fear. Sleepless nights, flutters, anxiety jitters, digestive issues, crazy eating schedule, stomach aches and literal sickness as my immune system gets all out of whack.

I create a terrible amount of stress on myself, all of which is ultimately not needed and not going to help me transition through my process.

The self-care practices I’ve found the most helpful in preparing for my transition include: structured exercise, journaling, anxiety reducing supplements like CBD, creating an action plan in my head of what to say and how to say it (and practicing what I would want to say either out loud to myself or to someone else), and trying my best to get adequate sleep.

Pro tip: Remember, worrying about the outcome of the future doesn’t serve you at all and makes you have to live through that experience twice! (Easier said than done, I know, but still!)

Give your notice in person

The number one ultimate fearful part of quitting a job: doing it in person. This has always terrified me in every way possible. The thought of confrontation, in having to tell your boss that you don’t want to do this anymore, completely overwhelms me. I think this stems from my intrapersonal connective nature of relating to others and forming bonds and relationships with people I meet, and having them think I “give up on them” or “quit them” versus the job itself.

Regardless of what fear you may have, you should always quit your job in person, out of respect and to allow you the ability to have a face-to-face conversation about your situation. Who knows, maybe there is something that can be worked out to better your position and allow you to stay, or further networking opportunities available. Either way, this is a bridge best not burned and you will be given the highest regard from your superiors by quitting your job in person.

Don’t get me wrong, email is a way easier method, especially in this technological era we live in. But if I’m being honest, it’s also a cop out. It’s a way to avoid.

Most recently, in quitting my corporate Executive Assistant position, I was 100% fully prepared to send an email. I even had the entire draft written. But I knew deep down inside that it didn’t feel right and so I thought it over for a few days and even talked with some friends who ultimately made me realize that sending an email would be a humongous mistake. Providing your notice in person shows maturity, and respect for yourself and others.

Pro tip: You may also find it helpful to bring a printed copy of your written notice with you when quitting in person. Write your notice in a letter format and print on letterhead or as is. State an overview of why you are leaving, what you have learned from working here and what value you have found in your position or those you have worked with.

Provide two weeks notice

Unless you have a circumstance out of your control, such as an immediate need to relocate or start a job quickly, it is best practice to provide a two weeks notice, out of courtesy to your employer. Consider this standard practice to allow them time to decide what they are doing to do about your position and how they will replace it.

One of the things I’ve struggled with a lot in terms of my notice is how long of one to provide. I always feel a sense of owing something to the company, as if I should provide a longer notice because I feel bad, or I know it will take a while to replace me, or I do so much work and who is going to do it when I’m gone … blah, blah, blah.

The biggest takeaway here is that you do not owe anything to anyone in terms of leaving a position. People leave jobs all the time, and quite honestly you are replaceable. Your position is replaceable. The most important thing is for me to worry about myself and what is best for me. There is no reason to need to provide longer than a two week transition, as that is the standard societal practice.

Disclaimer: The only exclusion to the two week notice would be if you are bound by a contract or other sort stating that you must provide x weeks notice. This is very position dependent and I am speaking from a ‘standard’ point of view only.

Tell your Boss before telling others

Do yourself, and your employer a big favor and don’t go around spreading your news to others before you have had a chance to tell your leader. You wouldn’t want it to get around to them before you have had a chance to talk to them, because who knows…that could result in immediate release.

The best practice here is to tell your leader prior to telling anyone else, and to discuss with them any timeline or specific way that they would like you to share the news with others in the company or within your own department. In most cases you should be able to collaborate together a way that works best for all.

In my experience, I have scheduled a time to tell my team in a meeting and also discussed a date when an email would go out to other leaders in the company to allow me to anticipate the reactions.

Pro tip: The only exclusion to this best practice is if you have a very TRUSTED work bestie –– someone who you can ultimately work through this process with to help guide you and offer you helpful, positive advise through your process. It would be expected that this person also does not go around spreading your news to others and fully supports you throughout all your decisions.

Don’t gossip 

So you’ve decided to leave, for any number of reasons, and that’s great! But that doesn’t mean that you should talk negatively about the company or anyone you know while fulfilling your last two weeks.

Frankly, it’s just not classy and it’s not a good way to shine your true colors on your way out the door. Karma is real, so make sure not to skip over the golden rule here: Treat others how you would want to be treated.

Pro tip: In many cases, you may also have an exit interview or have an opportunity while speaking with your leader to provide feedback on your time with the company or on your position. I like to state things that worked well, and things that could be done differently or improved upon.

Brace yourselves, a farewell email is coming

The biggest key in quitting any job is to trust yourself, go with your gut instinct and remember your own worth. There will always be other jobs and other opportunities in life. There are also many more ways to live a successful life making money, aside from the typical corporate/working routine most generations before us have grown up in and are used to.

It’s okay to be different and it’s okay to want more out of life. If you’ve decided a job isn’t right for you, either for another kind of opportunity or altogether, that’s OK. Just remember that no matter what, it’s not any reason to burn the bridges you’ve created or to purposefully disrespect those you have worked with.

Always quit your job with grace, as you never know when you might need these people or opportunities down the road. Keep your best composure, be confident in your own decisions, and then move on with your life! You’ve got this. I believe in you!

I feel like I have came across, heard of, and read so many great books just within the last year even! Check out my current five favorite books I’ve read within the last year, and the top five books lined up in my queue right now.

5 books I’ve read and loved

“Light Is The New Black” by Rebecca Campbell

This will be one of those books that I read over and over again until the pages wear out. At least a handful of times while reading this book the words brought me to tears –– tears of truth, tears of joy, and tears of feeling so understood on a soul level.

Rebecca has designed this book in such a unique way, where it really doesn’t quite matter what part you start at or what ‘chapter’ you read first. All of the chapter are relevant and completely independent of one another. I did read the book from start to finish, but if you wanted to use it more as a guideline for meditation, a mantra for the day, or an intuitive ‘pull’, you could really just flip to any random page that resonates with you and start there for the day!

I find Rebecca’s words, poems and stories so inspiring and so profound. This is truly a great read for any empath, soul sister, lightworker or goddess out there.

“Material Girl, Mystical World” by Ruby Warrington

Real life meets metaphysical wonder –– this book is for the aspiring goddess and astro-curious alike. I’ve already been a long time follower of Ruby and her online magazine called The Numinous. I’ve heard her speak on many podcasts and actively follow her and Alexandra Roxo on Instagram. This book was such a great insight into her world and how she got involved in it.

She wrote this in a clever way, where her story is written toward those that are both beginner and intermediate level familiar with astrology. As a longtime lover and student to the astrological world, I still learned a lot of new things in reading this book and found myself bookmarking so many pages to go back to and re-read more!

This book takes you on a journey through modern spirituality with things like meditation and tarot, and also adds a super stylish and relatable approach to the cosmos.

“I’m Fine & Other Lies” by Whitney Cummings

Easily one of my favorite “self-help” books out there, if you would even call it that. Whitney dives DEEP into her personal life, and the ups and downs she has overcome in health and wellness, spirituality and her own personal demons. I loved her before, but I love her even more after hearing her story and finding myself relating to her on so many new levels.

