Tisha Morris » yoga

Is the World Going Crazy?

Tisha Morris — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 16:06:26 +0000

As the news stations ‘Countdown to Doomsday’ over the debt crisis, shootings, suicides, and anxiety are meanwhile at an all-time high. What’s going on? Is the world going crazy? Is the world ending? Is it 2012? I can’t help but think of the REM song, “It’s the end of the world as we know it.” The phrase, as we know it, is the key. Our world is changing and changing very fast – as we have known it.

Regardless of whether it is a calendar date, a planetary alignment, or any other explanatory cause (or a combination of causes), what is happening is this:

Darkness is bubbling up to the surface. It is being exposed. All this is necessary for it to be eliminated. I am using the term “darkness” very generally as there is no judgment by me as to what is “dark.” It is simply a matter of frequency. Two different vibrations cannot co-exist in the same space (perhaps you have experienced this with a loved one and/or a cohabitant). Our planet is raising in frequency, in lightness, in consciousness. As this happens, density, darkness, or, lower vibrations, must fall away.

The political issues of recent go back to the formation of our country. They have bubbled up several other times in history, but now we have reached the boiling point. The same is true with the News of the World scandal, and extreme ideologies that date back centuries. They have existed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. But the truth is bubbling up. The world looks chaotic and crazy. That is because these secrets that have been lying just below the surface are now visible. Expect more and more secrets, scandals, and lies to surface. It is like pulling a small thread and before you know it, the entire garment has come completely apart.

You may have noticed the same thing in your own life. Family secrets are being revealed for the first time. There may even be aspects of yourself that are being revealed for the first time, often referred to as our “shadow side.” Although seemingly bad, these new aspects also bring about new talents, gifts, or abilities that you may not have been aware you had. This is the process of becoming our self – our true, authentic self.

Think of this process as a major cleaning out of your closet. You know when you clean out your clothes closet and start taking everything out. You have piles of clothes on the bed, stacks in the floor, and your entire bedroom looks like a huge mess in the interim – perhaps even a “war zone.” That’s where our world (and maybe even your life) is right now in this clearing process. Once things are properly disposed of, you put your remaining clothes back in your closet in a new, more organized fashion. And afterwards, your closet looks and feels so much better. Perhaps you have already tended to your closet. If so, life may feel like heaven on earth for you – like an extravagant walk-in closet with only your most favorite outfits awaiting you.

So what can you do in this process?

1. Clean out your closet. Literally, clean out your closet, drawers, etc. You will feel much better by letting go of the density in your own living environment. I expounded on this point in my article, Why You May Be Having a Sudden Urge to Declutter Your Home. If you need more inspiration for this, check out my book – Feng Shui Your Life.

2. Find your center. I hear many people tell me that their “safe places” that they used to go to during hard times are no longer there – whether this place was a person or a physical location. Instead, we must find our “safe place” within – our own center. I experienced this feeling intensely last year as homes and parks were flooded in Nashville. As natural disasters have taken so many of our physical structures away, finding our home within our home is so important. You can think of “your center” as a physical location, such as your heart or your gut. Either way, it is the place that feels like your anchor. It is your eye of the storm. Yoga, meditation, and/or energy work can be extremely helpful in finding and connecting with your center. Nature is also a great place in which to reconnect with your center.

3. Get out of your head. Our head will play ping-pong with us all day long. You will not find clarity in your head. Get into your body. Refer back to #2 above.

4. Find Community. If you feel alone during these crazy times, then it is so important to find community. Community can be friends, like-minded groups, a loved one, animals, nature, online groups, sangha, your yoga class, etc. Connecting with others is really our ultimate goal on this Planet, i.e. experiencing oneness while being in separate bodies. As you connect with community, make it about love, unity, and oneness, instead of co-dependence, neediness, or greed. When we are connected with our self – our soul – we can then connect with others in a new and beautiful way. And so will be true for our Planet in this Universe.

Lastly, my favorite Eckhart Tolle quote, “Life will give you whatever is necessary for the evolution of your consciousness” seems particularly apropos in times such as these. Know that whatever is happening on our planet or in your life is necessary for the evolution of our consciousness. Resisting change is anathema to the inevitable. These are the times for which we were incarnated on this Planet. Amidst the chaos is perfect and divine order.

