Hi!
It felt like time to create a new space to share, so I took the leap & signed up on my birthday. Also the same day Kansas became the first state to put abortion policy in "the people's" hands, holding a vote on whether to amend its constitution to remove the right to abortion. We needed as many people as possible to vote to help ensure a woman's right to her private reproductive health decisions. People showed up, cast their votes & made a positive step toward equal rights. I along with 3 other incredibly strong, powerful women gathered in community to MAKE ART. DO GOOD. Everyone made an 8 x 10 mixed media painting on canvas. Over $1k was raised for Planned Parenthood of the Great Plains. It was a lovely evening. I look forward to the next event!
I wrote this for the Leo season & it feels appropriate to share here. Roar. It’s LEO season! A time to practice being more and more and more ourselves. A great way to do this being to double down on our creative self-expression. Magnify your artistic impulses and desire for love, luxury, fun. The courageous fire sign is hyping the kind of confident, passionate energy & inspiring us all to follow our bliss! Allow your creativity to shine through. Play long the way. It’s a great time to pursue your biggest, wildest dreams and focus on your inner growth. Hello, self-love. I am dedicated to sharing my rituals, practices and knowledge to uplift others, too. Be bold. Be proud. Be courageous. Be you.
While it has taken me space to get here & push publish I did it. It’s so important we recognize & celebrate the little victories. I am excited to see where this goes. Thank you for being here with me on this journey.
BIRTHDAY ROUNDUP
My favorite dress.
Astrology reading with my friend Sunday. The BEST astrology reading I have ever experienced. I will absolutely schedule another every year on my birthday. Sunday also started an incredible podcast called Living In Rhythm.
My mama gifted me this gorgeous pitcher. Obsessed.
A beautiful necklace.
Thought provoking game. Yes, please.
Ellen, a sweet & thoughtful friend sent me lip whip & face oil from her Apothecary.
Human Design reading & Kundalini yoga with my talented & beautiful friend Alexandra.
I did the Adi Shakti meditation every day of my pregnancy with Jett and am drawn to this pendant.
A FEW OTHER COOL THINGS
We recently took an incredible trip to Crested Butte. I made a video of us pulling into town. Another one here & here.
How cool is this prayer box my friend Amy shared on our MMS Voxer group. Feeling inspired to make my own version.
Doing this radiance meditation daily.
Dogs are cute. Hope this makes you laugh.
SUPER FULL MOON IN AQUARIUS
Use this Full moon to move into a space of forgiveness & gratitude, cultivate inner strength, courage & reconnect. Yoga is a powerful practice and when we come together to meditate on these high cosmological days, we can pull down energy and accelerate visions. Magnify the powers during cosmic events to release, forgive, amplify your destiny and catalyze opportunities for new growth & big changes.
Come together in community with me to work with the power of the moon. The evening will include rituals of kundalini yoga & meditation, journaling & beyond. Use this Full moon to move into a space of forgiveness & gratitude, cultivate inner strength, courage & reconnect. Yoga is a powerful practice and when we come together to meditate on these high cosmological days, we can pull down energy and accelerate visions. Magnify the powers during cosmic events to release, forgive, amplify your destiny and catalyze opportunities for new growth & big changes.
Make a love donation on a sliding scale from $1-33 to reserve your spot. Please reach out for Venmo.
No experience required.
Dress in comfortable clothes that allow for range of movement.
Please bring water bottle & journal.
I MADE IT ONE MONTH VEGAN!
