Tag Archives: self care

September Stones – A new competition for you!

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“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 personalised guided meditation for the winner!

 As I hold these stones in my hand each day for the month of September I meditate with the intent that they will hold energies in a way that can be transferred to the user.

The first stone is Morion, from the wild West Coast of Tasmania. It is this month’s Anchoring Stone and its energies help us to stay grounded, clear and calm, connecting into our bodies, and to the earth and nature.

Morion is a very dark form of Smoky Quartz – the crystal is so dark that it is almost black. It helps us to feel safe in ourselves, safe in our bodies, emotionally stable and deeply grounded. It pulls our scattered energy back to us, helping us to become strong and clear.

My intention is that this stone will help you to clear deep-seated grief and sadness, allowing your heart to open and heal. It’s a powerful stone for connecting with the energies of the earth, trees, stars and the moon. It promotes intuition, imagination and story-telling ability.

 

The second stone is the Connection Stone, and this one is a Ruby in Fuchsite. Connection stones connect us to Universal energy, as well as to Angels, Guides, Ancestors and our own wise soul energy.

This stone feels like a magical garden or a lake full of waterlillies. Just holding it is reassuring and it quickly centers you into your heart.

My intention in my meditation with this stone is that it provides a restful energy in your life that promotes emotional contentment, inner peace and heart connection. It’s a stone for love, happiness and knowing what you want in the world.

Isn’t it lovely!

When you hold these stones in your own meditation it will help to take you to a happy place – one that is restful, restorative and that will help you connect into personal clarity and inner harmony and peace.

We all need more time in our happy place, and these meditation stones will take you there!

What’s your happy place? Is it a real place, or a place you go to in your head? Do you have more than one? What happens to you when you are in that place? Let us know for a chance to win these stones!

Instructions on how to win these stones:

Do one of any of the following;

  1. Write a comment on this post telling us what your happy place is
  2. Post a comment on our facebook page, telling us what your happy place is or posting an image of that place
  3. Post a comment or image about your happy place on your facebook page and tag us in (use @cauldronsandcupcakes and @nicolecody)
  4. Post a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #CandChappyplace 
  5. Send us an email to chelsi@cauldronsandcupcakes.com telling us about your happy place

This competition closes on September 30th at 8pm Brisbane time, and I’ll announce the winner on October 3.

I’ll be giving away a set of stones every month between now and December, so there are plenty of chances for you to win.

Biggest love and hugs to all of you, Nicole  ❤ xoxo

Our August Meditation Stones Winner

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“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 is…

DANNE SARING

Congratulations, Danne! Can you please contact Chelsi at chelsi@cauldronsandcupcakes.com with your contact details? I’ll need to touch base with you so that I can create your very own guided meditation to use with the stones.

And Jo, who won July’s stones – know that your two stones have been programmed just for you and are sitting in a grid for just a few more days before we pack them up and send them off to you.

Meanwhile I have chosen two more beautiful meditation stones for September. You use both stones together, and as part of the month’s prize I will again record a personal guided meditation just for the winner! I’ll give you details about these September stones and how to win them on Thursday September 7.

I want you to know that I’ve added all of the August competition participants to my daily healing meditations and said a prayer for each of you.

I’ll be giving away a set of stones every month between now and December, so there are still more chances for you to win.

Biggest love and hugs to all of you, Nicole  ❤ xoxo

Win Our August Meditation Crystals!

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“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 also known as ‘Mother Earth Father Sky’ stones. The stones work together, and are both held as you meditate – one in each hand.

 As I meditate with these stones each day for the month of August I work with the intent that they will hold energies in a way that can be transferred to the user. As part of the month’s prize I will record a personal guided meditation to accompany the stones so that you can be sure how to use them.

Let me introduce the stones to you.

The first stone is petrified wood from Longreach. My maternal grandfather was born at Longreach, and it’s a very important place to me. It’s a place of wide open skies, sunshine, fresh air and that feeling of timelessness and ancient grounded energy. I found this crystal on one of my early morning walks. It is this month’s Anchoring Stone – anchoring stones help us to stay grounded, clear and calm, connecting into our bodies, and to the earth and nature.

Here’s where I found it, half buried in the dust, still cold from the night’s transit:

The energies and intention I am infusing into this Longreach Petrified Wood are that the holder moves from pain and fear to calm and acceptance of all that is. That the many layers of old thoughts, feelings and hurts fall away, leaving only love and wisdom. It is also a stone for calling in Guides and Ancestors to watch over you. It will reduce inflammation and promote circulation. It feels so comforting in my hand, and I know you’ll find it a comfort too.