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Tisha Morris is a feng shui expert, life coach, and the author of Feng Shui Your Life. For more information, visit www.tishamorris.com

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Moving From Head to Heart: The Time is Now!

Tisha Morris — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:37:47 +0000

This is our calling for our lifetime.

And the time is NOW.

Over the last year, it seems that every client that has come to see me for energy healing has received, either spontaneously or related to why they came, what I call a “heart upgrade” during the session. What is happening is that our hearts are needing to adjust or calibrate to the new energies and higher frequencies that are coming to our Planet. We must adjust in order to maintain resonance with the Planet. This inherently involves releasing density or lower frequencies from our heart chakra.

Why is this happening now?

We are moving from a head-based consciousness to a heart-based consciousness. If you’ve heard buzz words, such as the 2012 shift or shift of consciousness, this is it.

If you’ve noticed that your spelling isn’t what it used to be, then you are experiencing this shift. If you’ve noticed that you can read others more than ever, then you are flowing with this shift. If you have or are transitioning from a head-based job or career to a heart-based job or career, then you are aligning with this shift.

It is a total and complete change in how we have operated in the past.

And it is happening very quickly. Have you noticed that you can’t accomplish things like you once could? But with other things, it’s like magic? Instant manifestation.

The sooner we each shift from head to heart, the easier life will be. Not only easier, but more joyful than we could ever imagine.

In an article I wrote a while back – Doing Less, Being More – I spoke to this same issue. It is a shift from the masculine to the feminine, from doing to being, from head to heart. However you want to think about it. But now I speak about it with more urgency. This shift is happening so quickly that it is affecting people’s physical and mental wellbeing.

Here are some suggestions on easing this transition:

Have awareness. Just by reading this post, you are bringing awareness to your heart.
Feel. Our heart is our feeling center. We must start to feel. To feel emotions. In fact, this will be the only way to accomplish or manifest anything in the physical world. Even businesses and businesspeople will have to feel in order to navigate in the material world.
Be in your body. In order to feel, you must be present in your body. Throughout the day, check in and just feel your body from the inside out. Activities, such as yoga, tai chi, even golf, or any activity where you have to be present with your body form, help immensely.
Feel your heart. Bring your awareness to your heart. Feel it from the inside out. Breathe into it. Or just physically touch your heart.
Stop judging others. Judgment arises out of the ego’s need for separating ourself from others. This couldn’t be further from the heart.
Forgive. This is the density around the heart that I referenced above. Forgive everyone, especially including yourself. Don’t forgive intellectually, but with your heart. If you don’t shed some tears in doing this, then you haven’t forgiven.
Be love. Spend 5 minutes a day just being love. Let it radiate out of you as you sit in your chair. You don’t have to actively send out love, just be love. This is your essence. This is really you.
Love Mother Earth. Our Planet is our home. Be here with respect as you would if you were staying with a friend over the weekend.

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Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing). For more information, visit www.mindbodyom.com.

5 Ways to Turn Your Home Into a Sanctuary

Tisha Morris — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:35:24 +0000

This is a repost from The Elephant Journal originally posted on October 19, 2010.

My favorite quote and the mantra I try to live by is Ghandi’s ”Be the change you want to see in the world.”

But there is another Ghandi quote that to me is equally poignant. He says:

“Our contribution to the progress of the world must consist of setting our own house in order.”

As a feng shui consultant, this is music to my ears. You can take this quote as literal or figurative as you want. Either way, I can’t help but think that if we each placed our attention on our home or whatever space we take up on this Earth, how amazing our Planet could be. It would be wonderful if we could all have a perfectly feng shui-ed home with its energy perfectly harmonized with Mother Earth.

But, to me the ultimate goal of feng shui is to love your home as if it’s a sanctuary.

In doing so, you are simply loving yourself and treating yourself as the sacred temple that you are.

So here are some simple suggestions to turn your home into a sacred sanctuary. And, in doing so, it can be a beacon of light on our planet as will its occupants.

