October Favorites 🧡
Happy October! 🌻
I cannot believe we are already in the middle of the autumn season. To help support myself during this busy time of year, I like to turn to rituals and routines to keep myself grounded. This post is very much about that; I will be sharing with you what I have been using this past month during my morning and evening routines. Before I share with you what I use, I would like to go over the importance of rituals. Rituals are a sacred time to take care of your mind, body, and spirit. When we look to self-care as a sacred act, it nurtures our spirit, replenishing what may have been lost throughout the day or week. With many of us facing daily stress of family, work, etc., we may feel spiritually depleted. With this in mind, it may be of importance to establish a daily ritual, ideally in the morning, evening, or both, that engages all of your senses, nurturing your spirit back into a state of blissful relaxation.
In addition to my daily meditation practice, I like to use this wonderful prayer book, Speaking with Spirit, by Agapi Stassinopoulos. She has such a beautiful way of writing, it touches all of my heartstrings. This book is divided into different themes for daily life: Living, Creating, Becoming, Overcoming, Loving, and Transforming. In each section there are multiple prayers for all kinds of situation. I love how the author dives into the meaning of prayer, explaining how the word prayer is derived from the Greek word for prayer, prosefchĂ, meaning “toward your wishes”. Prayer is not about religion; rather it is about connecting to the spirit, the Divine source within all of us. We all wish for a life we love, and I believe that prayer helps us connect to exactly that- a life lived with intention, purpose, and love. Lately I have been gravitating towards connecting to my inner spirit, and this book does just that. Since we are finding ourselves deeper within the busyness of the autumn season, establishing daily rituals, such as a prayer routine (or any other daily routine), can be so important to help keep ourselves grounded. If anyone is looking for a prayer book that is non-religious, I would highly recommend this one!
During my morning beauty routine, I love using natural makeup products that enhance my features. La Mer’s hydrating illuminator is just that: it offers a very subtle, natural-looking glow. It not only adds a subtle glow, but also hydrates. With the days becoming cooler, using makeup products that are hydrating are important to me, as my skin tends to become dry fairly quickly. I have been using this product for a few months now, and thought I would share it in case anyone is looking for a hydrating, natural-looking highlighter.
Speaking of hydrating products, there is another wonderfully hydrating product I have been using on repeat: Image Skincare’s Ormedic lip enhancement complex. This is hands down the best lip product I have ever used. With a polypeptide formula, it actually hydrates deep within my lips instead of sitting on top of them. A lot of chap sticks or other lip products that claim to be hydrating only form a protective barrier on top of your lips. While this helps with further moisture-loss, it has no way of replenishing lost hydration from your lips. This formula does just that, hydrating my lips and forming a protective barrier from further moisture loss. As an added benefit, this product slightly plumps my lips from all of the hydration it provides. This product has been a staple in my beauty routine, as it is effective yet natural.
I recently discovered the British all-natural beauty brand, NEOM Organics. After using their product, “Perfect Night’s Sleep Mist”, I have become obsessed. Every night I spray my bed linens with this therapeutically calming sleep mist. Made with essential oils such as lavender and chamomile, it helps soothe my body and mind, preparing me for a better night’s sleep. I even like to mist it on my pajamas from time to time. Aside from its heavenly smell, my favorite aspect about this product is that it is comprised of 100 percent essential oils, no synthetic fragrances here! Natural wellness products are so important to me, and this sleep mist is my latest discovery. I also highly recommend their other products, such as their hand balms and all-natural candles. You really cannot go wrong with anything from them, everything they make is fantastic!.
When I went to my local health foods store, I was browsing around the health section and noticed these ear candles. I have never used them before, but it seemed interesting enough to try out. To safely use these ear candles, I took a paper plate, cut a hole in the middle (for the candle) and lit the larger end of the candle. I then placed the tapered end inside my ear, and let it burn for about 10 minutes. I was not expecting much, but I found it very soothing. When the candle was in my ear, I heard a soft sound, almost like a gentle rain or sand. After I used the candles in both ears, I felt like my hearing was a bit clearer. There is a lot of debate as to whether or not ear candling actually removes ear wax, but from my experience my hearing seemed clearer. As of lately I like to use ear candles before bed, as a way to wind down from the day’s stress. It is a unique experience worth trying!
Lastly is this beautiful Selenite palm stone. I have been meditating with it and putting it next to my bed every night before I sleep, and I can feel its pure, calming energy. Selenite is a highly cleansing, calming, and protective crystal. Not only does its pearly white color instantly soothe, it reminds me to live with gentleness and an open heart. Selenite is wonderful for clearing and moving around energy as well, dispelling any heaviness and making space for what matters most. Since working with my Selenite palm stone, I have noticed that I approach life in a more light-hearted way. This is not to say that a crystal is a quick fix; a crystal can aid us in our spiritual journey, not fix our problems. We must be open and willing to its teachings, having faith in that what we cannot control is always working for our highest good.
May this wonderful autumn season continue to bring much love and light to you. 🧡
With love,
Sabrina 🌹