The second stone is the Connection Stone, and it is a delicious rough Smoky Citrine Phantom Quartz that I found in the river bed behind our house. Connection stones connect us to Universal energy, as well as to Angels, Guides, Ancestors and our own wise soul energy.

This special crystal treasure holds energies of the volcanic cradle that is Byron Bay, and it will help you to shed old patterns and ways of being so that you can come into deeper alignment with your true self. It’s a stone of emotional healing and spiritual awakening.

The Smoky Citrine Phantom Quartz is protective and promotes joy. It’s also a stunning stone for connecting you to past life wisdom and to creative ideas that are waiting to be brought forth through you.

The energy of these two natural Australian stones is very strong and clear, and they compliment each other very well.

Instructions on how to win these stones:

Do one of any of the following;

  1. Write a comment on this post, explaining why you want to win these stones
  2. Post a comment on our facebook page, explaining why you want to win these stones
  3. Post a comment on your facebook page and tag us in (use @cauldronsandcupcakes and @nicolecody)
  4. Post a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #CandCAugustRocks and in your description explain why you want to win these stones
  5. Send us an email to chelsi@cauldronsandcupcakes.com explaining why you want to win these stones

This competition closes on September 4th at 8pm Brisbane time, and I’ll announce the winner on September 5th.

I’ll be giving away a set of stones every month between now and December, so there are plenty of chances for you to win.

Biggest love and hugs to all of you, Nicole  ❤ xoxo

And the Winner is…

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“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 hard to choose just one winner, but we have and that person is Jo-Ann Chrome. Jo-Ann, can you please contact Chelsi at chelsi@cauldronsandcupcakes.com with your contact details? I’ll need to touch base with you so that I can create your very own guided meditation to use with the stones.

Meanwhile I have been very busy meditating with two more meditation stones for August. You use both stones together, and as part of the month’s prize I will again record a personal guided meditation just for the winner!

 As I hold these stones in my hand each day for the month of August I meditate with the intent that they will hold energies in a way that can be transferred to the user.

The first stone is petrified wood from Longreach. I found this on one of my many Australian outback adventures. It is this month’s Anchoring Stone and its energies help us to stay grounded, clear and calm, connecting into our bodies, and to the earth and nature.

The energies and intention infused into the Longreach Petrified Wood are that the holder moves from pain and fear to calm and acceptance of all that is. That the many layers of old thoughts, feelings and hurts fall away, leaving only love and wisdom. It is also a stone for calling in Guides and Ancestors to watch over you. It will reduce inflammation and promote circulation. It feels so comforting in my hand, and I know you’ll find it a comfort too.

The second stone is the Connection Stone, and it is a delicious rough Smoky Citrine Phantom Quartz that I found in the river bed behind our house. Connection stones connect us to Universal energy, as well as to Angels, Guides, Ancestors and our own wise soul energy.

This special crystal treasure holds energies of the volcanic cradle that is Byron Bay, and it will help you to shed old patterns and ways of being so that you can come into deeper alignment with your true self. It’s a stone of emotional healing and spiritual awakening.

The Smoky Citrine Phantom Quartz is protective and promotes joy. It’s also a stunning stone for connecting you to past life wisdom and to creative ideas that are waiting to be brought forth through you.

I adore the combination of these two natural Australian stones. Do they feel good to you too? Their energy is very strong and clear and they work very well together.

All of the love and energy and intention that I pour into these stones will be available for the user in their own meditation. It’s also okay if you’ve never meditated before. I’ll send you instructions!

Thank you, everyone, for your entries into the July competition. It meant so much to me to read your words, and I want you to know that I’ve added you all to my healing meditations and said a prayer for each of you.

We’ll post details about how to win this month’s stones soon, and I’ll also be giving away a set of stones every month between now and December, so there are still plenty of chances for you to win.

Biggest love and hugs to all of you, Nicole  ❤ xoxo

 

Win these beautiful meditation stones!

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“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

 

Do you remember the stones in that picture above?

I have meditated with them every day in July, after which they have sat in a crystal grid here on my farm. They are all charged up now, and ready to be passed on to whomever is meant to have them.

The plain rock is just a stone, but it holds the energies of the ocean and the earth. It is an anchoring stone. And it comes from Byron Bay, which is a place of great healing and transformation. As I have held it in my hand for the month of July I have meditated with it, with the intent that this stone will hold those energies in a way that could be transferred to someone else.