Through her sharing her own journey and what she personally went through, I have in turn learned a lot about myself and similar things I have felt or gone through. Whitney is very relatable and helps you understand that anything you are going through is OKAY to be going through. Plus she adds a twist of humor to everything and is so honest and raw. It’s like a breath of fresh air!

“There Is No F*cuking Secret” by Kelly Osbourne

I was skeptical about this book. I’ve never really been a fan of the Osbourne family and wasn’t quite sure Kelly was going to tell me anything life-changing. I found this book at the local library and decided to give it a shot.

Now it is one of my all-time favorites and filled me with inspiration to always speak my truth, embrace who I am from the inside out, and not be afraid to show the world who I am! Kelly may not have always been the most typical role model, but her perspective is hard won after years of being in the Osbourne family, dealing with the celebrity limelight, dealing with her dad’s drug use and addictions, and the pressures of living up to her name and wanting to fit in.

In all seriousness I had to stop every page or so to write down some mind-altering amazing quote she said, because I resonated with it so much!

“What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding” by Kristin Newman

You could probably say that this book is geared toward single girls, and travel addicts, but I would also say it’s geared towards those aspiring to live their very best life! Amongst many things, this book lights a fire under my desire to see and conquer the entire world. And it also inspires me to stop saying yes to the same old shit that doesn’t light me up anymore. Kristin inspires me to get out of my comfort zone and live life a totally different way in an effort to feel more full.

Full disclosure: It will be nearly impossible to read this book and NOT have an immediate urge to book your next vacation. Consider yourself warned!

5 books in my queue:

“Rise Sister Rise” by Rebecca Campbell

As the sequel to “Light is the new Black”, this book is designed in the same way –– allowing the reader to start at any point, any chapter, any page, and still find value and significant meaning.

Consider this a guide to unleashing the full potential of the wild woman that lives deep within your soul. Rebecca says she wrote this book for all the mystics out there who agreed on a soul level to help lead the global shift in consciousness that this world desperately needs. We are in the rise of the feminine energy right now, and what better way to connect with greater impact and meaning than to read this book. I love the way Rebecca speaks from her soul and lifts you up with empowering words, journal questions, and real life examples of how she implements things into her own life.

“Disrupt-Her: A Manifesto For The Modern Woman” by Miki Agrawal

This is the go-to manifesto for the modern woman! Have you heard of Thinx period-proof underwear for women’s menstrual cycles? How about Hello Tushy? The founder of both, Miki Agrawal, wrote this book, and was recently featured on the Almost 30 podcast giving insight to it all.

She is a revolutionary woman, paving the way for females across the globe. I was so inspired by her story and her energy that I immediately went on Amazon after listening to her podcast episode and ordered her book.

The purpose of this book is to light a fire in you and give you more of the f*ck yes mentality, all while challenging you to question all you’ve ever been told, and the status quo as it is. Miki’s energy is infectious, even over the speakers in my car, and I can’t wait to channel her vibes through her words.

I’ve always thought of myself as someone who asks those deeper questions, speaks out against things I don’t believe it, and sticks up for what I do – but I have a feeling this book will spark a whole new fire within me!

“Sober Curious” by Ruby Warrington

Sober Curious is Ruby’s second book, and one I’m incredibly intrigued by. This has been a hot topic in the lifestyle podcast community lately, and one that I find myself wanting to learn more about.

I love hearing her on podcast interviews describing what ‘sober curious’ means and how she has incorporated it into her life. Ruby isn’t writing from a perspective of telling people they need to quit drinking forever or that drinking is only just bad for you.

Instead, Ruby talks about how reducing your intake of alcohol can help you connect to yourself on a higher spiritual level, heal your insides, and make you just feel better overall. Ruby herself is not 100% sober and doesn’t like to say that she is. Instead she is just curious, and she’s definitely made me feel curious too!

I hate the aftermath of drinking alcohol and how it makes me feel sluggish, out of tune with my body, bloated and full of gut rot, and just all around not well. I’m excited to learn more about her journey and what being ‘sober curious’ means!

“Genius Foods” by Max Lugavere

Max is nothing short of a genius himself and is a self-taught health and wellness warrior! He is also one of my absolute favorite wellness people to follow on Instagram, as his posts are so educational, comical, and relatable. He uses real life examples to show you ways to eat better and breaks down the pros and cons of wellness trends you might be hearing about.

Max’s book is basically a food dictionary to all the best things to eat to optimize your functionality. Max paints the picture for us all on the critical link between the food that we eat and the way it affects how we think and how our brain ages.

“Human Design” by Ra Uru Hu

“Human Design” is a guidebook to the understanding of life itself, and a window into the concept of Human Design –– which is basically just Astrology on steroids. Consider it a massive manual to the spiritual world. Ra Uru Hu is the founder (also known as the messenger) of Human Design, or in other words the chosen one for the information to be ‘passed down’ to mankind.

Human Design is a new age understanding of our universal makeup and the mechanical nature of the mystical world. The book is quite thick and intimidating, but I plan to dive deep into every word on every page! If you don’t already know what your Human Design is, you pull your chart here . I am a Projector in Human Design, and that combined with my knowledge of my astrological birth chart has given me such a richer understanding into who I am and how I operate.

So many books, so little time…

Reading is a way for us all to expand our minds, open our eyes and fill up our hearts. As Dr. Seuss puts it, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” I’m at a point in my life now where I like to carry a good book with me always, wherever I go. In fact, I always make sure the bag I have is big enough to hold one. You just never know when you’ll have time to get some reading in.

A room without books is like a body without a Soul.

My entire adolescent years were defined by a number on a scale. My self-worth was also defined by that same number. I’m not going to lie to you and say that those years were easy, or that it’s been a walk in the park ever since, but it has been a continuous learning and growing experience nonetheless.

I struggled with self-esteem a lot growing up, and I struggled to have any love for my body at all. I remember crying myself to sleep, wishing I had a different hair color (natural redhead, oofta!), a different hair type (curly, frizzy hair – whoa!), and a completely re-designed body (supermodel please!).

It makes me sick to think it. I used to weigh myself, on average, 10-20 times a DAY. I became absolutely fixated on the number. I counted calories, skipped meals and overexerted myself in an effort to lose a pound or two. I became a victim of negative self-talk, depression, anorexia, and the whole kit and caboodle of low self-worth.

I avoided opportunities because I had already convinced myself I wasn’t good enough. I painted this ridiculous picture in my head of how I thought I had to look, feel, be, and refused to accept any other version of myself for way too many years.

This journey through self-love has been one that involves decades of shadow work, deep self-reflection, healing, reprogramming, and vulnerable counseling sessions to get to this point where I am now. For the most part, I feel like I’ve come a long way and healed a lot of wounds and scars.

Do I still have times where I compare myself to others, and get a bit lost in depressive thoughts? Of course! I am human after all. But I’ve learned a lot from my journey and am finding myself a lot stronger on the other end of my 20’s than I was at the beginning of them.

What I’ve learned throughout my 30 years

• Numbers on a scale don’t define me.
• Other people don’t define me.
• And neither define my overall health, wellbeing, or self-worth.

