Cauldrons and Cupcakes

Celebrating Life, Spirituality, Creativity and Kindness!

Tag: self care

You Can Still Join My Healing And Space-Holding Meditations This Weekend

  Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.~ Lao Tzu Hey, Lovelies. Did you see yesterday’s post? Would you like some extra love, positive energy and support at this time? This week has been about upgrading your thinking, about being bold with your decisions and actions, and […]

Insights, Inspiration and Action – Monday Oracle 13 June 2022

The energies this week support a gentle letting go of the things that have been weighing us down. There doesn’t need to be a struggle or a big dramatic scene. In fact, the very best kind of letting go is one where we decide to let something go with grace and ease. When we let go, we invite new possibilities…

Lighten Up By Letting Go – Monday Oracle 6 June 2022

The energies this week support a gentle letting go of the things that have been weighing us down. There doesn’t need to be a struggle or a big dramatic scene. In fact, the very best kind of letting go is one where we decide to let something go with grace and ease. When we let go, we invite new possibilities…

What To Do When It Just Feels ‘Off’

  When you notice someone does something toxic the first time, don’t wait for the second time before you address it or cut them off. Many survivors are used to the “wait and see” tactic which only leaves them vulnerable to a second attack. As your boundaries get stronger, the wait time gets shorter. You […]

I found some old sketches

  “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” ~ Pablo Picasso Hey, Lovelies! Recently, as I was unpacking boxes of old papers and files I came upon a few interesting things. One was a series of charcoal sketches I did at a life drawing class […]

Taking Care Of Yourself First- Monday Oracle 1 November 2021

If you want to have enough to give to others, you will need to take care of yourself first.  A tree that refuses water and sunlight for itself can’t bear fruit for others. Emily Maroutian Hello, Lovelies! This Quarter I am using the Nature’s Whispers Oracle Cards by Angela Hartfield, with artwork by Josephine Wall, for my […]

Wearing My Best Perfume

Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearances, emotions, or will. The persuasive power of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it.  Patrick Süskind Hey, Lovelies. You know, I don’t […]

Being Careful About Being Me

Boundaries are, in simple terms, the recognition of personal space. Asa Don Brown Hey, Lovelies. I found myself in a social situation recently with people I did not know. Of course, one of the first things people usually ask in these circumstances is ‘What do you do?’ I’ll be honest. I’m guarded with new people. […]

This Post Will Be Short Because Music

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. Aldous Huxley Hey, Lovelies. I’m in one of those headspaces where I just need to sit with my thoughts. It all started with music. Actually, it all started with Adele’s new song, Easy On Me. There’s one lyric that hit me hard. I […]

What I’ll Be Doing When Australia Begins To Open Up Again

You cannot control the behavior of others, but you can always choose how you respond to it.  Roy T. Bennett Hey, Lovelies. I live in Queensland – a state of Australia that has had few COVID cases, and which has maintained strict border closures since the pandemic began. We’ve had a relative amount of freedom […]

Why I wear my hair like this right now…

The old woman was a witch shadow – hair like matted spiderwebs, hooded ’round darkness of features, eyes like glittering jewels. Frank Herbert Hey, Lovelies. So, I want to talk about hair. Ah, I’m sharing another of my great secrets now. You can tell a lot about my state of wellness by how I wear […]

My Need For Quiet

“Smile, breathe and go slowly.” Thich Nhat Hanh So, Lovelies, I am sure some of you will relate to what I am about to share. I’m a Highly Sensitive Soul. I am sure you may be one too. Because of my sensitivity, my intuitive and psychic abilities, I am able to connect deeply with people. […]

Back In The Saddle

“You need to be content with small steps. That’s all life is. Small steps that you take every day so when you look back down the road it all adds up and you know you covered some distance. It took me a long time to accept that, but it’s true. You need to have patience.” […]

A Little Nicole Update

Bedrest means lying in bed at home, doing nothing, Nicole. Do you understand? If you have a problem with this we can bring you back to hospital. It’s your choice. My cardiologist, on realising I am not good at resting! Hey, Lovelies. This blog post is coming to to you direct from my bed, here […]

The Poems I Keep Beside My Bed

Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.  Leonardo da Vinci Hey, Lovelies. One of the most soul-nurturing things I have ever done is to read poetry. I keep volumes of poems beside my bed, and I have a journal that I have kept […]