1. Decluttering. I mention decluttering first because you must get rid of the old before you can bring in the new. If you are one of the many who has gone through or wants to go through a massive purge, you are certainly not alone. Our planet is going through a major clearing and that trickles down to each and every one of us. If decluttering sounds monumental and overwhelming, then just start with one drawer. It may lead to another one and another and so on. If you are someone who declutters on a regular basis and thinks that this doesn’t apply to you, then think again! There are so many layers to our things. That which we most need to get rid of is oftentimes right under our nose. What is taking up valuable space in your life? What item(s) are preventing you from loving your home?

2. Set Up an Altar Space. Early architects truly understood sacred geometry and how to build churches and cathedrals. They built tall steeples to reach God. You can do this, too, with an altar space—except your steeple is energetic. Each time you sit down to meditate you are a steeple. This is the benefit of an altar space. It creates an energetic vortex so that each time you sit down to meditate you ‘plug-in’ quicker and deeper. Your altar space can be as simple or elaborate as you want. The most important thing is that it is a designated space for this purpose. It is best to have a centering device—whether it be a table, shelf, or cardboard box. Place objects on your altar that are sacred to you.

3. Display Power Objects. We all have certain items that are really special to us. These are items that energize, inspire, and connect. For example, one of my power objects is a hand-made tapestry that I purchased in Peru. When I see it across from my desk it energizes me. The colors, the symbols, and the craftsmanship are inspiring. Other examples could be a love note from your beloved, a powerful crystal, a piece of pottery from your travels, or an art piece you crafted. Ideally, every item in our home should be a power object. Do an inventory of your home and notice what energizes you and what depletes you and rearrange accordingly.

4. Designate a Yoga Space. By creating a space for doing yoga, you are creating new space for your yoga practice to deepen. Your home practice is where you begin to truly tune in to what you want your yoga practice to be. You become your own inner guru, or upaguru in Sanskrit. Maybe you are feeling energized and do an extensive series of warrior poses and arm balances. Or perhaps you are feeling tired and need to do slow and deep hip openers on the mat. If space allows, you can arrange your yoga space and altar space in the same area of your home. If space is at a premium, then you may have to be more creative with your arrangement, but it should at least be the size of your unrolled yoga mat.

5. Space Clear. There is an invisible world of energy in your home that you probably are not aware of. Like cell phone and radio signals, our thoughts and emotions swirl around in our spaces. But what you may not have thought about is the energy from previous owners’ emotions and traumas, your furniture’s history and stories, or even your own stuck patterns and habits. Space clearing is a term used in feng shui that refers to clearing the energy in spaces. There are many methods used for space clearing. And in some extreme cases, you may need a professional to come in. Otherwise, you should space clear your home yourself periodically. Sage smudging is the most common method. With a bundle of sage, light the tip and waft it around your space. It’s best to start around the perimeter—especially hitting the corners—and end up in the center of the room. When the smoke has cleared, you may notice the room looks crisper and feels lighter.

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The Yoga of Feng Shui Workshop – Half Moon Yoga

Tisha Morris — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:10:18 +0000

Yoga in Nashville

Tisha Morris — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:30:01 +0000

It was a great day for yoga in Nashville this Sunday. While Nashville may be better known for country music, there is an amazing yoga community that has been growing for many years and now blooming. This was a perfect Sunday afternoon for doing yoga outside under an overcast 72-degree day. This event was sponsored by Lululemon to celebrate the opening of their new store in Nashville. Live music was provided by the sweet tunes of the amazing local kirtanist Amy Barnes and sound master Thomas Anderson.

If you are interested in yoga in Nashville, check out any of these great studios around Nashville!

www.sanctuaryforyoga.com

www.yogasource-nashville.com

www.steadfastandtrueyoga.com

www.12southyoga.com/

www.yogacountry.com

www.kundalinirisingyoga.net

www.halfmoonyoga.net

www.myhotyogaplace.com

www.yogaroomnashville.com/

www.studiodakini.com/

www.kaliyugayoga.com

Namaste!

p.s. If I’ve left your studio out, just mention it in the Comments and I will add it ASAP!