I spent so many years chasing the idea of something else, of another kind of ‘ideal’ body type, instead of just focusing on the one I have. Superficial ideas of life used to take over my entire self-perspective, and it’s honestly quite sad to think of all the years I wasted on that mentality. It’s also sad to think of how much of that thinking was programmed into me as a young girl, and how a lot of the times that pressure is only quadruped at school with your peers. There are times I wish I could go back to, but only to tell that part of me that everything is going to be okay, and that the world has so much more to offer than hating yourself until you fit into a size 0 pants.

So what’s the journey been like?

There is no crystal ball or no pair of sparkly red shoes you can tap together to just magically get you from point a to point b in terms of self-respect. The only way through this madness is to confront it, heal it and move on from it. You have to do the work, and break the negative patterns in the way you see yourself and your own worth. You have to find value in loving the skin you are in and the body you’ve been given.

Here are the things I’ve found to be the most helpful for me throughout my 30 year journey.

Experience

Time really does heal all, and you eventually start to perceive time, priorities, and things of great importance a lot differently. Sometimes life just teaches you the hard way, through experience. What mattered to me when I was 15, 20, or even 25 greatly differ from what matters to me now.

You grow up, and you start to see reality for what it really is, and not as your hormones direct you. Thankfully this also helps you to stop stressing so much about what other people think of you, as all that really matters is what you think about (and how you see) yourself. Experience gave me confidence that I was never able to find before. My experiences helped me break through layers of negative self-esteem and self-doubt, and learn to rise above it!

Books & podcasts

I have no shame in my game. Self-help books are my favorite kind of books to read. I love hearing another woman’s story, her struggles, her triumphs, the whole process –– all of what made her who she is. It shows that we are all human and we all go through a lot of the same things. It really helps to put things in perspective when you learn about your role models, those you look up to, going through the same self-esteem struggles as you have.

Podcasts have also been life changing for me, and I just think it’s unfortunate that I didn’t discover those until later in my twenties. It can be so healing to hear another person’s perspective. Podcasts I listen to give me a sense of community in the way they engage with their listeners and bring us all together in a safe space on social media platforms.

Books and podcasts help me feel more connected to women, and the unique journeys we go through with our bodies. Being able to relate to others, and feel like they relate to you too, is one of the most empowering feelings. And when I feel a stronger sense of self empowerment, I feel a stronger sense of self-love too.

A supportive circle of family and friends

I’ve been absolutely blessed in life with the most outstanding circle of family, friends, and even therapists too! (Note to self: therapy is nothing to be ashamed about either!) Even amongst everything, I can say that I’ve always been surrounded by loving, supportive, positive people who are doing what they can to live their best life. And in turn this makes me want to give love and support back to them!

It speaks volumes in your journey through self-love, to have a tribe of people there trying to pump you up and cheer you on no matter what. I’m thankful I’ve always been surrounded by love, even when I couldn’t find ways to feel love for myself.

If you don’t feel the kind of love you need in your close circle, you can always find ways to connect with others online and in social media groups. The internet gets a bad rap for how much time we spend on it, but there really are positive things happening in that space all the time. There are supportive Facebook groups these days for just about everything!

Self-Care

I wish I could scream this from every rooftop there is in the world, but self-care is not selfish! Not even one bit. Self-care is absolutely crucial in your journey through self-love.

If you don’t learn to put yourself first then you are just teaching everyone else that you put yourself last and that they can too. You teach other people how to best love you by showing them how it’s done.

You learn what you need by taking the time to figure yourself out and give yourself proper rest and recovery through each up and down you have.

My self-care practice has really developed into a special part of my life that I just can’t do without anymore. I notice such a difference in my stress levels, negative self-talk and overall wellbeing when I am not getting the amount of self-care I need during busy weeks.

Life gets crazier as we get older, but that doesn’t mean that life has to get harder on us too. It doesn’t mean that we have to love ourselves less. It means we need to love ourselves more so we can absolutely thrive!

The key here to to listen to your body and what it’s trying to tell you it needs.

Spirituality

The metaphysical world has helped me see that we are all connected, and that we are all beautiful souls just the way we are. Spirituality has been the biggest game changer for me in terms of my journey through self-love and acceptance. There is no end to what you can learn and discover about yourself when you start to dive into your own spiritual practice. The possibilities for love and healing are endless.

Some of the key things I’ve focused on even in just the past 1-2 years, are things like confronting my own shadows, and learning to ride through my feelings instead of dismissing them.

I’ve also used Astrology and Human Design to deeper understand how my own soul operates, which means both the light and the dark sides of who I am. Confronting your own shadows ultimately helps you heal them and there are so many great tools, courses, and groups to help show you where to start.

One of the best tools I’ve learned is to reflect (or journal) on times when you were younger and specific situations you struggled through, and tell yourself the things you needed to hear back then but didn’t get to. Tell yourself it will be okay and that you are enough. Tell yourself you are loved even if you feel or look a certain way.

Self-reflection helps me to clear out the noise and focus on the positive instead of the negative. The further I dig, the greater sense of connection I have to myself and I feel a greater sense of love for who I am too.

The grass is so much greener on the other side of comparison, self-hate, and negativity.

It feels so great to be at a point in my life where I don’t fixate on numbers or comparisons anymore.

Nowadays, I also say yes to drinks with friends, to dessert on weekends, and the occasional carb overload (because #balance). The rest of the time I choose healthy options for myself, meal prep, workout, and taking the time to learn how to be a better me.  

I actively strive to carve an hour out of each day to devote to what I need to feel loved and to feel whole. But that’s just it –– over the past 30 years I’ve learned how to be whole on my own and not through the approval of anyone else. I’ve learned how to love myself again, like I did back before society brainwashed me into thinking I had to be a certain way.

I feel like I finally understand that nothing is worth obsessing over for this idea of perfection. Balance is what I strive for and I know that perfection is a lie we are all taught to think exists. I know now that there will be good days and bad days, and I will make mistakes, but as long as I can still find a way to grow from those mistakes, and love myself through the process, then everything is going to be okay in the end.

I listen to my body – because I love her, and I want to give her the best. If you don’t love yourself, and love the body you are in, it makes it a lot harder to give and receive love with others too.

You just get them, and they just get you – on a whole different cosmic playing field. It’s so relieving to not have to explain yourself to someone and have them just get you for who you are.

Whenever I meet someone like this, I always like to take a guess at what their zodiac sign is, and the funny thing is I’m usually right, or at least get it on the second try!

See the thing is, I recognize patterns in the types of people I seemingly get along with best, and how their cosmic makeup is displayed through their personalities, their emotions, and the way they show love and passion. I like to use astrology as a way to understand how these traits interact in personal and romantic relationships for me and for everyone else.

Can we ultimately get along with (or even potentially love) just about anyone out there though, despite their cosmic traits? Sure, of course we can!

Just by being more self-aware, and understanding of how another person operates, or in this case, what their cosmic chart say, helps us understand someone’s unique energies and how they intertwine with our own.

In terms of beginner astrology, each one of us is born with a specific cosmic footprint. Our birth chart, also known as our astrology natal chart, is basically our universal blueprint with the position of key planets and cosmic components in the sky the very moment we were born. Our unique identity of energy and persona.