Stop Being So Hard On Yourself

Butterflies can’t see their wings. They can’t see how truly beautiful they are, but everyone else can. People are like that as well. Naya Rivera Hey, Lovelies! My inbox is groaning this week with messages from people who are really struggling right now. If you’re having a hard time too, please know that you’re not […]

A Message Just For You ❤

Know that you are loved ❤ Hey, Lovely i know sometimes life can get you down you can feel so small that you wonder if anyone knows you’re here you might even wonder if anyone cares life’s burdens may weigh upon you until you wonder how you’ll ever take another step until you wonder if […]

Don’t Wait For Someone Else To Meet Your Needs

With every act of self-care your authentic self gets stronger, and the critical, fearful mind gets weaker. Every act of self-care is a powerful declaration: I am on my side, I am on my side, each day I am more and more on my own side. Susan Weiss Berry Hey, Lovelies. I was speaking with […]

A Week For Healing – Monday Oracle 14 September 2020

Self-care is how you take your power back. Lalah Delia Hello, Lovelies! September energies support us to develop patience, resilience and a greater vision for our lives. Keep that in mind as we explore the gifts that the oracle card ANGELS AND MASTERS brings us this week. ANGELS AND MASTERS is from Chakra Reading Cards: Ancient Wisdom to […]

Can I ask you a question?

Don’t be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin.   Grace Hansen Hey, Lovely, Can I ask you a question? I want to know one simple thing. In your day, how much of that day is time for you? Life is short, and there is no do-over. Every minute gone is […]

Baby Nicholas And I Are Sleeping In!

Your future depends on your dreams, so go to sleep.  Mesut Barazany Hey Lovelies,Hopefully as you are reading this I am still asleep this morning. I got no sleep the night before, worrying about the little unborn baby who needed emergency surgery to come into this world safely, and yesterday was such a big work […]

How To Own and Meet Your Own Needs

“From what I’ve seen, it isn’t so much the act of asking that paralyzes us–it’s what lies beneath: the fear of being vulnerable, the fear of rejection, the fear of looking needy or weak. The fear of being seen as a burdensome member of the community instead of a productive one. It points, fundamentally, to […]

Stop ignoring that niggle-y thing!

“Red flags are moments of hesitation that determine our destination.” Mandy Hale Hi Lovelies, this is a little reminder, because I know one of you needs to read this today. That funny feeling you are getting (you know it’s a heart thing or a tummy pain, or a light-headedness or some other not usual thing)? […]

Self-Care Looks Like This Right Now

“Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives […]

Honour Your Feelings

“Never apologize for showing your feelings. When you do, you are apologizing for the truth.”  José N. Harris Hey, Lovely. How are you travelling? I wanted to check in with you and see how you are doing. Myself? I’ve been up and down. So have my team. It’s a period of high emotion, uncertainty, chaos. […]

My second Challenge for you!

Our Ancestors always operated with a sense of being in a reciprocal relationship with their physical surroundings. Whether they felt that they were being rewarded by Mother Nature or punished by her, at least they were engaged in a constant conversation with her. ~ Elizabeth Gilbert Hello, Lovelies! Are you ready for my second simple […]

I have a challenge for you today!

It is not possible to solve a problem with the same consciousness that produced it. ~ Albert Einstein Hello, Lovelies! Are you ready for my simple challenge? Today I’d like you to gift yourself five quiet minutes. Just five minutes. And I’d like you to do something specific with that five minutes. Put away your […]

A Flock of Aunties

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Hi, Lovelies.I’m leading a Retreat right now. Retreats are always a time of self-work and life-work, mixed with a […]

October Energies, 2019

tober is a month for developing clear future vision. You’ll be able to build on what you have already decided or created for yourself this year, aided by a deep knowing and intuition.

Being Me Means Being Curly!

“Don’t compromise yourself – you’re all you have.”  ~ John Grisham Hi, Lovelies! I did something a little out of the ordinary for me, yesterday. I went to the hairdresser. I usually don’t love the whole hairdressing thing. Everyone always wants to straighten my hair, and give me the sorts of styles that take hours […]

Sleeping In!