The Yoga of Feng Shui

Tisha Morris — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:09:48 +0000

With the release of my book, 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home, I’ve been talking a lot about… well, feng shui. I kept hearing myself make comparisons with feng shui and yoga, such as, ” Feng Shui is just like yoga, but for the home. It is yoga for the home.” After saying this several times, I stopped and really thought about how true this is.

Both yoga and feng shui ultimately have the same purpose: balancing and harmonizing energy.

But the similarities just begin there…

Yoga has been an integral bridge in my life and I know for so many others. If yoga was a drug, it would be marijuana – the gateway drug. It provides that gateway to another world of thinking, being, and living. It led me from the corporate world to the healing arts. Soon after I started taking yoga classes, I started to tap into the subtle world of energy and innately understood the mind-body connection unlike any book could have explained. From there, I became an energy healer. With a background in interior design, I then wanted to heal spaces just like it was a body. I soon learned just how similar the two are.

Both yoga and feng shui are about balancing yin and yang energies.

Within all of us we have a feminine (left) side and a masculine (right) side. Yoga is so much about bringing these two sides into balance physically and thus mentally. A fundamental aspect of feng shui is bringing the yin (feminine) and yang (masculine) energy into balance in spaces. This is when a space feels (and looks) the best.

Both yoga and feng shui are about the breath and flow of energy.

In yoga the breath is the vehicle that unites the mind body and spirit. Without the breath, there would be no yoga or life for that matter. And so it is with our spaces. The flow of energy is like the breath in the body. In fact, after feng shui-ing a space, you can feel your breath change.

Both yoga and feng shui create an energy portal.

As spiritual beings having a physical experience, we are at all times juggling being in two places at once: on the physical earth and the spiritual sky. Yoga helps us be that energy portal that taps us in and balances us between the physical and spiritual. Most of us tend to be too grounded or too airy. Ideally, these two should meet in the middle, right at the heart. Our homes too can be an energy portal. Similar to the same reason churches were built with steeples, our homes or any space can be this portal that connects us with heaven and earth. As it has been said, your body is a temple. And your home can be a temple as well.

Just as yoga has been a bridge into the world of energy, so can feng shui. Our home and spaces are simply mirrors of ourselves. By applying feng shui we can have a conscious daily dose of balanced energy. And as you go to bed at night, you can have an amazing svasana.

Namaste.

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If you would like to experience the essence of yoga and feng shui, join me for one of my The Yoga of Feng Shui Workshops! Check Upcoming Events or contact me about coming to your neighborhood.

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Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home. For more information, visit www.mindbodyom.com.

6 Ways to Create a Sacred Space While Traveling

Tisha Morris — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:25:47 +0000

Summer has always been my favorite time of year. With the predictability of warm weather there is a sense of freedom. It’s traditionally a time to take off work for more play, to travel, and to just be more spontaneous. But what can oftentimes result is feeling ungrounded and losing our center. Especially in the case of traveling. While traveling, we lose our sacred space that we are used to turning to at the end of the day – our home.

As a Cancer sign who loves my home, one of my biggest challenges has been to embrace the notion that I am ‘home’ regardless of my physical location. This can be challenging for anyone. So here are some tips on creating a sacred space the next time you are on the go.