Sidenote: Did you know you can calculate anyone’s birth chart online? The Astro Twins have a link on their website – all you need to know is date of birth (and year), TIME of birth, and location. Time is super important, but if you don’t know it you can always put 12 PM, or use your best guess. Here is the link to complete your natal code map!

Without getting too black-hole-deep into what a birth chart is completely made of, let’s just talk about zodiac signs first, which I’m guessing you’ve heard of?

Your zodiac sign, also known as your sun sign, is the center core of who you are – the solar system of your natal chart.

Each zodiac sign is also ruled by one of the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. Sun signs that are ruled by the same element have a stronger ability to harmonize with one another, and truly understand each other on a deeper level.

Fire: Aires, Leo, Sagittarius

Earth: Taurus, Capricorn, Virgo

Air: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Water: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

When I was first starting to learn about astrology, I used to think that the basis of all astrological compatibility had to do with just our zodiac sun signs and elemental representations alone.

Over many years of studying self-awareness, spirituality, and more detailed astrology, I’ve learned that the metaphysical world is light-years deeper than just your sun sign. In fact, in many ways this is really just the tip of the astrological iceberg!

Cosmic compatibility can be as intricate and complicated as you’d like it to be, but it can also be super simple too. Just by understanding five key concepts of your (and other people’s) cosmic birth manuals, you can rise to an entirely different level of awareness and understanding for yourself and your compatibility with others.

Let’s break our stardust makeup down to just five key components to pay the most attention to:

Zodiac (Sun) Sign

The true essence of who you are, your sun sign will help you understand what keeps you, (or someone else) sane in relationships.

For example, I’m a Cancer, known as moody, emotional, nurturing and intuitive. My intuition is actually the driving force for what keeps me centered and allows me to really sit through all my feelings in a relationship. Looking at two people’s sun signs will help show you in what ways they can harmonize together and in what areas they might encounter struggles or challenges. Ideally, you would want to be synergistic in each of the ways you ground yourselves. 

Rising Sign

The Rising sign shows how we are perceived by the outside world.

Your rising sign really is your outer you –– your appearance, your attitude and the way you truly come across to other people. Oftentimes you will represent almost as many qualities from your rising sign as your sun sign, and people may confuse this as a zodiac mask you wear. These masks show our natural defenses in relationships and how we cope from day-to-day.

I am a Gemini rising, who sees the world as a place to continuously learn. I’m always naturally curious about people I meet. I want to learn everything about them, especially within close relationships.

Moon Sign

The Moon sign shows how we process emotions.

Opposite the rising sign, your moon sign is your inner you. It also is a depiction of our true reigning emotional needs, and what it takes for our hearts to feel full. Consider this one of the most important pieces to the relationship compatibility puzzle, because your moon sign will help you understand what it takes to feel emotionally content with yourself and from others. I consider people’s moon signs their soul signs: a deep picture of all the subconscious stuff going on below the surface.

My moon sign is Scorpio, and plain and simple what my heart needs is emotional intimacy –– both physically and emotionally. Things can get hella intense with a Scorpio moon sign, burning with passion and desire. You can compare your moon sign in relationships just like you do your zodiac sun signs above, and see in what ways you harmonize or clash through your emotions.

Venus Sign

The Venus sign shows how we give and receive love with ourselves and to others.

Venus is all about our romantic desires and social styles! The venus sign is the difference between those kinds of people who like tender lowkey moments, and those that like big, grand love gestures. Consider your venus sign your love language sign, that represents things like if you express your love mostly through touch or speech. These forms of love communication can help us understand what we are attracted to in the relationships we choose, and ultimately help us find a romantic partner who divinely suits our romantic needs.

My venus is in the sign of Leo, and I most definitely find myself loving through laughter and having a good time. Venus in Leo is a passionate powerhouse!

Mars Sign

The Mars sign shows how we express our deepest passions in life.

Your mars sign is your bold sign, explaining your driving force, your determination, your combat style, and even your … sex drive. Think of mars as the warrior in you: your primal energy and innate desires in life.

My mars is also in Leo, just like my venus sign, and explain why pleasure and playtime are what I live my life for. This Mars in Leo placement also explains why I’m so big into courtship in relationships. I really always have been a total sucker for deep romance and lovey-dovey-gushy gestures. (Ha! Rom-coms anyone?)

*To take things one step further, looking at the ways your venus and mars signs combine, will further explain the whole package of your romantic and sexual styles in your intimate relationships. The combination of the two signs is looked at both in terms of what elements they are in (fire, earth, water, air) and in terms of what the signs themselves represent. For example, both my mars and my Venus are in Leo, which is a fire sign. Double whammy fire! Romance on fire, desires on fire –– so much fire and passion!

To understand astrology is to be more conscious and self aware

I often refer to astrology as the greatest self-awareness tool one can possibly have in their toolshed. While your natal chart does not explain your destiny in your relationships with others, it can help you better understand other people’s needs and personality traits, therefore improving your relationships overall. And not just your romantic ones either!

No matter what your cosmic-personality cocktail is comprised of, (and boy are there a lot of variations out there), relationships and friendships of all kinds require us to put in the work. The best ways to thrive in any compatibility situation is always going to be to take responsibility, own up to your sh*t, and to always acknowledge and accept people for who they are.

We must celebrate our differences just as much as our compatibilities in order to have synergy in any relationship.

I’ve found that what works best for me is to combine my goals and ambitions in life with my spiritual practice. I like to do monthly (and sometimes even weekly or daily) self check-ins and really spend time looking inward to answer those hard questions that are needed to break free of my comfort zones and grow.

My favorite self-reflection ritual is to use the phases of the moon for guidance as we transition through each month. (Hey, this is my self care ritual too! #Winning)

Our minds are extremely powerful tools that we often overlook and underutilize. Our thoughts carry power and manifest themselves through the lives we all live. What you think about most is quite literally what you bring about most. Who you surround yourself with, the environment you live and work in –– all of these things are factors that play a role in the type of lives we live and the type of person we are.

In the same way that people try to deny their thoughts have power over them, I think a lot of people still try to deny the effects the moon has on them too.

The moon can shift the tides of the ocean. Have you ever heard someone that works with kids or in the healthcare/mental healthcare industry talk about what it’s like to work during a full moon? There’s an energy shift.

Every 28 days or so, the moon makes her way around us, cycling through the sun’s illuminations. These energies are always going to be there, dancing around us, waxing and waning each month, so we might as well use them to create the best versions of our lives!

In order to understand how we can best channel and harness the power of the moon, we first have to understand the different moon phases, what they mean and how they can best serve us in our journeys.

Moon Phases

New Moon: New beginnings

I set my intention. I am asking what my soul really wants.

This is a time for blank meditation, starting anew, and an offering of a clean slate.

The new moon is when we plant our seeds of intentions that we want to grow. This is the fresh start we wait for, with unlimited possibility. No dream is too big!

Spirit Daughter, one of my favorite spiritual gurus and the creator of the moon journaling I practice each month says that during a new moon, the combined effect of both the sun and the moon creates subtle frequencies that can be felt in our consciousness.

I’m most passionate about what I’m manifesting into my reality during a new moon.