“There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep.” ― Homer, The Odyssey I’ve had a big few days, lovelies. Sorry, but I need a sleep-in. Yesterday was the last day of our Temple of Light ™ Shamanic Meditation Retreat, and I am running on little sleep. Sleep is a healing balm […]

A little note from us…

“Three things in life – your health, your mission, and the people you love. That’s it.” ~ Naval Ravikant Hi Lovelies! It is with great sadness that Nicole and her team have made the decision to cancel the Fairy Solstice High Tea Party on 22nd June. With Nicole’s health being precarious at this time, the […]

Choosing Love and Kindness- Monday Oracle 20 May 2019

“The only person who can pull me down is myself, and I’m not going to let myself pull me down anymore.” ~ C. JoyBell C. Hello, Lovelies! May is such a breakthrough month – it’s a time for positive progress, big leaps forward and fine-tuning of your self-awareness. Use experts and wise people to help […]

A Week For Truth and Discernment – Monday Oracle 29 April 2019

“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.” ~ May Sarton Hello, Lovelies! April calls you to live from your heartspace. This month lifts you above your obstacles, or helps you to blaze a trail through them. Expect magical insights and guidance to help light the path ahead. It’s […]

How to Self-Care When Life Is Challenging!

“Self-care is how you take your power back.” ~ Lalah Delia It’s simple enough to be well-intentioned and kind to yourself when life is going smoothly. Or if you are on holidays. Or in a really good head space. But when we are hard up against it – when we have crushing deadlines, or horrible […]

It’s Okay To Choose For Yourself

“Look to your heart and soul first, rather than looking to your head first, when choosing. Rather than what you think, consider instead how you feel. Look to the nature of things. Feel your choices and decisions. It just might change everything.” ~ Jeffrey R. Anderson Hello, Lovelies. Today I have a favour to ask of […]

Refuelling Your Soul

“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.” ~ Caroline Myss Feeling tired, flat or a bit lost? That’s okay – I have some tips to help you manage that. Or perhaps it’s worse than a little fatigue. Maybe you feel utterly smashed by life right […]

Nicole Update and a Pep Talk!

“I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.”~ John D. Rockefeller Hello, Lovelies!Thanks so much for all the love and positive energy that has flowed my way the past week or so. I’ve felt it, […]

Lean In To Your Emotions This Week

“My favourite words are possibilities, opportunities and curiosity. I think if you are curious, you create opportunities, and then if you open the doors, you create possibilities.” ~ Mario Testino What do you do when your emotional state is not great? Do you distract yourself, numb yourself, or work furiously at positive affirmations? (Note that […]

Monday Oracle – 14 January 2019

“ None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, yet still we go forward. Because we trust. Because we have Faith. ” ~ Paulo Coelho, Brida Hello, Lovelies! This year as I present our #MondayOracle I am dividing the year into Quarters, to correspond with all of us in the community who are using […]

It’s almost #GeSHiDoMo time! – 2018

“Ninjas don’t wish upon a star, they throw them.” ~ Jarius Raphel “While others were dreaming about it – I was getting it done.”  ~  Nathan W. Morris   As the year races towards December are you shaking your head at the list of tasks you’d hoped would be done by now? Here we are in […]

Energies of October – 2018

“The heart has its reasons which reason knows not.” ~  Blaise Pascal Hello, Lovelies  October  brings  our  focus  back  to  our  home  environment,  our  heart-space  and  our  soul’s  journey.  We’ll  feel  a  need  to  nest,  to  clean  and  beautify  the  spaces  where  we  spend  most  of  our  time  (this  could  be  your  body,  home,  work […]

Teacup Oracle – For Life Guidance

  “Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tearoom I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?” ~ D.T. Suzuki   Will you join me for a cup of tea […]

Overwhelmed and exhausted? Check your boundaries!

“Boundaries are, in simple terms, the recognition of personal space.”  ~ Asa Don Brown I woke, overwhelmed and panicked, at 3am on Monday morning. This isn’t usual for me. I’m by nature calm, centred and strong. I knew part of why I was awake. An old friend had died the day before in an accident – […]

I Have A Present For You!

“Self-care is how you take your power back.” ~ Lalah Delia Hello, Lovelies. Are you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed or completely over it all? Congratulations! I’ve just gifted you a Free Pass. You might want to cut this out and store it in your wallet. You may also want to share this with someone else who […]

Are you taking care of you?

