Season: Spring
Element: Wood
Moon: Last Quarter
Zodiac: Capricorn
Happy Monday!
Today is the last quarter moon in determined Capricorn. I don’t have much to share this week, since I have been completely knackered since Thursday. March has been intense for me and many others that I have spoken with recently have said the same. There are a lot of shifts happening and the amount of information coming in is overwhelming. I am so happy with the work people are doing around wellness — products galore, shops popping up locally, podcasts with the latest trends and gurus, services that I never thought would be mainstream, and books, books, books! — but at the moment my mind cannot keep up. So many determined people want to make an impact and to garner attention, but its leaving me energetically, spiritually, and financially spent. I think I need to get quiet for a bit and stop researching all of the amazing and life changing things out there for a week. If you feel the same and read this newsletter, I hope you appreciate a bit of a reprieve. And please let me know if I am ever too pushy for your time or energy. I know how exhausting it can be…
That said, don’t forget to sign up for the next free Rest Event on Sunday, April 14th from 1:30pm - 3pm. For those of you who are new to this newsletter, at the Rest Event you are guided through a body scan, energy clearing, vagus nerve reset, yoga nidra exercise, rest / sleep, wake up, meditation, integration discussion, and affirmation over an hour and a half. All you need is a yoga mat, pillow, and blanket for the experience.
Note: Rest products are still in the works, but I am leaving the paid subscriber Rest Readings, Rest Recipes, Rest Rituals, and Rest Recordings on the newsletter for a month or so. If you want to contribute, consider becoming a paid subscriber through Substack:
REST READING
The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot by Robert Macfarlane
Lagom by Niki Brantmark
A Little Tea Book by Sebastian Beckwith
Seeking Slow by Melanie Barnes
Tao Te Ching translated by Stephen Mitchell
The Great Race by Christopher Corr
Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee
Wa - The Art of Balance by Kaki Okumura
Self Reiki by Jasmin Harsono
Healthier Together by Liz Moody
Missing Element, Hidden Strength by Tisha Morris
Decorating with the Five Elements by Tisha Morris
One Part Plant by Jessica Murnane
Breakfast with Seneca by David Fideler
The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris
Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Simple Matters by Erin Boyle
Ikigai by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles
The Year of Cozy by Adrianna Adarme
How We Show Up by Mia Birdsong
Permission to Rest by Ashley Neese
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve by Stanley Rosenberg
The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hahn
Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Saving Time by Jenny Odell
The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer by Dan Buettner
The Moon Book by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener
Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
Essential Oils to Boost the Brain & Heal the Body by Jodi Cohen
In Praise of Wasting Time by Alan Lightman
The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile
Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
REST RECIPES
As we move further into Spring and the weather warms, its time for spring cleaning! Over the years, I’ve been trying to move to more natural cleaners for every day use in my house and this particular recipe is a favorite for multipurpose cleaning. So here is the recipe for my All Purpose Cleaner*:
1-1/2 cups distilled water
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
2 squirts of Dr. Bronner’s unscented pure-castile liquid soap
20 drops essential oil
Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle and swirl to incorporate. If you are looking for a spray bottle similar to the below check out this 16 ounce amber glass spray bottle from the Zero Waste Store.
*I use this spray on all surfaces for dusting and washing except for glass.
REST RITUAL
Smell is one of our most important and nuanced senses. As stated in this article from the NIH, “different scents can change your mood, transport you back to a distant memory, and may even help you bond with loved ones. Your ability to smell also plays a key role in your health. If your ability to smell declines, it can affect your diet and nutrition, physical well-being, and everyday safety.” Essential oils can be helpful tools in engaging your sense of smell to help balance your mood or even move your system into parasympathetic. An essential oil is a concentrated liquid containing chemical compounds from plants. It is “essential” in the sense that it contains the essence of the plant's fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived.
There are many sources for essential oils, like Mountain Rose Herbs, and many proprietary blends that you can buy, but here are some recommendations for straight essential oils by usage:
Air Purification = lemon, orange, pine, rosemary, and tea tree oils. Put into your candles, diffusers, or oil burners.
Cleaning = eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, lemongrass, and orange oils. Put into your homemade all purpose spray (see above) and dish soap. More recipes for homemade cleaners with essential oils can be found here.
Relaxation = bergamot, cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, jasmine, lavender, orange, rose, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang. Put a drop or two on your pillow before going to bed or in a hot bath for a long soak. See this Honey Milk Bath recipe for inspiration.
Vagus Nerve = clove and lime. You can check out this Parasympathetic Blend from Jodi Cohen who wrote Essential Oils to Boost the Brain & Heal the Body. This is a great resource if you want to learn more about essential oils.
Please note that the use of undiluted essential oils on sensitive skin or in the nostrils can be irritating or burn. Susceptible people may also develop an allergic reaction and a skin rash, so make sure to know how to use essential oils properly. Here is a helpful article on essential oil dos and dont’s.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this has been enjoyable. May you have an amazing week and if you are on Spring Break remember to rest.
Below are the upcoming 2024 Cascade Rest Curations (links to Eventbrite are in the titles):
Rest Event
Date: Sunday, April 14, 2024
Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Guided body scan, energy clearing, vagus nerve reset, yoga nidra exercise, rest / sleep, wake up, and meditation over an hour and a half.
Cost: Free
Wood Element Curation
Date: Sunday, April 28, 2024
Time: 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Learn the depths of the wood element and how to integrate its attributes into your home and your life.
Cost: $44.00
Rest Event
Date: Sunday, May 12, 2024
Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Guided body scan, energy clearing, vagus nerve reset, yoga nidra exercise, rest / sleep, wake up, and meditation over an hour and a half.
Cost: Free
Sound Curation
Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Join Kara Markovich for a sound immersion, various instruments such as singing bowls, crystal bowls, gongs and various other instruments, fill the space, allowing you to move into a state of deep relaxation.
Cost: $55.00
Rest Event
Date: Sunday, June 9, 2024
Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Guided body scan, energy clearing, vagus nerve reset, yoga nidra exercise, rest / sleep, wake up, and meditation over an hour and a half.
Cost: Free
Summer Solstice Curation
Date: Sunday, June 23, 2024
Time: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Liebestraum Chalet, 5505 Bancroft Avenue Southeast Alto, MI 49302
Description: Summer and yin themed catered 5 course vegetarian meal presented as a cooking demonstration by Green Fork Food to learn and feast on with a rest event after.
Cost: $125.00
And if you are interested in my feng shui services, please see my website at www.cascadefengshui.com and contact me at abby@cascadefengshui.com. I’m also on Instagram at cascade.feng.shui.