Increasing numbers of people are moving toward vegan diets due to health, animal welfare, or environmental concerns. I am one! Vegan diets tend to be rich in nutrients and low in saturated fats which takes planning and is made easy by ample resources. Research suggests that the diet can improve heart health, protect against cancer, aid in weight loss and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. Yes, please. Today marks a full month of eating vegan, gluten free, low fat, no processed foods, no sugar (though I’ve made an exception to indulge in dark chocolate), no alcohol & lots of foods from the Earth. Oh & honey. Greg was sweet enough to bring back honey from Alaska I am obsessed with in my evening chamomile tea. I have felt the full range of emotions from proud, clear & inspired to a bit deprived & challenged at times. I continue experience many, many opportunities to harness self-control & determination towards a goal of exceptional health. I am sticking with it & going strong. Have I been perfect? No, but pretty close. A woman must give herself grace & compassion. My clothes are fitting more comfortably. I am down 4 lbs which blows my mind. Ready for the entire family to get on board when the kids go back to school. I plan to use the Forks Over Knives app for menu inspiration & shopping lists. Summer has been a perfect time to make all the smoothies, giant salads & lots of fresh produce. What are you being called to recalibrate or transform? Any habits or old ways of being you are ready to break?
IN STUDIO
Studio progress sparkling with glitter & layers of acrylic. Wearing the fun dress with my wedding earrings because it feels good. Slowly releasing limiting beliefs one by one. For my entire life I’ve had this silly rule that I couldn’t wear nice clothes to make art being they almost always get art supplies on them which tends to dirty a garment quickly. I was recently part of a group of women who gathered to make art & do good. It was magical. Please join for the next. Before the event my auntie asked “what should I wear?” My immediate kneee jerk response was “something you don’t mind getting art supplies on.” After a moment & deep breath I realized I wanted to replace that with “wear whatever makes you feel good. Really good.” After all what does it matter if you get paint on your skirt or glitter on your top? This thought pattern clearly isn’t a new one. Definitely not in my ancestral line. I am ready to break the cycle. Make a shift. Change the pattern. I have added in the meditation below. Create an alignment with my current consciousness. Every time something shifts we have an opportunity to respond differently. Allowing change at an all new level of acceptance. Lighten up. My daughter for many years wore a gown to go rock climbing & always to art classes which is basically all the time when art supplies are in every corner of your home. I am circling back & taking note. Let’s all wear the thing right now. While I am not quite sure I will wear a gown rock climbing I will continue adorning myself in all the feminine ensembles. Let this be a wink in your direction to do the same. It feels good to feel good.
Healing Ancestral Karma Meditation
INSTRUCTIONS: Sit in easy pose. Place your right hand at your heart centre on your chest, palm against the chest. Place your left hand on your back also at your heart centre, palm facing outside. Chant the Guru Ram Das Mantra.
MANTRA: The Guru Ram Das Mantra – “Guru Guru Wahe Guru, Guru Ram Das Guru”
LANGUAGE: Gurmukhi
TRANSLATION:
Guru – teacher or guide that brings one from the darkness to the light.
Wahe – exclamation of ecstasy like ”WOW!”
Ram Das – literally translates as “God’s Servant”, but also refers to Guru Ram Das, the Fourth Guru of the Sikhs
MORE INFORMATION: This mantra was given to Yogi Bhajan by Guru Ram Das in His astral self. As Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, was known for humility and healing abilities this mantra is also known for its healing qualities and for imparting humility to the one who chants it.
This mantra relates directly to the healing and protective energy represented by Guru Ram Das. The mantra is comprised of two parts. The first part is a nirgun mantra (Guru Guru Wahe Guru). This projects the mind to the source of knowledge and ecstasy. The second part is a sirgun mantra (Guru Ram Das Guru). This means the wisdom that comes as a servant of the infinite. It is the mantra of humility. It reconnects the experience of the finite to infinity.
TIME: 11 Minutes
EYES: Close your eyes.
MUSIC :: Guru Ram Das by The Sat Nam Sessions or Guru Ram Das by White Sun
I ARRANGED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS I WISH YOU COULD ALL SMELL FOR MY BIRTHDAY ABOVE & HEART EXPANDING BELOW.
Thank you again for joining me in this space.
With deep gratitude,
Ashley
I now want to go buy some glitter paint, tell my girls to put on their fancy dresses that are almost too small now and start to paint. What a way to enter the substack world my friend. Also I love the pitcher and I want that game but gah with shipping it’s $70 US to CAD! Do you have it? Is it worth it.