 “Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.”  ~ Deborah Day   Many of my friends are healers. They come from widely different schools and philosophies of healing – general medical practitioners, environmental medicine specialists, acupuncturists, naturopaths, herbalists, body […]

Being Okay With Where You Are

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”  ~ Lao Tzu I’m still recovering from the flu, and gee, it’s taking muuuuuuch longer than I would have liked. On top of that I managed […]

10 Ways To Be Kind to Yourself

“There are days I drop words of comfort on myself like falling leaves and remember that it is enough to be taken care of by myself.“  ~ Brian Andreas Mostly when we think of kindness, we think of how we can act towards others. But today I want to focus on another equally important type […]

Are You Protecting What Matters? – Monday Oracle 19 March 2018

“If you want to live an authentic, meaningful life, you need to master the art of disappointing and upsetting others, hurting feelings, and living with the reality that some people just won’t like you. It may not be easy, but it’s essential if you want your life to reflect your deepest desires, values, and needs.”  […]

It’s a Fairy Forest here at the farm!

“Few humans see fairies or hear their music, but many find fairy rings of dark grass, scattered with toadstools, left by their dancing feet.”  ~ Judy Allen We’ve had a furious amount of rain here at the farm these past few weeks. Everything is damp and waterlogged, but green green green! On my morning walk I […]

We’re On Retreat!

  “In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.” ~ Albert Camus   Today we enter Retreat until Sunday 11 March. It’s a sacred time for me and my team and for our retreat participants as we walk this spiritual path together, learning, sharing, connecting and finding time for […]

The restorative power of deep rest

“It’s in the morning, for most of us. It’s that time, those few seconds when we’re coming out of sleep but we’re not really awake yet. For those few seconds we’re something more primitive than what we are about to become. We have just slept the sleep of our most distant ancestors, and something of […]

Monday Oracle – 8 January 2018

 “If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” –  Meister Eckhart   Hello, Lovelies! The cards I am using for guidance for 2018 are the enchanting Inner Child Cards – A Fairy-Tale Tarot by Ishna Lerner, Mark Lerner and Christopher Guilfoil. I’ve used and loved these cards for over 25 years […]

The Energies of January – 2018

“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been”  ~ Rainer Maria Rilke   Hello, Lovelies  It’s January! It’s a time for easing ourselves into the energies of 2018, for resting and recharging, for planning and dreaming and for tuning in to what can support us in the year ahead. Cards […]

Off On A Grand Adventure!

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” ~ Anonymous By the time you read this I’ll be at the airport, or maybe even on my way overseas! My darling husband Ben bought me a surprise three-week holiday as a belated ‘Congratulations on Turning Fifty and Thank You For Not […]

Planner Will Be Live In Shop In Just A Few Hours!

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?” “What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?” “I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet. Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.”  ~ A.A. Milne We had […]

Sneaking Out of Retreat

“The Principle of Priority states (a) you must know the difference between what is urgent and what is important, and (b) you must do what’s important first.”  ~  Steven Pressfield   We’re on Retreat right now, and I am that Retreat’s leader. But this morning I am sneaking off. Every Thursday morning is my acupuncture and […]

Eagles and Cups of Tea

“Farewell,” they cried, “Wherever you fare till your eyries receive you at the journey’s end!” That is the polite thing to say among eagles. “May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks,” answered Gandalf, who knew the correct reply.”  ~  J.R.R. Tolkien We are always up early, […]

Introducing #GeSHiDoMo – November’s answer to finishing 2017 strong!

“A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power.” ~ Brian Tracy, The Gift of Self-Confidence   November is nearly here, and Christmas is just around the next corner. When you think back to January this year and all the plans you had, how are you placed as […]

It’s almost #GeSHiDoMo time!

“Achievement. Just another skill of a ninja.” ~ Jarius Raphel “While others were dreaming about it – I was getting it done.”  ~  Nathan W. Morris   Here we are in the final quarter of 2017. It’s a great time for planning for the year ahead, and a very good time indeed for getting stuff done. […]

Today’s a Self-Care Kind Of Day

“In dealing with those who are undergoing great suffering, if you feel “burnout” setting in, if you feel demoralized and exhausted, it is best, for the sake of everyone, to withdraw and restore yourself. The point is to have a long-term perspective.” ~ Dalai Lama   It’s been a busy few weeks for me. Lots […]

A Grateful Heart Is A Magnet For Miracles – Monday Oracle 9 October 2017

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”  ~  Anthony Robbins Hello, Lovelies! If you read my forecast for October, you’ll know that it’s a month of energies of love, friendship, community and togetherness. It’s also a month for getting creative and for self-acceptance. Keep that in mind as we look at the gifts which the oracle card Abundance brings […]

10 Acts of Self-Care That Don’t Involve Baths or Beautifying

  “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”  ~ J. Pierpont Morgan Hello, Lovelies! Almost everyone who talks to me about self-care seems to think that self-care is about taking long indulgent baths with candles burning and soft music playing in the background. […]

September Stones – last call for entries!

