Article written by Madison Leigh Akridge Hearts, roses, chocolate, cards with words of endearment, stuffed animals, and jewelry. Ah, the icons of a modern-day Valentine’s celebration. The traditional, mainstream attempt to distill the concept of love down into a single day, filled with uninspired gifts and tokens of affection has given me pause. As a… [Read More]
Waking to Stillness
The faint sound of a rooster’s crow, the ceiling fan whirring, and rain frogs chirping from last night’s shower. That is ALL I heard this morning upon waking from a deeply lucid, deeply restful (which don’t typically coincide for me) slumber in my new country home. For the past year and a half, I have… [Read More]
How to Conduct an Essential Oil Oracle Reading
Have you ever used essential oils as the Oracle? Let me explain. I use Oracle cards. Generally I do a daily card pull or a three-card spread for my clients. I have been using oracle cards for years. But I also use essential oils. Essential oils, oracle cards, tarot- these are all different variations of divination tools…. [Read More]
Inspired and Spirited About the Senses
During my doctoral studies I was required to read Awakening the Creative Spirit: Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction by Christine Valters Paintner and Betsey Beckman. This book is full of gems. I do not paint or sculpt. I sometimes sing, but mostly my creativity comes out in my writing. In chapter 10 Beckman offers… [Read More]
Masking is my future. It’s not what you think.
For me, a mask is more than a representation of the pandemic. Masking is my future. April is Sarcoidosis Awareness Month so I thought I would spread a bit of awareness about mask-wearing and break the stigma for those of us diagnosed with Sarcoidosis or other immune-compromising illnesses. I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Sarcoidosis in… [Read More]
Sugar cravings making you cray?
Those sugar cravings can be extremely frustrating, especially when you are committed to a wellness lifestyle but sugar still feels like the elephant in the living room. Here are three reasons for those cravings: nutrient deficiency low protein intake dehydration Nutrient Deficiency Cravings can be a sign of nutrient deficiency. Cravings for different flavors or… [Read More]
Try these 5 tips to lose those last few pounds
Why do some people seem to be eating right and exercising religiously, yet struggle with the last 5 or 10 pounds? Here are three factors that cause our bodies to hold onto weight: 1. Cravings – if you go for the whole tub of Ben and Jerry’s at 10pm, it doesn’t matter that you have been… [Read More]
Ask the bigger WHY
When you face challenges in adapting positive lifestyle changes, and wanting to just go back to the old familiar way of being, ask yourself – what is it costing you not to take action? And you need to go deep, and think of not just the immediate consequences but keep asking “then what?” – until… [Read More]