#grandpaGuarino #Catholicism
Month: June 2015
Back porch sittin’…
Back porch sittin’ with Tony Bennett…
#nowyouseemamillionmilesaway
Ah…Georgia I love you. Rolling thunder…Heat…birds…and a fan. I could stay back here all day…
My lair.
Feeling pretty and summery in my liar today! ☺️
First Quarter Moon in Libra
The First Quarter Moon phase is in Libra tonight.
The first quarter moon phase is considered a “Half Moon.” The Moon is half way full and is steadily waxing to full. This is a good time to check in with yourself. I’ve noticed in my experience that I get a sudden urge to want to check back in with myself and rethink about my goals or my intentions and move forward or slow down. When working with the moon, as a natural time clock, you can get a lot accomplished…internally and outwardly.
Before we dive deep into working with the moon let’s just simmer on the fact that today is an important day…the First Quarter Moon Phase in Libra…a time to check in with yourself. If you’ve followed along from the beginning and you’re interested in working with the moon…then you have already set that goal and you have it in mind. Now is the time to reconfirm your desire and prepare yourself to go full force by July 1st, 2015…the Thunder Full Moon. By then I’ll have more worksheets and explanations and tips on how to incorporate the moon and nature into your life. If you’ve noticed, I’m working along this natural time clock already…and my ultimate goal is to have a steady workflow for this technique available for whoever stumbles upon it.
Thought prompts for the Libra Zodiac sign…
LIBRA…the Scales…the peacemaker. The Lover….the unopposed and understanding. The balance…the artist. The calm. Opposites that are neither right or wrong. Everything…is EVEN KEEL.
If you are struggling with something…think openly and see all sides. Understand the differences and appreciate the perspective. There is a gray area where right and wrong can sit together…and that is okay. What may be right for you may be wrong for someone else…the differences make the balance. To leave you with a quote…
“Truth lies in the balance of two. To Libra, every truth is composed of two half-truths.” – Steven Forrest The Inner Sky
Summer Solstice 2015 Herbs & Essential Oil DIY Project from The Walden Moon | Lifestyle by Kelly Walden
For this Summer Solstice 2015 I’ve got three Herbs and Essential Oil recipes for you!!! Please on your own time review the warning and caution signs on the essential oils before using!
The Summer Solstice is a time when the days become long and the nights become short. It is also a time when we spend most of our days outside. And that means…bugs and sun. For this summer solstice 2015 DIY project I will be showing you how to make:
- Bug Spray
- Bug Itch Spray
- Anti-aging Serum
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Recipe for Lemon Balm Bug Spray source
Ingredients and Supplies:
- Handful of fresh Lemon Balm
- Handful of fresh Mint (I used spearmint)
- Handful of basil
- Handful of catnip
- Witch Hazel (one bottle)
- 1-2 drops of Basil Essential oil
- 1-2 drops of Citronella Essential Oil (I used citronella java)
- 1-2 drops of Lemongrass or Lemon Eucalyptus Essential oil (I used both)
- Distilled Water
- Dark glass Spray bottle (I used a four oz glass bottle)
Directions:
Place the fresh herbs into a glass jar with a bottle of witch hazel and place in a dark and dry place in your house. Let the witch hazel extract the fresh herbs for one to two weeks.
Once you have let the fresh herbs extract in the witch hazel for a week or two…you are now ready to make the Lemon Balm Bug Spray. To a four oz bottle fill it up half way with the witch hazel herb base, fill the second half with the distilled water and then add your drops of essential oils. Shake and spray.
Fresh Herb Leaves from left to right: Basil, Catnip, Lemon Balm, and Spearmint.
Witch Hazel extracting the fresh herbs.
Essential oils used for this Lemon Balm Bug Spray.
Overall this really did keep the mosquitos away!! I’m not sure if it keeps gnats away…will have to use it again to be sure! One thing I do recommend though…if you are camping…try really hard to keep the bugs out of the tent (even spiders)…because while you are sleeping you can’t reapply in your sleep to keep from being bitten.
Another thing I’m going to try in the future is vanilla and water…something my Grandma came up with…I’ll let you know the recipe and if it works!
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Recipe for Bug Itch Spray for Sandflies and Mosquitos
source The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood
Ingredients and Supplies:
- Sweet Almond Oil
- 10 drops of Lavender
- 10 drops of Eucalyptus
- 10 drops of Thyme (I used Red Thyme)
- 1 oz dark glass spray bottle
Directions:
Add your drops of essential oils (lavender, eucalyptus, and thyme) into the glass spray bottle. Fill up the rest of the bottle with the sweet almond oil. Shake and spray on bites.