“When you leave a beautiful place, you carry it with you wherever you go.” ~ Alexandra Stoddard   Hi Lovelies, Reblogging this as the last call for entries on the September Stones! Love lots, Nicole and Cauldrons and Cupcakes Team *** Every day in September I am meditating with these two stones. The stones are intended […]

September Stones – A new competition for you!

“When you leave a beautiful place, you carry it with you wherever you go.” ~ Alexandra Stoddard   Every day in September I am meditating with these two stones. The stones are intended to be held, one in each hand, as you sit in meditation. I’ll be giving these stones away, as well as recording a […]

Our August Meditation Stones Winner

“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”  ~  Henry David Thoreau   I was moved to tears by many of your entries into the August competition. Thank you for trusting me with your stories and your sharings. After much deliberation, the winner of the August Meditation Stones and personalised meditation giveaway […]

Win Our August Meditation Crystals!

“It is more important to go slow and gain the lessons you need along the journey then to rush the process and arrive at your destination empty.”  ~  Germany Kent All this month I have been very busy meditating with two carefully chosen meditation stones – an Anchoring Stone and a Connection Stone. These pairs are […]

And the Winner is…

“As I walk through the wilderness, my eyes and my heart are pulled towards the thicket, the ever-changing landscapes, the gentle daisy and the old beloved stones; as I marvel at the timeless complexities of creation, Nature never disappoints me.”  ― Amelia Dashwood   We had so many entries for our meditation stones competition! It was […]

Win these beautiful meditation stones!

“Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning and purpose to our lives.”  ~  Brené Brown […]

Road Trip Treasures!

“You can either be a victim of the world or an adventurer in search of treasure. It all depends on how you view your life.”  ~  Paulo Coelho   Late last week Ben and I slipped away from the farm for a few days. We took a simple road trip into country New South Wales. […]

5 Simple Ways To Love Yourself Better

  “Have the courage to love yourself like you always wished someone would.”  ~  Vironika Tugaleva   Everyone knows that self-love is vital to building self-esteem and self-confidence, for setting healthy boundaries and feeling good about yourself. Problem is, if you don’t feel good about yourself to start with, if you don’t like yourself much […]

After Rest Comes Rejuvenation

“In a cool solitude of trees Where leaves and birds a music spin, Mind that was weary is at ease, New rhythms in the soul begin.”  ~ William Kean Seymour   Are you taking some time for yourself this week? As part of my be-gentle-with-myself healing process I spent the late afternoon in the garden […]

After work, rest!

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”  ~  John Lubbock   This morning I’m not blogging. I’m sleeping. Sleeping is healing, and […]

Your Wake-Up Call Is Here! – Monday Oracle 24 July 2017

“What is joy without sorrow? What is success without failure? What is a win without a loss? What is health without illness? You have to experience each if you are to appreciate the other. There is always going to be suffering. It’s how you look at your suffering, how you deal with it, that will […]

Small Steps and A Pep Talk For Hard Days

“Small steps may appear unimpressive, but don’t be deceived. They are the means by which perspectives are subtly altered, mountains are gradually scaled, and lives are drastically changed.”  ~  Richelle E. Goodrich   As most of you know, I am recovering from illness right now. I’ve just finished two months of bed rest and am […]

Stones, Crystals and Meditation Magic

“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.” ~ Caroline Myss   I have long been a meditator. In fact it has been a daily practice for me since adolescence. Even with my recent bout of ill-health I haven’t missed a day. It’s as much a […]

10 Simple Hacks For Creating More ‘Me’ Time

“In truth I suspect that merely slowing down is not a very satisfying answer. What I need has less to do with my pace of life than my peace of life. At any speed, I crave a deep and lasting inner peace. And if it’s solace I’m after, I don’t need to pace myself like […]

The Healing Medicine of Kindness – Monday Oracle 29 May 2017

“So long as we love we serve; so long as we are loved by others, I would almost say that we are indispensable; and no man is useless while he has a friend.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson   Hello, Lovelies! Here’s the oracle card I have chosen this Monday, and my take on the energetic outlook for the […]

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