Bring Your Yoga Mat – If you have room in your suitcase, then take along your yoga mat on your next trip. Your yoga mat can feel like your home away from home. For most of us, just seeing our mat invokes feelings of calm and peace. If you’re traveling ultra-light, then improvise. Lay out some towels to create your own yoga mat or just go commando. One of the wonderful aspects about yoga is that you can do it anywhere anytime without any gear necessary.
Do a Yoga Pose – Instead of feeling like you’re obligated to do a whole yoga practice, just do your favorite pose. For me, as soon as my forehead hits the mat in child’s pose, I know I am home. I mean really home! This is the pose that most centers and grounds me. We all have one of those poses. Do yours and it will most likely lead you to the next pose and to the next pose…
Create an Altar Space – An altar can be a great to create a sacred space at home and while traveling. Altars create an energy portal that helps connect us with Earth and Sky. Turn a nightstand, desk, dashboard, or dresser into your altar space. Bring with you a picture, stone, object, statuary, or anything that center you and reminds you of your true self.
Add Music – I can remember when I was 10 years old listening to Air Supply with my headphones on family vacations. Music has always been a way for me to stay centered. With the digital revolution, this is a no-brainer. So add some nice music to your hotel room, your rental car, or your hectic plane ride to ease those times of feeling ungrounded. (Air Supply optional.)
Carry Your Totem – I sometimes carry with me a particular gemstone or gratitude stone in my pocket when traveling or on days that I need some extra reassurance. It reminds me of the totem that Leonardo DiCaprio carries with him in Inception to remind him whether he is dreaming or not. A “totem” or gemstone can be a great centering device that you carry with you in your pocket or bag. This may be a stone that is personal to you, or a protective stone that you pick up for the trip.
Enliven Your Senses – Another way to create a sacred space wherever you are is to have some essential oils on hand. Having a bottle of essential oils, such as lavender, ylang ylang, sandalwood, or a blend can be a great centering device, especially for blends that are formulated for a vibration that you are already in tune with. With a drop or just a sniff, you can feel like you again.

Traveling can be a great way to get us out of our old patterns and be introduced to new ways of being. That being said, creating a sacred space with just a few things from home can provide a grounding force to where you can be more adventurous in your travels as you eat new foods, meet new people, and try out new ways of life. Your sacred space will help you stay balanced, centered, and healthy. Try it out on your next trip!

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25 Ways to Reuse Your “Old” Yoga Mat

Tisha Morris — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:55:35 +0000

This Post is from Jade Yoga Website…..

Look for reuses www.freecycle.org or email info@jadeyoga.com
Use as a seat liner for the back seat in the car while taking your dog to the vet or groomer.
Place under an area rug for no-slip gripping.
Drop off your old mat at an animal rescue group. Most of these places need soft, durable mats, rugs, towels, & blankets to line crates.
Use an old mat in the garage or shop to keep from slipping on the workbench while using power tools on them.
Line kitchen shelves to prevent glasses from slipping and scratching.
Cut the mat into squares and use them as “bases” while playing baseball with the kids. Easy to carry and easy to clean!
Use to kneel on in the garden to protect your knees!
Use as kitchen drawer liners.
Cut it up to make a mouse pad.
Use it on the beach instead of a towel.
Use as grip pads to open jars.
Cut to size and use as foot pads for the bottom of furniture that is on a wood or ceramic floor. Glue on pieces with a non-toxic adhesive.
Place it under your sleeping bag as a sleeping pad while camping.
Make covers for sharp corners like in a parking garage or school.
No more messy packing peanuts! Old yoga mats get a new life as a protector of valuables while moving or shipping.
Make children’s toys: cut holes and create masks, hats, costumes and props; cut into shapes and letters for tub and pool toys.
Cut and put down in front of the kitty litter box to stop the litter.
Plug up drafty places, windows, doors, & under window air conditioners, and save energy!
Great for those hard bleachers when watching sporting events.
Makes a great liner under house plants, you can even cut it to fit each plant!
Donate to nursing homes so that residents do not slip while getting in and out of bed.
Place between your surfboard & car to protect both from abrasion.
Lay it over the dashboard and steering wheel to keep the sun out!
Keep in the car for those spur of the moment picnics, keeping groceries from sliding around in the trunk, or for a myriad of other uses limited only to your imagination!

Om Sweet Om: Create a Sacred Space to Expand Your Yoga Practice

Tisha Morris — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:03:33 +0000

When runners want to take their training to a new level, they may purchase some new Asics or change up their running route. But how do yogis deepen their practice, chataranga after chataranga? Perhaps a new mat, a new instructor, or a new studio.

Instead, try creating a sacred space for doing yoga in your home – a sanctuary that you love to be in. In doing so, you will not only maintain enthusiasm for your yoga practice, but you will expand it to a new level.

By designating a space for a particular function, it is much easier to transition into that activity. So, with a designated yoga space you will be able to turn inward much easier each time you enter your sacred space. It’s similar to the automatic response your body gets when it hears the word ‘savasana’ in yoga.