Ingredients and supplies for Bug Itch Spray.
This really works well for sandfly and mosquito bites…My sister tried it on some ant bites and it didn’t work as well. <—-update she reported back and said that about an hour later after she put it on she forgot the ant bites were there…so I guess it’s not so much for instant relief…but it does work!
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Recipe for Anti-Aging Serum source
Ingredients and Supplies:
(modified for a two oz bottle)
- Sweet Almond Oil (or jojoba oil)
- 4 drops Lavender essential oil
- 4 drops Frankincense essential oil
- 4 drops Rose essential oil (I used Rose Absolute in jojoba oil)
- 4 drops Helichrysum essential oil (I used Helichrysum in jojoba oil)
- 4 drops Sandalwood oil (I used Sandalwood in jojoba oil)
- 4 drops Geranium essential oil
- 2 oz dark glass bottle
Directions:
Add all the essential oils into the dark glass bottle and fill up the rest of the bottle with the sweet almond (or jojoba oil). Shake before each use.
Ingredients and supplies for the Anti-Aging Serum.
Overall time will tell if it really works…. 🙂 I will say though, the Geranium does not smell good! hahaha. But it feels good when you apply the serum to your face! It’s moisturizing.
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For the sake of not making this post too long…I’ll end it here but will come back later with the benefits of the essential oils used in these recipes.
Until then…have a pretty Summer Solstice!
Love,
Kelly
July 2015 Calendar | The Walden Moon | Lifestyle by Kelly walden
or click here… July2015_thewaldenmoon_kellywalden_thunder
So here is to prepare you for the following month! Something neat to notice about July 2015 is that there will be two FULL MOONS in the Month!!!
Important dates to remember…
July 1st, 2015
Full Moon in Capricorn
July 8th, 2015
Last Quarter moon in Aires
July 16th, 2015
New Moon in Leo
July 24th, 2015
First Quarter Moon in Scorpio
July 31st, 2015
Full moon AKA “Blue Moon” in Capricorn
Briefly…
For this upcoming July 2015’s first FULL MOON we will be celebrating the “Thunder Moon” aka the “Buck Moon”. Small facts from your Farmer’s Almanac…the reason why the July Full Moon is called the “Thunder Moon” is because there are a lot of thunder storms that happen in July…seems appropriate since we are focusing on the Earth element WATER for the summer! Another term used for the July Full Moon is the “Buck Moon”…because this is the time when deers grow new antlers…facts for the friends who love animals!
Stay tuned for the Full Moon material for July’s Full Moons.
SUMMER SOLSTICE | The Big Reveal. The Walden Moon | Lifestyle of Kelly Walden
Current Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent in Leo
So here we are…on the longest day of the year…the day that marks the first day of Summer…when then days become long and the nights become short…the sun is in command and at its highest…and we can now begin to focus on the Earth element of WATER!
“Water is the principle of nurturance and protection. Outwardly, its spirit is one of warmth: inwardly, of imagination and intuition. With its penetrating, sensitive quality, water’s prime function is to feel.” – Steven Forrest The Inner Sky
I’m happy to announce my website and blog on this day and share a multitude of things!! Ready to feel some good things!? Here are easy links (some still waiting for posts):
Also in the tool bar you can read my bio, contact, and see my artwork (photography, illustrations, and mono printmaking)
So here is a brief overview of what you will find here…
The moon in many ways is quite magical. Beaming down bright. Waning. Hiding. Waxing. Beaming down bright. Waning. Hiding. Waxing. Turning the tides. The ebb and flow of life. Not only is it magical in the way that it exists…it is also magical in the way that it can help you cultivate a life of beauty and self-acceptance…with the combination of the solstices and equinoxes you can use these natural happenings as a guideline…a natural time clock to guide you and make your life just as magical.
So how do you use the moon and seasons? By using the four main moon phases (there are actually eight) and the four seasons, to set a natural time clock, you can create deadlines to getting stuff done…four squared. Have you ever wanted to learn to surf? Or maybe you wanted to clean out the attic? Have you let the procrastination ghost sneak up on you too often?
Well hopefully I can share some good things to help inspire your life. Because who doesn’t want a beautiful life and a feeling of self acceptance and accomplishment?
Some things I hope to share:
- Printable monthly calendars and lists (of all kinds), because list making and planning are the key visual that you’re getting stuff done.
- Quarterly DIY projects to go along with the seasons.
- Tidbits about herbs and essential oils.