The energies and intention infused into the Byron Bay Beach Rock are that the holder comes to know and understand their body and how to honour and take care of it to give lasting health and wellbeing. This knowledge will also contribute to a state of inner calm and of self-care.

The plain stone is the Anchoring Stone, which helps us to stay grounded, clear and calm, connecting into our bodies, and to the earth and nature.

The crystal is the Connection Stone, enabling us to connect into our intuition, Higher Self, Guides, Ancestors and the Divine. I found this one in Tasmania, Australia, and it energies are strong!

The energies and intention infused into the Tasmanian Quartz Crystal are a deep connection to the user’s ancestral line, intuition, Guides, Angels, the Divine – facilitating a stronger understanding of the user’s individual talents and gifts, and those that have been passed down through their ancestral lineage. All of this will help to give clarity of life path.

All of the love and energy and intention that I poured into these stones is now available for the user in their own meditation. It’s also okay if you’ve never meditated before. I’ll send you instructions! This prize comes with a meditation recorded just for you.

I’m so glad that this idea found me, so that the right stones can find you.

 

Instructions on how to win these stones:

Do one of any of the following;

  1. Write a comment on this post, explaining why you want to win these stones
  2. Post a comment on our facebook page, explaining why you want to win these stones
  3. Post a comment on your facebook page and tag us in (use @cauldronsandcupcakes and @nicolecody)
  4. Post a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #c&cJulyrocks and in your description explain why you want to win these stones
  5. Send us an email to chelsi@cauldronsandcupcakes.com explaining why you want to win these stones

This competition closes on August 23rd at 8pm Brisbane time, and I’ll announce the winner on August 24th.

Good luck!

Meanwhile I’m working with new meditation stones for August, but I’ll tell you more about them in another post.
Hugs and love, Nicole ❤ xoxo

Road Trip Treasures!

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“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. Just to be together. Just to be on our own.

It’s been a very full year. This time twelve months ago I was preparing for major surgery. And since then there have been family health dramas, constant concern and worry for Ben’s aging mum, and then my latest near-death experience, back in May.

We were more than ready for some processing time, and a little distance between us and our problems.

We were gone for two and a half days. Not long at all. But it felt like weeks.

Here’s the secret of how we stretched time:

  1. We put our phones away and didn’t check our emails, social media or other distractions except to have a quick glance after breakfast and before dinner in case there was an emergency.
  2. We allowed ourselves early nights and plenty of rest.
  3. We kept our days simple and chose easy over ambitious.
  4. We stayed in the moment, engaged with each other and our surroundings.
  5. We held hands, we talked and deeply listened, and we held eye contact with each other and anyone we spoke to.

Those simple choices gave us the gift of replenishment. And if they worked for us I know they’ll work for you.

It was a super trip. Here’s a few of my highlights:

This is Beth, standing in front of the beautiful silk and merino wool shawls and scarves that she makes. Beth reinvented herself as an artist when she turned fifty, after attending a TAFE course in felting. She totally inspired me, and she gives awesome hugs too. (And yes, Ben bought me a gorgeous pink and coral shawl for my birthday!)

 

 

On our first night away we went for dinner at a local bowling club that does an all-you-can-eat $16 Chinese buffet on Thursday nights. It was packed with locals, all soaking up the ambiance that only plastic tablecloths, gold-painted honour boards, decorations from last Christmas and a gigantic empty dance floor can give. The food was delicious!

Book stores. You know the ones that are filled to the rafters with rare and old editions, as well as the latest reads? I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t come home with anything. I’ve now got some excellent reference books to research my next project. And I may have come away with one or two eclectic ancient cookbooks as well…

Op shops, second-hand shops, and those lucky dip kind of places where you walk through the door into a glorious clutter of wares old and new. I found some beautifully made old tablecloth and napkin sets at totally bargain prices, as well as a few little plates and bowls for serving tasty treats in. Oh, and some cake forks and a set of Japanese made 1950’s cocktail forks. And a cake tin. All of which will be put to good use here at the farm.

This glorious sewing, quilting and fabric shop fired up my imagination, and we managed to buy a packet of needles. Just the thing for me to dig all the splinters out of Ben’s hands from when he was off chainsawing and hauling timber earlier in the week.

We also enjoyed a quiet pub meal for two, sitting in an ancient dining room beside a roaring log fire on a frosty night. The table was set with real linen and a candle, and as we ate our delicious food we realised that it was the first time we’d had a romantic dinner date in Australia for over ten years!!! (My fault – my health has been crap, and I’m always in bed so early that we usually favour a breakfast outing or an early cafe meal.)