This is the most powerful time to claim the life you want into existence. Think it into existence, speak it into existence, feel it into existence. If I were going to pick only one phase of the moon to take full ritualistic advantage of, it would be the new moon.

Every new moon, I download the specific monthly journal from Spirit Daughter and read through all of the astrological “flavors” we are in, and take extra time to reflect on the flavor of the moon.

I also spend a pretty significant amount of time, sometimes over the course of a few days, answering prompted journal questions and really taking time to dig deeply inward to hear my soul speak.

This is also one of the most powerful times to cleanse yourself, your environment, (and your magical crystal gemstones). Using sage and palo santo are great ways to clear the energies and start anew.

Waxing Crescent: Planning & preparing

I feel my intention. I let the energy of my dreams wash over me like waves.

This is a time to focus on your creative goals and plan accordingly.

Fresh energy. Declaration.

First Quarter: Take action

I take action to support my intention.

This is when you go, go, go!

Momentum is building. Pay attention.

The energy of a first quarter moon can feel intense, as we are breaking through any blocks we have with full steam ahead. During a first quarter moon we can break through our barriers and re-lay the foundations for the intentions we wish to have.

When we put in the hard work now, it will help us better build our dreams in the future.

Waxing Gibbous: Refine & push forward

I trust the Universe will help me focus my intention. I am resilient. 

Patience. Edit and refine. Nurture your life.

Full Moon: Celebrate wins (& release losses)

I release the things that no longer serve me and that are preventing me from manifesting my intention. I am free.

This is the re-charge you’ve been waiting for, the full moon brings about a stronger body & mind.

Considered a celebratory time in many cultures, and the spiritually enlightened, a full moon is a time of immense joy and gratitude.

The full moon is the light of the night sky, bold and beautiful in every way. This was always my most favorite phase of the moon aesthetically, but I never fully understood how I could use it to my magical benefit until recent years. The full moon is when we harvest the inventions we planted under the new moon. This is the time to reap what we sow, so to speak.

I try to make it a habit to also practice simple full moon rituals too, and one of my favorite ones is to light a candle and write a list of all the things that I want to let go of and release into the universe. Once I’ve got it all out there on paper, free from my mind, I like to either rip it up (just shred it) into a million pieces, or literally light the paper on fire.

This is also a really good time to recharge yourself, your space and your magical gemstones by the light of the full moon. Don’t forget to practice good self-care! Your soul needs to recharge too.

Waning Gibbous: Harvest benefits

I see more clearly and express gratitude for the shadows coming to light. I am aware.

Take some time to give thanks and reflect on the past month, and any advice you’ve been given.

Nurture others. Release and receive service!

Third (Last) Quarter: Release

I receive the form of my intention the way it was truly intended. I am open.

Re-adjust and forgive! Break things down.

The last quarter moon helps illuminate what is holding us back and bring it to the forefront of our consciousness so that we can release the tension and move on. We can break free of the energies that are hindering us from growth, which can oftentimes be a difficult process, but a worthy one that is necessary for evolution.

Waning Crescent: Rest & reflect

I give thanks to the Universe for guidance. I am grateful.

This is the time to break up with any bad habits you have encountered!

Just surrender. Rest and restore! Reflect. Trust your intuition!

“As if you were on fire from within, the moon lives in the lining of your skin.” – Neruda

I grew up very passionate about the solar system, the universe, the stars, and astrology. The moon has always felt like home to me, (which makes sense because I’m a Cancer!) My sensitive soul has always felt the subtle charges of the moon as she cycles through her phases in forms of up and down mood swings, bursts of energy, and pure exhaustion.

Oftentimes my divinely feminine spirit also syncs up her cycles with the moon, cleansing her own power monthly by the full moonlight. When I’m actively working with the flow of these energies, everything seems to fall in place. When I’m fighting against the current things stray off course, and more challenges present themselves.

Regardless if reflecting by the phases of la luna is a consistent part of your spiritual practice now or not, you can still always use her energies to dive deeper into your own unique self and your identity.

Our energies are already forms of potent communication, expressing us physically anytime we go anywhere and interact with anyone. We already learn so much from each other through our energetic language, and as we continue to experiment more with the spiritual communication of the universe, we will further pivot into our own evolution.

Consider it a monthly form of self-care, just like your exercise, your best skincare routine, and your healthy food choices. We can eat right, and we can move our body, but if we still don’t focus on and deal with what’s going on in our head too, then we will never reach our highest level of peace, clarity and evolved consciousness.

Had you ever thought of putting celery in your green juice, or even drinking just straight celery juice by itself? Ha, I definitely would have never thought of doing that!

You may have heard about it from Medical Medium, from someone speaking on your favorite podcast, or maybe you saw someone drinking a bright green celery juice on Instagram.

Celery juice is the newest green juice fad, here to revolutionize the wellness community with its ability to reduce our inflammations, reset our guts, and help reverse chronic and autoimmune based disease. So have you tried it yet?

I first heard about celery juice while listening to a podcast episode on the way to work. I remember thinking, what!? You’re drinking pure celery juice? Gross. I had little to no interest at all in partaking in this trend. But then I started to hear more about the associated benefits of this highly underrated vegetable and I started to get just a bit more curious… People literally swear by this as a huge health benefit, so I guess I eventually felt like I had to check it out. *insert eyeroll here*

I’ve never been particularly fond of celery in general, but in more cases than not I’m willing to try anything once. In January I happened to come across a local smoothie juice bar, Nektar, that was selling already packaged celery juice in sets of 6, marketed as a celery juice cleanse for the new year. I decided to pick up a pack to see what this was really all about, and was happy to see that the ingredients in their packs also contained some lemon juice and mint – hopefully to take the celery edge off, because I knew this was going to taste exactly like … well, celery! Let’s just say that I was quite skeptical that drinking pure celery juice would ever taste anywhere near appetizing.

Tell us about the benefits already!

Described as having ‘potent healing effects’ by Medical Medium, celery juice is now referred to as a superfood. When it comes to chronic illness, that a lot more of us than we think are suffering from, celery juice could be here to rescue us after all.

Here are some of the benefits:

Calming inflammation

Celery juice is full of powerful anti-inflammatory properties and can be extremely beneficial for those who suffer from chronic disease, autoimmune disease, or even other “mystery” diseases. It’s also said to help those with IBS, celiac, Raynaud’s, diabetes, Lyme disease, migraines, vertigo, and a whole slew of other ailments. Celery juice is said to reverse inflammation by starving the pathogens and unproductive bacteria that cause the inflammation in our bodies.

Ability to fight off pathogens, kill viruses and heal all

Celery juice is also said to have undiscovered mineral salts that act together as antiseptics in our bodies. When these mineral salts would make contact with viruses and other pathogens they are said to break down the pathogens cell membranes immediately and work to kill and destroy them.

Reduce sugar cravings, control mood & appetite

Our gut is also our second brain, and a place we tend to hold a lot of our fears and anxieties. Enzyme rich celery juice has an overall calming effect on our gut and our nervous systems. It can help us ease our nerves and calm our guts, where our second brains live!

Balancing your bodies PH levels

Celery juice has the ability to strengthen hydrochloric acid in our guts. But why is this important? Because that acid is super critical to our digestive process and it’s what keeps our digestive system alkaline. So in other words, it’s what keeps us balanced. The stronger the acid is the better chance we have at staying balanced.