- Recipes.
- A theme for each full moon with worksheets to go along.
- And whatever I find interesting and worthwhile to share.
Use the easy links above to find and explore with…I’ll try my best to prepare in advance for things that are coming up…
For instance I’ll be sharing a July 2015 Calendar in my next post…you’ll be happy to notice that the first FULL MOON falls on the first day of July this year…and within that same month a second FULL MOON aka “BLUE MOON” will pop up on the last day of July…so some big things can happen this JULY 2015….so get ready!
At every NEW MOON post I hope to prepare you for the FULL MOON that follows…
Without further ado….here we go!
Love, Kelly
Camping: Saturday and Sunday Adventures
Canoeing in the Redbird Creek on Fort McAllister…The big kids play while Uma is being her serene self…
Night time walking and camp fire…
We had a lot of fun spending two nights at Fort McAllister…
Sunday we headed for Tybee Island to camp at the Rivers End Camp ground. Spent Sunday morning swimming in the campground pool and then a walk to the beach for ocean fun and sun. Then a walk to dinner at the North Beach Grill on Tybee Island, Georgia. On the trip back Uma snagged some rocks for her “rock collection”.
We had so much fun this weekend! Full of love, beauty, and magic.
Camping.
Camping for the soul. The second attempt at camping…in a tent. We nearly made it safe inside when the sky fell. Staying close together can be a challenge…but nothing we can’t handle.
Trails in the forest…
After the rain stopped…above and below.
The Walden Girls…and Uma’s tongue and stick…
Baby Wyatt and rain puddles…
On a hiking trail along the marsh…
Bat watching…
There is a big part of me that craves a life of beauty…and for this weekend I’m determined to make that happen…it’s important to find beauty in life…an inexpensive way to incorporate nature into your life (and in turn experience beauty) is…camping in a tent. It’s less expensive than staying in a hotel and you have nature at your feet. You laugh…you cry…you learn lessons (like, to bring more blankets and pillows next time)…but at the end of the day, you’ve experienced nature in its rawest form…you hung out with Spanish moss…trees…water…bats…and most importantly your family.
Think about planning a camping trip…plan it out…camp on a full moon…this summer solstice I hope to share worksheets on how to plan around the moon phases and some cool things you can do to incorporate nature into your life…
More pics from this weekend to come…
Camping at Fort McAllister State Park in Georgia.
Moon plotting and inspiration.
Tracking the moon to get some lovely things lined up to share! I’m getting excited about what’s in store for the future. Really this is just fun for me to share a lifestyle that has been inspired by many people and history.
Historically, before the computer and Internet, the moon played a vital role in everyday life. So did the solstices and equinoxes. In fact, our ancestors farmed and lived by these two astronomical phenomenons. Certain moon phases and certain seasons were meant specifically for planting or harvesting and kept time. At a later post(s) I’ll get into more detail about the history and delve into moon folklore.
I guess you can say I’ve always been interested in the moon, astronomy, and astrology…and to let you know I’m a Virgo sun sign (although my high school physics teacher/University of Hawaii astronomer told me I was a Leo sun sign), a Capricorn moon sign, and a Pisces rising…in case you were wondering. When I was younger I used to print out all kinds of astrology and astronomy things from the Internet.
Now, in my thirties I’m still interested in it and have developed a strong liking towards the moon. Of recent, I joined a group of ladies in the Lunar Abundance practice by Ezzie Spencer that has also inspired my personal lifestyle. In her practice she focuses on the eight lunar cycles as a feminine/feeling based intention setting technique. More inner work. If you are interested in soul work and the inner workings of your mind to achieve a life of abundance you should check out her practice.
Steven Forrest. Need I say more? Okay okay…a big inspiration in living by the moon, stars, and planets. If you haven’t read his books…get on it! Book reviews later!
I have also really gotten into gardening and essential oils. I’ve even started celebrating the solstices and equinoxes with my family…particularly with my sisters, mom, and my two daughters. We have a thing going where we buy each other gifts for the seasons changing. A reminder of how the earth and her seasons are ever changing just like our lives.
For the past two or so years I have seen myself grow and get inspired every day. Here I’m able to share whatever I love…and if that inspires you then YES!!! We have crossed each other’s path and made a connection…a kindred spirit recognition. In a way this is like an interactive journal…where I’ll share how history, inspirational people, practices, and knowledge has inspired me to live the path I’m on! Oh and even my art! Cheers to living the “old-fashioned” way. The natural way. Where the moon and stars meet the Earth and her seasons…and life happens!
The Walden Moon 