Ben’s already planning our next adventure.

How about you? Do you have a road trip planned or can you recommend one? I’d love to hear about it.

Much love from your rested and refreshed friend, Nicole xoxo

5 Simple Ways To Love Yourself Better

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“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 and you’re feeling pretty depressed and miserable, then trying to love yourself is like holding onto a single helium-filled birthday balloon and expecting it can fly you to Mars.  Mission Impossible!

So what do you do when your sense of self is hanging by a thread, but you just can’t make that mental leap from loathing to loving?

When loving yourself and feeling good about yourself seems impossible, then what you need to do is parent yourself. That’s where you do the things you know you need to do, even when you don’t want to, can’t be bothered, or feel that you don’t deserve to treat yourself well.

Good parents create environments where we can grow, be safe, and learn to get to know ourselves and the world around us.  They support us, provide emotional connection and support, love us and guide us until we move to a place of maturity where we can do these things for ourselves.

Even when you find it hard to love yourself, there is a wise part of your soul that intuitively knows what you need to get back to a place of balance. Your job is to let that parent part of you – the Wise Soul – make the choices for the part of you that is struggling to get on your feet and feel good again.

Image from www.linkedin.com


Here are five simple things you can do to make a start towards healing your relationship with yourself. I’ve also added suggested crystals that are supportive for each step:

1.  Decide to accept yourself right now, as you are and where you are in life. Too often we tell ourselves that we’ll like ourselves better when we’ve lost weight, found a job, left a bad relationship, found a good relationship, stopped smoking, gotten fit, or won lotto. When we put conditions on loving ourselves, we never get to that mysterious just-around-the-corner place that is forever up ahead and out of our reach.  Be honest with yourself.  If life is painful, admit that. Don’t numb yourself with alcohol, drugs, food or overwork.  Reach out for help if you’re having trouble coping, or need some new skills and strategies to make tomorrow look different to today. Best crystals for self acceptance – Tiger Eye, Blue Calcite or Rhodonite

2.  Create a safe space.  Everyone needs a place to call home, where they can relax, be themselves, and surround themselves with things that reflect their sense of self. Music, plants, posters or paintings, colours and fragrances – all of these things can help ground you and give you a sense of belonging and security.  It’s not about the objects as much as the energy they create. Start by making sure your space is clean. Dirt, mess and clutter drain you and create stagnant energy.  Clear the clutter, and then begin to make your space somewhere that is inviting, uplifting and positive. Best crystals for a sense of safety and peace – Banded Agate, Smoky Quartz, Rose Quartz, Sodalite and Snowflake Obsidian

3.  Practice respect.  Respect yourself enough to avoid, minimise your exposure to or end toxic relationships and to stop toxic behavours. Respect your body by eating well, and by exercising daily – even when it’s hard.  Especially when it’s hard and you don’t want to. That’s what parents do.  They make sure we drink enough water, eat our greens, get enough sleep, and get out of bed in the morning.  In everything that you do, ask yourself “Does this action or choice honour me?”  When we suffer from a lack of self-love it’s easy to make choices that don’t do the best by us.  In some cases we even choose things that sabotage our well-being.  Once again, if you’re really struggling here, ask for help, whether it’s a counsellor, personal trainer, rehab facility or a good friend who has your back. Great crystals healing self-sabotage and supporting self respect – Black Tourmaline, Amazonite, Yellow Turquoise, Bloodstone

4.  Find something to look forward to and work towards it, or include it in your life.  Whether it’s an overseas holiday, salsa dancing lessons, art classes or writing your life story, everyone needs to have a sense of purpose, and that purpose doesn’t have to be career related. Don’t be afraid to dream big, even if you have to start small. Best crystals for joy and connection to the flow of life – Green Aventurine, Citrine, Rose Quartz, Fluorite

5.  Spend some time in nature each day. Fresh air and sunshine has been used as a remedy for depression and to heal all manner of ills for centuries. Watching animals in nature has been proven to lower blood pressure, increase endorphins and relax tension in our muscles. Having contact with pets also helps us heal and feel better about ourselves, and teaches us responsibility for others. Best crystals for connection to nature and the earth – Jasper, Carnelian, Hematite,  Septarian Nodules, Unakite

Treat yourself with kindness today and always. Holding you in my prayers and meditations,

Nicole ❤ xx