Preventing gut rot

Referred to by Medical Medium as ammonia permeability, or otherwise known as ammonia gas floating out of our digestive track and into our bloodstreams. Celery juice helps stop and prevent that from happening to us! When our livers are fatty and sluggish they can also cause ammonia permeability, and celery juice can help heal the liver overall so it can produce ample bile to help ease bloating in our gut.

As Medical Medium puts it, “Celery juice is alkalizing, enzyme-rich, electrolyte enhancing, live repairing, blood sugar balancing, antiseptic, and more.”

Okay, so how do we get started?

It’s recommended to drink 8-16 ounces of raw celery juice in the morning, on an empty stomach, while waiting to eat anything else afterwards for at least 15-30 minutes. The celery itself is going to be the most potent and powerful when you consume it alone, and don’t combine it with other green superfoods. Drinking celery juice alone and on an empty stomach has powerful potential to help you digest foods better all day. I’m not going to lie, the main curiosity that got me interested in trying this trend was the fact that it could have a positive affect on my digestive system too – something I’ve had a multitude of issues with since I was a kid.

The moment of truth: I tried celery juice, and what did I think?

I drank Nektar pre-packaged celery juice for a total of 12 days. The first day, quite honestly, was not the most promising experience and I was worried if I was actually going to continue with it or not.

At first, the taste was just not something I would call enjoyable. But it was fresh. I literally felt fresh after drinking it. And the longer I continued to drink the juice each morning, the better I was noticing I started to feel.

I had more energy. I didn’t even need to rely on my coffee as much. In fact, I reduced down from my regular two cups of coffee in the morning to just barely finishing my one cup. I felt alert.

What a way to wake yourself up in the morning by drinking a cold pure vegetable juice first thing. I also felt good –– no stomach aches or cramps, my insides just felt good overall, and no bloating. I would even say I felt like my appetite was more under control too. I didn’t feel as strong of a desire for sweets!

The best part? After a few days I literally began to crave the juice in the morning, taste and all. It totally grows on you!

Celery juice curiosity is totally a thing!

I wanted to continue with things further and really see what kind of benefits could come from it longer term, but in order to do so means you have to commit to a juicer. (And man are there a lot of juicer options out there –– many of which that cost a fortune.) (Editor’s note: You can also use a blender and use a strainer!)

After doing a lot of research on the lower end of the scale, I settled on a juicer choice from Target that cost me under $60. I went with the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor – Black 67601, as did a friend of mine who is also experimenting with celery. The juicer is a great starter one, until you are really trying to get more serious in the juicing world, and it won’t break the bank either.

Juicing celery consistently requires a large stockpile of celery itself, and is a much easier process when you cut the celery stalks down into chunks and pieces. I try to go organic with my foods when I can, and it can be a challenge to find enough celery in Minnesota during the winter, especially during a celery juice craze. I do often find it in stock at Whole Foods though, and have been told you can even ask to buy in bulk to one of the workers there and they will give you stock from the back room.

After things are all said and done, I’ve tried celery juice for 12 days consecutive, but 15 days total now when writing this and I’m honestly very curious to continue with it more. Call it the celery juice curiosity, but I want to learn and explore more into how this could help reset and restart different areas of my health.

Some critics out there will argue that the benefits those are experiencing from celery juice are just simple results of being more hydrated, and try to claim that the healing powers of celery aren’t completely backed by science. However plenty of scientists in the wellness world would disagree.

If you are on the fence about trying the healing powers of celery, I would encourage you to try a drink and see what you think, and see how you feel. It ultimately depends what relief you are looking for in celery, and what ultimately brought you to it in the first place.

You just wait, celery juice is going to revolutionize wellness!

I would describe celery juice as a sweeping health movement across social media platforms right now. Influencers everywhere are pictured with their green tonic in hand, counting the continuous days in a row they have been drinking it and reporting all the health changes and resets they have been experiencing. People are picking up on this trend quickly, and I have many friends drinking it now too. I’m happy to see such an otherwise poorly liked vegetable be put on such a pedestal and it will be really amazing to see it continue to transform so many people’s lives in a positive way!

Have you tried it yet? Share your thoughts in the comments.

“We often do not understand how harmful a compound can be, until it has become a commonplace item in our everyday life.” – Stink Documentary

Here in America, we love our products for everything from household cleaning, to beauty, and skincare. We fall in love with colors and packaging, shapes, new trends, favorite smells, and things to make our lives seemingly easier. But the question that more of us really need to be asking these days is, what is in all of our favorite products?

Everything you put on or in your body is going to have some sort of effect on your body, especially if it’s laced with toxic chemicals. There are chemicals in many of the products we use everyday that have never been tested for safety, and may even have a whole list of secret ingredients too. There is no one out there really checking to be sure things are safe. There are no extreme regulations and there are only around 10 chemicals banned in the United States, compared to the 1,200 banned in the UE.

There are toxic chemicals hiding in your clothing, your body lotion, your hand wash, and especially your perfume, and you would think it would just be common practice to be able to ask, “hey, what’s in this?”

But you can’t. Companies are protected to their proprietary blends of chemicals that are usually laced full of toxic phthalates, flame retardants and other endocrine disrupting synthetic hormones and toxic yahoos. They are able to hide an illusive “fragrance wall” or a chemical loophole.  

Recently I watched a new documentary on Netflix called Stink, where they explored more into this concept and tried to even reach out to top political leaders and company CEOs to dig deeper into this “fragrance wall” specifically. But guess what happened a majority of the time? They were greeted with responses such as, “I can’t disclose that” and “I don’t know that information,” and “This information is considered proprietary for the company.”

These types of revealing documentaries always get under my skin (literally). I’ve been traumatized by a lot of documentaries before––especially ones related to food and the government and vaccine safety, but my goodness really? You have the multi psycho-amount-of-money Beauty and Skincare market, heavily marketed towards 50% of the population mind you, and there are toxic chemicals laced in all of it. Plus, here in America, a lot of those chemicals are never even tested or regulated. It’s really no wonder that chronic disease is so apparent these days, especially when you start talking about cancer rates, obesity rates, infertility and so many other things.

We as consumers, are being poisoned throughout our entire day-to-day routines.

Fun fact: If you were to test the bloods of Americans alone, the tests would show over a hundred toxic chemicals running through us at one time.

“So basically we are living in a toxic soup, and it’s an experiment on human health.”

There have been so many new products I fell in love with this past year, and looked to for answers and solutions to avoid toxic chemicals. I would be devastated to learn that any of them were hiding behind the secret “fragrance wall” after everything good they represent. But despite all my trust and confidence I had in my own choices, I found there were still questions needing to be answered.

Specifically, with my natural deodorant selections that I searched long and hard for and couldn’t have been more proud of, only to find that each one had “fragrance” listed as one of the ingredients.

Fragrance can be a mixture of hundreds of different chemicals and used to entice you into buying a product. “It could be that the fresh smelling scent is what is making us sick”, as they say on Stink – and that is what worried me the most about discovering this in my deodorants. I actively try to make better choices for myself and have been on a natural product mission for many years. I trust my product choices to be completely transparent, I listen to the owners on podcasts, I screen their social media. I develop trust in them, and don’t expect them to deceive me.