On an energetic level, that space will carry the same energy which builds and builds over time allowing you to go deeper each time. It is no wonder that it is much easier to meditate in an ashram… the energy of meditators over years has built up to the point you can step in and immediately feel at peace.

Your sacred space can be any size — from the size of your yoga mat to an entire room. Choose this space carefully. Go around your home and find a space that feels good. Or find a section or a whole room that is not living up to its potential. I once had a guest bedroom that just collected clutter. Finally, one day I decided to reclaim this room. I turned lemons into lemonade.

With a new coat of paint, a serious detox of clutter, an altar, and a few personal items, this became not only my favourite room in the house, but a yoga and meditation sanctuary. Soon thereafter, my yoga practice went to a new level followed by teacher training. Within six months, I was teaching my first yoga class.

Although this article is about creating space in your home, it’s also about creating space in your yoga practice. It therefore can’t go without mentioning the benefits of having a home practice. This is where you begin to truly tune into what you want and need your yoga practice to be. You become your own inner guru, or upaguru in Sanskrit.

A home practice allows you to listen to what your body wants to do next. Maybe you are feeling energized and do an extensive series of warrior poses and arm balances. Or perhaps you are feeling tired and need to do slow and deep hip openers on the mat. A home practice also allows time for a longer meditation.

Most importantly, by integrating a home practice with attending classes, yoga will go from being an activity to a way of life.

Here are you few tips to create your sacred space:

1. Location
Again, size doesn’t matter. However, privacy does. Choose a place in your home where you will not be disturbed by people or pets. If it is a shared space with another person or activity, then using a partition or screen is recommended.

2. Clean and De-clutter
Once you have chosen your location, clear everything out of it and clean the area of any dust, dirt, or residue. Also clear it energetically with sage, or any other herbal cleanser of your choice, such as cedar or sweetgrass. A clear space is a clear mind.

3. Energize
Next determine what you want in your space; for example, a yoga mat, meditation cushion or chair, blankets, and/or props. If there is enough room, you may want some type of storage to keep the space clutter-free. Also, if space allows, an altar table, whether it is a cardboard box or an heirloom piece from India, is recommended. In other words, you want to have a centering piece. Make it an altar where only inspiring and precious objects are placed. If space doesn’t permit, then hang an inspiring picture instead.

4. Personalize
From here, add any items that reflect you and appeal to the five senses…
candles, incense, bells, gemstones, crystals, images, essential oils, affirmation cards, books, music.

5. Keep it Fresh

Once you have your sacred space, you want to keep it free of dust and clutter. Keep the energy clear and fresh. If you feel like your practice is in a rut, then change things around in your sacred space. Add a picture, change a picture, or add a new candle or gemstone. Avoid stagnation on any level.

Now it’s time to hit the mat… Namaste!

photo by Nessa Land.

4 Steps to Create Your Personal Sanctuary

Tisha Morris — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:57:51 +0000

With little to no movement in the real estate market these days, it is more and more apparent that we must make the best of the space we are currently in. And, in doing so, it is important to designate a space in your home for retreating, centering, and meditating. In other words, create a personal sanctuary.

This space can be any size — from a 2’ x 2’ corner to the size of your yoga mat to an entire room.

Designating this space for your personal use is important because each time you sit there, you automatically know that it’s time to go inward. It’s similar to the automatic response your body gets when it hears the word ‘savasana’ in yoga. At first, it’s just nice to have a place to retreat. Then, after a while, it becomes a necessary part of your day.

Here are you few tips to create your personal sanctuary.

3. Energize
Next determine what you want in your space. Perhaps a yoga mat, meditation cushion or chair, blankets. Make it comfortable so that you will want to spend time there. An altar table, whether it is a cardboard box or an heirloom piece from India, is highly recommended. In other words, you want to have a centering piece. Make it an altar where only inspiring and precious objects are placed.

4. Personalize
From here, add any items that reflect you and appeal to the five senses…
candles, incense, bells, gemstones, crystals, images, essential oils, affirmation cards, books, music.

Once you have created your personal sanctuary, sit, relax, stretch, breathe, read, enjoy tea, meditate, or do anything that so inspires you. There are no rules!