The same way that John Weldman called and questioned Justice clothing on “Stink” to help understand what is the toxic chemical smell coming from his daughters clothing, is the way I approached both Kopari Beauty and Schmidt’s Naturals: upset, and disappointed, but straight to the point.

“Can you please help me understand what is in the “fragrance” listed in your deodorant? I don’t want to use secret toxic chemicals on my body.”

Response from Jaime Schmidt, Schmidt’s Naturals: “Some of Schmidt’s products use a combination of essential oils and natural plant isolates to achieve the scent. In these products, the goal of not listing out every single component is to protect the proprietary formulation of the particular blend. These more complex formulations are always in alignment with our natural standards. No nasties hiding behind “fragrance” in our case.

Response from Gigi Goldman, Kopari Beauty: “Our original deodorant contains less than one percent of phalate-free fragrance. We also did hypoallergenic and RIPT testing on the fragrance and formula. All of our products have also received the clean seal at Sephora.”

Let’s break fragrance down a little further.

There are two different types of fragrance. There is fragrance derived from petroleum and that derived from plants. Natural fragrance, or ‘plant fragrance’ makers do often list what ingredients they use because there is no reason for it to be a secret.

The formula for fragrance is protected as a trade secret by the US government. Weird huh? You’re eating fragrance. You’re wearing it. You’re washing your hands with fragrance. In America, almost all consumer products contain fragrance. There are hidden ingredients in fragrance that have been linked to a wide variety of drastic health issues including cancer, asthma, obesity, infertility and chronic allergies.

Arguably the biggest issue with fragrance is the phthalates. Phthalates, part of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), are already found in just about everything––including fragrance. These EDCs mimic natural components of our systems and our hormones and can interfere with their regular functions. This exposure to toxic chemicals creates havoc in our body and interferes with our normal processes. Ultimately, this can lead to infertility, birth defects and many other dangerous outcomes.

Everything is sensitive to this disruption.

This is a global health threat. There has not been any testing on the safety and affect on us, our children and our environment! But, just wait, it gets worse… EDCs can mutate too. We are all becoming genetically modified by toxic chemicals.

Chemicals are mixtures. There’s no way to know for sure how those mixtures are all interacting with each other and how they are going to interact with us. Think about the rises in disease and chronic illness that we are experiencing. Without getting too much into the politics of it all, this sh*t is getting out of control. We need to stay educated and keep fighting for better safety in America (and in the world).

Some of the same secret chemicals in Chanel No. 5 are also in your toilet bowl cleaner. 

Cancer is devastating people’s lives. We all know someone who has it, or who has died from it. All of our chemical exposures in our life affect our lifetime outcomes and this includes if we develop cancer or not. It’s really important to pay attention to what’s in the food we eat, what’s on the clothes we wear, and what’s in our products.

But cancer isn’t even the worst part anymore. Nowadays, we are born pre-polluted, before even spending one breathing minute in this world. Tests have been done on the umbilical cord blood from babies in the US, testing for more than 300 different toxic chemicals. They found 287 different chemicals in these babies, all coming from consumer products like teflon, flame retardants, fragrances, and anything else their mother consumed or was exposed to. These chemicals are all around us, in our environment, and in our bodies.

What we don’t know can’t hurt us, right?

The problem is we trust. We trust that something wouldn’t be able to be sold without it being tested and assured for safety. We assume this, and oftentimes we don’t think twice about it. When the truth is that couldn’t be more fundamentally far away from what the reality is.

As consumers, we have to take control of our own health and wellness. I did my homework here, I watched the documentary, I reached out to the company, I engaged to an online community I’m a part of to get their thoughts.

Through this research, I have decided to continue to use both Kopari and Schmidt’s Naturals deodorants, but I’ve elected to purchase their “fragrance free” options moving forward, for safe(r) measure. I still have a level of trust for these companies, and really don’t want to give up on them for all the great change they are making in the skincare world, but I have to acknowledge what I’ve learned from “Stink” too. I can’t take chances on something as important as my life anymore, and one small change in the right direction is still a positive change from the way I see things.

350 million Americans exposed to toxic chemicals every day. We need to pay attention to the chronic effects of chemicals, not just the acute effects.

But of course, naturally how these things go, all of your friends around you seem to be on a whole different level than you. You’ve somehow skyrocketed to this whole new, unfamiliar chapter of life and things are very different now. EVERYone has babies now. EVERYone is or is about to get married (and not at all like past times you’ve ever thought it felt that way. This time it’s for REAL, for real. Now it really is every single one of your friends.)

It can be really hard to not compare yourself to your peers at this chapter of life. It’s important to focus on things that will align you on your own path to your highest self. What’s good for someone else isn’t necessarily good for you anyway, and that can be a hard thing to learn.

But, that’s just what you do, right? You head towards 30 trips around the sun and you find someone to marry and you pop out kids. That’s just what you do, right?

But what if it isn’t.

I’m 29; I’m not married; I don’t have any kids. I’ve been with my boyfriend (ugh, I cringe at that word – boyfriend) for going on nine years now, longer than most of my friends who are married, have been married. You follow?

Up until a few years ago, I would have thought I’d be married by now and maybe even have kids. I never really questioned the American Dream, or pictured my life any other way other than married and having a family. I always thought of myself as a motherly type and someone who could make a good mother, and a good wife.

I’ve been in a relationship most of my adult life now, and yet it’s for some reason I’ve noticed people treat me differently just because I don’t have a marriage title associated to my relationship. The most prominent examples I have are at work, when talking with co-workers about our personal lives. Most will go on and on about their husband/wife, but don’t engage whatsoever if I make one mention of my “boyfriend” and it doesn’t matter what the context is. It never fails. It suddenly feels as though I’m 25 talking about my wild, unsettled life and no one can take me seriously.

But wait a minute, what about 30 and singles?

In friends circles, and with family and loved ones, special attention is always brought to the ones that are still single at 30 — why don’t they bring anyone to Christmas, are they going to be alone forever, are they already a crazy cat lady – what have you! But you never hear anyone bring special attention to what it’s like to be in a long term relationship at 30 and not be married or have any kids. If anything at all, people just guilt trip you immediately, “when are you going to make us grandparents”, or “I bet you’re next”, or other comments about how lucky we are because their marriage basically just sucks. (That definitely makes it all so much more enticing. *eyeroll*)

It can be a very tough transitional time to navigate no matter what is going on in your life. The almost 30 era is full of twists and turns and uncharted, complicated territory. Like I’ve said, it’s a journey for every one of us and no two journeys are really the same when it comes down to it.

With that being said, I’ve found it always can be helpful to have reminders to help keep you aligned on taking your own path.

If you feel like you can relate, just remember:

1. You’ve got time.

You don’t have to rush. Just stay true to you, and do what feels right for you, at the time. Continue to push yourself to grow in the direction of your passions, and it will all eventually come together.

2. There is no right or wrong way to do this.

We are all learning as we go! Don’t blame yourself if something doesn’t work out how you thought it would. Unfortunately, we don’t get instructional manuals on how to ‘adult’, so we all just have to figure it out as we go.

3. Just because your parents, or your older relatives, did things differently than you at your age, does not mean that way is the best way to do it.

Times have changed––a lot. The world is a much different place now than it was then. They don’t have to understand your choices, and if they are able to see past those differences, then they will support you through your journey.

4. The collective conscious is changing across the world.

Barriers are being broken. Shadows are being confronted. Norms are changing in just about every way imaginable. Now, more than ever, we must live true to our authentic selves and stay true to our voice. Listen to your passions, and chase after them every day no matter what!

5. As far as we can really confidently say, you only live once.

Do you really want to repeat the past of generations before you? Do you really want to live the same day over and over for 75 years? Do you really want to do things just because “that’s how they have always been done” or it’s what you’ve always been told? Strive to do more things the way you actually want them to do be done. It’s so much more fulfilling!

Do what makes you happy, and who cares about the rest.

My priorities have changed so much. New things are important to me now that weren’t ever as important before (but definitely should have been.) I’m focused on my own personal growth and development, my spirituality, and in removing things out of my life that no longer serve me.

I’m not focusing anymore on timelines, or in comparing myself to the journey of my friends or anyone else my age. I’m doing things on my own terms and in my own ways. Societal norms are not my guidelines to living my best life. Quite frankly, they bore me anyway. ;)

Find what feels right for you, and by no means make “adult” choices for yourself based on what other people make you think you should be doing. This is your life, and you are allowed to live it how it fits you best!

You guys remember a few months ago, the Life Goals Mag post featuring Jaclyn Michele of Interior Creature? Well if you don’t, or just want to reference it, here is the Human Design 101 post. If you’re anything like me, you might have rabbit hole dived your way into all things human design. I dove so deep that I ended up reaching out to Jaclyn Michele and got my first Human Design reading with her.

Human Design is your personal in depth instruction manual, “a piece of spiritual technology that allows you to peak at your soul contract”, as Jaclyn describes it in her post. Human Design provides a map, based off of your time of birth and location of birth (similar to that of a natal chart in astrology), and is represented by a tool called a body graph to use important equations to uncover your spiritual truth.

If that sounds crazy, it’s because it IS crazy, and it’s the most useful crazy thing I’ve ever heard of! I’m for the idea of anything that helps you become more self aware, and in-tune with the vibrations of the universe. I’m so into something that can help me find ways to channel my strengths, and sharpen my weaknesses. And I’m so intrigued by something that helps to better understand human behavior, compatibility, life lessons and connections.

Where to start?

Jaclyn came referred to me, before I even ever found her and Interior Creature on Life Goals Mag. In one of the facebook groups I’m in, the conversation becomes focused on Human Design a lot, and there were several people that recommended her.

From there, I felt called to her for a reading. I looked into other options and did my homework to read up on all of them to compare and contrast what I was looking for. Interior Creature just made sense, right from the tagline – “Decode your design,” That’s exactly what I was looking for.

Now I won’t get into too much of all the nitty gritty details of what lines, crosses, incarnations, gates and channels all mean. What I do want to share with you though is my experience with a reading, which probably is first of many for me.

I booked my appointment with Jaclyn online, through her Interior Creature website, and set it up for a Saturday morning, only a week and a half or so out. I was so excited and anxious at the same time, and waiting that week was almost painful.

My appointment took place over zoom, and I sat with my laptop in my room – literally in bed. Jaclyn could see me and I could see her, and it was interactive the whole way through. My reading was booked for 90 minutes, but ended up running closer to two hours, because Jaclyn was thorough and engaging. She was easy to talk to and found a way to make everything applicable and relatable.

Having this kind of reading done was a lot more intimate than I imagined, but Jaclyn navigated this vulnerability well and made me feel like I was talking to one of my good friends.

OK, so what am I?

I’m a projector, and so much more of my life made sense when I discovered this. Human Design breaks down into five different types, each based off of a different style of decision making.

“Projectors are here to guide, and their focus should be on knowing how to best utilize the gifts and energetic resources of the other types.” Their strategy is to wait to be recognized and invited, so as to ensure that their contributions will be heard and have the desired impact.” – Jaclyn Michele, Life Goals Mag.

The “guide for the tribe” projectors are described to have an ability to see things the way that others just can’t. For me personally, I think this has a lot to do with my ability to read into other people and understand a lot of different ways of doing things.

Projectors are also non-energy types, meaning they don’t create their own energy into existence, they utilize that from others around them. My energy has always been inconsistent my whole life and I never understood if this meant I was lazy, depressed, wild, hyper, or just blah.

Understanding this about me connects everything into so many dots throughout my whole life. It really is a game changer to come to enlightening realizations about your human behavior and that all the ways you’ve been feeling your whole life are justified.

I’ve always been impatient to understand how my own energy operates. Human Design has taught me that in learning to trust the flow, this is how I harness my full potential as a projector.

What does it all mean anyway?

My reading got emotional; it was a lot of deep topics to translate, accept, and absorb, and I continued to work through a lot of it for days following the reading.

There were definitely some parts of the reading where I felt overwhelmed with emotions that I couldn’t quite pinpoint where they were coming from. When someone peaks into your soul like that though, how can it not hit you deep? I think this kind of self-work is a truly raw spiritual experience. I really admire those who have the strength to dig deep and do the work to understand how to be their most authentic self.

Now, if I’m really being honest, I’m still working through it  all, and re-reading all of the information that was transcribed. That’s another reason I chose Jaclyn over other options –– she records your entire appointment and sends you the video zoom recording and a step-by-step detailed, typed guide to all that you went through. These are materials that can continue to benefit you on your journey through self-discovery for years to come.

You’re not left to fend for yourself. Jaclyn provides the tools and resources you need to really understand the subject of Human Design and what your personal body graph means. She also offers other online resources and subscriptions where you can continue to gain access to more content she puts out.

Human Design is a relatively new spiritual tool, in terms of years of practice and when it was birthed into existence, but it still has the capacity to be just as expansive as anything else. I’m seeing posts about it more and more on Instagram and love to see how much it’s growing in conversations. It’s most alluring to me because there is still so much to learn, in terms of how it can be utilized.

Jenna Zoe adds a whole new layer to the table with guides on how to eat right for your type and how each type has different needs. Projectors are even described as a type that should only spend a few hours working each day, for maximum productivity. It’s a whole cosmic world out there to learn about from a new perspective!

So I did a Human Design reading, but now what?

There is so much about Human Design that I don’t know yet, and I can’t wait to explore it all more. So many spiritual guidance tools are out there, and it’s your job to find them, spend time with them, and continue to learn and grow from them. I’ve been on much of a spiritual journey myself this past year, and I’m so glad that it has lead me to Human Design. Life is so full of endless patterns, synchronicities, messages, signs, symbols and opportunities for enlightenment. I’m passionate about uncovering them all, one at a time.

Additional Resources:

• Book: Human Design, by Ra Uru Hu
• Podcast: Expanded Podcast with Lacy Phillips
• Online courses: Rabbit Hole, Jenna Zoe
• Subscription: You by Design, Interior Creature
• Personal reading: 1:1 Chart Analysis, Interior Creature